Exploring the potential of self-pulsing optical microresonators for spiking neural networks and sensing.

Photonic platforms are promising for implementing neuromorphic hardware due to their high processing speed, low power consumption, and ability to perform parallel processing. A ubiquitous device in integrated photonics, which has been extensively employed for the realization of optical neuromorphic hardware, is the microresonator. The ability of CMOS-compatible silicon microring resonators to store energy enhances the nonlinear interaction between light and matter, enabling energy efficient nonlinearity, fading memory and the generation of spikes via self-pulsing.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Responses in Anti-CD20-Treated Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients Show Immunosenescence in Antigen-Specific B and T Cells.

Clinical, pathological, and imaging evidence in multiple sclerosis (MS) shows that inflammation starts early and progresses with age. B cells play a central role in this process, contributing to cytokine production, defective regulatory functions, and abnormal immunoglobulin production, even in the central nervous system. Anti-CD20 (aCD20) therapies, which deplete CD20 B cells, are largely used in the treatment of both relapsing remitting (RR) and progressive (PR) forms of MS.

On the spectral response of a taiji-CROW device.

Physical systems with topological properties are robust against disorder. However, implementing them in integrated photonic devices is challenging because of the various fabrication imperfections and/or limitations that affect the spectral response of their building blocks. One such feature is strong backscattering due to the surface wall roughness of the waveguides, which can flip the propagating modes to counterpropagating modes and destroy the desired topological behavior.

The Interplay between Antibiotics and the Host Immune Response in Sepsis: From Basic Mechanisms to Clinical Considerations: A Comprehensive Narrative Review.

Sepsis poses a significant global health challenge due to immune system dysregulation. This narrative review explores the complex relationship between antibiotics and the immune system, aiming to clarify the involved mechanisms and their clinical impacts. From pre-clinical studies, antibiotics exhibit various immunomodulatory effects, including the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, interaction with Toll-Like Receptors, modulation of the P38/Pmk-1 Pathway, inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinases, blockade of nitric oxide synthase, and regulation of caspase-induced apoptosis.

Cell metabolism: Functional and phenotypic single cell approaches.

Several metabolic pathways are essential for the physiological regulation of immune cells, but their dysregulation can cause immune dysfunction. Hypermetabolic and hypometabolic states represent deviations in the magnitude and flexibility of effector cells in different contexts, for example in autoimmunity, infections or cancer. To study immunometabolism, most methods focus on bulk populations and rely on in vitro activation assays.

Immunosenescence and vaccine efficacy revealed by immunometabolic analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific cells in multiple sclerosis patients.

Disease-modifying therapies (DMT) administered to patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) can influence immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine efficacy. However, data on the detailed phenotypic, functional and metabolic characteristics of antigen (Ag)-specific cells following the third dose of mRNA vaccine remain scarce. Here, using flow cytometry and 45-parameter mass cytometry, we broadly investigate the phenotype, function and the single-cell metabolic profile of SARS-CoV-2-specific T and B cells up to 8 months after the third dose of mRNA vaccine in a cohort of 94 patients with MS treated with different DMT, including cladribine, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, interferon, natalizumab, teriflunomide, rituximab or ocrelizumab.

Evaluating immunological and inflammatory changes of treatment-experienced people living with HIV switching from first-line triple cART regimens to DTG/3TC B/F/TAF: the DEBATE trial.

Background: The aim of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) was to compare immunological changes in virally suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH) switching from a three-drug regimen (3DR) to a two-drug regimen (2DR).

Methods: An open-label, prospective RCT enrolling PLWH receiving a 3DR who switched to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) or dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) was performed. Blood was taken at baseline and months 6 and 12.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of rapamycin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

In preclinical studies rapamycin was found to target neuroinflammation, by expanding regulatory T cells, and affecting autophagy, two pillars of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis. Herein we report a multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial, in 63 ALS patients who were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive rapamycin 2 mg/m/day,1 mg/m/day or placebo (EUDRACT 2016-002399-28; NCT03359538). The primary outcome, the number of patients exhibiting an increase >30% in regulatory T cells from baseline to treatment end, was not attained.

Circulating and Tumor-Associated Neutrophils in the Era of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Dynamics, Phenotypes, Metabolism, and Functions.

Neutrophils are the most abundant myeloid cells in the blood and are a considerable immunological component of the tumor microenvironment. However, their functional importance has often been ignored, as they have always been considered a mono-dimensional population of terminally differentiated, short-living cells. During the last decade, the use of cutting-edge, single-cell technologies has revolutionized the classical view of these cells, unmasking their phenotypic and functional heterogeneity.

Prognostic immune markers identifying patients with severe COVID-19 who respond to tocilizumab.

Introduction: A growing number of evidences suggest that the combination of hyperinflammation, dysregulated T and B cell response and cytokine storm play a major role in the immunopathogenesis of severe COVID-19. IL-6 is one of the main pro-inflammatory cytokines and its levels are increased during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several observational and randomized studies demonstrated that tocilizumab, an IL-6R blocker, improves survival in critically ill patients both in infectious disease and intensive care units.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection by vaccination status, predominant variant and time from prior infection: a cohort study, Reggio Emilia province, Italy, February 2020 to February 2022.

BackgroundUnderstanding the epidemiology of reinfections is crucial for SARS-CoV-2 control over a long period.AimTo evaluate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection by vaccination status, predominant variant and time after first infection.MethodsWe conducted a cohort study including all residents in the Reggio Emilia province on 31 December 2019, followed up until 28 February 2022 for SARS-CoV-2 first infection and reinfection after 90 days.

Healthy preterm newborns: Altered innate immunity and impaired monocyte function.

Birth prior to 37 completed weeks of gestation is referred to as preterm (PT). Premature newborns are at increased risk of developing infections as neonatal immunity is a developing structure. Monocytes, which are key players after birth, activate inflammasomes.

Detailed characterization of SARS-CoV-2-specific T and B cells after infection or heterologous vaccination.

The formation of a robust long-term antigen (Ag)-specific memory, both humoral and cell-mediated, is created following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or vaccination. Here, by using polychromatic flow cytometry and complex data analyses, we deeply investigated the magnitude, phenotype, and functionality of SARS-CoV-2-specific immune memory in two groups of healthy subjects after heterologous vaccination compared to a group of subjects who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. We find that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recovered patients show different long-term immunological profiles compared to those of donors who had been vaccinated with three doses.

Flow-dependent shear stress affects the biological properties of pericyte-like cells isolated from human dental pulp.

Background: Human dental pulp stem cells represent a mesenchymal stem cell niche localized in the perivascular area of dental pulp and are characterized by low immunogenicity and immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory properties. Pericytes, mural cells surrounding the endothelium of small vessels, regulate numerous functions including vessel growth, stabilization and permeability. It is well established that pericytes have a tight cross talk with endothelial cells in neoangiogenesis and vessel stabilization, which are regulated by different factors, i.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Cytokine Network in Centenarians.

Cytokines have been investigated extensively in elderly people, with conflicting results. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the plasma levels of 62 cytokines and growth factors involved in the regulation of the immune system, in healthy centenarians, and middle-aged controls. We confirmed the previously observed increase in the levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, and found that several other cytokines, directly or indirectly involved in inflammation (such as IFN-α, IL-23, CCL-5), were present at higher levels in centenarians.

Analysis of Antigen-Specific T and B Cells for Monitoring Immune Protection Against SARS-CoV-2.

Immunological memory is the basis of protection against most pathogens. Long-living memory T and B cells able to respond to specific stimuli, as well as persistent antibodies in plasma and in other body fluids, are crucial for determining the efficacy of vaccination and for protecting from a second infection by a previously encountered pathogen. Antigen-specific cells are represented at a very low frequency in the blood, and indeed, they can be considered "rare events" present in the memory T-cell pool.

Immunological signature in human cases of monkeypox infection in 2022 outbreak: an observational study.

Background: An unprecedented global monkeypox outbreak started in May, 2022. No data are yet available about the dynamics of the immune response against monkeypox virus. The aim of this study was to describe kinetics of T-cell response, inflammatory profile, and pox-specific T-cell induction in patients with laboratory-confirmed monkeypox.

Phenotypic, functional, and metabolic heterogeneity of immune cells infiltrating non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cancer in the world, accounting for 1.2 million of new cases annually, being responsible for 17.8% of all cancer deaths.

Effective Treatment of Patients Experiencing Primary, Acute HIV Infection Decreases Exhausted/Activated CD4+ T Cells and CD8+ T Memory Stem Cells.

Several studies have identified main changes in T- and B-lymphocyte subsets during chronic HIV infection, but few data exist on how these subsets behave during the initial phase of HIV infection. We enrolled 22 HIV-infected patients during the acute stage of infection before the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Patients had blood samples drawn previous to ART initiation (T0), and at 2 (T1) and 12 (T2) months after ART initiation.

Patients Recovering from Severe COVID-19 Develop a Polyfunctional Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cell Response.

Specific T cells are crucial to control SARS-CoV-2 infection, avoid reinfection and confer protection after vaccination. We have studied patients with severe or moderate COVID-19 pneumonia, compared to patients who recovered from a severe or moderate infection that had occurred about 4 months before the analyses. In all these subjects, we assessed the polyfunctionality of virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by quantifying cytokine production after in vitro stimulation with different SARS-CoV-2 peptide pools covering different proteins (M, N and S).

Evidence for mitochondrial Lonp1 expression in the nucleus.

The coordinated communication between the mitochondria and nucleus is essential for cellular activities. Nonetheless, the pathways involved in this crosstalk are scarcely understood. The protease Lonp1 was previously believed to be exclusively located in the mitochondria, with an important role in mitochondrial morphology, mtDNA maintenance, and cellular metabolism, in both normal and neoplastic cells.

Remodeling of T Cell Dynamics During Long COVID Is Dependent on Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Several COVID-19 convalescents suffer from the post-acute COVID-syndrome (PACS)/long COVID, with symptoms that include fatigue, dyspnea, pulmonary fibrosis, cognitive dysfunctions or even stroke. Given the scale of the worldwide infections, the long-term recovery and the integrative health-care in the nearest future, it is critical to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms as well as possible predictors of the longitudinal post-COVID-19 responses in convalescent individuals. The immune system and T cell alterations are proposed as drivers of post-acute COVID syndrome.