Syphilis susceptibility factors atlas: A wide-angled Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: The pathogenic mechanisms of syphilis and the host defense mechanisms against syphilis remain poorly understood. Exploration of the susceptibility factors of syphilis may provide crucial clues for unraveling its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: A two-sample Mendelian Randomization framework was utilized, and the inverse-variance weighted method was used as the main analysis.

Platelet-derived major histocompatibility complex class I coating on attenuates natural killer cell lethality.

The evasive tactics of pose a major challenge in combating and eradicating syphilis. Natural killer (NK) cells mediate important effector functions in the control of pathogenic infection, preferentially eliminating targets with low or no expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. To clarify mechanisms in evading NK-mediated immunosurveillance, experiments were performed to explore the cross-talk relations among , NK cells, and platelets.

Insights into the protective immune response by immunization with full-length recombinant TprK protein: cellular and humoral responses.

Syphilis has resurged in many countries, which has called attention to vaccine development. Based on the immunization-based rabbit model of infection with the Nichols strain, this study explored the protective immune response of a controversial syphilis vaccine candidate, TprK, and found that immunization with full-length rTprK was effective in attenuating lesion development and accelerating lesion resolution, which could reduce the probability of the pathogen spreading to distant tissue sites to prevent the progression of the disease to some extent. Furthermore, the results revealed that immunization with rTprK not only rapidly induced a strong Th1-like cellular response but also elicited a humoral immune response to produce opsonic antibodies to enhance macrophage-mediated opsonophagocytosis.

Treponema pallidum promoted microglia apoptosis and prevented itself from clearing by human microglia via blocking autophagic flux.

Treponema pallidum (Tp) has a well-known ability to evade the immune system and can cause neurosyphilis by invading the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia are resident macrophages of the CNS that are essential for host defense against pathogens, this study aims to investigate the interaction between Tp and microglia and the potential mechanism. Here, we found that Tp can exert significant toxic effects on microglia in vivo in Tg (mpeg1: EGFP) transgenic zebrafish embryos.

The optimum condition of the toluidine red unheated serum test for the replacement of the venereal disease research laboratory test in cerebrospinal fluid for neurosyphilis diagnosis.

Background: The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test remains the standard for the laboratory diagnosis of neurosyphilis. The toluidine red unheated serum test (TRUST) is an alternative to the VDRL test as a serological test for syphilis, but it lacks guidelines for its use in CSF for neurosyphilis diagnosis.

Methods: A total of 210 suspected neurosyphilis patients were included, consisting of 124 neurosyphilis patients and 86 syphilis/non-neurosyphilis patients.

Longitudinal Variations in the Gene of Treponema pallidum in an Amoy Strain-Infected Rabbit Model.

Heterogeneous sequences have been hypothesized to be an important factor for persistent infection of Treponema pallidum subsp. (T. pallidum) in humans.

False-Positive Results of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR in Oropharyngeal Swabs From Vaccinators.

Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard for diagnosing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, RT-PCR may yield false-positive results, leading to unnecessary countermeasures. Here, we report a "positive" nucleic acid test on a 10-pooled sample during the routine screening that caused many adverse societal effects, and financial and resource losses.

The whole process of macrophage-Treponema pallidum interactions: Opsonic phagocytosis, nonopsonic phagocytosis and active invasion.

Despite the acknowledged central role of opsonophagocytosis in the process of syphilis, the interaction between Treponema pallidum and human macrophages during nonopsonophagocytosis and active invasion remains controversial. To investigate whether nonopsonic phagocytosis and active invasion, similar to opsonic phagocytosis, also participate in the process of macrophage-T. pallidum interactions, monocyte-derived macrophages were used to study the interactions of T.

Upregulates to Inhibit IFN-γ Expression and Promote T Cell Apoptosis in Neurosyphilis.

Long non-coding RNAs are involved in many infectious diseases. Our previous studies showed that expression is increased in T lymphocytes of neurosyphilis patients compared to healthy controls. However, whether has biological functions remains unclear.

Identification of specific protein biomarkers in syphilis patient serum using mass spectrometry.

To screen novel biomarkers in serum of syphilis patients using a mass spectrometry-based method. Sera were collected from 18 syphilis patients and divided into three groups. Every six serum samples (before and after treatment) in each group were pooled and detected by mass spectrometry.

LncRNA- promotes T cells to secrete IFN-γ by sponging PCM1 in neurosyphilis.

Neurosyphilis patients exhibited significant expression of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in peripheral blood T lymphocytes. In this study, we further clarified the role of lncRNA- in the pathogenic mechanism of neurosyphilis. lncRNA- was transfected into Jurkat-E6-1 cells, namely lentivirus (Lv)-1645 cells.

Dysregulates Monocytes and Promotes the Expression of IL-1β and Migration in Monocytes Through the mTOR Signaling Pathway.

Monocytes are widely involved in the body's defense response, and abnormally regulated monocyte subsets are closely related to the pathogenesis of various diseases. It is unclear whether () dysregulates monocyte subsets and impacts the functions of monocytes. This study aims to analyze the distribution of monocyte subsets in syphilis patients and the effect of on monocyte functions to explore the pathogenesis of syphilis.

Characterisation of the novel clinical isolate X-4 containing a new sequence-type.

Objectives: A novel sequence-type was identified in one clinical isolate (X-4) from a patient diagnosed with primary syphilis in Xiamen, China. To precisely define and characterise a new clinical isolate, we performed further genome-scale molecular analysis.

Methods: The pooled segment genome sequencing method followed by Illumina sequencing was performed.

Immunization with nontreponemal antigen alters the course of experimental syphilis in the rabbit model.

The role of nontreponemal antibodies in the Treponema pallidum infection course is unclear. We investigated the effect of immunization with nontreponemal antigen on T. pallidum-challenged rabbits.

Tp0136 targets fibronectin (RGD)/Integrin β1 interactions promoting human microvascular endothelial cell migration.

Lesion healing without treatment is a unique clinical characteristic of the early stages of syphilis infection. Angiogenesis, which involves endothelial cell migration, is an important process in wound healing. Tp0136, an outer membrane protein of T.

Effect of anti-TP0136 antibodies on the progression of lesions in an infected rabbit model.

The effect of anti-TP0136 antibodies on the progression of syphilis is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of anti-TP0136 antibodies on the progression of lesions in an infected rabbit model. Intramuscular injection of rTP0136 into rabbits in the immunized group (n = 4) elicited high titers of anti-TP0136 antibodies, and rabbits were then challenged with 10T.

The P2X7 receptor mediates NLRP3-dependent IL-1β secretion and promotes phagocytosis in the macrophage response to Treponema pallidum.

It is unclear whether P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) mediates NOD-like receptor family protein 3 (NLRP3)-dependent IL-1β secretion and spirochete phagocytosis in syphilis. This study was conducted to investigate the role of P2X7R in modifying NLRP3-dependent IL-1β secretion and regulating phagocytosis by Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum)-induced macrophages.

Insights into the genetic variation profile of tprK in Treponema pallidum during the development of natural human syphilis infection.

Background: Although the tprK gene of Treponema pallidum are thought to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of syphilis, the profile of variations in tprK during the development of human syphilis infection have remained unclear.

Methods/principal Findings: Through next-generation sequencing, we compared the tprK gene of 14 secondary syphilis patients with that of 14 primary syphilis patients, and the results showed an increased number of variants within the seven V regions of the tprK gene in the secondary syphilis samples. The length of the sequences within each V region also presented a 3-bp changing pattern.

Induces the Secretion of HDVSMC Inflammatory Cytokines to Promote the Migration and Adhesion of THP-1 Cells.

The pathological features of syphilis, a disease caused by (), are characterized by vascular involvement with endarteritis and periarteritis. Little is known about the interactions of infiltrating immunocytes with human dermal vascular smooth muscle cells (HDVSMCs) in arterioles during the immunopathogenesis of syphilis. In the present study, we demonstrated that stimulation of HDVSMCs with resulted in the upregulated gene transcription and protein expression of interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Recombinant Treponema pallidum protein Tp47 promotes the migration and adherence of THP-1 cells to human dermal vascular smooth muscle cells by inducing MCP-1 and ICAM-1 expression.

Vascular inflammation is a complex and multifactorial pathophysiological process that plays a crucial role in all stages of syphilis and is responsible for tissue damage. Little is known about the interactions of infiltrating immunocytes with human dermal vascular smooth muscle cells (HDVSMCs) in arterioles during the immunopathogenesis of syphilis. The Treponema pallidum subsp.

Metabolite Profiles of the Cerebrospinal Fluid in Neurosyphilis Patients Determined by Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis.

The mechanism underlying the stealth property of neurosyphilis is still unclear. Global metabolomics analysis can provide substantial information on energy metabolism, physiology and possible diagnostic biomarkers and intervention strategies for pathogens. To gain better understanding of the metabolic mechanism of neurosyphilis, we conducted an untargeted metabolomics analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 18 neurosyphilis patients and an identical number of syphilis/non-neurosyphilis patients and syphilis-free patients using the Agilent, 1290 Infinity LC system.

Profile of the tprK gene in primary syphilis patients based on next-generation sequencing.

Background: The highly variable tprK gene of Treponema pallidum has been acknowledged to be one of the mechanisms that causes persistent infection. Previous studies have mainly focused on the heterogeneity in tprK in propagated strains using a clone-based Sanger approach. Few studies have investigated tprK directly from clinical samples using deep sequencing.

Comparison of Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of General Paresis and Non-Neurosyphilis Dementia.

Background: The differential diagnosis of general paresis (GP) and non-neurosyphilis (NS) dementia is not clearly defined. The present study examined the differences in clinical and laboratory features of GP and non-NS dementia.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively examined clinical and laboratory features of 85 GP patients and 196 non-NS dementia patients.

Treponema pallidum promotes macrophage polarization and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway to induce interleukin-1β production.

Background: The involvement of inflammasome activation and macrophage polarization during the process of syphilis infection remains unknown. In this study, A series of experiments were performed using human macrophages to research the role of NLRP3 inflammasome regulation in interleukin (IL)-1β production and its influence on macrophage polarization triggered by T. pallidum.