Article
Immunology
Liuchuang Gao, Min Wu, Hangyu Liu, Miao He, Han Jiang, Runshi Shang, Qiangqiang Wang, Zhu Song, Yafei Huang, Junyan Han
Summary: The study found that environmental factors during early life play a crucial role in the development of allergic asthma, with traditional farm environments potentially offering protective effects largely attributed to high-level exposure to LPS. Results showed that LPS treatment had a protective effect on Th2 allergic airway responses in the neonatal group but might lead to a more severe asthma phenotype in adult mice by dampening Th2 responses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Junjie Ma, Egon Urgard, Solveig Runge, Cajsa H. Classon, Laura Mathae, Julian M. Stark, Liqin Cheng, Javiera A. Alvarez, Silvia Von Zedtwitz, Austeja Baleviciute, Sergio Martinez Hoyer, Muzhen Li, Anne Marleen Gernand, Lisa Osbelt, Agata Anna Bielecka, Till R. Lesker, Huey-Jy Huang, Susanne Vrtala, Louis Boon, Rudi Beyaert, Mikael Adner, Itziar Martinez Gonzalez, Till Strowig, Juan Du, Susanne Nylen, Stephan P. Rosshart, Jonathan M. Coquet
Summary: Allergic disorders are influenced by both hereditary and environmental factors. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that early-life exposure to microbes can affect the development of allergic diseases. By comparing wildling mice with conventional SPF mice, researchers were able to separate the impact of lifelong microbial exposures from genetic factors on the allergic immune response. The study found that wildlings developed stronger immune responses to allergens compared to SPF mice.
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarzyna Kaczynska, Dominika Zajac, Piotr Wojciechowski, Monika Jampolska
Summary: Regulatory peptides play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of asthma, exacerbating symptoms for some while ameliorating them for others. Interacting with peptide receptors located in the lungs or on immune cells offers new therapeutic possibilities for treating asthma, especially in cases where current therapies are ineffective.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Juliette Delhove, Moayed Alawami, Matthew Macowan, Susan E. Lester, Phan T. Nguyen, Hubertus P. A. Jersmann, Paul N. Reynolds, Eugene Roscioli
Summary: Differentiated air-liquid interface models are widely used for assessing mucociliary phenotype, but obtaining airway epithelial cells invasively and resource-intensively. This study used a tissue engineering approach to generate sinonasal airway epithelial cells and found that they were predictive of bronchial airway epithelial cells in terms of barrier function, mucociliary architecture, and autophagy gene activity. However, there were significant differences in inflammatory marker expression, possibly due to the immunological surveillance of sinonasal epithelium.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katie M. Lebold, Matthew G. Drake, Alexandra B. Pincus, Aubrey B. Pierce, Allison D. Fryer, David B. Jacoby
Summary: Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease that develops due to a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. Maternal asthma during pregnancy has been found to affect the phenotype of childhood asthma. This study shows that maternal allergen exposure alters fetal lung development, leading to increased airway hyperreactivity and inflammation in offspring. It also influences the cytokine response and increases airway epithelial sensory nerve density.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Efthymia Theofani, Georgina Xanthou
Summary: Autophagy is a crucial self-degradative process in cells that plays a key role in cellular renovation, physiology, and homeostasis. It can be triggered by factors such as starvation, pathogens, and stress, and is important in immune response regulation. Dysregulation of autophagy processes, either impaired or overactive, can contribute to the pathogenesis of various diseases, including infections and cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Elke Korb, Mirjana Drinic, Angelika Wagner, Nora Geissler, Aleksandra Inic-Kanada, Roman Peschke, Anja Joachim, Ursula Wiedermann, Irma Schabussova
Summary: TLA, a protein from Toxoplasma gondii, has shown to have a suppressive effect on allergic inflammation in mice, depending on the timing of application in relation to sensitization. Deglycosylated TLA was able to reduce type 2 responses ex vivo, indicating a significant role of carbohydrates in immunomodulation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Gina N. Calco, Becky J. Proskocil, David B. Jacoby, Allison D. Fryer, Zhenying Nie
Summary: Increased insulin levels are associated with obesity-related airway hyperreactivity and asthma. Metformin, an antidiabetic drug, was found to prevent the development of airway hyperreactivity in male rats on a high-fat diet by reducing circulating insulin levels. This study suggests that insulin-targeting medications may be an effective treatment for obesity-related asthma.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LUNG CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Allergy
Benjamin P. Hurrell, Doumet Georges Helou, Pedram Shafiei-Jahani, Emily Howard, Jacob D. Painter, Christine Quach, Omid Akbari
Summary: This study reveals the important role of cannabinoid CB2 signaling in modulating the development of airway inflammation in ILC2s, both in mice and humans. CB2 signaling stimulates the proliferation and function of ILC2s, leading to increased airway hyperreactivity and lung inflammation. These findings are significant for understanding the pathogenesis of asthma and identifying new therapeutic targets.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mojdeh Matloubi, Latifa Koussih, Lianyu Shan, Chelsea Lukawy, Abdelilah S. Gounni
Summary: Asthma is a heterogeneous airway disease characterized by airway inflammation and remodeling, affecting more than 300 million people worldwide and posing a significant burden on society. Semaphorin3E, a critical molecule in lung pathophysiology, plays a role in both lung development and homeostasis. Recent studies have demonstrated that the Semaphorin3E-plexinD1 axis is implicated in asthma, impacting inflammatory and structural cells associated with airway inflammation, tissue remodeling, and airway hyperresponsiveness. This review highlights the potential role of the Semaphorin3E-plexinD1 axis as a therapeutic target in airway allergic diseases.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zixin Liu, Li Xie, Xiaohua Liu, JunRong Chen, Yaqian Zhou, Jialin Zhang, Honghui Su, Yide Yang, Mei Tian, Jian Li, Yunpeng Dong
Summary: This study systematically reviewed and analyzed the relationship between cesarean section and offspring allergic rhinitis (AR) risk in children. The results showed that cesarean section, especially elective cesarean section and cesarean section with a family history of allergy, was associated with an increased risk of AR in children.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Becky J. Proskocil, Gina N. Calco, Zhenying Nie
Summary: This study found that hyperinsulinemia increases bronchoconstriction induced by the vagus nerve in obese rats, as well as significantly increases methacholine-induced airway smooth muscle contraction. Insulin enhances intracellular calcium and smooth muscle contraction, providing insights into potential asthma treatment targets.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LUNG CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Wenxian Ma, Qiaoyan Jin, Haiqin Guo, Xinpeng Han, Lingbin Xu, Shemin Lu, Changgui Wu
Summary: This study demonstrates that metformin can alleviate airway inflammation and remodeling in an OVA-induced chronic asthmatic model. The protective effects of metformin may be associated with the restoration of AMPKα activity and decreased asthma-related angiogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Llilian Arzola-Martinez, Rebeca Benavente, Genesis Vega, Mariana Rios, Wendy Fonseca, Andrew J. Rasky, Susan Morris, Nicholas W. Lukacs, Manuel J. Villalon
Summary: Allergic asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation in response to various triggers, such as inhaled allergens. High levels of extracellular ATP (eATP) in fluids from asthma patients can negatively impact mucociliary clearance (MCC) effectiveness. Inhibiting specific ATP release channels, such as pannexin1, may offer a pharmacological alternative to improve airway clearance and reduce airway hyperresponsiveness in allergic asthma.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LUNG CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dominika Zajac, Piotr Wojciechowski
Summary: Vitamins play a crucial role in the development and management of asthma, affecting symptoms such as bronchial hyperreactivity, airway inflammation, oxidative stress, and airway remodeling. The intake and levels of vitamins are also associated with the risk of asthma.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Nathan M. Ryan, Jessica A. Hess, Fernando Pardo-Manuel de Villena, Benjamin E. Leiby, Ayako Shimada, Lei Yu, Amir Yarmahmoodi, Nikolai Petrovsky, Bin Zhan, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Benjamin L. Makepeace, Sara Lustigman, David Abraham
Summary: This study demonstrated that an Onchocerca volvulus vaccine can induce protective immunity in genetically diverse mice, with each mouse line showing a unique immune response to the vaccine and challenge. The findings suggest that the vaccine is polyfunctional and effective in genetically complex populations.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Williane Fernanda Siqueira, Agostinho Goncalves Viana, Joao Luis Reis Cunha, Leticia Mansur Rosa, Lilian Lacerda Bueno, Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu, Mariana Santos Cardoso, Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
Summary: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex and requires early diagnosis and treatment to prevent serious consequences. Research shows that increasing the number of repetitive motifs in antigens can improve the specificity and accuracy of serological tests for VL diagnosis.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Adalberto Alves Pereira Filho, Alexandre Alves de Sousa Nascimento, Natalia Alvim Araujo Saab, Ricardo Toshio Fugiwara, Grasielle Caldas D'Avila Pessoa, Leonardo Barbosa Koerich, Marcos Horacio Pereira, Ricardo Nascimento Araujo, Mauricio Roberto Viana Sant'Anna, Nelder Figueiredo Gontijo
Summary: Certain pathogens have evolved mechanisms to evade the complement system, such as inactivating C3b molecules through the binding of factor H. Understanding these mechanisms could potentially lead to the development of targeted vaccines for controlling leishmaniasis.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Camila Coelho, Gloria Gallo, Leon Hardy, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Claudia Campos, Martin Wurtele
Summary: The Zika virus protease is a well-established target for drug development. In this study, researchers identified 10 new inhibitors for this enzyme, including natural products and other compounds. The inhibitors demonstrated strong inhibitory effects in biochemical assays and showed beneficial health effects with acceptable pharmacokinetic properties.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yifan Wu, Evan Li, Morgan R. Knight, Grace Adeniyi-Ipadeola, Li-zhen Song, Alan Burns, Ana Clara E. Gazzinelli-Guimaraes, Ricardo Fujiwara, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Jill Weatherhead
Summary: A single episode of Ascaris larval migration through the lungs can induce chronic pulmonary inflammation and emphysema, accompanied by pulmonary hemorrhage and chronic anemia. This phenomenon may drive the development of non-communicable lung diseases such as asthma, COPD, and chronic anemia in parasite-endemic regions.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Kamal Rawal, Robin Sinha, Swarsat Kaushik Nath, P. Preeti, Priya Kumari, Srijanee Gupta, Trapti Sharma, Ulrich Strych, Peter Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi
Summary: The article presents Vaxi-DL, a web-based deep learning software that evaluates the potential of protein sequences as vaccine target antigens. The software accurately predicts target antigens in bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses that cause infectious diseases in humans. The tool has demonstrated a high sensitivity, making it useful for prioritizing potential vaccine candidates.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Guilherme S. Ramos, Virginia M. R. Vallejos, Gabriel S. M. Borges, Raquel M. Almeida, Izabela M. Alves, Marta M. G. Aguiar, Christian Fernandes, Pedro P. G. Guimaraes, Ricardo T. Fujiwara, Philippe M. Loiseau, Lucas A. M. Ferreira, Frederic Frezard
Summary: This study developed a formulation of PEGylated liposomal AmB and compared its efficacy to AmBisome (R) in a murine model of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). The results showed that the PEGylated formulation significantly reduced lesion growth and parasite load in the treatment of CL, both through parenteral and oral routes.
Article
Immunology
Lisa Luu, Germanus S. Bah, Ndode Herman Okah-Nnane, Catherine S. Hartley, Alexandra F. Glover, Tessa R. Walsh, Lu-Yun Lian, Bin Zhan, Maria Elena Bottazzi, David Abraham, Nikolai Petrovsky, Nicolas Bayang, Bernard Tangwa, Rene Billingwe Ayiseh, Glory Enjong Mbah, David D. Ekale, Vincent N. Tanya, Sara Lustigman, Benjamin L. Makepeace, John Graham-Brown
Summary: This study evaluated the protective effects of co-administering leading O. volvulus-derived recombinant vaccine candidates with subsequent natural exposure to a closely related cattle parasite. The results showed that vaccinated calves had a significantly lower rate of infection compared to unvaccinated control animals. Furthermore, the levels of specific antibodies were negatively correlated with adult female worm burdens. The findings suggest that vaccine formulations for human onchocerciasis should aim to elicit similarly balanced immune responses.
Review
Immunology
Anne C. S. Ramos, Luciana M. Oliveira, Yvanna L. D. C. O. Santos, Marlon C. S. Dantas, Cristiani I. B. Walker, Ana M. C. Faria, Lilian L. Bueno, Silvio S. Dolabella, Ricardo T. Fujiwara
Summary: This systematic review aimed to investigate the role of Immunoglobulin-A (IgA) as a mediator of protective immunity against gastrointestinal helminths. The results showed consistent associations between higher IgA levels and lower parasitological parameters in mice, rats, and sheep. However, the role of IgA in other host species remained uncertain, highlighting the need for further research.
IMMUNOLOGY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Samuel C. Uzoechi, Bruce A. Rosa, Kumar Sachin Singh, Young-Jun Choi, Bethany K. Bracken, Paul J. Brindley, R. Reid Townsend, Robert Sprung, Bin Zhan, Maria-Elena Bottazzi, John M. Hawdon, Yide Wong, Alex Loukas, Sergej Djuranovic, Makedonka Mitreva
Summary: We used mass spectrometry to analyze and compare the excretory/secretory products (ESPs) of male and female Ancylostoma ceylanicum, a zoonotic hookworm. We identified 795 ESPs with common and sex-specific functions, providing insights into parasite-host interactions and potential targets for drug development.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Raianna F. Fantin, Claudia Abeijon, Dhelio B. Pereira, Ricardo T. Fujiwara, Lilian L. Bueno, Antonio Campos-Neto
Summary: The article introduces a potential target protein for diagnosing P. vivax malaria, which is unique and unrelated to other species of Plasmodium.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Danniele L. Vale, Camila S. Freitas, Vivian T. Martins, Gabriel J. L. Moreira, Amanda S. Machado, Fernanda F. Ramos, Isabela A. G. Pereira, Raquel S. Bandeira, Marcelo M. de Jesus, Grasiele S. V. Tavares, Fernanda Ludolf, Miguel A. Chavez-Fumagalli, Alexsandro S. Galdino, Ricardo T. Fujiwara, Lilian L. Bueno, Bruno M. Roatt, Myron Christodoulides, Eduardo A. F. Coelho, Daniela P. Lage
Summary: Our study used an immunotherapeutic approach combining a vaccine and drug to successfully treat mice infected with Leishmania parasites. This approach significantly reduced the parasite load in the animals' internal organs and increased the production of protective antibodies. The inclusion of the vaccine and adjuvant also reduced the toxicity of the drug.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Peter J. J. Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Syamala Rani Thimmiraju, Rakesh Adhikari, Maria Jose Villar, Jungsoon Lee, Zhuyun Liu, Rakhi Kundu, Yi-Lin Chen, Suman Sharma, Karm Ghei, Brian Keegan, Leroy Versteeg, Portia M. Gillespie, Allan Ciciriello, Nelufa Y. Islam, Cristina Poveda, Nestor Uzcategui, Wen-Hsiang Chen, Jason T. Kimata, Bin Zhan, Ulrich Strych, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Peter J. Hotez, Jeroen Pollet
Summary: The study describes the development and characterization of a next-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine adapted to the XBB variants. The XBB.1.5 RBD/CpG/alum vaccine elicited a robust antibody response in mice and demonstrated potent neutralization against several Omicron pseudoviruses. These findings highlight the potential for an updated vaccine formulation utilizing the XBB.1.5 RBD antigen.
Article
Parasitology
Barbara L. A. Vercosa, Maria Imaculada Muniz-Junqueira, Joilson Ferreira Batista, Teresa Oviedo Socarras, Luisa Mourao Dias Magalhaes, Ricardo T. Fujiwara, Maria N. Melo, Anilton Cesar Vasconcelos
Summary: Hyperactivation of tubular cells contributes to the progression of kidney lesions, and Leishmania-infected dogs showed higher histopathological lesion scores and AgNOR expression, which were associated with clinical signs.
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY
(2022)