Interleukin-17A and Interleukin-17F Gene Polymorphisms in Egyptian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objective: Interleukin IL-17A and IL-17F are critical cytokines involved in inflammatory processes. Genetic variations in IL-17A and IL-17F might be linked to chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a cancer associated with long-term inflammation. This study aims to examine the relationship between specific polymorphisms in IL-17A (rs2275913) and IL-17F (rs763780) and their association with HCV-related HCC in an Egyptian population.

Bisdemethoxycurcumin and Curcumin Alleviate Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Maintaining Intestinal Epithelial Integrity and Regulating Gut Microbiota in Mice.

Curcuminoids, found in turmeric ( L.), include curcumin (CUR), demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC). Although CUR and DMC are well-studied, the anti-inflammatory effects of BDMC remain less explored.

Comparison of different microbiome analysis pipelines to validate their reproducibility of gastric mucosal microbiome composition.

Microbiome analysis has become a crucial tool for basic and translational research due to its potential for translation into clinical practice. However, there is ongoing controversy regarding the comparability of different bioinformatic analysis platforms and a lack of recognized standards, which might have an impact on the translational potential of results. This study investigates how the performance of different microbiome analysis platforms impacts the final results of mucosal microbiome signatures.

c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase ProE interacts with quorum sensing protein PqsE to promote pyocyanin production in .

The universal bacterial second messenger bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) plays critical roles in regulating a variety of bacterial functions such as biofilm formation and virulence. The metabolism of c-di-GMP is inversely controlled by diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) and phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Recently, increasing studies suggested that the protein-protein interactions between DGCs/PDEs and their partners appear to be a common way to achieve specific regulation.

Systematic analyses uncover robust salivary microbial signatures and host-microbiome perturbations in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a prevalent malignancy in the oral-maxillofacial region with a poor prognosis. Oral microbiomes play a potential role in the pathogenesis of this disease. However, findings from individual studies have been inconsistent, and a comprehensive understanding of OSCC-associated microbiome dysbiosis remains elusive.

Fluorescent nucleobase analogue for cellular visualisation and regulation of immunostimulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotides.

In this study, we explored the chemical modification of toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist DNA using a highly fluorescent thymine analogue, ThexT, focusing on its structural and photophysical characteristics. ThexT-labelled CpG oligonucleotides effectively demonstrated intracellular localisation within macrophage cell lines. Notably, immunostimulatory activity varied depending on the site of ThexT incorporation within the TLR9 agonist sequence.

Effect of Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination on immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 vaccination.

Objectives: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination has off-target effects on disease risk for unrelated infections and immune responses to vaccines. This study aimed to determine the immunomodulatory effects of BCG vaccination on immune responses to vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: Blood samples, from a subset of 275 SARS-CoV-2-naïve healthcare workers randomised to BCG vaccination (BCG group) or no BCG vaccination (Control group) in the BRACE trial, were collected before and 28 days after the primary course (two doses) of ChAdOx1-S (Oxford-AstraZeneca) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccination.

The gut microbiome and cross-reactivity of food allergens: current understanding, insights, and future directions.

This mini-review examines the emerging role of the gut microbiome in influencing food allergen cross-reactivity. It specifically focuses on how microbial diversity, antigens, and metabolites impact IgE-mediated allergic responses. Cross-reactivity occurs when structurally similar food and microbial antigens trigger hypersensitivities, affecting millions of people worldwide.

A new method for detecting mixed Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and reconstructing constituent strains provides insights into transmission.

Background: Mixed infection with multiple strains of the same pathogen in a single host can present clinical and analytical challenges. Whole genome sequence (WGS) data can identify signals of multiple strains in samples, though the precision of previous methods can be improved. Here, we present MixInfect2, a new tool to accurately detect mixed samples from Mycobacterium tuberculosis short-read WGS data.

Differential responses of root and leaf-associated microbiota to continuous monocultures.

Continuous monocultures alter the composition and function of root-associated microbiota, and thus compromise crop health and productivity. In comparison, little is known about how leaf-associated microbiota respond to continuous monocultures. Here, we profiled root and leaf-associated microbiota of peanut plants under monocropping and rotation conditions.

Role of the gut microbiome in psychological symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel diseases.

The brain-gut axis constitutes the basis for the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract driven by neural, hormonal, metabolic, immunological, and microbial signals. Alterations in the gut microbiome composition as observed in inflammatory bowel diseases can modulate brain function and emerging empirical evidence has indicated that interactions among the brain-gut microbiome-axis seem to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of both inflammatory bowel diseases and psychiatric disorders and their comorbidity. Yet, the immunological and molecular mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of inflammatory bowel diseases and psychological symptoms are still poorly understood.

Symbiosis vs Pathogenesis in Plants: Reflections and Perspectives.

Plant-microbe partnerships constitute a complex and intricately woven network of connections that have evolved over countless centuries, involving both cooperation and antagonism. In various contexts, plants and microorganisms engage in mutually beneficial partnerships that enhance crop health and maintain balance in ecosystems. However, these associations also render plants susceptible to a range of pathogens.

Acute respiratory tract infections during the first six years of life - results from the German birth cohort study LoewenKIDS.

Objectives: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) often occur in early childhood and are mostly self-limited. However, they impose a high socioeconomic burden and can be associated with chronic diseases later in life. To date, data on self-reported ARI beyond infancy are limited.

Evaluation of nationwide analysis surveillance for methicillin-resistant within Genomic Medicine Sweden.

National epidemiological investigations of microbial infections greatly benefit from the increased information gained by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in combination with standardized approaches for data sharing and analysis. To evaluate the quality and accuracy of WGS data generated by different laboratories but analysed by joint pipelines to reach a national surveillance approach. A national methicillin-resistant (MRSA) collection of 20 strains was distributed to nine participating laboratories that performed in-house procedures for WGS.

Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Drug Concentration Is Not Associated with Disease Outcomes in Pouchitis: A Retrospective, International Study.

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring is important for optimizing anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) therapy in inflammatory bowel disease. However, the exposure-response relationship has never been assessed in pouchitis.

Aims: To explore associations between anti-TNF-α drug concentration and pouchitis disease activity in patients with a background of ulcerative colitis.

Exploring the role of T cells in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases: Emerging therapeutic insights from the T Cells in the Brain symposium.

This proceedings article summarizes the inaugural "T Cells in the Brain" symposium held at Columbia University. Experts gathered to explore the role of T cells in neurodegenerative diseases. Key topics included characterization of antigen-specific immune responses, T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, microbial etiology in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and microglia-T cell crosstalk, with a focus on how T cells affect neuroinflammation and AD biomarkers like amyloid beta and tau.

Four targets: an enhanced framework for guiding causal inference from observational data.

Observational studies play an increasingly important role in estimating causal effects of a treatment or an exposure, especially with the growing availability of routinely collected real-world data. To facilitate drawing causal inference from observational data, we introduce a conceptual framework centered around "four targets"-target estimand, target population, target trial, and target validity. We illustrate the utility of our proposed "four targets" framework with the example of buprenorphine dosing for treating opioid use disorder, explaining the rationale and process for employing the framework to guide causal thinking from observational data.

is a spermatid-specific gene required for spermatogenesis and male fertility.

Male infertility is a multifactorial condition for which the underlying causes frequently remain undefined. Genetic factors have long been associated with male fertility. However, many of them are poorly or not at all characterized and their biological functions are unknown.

Microbial biopesticides: A one health perspective on benefits and risks.

Controlling insect pests that destroy crop and spread diseases will become increasingly crucial for addressing the food demands of a growing global population and the expansion of vector-borne diseases. A key challenge is the development of a balanced approach for sustainable food production and disease control in 2050 and beyond. Microbial biopesticides, derived from bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, or nematodes, offer potentially significant benefits for promoting One Health and contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Activity of Urea-Containing α/β Hybrid Peptides against and Methicillin-Resistant .

The insertion of β-amino acids and replacement of the amide bond with a urea bond in antimicrobial peptide sequences are promising approaches to enhance the antibacterial activity and improve proteolytic stability. Herein, we describe the synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of short αβ cationic hybrid peptides LA-Orn-βAcc-PEA, ; LA-Lys-βAcc-PEA, ; and LA-Arg-βAcc-PEA, in which a C12 lipid chain is conjugated at the N terminus of peptide through urea bonds. Further, we evaluated all the peptides against both and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and their multidrug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates.

New horizons in the treatment of psoriasis: Modulation of gut microbiome.

The last decennia have witnessed spectacular advances in our knowledge about the influence of the gut microbiome on the development of a wide swathe of diseases that extend beyond the digestive tract, including skin diseases like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, rosacea, alopecia areata, and hidradenitis suppurativa. The novel concept of the gut-skin axis delves into how skin diseases and the microbiome interact through inflammatory mediators, metabolites, and the intestinal barrier. Elucidating the effects of the gut microbiome on skin health could provide new opportunities for developing innovative treatments for dermatological diseases.

Composition and liquid-to-solid maturation of protein aggregates contribute to bacterial dormancy development and recovery.

Recalcitrant bacterial infections can be caused by various types of dormant bacteria, including persisters and viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. Despite their clinical importance, we know fairly little about bacterial dormancy development and recovery. Previously, we established a correlation between protein aggregation and dormancy in Escherichia coli.

Global impact of 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on pneumococcal meningitis in all ages: the PSERENADE project.

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) introduced in childhood national immunization programs lowered vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), but replacement with non-vaccine-types persisted throughout the PCV10/13 follow-up period. We assessed PCV10/13 impact on pneumococcal meningitis incidence globally.

Methods: The number of cases with serotyped pneumococci detected in cerebrospinal fluid and population denominators were obtained from surveillance sites globally.

Gut microbiome and serum metabolites in neuropathic pain: The PPARα perspective.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic disease state centred on neuroinflammation with a high prevalence and limited effective treatment options. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) has emerged as a promising target for NP management due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Recent evidence highlights the critical role of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in NP pathogenesis.

Unveiling significant regrowth and potential risk of nontuberculous mycobacteria in hospital water supply system.

The health burden of waterborne nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a rising concern. While the water supply systems can serve as a potential reservoir for NTM, their abundance, diversity, and transmission pathways remain unknown. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence and regrowth of NTM in building water supply system in a hospital where many M.