Article
Microbiology
Patsharaporn T. Sarasombath, Jerapas Thongpiya, Monrat Chulanetra, Sirirat Wijit, Pisith Chinabut, Jeerawan Ongrotchanakun, Anupop Jitmuang, Darawan Wanachiwanawin
Summary: This study aimed to differentiate between PCP and Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization using qPCR to determine DNA copies in respiratory specimens of HIV and non-HIV patients. The study identified upper and lower cut-off values for PCP diagnosis in both groups, which showed high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing PCP patients.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jaypee Abenoja, Alexis Cotto-Rosario, Roberta O'Connor
Summary: Boromycin shows strong activity against both T. gondii and C. parvum, inhibiting their intracellular proliferation at low concentrations and exhibiting high selectivity for the parasites over host cells. These findings suggest that boromycin is a promising new drug candidate for treating toxoplasmosis and cryptosporidiosis.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eben Gering, Zachary M. Laubach, Patty Sue D. Weber, Gisela Soboll Hussey, Kenna D. S. Lehmann, Tracy M. Montgomery, Julie W. Turner, Wei Perng, Malit O. Pioon, Kay E. Holekamp, Thomas Getty
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii infections in hyena cubs lead to them approaching lions more closely and experiencing higher rates of lion mortality, suggesting the possibility of parasite manipulation of host behavior for transmission to feline hosts. Both scenarios, where the behavior is an extended phenotype of the parasite or where the parasite has not undergone selection for behavior manipulation, have important implications for T. gondii's effects on host behavior and fitness in the wild.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Melanie T. Cushion, Alan Ashbaugh
Summary: Rezafungin, a novel echinocandin in Phase 3 development, demonstrates a favorable safety profile and pharmacokinetic properties for once-weekly dosing and antifungal activity against major pathogens. In animal studies, rezafungin showed both preventive and therapeutic effects against Pneumocystis murina pneumonia, supporting further investigation for treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in humans.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ahmed M. Shammaa, Thomas G. Powell, Imaan Benmerzouga
Summary: This study used real-world data from the FAERS database to analyze adverse outcomes and events associated with the treatment of Toxoplasma infections. Findings suggest that clindamycin and pyrimethamine may be strongly associated with death, and sulfonamide formulations may have a less favorable safety profile.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
S. Gnat, D. Lagowski, A. Nowakiewicz, M. Dylag
Summary: This paper discusses the global status of infectious diseases, focusing on the increasing trend of opportunistic fungal infections and the characteristics of various pathogens. It also introduces the etiology, epidemiology, and symptoms of fungal infections.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Rongjun Wan, Lu Bai, Yusheng Yan, Jianmin Li, Qingkai Luo, Hua Huang, Lingmei Huang, Zhi Xiang, Qing Luo, Zi Gu, Qing Guo, Pinhua Pan, Rongli Lu, Yimin Fang, Chengping Hu, Juan Jiang, Yuanyuan Li
Summary: In this study, a model for early predicting the risk of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) among patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) was established. The model accurately predicted the need for IMV and can aid in making appropriate therapeutic choices.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Xuke Yang, Xiaoyan Yin, Jiaojiao Liu, Zhipeng Niu, Jichao Yang, Bang Shen
Summary: PPi-PFK plays a crucial role in glycolysis, coordinating anabolism and catabolism in parasites by maintaining pyrophosphate homeostasis and maximizing nutrient utilization efficiency. Its physiological significance in Toxoplasma and other organisms has been highlighted, suggesting a potential drug target for combating toxoplasmosis.
Article
Immunology
Whitney Rabacal, Finja Schweitzer, Heather M. Kling, Lizabeth Buzzelli, Emily Rayens, Karen A. Norris
Summary: This study investigates a therapeutic vaccine strategy to enhance humoral immunity against Pneumocystis in immunosuppressed individuals using an iNKT cell activating adjuvant and a vaccine named KEX1.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gilles Nevez, Anne Totet, Olga Matos, Enrique J. Calderon, Robert F. Miller, Solene Le Gal
Summary: The discussion around the use of acronyms for Pneumocystis species highlights the importance of standardization and continuity in medical terminology.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fan Jin, Hao Liang, Wen-can Chen, Jing Xie, Huan-ling Wang
Summary: This study aimed to develop and validate two clinical tools for predicting the risk of death and ICU admission in non-HIV-infected patients with PCP to reduce mortality. The results showed that the new predictive models have high accuracy and predictive ability for the risk of death and ICU admission.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yiting Liu, Tao Qiu, Haochong Hu, Chenyang Kong, Yalong Zhang, Tianyu Wang, Jiangqiao Zhou, Jilin Zou
Summary: This study aimed to develop and validate a prognostic model for severe Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (SPCP) in kidney transplant recipients using machine learning algorithms. Various models, including Support Vector Machine, Logistic Regression, Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbor, Light Gradient Boosting Machine, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting, were constructed and compared. The Random Forest model demonstrated the highest performance in terms of AUC, F1-Score, accuracy, sensitivity, PPV, and NPV.
Review
Immunology
Ragab M. Fereig, Mosaab A. Omar, Abdullah F. Alsayeqh
Summary: Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are important protozoan diseases worldwide, and controlling these diseases is currently challenging. Understanding host-parasite interactions and host strategies to combat infections can aid in developing effective control measures, including vaccines. Macrophages and the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) play a crucial role in successful vaccine candidates. However, identifying potential vaccine candidates is a time-consuming process.
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Yurong Yang, Shilin Xin, Fernando H. A. Murata, Camila K. Cerqueira-Cezar, Oliver C. H. Kwok, Chunlei Su, Jitender P. Dubey
Summary: The study provides an overview of Toxoplasma gondii infection in bats, including seroprevalence, genotypes, clinical cases, and transmission routes. Insectivorous bats have higher seroprevalence of T. gondii compared to fructivores bats; bats may play a significant role in the transmission and epidemiology of T. gondii. Additional research is needed to validate serological and molecular tests, and explore the transmission routes of T. gondii infection in bats.
RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Parasitology
Jitender P. Dubey, Fernando H. A. Murata, Camila K. Cerqueira-Cezar, Oliver C. H. Kwok, Chunlei Su, Michael E. Grigg
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii infections in kangaroos and other marsupials in Australia and New Zealand are common and may pose a risk for human infection. Kangaroo meat could potentially serve as a source of T. gondii infection for humans. The genetic diversity of T. gondii strains varies among different regions and species.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Letter
Rheumatology
Vivian E. Saper, Guangbo Chen, Purvesh Khatri, Elizabeth D. Mellins
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Letter
Rheumatology
Vivian E. Saper, Guangbo Chen, R. Paul Guillerman, Purvesh Khatri, Randy Q. Cron, Elizabeth D. Mellins
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Vivian E. Saper, Michael J. Ombrello, Adriana H. Tremoulet, Gonzalo Montero-Martin, Sampath Prahalad, Scott Canna, Chisato Shimizu, Gail Deutsch, Serena Y. Tan, Elaine F. Remmers, Dimitri Monos, Timothy Hahn, Omkar K. Phadke, Elaine Cassidy, Ian Ferguson, Vamsee Mallajosyula, Jianpeng Xu, Jaime S. Rosa Duque, Gilbert T. Chua, Debopam Ghosh, Ann Marie Szymanski, Danielle Rubin, Jane C. Burns, Lu Tian, Marcelo A. Fernandez-Vina, Elizabeth D. Mellins, Jill A. Hollenbach
Summary: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) can occur in Still's disease patients treated with IL-1/IL-6 inhibitors, with features such as eosinophilia, liver enzyme elevation, and persistent rash. HLA-DRB1*15 haplotypes are significantly enriched in Still's disease with DRESS. Pre-prescription HLA typing and vigilance for serious reactions to these drugs are recommended.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Guangbo Chen, Gail H. Deutsch, Grant S. Schulert, Hong Zheng, SoRi Jang, Bruce Trapnell, Pui Y. Lee, Claudia Macaubas, Katherine Ho, Corinne Schneider, Vivian E. Saper, Adriana Almeida de Jesus, Mark A. Krasnow, Alexei Grom, Raphaela Goldbach-Mansky, Purvesh Khatri, Elizabeth D. Mellins, Scott W. Canna
Summary: This study investigated the immunopathology and identified biomarkers in systemic JIA, MAS, and SJIA-LD by measuring over 1,300 analytes in sera. The proteome alterations in active systemic JIA and MAS overlapped, with novel elevations in heat-shock proteins and glycolytic enzymes.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sreejana Ray, Desiree Tillo, Nima Assad, Aniekanabasi Ufot, Aleksey Porollo, Stewart R. Durell, Charles Vinson
Summary: The Epstein-Barr virus transcription factor Zta can bind both unmethylated and methylated double-stranded DNA in a sequence-specific manner, with the conserved asparagine N182 playing a crucial role in sequence-specific DNA binding. Through experiments replacing N182 with different amino acids and protein binding microarrays, it was found that replacing asparagine with glutamine leads to binding changes to A3, while replacing it with serine leads to binding changes to G3. These findings suggest a potential new binding specificity mediated by entropic interactions.
Article
Rheumatology
Patricia Vega-Fernandez, Tracy Ting, Diane A. Mar, Andrew H. Schapiro, Mariani D. Deluna, Vivian E. Saper, Alexei A. Grom, Grant S. Schulert, Robert M. Fairchild
Summary: Lung ultrasound (US) shows highly conspicuous abnormalities in the pleura and subpleura in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis associated with lung disease (JIA-LD), which correlate with peripheral lung findings on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Lung US is a feasible imaging tool in children and may have a potential role in JIA-LD screening, diagnosis, and/or prognostication.
ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Nathan P. Wiederhold, Thomas F. Patterson, Sandra Rebholz, Connell W. C. Boal, Monika Ehrensberger, Ryan Boyle, Melanie T. Cushion
Summary: A3IS is a synthetic product that releases hydrogen peroxide at therapeutic levels. It has broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects and has shown significant efficacy against various human pathogens, including fungi. It also exhibits good inhibitory effects on Pneumocystis. These findings suggest that A3IS is a novel antifungal agent.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Melanie T. Cushion, Alan Ashbaugh, Steven G. Sayson, Christopher Mosley, Philippe M. Hauser
Summary: The proposed life cycle of fungi in the genus Pneumocystis includes both sexual and asexual replication. Recent studies have shown that these fungi rely on the sexual cycle for survival and growth. Furthermore, treatment with echinocandins can block the sexual cycle while leaving the asexual replication unaffected.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Nikeya L. Tisdale, Alan Ashbaugh, Keeley Hendrix, Margaret S. Collins, Alexey P. Porollo, Melanie T. Cushion
Summary: This article discusses the importance of considering sex differences in disease research and suggests the inclusion of females in experimental models.
Correction
Microbiology
Nathan P. Wiederhold, Thomas F. Patterson, Sandra Rebholz, James Brennan, Thomas Patton, John Barrett, Connell W. C. Boal, Monika Ehrensberger, Ryan Boyle, Melanie T. Cushion
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Kelsey H. Elliott, Sai K. Balchand, Christian Louis Bonatto Paese, Ching-Fang Chang, Yanfen Yang, Kari M. Brown, Daniel T. Rasicci, Hao He, Konrad Thorner, Praneet Chaturvedi, Stephen A. Murray, Jing Chen, Aleksey Porollo, Kevin A. Peterson, Samantha A. Brugmann
Summary: This study provides a searchable transcriptomic resource for the primary ciliome, revealing differentially expressed genes with tissue and temporal specificity. The genes within the differentially expressed ciliome show a lower level of functional constraint across species, indicating organism and cell-specific functional adaptation. The functional validation of ciliary heterogeneity was performed by disrupting ciliary genes using Cas9 gene editing, which exhibited dynamic gene expression profiles during osteogenic differentiation of multipotent neural crest cells. Overall, this novel primary cilia-focused resource allows researchers to explore the correlation between tissue and cell-type specific functions, ciliary heterogeneity, and the range of phenotypes associated with ciliopathies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chau Tran, Siddharth Khadkikar, Aleksey Porollo
Summary: Protein language models, derived from NLP algorithms, encode protein sequences into numerical vectors. Various models were surveyed for tasks in computational biology, such as proteome embedding, GO annotation, and protein-disease correlation. The models revealed insights into protein characteristics and mutations, highlighting the limitations and advancements. The distribution of similarity scores and embeddings showed significant differences.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Luca Marsili, Jennie L. L. Davis, Alberto J. J. Espay, Jonathan Gilthorpe, Chloe Williams, Marcelo A. A. Kauffman, Aleksey Porollo
Summary: We present a new clinical phenotype characterized by cerebellar ataxia and motor neuron disease caused by a mutation in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene and a variant in the ceruloplasmin (Cp) gene. Genetic and protein structure analyses suggest a possible multi-factorial phenotype resulting from this combination.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Pieter-Jan Van Camp, Aleksey Porollo
Summary: The study developed a tool (SEQ2MGS) that can efficiently generate artificial metagenomes, enabling quick generation of complex samples containing new or understudied organisms. The tool's reliability and effectiveness were validated through comparisons between simulated data and real data.
NAR GENOMICS AND BIOINFORMATICS
(2022)