Spotlight
Minireviews
Minireview | SpotlightI’m Infected, Eat Me! Innate Immunity Mediated by Live, Infected Cells Signaling To Be PhagocytosedInnate immunity against pathogens is known to be mediated by barriers to pathogen invasion, activation of complement, recruitment of immune cells, immune cell phagocytosis of pathogens, death of infected cells, and activation of the adaptive immunity via antigen presentation. Here, we propose and review evidence for a novel mode of innate immunity whereby live, infected host cells induce phagocytes to phagocytose the infected cell,...
MinireviewThe Complex Link between the Female Genital Microbiota, Genital Infections, and InflammationThe female genital tract microbiota is part of a complex ecosystem influenced by several physiological, genetic, and behavioral factors. It is uniquely linked to a woman’s mucosal immunity and plays a critical role in the regulation of genital inflammation.
Molecular Pathogenesis
Molecular PathogenesisThe KbvR Regulator Contributes to Capsule Production, Outer Membrane Protein Biosynthesis, Antiphagocytosis, and Virulence in Klebsiella pneumoniaeKlebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that mostly affects patients with weakened immune systems, but a few serotypes (especially K1 and K2) are highly invasive and result in systemic infection in healthy persons. The ability to evade and survive the components of the innate immune system is critical in infection. To investigate the role and mechanism of...
Molecular PathogenesisSialidase of Glaesserella parasuis Augments Inflammatory Response via Desialylation and Abrogation of Negative Regulation of Siglec-5Siglecs are sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins that play an important role in tissue homeostasis, immune response, and pathogen infection. Bacterial sialidases act on natural ligands of Siglecs, interfering with the Siglec-mediated immune response. Glaesserella parasuis is a porcine bacterial pathogen that secretes sialidase.
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular Interactions
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular InteractionsDistinct Group B Streptococcus Sequence and Capsule Types Differentially Impact Macrophage Stress and Inflammatory Signaling ResponsesGroup B Streptococcus (GBS) is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that can contribute to the induction of preterm birth in colonized pregnant women and to severe neonatal disease. Many questions regarding the mechanisms that drive GBS-associated pathogenesis remain unanswered, and it is not yet clear why virulence has been observed to vary so extensively across GBS strains.
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular InteractionsListeria monocytogenes MenI Encodes a DHNA-CoA Thioesterase Necessary for Menaquinone Biosynthesis, Cytosolic Survival, and VirulenceListeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive, intracellular pathogen that is highly adapted to invade and replicate in the cytosol of eukaryotic cells. Intermediate metabolites in the menaquinone biosynthesis pathway are essential for the cytosolic survival and virulence of L. monocytogenes,...
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular InteractionsStaphylococcus aureus Tet38 Efflux Pump Structural Modeling and Roles of Essential Residues in Drug Efflux and Host Cell InternalizationThe Staphylococcus aureus Tet38 membrane protein has distinct functions, including drug efflux and host cell attachment and internalization mediated by interaction with host cell CD36. Using structural modeling and site-directed mutagenesis, we identified key amino acids involved in different functions.
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial InfectionsInhibition of the Classical Pathway of Complement Activation Impairs Bacterial Clearance during Enterococcus faecalis InfectionEnterococcus faecalis infections are considered a major public health concern worldwide. The complement system has a crucial role in the protection against different microbial pathogens, including E. faecalis.
Bacterial InfectionsActive Hexose-Correlated Compound Restores Gene Expression and Protein Secretion of Protective Cytokines of Immune Cells in a Murine Stress Model during Chlamydia muridarum Genital Infection...Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease worldwide. Previously, we reported that cold-induced stress results in immune suppression of mice that subsequently leads to increased intensity of Chlamydia muridarum genital infection.
Host Response and Inflammation
Host Response and InflammationDifferential Outcome between BALB/c and C57BL/6 Mice after Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection Is Associated with a Dissimilar Tolerance MechanismEnterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infections can result in a wide range of clinical presentations despite that EHEC strains belong to the O157:H7 serotype, one of the most pathogenic forms. Although pathogen virulence influences disease outcome, we emphasize the concept of host-pathogen interactions, which involve resistance or tolerance mechanisms in the host...
Host Response and InflammationLoss of Interleukin-10 (IL-10) Signaling Promotes IL-22-Dependent Host Defenses against Acute Clostridioides difficile InfectionInfection with the bacterial pathogen Clostridioides difficile causes severe damage to the intestinal epithelium that elicits a robust inflammatory response. Markers of intestinal inflammation accurately predict clinical disease severity.
Host Response and InflammationmRNA Transcriptome Analysis of Bone in a Mouse Model of Implant-Associated Staphylococcus aureus OsteomyelitisTo investigate the molecular pathogenesis of bone with osteomyelitis, we developed implant-associated osteomyelitis (IAOM) models in mice. An orthopedic stainless pin was surgically placed in the right femoral midshaft of mice, followed by an inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus into the medullary cavity.
Host Response and Inflammation | SpotlightRNA Sequencing Reveals Distinct Immune Responses in the Chorioamniotic Membranes of Women with Preterm Labor and Microbial or Sterile Intra-amniotic InflammationPreterm labor precedes premature birth, the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Preterm labor can either occur in the context of microbe-associated intra-amniotic inflammation (i.e., intra-amniotic infection) or intra-amniotic inflammation in the absence of detectable microorganisms (i.e., sterile intra-amniotic inflammation).
Fungal and Parasitic Infections
Fungal and Parasitic InfectionsRIPK3 Facilitates Host Resistance to Oral Toxoplasma gondii InfectionToxoplasma gondii infection activates pattern recognition receptor (PRR) pathways that drive innate inflammatory responses to control infection. Necroptosis is a proinflammatory cell death pathway apart from the innate immune response that has evolved to control pathogenic infection.
Fungal and Parasitic InfectionsEvaluating the Role of STAT3 in CD4+ T Cells in Susceptibility to Invasive AspergillosisWe aimed to determine whether T cell-specific STAT3 deletion influences the immune response to Aspergillus in the immunosuppressed context in CD4Stat3−/− mice. Immunosuppressed and nonimmunosuppressed CD4Stat3−/− mice and littermate Stat3flox/flox (Stat3fl/fl) mice were infected with...
Fungal and Parasitic InfectionsIn Vivo and In Vitro Impairments in T Helper Cell and Neutrophil Responses against Mucor irregularis in Card9 Knockout MiceMucor irregularis is a frequently found fungus in Asia, especially China, and it causes primary cutaneous mucormycosis with a high rate of disfigurement. Caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 (Card9) is an essential adaptor molecule downstream of C-type lectin receptors. It mediates the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), regulates T helper 1 (Th1...
Fungal and Parasitic InfectionsResponse of Leucine-Rich Repeat Domain-Containing Protein in Haemaphysalis longicornis to Babesia microti Infection and Its Ligand IdentificationHaemaphysalis longicornis is a blood-feeding hard tick known for transmitting a variety of pathogens, including Babesia. How the parasites in the imbibed blood become anchored in the midgut of ticks is still unknown.
Fungal and Parasitic Infections | SpotlightPurinergic P2X7 Receptor Mediates the Elimination of Trichinella spiralis by Activating NF-κB/NLRP3/IL-1β Pathway in MacrophagesTrichinellosis is one of most neglected foodborne zoonoses worldwide. During Trichinella spiralis infection, the intestinal immune response is the first line of defense and plays a vital role in the host’s resistance.
Microbial Immunity and Vaccines
Microbial Immunity and VaccinesContribution of Noncanonical Antigens to Virulence and Adaptive Immunity in Human Infection with Enterotoxigenic E. coliEnterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) contributes significantly to the substantial burden of infectious diarrhea among children living in low- and middle-income countries. In the absence of a vaccine for ETEC, children succumb to acute dehydration as well as nondiarrheal sequelae related to these infections, including malnutrition.
Microbial Immunity and Vaccines | SpotlightBroadly Reactive Human Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting the Pneumococcal Histidine Triad Protein Protect against Fatal Pneumococcal Infection...Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia despite the widespread use of vaccines. While vaccines are effective at reducing the incidence of most serotypes included in vaccines, a rise in infection due to nonvaccine serotypes and moderate efficacy against some vaccine serotypes have contributed to high disease incidence.
Host-Associated Microbial Communities
Host-Associated Microbial CommunitiesTaurine-Mediated IDOL Contributes to Resolution of Streptococcus uberis InfectionMetabolic alterations occur in pathogenic infections, but the role of lipid metabolism in the progression of bacterial mastitis is unclear. Cross talk between lipid droplets (LDs) and invading bacteria occurs, and targeting of de novo lipogenesis inhibits pathogen reproduction.
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Infection and Immunity® (IAI) reports key discoveries that help microbiologists, immunologists, epidemiologists, pathologists, and clinicians to gain new insights into the underlying mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions and develop novel strategies to prevent or treat infectious diseases.