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Acinetobacter baumannii reinforces the pathogenesis by promoting IL-17 production in a mouse pneumonia model
AbstractInterleukin-17 (IL-17) is involved in host defense against bacterial infection.  Little is known about the role of IL-17 inA. baumannii-infected pneumonia. Our objective was to investigate the role of IL-17 in pulmonaryA. baumannii infection in a mouse model. We infected C57BL/6 mice intra-tracheally (i.t.) withA. baumannii to establish pneumonia model and foundA. baumannii infection elevated IL-17 expression in lungs. IL-17-deficient (Il17−/−) mice were resistant to pulmonaryA. baumannii infection, showing improved mice survival, reduced bacteria burdens, and alleviated lung inflammation.  Further, treatment...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - December 3, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

In vitro and in vivo therapeutic antileishmanial potential of ellagic acid against Leishmania donovani in murine model
AbstractParasite of genusLeishmania viz.L. donovani andL. infantum cause visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or Kala-azar, systemic disease with significant enlargement of the liver and spleen, weight loss, anemia, fever and immunosuppression. The silent expansion of vectors, reservoir hosts and resistant strains is also of great concern in VL control. Considering all these issues, the present study focused on in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial screening of ellagic acid (EA) againstL. donovani. The in vitro study was performed against the protozoan parasiteL. donovani and a 50% inhibitory concentration was calculated. The DNA ar...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 18, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

SARS-CoV-2 infection in the context of Kawasaki disease and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
AbstractRecent studies have noted an increasing number of Kawasaki-like cases in the pediatric population following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In the literature, the condition is described as multiple inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) or pediatric inflammatory syndrome (PIMS). A similar clinical course of Kawasaki disease (KD) and MIS-C causes difficulties in distinguishing between both conditions. However, the differential diagnosis is crucial since patients with MIS-C can present severe symptoms (myocardial dysfunction, fever, mucocutaneous symptoms) and require more e...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 17, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Reduced neutralization against Delta, Gamma, Mu, and Omicron BA.1 variants of SARS-CoV-2 from previous non-Omicron infection
AbstractThe understanding of the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern is critical for improving diagnostics, therapy development, and vaccines. Here, we analyzed the level of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 D614G, Delta, Gamma, Mu, and Omicron variants in D614G infected healthcare workers during a follow-up up to 6  months after recovery. We followed up 76 patients: 60.5% were women and 39.5% men. The 96.1% and 3.9% were symptomatic and asymptomatic, respectively. The most frequent symptoms were headache, myalgia, and cough. The 65.8%, 65.8%, and 92.1% of the infected individuals were positive...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 12, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Variable detection of Omicron-BA.1 and -BA.2 by SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests
AbstractDuring 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic has been dominated by the variant of concern (VoC) Omicron (B.1.1.529) and its rapidly emerging subvariants, including Omicron-BA.1 and -BA.2. Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are part of national testing strategies to identify SARS-CoV-2 infections on site in a community setting or to support layman ’s diagnostics at home. We and others have recently demonstrated an impaired RAT detection of infections caused by Omicron-BA.1 compared to Delta. Here, we evaluated the performance of five SARS-CoV-2 RATs in a single-centre laboratory study examining a total of 140 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positiv...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 12, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

A comparative study of IL-33 and its receptor ST2 in a C57BL/6  J mouse model of pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection
AbstractIt has been reported that IL-33 receptor ST2 deficiency mitigatesCryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) pulmonary infection in BALB/c mice. IL-33 may modulate immune responses in ST2-dependent and ST2-independent manners. The host genetic background (i.e., BALB/c, C57BL/6  J) influences immune responses againstC. neoformans. In the present study, we aimed to explore the roles of IL-33 and ST2 in pulmonaryC. neoformans-infected mice on a C57BL/6  J genetic background.C. neoformans infection increased IL-33 expression in lung tissues. IL-33 deficiency but not ST2 deficiency significantly extended the survival time...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 11, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Obituary Prof. Ulrich Vogel, MD 1964 –2022: a scientific mentor and expert in infection prevention and control
(Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 3, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Resistance to fosfomycin is increasing and is significantly associated with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-production in urinary isolates of Escherichia coli
AbstractFosfomycin has become a therapeutic option in urinary tract infections. Our objective was to evaluate the in vitro activity of fosfomycin againstEscherichia coli isolated from urine samples in 2013, 2018 and 2021. We also determined a putative association between fosfomycin resistance and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) production. Fosfomycin activity was evaluated against 7367, 8128 and 5072Escherichia coli urinary isolates in 2013, 2018 and 2021, respectively. We compare the prevalence of fosfomycin-resistant strains among the ESBL- and non-ESBL-producing isolates. MICs of fosfomycin, cefotaxime, and cefot...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - September 3, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Low rate of asymptomatic carriage and salivary immunoglobulin A response to Group A Streptococci in the healthy adult population in Finland
This study aims to investigate IgA responses against GAS and oral streptococci from saliva samples collected from healthy Finnish adults. In addition, asymptomatic throat GAS carriage was studied. The study participants consisted of healthy adult volunteers who provided one saliva sample, a throat swab, and a background questionnaire. Total salivary IgA, and GAS specific IgA were analysed from the saliva samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and the results were compared to oral streptococci specific IgA levels. Asymptomatic GAS throat carriers were identified by bacterial culture, and the isolates weree...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - September 2, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) long-term shedding and HCMV-specific immune response in pregnant women with primary HCMV infection
In conclusion, viral shedding during primary infection in pregnancy persists in peripheral biological fluids for at least one year and the development of both antibodies (including those directed toward the pentameric complex) and memory T cells are associated with viral clearance. (Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 12, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Changes in circulating TCF1- and GARP-associated regulatory T cell subsets reflect the clinical status of patients with chronic HBV infection
This study aimed to clarify the expression changes and clinical significance of regulatory T (Treg) cells and follicular regulatory T (TFR) cell subsets divided by glycoprotein A repetitions predominant protein (GARP) and T cell factor 1(TCF1) in peripheral blood of patients with chronic HBV infection. The peripheral blood of 26 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 27 inactive HBsAg carriers and 32 healthy controls were collected and GARP  + percentages in Treg and TFR cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, Treg and TFR cell subsets sorted by CD62L and TCF1 were analyzed and compared. Correlation analyses wer...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 11, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Immune complexes as culprits of immunopathology in severe COVID-19
AbstractInfection with the pandemic human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 elicits a respiratory tract disease, termed Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While a variable degree of disease-associated symptoms may emerge, severe COVID-19 is commonly associated with respiratory complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the necessity for mechanical ventilation or even extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Amongst others, disease outcome depends on age and pre-existing conditions like cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders but also age and biological sex. Intriguingly, increasing experimental and cl...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - July 23, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Immunological imbalance in microcephalic children with congenital Zika virus syndrome
AbstractMicrocephalic children due congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS) present neurological symptoms already well described. However, several other alterations can also be observed. Here, we aimed to evaluate the immune system of microcephaly CZS children. We showed that these patients have enlarged thymus, spleen and cervical lymph nodes, analysed by ultrasound and compared to the reference values for healthy children. In the periphery, they have an increase in eosinophil count and morphological alterations as hypersegmented neutrophils and atypical lymphocytes, even in the absence of urinary tract infections, parasitolo...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - July 20, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Schistosoma mansoni infection decreases IL-33-mRNA expression and increases CXCL9 and CXCL10 production by peripheral blood cells
In conclusion, for the first time, we demonstrated lower IL-33mRNA expression and high levels of the antifibrotic chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 in schistosomiasismansoni, which could control exacerbations of the disease in individuals from endemic areas. (Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - July 11, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Mitochondria: intracellular sentinels of infections
AbstractStructure and integrity of the mitochondrial network play important roles in many cellular processes. Loss of integrity can lead to the activation of a variety of signalling pathways and affect the cell ’s response to infections. The activation of such mitochondria-mediated cellular responses has implications for infection recognition, signal transduction and pathogen control. Although we have a basic understanding of mitochondrial factors such as mitochondrial DNA or RNA that may be involved in processes like pro-inflammatory signalling, the diverse roles of mitochondria in host defence remain unclear. Here we w...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - July 5, 2022 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research