Publications by authors named "Soo-Jeon Choi"

Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal cancer associated with an immunosuppressive environment. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were initially described in the context of infection but have more recently been implicated in contributing to the tolerogenic immune response in PDAC. Thus, NETs are an attractive target for new therapeutic strategies.

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Background: Increasing incidence of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) disease has been reported in Europe and the USA over the past several years. Coupled with this are observations of higher rates of resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin.

Objectives: To characterize iGAS and pharyngitis isolates from West Virginia (WV), a US state outside of the national Active Bacteria Core surveillance purview, where risk factors associated with iGAS infections are prevalent.

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is a gram-negative bacterium that is the etiological agent of the tropical disease melioidosis. Currently, there is no licensed vaccine for melioidosis, but numerous candidates are being tested for protective efficacy and characterization of the elicited immune response. Our lab has previously reported the immunogenicity of a Bucl8-protein-based peptide antigen, designated L1-CRM (Cross-reacting material 197).

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Clindamycin and β-lactam antibiotics have been mainstays for treating invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection, yet such regimens might be limited for strains displaying MLS phenotypes. We investigated 76 iGAS isolates from 66 patients in West Virginia, USA, during 2020-2021. We performed emm typing using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and assessed resistance both genotypically and phenotypically.

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is an infectious bacterium of clinical and biodefense concern, and is the causative agent of melioidosis. The mortality rate can reach up to 50% and affects 165,000 people per year; however, there is currently no vaccine available. In this study, we examine the antigen-specific immune response to a vaccine formulated with antigens derived from an outer membrane protein in , Bucl8.

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Increasing antimicrobial resistance due to misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, as well as a lack of new and innovative antibiotics in development has become an alarming global threat. Preventative therapeutics, like vaccines, are combative measures that aim to stop infections at the source, thereby decreasing the overall use of antibiotics. Infections due to Gram-negative pathogens pose a significant treatment challenge because of substantial multidrug resistance that is acquired and spread throughout the bacterial population.

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The human-adapted pathogen group A Streptococcus (GAS) utilizes wounds as portals of entry into host tissue, wherein surface adhesins interact with the extracellular matrix, enabling bacterial colonization. The streptococcal collagen-like protein 1 (Scl1) is a major adhesin of GAS that selectively binds to two fibronectin type III (FnIII) repeats within cellular fibronectin, specifically the alternatively spliced extra domains A and B, and the FnIII repeats within tenascin-C. Binding to FnIII repeats was mediated through conserved structural determinants present within the Scl1 globular domain and facilitated GAS adherence and biofilm formation.

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Keratinized epidermis constitutes a powerful barrier of the mucosa and skin, effectively preventing bacterial invasion, unless it is wounded and no longer protective. Wound healing involves deposition of distinct extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins enriched in cellular fibronectin (cFn) isoforms containing extra domain A (EDA). The streptococcal collagen-like protein 1 (Scl1) is a surface adhesin of group A (GAS), which contains an N-terminal variable (V) domain and a C-terminally located collagen-like domain.

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Background: In South Korea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the ten leading causes of death. COPD exacerbations are significantly associated with mortality in COPD patients. This study was conducted to investigate the epidemiology of COPD in South Korea, specifically the clinical characteristics of South Korean COPD patients, the COPD exacerbation rate and the risk factors associated with COPD exacerbations.

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Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is particularly associated with progressive and ultimately chronic recurrent respiratory infections in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, chronic destroyed lung disease, and cystic fibrosis. Its treatment is also very complex because of drug resistance and recurrence.

Methods: Forty eight cultures from 18 patients with recurrent P.

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Thymomas are one of the most common neoplasms of the mediastinum derived from thymic epithelium. It is common that invasive thymoma invades the lung, pericardium, and great vessels. Airway compression by mass effect also occurs, but direct polypoid tumor growth into the airway is extremely rare.

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Background: nonasthmatic patients with allergic rhinitis often have bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Not only the presence but also the degree of atopy are important factors in BHR of patients with asthma. BHR is commonly evaluated by bronchial challenges using direct or indirect stimuli.

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Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) cause diseases in humans and animals, affecting organs outside the alimentary canal. In recent years, ExPEC have been reported as a cause of fatal pneumonia in dogs, cats, and in a horse. In the current report, a fatal case of pneumonia and pleuritis is described in a 4-week-old tiger (Panthera tigris) cub associated with ExPEC.

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In 1932, Loffler described a syndrome of self-limiting, transient pulmonary infiltrates associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia and mild pulmonary symptoms. A number of conditions are related to pulmonary eosinophilia or pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia. Especially, parasitic infestations are often related to pulmonary eosinophilia, but only two cases associated with Clonorchis sinensis have been anecdotally reported in English literature.

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Background: Although there are many methods including AFB smear and culture, and the analysis of pleural fluid in the etiological diagnosis of pleural effusion, it is sometimes difficult to confirm a diagnosis especially in cases of incomplete pleural biopsies. Moreover, the high incidence of tuberculous pleuritis in young people caused confusion in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion in Korea. The pathognomonic finding of tuberculous pleuritis in pleural biopsy is chronic granulomatous pleuritis (CGP) with caseous necrosis.

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We previously demonstrated caspase-mediated cleavage of p130cas during apoptosis and identified two caspase-3 cleavage sites [1]. In this study, we investigated the phosphorylation-dependent cleavage of p130cas in apoptotic Rat-1 fibroblast cells. Lysophosphatidic acid and fibronectin induced p130cas phosphorylation, which in turn resulted in resistance to caspase-mediated cleavage.

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Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (LIP) is characterized by diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrations in both lower lobes. Pleomorphic lymphohistiocytes including mature lymphocytes, variable admixture of plasma cells and other mononuclear cells infiltrate within the pulmonary interstitium, ranging from widened septa to confluent masses. We report a case of LIP associated with Epstein-Barr virus in a patient with SLE and Sjögren's syndrome.

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