Article
Immunology
Sha-Sha Wang, Dan Chen, Jun-Jun He, Wen-Bin Zheng, Ai-Ling Tian, Guang-Hui Zhao, Hany M. Elsheikha, Xing-Quan Zhu
Summary: This study used RNA-seq to analyze the changes in expression of mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with Fasciola gigantica ESPs. The results indicated that Fasciola gigantica ESPs altered the expression of genes associated with host immune response, receptor signaling, disease, and metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Amber Dorey, Krystyna Cwiklinski, James Rooney, Carolina De Marco Verissimo, Jesus Lopez Corrales, Heather Jewhurst, Barbara Fazekas, Nichola Eliza Davies Calvani, Siobhan Hamon, Siobhan Gaughan, John P. Dalton, Richard Lalor
Summary: Research has shown that the Prx1 and Trx1 of Fasciola hepatica play important roles in stress responses, not only acting as antioxidants, but also modulating host immune responses and inflammation.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xiangxiang Yuan, Xiaoge Han, Xinping Kong, Linjing Hou, Kelong Wei, Mingtang Chen, Weiyu Zhang, Wenda Di
Summary: The 22nd component (F22) of Fasciola gigantica's excretory-secretory products (FgESP) has better diagnostic value than FgESP. The study examines the immunomodulatory function and potential as a molecular vaccine candidate of F22, and identifies 216 components of F22. Results show that F22 significantly decreases the proliferation of stimulated PBMCs. Further studies are needed to investigate F22's immunomodulatory function in the adaptive immune response, and its components can be studied as potential vaccine candidate molecules.
Article
Immunology
Xuefang Mei, Yaoyao Zhang, Chenyu Quan, Yiying Liang, Weiyi Huang, Wei Shi
Summary: This study provides detailed histological, biochemical, and immunological indices in Kunming (KM) mice infected with Fasciola gigantica. The infected mice showed liver damage, anemia, and weight loss. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in the serum increased, while albumin levels decreased. The parasite-specific IgG antibody levels increased and were positively correlated with the average parasite burdens.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lechuang Chen, Rui Chen, Min Yao, Zhimin Feng, Guoxiang Yuan, Fengchun Ye, Kien Nguyen, Jonathan Karn, Grace A. McComsey, Thomas M. McIntyre, Ge Jin
Summary: Elevated cytokine production in COVID-19 patients is associated with disease progression and severity. This study found that plasma exosomes of COVID-19 patients contain SARS-CoV-2 dsRNA, which can stimulate immune cells to produce inflammatory cytokines. These exosomes protect the dsRNA cargo and deliver it to recipient cells, inducing proinflammatory responses. Additionally, the study identified divergent signaling pathways in different immune cells in response to COVID-19 plasma exosomes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Dagmara A. Niedziela, Amalia Naranjo-Lucena, Veronica Molina-Hernandez, John A. Browne, Alvaro Martinez-Moreno, Jose Perez, David E. MacHugh, Grace Mulcahy
Summary: This study investigated the transcriptomic response of ovine PBMC to F. hepatica infection, revealing a significant number of differentially expressed genes at 2 weeks post-infection. Comparison with a previous bovine transcriptomic study showed that sheep exhibited activation of anti-inflammatory response pathways in the chronic phase, in contrast to cattle which showed these pathways in the acute phase.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Annette Bellar, Nicole Welch, Jaividhya Dasarathy, Amy Attaway, Ryan Musich, Avinash Kumar, Jinendiran Sekar, Saurabh Mishra, Yana Sandlers, David Streem, Laura E. Nagy, Srinivasan Dasarathy
Summary: Patients with acute alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) have impaired immune function and abnormal mitochondrial function, leading to cellular senescence. Understanding these cellular changes is crucial for the understanding of the pathogenesis of AH.
CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Thiago N. Marins, Jainer O. S. Calix, Ruth M. Orellana Rivas, John K. Bernard, Miriam Garcia, James D. Chapman, David J. Kirk, Sha Tao
Summary: Supplementation of immunomodulatory feed additives such as OmniGen AF (OG) helps maintain immune competency in lactating cows. However, it is unclear if the immune benefits persist after OG is removed from the diet. This study evaluated the effect of withdrawing OG on the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in midlactation dairy cows. The results showed that removing OG from the diet reduced PBMC proliferative response, indicating the loss of OG's immunomodulatory role as early as 1 week after its withdrawal. This study highlights the importance of proper feed formulation in the dairy industry.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Muhammad Ehsan, Rui-Si Hu, Jun-Ling Hou, Hany M. Elsheikha, Xiao-Dong Li, Pan-Hong Liang, Xing-Quan Zhu
Summary: The study demonstrates the immunomodulatory effects of a recombinant tegumental calcium-binding EF-hand protein 4 of F. gigantica (rFg-CaBP4) on goat monocytes through various experiments, showing an increase in cytokine transcription levels and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-II molecule expression. This sheds light on the roles of calcium-binding EF-hand proteins in host-parasite interaction and the strategies used by F. gigantica to evade host immune responses.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Wei He, Xiaoqing Sun, Bo Luo, Meichen Liu, Lizhu Li, Xianmin Fan, Jingming Ye, Biying Zhou
Summary: This study identified the key molecules involved in regulating T-cell immune responses in C. cellulosae by screening for thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx) using label-free quantification proteomics. TPx protein induced an increase in CD4(+) T cells, an imbalance in the CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-cell ratio, and promoted the production of Treg cells and Th2-type immune responses.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Aritania Sousa Santos, Edecio Cunha-Neto, Nelson Vinicius Gonfinetti, Fernanda Bernardi Bertonha, Pauline Brochet, Aurelie Bergon, Carlos Alberto Moreira-Filho, Christophe Chevillard, Maria Elizabeth Rossi da Silva
Summary: Our study investigated the global gene expression in PBMC of recent-onset T1D patients from a highly admixed Brazilian population, revealing 474 differentially expressed genes between groups. The most expressed genes in T1D patients favored host defense, inflammatory and cell cycle progression, while immune-regulatory pathways were downregulated. These findings suggest immune activation and differential genetic profiles in recent-onset T1D patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Meie Zhao, Chunxia Wang, Peiqiang Li, Tao Sun, Jing Wang, Shasha Zhang, Qinglong Ma, Fengdie Ma, Wenjing Shi, Maoning Shi, Yapeng Ma, Yunyan Pan, Hui Zhang, Xiaodong Xie
Summary: The emergence of a hepatitis B vaccine has been a milestone, but some vaccinated individuals do not generate an immune response and the underlying molecular mechanism is unclear. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on PBMCs from responders and non-responders. The non-responder group showed decreased antigen-presenting activity, MAPK pathway activity in naive B cells, and T cell activity, while the cytotoxicity of CD3(high)CD16(low)KLRG1(high) NKT cells was increased. Furthermore, reduced expression of certain molecules and increased expression of cytotoxicity-related molecules were observed in non-responders. This study provides a molecular basis for the lack of response to the hepatitis B vaccine and highlights the role of NKT cells in the immune response.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yahui Gao, Jianbin Li, Gaozhan Cai, Yujiao Wang, Wenjing Yang, Yanqin Li, Xiuxin Zhao, Rongling Li, Yundong Gao, Wenbin Tuo, Ransom L. Baldwin, Cong-Jun Li, Lingzhao Fang, George E. Liu
Summary: This study provides the first scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq data for bovine PBMCs and their responses to LPS stimulation. It reveals that LPS can modulate cell cycle progression, cellular differentiation, and chromatin accessibility in PBMCs. The study also identifies trait-relevant cell types and their associated genes, providing valuable resources for future research on the bovine immune system and its connection to complex traits.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Byeongyeon Kim, In-Ho Seo, Gwang Myeong Seo, Woo-Joong Kim, Eui-Cheol Shin, Sungyoung Choi
Summary: The study introduces a blood divider (B-DV) as a centrifuge tube insert to prevent RBC contamination during PBMC harvest, simplifying the separation process and enabling rapid, easy PBMC isolation.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Vera Vorstandlechner, Dragan Copic, Katharina Klas, Martin Direder, Bahar Golabi, Christine Radtke, Hendrik J. Ankersmit, Michael Mildner
Summary: This study demonstrates the anti-fibrotic effect of PBMCsec on cutaneous scars in both mouse and human experimental settings. PBMCsec regulates the expression of fibrosis-related genes, attenuates myofibroblast differentiation, and inhibits the breakdown of elastic fibers. These findings suggest that PBMCsec could be a novel therapeutic option for treating skin scarring.
Article
Parasitology
Lenu B. Fakae, Mohammad S. R. Harun, Darren Shu Jeng Ting, Harminder S. Dua, Gareth W. V. Cave, Xing-Quan Zhu, Carl W. Stevenson, Hany M. Elsheikha
Summary: We investigated the anti-acanthamoebic effect of green tea Camellia sinensis solvent extract and its chemical components against Acanthamoeba castellanii. The extract and two specific components, epigallocatechin-3-gallate and caffeine, were found to inhibit both the replication and encystation of the parasite. The extract did not show cytotoxicity to human corneal epithelial cells and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Further pre-clinical studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the extract in vivo.
Article
Microbiology
Xuefang Mei, Changwei Su, Weijuan Wang, Bo Zhang, Lai Wei, Zhenchao Zhang, Xiaowei Tian, Zhenke Yang, Xiangrui Li, Aijun Duan, Shuai Wang
Summary: This study investigated the infection and genotype distribution of Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) in two cities of Henan Province, China. The infection rates of B. hominis were similar between the two cities, but the incidence of hematochezia differed significantly from other symptoms. Five subtypes were identified, with ST3 being the most prevalent subtype.
JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Xiao-Nan Zheng, Jin-Lei Wang, Hany M. M. Elsheikha, Meng Wang, Zhi-Wei Zhang, Li-Xiu Sun, Xin-Cheng Wang, Xing-Quan Zhu, Ting-Ting Li
Summary: The analysis of the subcellular localization and function of dense granule proteins is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii infection. This study identified 15 novel GRAs and determined their localization and functions in different life cycle stages and strains of T. gondii. Deletion of TGME49_266410 and TGME49_315910 significantly affected parasite growth and virulence, demonstrating their importance in T. gondii pathogenicity.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Mingyue Wang, Di Tian, Lixin Xu, Mingmin Lu, Ruofeng Yan, Xiangrui Li, Xiaokai Song
Summary: Avian coccidiosis, an important disease in the poultry industry, requires the development of novel vaccines. The study found that a vaccine based on EmROM1 showed significant protective efficacy against E. maxima infection in chickens. EmROM1 vaccination enhanced cellular immune responses and reduced disease symptoms in infected birds.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ting-Ting Li, Dan-Yu Zhao, Qin-Li Liang, Hany M. Elsheikha, Meng Wang, Li-Xiu Sun, Zhi-Wei Zhang, Xiao-Qing Chen, Xing-Quan Zhu, Jin-Lei Wang
Summary: This study focuses on the roles of glutaredoxins (Grxs) in the pathogenicity of Toxoplasma gondii. The researchers found that grx1 plays a crucial role in protecting the parasite against oxidative killing and is essential for its growth in cultured cells and pathogenicity in mice.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yugui Wang, Aijiang Guo, Yang Zou, Wenjie Mu, Shengying Zhang, Zhiqi Shi, Zhongli Liu, Xuepeng Cai, Xing-Quan Zhu, Shuai Wang
Summary: Tissue-dwelling helminths have a significant impact on the host immune system and gut microbiota. This study demonstrates that an extraintestinal helminth infection induces the expansion of regulatory T cells in the colon through the gut microbiota.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Wei Wang, Yi Yang, Huanping Guo, Ming-Han Li, Xiao-Qing Chen, Xin-Yu Wei, Yu Chen, Hany M. M. Elsheikha, Xiao-Xuan Zhang
Summary: Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we identified RNA modifications in three strains of Toxoplasma gondii and compared the diversity and patterns of modifications between different strains. We found significant differences in the modified nucleotides in tRNA and sncRNA, which were correlated with the expression of virulence proteins. These findings provide new insights into the diversity of RNA modifications in T. gondii and their potential role in virulence.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Zhifeng Sun, Mingmin Lu, Hyun Lillehoj, Youngsub Lee, Doyun Goo, Baohong Yuan, Xianghe Yan, CCharles Li
Summary: This study found that the collagen adhesion capability of Clostridium perfringens, the etiological agent for necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens, is correlated with its pathogenicity, especially for C. perfringens strains carrying crucial virulence factors such as netB, cnaA, and tpeL. These results suggest that the presence of the cnaA gene may be associated with the virulence of C. perfringens.
Review
Parasitology
Qing Liu, Xianyong Liu, Xiaomin Zhao, Xing-Quan Zhu, Xun Suo
Summary: This review evaluates the advantages and limitations of attenuation methods and attenuated Eimeria strains, and summarizes recent advances in transient/stable transfection systems and CRISPR-based genome editing for Eimeria parasites. It also discusses the trends and challenges in developing live attenuated anticoccidial vaccines based on transgenesis and genome editing.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yang Zhang, Qianyun Shi, Richard Laven, Caishan Li, Wenwen He, Huizhen Zheng, Shifang Liu, Mingmin Lu, Danchen Aaron Yang, Qingyong Guo, Bayin Chahan
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence and genetic complexity of Theileria equi in horses in Xinjiang, China. The true prevalence of T. equi varied significantly between different age groups, with a prevalence of 10.8% in <= 3-year-old horses and 35.7% in horses > 3 years old. Genetic analysis revealed that all T. equi isolates belonged to a single phylogenetic group, clade E, which is likely the dominant genotype in Xinjiang. This research is important for monitoring T. equi spread and studying the factors influencing its distribution.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Bintao Zhai, Shi-Chen Xie, Jiyu Zhang, Jun-Jun He, Xing-Quan Zhu
Summary: This study investigated the changes in RNA expression in the small intestinal epithelia of cats following T. gondii infection. The results revealed the important role of non-coding RNAs in immune and disease-related pathways in cats. This research provides insight into the pathogenesis of T. gondii infection in its definitive host.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Muhammad Tahir Aleem, Zhaohai Wen, Zhengqing Yu, Cheng Chen, Mingmin Lu, Lixin Xu, Xiaokai Song, Xiangrui Li, Ruofeng Yan
Summary: This study investigates the inhibitory effects of different ratios of antibodies against Ts-MAPRC2 on the development of Trichinella spiralis larvae and found that rTs-MAPRC2-Ab greatly inhibited the activity of Ts-MAPRC2 and reduced larval infectivity and survival. siRNA-Ts-MAPRC2 effectively silenced the Ts-MAPRC2 gene and significantly reduced larval survival and infectivity. The results suggest that Ts-MAPRC2 may be a potential molecular target for vaccines against Trichinella spiralis infection.
Article
Microbiology
Qin-Li Liang, Lan-Bi Nie, Hany M. Elsheikha, Ting-Ting Li, Li-Xiu Sun, Zhi-Wei Zhang, Meng Wang, Bao-Quan Fu, Xing-Quan Zhu, Jin-Lei Wang
Summary: TgPP6C and TgPP6R play important roles in the cell division, replication, and pathogenicity of Toxoplasma gondii.