Article
Microbiology
Haixia Wei, Shuizhen Wu, Liying Mai, Lili Yang, Weihao Zou, Hongjuan Peng
Summary: This study reveals the important role of Cbl-b in Toxoplasma gondii infection. Knockout of Cbl-b significantly inhibits T. gondii proliferation and reduces parasitic burden. In Cbl-b KO mice, the proportion of B cells increases, while the proportion of macrophages decreases. The levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-6 in the serum are higher, indicating that Cbl-b negatively regulates the host's immune response through the TLR/MyD88 pathway.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aline Cristina Abreu Moreira-Souza, Hayandra Ferreira Nanini, Thuany Prado Rangel, Sthefani Rodrigues Batista da Silva, Beatriz Pego Damasceno, Beatriz Elias Ribeiro, Cynthia M. Cascabulho, Fabiano Thompson, Camille Leal, Patricia Teixeira Santana, Siane Lopes Bittencourt Rosas, Kivia Queiroz de Andrade, Claudia L. Martins Silva, Rossiane Claudia Vommaro, Heitor Siffert Pereira de Souza, Robson Coutinho-Silva
Summary: This study investigated the impact of the P2X7 receptor on the inflammatory response to Toxoplasma gondii-induced ileitis. The results showed that P2X7 deficient mice had more severe disease, higher parasitic burden, liver damage, and intestinal contractility compared to wild-type mice. P2X7 activates the inflammasome and regulates immune responses, while specific gut bacteria populations modulated by P2X7 determine disease severity.
Article
Microbiology
Benjamin Hamid, Josephine Schlosser-Brandenburg, Lalita Bechtold, Friederike Ebner, Sebastian Rausch, Susanne Hartmann
Summary: This study examined the early immune response initiation after exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in pigs, revealing that porcine CD3-NKp46+ cells serve as important IL-12 producers following TLR ligation, while IL-18 likely plays a prominent role in early immune response initiation in pigs after T. gondii infection.
Article
Immunology
Xuyang Gao, Yue Zhong, Keqin Li, Amin Miao, Nannan Chen, Runmin Ding, Yunzhao Xu, Jinling Chen
Summary: Infection with Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy leads to adverse outcomes, which are associated with dysfunction of Tregs. miR-34a plays a role in the inhibition of Foxp3 expression, contributing to the adverse effects of T. gondii infection.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Lindsay M. Snyder, Eric Y. Denkers
Summary: The gastrointestinal tract serves as a major entry point for pathogens, including Toxoplasma gondii. Host defense against Toxoplasma is primarily located in the intestinal mucosa, involving a coordinated response from epithelial cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes, and lamina propria cells. Infections may lead to bacterial dysbiosis and immune-mediated tissue damage in the intestine, highlighting the complex interactions between microbiota, epithelium, and immune cells.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yu Nan Lu, Xin Yu Shen, Jing Mei Lu, Guang Nan Jin, Hui Wen Lan, Xiang Xu, Lian Xun Piao
Summary: This study demonstrates the inhibitory effects of resveratrol (RSV) on the proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii and T.g.HSP70 expression, as well as the amelioration of lung injury caused by T. gondii infection through the intervention of T.g.HSP70 and HMGB1-mediated TLR4/NF-kappa B signaling pathway activation.
Review
Immunology
Florencia Sena, Saira Cancela, Mariela Bollati-Fogolin, Romina Pagotto, Maria E. Francia
Summary: A variety of intestinal-derived culture systems have been developed to mimic in vivo cell behavior and organization, incorporating different tissue and microenvironmental elements. Murine-derived intestinal organoids have allowed the generation of pre-sexual and sexual stages of T. gondii for the first time in vitro.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Bintao Zhai, Yu-Meng Meng, Shi-Chen Xie, Jun-Jie Peng, Yang Liu, Yanhua Qiu, Lu Wang, Jiyu Zhang, Jun-Jun He
Summary: This study investigates the impact of Toxoplasma gondii infection on protein phosphorylation in cat intestinal epithelial cells. The results show extensive changes in phosphorylation levels and highlight the involvement of phosphorylated proteins in cellular processes such as actin cytoskeleton reorganization, cell necroptosis, and MHC immune processes.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Bintao Zhai, Shi-Chen Xie, Jiyu Zhang, Jun-Jun He, Xing-Quan Zhu
Summary: This study investigated the changes in RNA expression in the small intestinal epithelia of cats following T. gondii infection. The results revealed the important role of non-coding RNAs in immune and disease-related pathways in cats. This research provides insight into the pathogenesis of T. gondii infection in its definitive host.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Ehsan Ahmadpour, Farhad Babaie, Tohid Kazemi, Sirous Mehrani Moghaddam, Ata Moghimi, Ramin Hosseinzadeh, Veeranoot Nissapatorn, Abdol Sattar Pagheh
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that creates a parasitophorous vacuole during invasion to modulate host cell functions. It has effective strategies to escape immune responses and remain inactive in tissue cysts. The secretory organelles of T. gondii, containing proteins that mediate recognition and entry into host cells, play a crucial role in these processes.
Article
Microbiology
Lindsay M. Snyder, Claire M. Doherty, Heather L. Mercer, Eric Y. Denkers
Summary: Our study identified MyD88-independent intestinal immune pathways induced by T. gondii, including myeloid cell-derived IL-12 production, downstream type I immunity, and IFN-gamma production by ILC1, ILC3, and T lymphocytes. This reveals an underlying network of immune responses that do not involve signaling through MyD88.
Article
Microbiology
Jing Yang, Songhao Liu, Qian Zhao, Xiaobing Li, Kangfeng Jiang
Summary: This study reveals the close association between the host gut microbiota and the severity of T. gondii infection. The findings provide evidence that ALA can alleviate T. gondii-induced colitis by improving the dysregulation of the host gut microbiota and suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines via the MyD88/NF-kappa B pathway.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Lucas Casagrande, Maria Jose Pastre, Aline Rosa Trevizan, Roberto Kenji Nakamura Cuman, Ciomar Aparecida Bersani-Amado, Joao Luis Garcia, Marcelo Biondaro Gois, Debora de Mello Goncales Sant'Ana, Gessilda de Alcantara Nogueira-Melo
Summary: This study investigated the effects of acute oral infection with T. gondii on the intestinal tissue structure, enteric nervous system, and inflammatory markers in mice. The results showed a significant increase in serotonin-immunoreactive cells and inflammation in the intestinal mucosa and neural tissue. This study contributes to the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of intestinal inflammation in humans.
Review
Immunology
Xuyang Gao, Yue Zhong, Yifan Liu, Runmin Ding, Jinling Chen
Summary: Infection with Toxoplasma gondii can lead to severe complications during pregnancy, affecting the health of the fetus, newborn, and adult offspring, and causing abnormal pregnancy outcomes. Dysfunctions in regulatory T cells (Tregs) are closely associated with these outcomes, with Tregs playing a key role in maintaining immune balance and promoting embryo development.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
David Holthaus, Estefania Delgado-Betancourt, Toni Aebischer, Frank Seeber, Christian Klotz
Summary: Utilizing an in vitro platform with stem cell-derived intestinal organoids, models for human, mouse, pig, and chicken were established for studying mechanisms of infection by intestinal protozoan parasites. The generation, differentiation, and characterization of these organoids were optimized, leading to successful applications in comparative studies on parasite-host interactions and co-infections with relevant protozoans.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Rolf Reiter, Florian N. Loch, Carsten Kamphues, Christian Bayerl, Stephan R. Marticorena Garcia, Britta Siegmund, Anja A. Kuehl, Bernd Hamm, Juergen Braun, Ingolf Sack, Patrick Asbach
Summary: This study tested the feasibility of MR elastography of the gut in healthy volunteers and IBD patients, showing excellent diagnostic performance in predicting IBD.
JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Moritz Leppkes, Aylin Lindemann, Stefanie Goesswein, Susanne Paulus, Dominik Roth, Anne Hartung, Eva Liebing, Sebastian Zundler, Miguel Gonzalez-Acera, Jay Patankar, Fabrizio Mascia, Kristina Scheibe, Markus Hoffmann, Stefan Uderhardt, Christine Schauer, Sebastian Foersch, Clemens Neufert, Michael Vieth, Georg Schett, Raja Atreya, Anja A. Kuehl, Andre Bleich, Christoph Becker, Martin Herrmann, Markus F. Neurath
Summary: Bleeding ulcers and erosions are common in active ulcerative colitis, with fibrin layers correlated with rectal bleeding. Neutrophils induce secondary immunothrombosis through PAD4-dependent mechanisms, protecting against acute colitis and rectal bleeding. Deficiency in immunothrombosis can lead to exacerbated colitis and increased bleeding.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Laura Golusda, Anja A. Kuehl, Britta Siegmund, Daniela Paclik
Summary: This review discusses the influence of pain medication on inflammatory bowel disease research in colitis models, arguing that the current administration of pain medication impacts results and reproducibility, leading to misconceptions.
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jonas Ahlers, Andrej Mantei, Laura Lozza, Manuela Staeber, Frederik Heinrich, Petra Bacher, Thordis Hohnstein, Lutz Menzel, Simge G. Yuez, Daniel Alvarez-Simon, Anne Rieke Bickenbach, Carl Weidinger, Nadine Mockel-Tenbrinck, Anja A. Kuehl, Britta Siegmund, Jochen Maul, Christian Neumann, Alexander Scheffold
Summary: We identified a Notch/STAT3-Blimp-1/c-Maf axis as a common anti-inflammatory pathway in human CD4(+) T cells and found that this pathway is defective in inflammatory bowel disease.
MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paula Zwicker, Johannes Schleusener, Silke B. Lohan, Loris Busch, Claudia Sicher, Sven Einfeldt, Michael Kneissl, Anja A. Kuhl, Cornelia M. Keck, Christian Witzel, Axel Kramer, Martina C. Meinke
Summary: A newly developed UVC LED source with a wavelength of 233 nm has been proven to be effective in bactericidal and well-tolerated on the skin. The study analyzed the bactericidal efficacy qualitatively and quantitatively using different bacterial strains and soil loads. It also assessed the compatibility of the radiation doses on skin models and compared it to UVC radiation from discharge lamps and UVB radiation. The results showed high bactericidal efficacy with minimal skin damage and low radical formation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Justus Ninnemann, Caroline Winsauer, Marina Bondareva, Anja A. Kuehl, Laura Lozza, Pawel Durek, Donata Lissner, Britta Siegmund, Stefan H. E. Kaufmann, Mir-Farzin Mashreghi, Sergei A. Nedospasov, Andrey A. Kruglov
Summary: Successful treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases requires both the cessation of inflammation and the promotion of tissue repair. Targeting tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can induce tissue repair in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, but the underlying molecular mechanisms have been unclear. Using an experimental colitis model, this study found that TNF interferes with tissue repair by inducing a soluble antagonist of IL-22. Furthermore, membrane-bound TNF expressed by T cells perpetuates colonic inflammation, while soluble TNF produced by epithelial cells inhibits colonic epithelial repair.
MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Gidon Karmon, Shlomo Sragovich, Gal Hacohen-Kleiman, Inbar Ben-Horin-Hazak, Petr Kasparek, Bjorn Schuster, Radislav Sedlacek, Metsada Pasmanik-Chor, Paschalis Theotokis, Olga Touloumi, Sofia Zoidou, Linxuan Huang, Pei You Wu, Roy Shi, Oxana Kapitansky, Alexandra Lobyntseva, Eliezer Giladi, Guy Shapira, Noam Shomron, Stefan Bereswill, Markus M. Heimesaat, Nikolaos Grigoriadis, R. Anne McKinney, Moran Rubinstein, Illana Gozes
Summary: The study used CRISPR-Cas9 editing to create mice with a mutation similar to the most common ADNP syndrome mutation. NAP was found to correct the abnormal gene expression and has potential as a drug target for ADNP syndrome. This research provides valuable insights into the pathology and potential treatment options for ADNP syndrome.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ping Shen, Madlen Rother, Ulrik Stervbo, Vicky Lampropoulou, Elisabeth Calderon-Gomez, Toralf Roch, Ellen Hilgenberg, Steffi Ries, Anja A. Kuehl, Luc Jouneau, Pierre Boudinot, Simon Fillatreau
Summary: This study demonstrates the critical role of neutrophils in the regulation of antigen-specific CD4(+) T cell expansion in lymph nodes, and the counter-regulatory role of TLR signaling in this process.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Caio Andreeta Figueiredo, Henning Peter Duesedau, Johannes Steffen, Stefanie Ehrentraut, Miklos P. Dunay, Gabor Toth, Dora Regloedi, Markus M. Heimesaat, Ildiko Rita Dunay
Summary: The study demonstrates that administration of PACAP can alleviate brain tissue inflammation and cell apoptosis induced by T. gondii infection, inhibit the activation of microglia and recruitment of monocytes. Additionally, PACAP also reduces the expression of inflammatory mediators and promotes neuronal health by increasing the expression of neurotrophin BDNF and reducing p75(NTR) receptor associated with neuronal cell death.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Kristina Koop, Karin Enderle, Miriam Hillmann, Laura Ruspeckhofer, Michael Vieth, Gregor Sturm, Zlatko Trajanoski, Anja A. Kuehl, Raja Atreya, Moritz Leppkes, Patrick Baum, Janine Roy, Andrea Martin, Markus F. Neurath, Clemens Neufert
Summary: Fibrostenotic disease is a common complication in Crohn's disease characterized by ECM accumulation. This study found that MMP13 expression is regulated by IL36R signaling during intestinal fibrosis, and the loss of MMP13 can alleviate intestinal fibrosis in mice. Targeting IL36R-inducible MMP13 could be a promising approach to interfere with the development and progression of intestinal fibrosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Mathias K. -M. Herzog, Monica Cazzaniga, Audrey Peters, Nizar Shayya, Luca Beldi, Siegfried Hapfelmeier, Markus M. M. Heimesaat, Stefan Bereswill, Gad Frankel, Cormac G. M. Gahan, Wolf-Dietrich Hardt
Summary: Enteropathogenic bacteria are a major global cause of disease and death, but not all individuals naturally exposed to these bacteria develop disease. The gut microbiota and various barriers contribute to resistance against gastrointestinal infection. However, the mechanisms underlying inter-individual differences in resistance are still not fully understood.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Markus M. Heimesaat, Steffen Backert, Thomas Alter, Stefan Bereswill
Summary: Human campylobacteriosis is a foodborne infection caused by Campylobacter bacteria, which are responsible for bacterial gastroenteritis. Contaminated poultry meat is the main source of transmission to humans, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea. Prevention strategies focus on reducing pathogenic food contamination through hygiene measures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minnja S. S. Foote, Ke Du, Soraya Mousavi, Stefan Bereswill, Markus M. M. Heimesaat
Summary: Human Campylobacter jejuni infections are increasing globally and alternative intervention measures are needed. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of carvacrol, a phenolic compound with antimicrobial and immune-modulatory properties, in mice with acute campylobacteriosis. Treatment with carvacrol reduced pathogen loads in the small intestines, alleviated symptoms and histopathological changes in the colon, and decreased immune cell numbers. Carvacrol also dampened pro-inflammatory mediator secretion and induced shifts in the fecal microbiota composition. Overall, these findings suggest that carvacrol application could be a promising option to alleviate campylobacteriosis in infected vertebrate hosts.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Janine Buettner, Elisabeth Bluethner, Sophie Greif, Anja Kuehl, Sefer Elezkurtaj, Jan Ulrich, Sebastian Maasberg, Christoph Jochum, Frank Tacke, Ulrich-Frank Pape
Summary: This study investigated biomarkers for the regulation mechanisms in the intestinal barrier during adaptive response or treatment with the glucagon-like peptide-2 analog in short bowel syndrome patients. Gene expression analyses and intestinal permeability testing were conducted. The results showed altered gene expression in nutrient transport genes and the usefulness of mannitol recovery in describing gut absorptive capacity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leonie Wittner, Lukas Wagener, Jakob J. Wiese, Iris Stolzer, Susanne M. Krug, Elisabeth Naschberger, Rene Jackstadt, Rudi Beyaert, Raja Atreya, Anja A. Kuehl, Gregor Sturm, Miguel Gonzalez-Acera, Jay V. Patankar, Christoph Becker, Britta Siegmund, Zlatko Trajanoski, Beate Winner, Markus F. Neurath, Michael Schumann, Claudia Guenther
Summary: The paracaspase MALT1 plays a crucial role in mucosal inflammation. It is highly expressed in colonic epithelial cells of UC patients and experimental colitis. Mechanistically, MALT1 protease function inhibits ferroptosis and contributes to NF-kappa B signaling and STAT3 signaling, which are involved in inflammation and tissue healing.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
