Human liver organoids are susceptible to Plasmodium vivax infection.

Background: The eradication of Plasmodium vivax malaria is complicated due to the presence of hypnozoites, the hidden dormant form of the parasite that is present in the liver. Currently available drug regimens are effective at killing hypnozoites but cause side effects and are difficult to administer. Studies testing drugs for liver-stage malaria remain rare and mainly rely on the use of cancerous or immortalized hepatic cells and primary hepatocytes.

Modelling amoebic brain infection caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris using a human cerebral organoid.

The lack of disease models adequately resembling human tissue has hindered our understanding of amoebic brain infection. Three-dimensional structured organoids provide a microenvironment similar to human tissue. This study demonstrates the use of cerebral organoids to model a rare brain infection caused by the highly lethal amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris.

Sericin promotes chondrogenic proliferation and differentiation via glycolysis and Smad2/3 TGF-β signaling inductions and alleviates inflammation in three-dimensional models.

Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease mainly characterized by cartilage degeneration. The treatment is challenging due to the lack of blood vessels and nerve supplies in cartilaginous tissue, causing a prominent limitation of regenerative capacity. Hence, we investigated the cellular promotional and anti-inflammatory effects of sericin, Bombyx mori-derived protein, on three-dimensional chondrogenic ATDC5 cell models.

Immunofluorescence study of cytoskeleton in endothelial cells induced with malaria sera.

Background: Endothelial cells (ECs) play a major role in malaria pathogenesis, as a point of direct contact of parasitized red blood cells to the blood vessel wall. The study of cytoskeleton structures of ECs, whose main functions are to maintain shape and provide strength to the EC membrane is important in determining the severe sequelae of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The work investigated the cytoskeletal changes (microfilaments-actin, microtubules-tubulin and intermediate filaments-vimentin) in ECs induced by malaria sera (Plasmodium vivax, uncomplicated P.

Sericin-Based Poly(Vinyl) Alcohol Relieves Plaque and Epidermal Lesions in Psoriasis; a Chance for Dressing Development in a Specific Area.

The noncontagious immune-mediated skin disease known as psoriasis is regarded as a chronic skin condition with a 0.09-11.4% global prevalence.

Evaluation of a genus-specific rGroEL IgM-ELISA and commercial ELISA kits during the course of leptospirosis in Thailand.

In the present study, we developed a genus-specific rGroEL IgM-ELISA assay for use in screening diagnosis of suspected leptospirosis among acute undifferentiated febrile illness patients during acute fever. The diagnostic accuracies of the rGroEL IgM-ELISA, commercial Panbio IgM-ELISA, and Virion-Serion Classic IgG-ELISA were evaluated using 133 Thai leptospirosis sera and 210 controls. Sensitivities were 91.

Effective inhibition of Clostridioides difficile by the novel peptide CM-A.

Clostridioides difficile infection is the most common cause of nosocomial and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. C. difficile treatment is increasingly likely to fail, and the recurrence rate is high.

Evaluation of immunodiagnostic tests for human gnathostomiasis using different antigen preparations of Gnathostoma spinigerum larvae against IgE, IgM, IgG, IgG1-4 and IgG1 patterns of post-treated patients.

Objectives: The aims of the study were two-fold: (1) antigen (Ag) preparation and evaluation of three antigens of Gnathostoma spinigerum infective larvae (GsL3), crude somatic antigen (CSAg), excretory-secretory antigen (ESAg) and partially purified antigens (namely P1Ag, P2Ag and P3Ag) to differentiate IgE, IgG, IgG1-4 and IgM for human gnathostomiasis diagnosis; and (2) application of the selected ELISA for following up stored sera of patients treated with ivermectin (IVM) and albendazole (ABZ).

Methods: Different antigens were analysed by antibodies of gnathostomiasis cases, other parasite infections and healthy controls using indirect ELISA to differentiate IgE, IgG, IgG1-4 and IgM. Then, prominent antigen and immunoglobulin were used in antibody predictions of gnathostomiasis cases treated with albendazole or ivermectin.

A Component-Resolved Therapeutic Vaccine for Cockroach Allergy Made of Per a 9 and Transforming Growth Factor-β Homologue, an Immunosuppressive Protein of .

Allergen-specific-immunotherapy (ASIT) can cause long-term resolution of allergic diseases, reduces drug use and chances of new allergen sensitization. Nevertheless, therapeutic vaccine and data on ASIT efficacy for cockroach (CR) allergy are relatively scarce. In this study, efficacy and mechanism of a novel intranasal vaccine consisting of liposome (L)-entrapped mixture of American CR () major allergen (Per a 9) and immunosuppressive protein of nematode named transforming growth factor-beta homologue (TGH) in treatment of CR allergy were investigated along with two other vaccines (L-Per a 9 alone and L-TGH alone).

Engineered Human Monoclonal scFv to Receptor Binding Domain of .

(1) Background: (EBOV) poses as a significant threat for human health by frequently causing epidemics of the highly contagious Ebola virus disease (EVD). EBOV glycoprotein (GP), as a sole surface glycoprotein, needs to be cleaved in endosomes to fully expose a receptor-binding domain (RBD) containing a receptor-binding site (RBS) for receptor binding and genome entry into cytoplasm for replication. RBDs are highly conserved among EBOV species, so they are an attractive target for broadly effective anti-EBOV drug development.

Characterization of Human Anti-Dengue NS1 Monoclonal Antibodies Derived from Patients Infected with DENV-2.

Mouse antibodies specific to dengue NS1 have been widely investigated for their cross-reactivity with several human biomolecules. This is the first study demonstrating the cross-reactivity of human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs) specific to dengue NS1 isolated from patients infected with dengue virus serotype-2 (DENV-2). Nine anti-NS1 HuMAbs, which were mainly derived from patients in convalescent-phase after secondary infection of DENV-2, were characterized.

The activation of BAFF/APRIL system in spleen and lymph nodes of Plasmodium falciparum infected patients.

Previous studies have reported activation of the B cell-activating factor (BAFF)/a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) system in T independent immunity against malaria infection. Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infected animal model is not feasible.

Effects of Gnathostoma spinigerum infective stage larva excretory-secretory products on NK cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture: focused on expressions of IFN-γ and killer cell lectin-like receptors.

Human gnathostomiasis is mainly caused by third-stage larvae of Gnathostoma spinigerum (G. spinigerum L3). Excretory-secretory products (ES) released from infective helminthic larvae are associated with larval migration and host immunity modulation.

Ultrastructural Features of Human Liver Specimens from Patients Who Died of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever.

Recent advances in electron microscopy and tomography have revealed distinct virus-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) structures unique for dengue virus (DV) and other flaviviruses in cell culture models, including hepatocytes. These altered ultrastructures serve as sites for viral replication. In this study, we used transmission electron microscopy to investigate whether such structures were present in the liver of fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) autopsy cases.

Tregitope-linked Refined Allergen Vaccines for Immunotherapy in Cockroach Allergy.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) facilitates long-term resolution of allergic morbidity resulting in reduced drug use and increased refractoriness to new sensitization. AIT effectiveness has been demonstrated in seasonal and perennial allergies, and insect stings. However, data and studies in AIT relative to cockroach (CR) allergy are relatively scarce.

Evolution of Therapeutic Antibodies, Influenza Virus Biology, Influenza, and Influenza Immunotherapy.

This narrative review article summarizes past and current technologies for generating antibodies for passive immunization/immunotherapy. Contemporary DNA and protein technologies have facilitated the development of engineered therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in a variety of formats according to the required effector functions. Chimeric, humanized, and human monoclonal antibodies to antigenic/epitopic myriads with less immunogenicity than animal-derived antibodies in human recipients can be produced .

Immunodominance of LipL32 peptides revealed by leptospirosis sera and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.

Background/purpose: Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonosis, imposing significant human and veterinary public health burdens. In this study, recombinant LipL32 and LipL32 middle domain of LipL32, and LipL32, and LipL32 of c-terminal LipL32 truncations were defined for immunodominance of the molecule during Leptospira infections revealed by leptospirosis sera.

Results: IgM-dominant was directed to highly surface accessible LipL32 and Lipl32.

Featured Article: Immunomodulatory effect of hemozoin on pneumocyte apoptosis via CARD9 pathway, a possibly retarding pulmonary resolution.

Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent malaria parasite species, causes severe symptoms especially acute lung injury (ALI), of which characterized by alveolar epithelium and endothelium destruction and accelerated to blood-gas-barrier breakdown. Parasitized erythrocytes, endothelial cells, monocytes, and cytokines are all involved in this mechanism, but hemozoin (HZ), the parasitic waste from heme detoxification, also mainly contributes. In addition, it is not clear why type II pneumocyte proliferation, alveolar restorative stage, is rare in malaria-associated ALI.

Immunotherapeutic efficacy of liposome-encapsulated refined allergen vaccines against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergy.

Allergen specific immunotherapy (AIT) can modulate the allergic response causing a long-term symptom subsidence/abolishment which leads to reduced drug use and prevention of new sensitization. AIT of house dust mite allergy (HDM) using the mite crude extract (CE) as the therapeutic agent is not only less effective than the AIT for many other allergens, but also frequently causes adverse effects during the treatment course. In this study, mouse model of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) allergy was invented for testing therapeutic efficacies of intranasally administered liposome (L) encapsulated vaccines made of single Dp major allergens (L-Der p 1, L-Der p 2), combined allergens (L-Der p 1 and Der p 2), and crude Dp extract (L-CE).

Disruption of endocytic trafficking protein Rab7 impairs invasiveness of cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Background: Alterations and mutations of endo-lysosomal trafficking proteins have been associated with cancer progression. Identification and characterization of endo-lysosomal trafficking proteins in invasive cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells may benefit prognosis and drug design for CCA.

Objective: To identify and characterize endo-lysosomal trafficking proteins in invasive CCA.

Human transbodies to VP40 inhibit cellular egress of Ebola virus-like particles.

A direct acting anti-Ebola agent is needed. VP40, a conserved protein across Ebolavirus (EBOV) species has several pivotal roles in the virus life cycle. Inhibition of VP40 functions would lessen the virion integrity and interfere with the viral assembly, budding, and spread.

Increased alpha-defensin expression is associated with risk of coronary heart disease: a feasible predictive inflammatory biomarker of coronary heart disease in hyperlipidemia patients.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disorder of the heart vessels that develops over decades, coupling inflammatory mechanisms and elevated total cholesterol levels under the influence of genetic and environmental factors. Without effective intervention, atherosclerosis consequently causes coronary heart disease (CHD), which leads to increased risk of sudden death. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils play a pivotal role in inflammation and atherogenesis.

Iron distribution and histopathological study of the effects of deferoxamine and deferiprone in the kidneys of iron overloaded β-thalassemic mice.

Renal glomerular and tubular dysfunctions have been reported with high prevalence in β-thalassemia. Iron toxicity is implicated in the kidney damage, which may be reversed by iron chelation therapy. To mimic heavy iron overload and evaluate the efficacy of iron chelators in the patients, iron dextran (180mg iron/mouse) was intraperitoneally (i.

Molecular characterization of serine protease inhibitor isoform 3, SmSPI, from Schistosoma mansoni.

Serine protease inhibitors, known as serpins, are pleiotropic regulators of endogenous and exogenous proteases, and molecule transporters. They have been documented in animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and viruses; here, we characterize a serpin from the trematode platyhelminth Schistosoma mansoni. At least eight serpins have been found in the genome of S.

Mouse Model of Cat Allergic Rhinitis and Intranasal Liposome-Adjuvanted Refined Fel d 1 Vaccine.

Cats (Felis domesticus) are rich source of airborne allergens that prevailed in the environment and sensitized a number of people to allergy. In this study, a mouse model of allergic rhinitis caused by the cat allergens was developed for the first time and the model was used for testing therapeutic efficacy of a novel intranasal liposome-entrapped vaccines made of native Fel d 1 (major cat allergen) in comparison with the vaccine made of crude cat hair extract (cCE). BALB/c mice were sensitized with cCE mixed with alum intraperitoneally and intranasally.