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        <title>Experimental Biology and Medicine | Infectious Diseases section | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/journals/experimental-biology-and-medicine/sections/infectious-diseases</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Infectious Diseases section in the Experimental Biology and Medicine journal | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-04-10T08:18:25.266+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10638</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10638</link>
        <title><![CDATA[ApoE COG 133 mimetic peptide improves survival, infection burden, and Clostridioides difficile toxin-A-induced intestinal damage in mice]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-12-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Communication</category>
        <author>Orleâncio G. R. de Azevedo</author><author>Jae H. Shin</author><author>Rosemayre S. Freire</author><author>Gabriella C. V. Ciurleo</author><author>Gerly A. C. Brito</author><author>Michael P. Vitek</author><author>Richard L. Guerrant</author><author>Reinaldo B. Oriá</author><author>Cirle A. Warren</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Apolipoprotein E (ApoE = protein; APOE = gene), a lipid carrier that modulates inflammatory responses, may influence Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) outcomes. We explored the role of the APOE gene using apoE-deficient mice challenged by C. difficile toxin A (TcdA)-induced enteritis, and the potential use of the ApoE mimetic peptide in repairing the intestinal damage induced by TcdA. 4-cm ileal loops from C57BL/6 wild-type and APOE knockout (−/−) were ligated and injected with either PBS or TcdA (50 µg). After 4 h of incubation, the intestinal loops were harvested for measurement of length, weight, volume of secretion, and histopathology scores. In mouse ileal loops, TcdA induced a significant increase in weight/ileal loop length in the wild-type mice. When APOE−/− mice were infected with 1 × 104–105 CFUs of C. difficile, they had higher deaths and diarrhea scores compared to wild-type. APOE−/− mice under the toxin A (TcdA) had worse inflammatory changes in the ileal loop. APOE−/− mice treated with COG133 (3 mg/kg) showed fewer deaths, and lower diarrhea scores, but no change in C. difficile shedding. This suggests a potential anti-inflammatory role of COG133 in CDI. More studies are neede to these intial findings in depth.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10725</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10725</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Deciphering the microbiological mechanism of Tongxie Yaofang in treating IBS-D: a multimodal mechanistic study in mice integrating network pharmacology, computational simulation, and 16S rRNA sequencing]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-10-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Donglin Yu</author><author>Qianghong Tian</author><author>Junxi Shen</author><author>Leyao Fang</author><author>Zhoujin Tan</author><author>Ying Cai</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), associated with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pattern of liver hyperactivity with spleen deficiency pattern, lacks effective Western treatments. The modern biological relevance of the “intestine–liver–bile acid” axis aligns with this TCM concept, and interactions between intestinal microbiota and diarrhea remain unclear. Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics were applied to elucidate the mechanisms and compound–target stability of Tongxie Yaofang. An IBS-D mouse model was established using Senna alexandrina Mill. combined with confinement stress. Histopathological changes in the liver and spleen were assessed by hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to quantify total bile acid levels in serum and liver. Ultimately, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was employed to identify predominant and distinctive bacterial species. Network pharmacology and molecular docking revealed that Tongxie Yaofang acts primarily through the TNF-α and IL-17 pathways. Molecular dynamics confirmed strong binding affinities between active compounds (naringenin, divaricatol, and kaempferol) and target proteins. In vivo, Tongxie Yaofang alleviated colonic inflammation, increased serum bile acid levels, reduced hepatic bile acid concentrations, and increased intestinal microbial diversity and abundance. The therapeutic effects of Tongxie Yaofang on IBS-D are mechanistically linked to its multi-target actions, including suppression of inflammatory responses, inhibition of pathogenic bacterial overgrowth, restoration of immune homeostasis, and modulation of intestinal microbiota composition toward a probiotic-enriched community.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10564</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10564</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Gestational exposure to HIV drugs alters intestinal mucosa-associated microbial diversity in adult rat offspring]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-08-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yaswanthi Yanamadala</author><author>Chandra Mohan Reddy Muthumula</author><author>Kuppan Gokulan</author><author>Kumari Karn</author><author>Vicki Sutherland</author><author>Helen Cunny</author><author>Janine H. Santos</author><author>Sangeeta Khare</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The antiretroviral (ARV) drug combination of abacavir sulfate, dolutegravir, and lamivudine [ABC/DTG/3TC; Tri combination Anti-retroviral therapy (TC-ART)] has revolutionized HIV treatment by effectively targeting different stages of viral replication. Despite its therapeutic efficiency for maintaining low viremia in the mother during pregnancy, there are concerns for long-term liabilities in offspring that are indirectly exposed during vulnerable periods of development. The commensal microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining overall gut health, and disruption of the microbiome is often linked to various extraintestinal effects such as immune dysregulation and inflammation. We recently reported the effects of this drug combination in altering fecal microbiome composition of aged rats perinatally exposed to ABC/DTG/3TC-ART. The fecal microbiome can provide only a snapshot of the composition of microbial community at the end of the digestive tract, which may not reflect the microbial population interacting with ileal mucosa. Thus, the current work reports the effects of this drug combination in the gut mucosa-associated microbiome of the same animals, which showed significant microbial diversity and species richness in high dose exposed female adult offspring, along with dose-dependent changes in Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. The high dose exposure also showed an increase in opportunistic bacterial species in male animals. Overall, we found that, similar to the fecal microbiome, perinatal exposure to TC-ART led to sex- and dose-dependent alterations in the gut mucosa-associated microbial population in aged rats, suggesting that early life exposure to these drugs may influence gut mucosa-associated immune responses and intestinal permeability.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10647</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10647</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Insights into the expansion of Oropouche virus in Brazil: epidemiological and environmental aspects]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-07-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Igor Pereira Godinho</author><author>Ítalo Faria Dória</author><author>Victor de Melo Rocha</author><author>Bárbara Alves Miranda</author><author>Lucas Fernandes Chamhum Salomão</author><author>Brunello Stancioli</author><author>Adriana Alves Oliveira Paim</author><author>Jordana G. Alves Coelho dos Reis</author><author>Samille Henriques Pereira</author><author>Flávio Guimarães da Fonseca</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The Oropouche virus (OROV), an arbovirus transmitted primarily by the Culicoides paraensis midge, has caused significant outbreaks in the Americas, especially in the Amazon region. The virus’s spread is closely linked to a combination of environmental, climatic, and ecological factors. These include deforestation, urbanization, and changes in rainfall patterns, which influence the proliferation of vectors, and, consequently, increase the chances of mutations and reassortment events to occur. In 2024 and 2025, the number of OROV cases increased significantly, with outbreaks extending beyond the traditionally endemic Amazon region, highlighting the growing geographic expansion of the disease throughout Brazil. Despite its growing dispersion, diagnostic and therapeutic tools for OROV remain limited. Current diagnostic strategies rely almost exclusively on molecular detection methods, and there are no vaccines for effective prevention. Additionally, immunological responses to OROV infection are not fully understood, and further studies are needed. The ecological dynamics influencing OROV transmission, particularly the role of environmental changes in shaping vector populations, highlight the need for more integrated surveillance and control strategies. The ongoing expansion of OROV outside its traditional hotspots may be indicative of broader environmental shifts that facilitate viral spread. Therefore, continuous monitoring of both environmental and epidemiological data is crucial to understanding and mitigating the impact of OROV in the future. Collaborative efforts among researchers, policymakers, and local communities will be essential to prevent further outbreaks and minimize the health burden caused by OROV. This review summarizes important and up-to-date data information to the ongoing epidemic of Oropouche fever, focusing on topics that are particularly important to Public Health.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10440</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10440</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Functional antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants before and after booster vaccination among adults in Ghana]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-07-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>F. D. Partey</author><author>A. N. A. Pobee</author><author>I. K. Damptey</author><author>F. Osei</author><author>M. M. A. K. Owusu-Amponsah</author><author>Y. A. A. Ansah</author><author>C. Ye</author><author>S. Bradfute</author><author>I. Hurwitz</author><author>P. K. Quashie</author><author>M. F. Ofori</author><author>A. K. Kusi</author><author>D. J. Perkins</author><author>G. A. Awandare</author>
        <description><![CDATA[COVID-19 booster vaccinations are needed to enhance waning immunity and the emergence of new variants. In Africa, where COVID-19 vaccine coverage is low, there is a paucity of data on COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity, particularly in the post-omicron era. This study examined the functional activity of vaccine-induced antibody responses against different variants before and after booster vaccinations in adults in Ghana, between November 2022 and February 2023. SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and spike receptor binding domain (RBD) antigen-specific IgG levels against different viral variants were determined in plasma. Plasma was tested for the ability to inhibit ACE-2 binding to RBD variants. N antigen-specific antibody levels were comparable between vaccinated and previously infected, but unvaccinated individuals. However, RBD IgG levels before booster vaccinations were significantly higher in vaccinated participants than in exposed, unvaccinated individuals, except for Omicron. RBD IgG levels remained unchanged after the booster in participants with three prior vaccine doses but were significantly higher than in those with only primary vaccinations (Wild type p = 0.0315, Alpha p = 0.0090, Beta p = 0.0020, Delta p = 0.0040) except Omicron (p = 0.09). Participants who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in RBD IgG levels against all tested variants from baseline to 3 months. In contrast, participants who received the J&J vaccine only showed a significant increase in RBD IgG to Wildtype (p = 0.04), Alpha (p < 0.0001), and Beta (p < 0.0001), but not Delta and Omicron. The inhibition of ACE-2 binding and live virus neutralization titers were significantly higher in vaccinated individuals than in unvaccinated individuals before the booster (p < 0.001). Virus neutralization titers against Wildtype were significantly high 3 months after booster (p < 0.001), but neutralization titers against Omicron remained stable from baseline to 3 months after booster. Extended interval between vaccinations may enhance vaccine-induced antibody responses.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10350</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10350</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Biofilm and surface-motility profiles under polymyxin B stress in multidrug-resistant KAPE pathogens isolated from Ghanaian hospital ICUs]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-06-06T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Molly K. Abban</author><author>Eunice Ampadubea Ayerakwa</author><author>Abiola Isawumi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The threat of antimicrobial resistance in Ghana is increasing with the recent emergence of KAPE pathogens (K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa and Enterobacter species) from the hospital environment. As opportunistic pathogens, KAPE leverage the formation of biofilms and swarms to survive stringent environmental conditions. As research continues to investigate approaches that bacteria employ to exacerbate infection, this study explored biofilm and swarm formation in MDR KAPE pathogens under polymyxin B stress emerging from Ghanaian hospitals. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of KAPE pathogens to conventional antibiotics and polymyxin B was investigated via antibiotic disk diffusion and broth microdilution assays. Biofilm inhibition and eradication assays, swarm motility and a resazurin-based metabolic assay were used to profile bacterial phenotypic characteristics under polymyxin B stress. The strains exhibited resistance to the tested antibiotics with a high level of resistance to polymyxin B (PMB) (≥512 μg/mL). Additionally, the strains formed biofilms and bacterial swarms at 37°C. In the presence of PMB (≥512 μg/mL), KAPE pathogens formed swarms with no significant reduction in bacterial swarms at 1,048 μg/mL. Biofilm was observed for all strains with PMB neither inhibiting nor eradicating at high PMB (2048 μg/mL). Additionally, there were no significant differences in the phenotypic and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of clinical and environmental KAPE pathogens from Ghanaian ICUs. Overall, the study established that clinical and environmental KAPE pathogens from Ghanaian ICUs exhibit adaptive phenotypic and resistance characteristics that could potentially enhance bacterial survival during host colonization and infection. This could undermine treatment strategies and pose public health challenges in Ghana.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10468</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10468</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effect of in utero and lactational exposure to antiretroviral therapy on the gut microbial composition and metabolic function in aged rat offspring]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-05-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Chandra Mohan Reddy Muthumula</author><author>Yaswanthi Yanamadala</author><author>Kuppan Gokulan</author><author>Kumari Karn</author><author>Helen Cunny</author><author>Vicki Sutherland</author><author>Janine H. Santos</author><author>Sangeeta Khare</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Despite the highly effective impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in reducing mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there are concerns of long-term impacts of ART on the health of the offspring. The implications of perinatal exposure to antiviral drugs on the gut bacterial population and metabolic function in the offspring is unclear but may influence health outcomes given the various reported effects of the microbiome in human health. This study aims to gain insight into the potential effect of in utero and lactational exposure to ART on gut microbiota populations and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production in aged rat offspring. Pregnant rats were administered a combination of antiretroviral drugs (abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine) at two different dose levels during gestation and throughout lactation, and the fecal bacterial abundance and SCFA levels of the offspring were analyzed when they reached 12 months of age. Our results showed dose-dependent and sex-based differences in fecal microbial abundance at various taxonomic levels. Specifically, we found a decline in Firmicutes in males, and an increase in Actinobacteria among males and females. Furthermore, a sex-specific distribution reorganization of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia was identified. No significant difference in the concentration of prominent SCFAs and IgA levels were identified. These findings provide preliminary information indicating the need to evaluate perinatal effects of ART more comprehensively on the gut bacterial and metabolic function in future studies, and their potential role in offspring health outcomes.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10509</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10509</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Vaccination with synthetic long peptide and CpG 2395 in AddaVax induces potent anti-tumor effects]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-05-06T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Shanshan Jiang</author><author>Shuqi Zhao</author><author>Qiaojiajie Zhao</author><author>Yinfang Wang</author><author>Weihua Zhang</author><author>Yangmeng Feng</author><author>Lijie Zhang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Cancer/testis antigen HCA587, also known as MAGE-C2, highly expressed in a wide range of malignant tumors with unique immunological characteristics, serves as a potential target for tumor immunotherapy. Synthetic long peptides from HCA587 (HCA587 SLP) were proved to be highly immunogenic and promising in the application of cancer vaccine composed of Freud’s adjuvant (FA) and CpG 1826, whereas, scarce CD8+ T cell response may limit their anti-tumor effects during previous research. In this study, notwithstanding the multiple potential of IFN-α in immune modulation, there was no evidence of IFN-α in enhancing the immune response elicited by HCA587 SLP vaccine (HCA587 SLP + FA + CpG 1826). Given the unpleasant side-effects of Freud’s adjuvant, then we applied AddaVax as a substitute for Freud’s adjuvant, and we demonstrated that HCA587 SLP, formulated with AddaVax and CpG 2395, could induce more robust immune response in comparison with combined use of AddaVax and CpG 1826 through ELISpot assay. Furthermore, both IFN-γ-secreting CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell responses could be elicited by HCA587 SLP in combination with AddaVax and CpG 2395, and CD8+ T cell response was most obviously observed under the condition of 10-h inhibition of cytokine secretion by brefeldin A post 10-h stimulation with HCA587 SLP, suggesting that cross presentation of exogenous long peptides to CD8+ T cells may require more time than direct presentation to CD4+ T cells. This vaccine formulation also conferred protection against challenge with HCA587-expressing B16 melanoma presented by delayed tumor growth and prolonged survival compared. This formulation of HCA587 SLP vaccine holds promise for the treatment of patients with cancer in future clinical trials.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10235</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10235</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Bone marrow immune cells and drug resistance in acute myeloid leukemia]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-02-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Miao Zhang</author><author>You Yang</author><author>Jing Liu</author><author>Ling Guo</author><author>Qulian Guo</author><author>Wenjun Liu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In recent years, the relationship between the immunosuppressive niche of the bone marrow and therapy resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has become a research focus. The abnormal number and function of immunosuppressive cells, including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), along with the dysfunction and exhaustion of immunological effector cells, including cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), dendritic cells (DCs) and natural killer cells (NKs), can induce immune escape of leukemia cells and are closely linked to therapy resistance in leukemia. This article reviews the research progress on the relationship between immune cells in the marrow microenvironment and chemoresistance in AML, aiming to provide new ideas for the immunotherapy of AML.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10308</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10308</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Functional mass spectrometry indicates anti-protease and complement activity increase with COVID-19 severity]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-01-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Communication</category>
        <author>Douglas D. Fraser</author><author>Swapan Roy</author><author>Matt Kuruc</author><author>Maritza Quintero</author><author>Logan R. Van Nynatten</author><author>Gediminas Cepinskas</author><author>Haiyan Zheng</author><author>Amenah Soherwardy</author><author>Devjit Roy</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Investigations on some innate immunity proteins can yield misleading information, as investigators often rely on static measurements and assume a direct correlation to function. As protein function is often not directly proportional to protein abundance, and mechanistic pathways are interconnected and under constant feedback regulatory control, functional analysis is required. In this study, we used functional mass spectrometry to measure anti-protease and complement activity in plasma obtained from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Our data suggests that within 48 h of hospital admission, COVID-19 patients undergo a protease storm with significantly elevated neutrophil elastase (p < 0.001) and lymphocyte granzyme B (p < 0.01), while, anti-protease activity is significantly increased, including alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT; p < 0.001) and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT; p < 0.001). Concurrently, the ratio of C3a to C3beta activity significantly decreased with increasing COVID-19 severity, suggesting more complement activation (Mild COVID-19 p < 0.05; Severe COVID-19 p < 0.001). Activity levels of AAT, ACT and C3a/C3beta remained unchanged over 10 hospital days. Our data suggests that COVID-19 is associated with both a protease storm and complement activation, with the former somewhat balanced with increased anti-protease activity. Evaluation of the AAT/ACT ratio and C3a/C3beta ratio indicated that COVID-19 severity is associated with both neutrophil elastase neutralization and complement activation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10233</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10233</link>
        <title><![CDATA[scRNA-seq reveals elevated interferon responses and TNF-α signaling via NFkB in monocytes in children with uncomplicated malaria]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-01-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Collins M. Morang’a</author><author>Riley S. Drake</author><author>Vincent N. Miao</author><author>Nancy K. Nyakoe</author><author>Dominic S. Y. Amuzu</author><author>Vincent Appiah</author><author>Yaw Aniweh</author><author>Yaw Bediako</author><author>Saikou Y. Bah</author><author>Alex K. Shalek</author><author>Gordon A. Awandare</author><author>Thomas D. Otto</author><author>Lucas Amenga-Etego</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, disproportionately impacting sub-Saharan Africa. Disease phenotypes associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection can vary widely, from asymptomatic to life-threatening. To date, prevention efforts, particularly those related to vaccine development, have been hindered by an incomplete understanding of which factors impact host immune responses resulting in these divergent outcomes. Here, we conducted a field study of 224 individuals to determine host-parasite factors associated with symptomatic malaria “patients” compared to asymptomatic malaria-positive “controls” at both the community and healthy facility levels. We further performed comprehensive immune profiling to obtain deeper insights into differences in response between the pair. First, we determined the relationship between host age and parasite density in patients (n = 134/224) compared to controls (n = 90/224). Then, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing to compare the immunological phenotypes of 18,176 peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from a subset of the participants (n = 11/224), matched on age, sex, and parasite density. Patients had higher parasite densities compared to the controls, although the levels had a negative correlation with age in both groups, suggesting that they are key indicators of disease pathogenesis. On average, patients were characterized by a higher fractional abundance of monocytes and an upregulation of innate immune responses, including those to type I and type II interferons and tumor necrosis factor-alpha signaling via NFκB. Further, in the patients, we identified more putative interactions between antigen-presenting cells and proliferating CD4 T cells, and naïve CD8 T cells driven by MHC-I and MHC-II signaling pathways, respectively. Together, these findings highlight transcriptional differences between immune cell subsets associated with disease phenotypes that may help guide the development of improved malaria vaccines and new therapeutic interventions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10193</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10193</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Predicting severe COVID-19 using readily available admission indicators: SpO2/FiO2 ratio, comorbidity index, and gender]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-11-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Luan D. Vu</author><author>Rebecca C. Christofferson</author><author>Hollis R. O’Neal</author><author>Diana Hamer</author><author>Anh T. Q. Phan</author><author>Katie M. Vance</author><author>E. A. Turner</author><author>Avinash Kumar</author><author>Ibrahim Musa Yola</author><author>Natalie Lim</author><author>Beverly Ogden</author><author>Stephania A. Cormier</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The focus of this study was to identify risk factors for severe and critical COVID-19, evaluate local respiratory immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and develop a prognostic tool for COVID-19 severity using accessible early indicators. Using nasopharyngeal swab samples from hospitalized patients with COVID-19 of varying severity during the first wave of the pandemic from March to May 2020 in Louisiana, we evaluated the association between COVID-19 severity and viral load, respiratory immune mediators, and demographic/clinical factors. We found that the SpO2/FiO2 ratio at triage, total comorbidity burden (represented by Charlson Comorbidity Index), and gender were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity. Using these early significant indicators, we developed a prognostic tool for COVID-19 severity that is simple and convenient. Additionally, our study demonstrated that elevated levels of respiratory immune mediators, including IL-10, IL-6, MCP-1, and MCP-3, were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity. We also found that viral load at the time of admission was associated with disease severity. Our findings highlight the feasibility and importance of evaluating the humoral component of local mucosal immune responses and viral load at the infected site using convenient nasopharyngeal swab samples, which could be an effective method to understand the relationship between viral infection and immune responses at the early stages of infection. Our proposed prognostic tool has the potential to be useful for COVID-19 management in clinical settings, as it utilizes accessible and easy-to-collect variables at the time of admission.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10119</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10119</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Immunization with recombinant Streptococcus pneumoniae PgdA protects mice against lung invasion]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-10-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jiangming Xiao</author><author>Bichen Liu</author><author>Yibing Yin</author><author>Xuemei Zhang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Current pneumococcal vaccines, including the pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPV23) and conjugate (PCV13) vaccines, offer protection against specific serotypes but pose risks of serotype replacement that can alter the composition of the nasopharyngeal microbiota. To address this challenge, a novel strategy has been proposed to provide effective protection without disrupting the colonization of other bacterial populations. In our study, we found that subcutaneous immunization with recombinant peptidoglycan N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase A (rPgdA) elicited robust humoral and cellular immune responses, significantly reducing the invasion of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the lungs without affecting nasopharyngeal carriage. Furthermore, rPgdA antisera were shown to diminish bacterial invasion of lung epithelial cells in vitro. Notably, sera from patients with invasive pneumococcal infections exhibited higher levels of antibodies against the PgdA protein compared to sera from healthy adults, suggesting that a natural immune response to this protein occurs during infection. These results suggest a promising new target for the development of pneumococcal vaccines.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10081</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10081</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Attenuated mutants of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium mediate melanoma regression via an immune response]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-06-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Genesy Pérez Jorge</author><author>Marco Gontijo</author><author>Marina Flóro e Silva</author><author>Isabella Carolina Rodrigues Dos Santos Goes</author><author>Yessica Paola Jaimes-Florez</author><author>Lilian de Oliveira Coser</author><author>Francisca Janaína Soares Rocha</author><author>Selma Giorgio</author><author>Marcelo Brocchi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The lack of effective treatment options for an increasing number of cancer cases highlights the need for new anticancer therapeutic strategies. Immunotherapy mediated by Salmonella enterica Typhimurium is a promising anticancer treatment. Candidate strains for anticancer therapy must be attenuated while retaining their antitumor activity. Here, we investigated the attenuation and antitumor efficacy of two S. enterica Typhimurium mutants, ΔtolRA and ΔihfABpmi, in a murine melanoma model. Results showed high attenuation of ΔtolRA in the Galleria mellonella model, and invasion and survival in tumor cells. However, it showed weak antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Contrastingly, lower attenuation of the attenuated ΔihfABpmi strain resulted in regression of tumor mass in all mice, approximately 6 days after the first treatment. The therapeutic response induced by ΔihfABpmi was accompanied with macrophage accumulation of antitumor phenotype (M1) and significant increase in the mRNAs of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS) and an apoptosis inducer (Bax). Our findings indicate that the attenuated ΔihfABpmi exerts its antitumor activity by inducing macrophage infiltration or reprogramming the immunosuppressed tumor microenvironment to an activated state, suggesting that attenuated S. enterica Typhimurium strains based on nucleoid-associated protein genes deletion could be immunotherapeutic against cancer.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10059</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10059</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Clinical outcomes and immunological response to SARS-CoV-2 infection among people living with HIV]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-04-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Esimebia Adjovi Amegashie</author><author>Prince Asamoah</author><author>Lawrencia Emefa Ami Ativi</author><author>Mildred Adusei-Poku</author><author>Evelyn Yayra Bonney</author><author>Emmanuel Ayitey Tagoe</author><author>Elijah Paintsil</author><author>Kwasi Torpey</author><author>Osbourne Quaye</author>
        <description><![CDATA[People living with HIV (PLWH) usually suffer from co-infections and co-morbidities including respiratory tract infections. SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to cause respiratory infections. There are uncertainties in the disease severity and immunological response among PLWH who are co-infected with COVID-19. This review outlines the current knowledge on the clinical outcomes and immunological response to SARS-CoV-2 among PLWH. Literature was searched in Google scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Science Direct conforming with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines from studies published from January 2020 to June 2023. A total of 81 studies from 25 countries were identified, and RT-PCR was used in confirming COVID-19 in 80 of the studies. Fifty-seven studies assessed risk factors and clinical outcomes in HIV patients co-infected with COVID-19. Thirty-nine of the studies indicated the following factors being associated with severe outcomes in HIV/SARS-CoV-2: older age, the male sex, African American race, smoking, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, low CD4+ count, high viral load, tuberculosis, high levels of inflammatory markers, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, interruption, and delayed initiation of ART. The severe outcomes are patients’ hospitalization, admission at intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation, and death. Twenty (20) studies, however, reported no difference in clinical presentation among co-infected compared to mono-infected individuals. Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection was investigated in 25 studies, with some of the studies reporting high levels of inflammatory markers, T cell exhaustion and lower positive conversion rate of IgG in PLWH. There is scanty information on the cytokines that predisposes to severity among HIV/SARS-CoV-2 co-infected individuals on combined ART. More research work should be carried out to validate co-infection-related cytokines and/or immune markers to SARS-CoV-2 among PLWH.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10114</guid>
        <link>https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2024.10114</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Exploring the transmission modalities of Bunyamwera virus]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-02-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Erik A. Turner</author><author>Rebecca C. Christofferson</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) (Bunyamwera orthobunyavirus) has been found in Sub-Saharan Africa and demonstrated recently as cocirculating with Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV). Little is known regarding the breadth of transmission modalities of Bunyamwera. Given its co-occurence with RVFV, we hypothesized the transmission system of BUNV shared similarities to the RVFV system including transmission by Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and environmentally mediated transmission through fomites and environmental contamination. We exposed Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to BUNV and evaluated their ability to transmit both vertically and horizontally. Further, we investigated the potential for a novel transmission modality via environmental contamination. We found that the LSU colony of Ae. aegypti was not competent for the virus for either horizontal or vertical transmission; but, 20% of larva exposed to virus via contaminated aquatic habitat were positive. However, transstadial clearance of the virus was absolute. Finally, under simulated temperature conditions that matched peak transmission in Rwanda, we found that BUNV was stable in both whole blood and serum for up to 28 days at higher total volume in tubes at moderate quantities (103–5 genome copies/mL). In addition, infectiousness of these samples was demonstrated in 80% of the replicates. At lower volume samples (in plates), infectiousness was retained out to 6–8 days with a maximum infectious titer of 104 PFU/mL. Thus, the potential for contamination of the environment and/or transmission via contaminated fomites exists. Our findings have implications for biosafety and infection control, especially in the context of food animal production.]]></description>
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