Publications by authors named "N Ponde"

is a fungal pathobiont colonizing mucosal surfaces of the human body, including the oral cavity. Under certain predisposing conditions, invades mucosal tissues activating EGFR-MAPK signalling pathways in epithelial cells via the action of its peptide toxin candidalysin. However, our knowledge of the epithelial mechanisms involved during colonization is rudimentary.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how a common fungus in the human gut microbiome interacts with the host's immune response, specifically focusing on tissue expression in germ-free mice colonized with the fungus.
  • It finds that certain genes related to NADPH oxidase activity are activated during the fungus's transition from yeast to hyphal form, which is influenced by a toxin called candidalysin and the IL-17 receptor.
  • The loss of a specific enzyme (DUOX2) results in reduced fungal colonization and changes in fungal structure, highlighting a complex relationship between the fungus, host immune responses, and the role of IL-17A in regulating gut colonization.
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Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is the most common human fungal infection, arising typically from T cell immune impairments. IL-17 and IL-22 contribute individually to OPC responses, but here we demonstrate that the combined actions of both cytokines are essential for resistance to OPC. Mice lacking IL-17RA and IL-22RA1 exhibited high fungal loads in esophagus- and intestinal tract, severe weight loss, and symptoms of colitis.

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Fungal infections are a global threat; yet, there are no licensed vaccines to any fungal pathogens. Th17 cells mediate immunity to Candida albicans, particularly oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), but essential downstream mechanisms remain unclear. In the murine model of OPC, IκBζ (Nfkbiz, a non-canonical NF-κB transcription factor) was upregulated in an interleukin (IL)-17-dependent manner and was essential to prevent candidiasis.

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SARS-CoV-2 has caused an estimated 7 million deaths worldwide to date. A secreted SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein, known as open reading frame 8 (ORF8), elicits inflammatory pulmonary cytokine responses and is associated with disease severity in COVID-19 patients. Recent reports proposed that ORF8 mediates downstream signals in macrophages and monocytes through the IL-17 receptor complex (IL-17RA, IL-17RC).

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