Article
Microbiology
Yang-Yang Li, Rong-Jun Cai, Jia-Ying Yang, Tamara L. Hendrickson, Ye Xiang, Babak Javid
Summary: Most bacteria use a two-step indirect pathway to aminoacylate tRNA(Gln) and tRNA(Asn), despite its higher energy consumption and error-prone nature. Translational errors in mycobacteria allow adaptation to hostile environments, such as antibiotic treatment, by generating novel proteins not coded by the genome. Clinical mutations in gatA dysregulate the indirect pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, leading to increased mistranslation rates. Increasing stability of the GatCAB complex improves translational fidelity in both wild-type and mutant bacteria, suggesting a mechanism for tuning mistranslation rates.
Article
Immunology
Hyewon Lee, Woojae Myung, Eun-Mi Lee, Hyekyeong Kim, Byung Woo Jhun
Summary: NTM-infected patients had a poorer prognosis compared to TB patients or the general population, especially in cases of NTM and TB coinfection. NTM mortality was associated with specific demographic characteristics, but long-term use of macrolides may provide survival benefits.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Upalabdha Dey, Kaushika Olymon, Anikesh Banik, Eshan Abbas, Venkata Rajesh Yella, Aditya Kumar
Summary: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, has evolved into a multidrug resistance strain, posing a severe global health threat. The survival and dormancy of the bacteria within the host macrophage rely on multiple transcription factors (TFs) contributing to virulence. This study analyzed the compositional and conformational preferences of 21 mycobacterial TFs in their DNA binding sites, revealing nuanced DNA shape and structural preferences.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samreen Fatima, Anjna Kumari, Meetu Agarwal, Isha Pahuja, Vinod Yadav, Ved Prakash Dwivedi, Ashima Bhaskar
Summary: Epigenetics plays a crucial role in the survival of TB pathogen and manipulation of the host immune response, with a significant impact on the host genome. By altering the activation status of genes involved in host immune response, the pathogen promotes its survival and subverts antibacterial strategies of the host, which can be utilized to design efficient host-directed therapies.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yaoju Tan, Yunfeng Deng, Xiaofeng Yan, Fangchao Liu, Yunhong Tan, Quan Wang, Xundi Bao, Jianhua Pan, Xiaolu Luo, Yanhong Yu, Xiaoli Cui, Guangfu Liao, Chunmei Ke, Ping Xu, Xiaofei Li, Chunlei Zhang, Xiangyang Yao, Ye Xu, Tongxin Li, Biyi Su, Zhenhua Chen, Ruiying Ma, Yue Jiang, Xiaohua Ma, Dewu Bi, Jinghong Ma, Han Yang, Xuezheng Li, Liusheng Tang, Yongmin Yu, Yufeng Wang, Huafeng Song, Hongwei Liu, Meiling Wu, Yinghui Yang, Zhongtan Xue, Liang Li, Qingge Li, Yu Pang
Summary: Approximately one-fifteenth of smear-positive patients with symptoms suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis in China are afflicted with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary diseases. There is significant geographic diversity in the prevalence of NTM-PD across different regions. NTM-PD patients tend to exhibit less severe clinical symptoms compared to PTB patients.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saurabh Garg, Rakesh Kumar, Dennis Kunimoto, Gina R. Rayat
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of compounds 1-3 as anti-TB agents and found that compound 3 showed the strongest inhibitory effect against M. tuberculosis and M. avium. When combined with isoniazid or rifampicin, compounds 1-3 exhibited additive to synergistic interactions. Additionally, they also demonstrated synergistic effects when combined with certain other anti-TB drugs.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Malcolm S. Duthie, Steven G. Reed
Summary: Despite the widespread use of tuberculin skin testing (TST), the lack of specificity and supply issues remain limitations. Advances in modern technologies have been discussed for improving mycobacterial skin testing, with potential benefits for diagnostic strategies for other infections.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Jordi B. Torrelles, Delphi Chatterjee
Summary: This review provides a historical perspective on the discovery and structural characterization of lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). LAM is not only important for its immunological properties, but also serves as a biomarker for tuberculosis (TB). Despite extensive research, there are still unresolved issues regarding LAM.
Review
Immunology
Margarida Correia-Neves, Jerome Nigou, Zaynab Mousavian, Christopher Sundling, Gunilla Kallenius
Summary: Glycolipids present in the cell envelope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have the ability to modulate the immune response and protect the host against active TB disease. However, the mechanisms underlying this downmodulating effect are still not fully understood.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David M. Hoi, Sabryna Junker, Lukas Junk, Kristin Schwechel, Katharina Fischel, David Podlesainski, Paige M. E. Hawkins, Lasse van Geelen, Farnusch Kaschani, Julia Leodolter, Francesca Ester Morreale, Stefan Kleine, Somraj Guha, Klaus Rumpel, Volker M. Schmiedel, Harald Weinstabl, Anton Meinhart, Richard J. Payne, Markus Kaiser, Markus Harti, Guido Boehmelt, Uli Kazmaier, Rainer Kalscheuer, Tim Clausen
Summary: By using quantitative proteomics, we found that the antibiotics cyclomarin A and ecumicin can cause proteome imbalances and upregulation of two unannotated stress response factors, ClpC2 and ClpC3. These proteins likely protect the Clp protease from excessive misfolded proteins or the damaging effects of cyclomarin A. By developing a BacPROTAC that degrades both ClpC1 and its caretaker ClpC2, we significantly enhanced the potency of killing pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Article
Statistics & Probability
Shannon K. Gallagher, Dean Follmann
Summary: A new branching process model was developed to identify risk factors for infectious disease transmission by determining the probability of onward transmission based on individual covariates. An algorithm was used to sample transmission trees for approximate maximum likelihood estimates. The model can be extended to account for undetected cases that are part of the true transmission tree.
JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL AND GRAPHICAL STATISTICS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
E. Jeffrey North, Chris P. Schwartz, Helen I. Zgurskaya, Mary Jackson
Summary: This paper summarizes the mechanism, therapeutic potential, and different classes of MmpL3 inhibitors currently under development, as well as the available assays to study the inhibition of MmpL3 by these compounds. MmpL3 has emerged as a target with high therapeutic value, and several classes of MmpL3 inhibitors are currently being developed, with one drug candidate (SQ109) undergoing a Phase 2b clinical study. However, the hydrophobic character of most MmpL3 series identified to date poses a significant obstacle to their development due to poor bioavailability. Moreover, there is a need for more high-throughput and informative assays to further understand the mechanism of action of MmpL3 inhibitors and optimize analogues.
EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DISCOVERY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oyindamola O. Adefisayo, Pierre Dupuy, Astha Nautiyal, James M. Bean, Michael S. Glickman
Summary: The DNA repair systems in microbes, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, play distinct and overlapping roles in survival and mutagenesis, depending on the type of DNA damage. Quinolone antibiotics and replication fork perturbation induce the PafBC pathway, while chromosomal mutagenesis is codependent on PafBC and SOS through regulation of the DnaE2/ImuA/B mutasome. This study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanisms controlling the genesis of antibiotic resistance in M. tuberculosis.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Ana Cordeiro Gomes, Daniela Monteiro Sousa, Tiago Carvalho Oliveira, Oscar Fonseca, Ricardo J. Pinto, Diogo Silverio, Ana Isabel Fernandes, Ana C. Moreira, Tania Silva, Maria Jose Teles, Luisa Pereira, Margarida Saraiva, Meriem Lamghari, Maria Salome Gomes
Summary: Infection with Mycobacterium avium impacts bone turnover by decreasing bone formation and increasing bone resorption in an IFN gamma- and TNF alpha-dependent manner. Increased serum amyloid A (SAA) levels in active tuberculosis patients correlate with altered serum bone turnover markers. Additionally, human SAA proteins impair bone matrix deposition and increase osteoclastogenesis in vitro. These findings improve understanding of mechanisms of bone loss during infection and identify SAA proteins as potential biomarkers.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Nicky McCreesh, Mbali Mohlamonyane, Anita Edwards, Stephen Olivier, Keabetswe Dikgale, Njabulo Dayi, Dickman Gareta, Robin Wood, Alison D. Grant, Richard G. White, Keren Middelkoop
Summary: Data on social contact patterns are widely used in mathematical models of infectious diseases. Most studies focus on close contacts, but casual contacts may also contribute to airborne transmission. Analyzing data from South Africa, this study found that age mixing patterns did not vary greatly between infection types, but older age groups had fewer casual contacts, suggesting an overestimation of their contribution to airborne transmission.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Letter
Respiratory System
Lilly M. Verhagen, Ismar A. Rivera-Oliverol, Meyke Hermsen, Maria Carolina Sisco, Mailis Maes, Berenice del Nogal, Debby Bogaert, Guy A. M. Berbers, Peter W. M. Hermans, Marien I. de Jonge, Jacobus H. de Waard
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2016)
Article
Immunology
Lilly M. Verhagen, Meyke Hermsen, Ismar Rivera-Olivero, Maria Carolina Sisco, Elena Pinelli, Peter W. M. Hermans, Guy A. M. Berbers, Jacobus H. de Waard, Marien I. de Jonge
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lilly M. Verhagen, Meyke Hermsen, Ismar A. Rivera-Olivero, Maria Carolina Sisco, Marien I. de Jonge, Peter W. M. Hermans, Jacobus H. de Waard
TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2017)
Article
Immunology
Kirsten Kuipers, Saskia van Selm, Fred van Opzeeland, Jeroen D. Langereis, Lilly M. Verhagen, Dimitri A. Diavatopoulos, Marien I. de Jonge
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jochem Burghouts, Berenice Del Nogal, Angimar Uriepero, Peter W. M. Hermans, Jacobus H. de Waard, Lilly M. Verhagen
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Marit Schwantje, Lilly M. Verhagen, Peter M. van Hasselt, Sabine A. Fuchs
JOURNAL OF INHERITED METABOLIC DISEASE
(2020)
Review
Immunology
M. H. (Mischa) Koenen, J. M. (Joris) van Montfrans, E. A. M. (Elisabeth) Sanders, D. (Debby) Bogaert, L. M. (Lilly) Verhagen
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Immunology
Lilly M. Verhagen, Ismar A. Rivera-Olivero, Melanie Clerc, Mei Ling J. N. Chu, Jody van Engelsdorp Gastelaars, Maartje Kristensen, Guy A. M. Berbers, Peter W. M. Hermans, Marien de Jonge, Jacobus H. de Waard, Debby Bogaert
Summary: Recent research suggests that microbiota plays a role in susceptibility to respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal infections. The nasopharyngeal microbiota of rural Venezuelan children includes bacteria typical of tropical climates, with some similarities and differences compared to developed regions.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lilly M. Verhagen, R. De Groot, C. A. Lawrence, J. Taljaard, M. F. Cotton, H. Rabie
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2020)
Letter
Pediatrics
Pierre Goussard, Regan S. Solomons, Savvas Andronikou, Lunga Mfingwana, Lilly M. Verhagen, Helena Rabie
PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Pediatrics
Hannah M. Kansen, Melanie A. Lebbink, Joeri Mul, Francine C. van Erp, Martine van Engelen, Esther de Vries, Sabine M. P. J. Prevaes, Thuy My Le, Cornelis K. van der Ent, Lilly M. Verhagen
PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Daphne Peeters, Nan van Geloven, Loes E. Visser, Debby Bogaert, Annemarie M. C. van Rossum, Gertjan J. A. Driessen, Lilly M. Verhagen
Summary: Respiratory tract infections affect children globally, especially recurrent RTIs leading to high disease burden and frequent doctor visits. Children with recurrent RTIs usually do not have significant alterations in systemic immunity. There is no evidence of the beneficial effects of prophylactic antibiotics for recurrent RTIs, highlighting the need for studies on clinical effectiveness and potential adverse effects.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kris E. Siegers, Antonius E. van Herwaarden, Jacobus H. de Waard, Berenice Del Nogal, Peter W. M. Hermans, Doorlene van Tienoven, Guy A. M. Berbers, Marien de Jonge, Lilly M. Verhagen
Summary: This study found that metabolic hormones, especially adiponectin, may modify the effect of nutritional status on pneumococcal vaccine response. These findings emphasize the importance of further research to better understand the immunometabolic pathways underlying vaccine response and enable optimal personalized vaccination schedules.
Article
Immunology
Marieke M. van der Zalm, Juanita Lishman, Lilly M. Verhagen, Andrew Redfern, Liezl Smit, Mikhail Barday, Dries Ruttens, A'ishah da Costa, Sandra van Jaarsveld, Justina Itana, Neshaad Schrueder, Marije Van Schalkwyk, Noor Parker, Ilse Appel, Barend Fourie, Mathilda Claassen, Jessica J. Workman, Pierre Goussard, Gert Van Zyl, Helena Rabie
Summary: In Cape Town, children under 1 year of age hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 often required respiratory support. HIV infection was uncommon, but the relationship between HIV exposure, tuberculosis, and SARS-CoV-2 should be further explored.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Leonardo Martinez, Olivia Cords, C. Robert Horsburgh, Jason R. Andrews