Publications by authors named "Agustin Lujan"

The significant impact of infections worldwide highlights the need to develop a prophylactic vaccine that elicits effective immunity and protects the host from the immunopathological effects of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate a vaccine based on a fragment of the Polymorphic membrane protein D (FPmpD) of as an immunogen using a heterologous DNA prime-protein boost strategy in female mice Three different formulations were evaluated as protein boost: free recombinant FPmpD (rFPmpD) or rFPmpD formulated with a liposomal adjuvant alternatively supplemented with CpG or a cationic lipopeptide as immunostimulants. The three candidates induced an increase in the cervicovaginal and systemic titers of anti-rFPmpD antibodies in two strains of mice (BALB/c and C57BL/6), with no evidence of fertility alterations.

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Agonist-mediated stimulated pathway of mucin and insulin release are biphasic in which rapid fusion of pre-docked granules is followed by slow docking and fusion of granules from the reserve pool. Here, based on a cell-culture system, we show that plasma membrane-located tetraspanin-8 sequesters syntaxin-2 to control mucin release. Tetraspanin-8 affects fusion of granules during the second phase of stimulated mucin release.

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We show that TANGO2 in mammalian cells localizes predominantly to mitochondria and partially at mitochondria sites juxtaposed to lipid droplets (LDs) and the endoplasmic reticulum. HepG2 cells and fibroblasts of patients lacking TANGO2 exhibit enlarged LDs. Quantitative lipidomics revealed a marked increase in lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and a concomitant decrease in its biosynthetic precursor phosphatidic acid (PA).

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The control of the worldwide spread of sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection urgently demands the development of a preventive vaccine. In this work, we designed a vaccine based on a fragment of polymorphic protein D (FPmpD) that proved to be immunogenic enough to generate a robust systemic and mucosal IgG humoral immune response in two strains of mice. We used a heterologous prime-boost strategy, including simultaneous systemic and mucosal administration routes.

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Article Synopsis
  • Over one million people globally get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) every day, significantly impacting women's reproductive health and leading to social discrimination.
  • Galectins, proteins that bind to specific sugars, play a crucial role in how various STIs, like Chlamydia and HIV, invade host cells by facilitating their entry and survival in the cervico-vaginal tissue.
  • Targeting galectins with specific therapies could offer new ways to prevent and treat STIs, potentially reducing costs and benefiting vulnerable populations.
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is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen in humans and a frequent cause of asymptomatic, persistent infections leading to serious complications, particularly in young women. displays a unique obligate intracellular lifestyle involving the infectious elementary body and the replicative reticulate body. In the presence of stressors such as gamma-interferon (IFNγ) or beta-lactam antibiotics, undergoes an interruption in its replication cycle and enters a viable but non-cultivable state.

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Rab GTPases define the identity and destiny of vesicles. Some of these small GTPases present isoforms that are expressed differentially along developmental stages or in a tissue-specific manner, hence comparative analysis is difficult to achieve. Here, we describe the intracellular distribution and function in lipid transport of the poorly characterized Rab39 isoforms using typical cell biology experimental tools and new ones developed in our laboratory.

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() constitutes the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterium worldwide. Chlamydial infections can lead to severe clinical sequelae including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and tubal infertility. As an obligate intracellular pathogen, has evolved multiple strategies to promote adhesion and invasion of host cells, including those involving both bacterial and host glycans.

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High fructose intake induces an insulin resistance state associated with metabolic syndrome (MS). The effect of vascular inflammation in this model is not completely addressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate vascular remodeling, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, and atheroma development in high-fructose diet-induced insulin resistance of ApoE-deficient mice (ApoE-KO).

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