Publications by authors named "Gunjan Kak"

Article Synopsis
  • Neurosurgeries complicated by infection lead to longer treatment times and serious health issues, especially in craniotomies, but the specific cellular and molecular factors involved are unclear.
  • A study of over 2,500 craniotomy cases shows variations in patient backgrounds, types of infections, and surgical details linked to infections.
  • Analysis reveals that a type of immune cell called granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells dominates the infection response, and metabolic changes in these cells may indicate potential targets for new therapies against craniotomy infections in light of rising drug resistance.
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Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of surgical-site infections, including those arising after craniotomy, which is performed to access the brain for the treatment of tumors, epilepsy, or hemorrhage. Craniotomy infection is characterized by complex spatial and temporal dynamics of leukocyte recruitment and microglial activation. We recently identified unique transcriptional profiles of these immune populations during S.

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Background: Treatment of brain tumors, epilepsy, or hemodynamic abnormalities requires a craniotomy to access the brain. Nearly 1 million craniotomies are performed in the US annually, which increase to ~ 14 million worldwide and despite prophylaxis, infectious complications after craniotomy range from 1 to 3%. Approximately half are caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S.

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Bacterial infections in the central nervous system (CNS) can be life threatening and often impair neurological function. Biofilm infection is a complication following craniotomy, a neurosurgical procedure that involves the removal and replacement of a skull fragment (bone flap) to access the brain for surgical intervention. The incidence of infection following craniotomy ranges from 1% to 3% with approximately half caused by ().

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Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is a key cytokine that mediates immunity to tuberculosis (TB). Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) is known to downregulate the surface expression of IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR) on macrophages and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with active TB disease.

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A key player in driving cellular immunity, IFN-γ is capable of orchestrating numerous protective functions to heighten immune responses in infections and cancers. It can exhibit its immunomodulatory effects by enhancing antigen processing and presentation, increasing leukocyte trafficking, inducing an anti-viral state, boosting the anti-microbial functions and affecting cellular proliferation and apoptosis. A complex interplay between immune cell activity and IFN-γ through coordinated integration of signals from other pathways involving cytokines and Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) such as Interleukin (IL)-4, TNF-α, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Type-I Interferons (IFNS) etc.

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The prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) strains eliciting drug resistance has necessitated the need for understanding the complexities of host pathogen interactions. The regulation of calcium homeostasis by Voltage Gated Calcium Channel (VGCCs) upon M.

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