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Chylous ascites, anti-interferon-gamma autoantibody, and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: a rare but intriguing connection over Mycobacterium avium
We report a case of non-AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), non-CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis), non-cirrhotic,Mycobacterium avium peritonitis, which is a rare form of mycobacterial infection. A 66-year-old Japanese man who had been treated previously for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), had developed disseminatedM. avium infection. Antimycobacterial regimen improved his symptoms; however, following an interruption in treatment, he developed chylous ascites. The patient died of uncontrolled peritonitis despite intensive treatment. Anti-interferon- γ autoantibody was positive, and AITL was...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 6, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Influence of sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling on HCMV replication in human embryonal lung fibroblasts
In this study, the role of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling in HCMV-infected human embryonal lung fibroblasts (HELF) was analyzed. Viral replication depended on the functional activity of sphingosine kinases (SK). During SK inhibition, addition of extracellular S1P restored HCMV replication. Moreover, neutralization of extracellular S1P by anti-S1P antibodies decreased HCMV replication as well. While the application of FTY720 as an functional antagonist of S1P receptor (S1PR)1,3 −5 signaling did not reduce HCMV replication significantly, JTE-013, an inhibitor of S1PR2, decreased viral replication. Furthermore, inh...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Soluble CD163 and soluble CD14 plasma levels but not cellular HIV-DNA decrease during successful interferon-free anti-HCV therapy in HIV-1 –HCV co-infected patients on effective combined anti-HIV treatment
In conclusion, the significant decrease in sCD163 and sCD14 levels in patients cured of HCV infection, regardless of the presence of LLV, suggests a main role for HCV in immune activation in HIV–HCV co-infected patients. (Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Gut microbiome of Moroccan colorectal cancer patients
AbstractAlthough colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of death in Morocco, there are no studies of the microbiome changes associated with the disease in the Moroccan population. The aim of our study was to compare the stool microbiome of Moroccan cancer patients with healthy individuals. We analyzed the microbiome composition of samples from 11 CRC patients and 12 healthy individuals by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Principal coordinate analysis of samples revealed defined cancer versus healthy clusters. Our findings showed that cancer samples had higher proportions of Firmicutes (T = 50.5%;N = 28.4%;p =â...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Recent advances on T-cell exhaustion in malaria infection
AbstractT-cell exhaustion reportedly leads to dysfunctional immune responses of antigen-specific T cells. Investigations have revealed that T cells expand into functionally defective phenotypes with poor recall/memory abilities to parasitic antigens. The exploitation of co-inhibitory pathways represent a highly viable area of translational research that has very well been utilized against certain cancerous conditions. Malaria, at times, evolve into a sustained chronic state where T cells express several co-inhibitory molecules  (negative immune checkpoints) facilitating parasite escape and sub-optimal protective responses...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Serum cytokine responses in Rickettsia felis infected febrile children, Ghana
In this study, we characterize for the first time the cytokine profile in the acute phase of illness caused byR. felis infection, as well as in plasmodial co-infection, using serum from 23 febrile children  <  15 years of age and 20 age-matched healthy controls from Ghana. Levels of IL-8 (interleukin-8), IP-10 (interferon-γ-induced protein-10), MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1), MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein-1α) and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) were significantly elevate d inR. felis mono-infection; however, IL-8 and VEGF elevation was not observed in plasmodial co-infections. These r...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Deficit of IgG2 in HIV-positive pregnant women is responsible of inadequate IgG2 levels in their HIV-uninfected children in Malawi
ConclusionsTransplacental passage was reduced for all IgG subclasses and inversely correlated to high levels of maternal IgGs and to the degree of immunoactivation. The profound depression of IgG2 in mothers suggests that IgG2 neonatal levels mostly reflect the maternal deficit rather than a selective impairment of IgG2 transfer. (Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Prevalence and genetic diversity of norovirus genogroup II in children less than 5  years of age with acute gastroenteritis in Tehran, Iran
This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of GII noroviruses in hospitalized children less than 5  years of age with acute gastroenteritis (AGE). A total of 210 stool specimens were collected from Ali Asghar Children’s Hospital and Bahrami Children’s Hospital in Tehran, from June 2015 to June 2016. The samples were screened by real-time RT-PCR for genogroup II (GII). Positive samples were g enotyped by semi-nested PCR followed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Norovirus was identified in 36 (17.1%) of 210 specimens. Based on genetic analysis of RdRp and capsid sequences, the ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Anti- Candida activity of antidepressants sertraline and fluoxetine: effect upon pre-formed biofilms
AbstractAs an opportunistic fungal pathogenCandida spp. has the ability to form biofilms. The most prescribed drugs forCandida infections, azoles, have shown to be less effective when biofilms are present. In addition, increasing treatment costs and the fact that most prescribed antifungal drugs have only fungistatic activity justify the search for new treatment strategies. One promising approach is third generation antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), because of their proven antifungal activity against severalCandida spp. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine the ability of two commonly...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Phosphorylcholine is located in Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans fimbrial protein Flp 1
AbstractPhosphorylcholine (ChoP) is covalently incorporated into bacterial surface structures, contributing to host mimicry and promoting adhesion to surfaces. Our aims were to determine the frequency of ChoP display amongAggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans strains, to clarify which surface structures bear ChoP, and whether ChoP-positivity relates to serum killing. The tested oral (N = 67) and blood isolates (N = 27) represented 6 serotypes. Mab TEPC-15 was used for immunoblotting of cell lysates and fractions and for immunofluorescence microscopy of cell surface-bound ChoP. The lysates were denatured with urea f...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - July 28, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

The interplay between local immune response and Epstein –Barr virus-infected tonsillar cells could lead to viral infection control
AbstractEpstein Barr virus (EBV) gains access to the host through tonsillar crypts. Our aim was to characterize microenvironment composition around EBV+  cells in tonsils from pediatric carriers, to disclose its role on viral pathogenesis. LMP1 expression, assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), was used to discriminate EBV + and – zones in 41 tonsil biopsies. Three regions were defined: Subepithelial (SE), interfollicular (IF) and germina l center (GC). CD8, GrB, CD68, IL10, Foxp3, PD1, CD56 and CD4 markers were evaluated by IHC; positive cells/100 total cells were counted. CD8+, GrB+, CD68+ and IL10+ cells ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - July 25, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research