Article
Infectious Diseases
Mariana Quaresma de Souza, Dienefer Venske Bierhals, Ana Julia Reis, Erica Chimara, Julia Silveira Vianna, Andrea von Groll, Pedro Almeida da Silva, Ivy Bastos Ramis
Summary: This study proposed and evaluated a drug susceptibility testing method using 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) as a colorimetric indicator for the clinical relevant non-tuberculous mycobacteria (Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC), M. avium complex (MAC), and M. kansasii). The results showed high agreement between TTC assay and the recommended broth microdilution method, indicating the potential of TTC as a promising indicator in drug susceptibility testing for NTM.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Aleksander Wymazal, Sabina Nowak, Robert W. Myslajek, Anna Bajer, Renata Welc-Faleciak, Maciej Szewczyk, Iga Kwiatkowska, Kinga M. Stepniak, Michal Figura, Agnieszka Kloch
Summary: The wolf population in Central and Eastern Europe has been increasing, but their frequent contacts with humans make them a potential zoonotic reservoir. This study found a high prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging wolves from Poland.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amir Khorram-Manesh, Krzysztof Goniewicz, Frederick M. Burkle Jr
Summary: This article discusses the management approach for globalized diseases in a globalized world. Through literature review and analysis, key focuses including data-driven decision-making, robust technology infrastructure, global cooperation, and ongoing public health education are identified. The weaknesses of current pandemic management systems are revealed, and recommendations for strengthening future pandemic management are provided.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sibra R. M. Shihab, Bushran N. Iqbal, Shiyamalee Arunasalam, Faseeha Noordeen
Summary: This study investigated the effect of sample-based RNA quality on COVID-19 real-time RT-PCR results. The purity of the extracts and concentration of RNA were found to impact test interpretations. The presence of impurities led to inconclusive test results.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Allison M. Hitchcock, Wesley D. Kufel, Keri A. Mastro Dwyer, Eric F. Sidman
Summary: Lenacapavir is a novel HIV-1 treatment option for patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) HIV-1 infection. It has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile and has shown good tolerability and efficacy in clinical trials.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Shuixiu Li, Yuting Liu, Luobei Weng, Yajing Zhao, Yishan Zhang, Zhanpeng Zhang, Yang Yang, Qiaoxin Chen, Xiaocong Liu, Hong Zhang
Summary: The deletion of F(1)Fo-ATP synthase a subunit inhibits host inflammatory responses and impairs the filamentation of Candida albicans, which is crucial for inducing inflammatory responses.
Article
Immunology
Hajarooba Gnanagobal, Trung Cao, Ahmed Hossain, Ignacio Vasquez, Setu Chakraborty, Joy Chukwu-Osazuwa, Danny Boyce, Maria Jesus Espinoza, Victor Antonio Garcia-Angulo, Javier Santander
Summary: This study characterized the riboflavin provision pathways of Aeromonas salmonicida and found critical provision genes. The bacterium has multiple forms of riboflavin provision and duplicated provision genes are essential for its infection.
Article
Immunology
Kun Yan, Xiuling Wang, Zifan Liu, Zongyi Bo, Chengcheng Zhang, Mengjiao Guo, Xiaorong Zhang, Yantao Wu
Summary: This study reveals the pathogenicity of QX-type avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in the reproductive system of roosters. It was found that QX-type IBV infection caused abnormal testicular morphology, moderate atrophy and obvious dilatation of seminiferous tubules, as well as intense inflammation and pathological injuries in the ductus deferens. Additionally, QX-type IBV infection affected plasma levels of reproductive hormones and caused changes in their receptor transcription levels, indicating direct effects on steroidogenesis and leading to germ cell apoptosis in the testis.
Article
Immunology
Elvira Roman, Daniel Prieto, Susana Hidalgo-Vico, Rebeca Alonso-Monge, Jesus Pla
Summary: The transcriptional master regulator WOR1 plays a vital role in the white opaque transition of Candida albicans. Its overexpression in mutant cells defective in the Hog1 MAP kinase enables the establishment of commensalism in the murine gut and even competes with wild-type C. albicans cells. This enhanced fitness is associated with increased adherence to biotic surfaces, elevated production of proteinase and phospholipase, and reduced filamentation in vitro. Furthermore, hog1 WOR1(OE) does not exhibit virulence in a systemic candidiasis model in mice.
Review
Immunology
Alexander M. Rawson, Andrew W. Dempster, Christopher M. Humphreys, Nigel P. Minton
Summary: Clostridium botulinum is a bacteria that is classified based on its ability to produce botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). BoNT is the main virulence factor and the cause of botulism, a potentially fatal disease characterized by paralysis. The BoNT is used for medical treatments and in the cosmetic industry due to its potency and specificity.
Article
Immunology
Christopher J. Coates, Igor Kraev, Andrew F. Rowley, Sigrun Lange
Summary: Epizootiologists often encounter symbionts and pathobionts in the haemolymph of shellfish, such as the Hematodinium genus which causes disease in crustaceans. The shore crab Carcinus maenas can act as a reservoir for Hematodinium, posing a risk to other commercially important species. This study reveals that Hematodinium interferes with extracellular vesicle biogenesis and utilizes protein deimination to modulate the immune response in crustacean-Hematodinium interactions.
Article
Immunology
Runa Kuley, Bhargavi Duvvuri, Jeffrey J. Wallin, Nam Bui, Mary Vic Adona, Nicholas G. O'Connor, Sharon K. Sahi, Ian B. Stanaway, Mark M. Wurfel, Eric D. Morrell, W. Conrad Liles, Pavan K. Bhatraju, Christian Lood
Summary: Neutrophil dysregulation is a recognized feature of COVID-19, but the factors contributing to neutrophil activation in this disease are not well understood. This study found elevated levels of calprotectin, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and N-formyl methionine (fMet) in COVID-19 patients, particularly in critically ill patients. The levels of NETs were higher in ICU patients with COVID-19 compared to ICU patients without COVID-19, suggesting a significant contribution of NETs in COVID-19. In vitro experiments showed that plasma from COVID-19 patients induced neutrophil activation through fMet/FPR1-dependent mechanisms. The study concludes that fMet is an important factor contributing to neutrophil activation in COVID-19 and may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
Article
Immunology
Minmin Liu, Yarong Song, Yi Li, Xingwen Yang, Hui Zhuang, Jie Li, Jie Wang
Summary: Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is the main route of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but the virological factors affecting HBV MTCT are not fully understood. This study found that among mother-infant pairs with positive maternal hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), the average nucleotide mutation rate in the HBV preS1 promoter (SPI) region was significantly higher in the immunoprophylaxis success group than in the immunoprophylaxis failure group. The C2729T mutation in the HBV SPI region was the most frequent mutation and it was found to reduce HBV production by suppressing the expression of large hepatitis B surface antigen (LHBs), indicating its potential role in the success of immunoprophylaxis for HBV MTCT.
Article
Immunology
Rong-Rong Zhang, Zheng-Jian Wang, Yi-Long Zhu, Wei Tang, Chao Zhou, Suo-Qun Zhao, Mei Wu, Tao Ming, Yong-Qiang Deng, Qi Chen, Ning-Yi Jin, Qing Ye, Xiao Li, Cheng-Feng Qin
Summary: The re-emerging mpox virus has become a public health emergency of international concern and developing a safe and effective mRNA vaccine against it is a top priority. Using a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA vaccine platform, a panel of multicomponent MPXV vaccine candidates were constructed and prepared, which elicited strong immune responses in mice. Particularly, the penta- and tetra-component vaccine candidates showed superior capability of inducing neutralizing antibodies and protecting mice from VACV challenge. This study provides critical insights for understanding the protection mechanism of MPXV infection and supports further clinical development of these multicomponent mRNA vaccine candidates.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Renyang Tong, Lingjie Luo, Yichao Zhao, Mingze Sun, Ronghong Li, Jianmei Zhong, Yifan Chen, Liuhua Hu, Zheng Li, Jianfeng Shi, Yuyan Lyu, Li Hu, Xiao Guo, Qi Liu, Tian Shuang, Chenjie Zhang, Ancai Yuan, Lingyue Sun, Zheng Zhang, Kun Qian, Lei Chen, Wei Lin, Alex F. F. Chen, Feng Wang, Jun Pu
Summary: We investigated the immune cell functional transcription and T cell receptor/B cell receptor repertoire dynamics after immunization with the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BBIBP-CorV through single-cell RNA and TCR/BCR sequencing. Our analysis revealed increased abundance of monocytes, central memory CD4(+) T cells, type 2 helper T cells, and memory B cells following vaccination. We observed clonal expansion of CD4(+) T cells, correlated with decreased TCR diversity, and biased VJ gene usage of BCR. These findings provide molecular and cellular evidence for the CD4(+) T cell-dependent antibody response induced by the BBIBP-CorV vaccine.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Qing Huang, Ran An, Haixuan Wang, Yun Yang, Cong Tang, Junbin Wang, Wenhai Yu, Yanan Zhou, Yongmei Zhang, Daoju Wu, Bai Li, Hao Yang, Shuaiyao Lu, Xiaozhong Peng
Summary: Multiple studies have shown a connection between COVID-19 and diabetes, but experimental evidence is lacking. In this study, diabetic mice were found to have a higher viral load and slower virus clearance after SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to non-diabetic mice. Histological analysis revealed more severe lung damage and inflammation in diabetic mice. RNA sequencing analysis suggested that diabetes may suppress immune response and aggravate inflammation in the lung after infection. This study established a model to demonstrate that diabetes and COVID-19 are risk factors for each other.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jung-Hoon Kwon, Kateri Bertran, Dong-Hun Lee, Miria Ferreira Criado, Lindsay Killmaster, Mary J. Pantin-Jackwood, David E. Swayne
Summary: Clade 2.3.4.4 Eurasion H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) has become the globally dominant clade and caused global outbreaks since 2014. In this study, the infectivity, pathobiology, and transmissibility of seven clade 2.3.4.4 viruses in chickens were evaluated. The results showed that all the clade 2.3.4.4 HPAIVs used in this study caused high mortality in infected chickens, but the transmissibility of the viruses in chickens was variable.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Liwei Zheng, Shuying Liu, Fengmin Lu
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Maozhang He, Lifeng Zhang, Haoran Hu, Xiaohan Liu, Cong Zhang, Yu Xin, Boyu Liu, Zhen Chen, Kehan Xu, Yan Liu
Summary: In this study, a new strain of R. heilongjiangensis was isolated from a patient bitten by a Haemaphysalis longicornis tick in China. Comparative genomics analysis revealed unique genes associated with the pathogenicity of this strain. The findings suggest that this strain may represent a previously undescribed human-pathogenic lineage between R. heilongjiangensis and R. japonica.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Lairun Jin, Rong Tang, Shipo Wu, Xiling Guo, Haitao Huang, Lihua Hou, Xiaoqin Chen, Tao Zhu, Jinbo Gou, Jin Zhong, Hongxing Pan, Lunbiao Cui, Yin Chen, Xin Xia, Jialu Feng, Xue Wang, Qi Zhao, XiaoYu Xu, Zhuopei Li, Xiaoyin Zhang, Wei Chen, Jingxin Li, Fengcai Zhu
Summary: Orally administered aerosolised Ad5-nCoV following two-dose CoronaVac priming has persistent antibody response and safety up to 12 months, and shows a stronger immune response compared to three-dose CoronaVac.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
