Mesenchymal stromal cells reduce inflammation and improve lung function in a mouse model of cystic fibrosis lung disease.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells which possess immunomodulatory and repair capabilities. In this study, we investigated whether MSC therapy could modulate inflammation and lung damage in the lungs of Scnn1b-transgenic mice overexpressing the β-subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (β-ENaC), a model with features of Cystic Fibrosis lung disease. Human bone marrow derived MSC cells were intravenously delivered to mice, prior to collection of bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF) and tissue.

SLAMF7 defines subsets of human effector CD8 T cells.

Long-term control of viral replication relies on the efficient differentiation of memory T cells into effector T cells during secondary immune responses. Recent findings have identified T cell precursors for both memory and exhausted T cells, suggesting the existence of progenitor-like effector T cells. These cells can persist without antigenic challenge but expand and acquire effector functions upon recall immune responses.

Longitudinal analysis of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody durability in Puerto Rico.

Understanding the dynamics of antibody responses following vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection is important for informing effective vaccination strategies and other public health interventions. This study investigates SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics in a Puerto Rican cohort, analyzing how IgG levels vary by vaccination status and previous infection. We assess waning immunity and the distribution of hybrid immunity with the aim to inform public health strategies and vaccination programs in Puerto Rico and similar settings.

Pharmacogenomic landscape of the Thai population from genome sequencing of 949 individuals.

Inter-individual variability in drug responses is significantly influenced by genetic factors, underscoring the importance of population-specific pharmacogenomic studies to optimize clinical outcomes. In this study, we analyzed whole genome sequencing data from 949 unrelated Thai individuals and conducted an in-depth analysis of 3239 genes involved in drug pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, or immune-mediated adverse drug reactions. We identified 43 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 134 diplotypes, and 15 human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, all with moderate to high clinical significance.

Quantitative IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein in infected individuals strongly correlates with lung injury.

The clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection may range from asymptomatic or minor conditions to severe and life-threatening outcomes. The respiratory system is a principal target of the virus and in the majority of cases of severe disease, an acute form of pneumonia develops. Despite concerted global efforts to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of COVID-19, the progression of the infection leading to pulmonary damage remains poorly understood.

Principal component analysis of the Serological response to Plasmodium Falciparum using a Multiplex bead-based assay in Nigeria.

Characterization of serological responses to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is of interest to understand disease burden and transmission dynamics; however, their interpretation is challenging. Dried blood spots from 30,815 participants aged 6 months to 15 years from the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey were analyzed by multiplex bead-based assay to measure immunoglobulin G (IgG) to Pf-stage-specific MSP-1, AMA-1, GLURPR0, LSA-1, and CSP. These IgG levels were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA).

A conserved pilin from uncultured gut bacterial clade TANB77 enhances cancer immunotherapy.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has become a standard anti-cancer treatment, offering durable clinical benefits. However, the limited response rate of ICB necessitates biomarkers to predict and modulate the efficacy of the therapy. The gut microbiome's influence on ICB efficacy is of particular interest due to its modifiability through various interventions.

Burkholderia cenocepacia outbreak linked to taps in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: Burkholderia cenocepacia complex is an important cause of hospital acquired infections. We describe the management of an outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to tap colonisation.

Methods: Microbiological testing of touch (n = 26) and non-touch taps (n = 28), sinks and drains, including genomic sequencing of selected isolates.

The endoplasmic reticulum as a cradle for virus and extracellular vesicle secretion.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membranous carriers of protein, lipid, and nucleic acid cargoes and play a key role in intercellular communication. Recent work has revealed the previously under-recognized participation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated proteins (ERAPs) during EV secretion, using pathways reminiscent of viral replication and secretion. Here, we present highlights of the literature involving ER/ERAPs in EV biogenesis and propose mechanistic parallels with ERAPs exploited during viral infections.

Dengue virus non-structural protein 1 binding to thrombin as a dengue severity marker: Comprehensive patient analysis in south Taiwan.

Background: Previously we identified a complex of non-structural protein (NS) 1 - Thrombin (NST) in dengue infected patients. Here, we investigated how the concentration of NS1 and NST differ in various dengue severity levels as well as their demographic and clinical features. Several comorbid (hypertension, diabetes, and chronic renal failure) often found in dengue patients were also measured and analyzed.

Real-world multicentre cohort study on choices and effectiveness of immunotherapies in NMOSD and MOGAD.

Background: Recurrent attacks in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) can lead to severe disability. We aimed to analyse the real-world use of immunotherapies in patients with NMOSD and MOGAD, focusing on changes in treatment strategies, effects on attack rates (ARR) and risk factors for attacks.

Methods: This longitudinal registry-based cohort study included 493 patients (320 with aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) seropositive NMOSD (65%), 44 with AQP4-IgG seronegative NMOSD (9%) and 129 MOGAD (26%)) with 1247 treatments from 19 German and one Austrian centre from the registry of the neuromyelitis optica study group (NEMOS).

Immune Stress-induced Tumor Mutation Burden and Neoantigen Expression in 4T1 Mammary Cancer Cells: A Potential Mechanism for Long-term Survival in Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Background/aim: The Kaplan-Meier curves for patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) display a small group of potentially-cured patients with long-term survival, creating a 'kangaroo-tail' shape of the survival curve. However, the mechanistic basis of this phenomenon and what occurs in patients whose cancer is resistant to ICIs remain unclear. The present study aimed to answer these questions.

Gut Microbiome and Bile Acid Interactions: Mechanistic Implications for Cholangiocarcinoma Development, Immune Resistance, and Therapy.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare but highly malignant carcinoma of bile duct epithelial cells with a poor prognosis. The major risk factors of CCA carcinogenesis and progression are cholestatic liver diseases. The key feature of primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cholangitis is chronic cholestasis, which means a slowdown of hepatocyte secretion of biliary lipids and metabolites into bile as well as a slowdown of enterohepatic circulation (bile acid recirculation) of bile acids with dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, which was shown to lead to enterohepatic recirculation and an increase of toxic secondary bile acids.

Multiplex sample-sparing assay for detecting type-specific antibodies to Zika and dengue viruses: an assay development and validation study.

Background: Serology for dengue viruses (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) has been hindered by antibody cross-reactivity, which limits the utility of these tests for surveillance and assessment of sero-status. Our aim was to develop a multiplexed IgG-based assay with increased accuracy to assess the history of previous DENV and ZIKV infections.

Methods: We developed and assessed the analytical performance of a sample-sparing, multiplexed, microsphere-based serological assay using domain III of the envelope protein (EDIII) of DENV serotypes 1-4 and ZIKV, the most variable region between each virus.

Hyperreactive B cells instruct their elimination by T cells to curb autoinflammation and lymphomagenesis.

B cell immunity carries the inherent risk of deviating into autoimmunity and malignancy, which are both strongly associated with genetic variants or alterations that increase immune signaling. Here, we investigated the interplay of autoimmunity and lymphoma risk factors centered around the archetypal negative immune regulator TNFAIP3/A20 in mice. Counterintuitively, B cells with moderately elevated sensitivity to stimulation caused fatal autoimmune pathology, while those with high sensitivity did not.

A novel skin-like patch based on 3D hydrogel nanocomposite of Polydopamine/TiO nanoparticles and Ag quantum dots accelerates diabetic wound healing compared to stem cell therapy.

Despite the advances in the development of therapeutic wearable wound-healing patches, lack self-healing properties and strong adhesion to diabetic skin, hindering their effectiveness. We propose a unique, wearable patch made from a 3D organo-hydrogel nanocomposite containing polydopamine, titanium dioxide nanoparticles, and silver quantum dots (PDA-TiO@Ag). The designed patch exhibits ultra-stretchable, exceptional-self-healing, self-adhesive, ensuring conformal contact with the skin even during movement.

The impact of maximum cross-sectional area of lesion on predicting the early therapeutic response of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Background: Early evaluation of culture conversion after 6-month treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is vital for outcome prediction. This study aims to merge the maximum lesion cross-sectional area observed via computed tomography (CT) imaging during treatment to predict therapeutic response.

Methods: We retrospectively involved MDR-TB patients who completed 6 months of treatment from two hospitals.

Klebsiella pneumoniae Glycoconjugate Vaccine Leads Based on Semi-Synthetic O1 and O2ac Antigens.

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is a common opportunistic pathogen that emerged as a new critical threat to human health, due to its hypervirulence and widespread resistance against many antibiotics, including carbapenems. Alternative intervention strategies such as vaccines are not available.  Cell-surface lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and capsular polysaccharides (CPS) are attractive targets for vaccine development.

Effects of immersion bathing in Lactobacillus plantarum CLY-05 on the growth performance, non-specific immune enzyme activities and gut microbiota of Apostichopus japonicus.

In order to study the optimal use of Lactobacillus plantarum in sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), 49 days feeding trial was conducted to determine the influence of immersion bathing in different concentrations of Lactobacillus plantarum CLY-05 on body weight gain rate and non-specific immune activities. The potential effect of CLY-05 on gut microbiota was also analyzed during the immersion bathing at the optimum concentration. The results showed that the body weight growth rate of all bathing groups was higher than that of control.

HIV-1 exploits LBPA-dependent intraepithelial trafficking for productive infection of human intestinal mucosa.

The gastrointestinal tract is a prominent portal of entry for HIV-1 during sexual or perinatal transmission, as well as a major site of HIV-1 persistence and replication. Elucidation of underlying mechanisms of intestinal HIV-1 infection are thus needed for the advancement of HIV-1 curative therapies. Here, we present a human 2D intestinal immuno-organoid system to model HIV-1 disease that recapitulates tissue compartmentalization and epithelial-immune cellular interactions.

Role of Toll-like receptor 2 during infection of Leptospira spp: A systematic review.

The involvement of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in leptospirosis is poorly understood. Our systematic review examined its role across in-vitro, in-vivo, ex-vivo, and human studies. Original articles published in English up to January 2024, exploring the role of TLR2 during leptospirosis, were selected from databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Trip, and Google Scholar.

Shrimp allergen extract immunotherapy induces prolonged immune tolerance in a gastro-food allergy mouse model.

Food allergies are a global health problem that continues to grow annually, with a prevalence of more than 10%. Shrimp allergy is the most common and life-threatening allergy. There is no cure for food allergies, but shrimp allergen extract (SAE) offers promise as a treatment through allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT).

A novel strain of Leishmania braziliensis harbors not a toti- but a bunyavirus.

Leishmania is a genus of the family Trypanosomatidae that unites obligatory parasitic flagellates causing a variety of vector-borne diseases collectively called leishmaniasis. The symptoms range from relatively innocuous skin lesions to complete failures of visceral organs. The disease is exacerbated if a parasite harbors Leishmania RNA viruses (LRVs) of the family Pseudototiviridae.

Genetic Association of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis With Adult Rheumatic Disease.

Importance: Patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) may develop adult rheumatic diseases later in life, and prolonged or recurrent disease activity is often associated with substantial disability; therefore, it is important to identify patients with JIA at high risk of developing adult rheumatic diseases and provide specialized attention and preventive care to them.

Objective: To elucidate the full extent of the genetic association of JIA with adult rheumatic diseases, to improve treatment strategies and patient outcomes for patients at high risk of developing long-term rheumatic diseases.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this genetic association study of 4 disease genome-wide association study (GWAS) cohorts from 2013 to 2024 (JIA, rheumatoid arthritis [RA], systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], and systemic sclerosis [SSc]), patients in the JIA cohort were recruited from the US, Australia, and Norway (with a UK cohort included in the meta-analyzed cohort), while patients in the other 3 cohorts were recruited from US and Western European countries.