Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important pathogen that causes otitis media, pneumonia, meningitis and bacteremia. As an important virulence factors of S. pneumoniae, pneumolysin (PLY) can penetrate cell membranes and lead to cell lysis and inflammation, which is one of the main causes of infection and damage of S. pneumoniae. Therefore, using pneumolysin as a target to study its inhibitors can provide

Among millions of reported fungal species, only a few hundred species are capable of causing diseases in humans and animals that range from superficial to life-threatening infections. Both immunocompetent as well as immunocompromised patients with underlying diseases, such as AIDS, diabetes, etc., are at higher risk of acquiring fungal infections. Superficial mycoses invade the stratum corneum and

Background Measles was eliminated from the United States in 2000, following a change from a single dose of measles vaccine to two doses after an epidemic 1989-1991. Several college campuses experienced outbreaks, including Kent State University (KSU) in Ohio. Methods Local news media from 1988-1989 were searched in August 2019. Interventions taken by the university were recorded, and an epidemic curve

Phytomelatonin is a pleiotropic molecule that originated in higher plants with many diverse actions and is primarily an antioxidant. The recent identification and advancement of phytomelatonin unraveled the potential of this modulatory molecule being considered a new plant hormone, suggesting its relevance in treating respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Besides, this molecule is also involved

Development of a protective vaccine against Leishmania depends on antigen formulation and adjuvants that induce specific immunity and long-lasting immune responses. We previously demonstrated that BALB/c mice intranasally vaccinated with a plasmid DNA encoding the p36/LACK leishmanial antigen (LACK-DNA) develop a protective immunity for up to 3 months after vaccination, which was linked with the systemic

We aimed to compare the genetic diversity existing in VTEC O157:H7 strains isolated from cases of human disease from Argentina and Chile. For it, 76 strains were studied in relation to the distribution of genes encoding virulence factors and subtyped by lineage-specific polymorphisms (LSPA-6), and phylogroups assignment. Our results show the almost exclusive circulation of VTEC O157:H7 isolates belonging

Chemokine CXC motif ligand 16 (CXCL16) is an important mediator that has been shown to participate in various human diseases. The role of CXCL16 in the immunopathology of sepsis remains unidentified. In this study, we found that human patients with sepsis had significantly higher soluble levels of serum CXCL16 than healthy volunteers on day of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Soluble CXCL16 remained

Non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) and Staphylococcus aureus are pathogens that cause bovine mastitis, a costly disease for dairy farmers, however; many NAS are considered part of the normal udder microbiota. It has been suggested that through a mechanism that remains to be elucidated, NAS intramammary colonization can prevent subsequent infection with other bacterial pathogens. This study shows that in

The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is causing a severe global health emergency owing to its highly infectious nature. Although the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 are well known but its impact on nasopharyngeal microbiome is poorly studied. The present cross-sectional study was intended to understand the perturbation in the nasopharyngeal microbiome composition

Many infection control measures have been implemented to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 epidemic on the other notifiable infectious diseases in China, including respiratory infectious diseases, diseases transmitted through the digestive tract and animal-borne diseases. Compared with 2019, the overall decline rate of respiratory

Influenza is an acute respiratory disease and a global health problem. Although influenza vaccines are commercially available, frequent antigenic changes in hemagglutinin might render them less effective or unavailable. We previously reported that modified outer membrane vesicle (fmOMV) provided immediate and robust protective immunity against various subtypes of influenza virus. However, the effect

Background Insects models are excellent models of the innate immune system, as they are free from the influences of the vertebrate adaptive immunity. Crickets are hemimetabolous insects belonging to the order Orthopteran order that have not been as extensively characterized as other holometabolous insects, and may provide new insights to the insect immune responses. In this study, we aim to characterize

Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 13 (USP13) has been reported to participate in tumorigenesis, cell cycle arrest, endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation, and immune responses. Here, we explored the function of USP13 in pro-inflammatory cytokine production of macrophages and its role in mouse sepsis model. Primary bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) isolated from wild type (WT) and USP13MKO mice

High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients are associated with tissue damage and ulcer development. We found higher levels of TNF and IL-1β in peripheral blood mononuclear cell supernatants in response to soluble Leishmania antigen in individuals with a longer duration of disease. In addition, L. braziliensis-infected patients with a longer disease progression before

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of Lycopene in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (USA 300)-induced inflammation and to elucidate the potential mechanism of its action. The direct effect of Lycopene on S. aureus USA300 growth was determined via growth curves assay, and α-Hemolysin (Hla) release of S. aureus USA300 using hemolysis assay. Furthermore, S. aureus USA300 infected mouse

Our understanding of the composition and the function of the intestinal microbiota has significantly increased over the past few years. In a series of reviews focusing on the role of the intestinal microbiota in health and disease, we explore recent conceptual and technological advances in this rapidly evolving research arena.

Quorum Sensing (QS) system regulates gene expression in response to a change in the density of the bacterial population. Facultative pathogen Serratia proteamaculans 94 has a LuxI/LuxR type QS system consisting of regulatory protein SprR and AHL synthase SprI. Invasive activity of these bacteria appears at the stationary growth phase corresponding to a maximal density of the bacterial population in

COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruption of global health and devastated the socio-economic conditions all over the world. The disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus that belongs to the family of Coronaviruses which are known to cause a wide spectrum of diseases both in humans and animals. One of the characteristic features of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the high reproductive rate (R0) that results

Former studies have revealed intersex variability in immune response to infectious diseases, including Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Epidemiological surveillance of the ongoing pandemic has demonstrated a male vulnerability to morbidity and mortality, despite similar infection rates between the two sexes. Divergence in the

As a disease with high mortality,many cytokines and signaling pathways are associated with sepsis.The pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are participating in the pathogenesis of sepsis, especially in early stage. Moreover, the releases and expressions of cytokines are regulated by numerous signaling pathways, including TLR4/ERK pathway. But despite many studies have expounded the pathogenesis

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts and the broader public have vigorously debated the means by which SARS CoV-2 is spread. And understandably so, for identifying the routes of transmission is crucial for selecting appropriate nonpharmaceutical interventions to control the pandemic. The most controversial question in the debate is the role played by airborne transmission. What is at stake

We investigated fluctuations in the detection rates of avian influenza virus (AIV) subtypes H5, H7, and H9 in live bird markets (LBMs) in Nanchang city, Chinese province Jiangxi, before and after the Chinese nationwide AIV vaccination campaign against highly pathogenic (HP) AIV subtype H5 and H7. Samples were tested for nucleic acid of type A avian influenza virus by real-time reverse transcription

Facultative anaerobes are the most common cause of infections in anoxic parts of the human body, including deep wound, vagina, periodontal pockets, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tract and lungs. Generally, antibiotic susceptibility tests (AST) for facultative anaerobes are performed under aerobic conditions due to ease of handling and rapid growth. However, variation in susceptibility of facultative

Routinely, studies were performed using age-synchronized group of C. elegans as host which suggested a collective response by the host system. Here, we report the modulation of immune response in a single nematode against Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis. Initially, the survival of wild-type N2 was tested and was found that S. aureus killed single nematode at 42 h while P. mirabilis failed

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that has acquired resistance to all available drugs. The rise in multi-drug resistance in A. baumannii has been exacerbated by its ability to tolerate antibiotics due to the persister cells, which are phenotypic variants of normal cells that can survive various stress conditions, resulting in chronicity of infection. In the present study we observed

Primary influenza virus (IV) infection can predispose hosts to secondary infection with Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae), which further increases the severity and mortality of the disease. While adhesion molecules play a key role in the host inflammatory response and H. influenzae colonization, it remains to be clarified which types of adhesion molecules are associated with H. influenzae colonization

SARS-CoV-2 has infected more than 152 million individuals globally. Highly effective and safe vaccines are required to accelerate the development of herd immunity to end the pandemic. This review focuses on vaccines that are being developed at unprecedented speed globally and are completing late phase clinical trials to meet this urgent need.

Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum are two closely related parasites that infect humans and pigs. The zoonotic potential of A. suum has been a matter of debate for decades. Here we sought to investigate the potential human infection by A. suum and its immunological alterations. We orally infected five healthy human subjects with eggs embraced by A. suum. The infection was monitored for symptoms and possible

Strain Marseille-P1302 was isolated from the stool of a 2-year-old Nigerian boy suffering from Kwashiorkor, a form of severe acute malnutrition. The strain grows in aerobic atmosphere and bacterial cells are Gram-positive cocci ranging in diameter from 0.8 to 1 μm. Strain Marseille-P1302 exhibits a 16S rRNA sequence similarity of 94.97% with Brevilactibacter flavus strain VG341T, but phylogenetically-closest

Cell invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi extracellular amastigotes (EAs) relies significantly upon the host cell actin cytoskeleton. In past decades EAs have been established as a reliable model for phagocytosis inducer in non-phagocytic cells. Our current hypothesis is that EAs engage a phagocytosis-like mechanism in non-professional phagocytic cells; however, the molecular mechanisms in professional phagocytes

The present contribution analyses sanitary theatrical performances as a means of anti-tuberculosis propaganda in the early Soviet Union. Starting in the 1920s, sanitary theatrical performances were demonstrated in open-air theatres and clubhouses for workers and farmers. Since 1925, the newly founded Moscow Theatre for Sanitary Culture centrally managed the theatrical hygiene propaganda. It became

Whether autophagy affects methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-induced sepsis and the associated mechanisms are largely unknown. This study investigated the role of autophagy in MRSA-induced sepsis. The levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II/I, Beclin-1 and p62 after USA300 infection were examined by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Bacterial

This paper reviews epigenetic mechanisms by which influenza viruses affect cellular gene activity to control their life cycles, aiming to provide new insights into the complexity of functional interactions between viral and cellular factors, as well as to introduce novel targets for therapeutic intervention and vaccine development against influenza infections.

Gene therapy has become a treatment method for many diseases. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is one of the most common virus vectors, is also widely used in the gene therapy field. During the past 2 decades, the retrograde axonal transportability of AAV has been discovered and utilized. Many studies have worked on the retrograde axonal transportability of AAV, and more and more people are interested

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

Respiratory tract coinfections, specifically involving influenza A virus (IAV) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), remain a major health problem worldwide. Secondary bacterial pneumonia is a common complication and an important cause of mortality related to seasonal and pandemic influenza infections. Vaccination is a basic control strategy against influenza and S. pneumoniae. The fusion protein

The microbiota is a driving force that influences host physiological functions. In this review, we discuss some of the methods that have been used in the pursuit of relevant host–microbiota interactions that control immune fitness and disease susceptibility, with a focus on dirty mice which have been recently incorporated in the immunologist's toolkit.

Defined gut microbial communities are emerging tools that allow detailed studies of microbial ecosystems and their interactions with the host. In this article, we review strategies underlying the design of defined consortia and summarize the efforts to introduce simplified communities into in vitro and in vivo models. We conclude by highlighting the potential of defined microbial ecosystems as effective

This retrospective study evaluated stored nasopharyngeal swab samples from Japanese patients with influenza-like illness during the 2019/2020 season. We aimed to determine whether COVID-19 had spread in the community before the first confirmed case. The period of influenza season during 2019/2020 in Nagasaki was shorter than in previous influenza seasons. When the first COVID-19 case was reported in

The human gut hosts a dense and diverse microbial community, spatially organized in multiple scales of structure. Here, we review how microbial organization differs between health and disease. We describe how changes in spatial organization may induce alterations in gut homeostasis, concluding with a future outlook to reveal causality.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) are highly influenced by changes in the microbiota and of microbiota-derived metabolites, including short chain fatty acids, bile acids, and tryptophan derivatives. This review will discuss the effects of microbiota-derived metabolites on neuroinflammation driven by central nervous system-resident cells and peripheral immune

An unusual clonal gammopathy was reported in COVID-19 patient but whether this anomaly is related or not to the disease has not yet been clarified. To this aim, we selected a cohort of 35 COVID-19 patients swab positive and investigated serological levels of IL-6, immune response to major viral antigens and electrophoretic profile. Elevated levels of IL-6 were accompanied by a significative humoral

The objective of this project was to conduct a feasibility study to determine whether the Brucella abortus S19 vaccine infects and persists in mice and determine whether S19 can be used as a challenge strain for vaccine trial studies. Groups of BALB/c mice were inoculated (intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, intranasally) and euthanized to determine colonization titers in the spleens and lungs. This

In the coming months, most American adults will have the opportunity to receive at least one of up to five different COVID-19 vaccines produced by Operation Warp Speed and released through emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A similar group of vaccines will also be released in Europe by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and in the United Kingdom by the Medicines

SARS-CoV-2 as a new global threat has affected global population for one year. Despite the great effort to eradicate this infection, there are still some challenges including different viral presentation, temporal immunity in infected individuals and variable data of viral shedding. We studied 255 COVID-19 suspected individuals to assess the viral shedding duration and also the antibody development

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is essential for reducing the reservoir of latent virus in persons living with HIV-1 (PLWH). This study evaluated the plasma's ADCC activity from treatment-naïve PLWH based on target cells with or without CD4 molecules. We found that the distribution of plasma activities to mediate ADCC is different between 8E5 cells (CD4-) and NL4-3-infected CEM.NKR

This study aimed to investigate the frequency and characteristics of respiratory co-infections in COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). In this retrospective observational study, pathogens responsible for potential co-infections were detected by the bacterial culture, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), or serological fungal antigen tests. Demographic and clinical characteristics

Humoral immunity is critical for limiting Plasmodium parasite infections and the severity of malaria. Naturally acquired immunity against malaria occurs inefficiently and protection is relatively short-lived. Here we review recent advances and explore emerging hypotheses regarding the molecular and cellular pathways that regulate Plasmodium parasite-specific B cell responses and durable anti-malarial

We describe 3 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 in health care workers in France involving presumed clinical and microbiological recurrence after recovery. All patients were immunocompetent with clinical mild form. These cases highlight the possibility of coronavirus disease–recurrence.

The link between the gut microbiome and responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is now well established. New therapeutic opportunities exploiting this relationship are being developed with the goal of augmenting ICI efficacy. In this review, we summarize the foundational research establishing these interactions and discuss the mechanisms and novel therapeutic options associated

Objectives The interferon (IFN) is known to bridge innate and adaptive immune responses, and to play a critical role particularly against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Defects in IFN signals may result, therefore, in attenuated responses against HBV. Accordingly, polymorphisms in genes coding for immune response effectors may affect the clinical outcome of HBV infection. We analyzed the putative

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen. BamA is a protein that belongs to a complex responsible for organizing the proteins on the bacterial outer membrane. In this work, we aimed to evaluate murine immune responses to BamA recombinant protein (rAbBamA) from A. baumannii in an animal model of infection, and to assess cross-reactivity of this target for the development of anti-A

Co-occurrence of bacterial infections with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global problem. Melioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei is 10 times more likely to occur in patients with T2D, than in normoglycemic individuals. Using an experimental model of T2D, we observed that greater susceptibility in T2D was due to differences in proportions of infiltrating leucocytes and reduced levels of MCP-1,

To create an intracellular niche permissive for its replication, Legionella pneumophila uses hundreds of effectors to target a wide variety of host proteins and manipulate specific host processes such as immune response, and vesicle trafficking. To avoid unwanted disruption of host physiology, this pathogen also imposes precise control of its virulence by the use of effectors called metaeffectors to