Pathogens and Immunity最新文献

{"title":"Normospermic Patients Infected With Ureaplasma parvum: Role of Dysregulated miR-122-5p, miR-34c-5, and miR-141-3p","authors":"Marilena Galdiero, Carlo Trotta, Maria Teresa Schettino, Luigi Cirillo, Francesca Paola Sasso, Francesco Petrillo, A. Petrillo","doi":"10.20411/pai.v8i2.603","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20411/pai.v8i2.603","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Ureaplasma parvum (UP) is a causative agent of non-gonococcal urethritis, involved in the pathogenesis of prostatitis and epididymitis, and it could impair human fertility. Although UP infection is a frequent cause of male infertility the study evidence assessing their prevalence and the association in patients with infertility is still scarce. The molecular processes leading to defects in spermatozoa quality are not completely investigated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been extensively reported as gene regulatory molecules on post-transcriptional levels involved in various biological processes such as gametogenesis, embryogenesis, and the quality of sperm, oocyte, and embryos.\u0000Methods: Therefore, the study design was to demonstrate that miRNAs in body fluids like sperm could be utilized as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for pathological and physiological conditions such as infertility. A post-hoc bioinformatics analysis was carried out to predict the pathways modulated by the miRNAs dysregulated in the differently motile spermatozoa.\u0000Results: Here it is shown that normospermic patients infected by UP had spermatozoa with increased quantity of superoxide anions, reduced expression of miR-122-5p, miR-34c-5, and increased miR-141-3p compared with non-infected normospermic patients. This corresponded to a reduction of sperm motility in normospermic infected patients compared with normospermic non-infected ones. A target gene prediction presumed that an essential role of these miRNAs resided in the regulation of lipid kinase activity, accounting for the changes in the constitution of spermatozoa membrane lipids caused by UP. \u0000Conclusions: Altogether, the data underline the influence of UP on epigenetic mechanisms regulating spermatozoa motility. ","PeriodicalId":36419,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Immunity","volume":"92 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139381218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arterial Stiffness and Oxidized LDL Independently Associated With Post-Acute Sequalae of SARS-CoV-2","authors":"Sokratis N. Zisis, Jared C. Durieux, Christian Mouchati, Nicholas Funderburg, Kate Ailstock, Mary Chong, Danielle Labbato, Grace McComsey","doi":"10.20411/pai.v8i2.634","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20411/pai.v8i2.634","url":null,"abstract":"OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 survivors can experience lingering symptoms known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) that appear in different phenotypes, and its etiology remains elusive. We assessed the relationship of endothelial dysfunction with having COVID and PASC.\u0000METHODS: Data was collected from a prospectively enrolled cohort (n=379) of COVID-negative and COVID-positive participants with and without PASC. Primary outcomes, endothelial function (measured by reactive hyperemic index [RHI]), and arterial elasticity (measured by augmentation index standardized at 75 bpm [AI]), were measured using the FDA approved EndoPAT. Patient characteristics, labs, metabolic measures, markers of inflammation, and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) were collected at each study visit, and PASC symptoms were categorized into 3 non-exclusive phenotypes: cardiopulmonary, neurocognitive, and general. COVID-negative controls were propensity score matched to COVID-negative-infected cases using the greedy nearest neighbor method.\u0000RESULTS: There were 14.3% of participants who were fully recovered COVID positive and 28.5% who were COVID positive with PASC, averaging 8.64 ± 6.26 total number of symptoms. The mean RHI was similar across the cohort and having COVID or PASC was not associated with endothelial function (P=0.33). Age (P<0.0001), female sex (P<0.0001), and CRP P=0.04) were positively associated with arterial stiffness, and COVID positive PASC positive with neurological and/or cardiopulmonary phenotypes had the worst arterial elasticity (highest AI). Values for AI (P=0.002) and ox-LDL (P<0.0001) were independently and positively associated with an increased likelihood of having PASC. \u0000CONCLUSION: There is evidence of an independent association between PASC, ox-LDL, and arterial stiffness with neurological and/or cardiopulmonary phenotypes having the worst arterial elasticity. Future studies should continue investigating the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of PASC.","PeriodicalId":36419,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Immunity","volume":"56 24","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138957072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Highlights from the Inaugural HIV Reservoirs and Immune Control Conference, October 1st–4th 2023, Malahide Ireland","authors":"Una O’Doherty, J. M. Picado, A. Sáez-Cirión","doi":"10.20411/pai.v8i1.653","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20411/pai.v8i1.653","url":null,"abstract":"The inaugural FASEB HIV Reservoirs and Immune Control Conference brought researchers together from across the globe to discuss reservoir dynamics in clinical cohorts. It extended over 4 days in the seaside town of Malahide, Ireland. The scientific sessions covered a broad range of topics, including: 1) HIV pathogenesis and control, 2) reservoirs and viral expression, 3) pediatric reservoirs, 4) innate immunity and B cell responses, 5) environmental factors affecting pathogenesis, 6) loss of virologic control, and 7) HIV-2. The following article provides a brief summary of the meeting proceedings and includes a supplementary document with the meeting abstracts. ","PeriodicalId":36419,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Immunity","volume":"115 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138959589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Demonstrates Variations in the Quality of Ventilation on Public Transportation Buses and University Student Shuttle Vans and Identifies Effective Interventions.","authors":"David Henry Greentree, Brigid M Wilson, Curtis J Donskey","doi":"10.20411/pai.v8i1.619","DOIUrl":"10.20411/pai.v8i1.619","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There is a risk for transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viruses in motor vehicles, particularly if ventilation is inadequate.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used carbon dioxide monitoring to examine the quality of ventilation in several public transportation buses and in university student shuttle vans in the Cleveland metro area during peak and non-peak travel times. Carbon dioxide levels above 800 parts per million (ppm) were considered an indicator of suboptimal ventilation for the number of people present. In the shuttle vans, we evaluated the impact of an intervention to improve ventilation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In large articulated buses with 2 ventilation systems, carbon dioxide concentrations never exceeded 800 ppm, whereas in standard buses with 1 ventilation system concentrations rose above 800 ppm during peak travel times and on some trips during non-peak travel times. In shuttle vans, the ventilation system was not turned on during routine operation, and carbon dioxide levels rose above 800 ppm on all trips during peak and non-peak travel times. In the shuttle vans, an intervention involving operation of the existing ventilation system resulted in a significant reduction in carbon dioxide levels (mean concentration, 1,042 no intervention versus 785 with intervention; <i>P</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings demonstrate substantial variability in the quality of ventilation in public transportation buses and university shuttle vans. There is a need for efforts to assess and optimize ventilation in motor vehicles used for public transportation to reduce the risk for aerosol-mediated transmission of respiratory viruses. Carbon dioxide monitoring may provide a useful tool to assess and improve ventilation.</p>","PeriodicalId":36419,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Immunity","volume":"8 1","pages":"148-160"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10686372/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138463171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vishva Dixit Shares Insights on His Early Influences, Research Career, Key Findings, and What it Takes to Be Successful in Science.","authors":"Neil S Greenspan","doi":"10.20411/pai.v8i2.643","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20411/pai.v8i2.643","url":null,"abstract":"In this interview, Vishva Dixit, MD, talks with Neil S. Greenspan, MD, PhD, senior editor of Pathogens and Immunity aboutwhat his career in science has revealed about biology in humans, but also what it has revealed about how to be successful in science. Dr. Dixit is a world-famous immunologist and biochemist who has made major contributions to the study of innate immunity in general and particularly to understanding inflammasome activation. He is vice president and senior fellow in physiological chemistry at Genentech.","PeriodicalId":36419,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Immunity","volume":"8 1","pages":"136-147"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10686538/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138465440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamics of T-cell Responses Following COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination and Breakthrough Infection in Older Adults.","authors":"Sneha Datwani, Rebecca Kalikawe, Francis Mwimanzi, Sarah Speckmaier, Richard Liang, Yurou Sang, Rachel Waterworth, Fatima Yaseen, Hope R Lapointe, Evan Barad, Mari L DeMarco, Daniel T Holmes, Janet Simons, Julio S G Montaner, Marc G Romney, Zabrina L Brumme, Mark A Brockman","doi":"10.20411/pai.v8i1.613","DOIUrl":"10.20411/pai.v8i1.613","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>While older adults generally mount weaker antibody responses to a primary COVID-19 vaccine series, T-cell responses remain less well characterized in this population. We compared SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific T-cell responses after 2- and 3-dose COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and subsequent breakthrough infection in older and younger adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We quantified CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells reactive to overlapping peptides spanning the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in 40 older adults (median age 79) and 50 younger health care workers (median age 39), all COVID-19 naive, using an activation-induced marker assay. T-cell responses were further assessed in 24 participants, including 8 older adults, who subsequently experienced their first SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A third COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose significantly boosted spike-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell frequencies to above 2-dose levels in older and younger adults. T-cell frequencies did not significantly differ between older and younger adults after either dose. Multivariable analyses adjusting for sociodemographic, health, and vaccine-related variables confirmed that older age was not associated with impaired cellular responses. Instead, the strongest predictors of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell frequencies post-third-dose were their corresponding post-second-dose frequencies. Breakthrough infection significantly increased both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell frequencies, to comparable levels in older and younger adults. Exploratory analyses revealed an association between HLA-A*02:03 and higher post-vaccination CD8+ T-cell frequencies, which may be attributable to numerous strong-binding HLA-A*02:03-specific CD8+ T-cell epitopes in the spike protein.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Older adults mount robust T-cell responses to 2- and 3-dose COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, which are further boosted following breakthrough infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":36419,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Immunity","volume":"8 1","pages":"117-135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10686373/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138463172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Raymond Schinazi Discusses the Discovery of Early Antiretroviral Agents and Sofosbuvir","authors":"Michael M. Lederman, Neil Greenspan","doi":"10.20411/pai.v8i2.624","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20411/pai.v8i2.624","url":null,"abstract":"In this interview, Raymond Schinazi, PhD, Hon DSc, talks about his career with Michael M. Lederman, MD, and Neil S. Greenspan, MD, PhD, senior editors of Pathogens and Immunity. Dr. Schinazi has invented numerous powerful antiviral agents including the antiretrovirals lamivudine (3TC) and emtricitabine (FTC) and was instrumental in the discovery of the anti-hepatitis C agent sofosbuvir. These drugs have saved millions of lives and, here, Dr. Schinazi shares in detail how these agents were invented, how they work, and how they are being applied. He also offers his thoughts about newer approaches to treat viral infections.","PeriodicalId":36419,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Immunity","volume":"14 6","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135679037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Raymond Schinazi Discusses the Discovery of Early Antiretroviral Agents and Sofosbuvir.","authors":"Michael M Lederman, Neil S Greenspan","doi":"10.20411/pai.v8i1.624","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20411/pai.v8i1.624","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36419,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Immunity","volume":"8 1","pages":"77-92"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10664204/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138465439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Evolution of Diagnostic Techniques in the Paleopathology of Tuberculosis: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Veronica Papa, Francesco M Galassi, Elena Varotto, Andrea Gori, Mauro Vaccarezza","doi":"10.20411/pai.v8i1.597","DOIUrl":"10.20411/pai.v8i1.597","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient chronic infectious disease that remains a global health concern. In human remains, the most common and characteristic clinical signs are the skeletal modifications involving the spine, such as in Pott's disease. Diagnosing TB in ancient human remains is challenging. Therefore, in this systematic review, the authors investigated the studies assessing molecular diagnosis of Pott's disease in ancient human remains with the intention to survey the literature, map the evidence, and identify gaps and future perspectives on TB in paleopathology. Our systematic review offers a full contextualization of the history of Pott's disease in ancient times. Our search strategy was performed between August 2022 and March 2023. The authors initially identified 340 records, and 74 studies were finally included and assessed for qualitative analysis. Due to non-specific clinical signs associated with TB, how best to diagnose tuberculosis in human remains still represents a central point. Nevertheless, ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis, lipid biomarkers, and spoligotyping might be extremely useful tools in the study of TB in human remains. Moreover, we propose the extraction and study of immune response genes involved in innate and adaptive immunity versus <i>Mycobacterium spp</i>. as an innovative and vastly overlooked approach in TB paleopathology. Complementary methodologies should be integrated to provide the best approach to the study of TB in human remains.</p>","PeriodicalId":36419,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Immunity","volume":"8 1","pages":"93-116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10603826/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71414461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic Characterization of 2 <i>Cutibacterium acnes</i> Isolates from a Surgical Site Infection Reveals Large Genomic Inversion.","authors":"D Garrett Brown,&nbsp;Taylor A Wahlig,&nbsp;Angela Ma,&nbsp;Laura K Certain,&nbsp;Peter N Chalmers,&nbsp;Mark A Fisher,&nbsp;Daniel T Leung","doi":"10.20411/pai.v8i1.606","DOIUrl":"10.20411/pai.v8i1.606","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Cutibacterium acnes</i> is a common commensal of human skin but may also present as an opportunistic pathogen in prosthetic joint and wound infections. Unfortunately, few complete genomes of <i>C. acnes</i> are publicly available, and even fewer are of isolates associated with infection. Here we report the isolation, characterization, and complete genomes of 2 <i>C. acnes</i> isolates from a surgical site infection of an elbow.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used standard microbiological methods for phenotypic characterization and performed whole genome sequencing on 2 <i>C. acnes</i> isolates using a combination of short-read and long-read sequencing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed beta-lactamase negative and low minimal inhibitory concentrations to all antibiotics tested, with the exception of metronidazole. We assembled complete genomes of the 2 isolates, which are approximately 2.5 megabases in length. The isolates belong to the single-locus sequence type (SLST) H1 and the multi-locus sequence type (MLST) IB. Both isolates have similar composition of known virulence genes, and we found no evidence of plasmids but did find phage-associated genes. Notably, the 2 genomes are 99.97% identical but contain a large genomic inversion encompassing approximately half of the genome.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This is the first characterization of this large-scale genomic inversion in nearly identical isolates from the same wound. This report adds to the limited numbers of publicly available infection-associated complete genomes of <i>C. acnes</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":36419,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens and Immunity","volume":"8 1","pages":"64-76"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10566467/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41214989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}