Review
Parasitology
David Horn
Summary: Genome-scale genetic screens have played a crucial role in African trypanosomes by uncovering mechanisms related to drug resistance, metabolism, and gene expression control. They have also been effective in identifying potential antitrypanosomal drug targets.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Parasitology
Sara Silva Pereira, Andrew P. Jackson, Luisa M. Figueiredo
Summary: An intriguing and remarkable feature of African trypanosomes is their antigenic variation system, mediated by the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) family. Recent studies have revealed that the VSG repertoire has a complex evolutionary history and plays a key role in immune evasion and disease epidemiology. The diversity in sequence, genomic organization, and expression patterns within the VSG family may explain variations in parasite virulence and disease pathology, indicating a need for further exploration of their functional roles.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jonathan Lopez, Marine Mommert, William Mouton, Andres Pizzorno, Karen Brengel-Pesce, Mehdi Mezidi, Marine Villard, Bruno Lina, Jean-Christophe Richard, Jean-Baptiste Fassier, Valerie Cheynet, Blandine Padey, Victoria Duliere, Thomas Julien, Stephane Paul, Paul Bastard, Alexandre Belot, Antonin Bal, Jean-Laurent Casanova, Manuel Rosa-Calatrava, Florence Morfin, Thierry Walzer, Sophie Trouillet-Assant
Summary: The nasal IFN-I/III signature in mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients correlates with serum IFN-a(2) levels, while critically ill patients with autoantibodies against IFN-I showed low nasal IFN-I/III scores despite high viral loads. Functional assays confirmed the role of autoantibodies in compromising the antiviral effects of IFN-I at the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Michael G. Dorrington, Clinton J. Bradfield, Justin B. Lack, Bin Lin, Jonathan J. Liang, Tregei Starr, Orna Ernst, Julia L. Gross, Jing Sun, Alexandra H. Miller, Olivia Steele-Mortimer, Iain D. C. Fraser
Summary: This study focuses on how macrophages combat opportunistic bacterial pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia and highlights the crucial role of interferons in killing these bacteria. The results could help guide anti-Burkholderia treatments in susceptible patients. The study emphasizes the importance of type I interferons in protection against opportunistic pathogens through innate immunity, without the need for damaging inflammatory responses.
Review
Biology
Martina Musella, Claudia Galassi, Nicoletta Manduca, Antonella Sistigu
Summary: Type I Interferons play crucial immune stimulatory functions in cancer settings, but depending on dose and timing, they may also foster cancer progression and immune evasion. Dysregulations of Type I IFN signaling cascade in the tumor microenvironment are critical determinants of therapeutic resistance to various anticancer treatments.
Article
Parasitology
Anna Albisetti, Silvan Halg, Martin Zoltner, Pascal Maser, Natalie Wiedemar
Summary: The DNA helicase T. brucei RuvBL1 is involved in suramin resistance in African trypanosomes, as demonstrated by the presence of a point mutation near its ATP binding site in drug-resistant trypanosomes. The corresponding gene in suramin-resistant T. evansi isolates also shows a mutation. Silencing of either RuvBL1 or its partner RuvBL2 causes cell death in trypanosomes, suggesting its importance in trypanosome survival.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Coh-ichi Nihei, Masayuki Nakanishi
Summary: Proteins are synthesized by ribosomes, undergo glycosylation and quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and are then transported to the Golgi apparatus for sorting to the plasma membrane or intracellular organelles. Transport vesicles are formed at ER-exit sites with specific interactions between cargo proteins, cargo receptors, and adaptors during vesicle formation. The oligomerization of cargo receptors is suggested to play a crucial role in cargo selection and sorting via posttranslational modifications.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ameh Ilu, Mathias A. Chia, Thais R. Cataldi, Carlos A. Labate, Godwin U. Ebiloma, Peter O. Yusuf, Mohammed N. Shuaibu, Emmanuel O. Balogun
Summary: African trypanosomiasis is a major health problem in Africa, causing thousands of deaths and significant economic losses. The absence of effective vaccines and drugs requires the search for new treatment options. Snake venom, due to its biochemical diversity, has become a potential source for therapeutic peptides, including those for African trypanosomiasis.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Nevio Cimolai
Summary: This review discusses the standardization of antibiotic susceptibility testing for Bordetella pertussis, as well as concerns regarding high-level macrolide resistance. The necessity for consideration of intermediate-susceptible categories is highlighted, and further investigation into possible modifications of standards is encouraged.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sam Downes, Louise B. Firth, Antony M. Knights
Summary: Epibiosis is a survival strategy in space-limited environments that can alter predator-prey relationships and biological functioning. Experiments on mussels and their predator, the whelk, showed that epibiont barnacles provide protection against predation but also increase predator-prey encounters. Feeding trials revealed potential costs of hosting epibionts for mussels. These findings enhance our understanding of associational resistance and highlight the importance of positive ecological interactions in ecosystem structure and functioning.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xufeng Chen, Qiao Lu, Hua Zhou, Jia Liu, Bettina Nadorp, Audrey Lasry, Zhengxi Sun, Baoling Lai, Gergely Rona, Jiangyan Zhang, Michael Cammer, Kun Wang, Wafa Al-Santli, Zoe Ciantra, Qianjin Guo, Jia You, Debrup Sengupta, Ahmad Boukhris, Hongbing Zhang, Cheng Liu, Peter Cresswell, Patricia L. M. Dahia, Michele Pagano, Iannis Aifantis, Jun Wang
Summary: Immune-checkpoint blockade has revolutionized cancer treatment, but some cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), do not respond or develop resistance. Researchers have identified key regulators of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) antigen presentation that contribute to this resistance. They found that surface protein sushi domain containing 6 (SUSD6), transmembrane protein 127 (TMEM127), and the E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 are negative regulators of MHC-I. Additionally, they discovered that SUSD6 forms a complex with TMEM127 and MHC-I, recruiting WWP2 for MHC-I ubiquitination and degradation. This study suggests that targeting the membrane-associated MHC-I inhibitory axis could be a potential therapeutic strategy for AML and solid cancers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rattiyaphorn Pakkulnan, Nuttaya Thonglao, Sorujsiri Chareonsudjai
Summary: Biofilm-associated Burkholderia pseudomallei infection contributes to antibiotic resistance and relapse of melioidosis. DNase I with ceftazidime (CAZ) inhibits biofilm formation and reduces the number of viable biofilm cells. DNase I supplemented with chitosan (CS) and CAZ eradicates both shedding planktonic and embedded biofilm cells.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Nitish Boodhoo, Shahriar Behboudi
Summary: The study found an association between the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotype and genetic resistance/susceptibility of chickens to Marek's disease (MD). The differential functional abilities of T cells were characterized using immunodominant CD4+TCRv beta 1 T cell epitopes within the pp38 antigen of MDV. Results showed that resistant chickens had a skewed Th2 response and upregulated cytokines and lymphocyte lysis-related genes, while susceptible chickens exhibited lower levels of IL-4 expression. Additionally, MDV infection impaired the cytotoxic function of T cells regardless of their genetic background.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
David Wragg, Elizabeth A. J. Cook, Perle Latre de Late, Tatjana A. Sitt, Johanneke Hemmink, Maurine Chepkwony, Regina A. Njeru, E. Jane Poole, Jessica Powell, Edith Paxton, Rebecca Callaby, Andrea Talenti, Antoinette Miyunga, Gideon Ndambuki, Stephen J. Mwaura, Harriet Auty, Oswald Matika, Musa G. Hassan, Karen Marshall, Timothy Connelley, Liam M. Morrison, B. Mark deC. Bronsvoort, W. Ivan M. Morrison, Philip Toye, James G. D. M. Prendergast
Summary: This study identifies a genetic locus associated with tolerance to the tick-borne cattle disease East Coast fever in East Africa. The locus is located on bovine chromosome 15 and a variant in the FAF1 gene in this region is highly associated with survival. This finding could lead to marker-assisted selection for less susceptible cattle to reduce the impact of the disease.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Katharine Northcutt, Tanya S. Leal-Medina, Ye S. Yoon
Summary: Perinatal hypothyroidism can have lasting effects on behavior, such as hyperactivity, cognitive delays, and reduced anxiety. This study showed that postnatal hypothyroidism decreased some play behaviors, while sustained pre-and postnatal hypothyroidism restored play to control levels. The complex timing of these effects may help explain the inconsistent findings in epidemiological studies on the relationship between gestational hypothyroidism and later behavior.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2021)