Publications by authors named "Junpei Fukumoto"
Classical dendritic cells (cDCs) are essential for immune responses and differentiate from hematopoietic stem cells via intermediate progenitors, such as monocyte-DC progenitors (MDPs) and common DC progenitors (CDPs). Upon infection, cDCs are activated and rapidly express host defense-related genes, such as those encoding cytokines and chemokines. Chromatin structures, including nuclear compartments and topologically associating domains (TADs), have been implicated in gene regulation.
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- Intracellular pathogens often replicate in vacuoles to evade host defenses, and while some recruit host mitochondria, the specific recruiting molecules are mostly unknown.
- In Toxoplasma gondii, mitochondrial association factor 1b (MAF1b) is known, and this study identifies rhoptry kinase family protein 39 (ROP39) as a new factor that helps host mitochondrial recruitment.
- Observations showed an increased presence of ROP39 on host mitochondria in infected human foreskin fibroblasts, and a knockout of ROP39 led to a 10% decrease in mitochondrial association, indicating its significant role.
Malaria parasites conceal themselves within host erythrocytes and establish a necessary logistics system through the three-membrane layered structures of these cells. To establish this system, lipid metabolism is needed for the de novo synthesis of lipids and the recycling of extracellular lipids and erythrocyte lipid components. Cholesterol supply depends on its uptake from the extracellular environment and erythrocyte cytoplasm, but phospholipids can be synthesized on their own.
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- Toxoplasma gondii is divided into 16 haplogroups globally, but the study highlighted a limited representation of Japanese isolates, prompting a more focused examination.
- Researchers analyzed the DNA sequences of 17 Japanese isolates and categorized them into four distinct groups, discovering a highly virulent strain that parallels a well-known RH strain in terms of virulence in mice.
- The study also compared specific virulence-related genes in the Japanese isolate to those of other archetypical strains, finding that variations in genes ROP5 and ROP16 contributed to its high virulence and helped enhance understanding of the parasite's biodiversity.
Article Synopsis
- * The TgCatJpOk4 strain, isolated in Okinawa, shows high virulence in laboratory mice, similar to the highly virulent RH strain, but its effects on domestic animals were previously unknown.
- * In a study using Microminipigs, four out of five infected pigs exhibited severe symptoms, with three succumbing, revealing that the TgCatJpOk4 strain also has significant virulence in pigs, causing interstitial pneumonia and liver necrosis.
An 11-year-old cat presented with nasal discharge and lacrimation and was diagnosed with nasal lymphoma. Although the cat showed favorable progression after undergoing chemotherapy, CT imaging demonstrated enlarged pulmonary nodules caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Following the cessation of chemotherapy, the cat was prescribed clindamycin hydrochloride for toxoplasmosis treatment; however, the cat developed kidney lymphoma and died.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe virulence of a type III Toxoplasma gondii strain isolated in Japan and designated here as TgCatJpGi1/TaJ was examined in mice and micro minipigs in this study. Despite its type III genotype, oral or intraperitoneal inoculation of cysts from it resulted in severe virulence in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice. In contrast, mice inoculated with a high dose of TgCatJpGi1/TaJ tachyzoites showed no obvious clinical signs of infection, and all of them survived for >21 days post-inoculation.
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