Publications by authors named "Michael K Longmire"

Pneumonia is a worldwide threat to public health, demanding novel preventative and therapeutic strategies. The lung epithelium is a critical environmental interface that functions as a physical barrier to pathogen invasion while also actively sensing and responding to pathogens. We have reported that stimulating lung epithelial cells with a combination therapeutic consisting of a diacylated lipopeptide and a synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) induces synergistic pneumonia protection against a wide range of pathogens.

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Article Synopsis
  • Pneumonia poses a global health threat, highlighting the urgent need for new ways to fight lower respiratory tract infections.
  • Researchers discovered that delivering certain molecular patterns can enhance the lungs' natural defenses, specifically through a pathway that relies on reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  • The study shows that interactions between CpG oligodeoxynucleotides and specific lung cell proteins enhance mitochondrial activity, leading to the creation of protective antimicrobial ROS and offering a potential antibiotic-free method to combat pneumonia.
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Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease associated with eosinophilic infiltration, increased mucus production, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway remodeling. Epidemiologic data reveal that the prevalence of allergic sensitization and associated diseases has increased in the twentieth century. This has been hypothesized to be partly due to reduced contact with microbial organisms (the hygiene hypothesis) in industrialized society.

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