Review
Immunology
Ao Cheng, Huanan Zhang, Baike Chen, Shengyao Zheng, Hongyi Wang, Yijia Shi, Siyao You, Ming Li, Liping Jiang
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii infection is a severe global health threat. By promoting host cell autophagy or attenuating the inhibition of autophagic targeting, novel therapeutic strategies against T. gondii can be developed.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Maria Celeste Gauron, Alexandra C. Newton, Maria Isabel Colombo
Summary: Hijacking the autophagic machinery by recruiting PKCα is a key mechanism for Staphylococcus aureus to replicate in host cells. Furthermore, overexpression of PKCα significantly inhibits bacterial replication.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christophe Viret, Mathias Faure
Summary: ATG8 proteins are core components of autophagy, decorating autophagosomes and organelles. Recent studies show that the membrane anchoring of single-membrane associated ATG8 proteins may involve phosphatidylserine conjugation, and their stability depends on ATG4 protease inhibition.
TRENDS IN BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Yuta Tachibana, Emi Hashizaki, Miwa Sasai, Masahiro Yamamoto
Summary: Using in vivo CRISPR screen technology, this study explored the requirements of secreted and non-secreted virulence factors in Toxoplasma in immune-deficient hosts. It identified several genes encoding non-secreted proteins, such as ROP5, ROP18, GRA12, and GRA45, as well as GRA72, which plays a role in GRA17/GRA23 localization, and UF-Mylation-related genes as interferon-y (IFN-y)-dependent virulence genes. This study demonstrates that host genetics can complement in vivo CRISPR screens to identify genes encoding IFN-y-dependent secreted and non-secreted virulence factors in Toxoplasma.
Article
Cell Biology
Joseph T. Clark, Orr-El Weizman, Daniel L. Aldridge, Lindsey A. Shallberg, Julia Eberhard, Zachary Lanzar, Devon Wasche, John D. Huck, Ting Zhou, Aaron M. Ring, Christopher A. Hunter
Summary: IL-18 promotes IFN-g production by NK and T cells, which is important for resistance to T. gondii infection. However, endogenous IL-18 has a limited role in controlling this parasite. High levels of IL-18BP, induced by IFN-g, inhibit IL-18 activity. Blocking IL-18BP using a decoy IL-18 construct enhances immune responses and improves parasite control. This study highlights strategies for modulating the IL-18 regulatory pathway for optimal anti-pathogen responses.
Article
Microbiology
Bo Liu, Yan Yan, Xiaoreng Wang, Nannan Chen, Jue Wu
Summary: This study reveals that locally generated C3 inhibits autophagy in macrophages and influences the clearance of T. gondii. This process is associated with mTOR and C3a.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhou Huang, Hejun Liu, Jay Nix, Rui Xu, Catherine R. Knoverek, Gregory R. Bowman, Gaya K. Amarasinghe, L. David Sibley
Summary: The study revealed that the protein TgIST from Toxoplasma gondii blocks interferon-induced gene expression by binding to the STAT1 dimer interface, thus inhibiting the expression of immunity genes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Marc Herb, Alexander Gluschko, Alina Farid, Martin Kroenke
Summary: Macrophages use various autophagy pathways, such as LAP, PINCA, and xenophagy, to eliminate bacteria. These pathways employ different mechanisms to destroy bacterial pathogens or recapture bacteria that evade destruction.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Hironori Bando, Yasuhiro Fukuda, Nina Watanabe, Jeje Temitope Olawale, Kentaro Kato
Summary: This study reveals that abnormal glutamine metabolism induced by both interferon-gamma stimulation and Toxoplasma gondii infection triggers cyst formation in human neuroblastoma cells. The findings suggest that glutamine starvation in host cells is an important trigger of T. gondii stage conversion in human neurons.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shao-Liang Yang, Hai-Xia Tan, Tian-Tian Niu, Yu-Kai Liu, Chun-Jie Gu, Da-Jin Li, Ming-Qing Li, Hai-Yan Wang
Summary: The study revealed that IFN-gamma promoted autophagy and macrophage phagocytosis in cervical cancer cells. This effect was achieved possibly through the promotion of IDO1 expression and kynurenine metabolism by IFN-gamma.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
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
Andres Felipe Diez, Louis-Philippe Leroux, Sophie Chagneau, Alexandra Plouffe, Mackenzie Gold, Visnu Chaparro, Maritza Jaramillo
Summary: The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii inhibits autophagy through AKT-dependent inactivation of the transcription factor FOXO3a. This inhibition is achieved by gradually and sustainably phosphorylating FOXO3a at specific residues, a process that requires live infection and PI3K activity. The parasite's ability to inhibit autophagy is impeded when AKT is pharmacologically blocked or when an AKT-insensitive form of FOXO3a is overexpressed. This study provides important insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the parasite's ability to evade host autophagy and highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting autophagy as a strategy against T. gondii.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Patrick F. Asare, Plinio R. Hurtado, Hai B. Tran, Griffith B. Perkins, Eugene Roscioli, Sandra Hodge
Summary: A common feature of COPD is defective lung macrophage phagocytic capacity. This study investigated the molecular basis by which cigarette smoke extract (CSE) reduces Rubicon expression in macrophages and its relationship with impaired phagocytosis. The results showed that CSE decreases Rubicon through lysosomal degradation, which may lead to dysregulated phagocytosis.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Eva-Maria Frickel, Christopher A. Hunter
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a valuable experimental system for studying how the immune system deals with intracellular infections, particularly in relation to the cytokine IFN-gamma and the strategies pathogens use to evade antimicrobial responses. Its genetic tractability allows for research on the basis of latency and continues to provide insights into host-pathogen interactions.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yanlin Zhao, Jojo Reyes, Eliezer Rovira-Diaz, Barbara A. Fox, David J. Bzik, George S. Yap
Summary: Resistance and tolerance are both crucial for the survival of the host-pathogen relationship. Avirulence in Toxoplasma requires engagement of the scavenger receptor CD36, which is critical for re-establishing tissue homeostasis following infection. The absence of resistance-interfering virulence factors and the presence of tolerance-inducing avirulence factors are both necessary for long-term host-pathogen survival.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jun Ling, Haijian Cai, Muya Lin, Shunli Qi, Jian Du, Lijian Chen
Summary: The findings suggest that overexpression of RTN1-C is associated with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and RTN1-C can modulate autophagy, playing a significant role in brain injury.
ACTA BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA SINICA
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Qi Yan, Bang-jie Chen, Shuang Hu, Shun-li Qi, Liang-yun Li, Jun-fa Yang, Hong Zhou, Chen-chen Yang, Li-jian Chen, Jian Du
Summary: RNF2, a member of the Ring finger protein family, plays a crucial role in the pathological progression of various cancers, with its upregulated expression linked to cancers such as HCC, melanoma, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. It holds potential as an epigenetic biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Haijian Cai, Shunli Qi, Qi Yan, Jun Ling, Jian Du, Lijian Chen
Summary: This study identified changes in the proteome during hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, with upregulated proteins mainly involved in immunity and inflammatory responses, and downregulated proteins enriched in metabolic pathways. Bioinformatic analysis revealed the biological functions and enzyme-regulated metabolic pathways of these differentially expressed proteins, providing a research direction for new therapeutic strategies for hepatic I/R injury.
CLINICAL PROTEOMICS
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Wen Cui, Xuhang Shen, Cong Wang, Asma Bibi, Obed Cudjoe, Liang Zhao, Li Yu, Jian Du, Yuanhong Xu, Xi Chen, Jilong Shen, Wei Wang
Summary: In this study, a new direct enzyme-linked aptamer assay (DELAA) was developed for the detection of the nSAG1 protein of Toxoplasma gondii using aptamer-based technology. The DELAA method showed high specificity and sensitivity, stability, easy and cheap preparation. It is considered an efficient method for the diagnosis of active as well as reactivated toxoplasmosis.
Article
Immunology
Zhen Wang, Deng Liu, Qi Yan, Fang Liu, Mengting Zhan, Shunli Qi, Qi Fang, Lei Yao, Weizhi Wang, Ruixin Zhang, Jian Du, Lijian Chen
Summary: This study found that activation of AXL can alleviate liver inflammation and liver cell apoptosis in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. It acts by upregulating SOCS-1 and inhibiting the Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor-88/nuclear factor kappa-B signaling axis.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Shunli Qi, Qi Yan, Zhen Wang, Deng Liu, Mengting Zhan, Jian Du, Lijian Chen
Summary: This study found that the PPAR alpha agonist OEA has a protective effect on liver I/R injury by regulating ER stress to reduce hepatocyte apoptosis and improve liver damage.
Article
Parasitology
Cudjoe Obed, Minmin Wu, Ying Chen, Ran An, Haijian Cai, Qingli Luo, Li Yu, Jie Wang, Fang Liu, Jilong Shen, Jian Du
Summary: Toxoplasma infection can cause ER stress and apoptosis in host cells. The dense granule protein GRA3 plays a role in the virulence of T. gondii, and it induces neural cell apoptosis via the ER stress signaling pathway.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Minmin Wu, Ran An, Nan Zhou, Ying Chen, Haijian Cai, Qi Yan, Ru Wang, Qingli Luo, Li Yu, Lijian Chen, Jian Du
Summary: IFN-gamma-activated macrophages can inhibit the replication of Toxoplasma gondii less virulent strain and promote the localization of immunity-related GTPases and guanylate-binding proteins through interaction with host autophagy proteins, thus controlling the proliferation of parasites.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Nan Zhou, Ying Chen, Jie Wang, Ran An, Haijian Cai, Shutong Liu, Lei Yao, Yuewen Tang, Lijian Chen, Jian Du
Summary: The study revealed that Toxoplasma gondii macrophage migration inhibitory factor (TgMIF) is a critical factor in liver injury during acute toxoplasmosis. TgMIF activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to pyroptosis in hepatocytes. Additionally, TgMIF promotes the infiltration of Ly6C(hi) proinflammatory macrophages, resulting in hepatocyte apoptosis.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Minmin Wu, Shutong Liu, Ying Chen, Deng Liu, Ran An, Haijian Cai, Jie Wang, Nan Zhou, Cudjoe Obed, Meng Han, Jilong Shen, Lijian Chen, Jian Du
Summary: Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease infecting approximately 30% of the world's population, remains a challenge in developing an effective vaccine. This study discovered that the knockout of calcium-dependent protein kinase 3 reduced virulence and cyst formation in mice, suggesting its potential as a candidate for a toxoplasmosis vaccine.
Review
Immunology
Francis Annor, Yvonne Ayerki Nartey, Elizabeth Tabitha Abbew, Obed Cudjoe, Stephen Ayisi-Addo, Anthony Ashinyo, Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah
Summary: This narrative review aimed to examine the HIV care and management among incarcerated persons in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and identify successful interventions that could inform improved guidelines, policies, and practices for the clinical care of this population.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD & AIDS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jie Wang, Nan Zhou, Peijun Shen, Fangmin Li, Qian Zhao, Dandan Zang, Liu Zhang, Wen Lu, Wenjing Tian, Ling Jing, Ying Chen
Summary: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of death in preterm infants, and breastfeeding can protect infants from NEC. In this study, the concentration of a secreted protein called MANF in breast milk was investigated, and its immune-regulatory function in protecting the intestinal epithelial barrier was evaluated. The results showed that MANF was secreted in human milk but not in infant formulas. MANF was mainly expressed in intestinal macrophages and could induce apoptosis and reduce inflammation in both NEC intestinal tissues and BMDMs. Mechanistically, MANF protein inhibited the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells and protected epithelial tight junctions by downregulating the NF-kappa B pathway in pro-inflammatory macrophages. These findings highlight the importance of human milk-derived MANF in intestinal macrophages, which contributes to downregulating the intestinal inflammatory response and protecting the homeostasis of intestinal epithelial cells. This study not only reveals the potential mechanism underlying the protective effects of breastfeeding in NEC but also provides new insights for clinical translation and the development of nutritional interventions for the prevention of NEC.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Letter
Emergency Medicine
Yue-guo Wang, Cudjoe Obed, Yu-lan Wang, Feng-feng Deng, Shu-sheng Zhou, Yang -yang Fu, Jian Sun, Wen-wen Wang, Jun Xu, Kui Jin
WORLD JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Emmanuel Kobina Mesi Edzie, Klenam Dzefi-Tettey, Edmund Kwakye Brakohiapa, Philip Narteh Gorleku, Frank Naku Ghartey, Adu Tutu Amankwa, Peter Appiah-Thompson, Michael Kofi Amedi, Ewurama Andam Idun, Madison Adanusa, Obed Cudjoe, Evans Boadi, Joshua Mensah Kpobi, Frank Quarshie, Richard Ato Edzie, Abdul Raman Asemah
Summary: This study analyzed the ultrasound features of 151 patients with acute unilateral lower limb swelling, finding that multiple inguinal lymphadenopathy and edema of the skin and subcutaneous layers were the most common. Cellulitis was the main diagnosis, with a significant increase with age.
EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
(2021)