Publications by authors named "K van der Ploeg"
Development of antigen-specific memory upon pathogen exposure is a hallmark of the adaptive immune system. While natural killer (NK) cells are considered part of the innate immune system, humans exposed to the chronic viral pathogen cytomegalovirus (CMV) often possess a distinct NK cell population lacking in individuals who have not been exposed, termed "adaptive" NK cells. To identify the "naïve" population from which this "memory" population derives, we performed phenotypic, transcriptional, and functional profiling of NK cell subsets.
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- Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in fighting malaria through a mechanism called antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), but how different factors influence NK cell activation is not fully understood.
- A study compared NK cells from people exposed to malaria in Uganda with those who had never been exposed, finding that malaria-exposed individuals had stronger ADCC but weaker inflammatory responses, as evidenced by changes in NK cell surface markers.
- The effectiveness of NK cell degranulation varied based on the type of erythrocytes and plasma used, with the best responses seen using certain sickle cell erythrocytes and plasma from high-transmission areas, while responses to clinical parasite strains were less effective compared to standard laboratory strains.
Background: Despite adherence to reprocessing protocols, duodenoscopes frequently remain contaminated, highlighting significant knowledge gaps in reprocessing efficiency.
Aim: To identify risk factors in duodenoscope reprocessing procedures affecting contamination rates.
Methods: Cultures from Pentax ED34-i10T2 duodenoscopes collected between February 2022 and December 2023 were included.
Article Synopsis
- Many questions still exist regarding SARS-CoV-2 infections in malaria-endemic regions like Uganda, especially concerning vulnerable populations like pregnant women.
- In a study involving 400 unvaccinated pregnant women, researchers found that a significant portion (32%) were seronegative for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at both enrollment and delivery, while others experienced infection during or before pregnancy.
- The results indicated that early pregnancy infections were linked to shorter infant height at three months old, but no severe respiratory illnesses were reported among the women, highlighting that while infections were common, severe outcomes were not prevalent.