Polymicrobial Sepsis Impairs Antigen-Specific Memory CD4 T Cell-Mediated Immunity.

Patients who survive sepsis display prolonged immune dysfunction and heightened risk of secondary infection. CD4 T cells support a variety of cells required for protective immunity, and perturbations to the CD4 T cell compartment can decrease overall immune system fitness. Using the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mouse model of sepsis, we investigated the impact of sepsis on endogenous Ag-specific memory CD4 T cells generated in C57BL/6 (B6) mice infected with attenuated (Lm) expressing the I-A-restricted 2W1S epitope (Lm-2W).

Polymicrobial Sepsis Chronic Immunoparalysis Is Defined by Diminished Ag-Specific T Cell-Dependent B Cell Responses.

Immunosuppression is one hallmark of sepsis, decreasing the host response to the primary septic pathogens and/or secondary nosocomial infections. CD4 T cells and B cells are among the array of immune cells that experience reductions in number and function during sepsis. "Help" from follicular helper (Tfh) CD4 T cells to B cells is needed for productive and protective humoral immunity, but there is a paucity of data defining the effect of sepsis on a primary CD4 T cell-dependent B cell response.

Parasitoid Jewel Wasp Mounts Multipronged Neurochemical Attack to Hijack a Host Brain.

The parasitoid emerald jewel wasp induces a compliant state of hypokinesia in its host, the American cockroach through direct envenomation of the central nervous system (CNS). To elucidate the biochemical strategy underlying venom-induced hypokinesia, we subjected the venom apparatus and milked venom to RNAseq and proteomics analyses to construct a comprehensive "venome," consisting of 264 proteins. Abundant in the venome are enzymes endogenous to the host brain, including M13 family metalloproteases, phospholipases, adenosine deaminase, hyaluronidase, and neuropeptide precursors.

Live rubella vectors can express native HIV envelope glycoproteins targeted by broadly neutralizing antibodies and prime the immune response to an envelope protein boost.

Following HIV infection, most people make antibodies to gp120 and gp41, yet only a few make broadly neutralizing antibodies that target key antigenic sites on the envelope glycoproteins. The induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies by immunization remains a major challenge of HIV vaccine research. Difficulties include: variable protein sequence, epitopes that depend on the native conformation, glycosylation that conceals key antigenic determinants, and the assembly of Env trimers that mimic viral spikes.

Expression of complete SIV p27 Gag and HIV gp120 engineered outer domains targeted by broadly neutralizing antibodies in live rubella vectors.

Infection with HIV or SIV often elicits a potent immune response to viral antigens. This includes T cells and antibodies specific for Gag and Env antigens. In contrast, when given as a vaccine, the same antigens have been weak immunogens, unable to elicit antibodies with comparable titer, durability, or neutralizing activity.

"Glossopharyngeal breathing" by paralyzed patients; a preliminary report.

Several patients with poliomyelitic paralysis of the muscles used in normal breathing learned a method of breathing consisting of pumping air into the lungs by action of the mouth, cheeks, tongue, pharynx and larynx. The advantages of the method are that the patient can be out of the respirator and on a conventional bed for longer periods, can talk longer and louder, is more easily cared for, and is better able to engage in interesting occupations.

Use of the rocking bed to augment ventilation in patients with poliomyelitis.

As the first step in an attempt to clarify criteria for use of the rocking bed rather than the respirator as an aid to breathing for patients with weakness of respiratory muscle function caused by poliomyelitis, ventilation studies were done on seven patients with pronounced weakness or paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Average tidal air volume was considerably less when the patient was on the rocking bed than when he was in the respirator. Since the tidal air volume with the patient on the rocking bed represents the maximum that can be produced with the apparatus, whereas the volume in the respirator represents the patient's usual tidal air and the respirator is capable of a greater volume if necessary, it is apparent that in cases of complete paralysis of the respiratory muscles the respirator has a large margin of safety, the rocking bed none.