Waddlia chondrophila induces systemic infection, organ pathology, and elicits Th1-associated humoral immunity in a murine model of genital infection.

Waddlia chondrophila is a known bovine abortigenic Chlamydia-related bacterium that has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in human. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding how W. chondrophila infection spreads, its ability to elicit an immune response and induce pathology.

Chlamydial polymorphic membrane proteins: regulation, function and potential vaccine candidates.

Pmps (Polymorphic Membrane Proteins) are a group of membrane bound surface exposed chlamydial proteins that have been characterized as autotransporter adhesins and are important in the initial phase of chlamydial infection. These proteins all contain conserved GGA (I, L, V) and FxxN tetrapeptide motifs in the N-terminal portion of each protein. All chlamydial species express Pmps.

An AAVS1-targeted minigene platform for correction of iPSCs from all five types of chronic granulomatous disease.

There are five genetic forms of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), resulting from mutations in any of five subunits of phagocyte oxidase, an enzyme complex in neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages that produces microbicidal reactive oxygen species. We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from peripheral blood CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells of patients with each of five CGD genotypes. We used zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) targeting the AAVS1 safe harbor site together with CGD genotype-specific minigene plasmids with flanking AAVS1 sequence to target correction of iPSC representing each form of CGD.

Genital Chlamydia trachomatis: understanding the roles of innate and adaptive immunity in vaccine research.

Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease worldwide, and despite significant advances in chlamydial research, a prophylactic vaccine has yet to be developed. This Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium, which often causes asymptomatic infection, may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancies, scarring of the fallopian tubes, miscarriage, and infertility when left untreated. In the genital tract, Chlamydia trachomatis infects primarily epithelial cells and requires Th1 immunity for optimal clearance.

NADPH oxidase-2 derived ROS dictates murine DC cytokine-mediated cell fate decisions during CD4 T helper-cell commitment.

NADPH oxidase-2 (Nox2)/gp91(phox) and p47(phox) deficient mice are prone to hyper-inflammatory responses suggesting a paradoxical role for Nox2-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) as anti-inflammatory mediators. The molecular basis for this mode of control remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that IFNγ/LPS matured p47(phox-/-)-ROS deficient mouse dendritic cells (DC) secrete more IL-12p70 than similarly treated wild type DC, and in an in vitro co-culture model IFNγ/LPS matured p47(phox-/-) DC bias more ovalbumin-specific CD4(+) T lymphocytes toward a Th1 phenotype than wild type (WT) DC through a ROS-dependent mechanism linking IL-12p70 expression to regulation of p38-MAPK activation.

Role of p47phox in antigen-presenting cell-mediated regulation of humoral immunity in mice.

Microbial-induced inflammation is important for eliciting humoral immunity. Genetic defects of NADPH oxidase 2-based proteins interrupt phagocyte superoxide generation and are the basis for the human immunodeficiency chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Hyperinflammation is also a significant clinical manifestation of CGD.

Macrophages pulsed with Streptococcus pneumoniae elicit a T cell-dependent antibody response upon transfer into naive mice.

Macrophages are less effective than DC at priming naive CD4(+) T cells, suggesting that DC are unique in initiating T cell-dependent Ab responses. We compared the ability of DC and macrophages, pulsed in vitro with Streptococcus pneumoniae, to elicit protein- and polysaccharide-specific Ig isotype production upon adoptive transfer into naive mice. S.

Air and shock two-way shuttlebox avoidance in C57BL/6J and 129X1/SvJ mice.

Despite multiple advantages of the use of electric shock as an aversive stimulus, reasons exist for considering alternative aversive stimuli. In the present study, we examined and compared the acquisition of two-way shuttlebox avoidance with 275.8-kPa (40-psi) pulsed air and continuous 0.