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Could targeting immunometabolism be a way to control the burden of COVID-19 infection? Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2021-01-20 Engin Berber; Deepak Sumbria; Barry T. Rouse
This review portrays the metabolic consequences of Covid-19 infection at different stages of the clinical syndrome. It also describes how events can change when patients with metabolic problems are infected and the effects that diet and nutrition might play to influence the outcome of infection. We also discuss the types of maneuvers that could be used to reshape metabolic events and question if this
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COVID-19: Disease, or no disease? - that is the question. It’s the dose stupid! Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2021-01-12 Sharvan Sehrawat; Barry T. Rouse
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised many issues not the least of which is the reason for its high variability in consequences to the infected person. In this opinion letter, we advocate that the dose and presentation of the infecting virus is a major factor that affects whether the outcome is subclinical, tissue damaging or even lethal following infection. We briefly describe the known effects of virus
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Non-synonymous mutations of SARS-CoV-2 leads epitope loss and segregates its variants Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-10-10 Aayatti Mallick Gupta; Jaydeb Chakrabarti; Sukhendu Mandal
The non-synonymous mutations of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from across the world have been identified during the last few months. The surface glycoprotein spike of SARS-CoV-2 forms the most important hotspot for amino acid alterations followed by the ORF1a/ORF1ab poly-proteins. It is evident that the D614G mutation in spike glycoprotein and P4715L in RdRp is the important determinant of SARS-CoV-2 evolution
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Digging the rabbit hole, COVID-19 edition: anti-vaccine themes and the discourse around COVID-19 Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-11-07 Tara C. Smith; Dorit Rubinstein Reiss
This article draws on a broadcast popular among the anti-vaccine community to map out six themes used by the broadcast to mislead viewers about COVID-19. The themes are the claim that “they” – government and pharma – are lying to you, claims that COVID-19 is an excuse to remove civil liberties, viewing everyone as an expert, claiming that science cannot save us, skewing the science, and a claim that
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COVID-19: comparative clinical features and outcome in 114 patients with or without pneumonia (Nord Franche-Comte Hospital, France) Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-10-10 N’dri Juliette Kadiane-Oussou; Timothee Klopfenstein; Pierre-Yves Royer; Lynda Toko; Vincent Gendrin; Souheil Zayet
COVID-19 patients (n = 114) were included (55 patients with pneumonia (group P) and 59 without pneumonia (group NP). Patients in group P were older (69 (±17) years vs 46 (±16); p < 0.001) with a male predominance (58.2% vs 27.1%; p < 0.001). The symptoms which were statistically more frequents in patients with pneumonia were fever ≥ 38 °C (93% vs 70%; p = 0.002) and dyspnea (73% vs 22%; p < 0.001)
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Characteristics of in vitro infection of human monocytes, by Rickettsia helvetica Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-12-01 Carl Påhlson; Xi Lu; Marjam Ott; Kenneth Nilsson
Eighteen species of rickettsiae are reported to cause infections in humans. One of these is R. helvetica, which is endemic in European and Asian countries and transmitted by the tick Ixodes ricinus. Besides fever, it has been demonstrated to cause meningitis and is also associated with perimyocarditis. One of the initial targets for rickettsiae after inoculation by ticks is the macrophage/monocyte
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DNA alternate polymerase PolB mediates inhibition of type III secretion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-12-01 Shubham Chakravarty; Layla Ramos-Hegazy; Abigail Gasparovic; Gregory G. Anderson
Opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses a variety of virulence factors to cause acute and chronic infections. We previously found that alternate DNA polymerase gene polB inhibits P. aeruginosa pyocyanin production. We investigated whether polB also affects T3SS expression. polB overexpression significantly reduced T3SS transcription and repressed translation of the master T3SS regulator
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Sending Signals – The microbiota’s contribution to intestinal epithelial homeostasis Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-11-12 Shawn Goyal; Derek K.L. Tsang; Charles Maisonneuve; Stephen E. Girardin
The intestine is inhabited by a diverse range of microorganisms, which requires the host to employ numerous barrier measures to prevent bacterial invasion. However, the intestinal microbiota additionally acts symbiotically with host cells to maintain epithelial barrier function, and perturbation to this interaction plays a pivotal role in intestinal pathogenesis. In this review, we highlight current
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MiRNAs regulate iron homeostasis in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-11-04 Juliana S. de Curcio; Lucas Nojosa Oliveira; Mariana P. Batista; Evandro Novaes; Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
During pathogen interaction with the host, several mechanisms are used to favor or inhibit the infectious process; one is called nutritional immunity, characterized by restriction of micronutrients to pathogens. Several studies on fungi of the Paracoccidioides complex, have demonstrated that these pathogens remodel their metabolic pathways to overcome the hostile condition imposed by the host. However
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Identification of a large repetitive RTX immunogen in a highly virulent Rodentibacter heylii strain Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-10-23 Sophie Kähl; Daniela Volke; Juliane Fornefett; Felix Fingas; Kristin Klose; Laurentiu Benga; Thomas Grunwald; Reiner Ulrich; Ralf Hoffmann; Christoph Georg Baums
Rodentibacter (R.) heylii is frequently detected in laboratory rodents. Repeats in toxin (RTX) toxins are considered important virulent factors of this major murine pathogen. We evaluated the virulence of a R. heylii strain negative for all known RTX toxin genes and Muribacter (M.) muris, a commensal in mice, in experimental infections of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. Experimental intranasal infection with
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Binding Nemo Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-10-23 Sophia Häfner
Article highlight based on “SNW1 interacts with IKKγ to positively regulate antiviral innate immune responses against influenza A virus infection" by Qiao et al.
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TREM-1 enhances Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-10-10 Jia-Yih Feng; Wei-Juin Su; Fan-Yi Chuang; Sheng-Wei Pan; Yi-Chen Yeh; Yung-Yang Lin; Nien-Jung Chen
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1) extensively interacts with toll-like receptors and amplifies pro-inflammatory responses. The effect of TREM-1 on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-related immune responses remains to be elucidated. We isolated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from wild-type mice and Trem-1 KO mice and treated them with MTB whole cell lysate and EsxA (ESAT-6)
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Substantial induction of non-apoptotic CD4 T-cell death during the early phase of HIV-1 infection in a humanized mouse model Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-10-10 Kazutaka Terahara; Ryutaro Iwabuchi; Rieko Iwaki; Yoshimasa Takahashi; Yasuko Tsunetsugu-Yokota
Several mechanisms underline induction of CD4 T-cell death by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. For a long time, apoptosis was considered central to cell death involved in the depletion of CD4 T cells during HIV infection. However, which types of cell death are induced during the early phase of HIV infection in vivo remains unclear. In this study, CD4 T-cell death induced in early HIV infection
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Proteins produced by Streptococcus species in the lower respiratory tract can modify antiviral responses against influenza virus in respiratory epithelial cells Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-10-08 Keisuke Nishioka; Michihito Kyo; Takaaki Nakaya; Nobuaki Shime
Seasonal influenza spreads during winter in temperate countries. Primary viral pneumoniae resulting from aggravation triggers acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is a serious respiratory disorder. We have identified a unique pattern of lung microbiota in patients with the syndrome. In this study, we hypothesized that the unique microbiota was also associated with primary influenza viral pneumoniae
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Comparative proteomics in the three major human pathogenic species of the genus Sporothrix Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-28 Mirelle Garcia Silva-Bailão; Patrícia de Sousa Lima; Manoel Marques Evangelista de Oliveira; Luã Cardoso de Oliveira; Rodrigo Almeida-Paes; Clayton Luiz Borges; Alexandre Melo Bailão; Alexandre Siqueira Guedes Coelho; Célia Maria de Almeida Soares; Rosely Maria Zancopé-Oliveira
Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis of humans and other mammals, caused by dimorphic species of the genus Sporothrix. In Brazil, human disease is broadly linked to transmission by infected cats and is mainly caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis, Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix globosa. In this study, we used a nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry approach to provide
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Low-impact social distancing interventions to mitigate local epidemics of SARS-CoV-2 Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-22 Michael L. Jackson
Many jurisdictions implemented intensive social distancing to suppress SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The challenge now is to mitigate the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic without overburdening economic and social activities. An agent-based model simulated the population of King County, Washington. SARS-CoV-2 transmission probabilities were estimated by fitting simulated to observed hospital admissions. Interventions
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Trypanosoma cruzi down-regulates adiponectin expression in mouse adipocytes via the NFAT signaling pathway. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-18 Miguel H Santamaría,Luisa Delgado Ríos,Ricardo S Corral
Upon infection by Trypanosoma cruzi, adipocytes adopt a clearly defined inflammatory phenotype with concomitant down-regulation of adiponectin expression, which influences the pathogenesis of Chagas heart disease. Herein, we examined how T. cruzi interferes with transcriptional regulation of adiponectin production in mouse adipocytes. The invading pathogen activates the Ca2+/calcineurin/NFATc4 signaling
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Vaccines for COVID-19: perspectives from nucleic acid vaccines to BCG as delivery vector system. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-19 Nina Marí G P de Queiroz,Fabio V Marinho,Marcelo A Chagas,Luciana C C Leite,E Jane Homan,Mariana T Q de Magalhães,Sergio C Oliveira
This article discusses standard and new disruptive strategies in the race to develop an anti-COVID-19 vaccine. We also included new bioinformatic data from our group mapping immunodominant epitopes and structural analysis of the spike protein. Another innovative approach reviewed here is the use of BCG vaccine as priming strategy and/or delivery system expressing SARS-CoV-2 antigens.
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Anti-Science Extremism in America: Escalating and Globalizing. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-19 Peter J Hotez
The last five years has seen a sharp rise in anti-science rhetoric in the United States, especially from the political far right, mostly focused on vaccines and, of late, anti-COVID-19 prevention approaches. Vaccine coverage has declined in more than 100 US counties leading to measles outbreaks in 2019, while in 2020 the US became the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the anti-science movement
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Transcriptional ups and downs: patterns of gene expression in the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-12 Janak Sharma,Paula Rodriguez,Proyasha Roy,Pascale S Guiton
Toxoplasma gondii reproduces sexually in felines and asexually in virtually all warm-blooded animals, including humans. This obligate intracellular parasite alternates between biologically distinct developmental stages throughout its complex life cycle. Stage conversion is crucial for T. gondii transmission, persistence, and the maintenance of genetic diversity within the species. Genome-wide comparative
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Viral load of SARS-CoV-2 across patients and compared to other respiratory viruses. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-07 Damien Jacot,Gilbert Greub,Katia Jaton,Onya Opota
RT-PCRs to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA is key to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 viral loads from 22′323 RT-PCR results according to samples types, gender, age, and health units. Viral load did not show any difference across age and appears to be a poor predictor of disease outcome. SARS-CoV-2 viral load showed similar high viral loads than the one observed for RSV and influenza B. The
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The Pseudomonas aeruginosa HSP90-like protein HtpG regulates IL-8 expression through NF-κB/p38 MAPK and CYLD signaling triggered by TLR4 and CD91. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-05 Min-Koo Lee,Yeji Lee,Jin-Won Huh,Hao Chen,Weihui Wu,Un-Hwan Ha
Pulmonary infection activates acute inflammatory responses by recruiting neutrophils to the infection site; this recruitment is promoted by interleukin-8 (IL-8). However, IL-8 production in response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa HtpG (PA1596), a homolog of heat shock protein 90, has yet not been characterized in detail. htpG expression in P. aeruginosa strain was elevated upon infection of host cells,
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Improved binding of SARS-CoV-2 Envelope protein to tight junction-associated PALS1 could play a key role in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-04 Flavio De Maio,Ettore Lo Cascio,Gabriele Babini,Michela Sali,Stefano Della Longa,Bruno Tilocca,Paola Roncada,Alessandro Arcovito,Maurizio Sanguinetti,Giovanni Scambia,Andrea Urbani
The Envelope (E) protein of SARS-CoV-2 is the most enigmatic protein among the four structural ones. Most of its current knowledge is based on the direct comparison to the SARS E protein, initially mistakenly undervalued and subsequently proved to be a key factor in the ER-Golgi localization and in tight junction disruption. We compared the genomic sequences of E protein of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and
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N-acetyl-cysteine mediates protection against Mycobacterium avium through induction of human β-defensin-2 in a mouse lung infection model. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-01 Ayako Shiozawa,Chiaki Kajiwara,Yoshikazu Ishii,Kazuhiro Tateda
Mycobacterium avium complex is a causative organism for refractory diseases. In this study, we examined the effects of N-acetyl-cysteine on M. avium infection in vitro and in vivo. N-acetyl-cysteine treatment suppressed the growth of M. avium in A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect was related to the induction of the antibacterial peptide human β-defensin-2. In a mouse model
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BFRF1 protein is involved in EBV-mediated autophagy manipulation. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-09-01 Roberta Gonnella,Marzia Dimarco,Giuseppina A Farina,Roberta Santarelli,Sandro Valia,Alberto Faggioni,Antonio Angeloni,Mara Cirone,Antonella Farina
Viral egress and autophagy are two mechanisms that seem to be strictly connected in Herpesviruses’s biology. Several data suggest that the autophagic machinery facilitates the egress of viral capsids and thus the production of new infectious particles. In the Herpesvirus family, viral nuclear egress is controlled and organized by a well conserved group of proteins named Nuclear Egress Complex (NEC)
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Clinical bioinformatics for microbial genomics and metagenomics: an ESCMID Postgraduate Technical Workshop. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-08-22 Gilbert Greub,Patricia M Palagi,David Dylus,Adrian Egli,Trestan Pillonel,John W A Rossen,Helena M B Seth-Smith,Aitana Lebrand,
The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) workshop on genomics and metagenomics was held in Lausanne from 9th to 12th September 2019. As many as 68 participants from 20 countries from all 5 continents participated to this postgraduate technical workshop. During 4 days, the participants shared their time between conferences on various topics related to the implementation
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Schistosoma antigens as activators of inflammasome pathway: from an unexpected stimulus to an intriguing role. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-08-22 Rodrigo C O Sanches,Cláudia Souza,Sergio C Oliveira
Parasites of the genus Schistosoma are organisms capable of living for decades within the definitive host. They interfere with the immune response by interacting with host’s receptors. In this review, we discuss from the first reports to the most recent discoveries regarding the ability of Schistosoma antigens in triggering intracellular receptors and inducing inflammasome activation.
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Messages from the Fourth International Conference on Clinical Metagenomics. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-08-20 Yannick Charretier,Vladimir Lazarevic,Jacques Schrenzel,Etienne Ruppé
In recent years, clinical metagenomics (CMg), defined as the application of metagenomic sequencing of clinical samples to retrieve clinically relevant data, has evolved dramatically. Following this trend, the Fourth International Conference on Clinical Metagenomics (ICCMg4) was held in Geneva (Switzerland) on 17-18 October 2019. During these two days, several aspects of CMg were addressed and we propose
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SNW1 interacts with IKKγ to positively regulate antiviral innate immune responses against influenza A virus infection. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-08-14 Qiao Zhang,Taizhen Liang,Shuyin Gu,Yilu Ye,Shuwen Liu
The Ski-interacting protein (SNW1) acts as a transcriptional co-regulator associated with mRNA splicing and transcription, cell cycle progression, acute and chronic inflammatory responses, however, its role involved in host antiviral innate immune responses remains to be explored. Here, for the first time, we demonstrated that SNW1 positively regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and
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Headlines and hashtags: communicating science during an outbreak. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-08-12 Nichole Egbert,Catherine E Goodall,Jennifer L McCullough,Tara C Smith
Science and medical professionals are often looked to as experts in the event of a health crisis, but relatively few have received formal training in science communication. We provide a brief review of the current outbreak situation and suggestions for engaging in reliable, effective science communication online.
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Characterization of peripheral blood mononuclear cells gene expression profiles of pediatric Staphylococcus aureus persistent and non-carriers using a targeted assay. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-08-03 Elisabeth Israelsson,Damien Chaussabel,Rebecca S B Fischer,Heather C Moore,D Ashley Robinson,Jesse W Dunkle,Heather T Essigmann,Sharron Record,Eric L Brown
Defects in innate immunity affect many different physiologic systems and several studies of patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders demonstrated the importance of innate immune system components in disease prevention or colonization of bacterial pathogens. To assess the role of the innate immune system on nasal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus, innate immune responses in pediatric S
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Dihydromyricetin is a new inhibitor of influenza polymerase PB2 subunit and influenza-induced inflammation. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-15 Yuanxin Tian,Huiting Sang,Miaomiao Liu,Fangzhao Chen,Yingna Huang,Lin Li,Shuwen Liu,Jie Yang
Development of new and effective anti-influenza drugs is critical for the treatment of influenza virus infection. The polymerase basic 2 (PB2) subunit as a core subunit of influenza A virus RNA polymerase complex is considered to be an attractive drug target for anti-influenza drug discovery. Dihydromyricetin, as a natural flavonoid, has a wide range of biological activities, but its anti-influenza
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Influenza virus glycoprotein-reactive human monoclonal antibodies. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-19 Yanbai Li,Lili Wang,Helong Si,Zhengsen Yu,Shijun Tian,Rong Xiang,Xiaoqian Deng,Ruiying Liang,Shibo Jiang,Fei Yu
Influenza continues to be a significant public health challenge. Two glycoproteins on the surface of influenza virus, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, play a prominent role in the process of influenza virus infection and release. Monoclonal antibodies targeting glycoproteins can effectively prevent the spread of the virus. In this review, we summarized currently reported human monoclonal antibodies
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Pneumonia caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-16 Meili Wei,Yongjie Zhao,Zhuoyu Qian,Biao Yang,Jun Xi,Jun Wei,Bikui Tang
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top ten leading causes of death worldwide. The causative agent of TB is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Acute tuberculous pneumonia (TP) is an acute form of pulmonary TB. However, acute TP and non-tuberculous community-acquired pneumonia can be easily confused, resulting in deterioration of TP due to delayed treatment. Therefore, rapid and accurate diagnosis of acute TP
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Contribution of Complement System pathways to the killing of Leptospira spp. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-07-27 Priscilla Yuri Okochi Alves da Silva,Leonardo Moura Midon,Marcos Bryan Heinemann,Dewton de Moraes Vasconcelos,Angela Silva Barbosa,Lourdes Isaac
The Complement System (CS) plays an important role in the immune response against leptospirosis and can be activated by the Alternative and Lectin Pathways (Innate Immunity) and by the Classical Pathway (Acquired Immunity). Here we analyzed a broad range of nonpathogenic and pathogenic Leptospira strains considering their interaction with each CS pathway. We determined bacterial survival rate and CS
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Does the hygiene hypothesis apply to COVID-19 susceptibility? Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-07-09 Sharvan Sehrawat,Barry T Rouse
In this commentary we argue that the hygiene hypothesis may apply to COVID-19 susceptibility and also that residence in low hygienic conditions acts to train innate immune defenses to minimize the severity of infection. We advocate that approaches, which elevate innate immune functions, should be used to minimize the consequences of COVID-19 infection at least until effective vaccines and antiviral
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Coronavirus vaccine-associated lung immunopathology-what is the significance? Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-26 Maria Elena Bottazzi,Ulrich Strych,Peter J Hotez,David B Corry
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Out of the frying pan and into the fire? Due diligence warranted for ADE in COVID-19. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-24 Jeremia M Coish,Adam J MacNeil
Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) is an atypical immunological paradox commonly associated with dengue virus re-infection. However, various research models have demonstrated this phenomenon with other viral families, including Coronaviridae. Recently, ADE in SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as one hypothesis to explain severe clinical manifestations. Whether SARS-CoV-2 is augmented by ADE remains undetermined
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A massive systematic infection of Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype III in mice does not cause clinical signs. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-21 Bohumil Sak,Klára Brdíčková,Nikola Holubová,Dana Květoňová,Lenka Hlásková,Martin Kváč
Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype III disseminated intensively into most of the organs in all strains of mice, followed by a chronic infection with massive microsporidia persistence in immunodeficient mice and a partial decrease in C57Bl/6 mice. Treatment with 0.2 mg Albendazole/mouse/day temporarily reduces the number of affected organs in immunocompetent C57Bl/6 mice, but not in CD4−/− and CD8−/−
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Predictive factors of mortality in patients treated with tocilizumab for acute respiratory distress syndrome related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-20 Anne Lohse,Timothée Klopfenstein,Jean-Charles Balblanc,Pierre-Yves Royer,Marie Bossert,Vincent Gendrin,Aline Charpentier,Ana-Maria Bozgan,Julio Badie,Charlotte Bourgoin,Remy Contreras,Isabelle Mazurier,Thierry Conrozier,Souheil Zayet
COVID-19 patients (n = 34) suffering from ARDS were treated with tocilizumab (TCZ). Outcome was classified in two groups: “Death” and “Recovery”. Predictive factors of mortality were studied. Mean age was 75.3, mean oxygen (O2) requirements 10.4 l/min. At baseline, all patients had multiple biological abnormalities (lymphopenia, increased CRP, ferritin, fibrinogen, D-dimer and liver enzymes). 24 patients
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OmpA of Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883 induces pyroptosis in HEp-2 cells, leading to cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-19 Hee Sang You,Song Hee Lee,Sang Sun Kang,Sung Hee Hyun
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium that commonly causes pneumonia in elderly people. OmpA, a toxin that is highly expressed in the outer membrane of the bacterium, is one of the primary factors implicated in the pulmonary pathogenesis of K. pneumoniae. To evaluate the associated pyroptosis mechanism of infection, the ompA gene was cloned, and the protein was expressed, extracted
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Human mesenchymal stem cell based intracellular dormancy model of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-17 Vipul K Singh,Abhishek Mishra,Steven Bark,Arunmani Mani,Selvakumar Subbian,Robert L Hunter,Chinnaswamy Jagannath,Arshad Khan
Understanding the biology of the tuberculosis pathogen during dormant asymptomatic infection, called latent tuberculosis is crucial to decipher a resilient therapeutic strategy for the disease. Recent discoveries exhibiting presence of pathogen’s DNA and bacilli in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of human and mouse despite completion of antitubercular therapy, indicates that these specific cells could
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Clinical features of COVID-19 and influenza: a comparative study on Nord Franche-Comte cluster. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-16 Souheil Zayet,N'dri Juliette Kadiane-Oussou,Quentin Lepiller,Hajer Zahra,Pierre-Yves Royer,Lynda Toko,Vincent Gendrin,Timothée Klopfenstein
Clinical descriptions about influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in COVID-19 seem non-specific. We aimed to compare the clinical features of COVID-19 and influenza. We retrospectively investigated the clinical features and outcomes of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and influenza in Nord Franche-Comté Hospital between February 26th and March 14th 2020. We used SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and influenza virus A/B RT-PCR
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A tale of two microbes. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-15 Sophia Häfner
Article highlight based on “The microbiota protects against Pseudomonas aerigunosa pneumonia via γδ T cell-neutrophil axis in mice" by Li Wang et al.
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Phenotypic characterization of trimeric autotransporter adhesin-defective bcaC mutant of Burkholderia cenocepacia: cross-talk towards the histidine kinase BCAM0218. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-15 Andreia I Pimenta,Dalila Mil-Homens,Sandra N Pinto,Arsenio M Fialho
Burkholderia cenocepacia is a virulent species belonging to the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) and one of the most problematic agents of chronic lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients. B. cenocepacia possesses a large panel of virulence traits that include trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAAs). Such proteins are obligate homotrimeric anchored in the outer membrane. They are players in the
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Pathogenesis and immune response in Brucella infection acquired by the respiratory route. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-11 Mariana C Ferrero,Iván M Alonso Paiva,Florencia Muñoz González,Pablo C Baldi
Brucella infection is frequently acquired through the respiratory route. The pathogen disseminates systemically from the lungs to infect peripheral organs. In this review we summarize the existing data on the pathogenesis of inhalational Brucella infection, the pulmonary immune response to the pathogen, and potential strategies for inducing protective lung immunity.
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Increased IL-8 levels in HIV-infected individuals who initiated ART with CD4+ T cell counts <350 cells/mm3 - A potential hallmark of chronic inflammation. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-06-10 Joel Henrique Ellwanger,Jacqueline María Valverde-Villegas,Valéria de Lima Kaminski,Rúbia Marília de Medeiros,Sabrina Esteves de Matos Almeida,Breno Riegel Santos,Marineide Gonçalves de Melo,Fernanda Schäfer Hackenhaar,José Artur Bogo Chies
The identification of inflammatory markers in HIV+ individuals on ART is fundamental since chronic ART-controlled HIV infection is linked to an increased inflammatory state. In this context, we assessed plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-12p70) of HIV+ individuals who initiated ART after immunosuppression (CD4+ T cell counts <350 cells/mm3). HIV+ individuals were stratified
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pspK acquisition contributes to the loss of capsule in pneumococci: molecular characterisation of non-encapsulated pneumococci. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-26 Takeaki Wajima,Haruna Ishikawa,Akane Iris Matsuzawa,Kanae Yamashita,Shiori Suzuki,Ryuji Osato,Hidemasa Nakaminami,Norihisa Noguchi
With the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), the number of cases of non-vaccine type pneumococci and non-encapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae (NESp) infection have increased. In order to clarify how pspK-harbouring NESp might have emerged, we characterised NESp and analysed the correlation between transformation and non-encapsulation. A total of 26 NESp strains were used in this
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Same same but different - Antiviral factors interfering with the infectivity of HIV particles. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-22 Fabian Kriesel,Luca Schelle,Hanna-Mari Baldauf
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Novel strategies to combat this pandemic include the discovery of cellular proteins targeting distinct steps of the HIV replication cycle. Here, we summarize our current knowledge on antiviral proteins interfering with the infectivity of released HIV particles.
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Immunoinformatic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein as a strategy to assess cross-protection against COVID-19. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-21 Bruno Tilocca,Alessio Soggiu,Maurizio Sanguinetti,Gabriele Babini,Flavio De Maio,Domenico Britti,Alfonso Zecconi,Luigi Bonizzi,Andrea Urbani,Paola Roncada
Envelope protein of coronaviruses is a structural protein existing in both monomeric and homo-pentameric form. It has been related to a multitude of roles including virus infection, replication, dissemination and immune response stimulation. In the present study, we employed an immunoinformatic approach to investigate the major immunogenic domains of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein and map them among
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Development of small-molecule inhibitors against hantaviruses. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-20 Xiaoqian Deng,Shijun Tian,Zhengsen Yu,Lili Wang,Ruiying Liang,Yanbai Li,Rong Xiang,Shibo Jiang,Tianlei Ying,Fei Yu
Hantavirus (HV), a pathogen of animal infectious diseases that poses a threat to humans, has attracted extensive attention. Clinically, HV can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), between which HFRS is mostly in Eurasia, and HPS is mostly in the Americas. This paper reviews the research progress of small-molecule inhibitors of HV.
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Arbidol/IFN-α2b therapy for patients with corona virus disease 2019: a retrospective multicenter cohort study. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-20 Ping Xu,Jianping Huang,Zhao Fan,Wendi Huang,Minghua Qi,Xuwen Lin,Weidong Song,Li Yi
The spread of COVID-19 is accelerating. At present, there is no specific antiviral drugs for COVID-19 outbreak. This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection pneumonia from 3 hospitals in Hubei and Guangdong province, 141 adults (aged ≥18 years) without ventilation were included. Combined group patients were given Arbidol and IFN-α2b, monotherapy
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COVID19 meets the antivaccine movement. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-19 Peter J Hotez
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Hypoxia promotes Chlamydia trachomatis L2/434/Bu growth in immortal human epithelial cells via activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway and maintenance of a balanced NAD+/NADH ratio. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-19 Jeewan Thapa,Kent Hashimoto,Saori Sugawara,Ryoya Tsujikawa,Torahiko Okubo,Shinji Nakamura,Hiroyuki Yamaguchi
Chlamydia trachomatis LGV (CtL2) causes systemic infection and proliferates in lymph nodes as well as genital tract or rectum producing a robust inflammatory response, presumably leading to a low oxygen environment. We therefore assessed how CtL2 growth in immortal human epithelial cells adapts to hypoxic conditions. Assessment of inclusion forming units, the quantity of chlamydial 16S rDNA, and inclusion
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Clinical characteristics and co-infections of 354 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-18 Zhihua Lv,Shaohua Cheng,Juan Le,Jingtao Huang,Lina Feng,Binghong Zhang,Yan Li
From December 2019, a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, caused an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan city and rapidly spread throughout China and globally. However, the clinical characteristics and co-infection with other respiratory pathogens of patients with COVID-19 and the factors associated with severity of COVID-19 are still limited. In this retrospective cohort study, we included 354 inpatients with
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A preliminary study on serological assay for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 238 admitted hospital patients. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-18 Lei Liu,Wanbing Liu,Yaqiong Zheng,Xiaojing Jiang,Guomei Kou,Jinya Ding,Qiongshu Wang,Qianchuan Huang,Yinjuan Ding,Wenxu Ni,Wanlei Wu,Shi Tang,Li Tan,Zhenhong Hu,Weitian Xu,Yong Zhang,Bo Zhang,Zhongzhi Tang,Xinhua Zhang,Honghua Li,Zhiguo Rao,Hui Jiang,Xingfeng Ren,Shengdian Wang,Shangen Zheng
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serological assay for SARS-CoV-2. A newly-developed ELISA assay for IgM and IgG antibodies against N protein of SARS-CoV-2 was used to screen the serums of 238 admitted hospital patients between February 6 and February 14, 2020 with confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected on pharyngeal swab specimens using real time
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Covid-19 accelerates endothelial dysfunction and nitric oxide deficiency. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-16 Shawn J Green
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Comparative review of respiratory diseases caused by coronaviruses and influenza A viruses during epidemic season. Microbes Infect. (IF 2.373) Pub Date : 2020-05-13 Chao Jiang,Xingang Yao,Yulin Zhao,Jianmin Wu,Pan Huang,Chunhua Pan,Shuwen Liu,Chungen Pan
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to sweep the world, causing infection of millions and death of hundreds of thousands. The respiratory disease that it caused, COVID-19 (stands for coronavirus disease in 2019), has similar clinical symptoms with other two CoV diseases, severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome (SARS and MERS), of which
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