Giardia duodenalis induces pathogenic dysbiosis of human intestinal microbiota biofilms.

Giardia duodenalis is a prevalent cause of acute diarrheal disease worldwide. However, recent outbreaks in Italy and Norway have revealed a link between giardiasis and the subsequent development of chronic post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome. While the mechanisms underlying the causation of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome remain obscure, recent findings suggest that alterations in gut microbiota communities are linked to the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome.

Proceedings from the 6th Annual University of Calgary Leaders in Medicine Research Symposium.

On November 14, 2014, the Leaders in Medicine (LIM) program at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary hosted its 6th Annual Research Symposium. Dr. Danuta Skowronski, Epidemiology Lead for Influenza and Emerging Respiratory Pathogens at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), was the keynote speaker and presented a lecture entitled "Rapid response research during emerging public health crises: influenza and reflections from the five year anniversary of the 2009 pandemic".

Highlights from the 6th Annual University of Calgary Leaders in Medicine Research Symposium and the Keynote Address by Dr. Danuta Skowronski.

The Leaders in Medicine (LIM) Program at the University of Calgary hosted its 6th Annual Research Symposium on November 14, 2014, showcasing the quality and breadth of work performed by students at the Cumming School of Medicine. Participation at this year's event was our most successful to date, with a total of six oral and 77 poster presentations during the afternoon symposium. For a detailed description of the work presented at the symposium, please see the Proceedings from the 6th Annual University of Calgary Leaders in Medicine Research Symposium published in this issue of Clinical and Investigative Medicine.

Hydrogen sulfide protects from colitis and restores intestinal microbiota biofilm and mucus production.

Background: Microbiota dysbiosis and impaired barrier function are among the most prominent features of inflammatory bowel disease. In the gastrointestinal tract, hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is an important regulator of mucosal homeostasis. We hypothesized that H(2)S promotes resolution of colonic inflammation through actions on microbiota biofilm and the mucus barrier.

Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome: mechanistic insights into chronic disturbances following enteric infection.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a commonly encountered chronic functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. Approximately 10% of IBS patients can trace the onset of their symptoms to a previous a bout of infectious dysentery. The appearance of new IBS symptoms following an infectious event is defined as post-infectious-IBS.

Direct and indirect anti-inflammatory effects of tulathromycin in bovine macrophages: inhibition of CXCL-8 secretion, induction of apoptosis, and promotion of efferocytosis.

Recent evidence indicates that immunomodulation by antibiotics may enhance their clinical efficacy. Specifically, drug-induced leukocyte apoptosis and macrophage efferocytosis have been shown to promote the resolution of inflammation in a variety of disease settings. Tulathromycin is a new macrolide antibiotic for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease.

Host parasite interactions and pathophysiology in Giardia infections.

Giardia is a protozoan parasite of the small intestine, and a leading cause of diarrhoeal disease worldwide in a variety of animals, including humans. The host-parasite interaction and pathophysiological processes of giardiasis remain incompletely understood. Current research suggests that Giardia-induced diarrhoeal disease is mediated by small intestinal malabsorption and maldigestion, chloride hypersecretion and increased rates of small intestinal transit.

Anti-Inflammatory benefits of antibiotic-induced neutrophil apoptosis: tulathromycin induces caspase-3-dependent neutrophil programmed cell death and inhibits NF-kappaB signaling and CXCL8 transcription.

Clearance of apoptotic neutrophils is a central feature of the resolution of inflammation. Findings indicate that immuno-modulation and induction of neutrophil apoptosis by macrolide antibiotics generate anti-inflammatory benefits via mechanisms that remain obscure. Tulathromycin (TUL), a new antimicrobial agent for bovine respiratory disease, offers superior clinical efficacy for reasons not fully understood.