Article
Immunology
Olivia J. J. Carr, Keoudomphone Vilivong, Laddaphone Bounvilay, Eileen M. Dunne, Jana Y. R. Lai, Jocelyn Chan, Malisa Vongsakid, Anisone Changthongthip, C. Siladeth, Belinda Ortika, Cattram Nguyen, Mayfong Mayxay, Paul N. Newton, Kim Mulholland, Lien A. H. Do, Audrey Dubot-Peres, Catherine Satzke, David A. B. Dance, Fiona M. Russell
Summary: This study in Laos explored the association between pneumococcal nasopharyngeal density and severe pneumonia, finding a positive correlation between pneumococcal carriage density and severe pneumonia among children carrying acute respiratory infections and pneumococcal.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joseph Vecchio, James Regan, Yuting Jiang, Roy Li, Hannah Romain, Fizah Yousuf, Thomas Adel, Kevin Hall, Jeffrey M. Dacosta, Xu Yu, Jonathan Z. Li, Ismael Ben Fofana
Summary: Smoking does not significantly affect antibody responses in severe COVID-19 patients, and humoral immune dysfunction is not a major driver of severe COVID-19 in smokers. High plasma viral load, rather than antibody titers, is associated with an increased risk of death.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Anne L. Wyllie, Joshua L. Warren, Gili Regev-Yochay, Noga Givon-Lavi, Ron Dagan, Daniel M. Weinberger
Summary: The frequency of serotypes causing IPD differs between adults and children, as well as between older and younger adults and adults with and without comorbidities. Older children, rather than infants, were found to have a better correlation with the serotype-specific IPD patterns in adults, indicating they may play a more influential role in disease patterns. These findings could help optimize vaccination strategies to reduce disease burden across different age groups.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Giovanna Melica, Pablo Bartolucci, Etienne Audureau, Philippe Le Corvoisier, Anoosha Habibi, Justine Gellen, Dalia Selmane, Marc Michel, Christine Lacabaratz, Yves Levy
Summary: An anti-pneumococcal strategy with the 13-valent vaccine improves the antibody responses against Streptococcus pneumoniae in adults with sickle cell disease, but the immune response sustainability is short, and recall strategies should be considered.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Catherine S. Palmer, Jacqueline M. Kimmey
Summary: This article summarizes the pathways of neutrophil migration from the bloodstream to the lungs during pneumococcal infection.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Alan Basset, Emma Wall, Elena Mitsi, Chloe Deshusses, Raecliffe Daly, Sherin Pojar, Jesus Reine, Jose Afonso Guerra-Assuncao, Brigitte Denis, Simon P. Jochems, Robert Heyderman, Jeremy Brown, Ying-Jie Lu, Daniela M. Ferreira, Richard Malley
Summary: The advent of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines led to the disappearance of most included serotypes in high-income settings but also the rise of nonvaccine-type colonization and disease. In this study, a targeted transcriptomic analysis of pneumococcal genes was conducted in mouse models, human colonization, and human meningitis, leading to the identification of two highly expressed bacterial genes. These findings emphasize the importance of studying pneumococcal gene expression and may contribute to the selection of a protein-based vaccine candidate.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Philip H. C. Kremer, Bart Ferwerda, Hester J. Bootsma, Nienke Y. Rots, Alienke J. Wijmenga-Monsuur, Elisabeth A. M. Sanders, Krzysztof Trzcinski, Anne L. Wyllie, Paul Turner, Arie van der Ende, Matthijs C. Brouwer, Stephen D. Bentley, Diederik van de Beek, John A. Lees
Summary: This study identified genetic variations in pneumococcal carriage that differ between infants and adults. Serotypes and genetic background were found to explain a proportion of the heritability in carriage. The findings support the proposal for adaptive vaccination strategies targeting dominant circulating serotypes and tailored to the composition of the pathogen populations.
Article
Microbiology
Annie R. Abruzzo, Surya D. Aggarwal, Molly E. Sharp, Gavyn Chern Wei Bee, Jeffrey N. Weiser
Summary: Capsule is an important factor in the success of Streptococcus pneumoniae during colonization and transmission. The effect of serotypes on clearance and competitive advantage of the organism in the host is significant. Fratricide mechanism plays a role in determining the dominance of serotypes in the upper respiratory tract. Serotype is also important in the transmission dynamics of the organism between hosts.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Amir Kirolos, Todd D. D. Swarthout, Andrew A. A. Mataya, Farouck Bonomali, Comfort Brown, Jacquline Msefula, Naor Bar-Zeev, Pui-Ying Iroh Tam, Maaike Alaerts, Sithembile Bilima, Robert S. S. Heyderman, Neil French
Summary: The introduction of PCV13 vaccine in Malawi has led to reduced disease from Streptococcus pneumoniae, with serotypes 5 and 1 showing high invasive potential. However, pre-hospital antibiotic usage may decrease pneumococcal detection among hospitalized children. Further research is needed to explore serotypes associated with acute respiratory infection.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Claire Froneman, Peter Kelleher, Ricardo J. Jose
Summary: Infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae are a common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially affecting those at the extremes of age and immunocompromised individuals. Preventing pneumococcal disease is crucial in at-risk individuals, and pneumococcal vaccination should be offered to them.
Review
Immunology
Kat Franklin, Brenda Kwambana-Adams, Fernanda C. Lessa, Heidi M. Soeters, Laura Cooper, Matthew E. Coldiron, Jason Mwenda, Martin Antonio, Tomoka Nakamura, Ryan Novak, Adam L. Cohen
Summary: The study reviewed and analyzed 10 potential pneumococcal meningitis outbreaks in Africa between 2000 and 2018. These outbreaks showed lower peak attack rates than meningococcal meningitis outbreaks and were characterized by a predominance of serotype 1. Patients with pneumococcal meningitis tended to be older and had a higher case fatality rate compared to meningococcal meningitis cases. Improved laboratory testing for S. pneumoniae is essential for early outbreak identification.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Eileen M. Dunne, Yinglei Hua, Rasheed Salaudeen, Ilias Hossain, Malick Ndiaye, Belinda D. Ortika, E. Kim Mulholland, Jason Hinds, Sam Manna, Grant A. Mackenzie, Catherine Satzke
Summary: We investigated the pathogenesis of pneumococcal pneumonia using clinical samples. Results demonstrated that pneumococci in the lung originated from the nasopharynx and suggested that changes in pneumococcal gene expression in the lung are a feature of pneumococcal pneumonia.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Letter
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Li-Yang Sun, Hang-Dong Jia, Lei Liang, Dong-Sheng Huang, Tian Yang
Summary: This article mentions the links to El-Khateeb et al's papers and Nicole E. Rich et al's article.
ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Emerson Silveira Brito, Marina Bessel, Thayane Dornelles, Flavia Moreno, Gerson Pereira, Eliana Marcia Da Ros Wendland
Summary: The study found that education level was associated with the prevalence of smoking, regardless of social class, and specific behaviors related to same-sex sexual experiences were associated with a higher prevalence of smoking. Regular alcohol consumption was also correlated with a higher prevalence of cigarette smoking.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Respiratory System
Toshihiro Masuda, Eiji Nakatani, Toshihiro Shirai, Taisuke Akamatsu, Kanami Tamura, Shingo Takahashi, Yuko Tanaka, Hirofumi Watanabe, Yoshinari Endo, Takahito Suzuki, Mika Saigusa, Akito Yamamoto, Satoru Morita, Yoko Sato, Kazuhiro Asada
Summary: This study suggests that PPSV23 can be useful in preventing pneumococcal pneumonia in elderly outpatients with chronic respiratory diseases, especially in age groups of 70 and above and 75 and above.
BMC PULMONARY MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Stefanie Kroeze, Theresa M. Rossouw, Helen C. Steel, Ferdinand W. Wit, Cissy M. Kityo, Margaret Siwale, Sulaimon Akanmu, Kishor Mandaliya, Marleen De Jager, Pascale Ondoa, Peter Reiss, Tobias F. Rinke De Wit, Neeltje A. Kootstra, Raph L. Hamers
Summary: Persistent systemic inflammation, as indicated by plasma biomarkers, during suppressive antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1-infected individuals, may impact CD4(+) T-cell recovery and viral rebound during long-term treatment. Changes in biomarker concentrations could affect viral replication and immune recovery in patients. Further research is needed to understand these potential mechanisms in order to improve clinical outcomes.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Gregory R. Tintinger, Annette J. Theron, Helen C. Steel, Moloko C. Cholo, Jan G. Nel, Charles Feldman, Ronald Anderson
Summary: The study investigated the impact of bedaquiline on platelet activation and found that it exerts anti-platelet effects by inhibiting ADP-activated expression of CD62P, aggregation, and Ca2+ mobilization, possibly through its action on PI3-K. These anti-platelet effects may help mitigate the risk of TB-associated cardiovascular disease.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Morris Madzime, Theresa M. Rossouw, Annette J. Theron, Ronald Anderson, Helen C. Steel
Summary: Neutrophils and platelets play important roles in HIV infection and disease, and further research is needed to understand their impact on immune response. While antiretroviral agents can correct neutropenia, questions remain about their effects on neutrophil function and platelet activation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Helen C. Steel, W. D. Francois Venter, Annette J. Theron, Ronald Anderson, Charles Feldman, Natasha Arulappan, Theresa M. Rossouw
Summary: This study investigated the effects of cART on biomarkers of platelet activation in HIV-infected individuals. The findings suggest that sCD40L may be a potential biomarker of successful cART, while PDGF-BB levels may indicate persistent low-level antigenemia. The study highlighted the importance of monitoring biomarkers of platelet activation in HIV treatment.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Correction
Infectious Diseases
Maren Kummerow, Erica J. Shaddock, Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch, Roos B. Barth, Diederick E. Grobbee, W. D. Francois Venter, Charles Feldman, Alinda Vos
SOUTHERN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF HIV MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Annelotte E. Sussenbach, Sjors W. L. van Gijzel, Samanta T. Lalla-Edward, Willem D. F. Venter, Erica Shaddock, Charles Feldman, Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch, Alinda G. Vos
Summary: This study investigated the impact of smoking and HIV status on lung function in South Africa. The results showed that neither smoking nor being HIV-positive was associated with reduced pulmonary function in this relatively young population. These findings should be confirmed in larger and longer-term studies.
SOUTHERN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF HIV MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Mahlatse C. M. Kgokolo, Katherine Anderson, Shalate C. Siwele, Helen C. Steel, Luyanda L. I. Kwofie, Mike M. Sathekge, Pieter W. A. Meyer, Bernardo L. Rapoport, Ronald Anderson
Summary: This study investigates the impact of chronic inflammation, immune suppression, and oxidative stress on the development of malignancies in Xeroderma Pigmentosum patients. The findings show significant elevations in pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune checkpoints, along with decreased vitamin D levels and moderately elevated C-reactive protein levels in XP patients.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Infectious Diseases
Charles Feldman
SOUTHERN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Charles Feldman, Charles L. Sprung, Spyros D. Mentzelopoulos, Anne Pohrt, Christiane S. Hartog, Christopher Danbury, Manfred Weiss, Alexander Avidan, Angel Estella, Gavin M. Joynt, Alexandre Lautrette, Edoardo Geat, Gabor Elo, Eldar Soreide, Olivier Lesieur, Maria G. Bocci, Sudakshina Mullick, Annette Robertsen, Roshni Sreedharan, Hans-Henrik Bulow, Paulo A. Maia, Maria Cruz Martin-Delgado, Joseph F. Cosgrove, Nikki Blackwell, Silvia Perez-Protto, Guy A. Richards
Summary: The possibility of prolonging life in the ICU is increasing, resulting in decisions to limit life-sustaining therapies. This study examined communication practices at the end of life in ICUs worldwide and found significant regional differences. The study also suggested that ethical practice and the presence of an advance directive may increase the likelihood of communication. Efforts are needed to align treatment with patients' wishes.
Article
Oncology
Nonkululeko Z. Malinga, Shalete C. Siwele, Helen C. Steel, Luyanda L. Kwofie, Pieter W. A. Meyer, Teresa Smit, Ronald Anderson, Bernardo L. Rapoport, Mahlatse C. M. Kgokolo
Summary: This study reveals the presence of significant systemic immunosuppression in patients with basal cell carcinoma, highlighting the potential of immune checkpoint targeted therapy and these proteins as prognostic/predictive biomarkers in basal cell carcinoma.
TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sizeka A. Mashele, Helen C. Steel, Maborwa T. Matjokotja, Sam S. M. Rasehlo, Ronald Anderson, Moloko C. Cholo
Summary: The study found that clofazimine showed synergistic inhibitory and bactericidal effects in combination with primary anti-TB drugs against various microbial populations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in both planktonic and biofilm-forming cultures, demonstrating potential benefits in enhancing treatment outcomes during standard TB chemotherapy.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Bernardo L. Rapoport, Helen C. Steel, Nomsa Hlatshwayo, Annette J. Theron, Pieter W. A. Meyer, Simon Nayler, Carol-Ann Benn, Teresa Smit, Luyanda L. I. Kwofie, Liezl Heyman, Ronald Anderson
Summary: Breast cancer cells exploit immune checkpoint proteins to evade immune responses, and newly diagnosed breast cancer patients have low levels of soluble immune checkpoint molecules, which is seemingly associated with systemic immune dysregulation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Bernardo Leon Rapoport, Simon Nayler, Bernhard Mlecnik, Teresa Smit, Liezl Heyman, Isabelle Bouquet, Marine Martel, Jerome Galon, Carol-Ann Benn, Ronald Anderson
Summary: This study evaluated the prognostic utility of a digital imaging procedure called ISCR in breast cancer patients, and found that ISCR can assess tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment and correlate with clinical outcomes. This suggests that ISCR may be a promising prognostic tool.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Annette J. Theron, Ronald Anderson, Morris Madzime, Theresa M. Rossouw, Helen C. Steel, Pieter W. A. Meyer, Moloko C. Cholo, Luyanda L. I. Kwofie, Charles Feldman, Gregory R. Tintinger
Summary: A study suggests that the HIV integrase inhibitor, dolutegravir, may be associated with weight gain and the development of metabolic syndrome. This could be due to the pro-inflammatory effects of dolutegravir leading to systemic inflammation. The study found that dolutegravir can stimulate neutrophils to produce reactive oxygen species and increase the release of elastase, which may contribute to insulin resistance and weight gain.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ronald Anderson, Charles Feldman
Summary: Despite advances in therapies and vaccine technologies, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a major global cause of infection-related mortality. Elderly individuals are particularly susceptible to invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) which can lead to fatal cardiovascular events (CVEs). This review focuses on the prevalence and types of CVEs associated with bacterial CAP, especially IPD, and discusses the role of the pneumococcal toxin pneumolysin (Ply) in suppressing host immune defenses and promoting cardiac invasion. The review also covers the use of macrolide antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial CAP and mechanisms by which these agents inhibit Ply production in macrolide-resistant strains.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)