Immunostimulatory effects of extracellular membrane vesicles protect oral gingival epithelial cells from periodontal pathobiont damage.

The commensal is highly prevalent in the oral cavity and characterized for its ability to inhibit growth of oral pathogens. Like many other cell types, streptococci produce extracellular membrane vesicles (EMVs), which contain specific molecular cargo and facilitate interactions with host cells. We previously demonstrated that EMVs from are internalized by gingival epithelial cells (GECs) without causing cell death.

Clinical RNA sequencing clarifies variants of uncertain significance identified by prior testing.

Purpose: Sequencing-based genetic testing often identifies variants of uncertain significance (VUS) or fails to detect pathogenic variants altogether. We evaluated the utility of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to clarify VUS or identify missing variants in a clinical setting.

Methods: Over a 2-year period, genetics providers at a single institution referred 26 cases for clinical RNA-seq.

Corynebacterial membrane vesicles disrupt cariogenic interkingdom assemblages.

Polymicrobial diseases such as periodontal disease and caries pose significant treatment challenges due to their resistance to common approaches like antibiotic therapy. These infections exhibit increased resilience, due to microbial interactions that also disrupt host immune responses. Current research focuses on virulence and disease-promoting interactions, but less is known about interactions that could inhibit or prevent disease development.

Mild dehydration does not alter acute changes in sweat electrolyte concentrations during exercise.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hydration status on the change in sweat sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), and potassium (K) concentrations during exercise-heat stress. Fifteen subjects (Six female, nine male; 29 ± 9 y; 71 ± 14 kg) completed 90 min of cycling (81% HR) in the heat (~33°C, 42% rh) with fluid replacement to maintain euhydration (EUH) or without fluid to dehydrate to 2.4 ± 0.