Publications by authors named "B G WREN"

Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) is a human-exclusive bacterial pathogen killing annually more than 500,000 patients, and no current licensed vaccine exists. Strep A bacteria are highly diverse, but all produce an essential, abundant, and conserved surface carbohydrate, the Group A Carbohydrate, which contains a rhamnose polysaccharide (RhaPS) backbone. RhaPS is a validated universal vaccine candidate in a glycoconjugate prepared by chemical conjugation of the native carbohydrate to a carrier protein.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

is the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis and is a major public health concern worldwide. Despite its importance, our understanding of how causes diarrhoea and interacts with its hosts is limited due to the absence of appropriate infection models and established virulence factors found in other enteric pathogens. Additionally, despite its genetic diversity, non-pathogenic strains are unknown.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Virulence studies on the one-carbon metabolism pathway and proline synthesis indicate their importance in the infection process, particularly in Δ and Δ mutant strains of capsular serotype 6B BHN418.* -
  • These mutant strains showed significantly reduced virulence in models of mouse sepsis and pneumonia despite being able to colonize the nasopharynx and grow normally in nutrient-rich environments.* -
  • Differences in metabolic profiles and gene transcription under various stress conditions revealed strain-specific effects on virulence and metabolism, underscoring the need for rapid adaptation to host physiological conditions.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased susceptibility to infections, including those caused by . Why RA is associated with increased susceptibility to is poorly understood. This study aims to assess the effects of RA and B-cell depletion therapy on naturally acquired antibody responses to 289  protein antigens using a novel protein array.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Acanthamoeba, are ubiquitous eukaryotic microorganisms, that play a pivotal role in recognizing and engulfing various microbes during predation, offering insights into microbial dynamics and immune responses. An intriguing observation lies in the apparent preference of Acanthamoeba for Gram-negative over Gram-positive bacteria, suggesting potential differences in the recognition and response mechanisms to bacterial prey. Here, we comprehensively review pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and microbe associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) that influence Acanthamoeba interactions with bacteria.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF