cytokines
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.
Fungal and Parasitic InfectionsNonlethal Plasmodium yoelii Infection Drives Complex Patterns of Th2-Type Host Immunity and Mast Cell-Dependent BacteremiaMalaria strongly predisposes to bacteremia, which is associated with sequestration of parasitized red blood cells and increased gastrointestinal permeability. The mechanisms underlying this disruption are poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the expression of factors associated with mast cell activation and malaria-associated bacteremia in a rodent model. C57BL/6J mice were infected with...
Host-Associated Microbial CommunitiesNiche- and Gender-Dependent Immune Reactions in Relation to the Microbiota Profile in Pediatric Patients with Otitis Media with EffusionOtitis media with effusion (OME) is a common inflammatory disease that primarily affects children. OME is defined as a chronic low-grade inflammation of the middle ear (ME), without any signs of infection and with effusion persisting in the ME for more than 3 months. The precise pathogenesis is, however, not fully understood. Here, we comprehensively characterized and compared the host immune responses (inflammatory cells and mediators...
Microbial Immunity and VaccinesVaccination with Secreted Aspartyl Proteinase 2 Protein from Candida parapsilosis Can Enhance Survival of Mice during C. tropicalis-Mediated Systemic CandidiasisThe rising incidence of non-albicans Candida species globally, along with the emergence of drug resistance, is a cause for concern. This study investigated the protective efficacy of secreted aspartyl proteinase 2 (Sap2) in systemic C. tropicalis infection. Vaccination with recombinant Sap2 (rSap2) protein from...
Host Response and InflammationThe Ubiquitin-Modifying Enzyme A20 Terminates C-Type Lectin Receptor Signals and Is a Suppressor of Host Defense against Systemic Fungal InfectionC-type lectin receptors (CLRs) play key roles in antifungal defense. CLR-induced NF-κB is central to CLR functions in immunity, and thus, molecules that control the amplitude of CLR-induced NF-κB could profoundly influence host defense against fungal pathogens. However, little is known about the mechanisms that negatively regulate CLR-induced NF-κB, and molecules which act on the CLR family broadly and which directly regulate acute CLR-...
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular InteractionsDifferential Interactions of Serum and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Complement Proteins with Conidia of Airborne Fungal Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatusEven though both cellular and humoral immunities contribute to host defense, the role played by humoral immunity against the airborne opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus has been underexplored. In this study, we aimed at deciphering the role of the complement system, the major humoral immune component, against...
Host Response and Inflammationmcr-1 Gene Expression Modulates the Inflammatory Response of Human Macrophages to Escherichia coliMCR-1 is a plasmid-encoded phosphoethanolamine transferase able to modify the lipid A structure. It confers resistance to colistin and was isolated from human, animal, and environmental strains of Enterobacteriaceae, raising serious global health concerns. In this paper, we used recombinant mcr-1-expressing Escherichia coli to study the impact of MCR...
Host Response and InflammationDepletion of Alveolar Macrophages Increases Pulmonary Neutrophil Infiltration, Tissue Damage, and Sepsis in a Murine Model of Acinetobacter baumannii PneumoniaAcinetobacter baumannii has emerged as an important etiological agent of hospital-related infections, especially nosocomial pneumonia. The virulence factors of this bacterium and their interactions with the cells and molecules of the immune system just recently began to be extensively studied. Here, we investigated the impact of alveolar macrophages on...
Bacterial InfectionsAtypical Salmonella enterica Serovars in Murine and Human Macrophage Infection ModelsNontyphoidal Salmonella species are globally disseminated pathogens and are the predominant cause of gastroenteritis. The pathogenesis of salmonellosis has been extensively studied using in vivo murine models and cell lines, typically challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Although...
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular InteractionsModulation of Death and Inflammatory Signaling in Decidual Stromal Cells following Exposure to Group B StreptococcusGroup B Streptococcus (GBS) is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that contributes to miscarriage, preterm birth, and serious neonatal infections. Studies have indicated that some multilocus sequence types (STs) of GBS are more likely to cause severe disease than others. We hypothesized that the ability of GBS to elicit varying host responses in maternal decidual tissue during pregnancy is an important factor regulating...