Exosomes: from biology to immunotherapy in infectious diseases.

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles derived from the endosomal compartment, which are released by all kinds of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. These vesicles contain a variety of biomolecules that differ both in quantity and type depending on the origin and cellular state. Exosomes are internalized by recipient cells, delivering their content and thus contributing to cell-cell communication in health and disease.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the IgA seroprevalence in COVID-19 patients: Is there a role for IgA in COVID-19 diagnosis or severity?

Nowadays, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is one of the most important health problems. The dynamics and nature of humoral responses are relevant to determine the efficacy of both, diagnostic tests and developed vaccines. Since the role of IgA in the COVID-19 disease is not fully understood, we have systematically reviewed the scientific literature on antibody IgA immunity to SARS-CoV-2 to determine if IgA could be useful as a diagnostic tool or as a biomarker of severity.

Comparative analysis of NK cell receptor repertoire in adults and very elderly subjects with cytomegalovirus infection.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in children and young adults has been associated with changes in the innate immune system. We herein analyzed the possible effect of very long term HCMV infection on the expression of several NK cell receptors. Ninety HCMV-seropositive individuals were included and classified as young adults (n=30), elderly (n=30) and very elderly subjects (n=30).

NK cell immunophenotypic and genotypic analysis of infants with severe respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of severe lower respiratory tract infection in infants. Reduced numbers of NK cells have been reported in infants with severe RSV infection; however, the precise role of NK cells during acute RSV infection is unclear. In this study the NK and T cell phenotypes, LILRB1 gene polymorphisms and KIR genotypes of infants hospitalized with RSV infection were analyzed.

NKG2C gene deletion in the Mexican population and lack of association to respiratory viral infections.

Expansion of a natural killer (NK) cell population that expresses NKG2C has been associated with cytomegalovirus and other viral infections. It has been suggested that this cell population may play a role in infection control. Deletion of the NKG2C gene (homozygous or heterozygous) has been reported with high prevalence in European and Asian populations.