Heterogeneous NLRP3 inflammasome signature in circulating myeloid cells as a biomarker of COVID-19 severity.

Dysregulated immune response is the key factor leading to unfavorable coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcome. Depending on the pathogen-associated molecular pattern, the NLRP3 inflammasome can play a crucial role during innate immunity activation. To date, studies describing the NLRP3 response during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in patients are lacking.

Escherichia coli Rho GTPase-activating toxin CNF1 mediates NLRP3 inflammasome activation via p21-activated kinases-1/2 during bacteraemia in mice.

Inflammasomes are signalling platforms that are assembled in response to infection or sterile inflammation by cytosolic pattern recognition receptors. The consequent inflammasome-triggered caspase-1 activation is critical for the host defence against pathogens. During infection, NLRP3, which is a pattern recognition receptor that is also known as cryopyrin, triggers the assembly of the inflammasome-activating caspase-1 through the recruitment of ASC and Nek7.

Quantification of HPV16 E6/E7 mRNA Spliced Isoforms Viral Load as a Novel Diagnostic Tool for Improving Cervical Cancer Screening.

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been identified as the main contributors to cervical cancer. Despite various diagnostic tools available, including the predominant Papanicolaou test (Pap test), technical limitations affect the efficiency of cervical cancer screening. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of spliced HPV16 E6/E7 mRNA viral loads (VL) for grade 2 or higher cervical intraepithelial neoplasia diagnosis.

Problematic molecular diagnosis of HSV-1 infection due to a single nucleotide polymorphism in the US7 gene.

Background: HSV-1 infection is very common worldwide and can be associated with severe medical conditions such as encephalitis and neonatal herpes. Current diagnosis relies heavily on molecular assays targeting the viral genome. One of the pitfalls of these assays is genetic variability, as viral polymorphisms located in the target region can impair the detection of HSV-1.