Novel TMEM173 Mutation and the Role of Disease Modifying Alleles.

Upon binding to pathogen or self-derived cytosolic nucleic acids cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) triggers the production of cGAMP that further activates transmembrane protein STING. Upon activation STING translocates from ER via Golgi to vesicles. Monogenic STING gain-of-function mutations cause early-onset type I interferonopathy, with disease presentation ranging from fatal vasculopathy to mild chilblain lupus.

The Prevalence of HSV, HHV-6, HPV and in positive and Negative Urogenital Samples among Young Women in Finland.

, , herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) cause sexually transmitted infections. In addition, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) may be a genital co-pathogen. The prevalence rates of HSV, HHV-6, HPV, , and the genotypes were investigated by PCR in urogenital samples of the nucleic acid amplification test positive (n = 157) and age-, community- and time-matched negative (n = 157) women.

Predictive Values of Serum TroA and HtrA IgG Antibodies as Markers of Persistent Infection in the Detection of Pelvic Adhesions and Tubal Occlusion.

IgG antibody testing (CAT) has been used as a screening test for tubal factor infertility (TFI), but as the CAT is only a marker of a past exposure to and not of late sequelae, the positive predictive value (PPV) of the test is low. The persistence of in the upper genital tract has been suggested as one of the key mechanisms in the development of TFI. Serum antibodies against TroA and HtrA, proteins expressed specifically during persistent infection, have been suggested as novel biomarkers for TFI diagnostics.

The Finnish New Variant of with a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the 23S rRNA Target Escapes Detection by the Aptima Combo 2 Test.

In 2019, more than 200 cases of negative/equivocal by the Aptima Combo 2 assay (AC2, target: 23S rRNA) with slightly elevated relative light units (RLUs), but positive by the Aptima assay (ACT, target: 16S rRNA) have been detected in Finland To identify the cause of the AC2 CT false-negative specimens, we sequenced parts of the CT 23S rRNA gene in 40 specimens that were AC2 negative/equivocal but ACT positive. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; C1515T in the 23S rRNA gene) was revealed in 39 AC2/ACT discordant specimens. No decrease in the number of mandatorily notified cases was observed nationally in Finland in 2010-2019.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae outbreak, Southeastern Finland, 2017-2018: molecular epidemiology and laboratory diagnostic lessons.

This study characterizes a large Mycoplasma pneumoniae outbreak observed in Kymenlaakso in Southeastern Finland during August 2017-January 2018. The first part of the investigation included 327 patients, who sought healthcare consultation at local GPs or hospitals due to clinical symptoms, and were tested for M. pneumoniae antibodies (Patient cohort).

samples testing falsely negative in the Aptima Combo 2 test in Finland, 2019.

Since February 2019, over 160 (CT) cases testing negative or equivocal by Aptima Combo 2 (AC2) but positive by Aptima CT test run with Panther instruments occurred in Finland. The AC2 test targets chlamydial 23S rRNA while the CT test targets 16S rRNA. Sequencing of 10 strains revealed a nucleotide substitution in 23S rRNA.

Transcriptional Expression of the , , and Genes of Clinical Isolates at Different Stages of the Developmental Cycle.

The transcriptional gene expression patterns of have mainly been studied using reference strains propagated in cultured cells. Here, using five low-passage-number clinical isolates that originated from asymptomatic or symptomatic female patients, the in vitro expression of the , , , and genes was studied with reverse transcriptase real-time PCR during the chlamydial developmental cycle. We observed dissimilarities in the gene expression patterns between the low-passage-number clinical isolates and the reference strains.

Detected during a Pneumonia Outbreak in Southeastern Finland, in 2017⁻2018.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common disease responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. However, the definite etiology of CAP often remains unresolved, suggesting that unknown agents of pneumonia remain to be identified. The recently discovered members of the order Chlamydiales, Chlamydia-related bacteria (CRB), are considered as possible emerging agents of CAP.

Correction: Hokynar, K. et al. Chlamydia-Like Organisms (CLOs) in Finnish Ixodes ricinus Ticks and Human Skin. Microorganisms 2016, 4, 28.

The authors wish to make the following modification to this paper [...

Serum antibody response to Chlamydia trachomatis TroA and HtrA in women with tubal factor infertility.

Persistent genital chlamydial infection may lead to tubal factor infertility (TFI). Chlamydia trachomatis TroA and HtrA are proteins expressed during persistent chlamydial infection in vitro. We studied serum IgG antibody response against these proteins by EIA in women with TFI and in subfertile women without tubal pathology.

Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium and mutations associated with macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance in Finland.

The aim was to examine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium and to determine the prevalence of mutations leading to resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones in a sexually transmitted infection clinic setting in Finland, and as a service evaluation, to validate the performance of a commercial Aptima® Mycoplasma genitalium assay. Urogenital samples were studied for M. genitalium with an automated commercial Aptima® Mycoplasma genitalium assay on the Panther® system (Hologic), and with an in-house real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (mgpB).

Granuloma Annulare and Morphea: Correlation with Borrelia burgdorferi Infections and Chlamydia-related Bacteria.

A retrospective study of 109 skin biopsies with granuloma annulare (GA) or morphea histology from patients with suspected tick bite was performed. Biopsies were tested for cutaneous Borrelia burgdorferi DNA using PCR. The same biopsies were analysed for tick-borne novel agents, Chlamydia-related bacteria (members of the Chlamydiales order), using a PCR-based method.

Simple and rapid biochemical method to synthesize labeled or unlabeled phosphatidylinositol species.

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) is the precursor of many important signaling molecules in eukaryotic cells and, most probably, PI also has important functions in cellular membranes. However, these functions are poorly understood, which is largely due to that ) only few PI species with specific acyl chains are available commercially and ) there are no simple methods to synthesize such species. Here, we present a simple biochemical protocol to synthesize a variety of labeled or unlabeled PI species from corresponding commercially available phosphatidylcholines.

Molecular Evidence of Chlamydia-Like Organisms in the Feces of Myotis daubentonii Bats.

Unlabelled: Chlamydia-like organisms (CLOs) are recently identified members of the Chlamydiales order. CLOs share intracellular lifestyles and biphasic developmental cycles, and they have been detected in environmental samples as well as in various hosts such as amoebae and arthropods. In this study, we screened bat feces for the presence of CLOs by molecular analysis.

Chlamydia-Like Organisms (CLOs) in Finnish Ixodes ricinus Ticks and Human Skin.

Ticks carry several human pathogenic microbes including Borreliae and Flavivirus causing tick-born encephalitis. Ticks can also carry DNA of Chlamydia-like organisms (CLOs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of CLOs in ticks and skin biopsies taken from individuals with suspected tick bite.

Antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis proteins, TroA and HtrA, as a biomarker for Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Unlabelled: We studied whether antibody to two chlamydial proteins (TroA and HtrA) could be used as biomarkers of Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Methods: Recombinant proteins C. trachomatis TroA and HtrA were used as antigens in enzyme immunoassay (EIA).

AIRE-Deficient Patients Harbor Unique High-Affinity Disease-Ameliorating Autoantibodies.

APS1/APECED patients are defined by defects in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) that mediates central T cell tolerance to many self-antigens. AIRE deficiency also affects B cell tolerance, but this is incompletely understood. Here we show that most APS1/APECED patients displayed B cell autoreactivity toward unique sets of approximately 100 self-proteins.

The PNPLA-family phospholipases involved in glycerophospholipid homeostasis of HeLa cells.

Mammalian cells maintain the glycerophospholipid (GPL) compositions of their membranes nearly constant. To achieve this, GPL synthesis and degradation must be coordinated. There is strong evidence that A-type phospholipases (PLAs) are key players in homeostatic degradation of GPLs, but the identities of the PLAs involved have not been established.

Substrate efflux propensity is the key determinant of Ca2+-independent phospholipase A-β (iPLAβ)-mediated glycerophospholipid hydrolysis.

The A-type phospholipases (PLAs) are key players in glycerophospholipid (GPL) homeostasis and in mammalian cells; Ca(2+)-independent PLA-β (iPLAβ) in particular has been implicated in this essential process. However, the regulation of this enzyme, which is necessary to avoid futile competition between synthesis and degradation, is not understood. Recently, we provided evidence that the efflux of the substrate molecules from the bilayer is the rate-limiting step in the hydrolysis of GPLs by some secretory (nonhomeostatic) PLAs.

Import of phosphatidylserine to and export of phosphatidylethanolamine molecular species from mitochondria.

Heavy isotope-labeled ethanolamine and serine as well as exogenous PE and PS species were used to study trafficking of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and -serine (PS) molecular species between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria in HeLa cells. Import of both endogenous and exogenous PS to IMM was a relatively slow process (T1/2=several hours), but depended on the acyl chains. In particular, the 38:4 and 38:5 species were imported more efficiently compared to the other PS species.

Mechanisms of glycerophospholipid homeostasis in mammalian cells.

The membranes of mammalian cells contain hundreds of different phospholipid species, a variety of glycolipids and cholesterol. While the reasons for such compositional diversity are not well established, they probably relate to a multitude of membrane-associated functions each of which sets specific requirements for the chemical and physical properties of membranes. The lipid composition of membranes must therefore be accurately controlled.

Biological and immunological relations among human parvovirus B19 genotypes 1 to 3.

The human parvovirus B19 is now divided into three genotypes: type 1 (prototype), type 2 (A6- and LaLi-like), and type 3 (V9-like). In overall DNA sequence, the three virus types differ by approximately 10%. The most striking DNA dissimilarity, of >20%, is observed within the p6 promoter region.