Probing the threshold of membrane damage and cytotoxicity effects induced by silica nanoparticles in Escherichia coli bacteria.

The engineering of nanomaterials, because of their specific properties, is increasingly being developed for commercial purposes over the past decades, to enhance diagnosis, cosmetics properties as well as sensing efficiency. However, the understanding of their fate and thus their interactions at the cellular level with bio-organisms remains elusive. Here, we investigate the size- and charge-dependence of the damages induced by silica nanoparticles (SiO-NPs) on Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria.

Morphological and nanostructural surface changes in Escherichia coli over time, monitored by atomic force microscopy.

The present study aims at evaluating intrinsic changes in Escherichia coli (E. coli) surface over time, by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). For that purpose, bacteria were immobilized on mica or on mica previously functionalized by the deposition of a polyelectrolyte multilayer cushion.

Cervical spondylitis and spinal abscess due to Actinomyces meyeri.

Human actinomycosis with involvement of the spine is a rare condition although it has been first described a long time ago. It is probably underrecognized since its clinical presentation is often misleading and accurate bacteriological diagnosis is challenging. We herein report a rare case of cervical actinomycosis with paravertebral abscess and spondylitis imputed to an infection by Actinomyces meyeri in a 52-year-old immunocompetent Caucasian man.

Malvidin-3-O-β glucoside, major grape anthocyanin, inhibits human macrophage-derived inflammatory mediators and decreases clinical scores in arthritic rats.

Polyphenolic anthocyanins are major colorful compounds in red fruits, known to prevent cardiovascular and other diseases. Grape polyphenols are a mixture of various molecules and their exact contribution to above bioactivities remains to be clarified. In the present study, we first analyzed the effect of purified grape-derived compounds on human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) survival, proliferation, as well as for their ability to inhibit the activation of human normal macrophages.

IgE mediates killing of intracellular Toxoplasma gondii by human macrophages through CD23-dependent, interleukin-10 sensitive pathway.

Background: In addition to helminthic infections, elevated serum IgE levels were observed in many protozoal infections, while their contribution during immune response to these pathogens remained unclear. As IgE/antigen immune complexes (IgE-IC) bind to human cells through FcεRI or FcεRII/CD23 surface molecules, the present study aimed to identify which functional receptor may be involved in IgE-IC interaction with human macrophages, the major effector cell during parasite infection.

Methodology/principal Findings: Human monocyte-derived macrophages were infected with Toxoplasma gondii before being incubated with IgE-IC.

Corynebacterium mucifaciens in an immunocompetent patient with cavitary pneumonia.

Background: Corynebacterium mucifaciens has been mainly isolated from skin, blood and from other normally-sterile body fluids. It has rarely been described as a human pathogen since its description.

Case Presentation: We herein report the first case of cavitary pneumonia due to C.

Destructive arthritis in a patient with chikungunya virus infection with persistent specific IgM antibodies.

Background: Chikungunya fever is an emerging arboviral disease characterized by an algo-eruptive syndrome, inflammatory polyarthralgias, or tenosynovitis that can last for months to years. Up to now, the pathophysiology of the chronic stage is poorly understood.

Case Presentation: We report the first case of CHIKV infection with chronic associated rheumatism in a patient who developed progressive erosive arthritis with expression of inflammatory mediators and persistence of specific IgM antibodies over 24 months following infection.

CD23 mediates antimycobacterial activity of human macrophages.

Engagement of surface receptors contributes to the antimicrobial activity of human immune cells. We show here that infection of human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) with live Mycobacterium avium induced the expression of CD23 on their membrane. Subsequent cross-linking of surface CD23 by appropriate ligands induced a dose-dependent antibacterial activity of MDM and the elimination of most infected cells.

Route to smooth silica-based surfaces decorated with novel self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) containing glycidyl-terminated very long hydrocarbon chains.

Novel glycidyl-terminated organosilicon coupling agents possessing a trialkoxysilyl head group and a very long hydrocarbon chain (C22) were synthesized. Their ability to afford densely packed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) grafted on silica-based surfaces was investigated. Transmission FT-IR spectra showed that the most regular films were obtained by using trichloracetic acid as the catalyst (10 M%).

Molecular blocking of CD23 supports its role in the pathogenesis of arthritis.

Background: CD23 is a differentiation/activation antigen expressed by a variety of hematopoietic and epithelial cells. It can also be detected in soluble forms in biological fluids. Initially known as the low-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E (Fc epsilonRII), CD23 displays various other physiologic ligands such as CD21, CD11b/c, CD47-vitronectin, and mannose-containing proteins.

A role of IgE and CD23/NO immune pathway in age-related resistance of Lewis rats to Plasmodium berghei Anka?

In contrast to young rats, adult rats given i.p. Plasmodium berghei Anka (PbA) control the parasitaemia and repair their anaemia.

A Love wave immunosensor for whole E. coli bacteria detection using an innovative two-step immobilisation approach.

The efficiency of a monomolecular film of (3-glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPTS) on a shear horizontal guided (Love) acoustic wave immunosensor to detect whole Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria is demonstrated. Direct anti-E.

Therapeutic and preventive properties of quercetin in experimental arthritis correlate with decreased macrophage inflammatory mediators.

Pentahydroxyflavone dihydrate, quercetin (QU) is one of common flavonols biosynthesized by plants and has been suggested to modulate inflammatory responses in various models. In the present study, we investigated in vivo effects of oral or intra-cutaneous QU in chronic rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA). Growth delay and arthritic scores were evaluated daily after AA induction in Lewis rats.

Long-acting beta2-adrenergic formoterol and salmeterol induce the apoptosis of B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) is a neoplastic disorder characterized by defective apoptosis, cell accumulation in G0/G1, and high expression of BCL2 oncogene. Intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation increases the chemosensitivity of B-CLL cells in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the effects of beta2-adrenergic compounds, well known cAMP-inducing drugs, on the in vitro survival of leukaemia cells.