Publications by authors named "Avanish K Varshney"

Background: CD3-based bispecific T cell engagers (bsTCEs) are one of the most promising bispecific antibodies for effective cancer treatments. To elicit target-specific T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, these bsTCEs contain at least one binding unit directed against a tumor antigen and another binding unit targeting CD3 in T cell receptor complex. Development of CD3-based bsTCEs, however, has been severely hampered by dose-limiting toxicities due to cytokine release syndrome.

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Staphylococcus aureus can cause devastating and life-threatening infections. With the increase in multidrug resistant strains, novel therapies are needed. Limited success with active and passive immunization strategies have been attributed to S.

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Staphylococcus aureus is a leading infectious cause of life-threatening disease in humans, yet there is currently no vaccine to combat this bacterium. The pathogenesis of S. aureus is mediated by a diverse array of protein toxins including a large family of secreted pyrogenic superantigens.

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Cryptococcus neoformans is a facultative intracellular fungal pathogen that has a polysaccharide capsule and causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis. Its capsule, as well as its ability to survive in the acidic environment of the phagolysosome, contributes to the pathogen's resilience in the host environment. Previously, we reported that downregulation of allergen 1 (ALL1) results in the secretion of a shorter, more viscous exopolysaccharide with less branching and structural complexity, as well as altered iron homeostasis.

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Unlabelled: Methamphetamine (METH) is a major drug of abuse in the United States and worldwide. Furthermore, Staphylococcus aureus infections and METH use are coemerging public health problems. S.

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Staphylococcus aureus is a common nosocomial infection and its resistance to penicillin and methicillin antibiotics is a growing clinical problem. We previously described the development of a humanized anti-Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) antibody derived from the mouse antibody made by the 20B1 hybridoma. This antibody was humanized and characterized kinetically by surface plasmon resonance demonstrating that the humanized clones retained binding to SEB.

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Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a superantigen that cross-links the major histocompatibility complex class II and specific V-β chains of the T-cell receptor, thus forming a ternary complex. Developing neutralizing mAb to disrupt the ternary complex and abrogate the resulting toxicity is a major therapeutic challenge because SEB is effective at very low concentrations. We show that combining two SEB-specific mAbs enhances their efficacy, even though one of the two mAbs by itself has no effect on neutralization.

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Background: Some Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes express an ahemolytic pneumolysin (PLYa). Serotypes that commonly express PLYa, including serotype 8 (ST8) and ST1, are often associated with a low prevalence during colonization but a higher propensity to cause invasive disease. We sought to study the host response to ST8 PLYa in a homologous and heterologous capsular background.

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Unlabelled: Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a potent toxin that is produced by Staphylococcus aureus strains and is classified as a category B select agent. We have previously shown that monoclonal antibody (MAb) 20B1, a murine anti-SEB IgG1, successfully treats SEB-induced lethal shock (SEBILS) and bacteremia that is caused by SEB-producing S. aureus.

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Staphylococcal enterotoxin-like K (SEl-K) is a potent mitogen that elicits T-cell proliferation and cytokine production at very low concentrations. However, unlike the classical enterotoxins SEB and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1), the gene for SEl-K is commonly present in more than half of all Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates and is present in almost all USA300 community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) isolates.

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Background: Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), a potential biological warfare agent, is a potent superantigen that contributes to the virulence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is a major health threat in the United States. Efforts to develop toxin-neutralizing antibodies as adjunctive therapies are justified, given the high mortality and frequent failure of therapy despite available antibiotics.

Methods: Murine SEB-specific mAb 20B1 was humanized, and treatment benefits of Hu-1.

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Staphylococcal enterotoxin B is one of the most potent bacterial superantigens that exerts profound toxic effects upon the immune system, leading to stimulation of cytokine release and inflammation. It is associated with food poisoning, nonmenstrual toxic shock, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and nasal polyps in humans. Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine available.

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Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major health threat in the United States. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a potent superantigen that contributes to its virulence. High mortality and frequent failure of therapy despite available antibiotics have stimulated research efforts to develop adjunctive therapies.

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Article Synopsis
  • LukF-PV was found in 36% of MSSA strains from skin and soft tissue infections, showing six different clones with fewer enterotoxin genes compared to strains without it.
  • The clinical outcomes and presentations of SSTIs caused by lukF-PV(+) MRSA and MSSA were similar.
  • In a multivariable analysis, the presence of lukF-PV was a significant predictor for the need for incision and drainage in MSSA infections.
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Acute postoperative and acute, late hematogenous prosthetic joint infections have been treated with 1-stage irrigation and debridement with polyethylene exchange. Success rates, however, are highly variable. Reported studies demonstrate that detergents are effective at decreasing bacterial colony counts on orthopedic implants.

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T-cell stimulating activity of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is an important factor in the pathogenesis of certain staphylococcal diseases including SEB mediated shock. SEB is one of the most potent superantigens known and treatment of SEB induced shock remains a challenge. We generated and characterized murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to SEB in mice.

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The role of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) in Staphylococcus aureus infections is controversial. We used a mouse model of skin infection to compare the virulence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S.

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Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) can cause toxin-mediated disease, and those that function as superantigens are implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. The prevalence of 19 enterotoxin genes was determined by PCR in clinical S. aureus strains derived from wounds (108) and blood (99).

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The role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection as a trigger for asthma exacerbations is well supported in previous studies. This study was designed to investigate the role of M. pneumoniae infection in acute exacerbation of asthma in children.

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Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a self-replicating cell wall-deficient prokaryote, has a differentiated terminal organelle that is essential for cytadherence and gliding motility. P30, an important protein associated with the terminal organelle, is required for the cytadherence and virulence of M. pneumoniae.

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Mycoplasmas are unique cell wall deficient, cholesterol requiring, highly pleomorphic bacteria that possess very small genome. M. pneumoniae is an important human pathogen that possesses specialized tip organelle to mediate cytadherence.

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