8,750 results match your criteria: "National Institute of infectious Diseases[Affiliation]"

Article Synopsis
  • Influenza A is a priority pathogen for the WHO due to its pandemic potential, leading to a study on its molecular epidemiology in the Western Province of Sri Lanka to inform vaccine selection and understand strain evolution.
  • The study involved 349 participants with respiratory symptoms, detecting Influenza A in 14%, B in 5.7%, and SARS-CoV-2 in 11.7% of cases, with some individuals having co-infections.
  • Genomic analysis revealed specific clades and subclades of H1N1 and H3N2 strains, along with several significant amino acid substitutions in the viral proteins, indicating ongoing viral evolution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) impairs anti-pathogen and anti-tumour immunity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) modulate immunity via IDO but also suppress IFN-γ. While MSC IDO induction by IFN-γ is established, other drivers in this immunosuppressive setting remain unknown.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) presents a challenge due to a variety of non-specific clinical signs. The available tests have low sensitivity. This study aimed to standardize and evaluate the loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique with K26 target (K26-LAMP) for diagnosis of CVL in conjunctival swab (CS) DNA samples extracted through a silica column commercial kit (SW-kit) and boiling (SW-DB) and to compare sensitivity with conventional PCR (kDNA-cPCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (18S-qPCR).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Orientia tsutsugamushi (OT) is an obligate intracellular bacterium transmitted by larval trombiculid mites, responsible for scrub typhus in humans. In Japan, approximately 500 human cases are reported annually, with six major serotypes identified as Kato, Karp, Gilliam, Irie/Kawasaki, Shimokoshi, and Hirano/Kuroki. However, the prevalence of OT in Yamaguchi prefecture remains largely unknown.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the Samosir Island of North Sumatra, Indonesia, the prevalence of taeniasis caused by Taenia asiatica was reported as 2.2 %-20.7 % during 1972-2005.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Development of a novel multiplex digital PCR-based method for the detection of HTLV-1 proviral deletion.

J Virol Methods

February 2025

Research Center for Biological Products in the Next Generation, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a retrovirus, integrates into host DNA and causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) in some individuals. Two types of defective proviruses, Type 1 and Type 2, are often observed in ATL cells. Here, we developed a 3-plex digital PCR (dPCR) method to detect HTLV-1 proviral deletions by comparing the ratios of copy numbers quantified using specific primer-probes for the LTR, pol, and pX regions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A gastroscopy revealed multiple areas of erosion with white patches from the angulus (the bend of the stomach) to the antrum (the lower portion of the stomach).
  • A gastric biopsy was taken and tested, showing numerous brown spirochetes, indicating an infection caused by syphilis.
  • The findings suggest a significant gastrointestinal issue likely linked to an underlying syphilitic infection affecting the stomach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A study in Romania revealed a growing prevalence of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacterales in hospitals, with 355 cases reported from 2018 to 2022.
  • Analysis of 74 isolates over nearly two years identified four persistent multi-hospital clusters of these drug-resistant bacteria, demonstrating sustained transmission across multiple regions.
  • The findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced infection control measures and improved national surveillance for carbapenem-resistant pathogens in healthcare systems across the EU/EEA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Asthma, an allergic disease of the airways, is a risk factor for severity of common respiratory viral infections; however, the relationship between asthma and severity in COVID-19 remains unclear. Here, we examined the effects of SARS-CoV-2 (Omicron BA.5 strain) infection in a mouse model of airway allergy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hepatitis B and D virus entry.

Nat Rev Microbiol

November 2024

Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) entry is the initial step of viral infection, leading to the formation of covalently closed circular DNA, which is a molecular reservoir of viral persistence and a key obstacle for HBV cure. The restricted entry of HBV into specific cell types determines the nature of HBV, which has a narrow host range in tissues and species. Hepatitis D virus (HDV) shares viral surface antigens with HBV and thus follows a similar entry mechanism at its early stages.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Rodent-borne orthohantaviruses are the causative agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Apart from the classic rodent-borne hantaviruses, numerous species of hantaviruses have been identified in shrews and bats; however, their antigenicity and pathogenicity are unknown. This study focused on developing a serological method to detect antibodies against bat- and shrew-borne hantaviruses.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cooperative tumor inhibition by CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide and cyclic dinucleotide in head and neck cancer involves T helper cytokine and macrophage phenotype reprogramming.

Biomed Pharmacother

December 2024

Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Head and neck cancer ranks as the sixth most common cancer worldwide, highlighting the critical need for the development of new therapies to enhance treatment efficacy. The activation of innate immune receptors given their potent immune stimulatory properties aid in the eradication of cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the immune mechanism and anti-tumor function of a Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist, CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide-2722 (CpG-2722), in combination with cyclic dinucleotides, which are agonists of stimulator of interferon genes (STING).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: The suppression of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) is an important issue worldwide. In recent years, the presence of various ARB in the oral cavity has been reported, but the details remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to isolate ARB from the oral cavity and investigate the factors affecting ARB colonization.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A Case of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy Caused by Epcoritamab.

Cureus

October 2024

Division of Hematology and Cell Therapy, Department of Internal Medicine Ⅲ, Yamagata University, Yamagata, JPN.

A female patient aged in her 50s had presented with the onset of follicular lymphoma (FL) with left mandibular swelling, with a pathological grade of 1 and clinical stage of Ⅳ (Ann Arbor staging). Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone, and rituximab (R-CHOP) resulted in complete molecular remission (CMR). The patient experienced two recurrences, and treatments were successful; however, the side effect of continuous lymphocytopenia existed eight years after the onset.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * Current treatments are limited due to side effects and drug resistance, highlighting the need for alternative therapies.
  • * This study investigated Andrographis paniculata leaf extract, which showed significant effectiveness in killing Giardia trophozoites, suggesting it could be a viable, natural treatment option with fewer side effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Mycobacterium marinum is a slow-growing mycobacterium that can cause skin infections, often linked to aquatic environments and affecting even healthy individuals.
  • A 23-year-old aquarium worker developed chronic skin nodules, initially misdiagnosed as tuberculosis; further biopsy confirmed M. marinum infection, leading to an adjustment in his treatment plan due to liver issues and side effects.
  • The case highlights the importance of repeated biopsies for accurate diagnosis and the complexities involved in treating infections like M. marinum, as treatment regimens are not well-established and may require trial and error.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease, Japan, 2013 to 2023.

Euro Surveill

November 2024

Center for Field Epidemic Intelligence, Research and Professional Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.

Article Synopsis
  • * Over the last decade, 274 IMD cases were reported, predominantly in older males, with an overall low incidence rate and no outbreaks linked to mass gatherings.
  • * The incidence of IMD in Japan is low compared to higher incidence countries, with a significant decline noted post-2020; the predominance of serogroup Y and the importance of continued surveillance for effective disease management were highlighted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objective: Advances in antiretroviral therapy led to an increase in life expectancy among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As aging is characterized by several physiological changes that can influence pharmacokinetics (PK), this systematic review aims to describe the impact of aging on the PK of antiretrovirals (ARV) approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before 2005.

Methods: Searches were performed in BVS, EMBASE, and PubMed databases for publications until June 2024.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Unveiling the structural mechanisms behind high affinity and selectivity in phosphorylated epitope-specific rabbit antibodies.

J Biol Chem

December 2024

Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Drug Design Research, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Ibaraki City, Osaka, Japan; Abwiz Bio Inc., San Diego, California, USA; Medical Proteomics Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Protein phosphorylation is a crucial process in various cellular functions, and its irregularities have been implicated in several diseases, including cancer. Antibodies are commonly employed to detect protein phosphorylation in research. However, unlike the extensive studies on recognition mechanisms of the phosphate group by proteins such as kinases and phosphatases, only a few studies have explored antibody mechanisms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * This study analyzed 264 Blockley isolates from different regions, identifying 10 distinct genetic clusters which led to the classification into two lineages—R and S—each with unique antimicrobial resistance profiles.
  • * Notably, lineage R, found mainly in Asia and Africa, contained strains with azithromycin resistance, while lineage S, primarily in Europe and the Americas, lacked this resistance, indicating a significant need for ongoing monitoring of these pathogens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Melatonin has shown protective benefits against renal injury in animal studies, but the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in its signaling is not fully understood.
  • This study discovers that a specific lncRNA, called nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (1), is activated by melatonin, enhancing its expression through a process involving the BMAL1/CLOCK protein complex.
  • The findings suggest that melatonin encourages the growth of renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) by regulating lncRNA 1, which in turn affects core clock genes and promotes recovery from kidney damage, indicating a new potential target for treating renal diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Macropinocytosis is a key endocytic process that allows cells to take in fluids and particles, playing an essential role in various cell functions like nutrient uptake and signaling.
  • While mostly studied in immune and cancer cells, the role of macropinocytosis in pathogens like Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amebiasis, is less understood.
  • This study investigates the role of Rho small GTPase proteins in macropinocytosis of E. histolytica, revealing that the protein EhRacM enhances macropinocytosis and influences cell migration, highlighting its importance in understanding pathogen behaviors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Evidence is lacking on alignment of current guidance from the Region of the Americas (AMR) countries with the new guidelines for people with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2024. We gathered the most updated guidance on HBV infection from organisations/societies and seven countries from AMR. Most guidelines were aligned with the new WHO recommendation to treat persons with elevated ALT and HBV-DNA levels ≥2,000 IU/ml or with HIV-coinfection, hepatocellular carcinoma family history, extra-hepatic manifestations, or immunosuppression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study highlights that environmental areas, particularly international airports in Japan, are significant sites for the spread of antimicrobial resistance, specifically antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
  • - Findings revealed a concerning 46.3% prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci on frequently touched surfaces, with specific strains carrying the mecA gene identified as major carriers.
  • - The research emphasizes the urgent need for molecular surveillance to detect and combat the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance in urban public spaces.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Skin microbiota plays an essential role in the development and function of the cutaneous immune system, in the maintenance of the skin barrier through the release of antimicrobial peptides, and in the metabolism of some natural products. With the aim of characterizing changes in the cutaneous microbiota specifically associated with wound healing in the diabetic condition, we performed a 16 S rRNA gene Next Generation Sequencing of skin swabs taken within the ulcer bed of ten diabetic patients before (t0) and after 20 days of therapy (t20) with a fluorescein-based galenic treatment. Considering the twenty most representative genera, we found at t20 an increase of Corynebacterium, Peptostreptococcus, and Streptococcus, and a decrease of Enterococcus, Finegoldia, and Peptoniphilus genera.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF