Streptococcus pyogenes ranks among the main causes of mortality from bacterial infections worldwide. Currently there is no vaccine to prevent diseases such as rheumatic heart disease and invasive streptococcal infection. The streptococcal M protein that is used as the substrate for epidemiological typing is both a virulence factor and a vaccine antigen. Over 220 variants of this protein have been described, making comparisons between proteins difficult, and hindering M protein-based vaccine development. A functional classification based on 48 emm-clusters containing closely related M proteins that share binding and structural properties is proposed. The need for a paradigm shift from type-specific immunity against S. pyogenes to emm-cluster based immunity for this bacterium should be further investigated. Implementation of this emm-cluster-based system as a standard typing scheme for S. pyogenes will facilitate the design of future studies of M protein function, streptococcal virulence, epidemiological surveillance, and vaccine development.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiu260 | DOI Listing |
Vet Med Int
January 2025
Department of Science and Technology, Virology and Vaccine Research Program, Industrial Technology Development Institute, Bicutan, Taguig 1634, Philippines.
African swine fever (ASF), caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a highly contagious disease with devastating effects on the global pig industry. This warrants the development of effective control strategies, such as vaccines. However, previously developed inactivated vaccines have proven ineffective, while live-attenuated vaccines carry inherent safety risks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEuroasian J Hepatogastroenterol
December 2024
Department of Vaccines, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba.
Unlabelled: The immune system plays a central role in controlling acute hepatitis B infection and in patients resolving chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Given that 221 million (75%) of CHB patients reside in low- and middle-income countries, the development of a vaccine with therapeutic properties represents a rational and cost-effective approach more than a romantic endeavor. This review systematically analyzes the key variables related to the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of CHB treatments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTher Adv Vaccines Immunother
January 2025
Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 2JD, UK.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes a significant burden of acute respiratory illness across all ages, particularly for infants and older adults. Infants, especially those born prematurely or with underlying health conditions, face a high risk of severe RSV-related lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Globally, RSV contributes to millions of LRTI cases annually, with a disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Microbiol
December 2024
Yueyang County People's Hospital, Yueyang, China.
Aim: This study aims to comprehensively and systematically review the current status of research on probiotics and HIV/AIDS, while also exploring future research hotspots and trends in this domain.
Methods: The Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database was queried up until May 13, 2024, to retrieve relevant literature on probiotics and HIV/AIDS. Utilizing CiteSpace, VOSviewers, and Bibliometrix software, scientific achievements and research frontiers in this field were analyzed.
RSC Adv
January 2025
Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal Montreal QC Canada
Chitosan, a biodegradable and biocompatible natural polymer composed of β-(1-4)-linked -acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) and d-glucosamine (GlcN) and derived from crustacean shells, has been widely studied for various biomedical applications, including drug delivery, cartilage repair, wound healing, and tissue engineering, because of its unique physicochemical properties. One of the most promising areas of research is the investigation of the immunomodulatory properties of chitosan, since the biopolymer has been shown to modulate the maturation, activation, cytokine production, and polarization of dendritic cells and macrophages, two key immune cells involved in the initiation and regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses, leading to enhanced immune responses. Several signaling pathways, including the cGAS-STING, STAT-1, and NLRP3 inflammasomes, are involved in chitosan-induced immunomodulation.
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