An IS element-driven antisense RNA attenuates the expression of serotype 2 fimbriae and the cytotoxicity of .

Insertion sequences (IS) represent mobile genetic elements that have been shown to be associated with bacterial evolution and adaptation due to their effects on genome plasticity. In , the causative agent of whooping cough, the numerous IS elements induce genomic rearrangements and contribute to the diversity of the global population. Previously, we have shown that the majority of IS-specific endogenous promoters induce the synthesis of alternative transcripts and thereby affect the transcriptional landscape of .

Targeted delivery of flagellin by nebulization offers optimized respiratory immunity and defense against pneumococcal pneumonia.

Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to combat pneumonia caused by strains resistant to standard-of-care antibiotics. Previous studies have shown that targeted stimulation of lung innate immune defenses through intranasal administration of the Toll-like receptor 5 agonist flagellin improves the treatment of pneumonia when combined with antibiotics. To promote translation to the clinic application, this study assessed the direct delivery of flagellin to the airways through nebulization using a vibrating mesh nebulizer in mice.

Chronic Exposure to Both Electronic and Conventional Cigarettes Alters Ileum and Colon Turnover, Immune Function, and Barrier Integrity in Mice.

Although the effects of cigarette smoke (CS) on the development of several intestinal diseases is well documented, the impact of e-cigarette aerosol (e-cig) on digestive health is largely unknown. To compare the effects of e-cig and CS on mouse ileum and colon, animals were chronically exposed for 6 months by nose-only inhalation to e-cig at 18 or 30 W power, or to 3R4F CS. Results showed that e-cig exposure decreased colon cell proliferation.

Mid-Infrared Generated Laser-Induced Grating Signals in Methane-Containing Gas Mixtures as Indicators of Composition, Pressure, and Temperature.

The present work is aimed at studying how spatially periodic modulations of the refractive index of the medium, i.e., laser-induced gratings (LIGs), generated in a gas mixture containing methane (CH) by nanosecond pulses of resonant mid-infrared laser radiation, can be used to measure various gas parameters.