Article
Parasitology
Joanna Hildebrand, Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak, Marcin Popiolek, Dorota Merta, Izabella Mysliwy, Katarzyna Bunkowska-Gawlik
Summary: This study provides evidence of the occurrence of Rickettsia pathogens and endosymbionts in the European population of raccoons for the first time. Further research on different species of wild vertebrates, ticks, as potential vectors and hosts for tick-borne pathogens, is needed.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Karen O. Mathews, David Phalen, Jacqueline M. Norris, John Stenos, Jenny-Ann Toribio, Nicholas Wood, Stephen Graves, Paul A. Sheehy, Chelsea Nguyen, Katrina L. Bosward
Summary: This study assessed the exposure levels and risk factors for Rickettsia spp. among Australian wildlife rehabilitators, finding that rehabilitators are more likely to contract Rickettsia-related illnesses. However, the exact source of increased seropositivity remains unclear.
Article
Microbiology
Tsai-Ying Yen, Hsi-Chieh Wang, Yin-Chao Chang, Chien-Ling Su, Shu-Fen Chang, Pei-Yun Shu, Kun-Hsien Tsai
Summary: This study revealed evidence of SFG rickettsiae infection in ticks and suggested exposure to SFG rickettsiae in residents in Northeast Taiwan.
Article
Microbiology
Li-Feng Du, Ming-Zhu Zhang, Ting-Ting Yuan, Xue-Bing Ni, Wei Wei, Xiao-Ming Cui, Ning Wang, Tao Xiong, Jie Zhang, Yu-Sheng Pan, Dai-Yun Zhu, Liang-Jing Li, Luo-Yuan Xia, Tian-Hong Wang, Ran Wei, Hong-Bo Liu, Yi Sun, Lin Zhao, Tommy Tsan-Yuk Lam, Wu-Chun Cao, Na Jia
Summary: This study demonstrates that the host skin microbiome may be a new factor determining the transmission of rickettsial pathogens through ticks. While pathogenic rickettsiae infect vertebrate hosts during blood-feeding by the tick, they may also manipulate the maturation of the tick through changing the functional potential of its microbiota over the tick's life stages. The findings here might spur the development of new-generation control methods for ticks and tick-borne pathogens.
Article
Entomology
Qian Wang, Wen-Bin Guo, Yu-Sheng Pan, Bao-Gui Jiang, Chun-Hong Du, Teng-Cheng Que, Lin Zhan, Jia-Hong Wu, Ming-Hui Yu, Xiao-Ming Cui, Lin Zhao, Da-Li Xu, Luo-Yuan Xia, Run-Ze Ye, Jie Li, Lian-Feng Li, Wei Wei, Yu-Hao Zhou, Jia-Fu Jiang, Na Jia, Wu-Chun Cao
Summary: The study identified the presence of pathogenic Ca. Rickettsia jingxinensis and a potential novel species Rickettsia sp. sw in ticks from southwestern China. These findings contribute to expanding the knowledge of the geographical distribution and vector distribution of spotted fever group rickettsiae in China, aiding in assessing potential public health risks.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Siraj A. Khan, Trishna Bora, Jeromie Wesley Vivian Thangaraj, Manoj V. Murhekar
Summary: Seasonal outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome in Gorakhpur division in Uttar Pradesh, India were mainly attributed to Orientia tsutsugamushi, with a 6% infection rate of spotted fever group rickettsiae among children, while typhus group rickettsiae showed a 0% infection rate in the tested samples.
JOURNAL OF TROPICAL PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gina M. Borgo, Thomas P. Burke, Cuong J. Tran, Nicholas T. N. Lo, Patrik Engstrom, Matthew D. Welch
Summary: This study identified a phospholipase enzyme in Rickettsia bacteria that plays an important role in the invasion and spread of infection by helping the bacteria escape from host cell vacuoles, preventing targeting by autophagy, and promoting bacterial motility and spread to other cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brady T. Hickerson, Tracy R. Daniels-Wells, Cristian Payes, Lars E. Clark, Pierre Candelaria, Kevin W. Bailey, Eric J. Sefing, Samantha Zink, James Ziegenbein, Jonathan Abraham, Gustavo Helguera, Manuel L. Penichet, Brian B. Gowen
Summary: The study shows that hTfR1-targeting antibodies can partially protect transgenic mice from lethal New World mammarenavirus infection by competing with the viral glycoprotein for hTfR1 binding. This finding has important implications for the treatment of hemorrhagic fever.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Chaoyu Zou, Yige Zhang, Huan Liu, Yu Wu, Xikun Zhou
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized lipid particles released by living cells, which carry bioactive molecules and regulate cell growth and metabolism. They play significant roles in the interaction between host and bacteria, and have great application potential in various fields.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kapilraj Periyasamy, Maria Maloverjan, Abhijit Biswas, Anu Remm, Martin Pook, Ana Rebane, Margus Pooga
Summary: mRNA-based vaccines and candidate therapeutics have potential in various medical fields. In this study, the efficiency and characteristics of cell-penetrating peptide PepFect14 (PF14) and mRNA nanoparticles in different conditions were evaluated. The results showed that PF14-mRNA formulations entered cells and calcium chloride and polysorbate 80 enhanced their transport and protein production. The nanoparticles primarily entered cells via macropinocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Subcutaneous injection of PF14-mRNA nanoparticles resulted in protein expression without harmful immune responses in the skin, indicating their potential for mRNA-based therapeutics for inflammatory skin conditions.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Danielle Barbosa Vasconcelos, Luiz Fabio Magno Falcao, Lucas Coutinho Tuma da Ponte, Camilla Costa Silva, Livia Caricio Martins, Bruno Tardelli Diniz Nunes, Arnaldo Jorge Martins Filho, Edna Cristina Santos Franco, Maria Irma Seixas Duarte, Jorge Rodrigues De Sousa, Pedro Fernando Da Costa Vasconcelos, Juarez Antonio Simoes Quaresma
Summary: This study investigated the immune response and immunopathology in the human lung during fatal cases of yellow fever. The findings showed that patients with yellow fever displayed diffuse alveolar inflammatory infiltrate and severe hemorrhage, along with increased expression of adhesion molecules and cytokines involved in inflammation and tissue repair.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Paula M. Tribelli, Nancy Lopez
Summary: This review provides an overview of temperature-response mechanisms in Pseudomonas species and highlights their relevance to human and animal health as well as agricultural applications.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Eilyn Mena, Silvia Garaycochea, Silvina Stewart, Marcos Montesano, Ines Ponce De Leon
Summary: In this study, the genomic and transcriptomic information of D. caulivora, a fungal pathogen causing stem canker in soybean, was analyzed to gain insights into its molecular basis of pathogenicity. The study revealed a large number of genes encoding secreted pathogenicity-related proteins in D. caulivora, and identified various factors related to host infection strategies, including plant cell wall degradation and modification, compound detoxification, transporter activities, and toxin production.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Nicole Collette, Pragyesh Dhungel, Sean J. Lund, Jennifer L. Schwedler, Edwin A. Saada, Yooli K. Light, Anupama Sinha, Joseph S. Schoeniger, Oscar A. Negrete
Summary: The text discusses the method of screening host factors using CRISPR-Cas9, achieving editing of Ebola virus host factors in immunocompromised mouse models. This approach provides a new way to study viral pathogenesis and facilitate the development of broad-spectrum, host-directed therapies.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Xin Chen, Jun Zheng, Chuanxia Liu, Tingting Li, Xiao Wang, Xuewen Li, Miaofei Bao, Jiangnan Li, Li Huang, Zhaoxia Zhang, Zhigao Bu, Changjiang Weng
Summary: African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease that has caused economic losses in the pig production industry. The mechanism of ASF virus (ASFV) entry into host cells is not fully understood. This study revealed that the host protein CD1d acts as a factor for ASFV entry, and its interaction with p72 facilitates viral infection. CD1d mediates viral entry through clathrin-mediated endocytosis and interacts with EPS15 to facilitate ASFV internalization. These findings highlight CD1d as a potential target for antiviral interventions.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)