Intranasal Immunization With Nanoparticles Containing an Protein Vaccine Candidate and a Polysorbitol Transporter Adjuvant Enhances Both Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses.

Scrub typhus, a mite-borne infectious disease, is caused by . Despite many attempts to develop a protective strategy, an effective preventive vaccine has not been developed. The identification of appropriate Ags that cover diverse antigenic strains and provide long-lasting immunity is a fundamental challenge in the development of a scrub typhus vaccine.

Urine Metabolite of Mice with Orientia tsutsugamushi Infection.

Scrub typhus is an acute febrile, mite-borne disease endemic to the Asia-Pacific region. In South Korea, it is a seasonal disease that occurs frequently in the autumn, and its incidence has increased steadily. In this study, we used a liquid chromatography and flow injection analysis-tandem mass spectrometry-based targeted urine metabolomics approach to evaluate the host response to Orientia tsutsugamushi infection.

Change of Dendritic Cell Subsets Involved in Protection Against Infection in Short-Term-Fasted Mice.

The gastrointestinal tract is the first organ directly affected by fasting. However, little is known about how fasting influences the intestinal immune system. Intestinal dendritic cells (DCs) capture antigens, migrate to secondary lymphoid organs, and provoke adaptive immune responses.

Scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy after tick bite (SENLAT) caused by Bartonella henselae in Korea: a case report.

Background: Tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) is an infectious disease, mainly caused by species from the spotted fever group rickettsiae and is characterized by enlarged lymph nodes following a tick bite. Among cases of TIBOLA, a case of scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy after tick bite (SENLAT) is diagnosed when an eschar is present on the scalp, accompanied by peripheral lymphadenopathy (LAP). Only a few cases of SENLAT caused by Bartonella henselae have been reported.

Annual Fluctuation in Chigger Mite Populations and Infections in Scrub Typhus Endemic Regions of South Korea.

Objectives: Chigger mites are vectors for scrub typhus. This study evaluated the annual fluctuations in chigger mite populations and infections in South Korea.

Methods: During 2006 and 2007, chigger mites were collected monthly from wild rodents in 4 scrub typhus endemic regions of South Korea.

Human CD141 dendritic cells generated from adult peripheral blood monocytes.

Human CD141 dendritic cells (DCs), specialized for cross-presentation, have been extensively studied in the development of DC-based therapy against cancer. A series of attempts was made to generate CD141 DCs from cord blood CD34 hematopoietic progenitors to overcome the practical limitation of in vivo rareness. In the present study, we identified a culture system that generates high CD141 DCs.

Distinct molecular evolution of influenza H3N2 strains in the 2016/17 season and its implications for vaccine effectiveness.

Influenza virus is a respiratory pathogen that causes seasonal epidemics by resulting in a considerable number of influenza-like illness (ILI) patients. During the 2016/17 season, ILI rates increased unusually earlier and higher than previous seasons in Korea, and most viral isolates were subtyped as H3N2 strains. Notably, the hemagglutinin (HA) of most Korean H3N2 strains retained newly introduced lysine signatures in HA antigenic sites A and D, compared with that of clade 3C.

Serologic Survey and Risk Factors for Infection among Dairy Cattle Farmers in Korea.

Background: The zoonotic disease Q fever is caused by and usually affects high-risk human populations. We conducted a serological survey of dairy cattle farmers in Korea to determine seroreactivity and identify risk factors for infection.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,824 of 7,219 dairy cattle farms (25.

Transcription Factor KLF10 Constrains IL-17-Committed Vγ4 γδ T Cells.

γδ T cells, known to be an important source of innate IL-17 in mice, provide critical contributions to host immune responses. Development and function of γδ T cells are directed by networks of diverse transcription factors (TFs). Here, we examine the role of the zinc finger TFs, Kruppel-like factor 10 (KLF10), in the regulation of IL-17-committed CD27 γδ T (γδ-17) cells.

Seroreactivity to Q Fever Among Slaughterhouse Workers in South Korea.

Objectives: Q fever is a zoonotic disease that occurs worldwide; however, little is known about its prevalence in South Korea. We attempted to determine the prevalence of Q fever seroreactivity among Korean slaughterhouse workers and the risk factors for seroreactivity according to the type of work.

Methods: The study was conducted among 1503 workers at a total of 73 slaughterhouses and 62 residual-product disposal plants.

A Bacterial Metabolite, Compound K, Induces Programmed Necrosis in MCF-7 Cells via GSK3β.

Ginsenosides, the major active component of ginseng, are traditionally used to treat various diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and obesity. Among these, compound K (CK), an intestinal bacterial metabolite of the ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc from Bacteroides JY-6, is reported to inhibit cancer cell growth by inducing cell-cycle arrest or cell death, including apoptosis and necrosis. However, the precise effect of CK on breast cancer cells remains unclear.

Metabolic responses to Orientia tsutsugamushi infection in a mouse model.

Tsutsugamushi disease is an infectious disease transmitted to humans through the bite of the Orientia tsutsugamushi-infected chigger mite; however, host-pathogen interactions and the precise mechanisms of damage in O. tsutsugamushi infections have not been fully elucidated. Here, we analyzed the global metabolic effects of O.

Lon Mutant of Brucella abortus Induces Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in Murine J774.A1 Macrophage.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to isolate a Brucella lon mutant and to analyze the cytokine response of B. lon mutant during macrophage infection.

Methods: A wild-type Brucella abortus strain was mutagenized by Tn5 transposition.

Evaluation and Selection of Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis Primers for Genotyping Brucella abortus Biovar 1 Isolated from Human Patients.

Objectives: Brucellosis is the most common bacterial zoonosis in the world. Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) is a molecular method for genotyping bacterial species. Brucella abortus biovar I was isolated from most of the brucellosis-suspected patients in Korea.

Epidemiological characteristics of serologically confirmed q Fever cases in South Korea, 2006-2011.

Objectives: Q fever has been reported worldwide; however, there was almost no official report of Q fever in Korea. In this study, we describe the current status of human Q fever occurrence in Korea.

Methods: Demographic data of Q fever patients were collected from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System from 2006 to 2011.

Orientia tsutsugamushi infection induces CD4+ T cell activation via human dendritic cell activity.

Orientia tsutsugamushi, a gram-negative bacterium, causes severe acute febrile illness in humans. Despite this danger, the route of infection, infectivity, and protective mechanisms of the host's immune response to O. tsutsugamushi are unclear.

Application of the microagglutination test for serologic diagnosis of human brucellosis.

Objectives: Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonoses in the world, and occurs mainly in farmers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians via direct or indirect contact with infected animals or their products. The clinical symptoms of human brucellosis are nonspecific, such as fever, headache, chills, and sweating. Diagnosis and treatment of brucellosis requires laboratory tests.

Interactions of dendritic cells with cancer cells and modulation of surface molecules affect functional properties of CD8+ T cells.

To understand the interaction of dendritic cells (DCs) with cancer cells, we investigated molecular changes in DCs following co-culture with cancer cells. DCs co-cultured with Jurkat cancer cells showed remarkable down-regulation of MHC class I molecules, while DCs co-cultured with MCF-7 cancer cells showed minimal changes. Interestingly, down-regulation of MHC class I on DCs was not observed upon treatment with Jurkat cell lysate or culture supernatant, suggesting the importance of direct cell-cell interactions.

Serological detection of lyme borreliosis agents in patients from Korea, 2005-2009.

Objectives: Laboratory tests are now being used to identify seropositive cases in patients suspected of having a Lyme borreliosis (LB) infection. From 2005 to 2009, we analyzed the serological and epidemiological characteristics of 53 LB positive cases in Korea using immunoblot assay.

Methods: During the five-year study period, a total of 1897 serum samples from suspected LB cases were referred to us for further laboratory diagnosis.

Enhanced detection of Coxiella burnetii with a complementary locked primer-based real-time PCR method.

Background And Objective: Coxiella burnetii is the bacterial causative agent of Q fever in humans. Because Q fever can establish itself with an initial inoculation of fewer than ten C. burnetii cells, a sensitive detection method for C.