Article
Respiratory System
Mette Kolpen, Kasper Norskov Kragh, Juan Barraza Enciso, Daniel Faurholt-Jepsen, Birgitte Lindegaard, Gertrud Baunbaek Egelund, Andreas Vestergaard Jensen, Pernille Ravn, Inger Hee Mabuza Mathiesen, Alexandra Gabriella Gheorge, Frederik Boetius Hertz, Tavs Qvist, Marvin Whiteley, Peter Ostrup Jensen, Thomas Bjarnsholt
Summary: This study found that both acute and chronic lung infections are dominated by biofilms, and bacteria grew faster in sputum from acute infections, but these fast-growing bacteria were also enriched in biofilms similar to chronic infections. Cellular inflammation in the lungs was similar across patient groups, but systemic inflammatory markers were only elevated in acute infections.
Review
Immunology
Pamella Constantino-Teles, Albane Jouault, Lhousseine Touqui, Alessandra Mattos Saliba
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen, causes respiratory infections by utilizing various virulence factors, such as bacterial lipids and enzymes, and by interacting with host lipids. These mechanisms play important roles in the establishment and persistence of P. aeruginosa in the lungs, as well as in modulating host immune responses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Javier Martinez, Virginia Hernandez-Gea, Enrique Rodriguez-de-Santiago, Luis Tellez, Bogdan Procopet, Alvaro Giraldez, Lucio Amitrano, Candid Villanueva, Dominique Thabut, Luis Ibanez-Samaniego, Gilberto Silva-Junior, Joan Genesca, Christophe Bureau, Jonel Trebicka, Rafael Banares, Aleksander Krag, Elba Llop, Wim Laleman, Jose Maria Palazon, Jose Castellote, Susana Rodrigues, Lise L. Gluud, Carlos Noronha-Ferreira, Nuria Canete, Manuel Rodriguez, Arnulf Ferlitsch, Remy Schwarzer, Jose Luis Mundi, Henning Gronbaek, Manuel Hernandez-Guerra, Romano Sassatelli, Alessandra Dell'Era, Marco Senzolo, Juan G. Abraldes, Manuel Romero-Gomez, Alexander Zipprich, Meritxell Casas, Helena Masnoun, Massimo Primignani, Frederik Nevens, Jose Luis Calleja, Christian Jansen, Marie Angele Robic, Irene Conejo, Maria Vega Catalina, Marika Rudler, Edilmar Alvarado, Valeria Perez-Campuzano, Maria Anna Guardascione, Petra Fischer, Jaime Bosch, Juan Carlos Garcia-Pagan, Agustin Albillos
Summary: Despite antibiotic prophylaxis, nearly 20% of patients with acute variceal bleeding develop bacterial infections during hospitalization. Respiratory bacterial infections are the most common, occurring early after admission. Respiratory infection is associated with advanced liver disease, severe hepatic encephalopathy, and the use of nasogastric tube, orotracheal intubation for endoscopy, or esophageal balloon tamponade.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Barbara N. Porto
Summary: The virome refers to the viral component of the microbiome, including all viruses that inhabit the human body. Despite previous limitations in accurately characterizing viruses, recent advancements in methods such as deep sequencing and metagenomics have allowed for a better understanding of the diverse viral species present in the human body.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Wenxia Zhu, Yilin Wu, Hui Liu, Caini Jiang, Lili Huo
Summary: The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining the organ microenvironment and can be considered in preventing and treating respiratory diseases. However, studies on the interaction between children's intestinal flora and respiratory infections are still lacking.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yang Cai, Jos P. M. S. van Putten, Myrthe S. Gilbert, Walter J. J. Gerrits, Gert Folkerts, Saskia Braber
Summary: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in infections has created a need for new intervention strategies. Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) show potential as an alternative to antibiotics due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-adhesive properties. Mannheimia haemolytica is a major bacteria associated with bovine lung infections, and the study demonstrates that GOS can reduce its viability and enhance the efficacy of antibiotics. GOS also exhibit anti-adhesive and anti-invasive activities in primary bronchial epithelial cells, which can be attributed to their downregulation of toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappa B pathway. Furthermore, GOS have been shown to relieve lung infections/inflammation and reduce M. haemolytica positivity in vivo without altering clinical performance. These findings highlight the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of GOS and its potential as a promising agent for preventing infections.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Wei-Chun Lee, Meng -Chin Ho, Shaw-Woei Leu, Che-Chia Chang, Chin-Kuo Lin, Chieh-Mo Lin, Yu -Hung Fang, Shu-Yi Huang, Yu -Ching Lin, Min -Chun Chuang, Tsung-Ming Yang, Ming-Szu Hung, Yen -Li Chou, Ying-Huang Tsai, Meng-Jer Hsieh
Summary: This study investigates the prevalence and clinical outcomes of bacterial co-infections and secondary bacterial infections in patients with severe influenza pneumonitis. The results demonstrate that these infections are common and associated with clinical outcomes.
JOURNAL OF CRITICAL CARE
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Axelle Mabo, Raphael Borie, Lidwine Wemeau-Stervinou, Yurdaguel Uzunhan, Emmanuel Gomez, Gregoire Prevot, Martine Reynaud-Gaubert, Julie Traclet, Emmanuel Bergot, Jacques Cadranel, Sylvain Marchand-Adam, Anne Bergeron, Elodie Blanchard, Benjamin Bondue, Philippe Bonniaud, Arnaud Bourdin, Pierre Regis Burgel, Sandrine Hirschi, Charles Hugo Marquette, Sebastien Quetant, Hilario Nunes, Cecile Chenivesse, Bruno Crestani, Yoann Guirriec, Delphine Monnier, Cedric Menard, Pierre Tattevin, Vincent Cottin, David Luque Paz, Stephane Jouneau
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP) and identified risk factors associated with opportunistic infections. The results showed that a large proportion of patients developed infections, including opportunistic infections, with Nocardia spp being the main pathogen. Male gender was found to be associated with opportunistic infections. The study highlights the importance of systematically searching for slow-growing bacteria in bronchoalveolar lavage or whole lung lavage.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiaqi Li, Huangliang Zheng, Sharon Shui Yee Leung
Summary: Bacterial infections in the respiratory tract pose a major global public health challenge. Pulmonary delivery is an attractive approach for managing these infections, and novel biological antibacterial agents show promising results. This review highlights the causal effects of bacterial infections on pulmonary infectious diseases and provides an overview of emerging antibacterial therapies through nebulization/inhalation of dried powders. Although research on inhaled therapy is still in its infancy, significant progress has been made.
PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Daiqin Chen, Xin Yun, Daiheon Lee, Joseph R. DiCostanzo, Oreola Donini, Cecilia M. Shikuma, Karen Thompson, Axel T. Lehrer, Larissa Shimoda, Jung Soo Suk
Summary: Vaccine hesitancy and elusive variants have created a need for further treatments for COVID-19. A new study has developed a nanosuspension formulation of a clinically approved hypertensive drug that can be inhaled to treat the disease effectively. In vitro tests and animal experiments have shown promising results, and the formulation is now being pursued for clinical development.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Daiqin Chen, Xin Yun, Daiheon Lee, Joseph R. DiCostanzo, Oreola Donini, Cecilia M. Shikuma, Karen Thompson, Axel T. Lehrer, Larissa Shimoda, Jung Soo Suk
Summary: Due to vaccine hesitancy and the emergence of elusive variants, more treatment options are needed for COVID-19. Clinically used hypertensive drugs, called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), have shown potential in mitigating disease severity and inhibiting viral spread. However, current oral formulations raise safety concerns and may require high doses to be effective in the lungs. To overcome these limitations, researchers have developed an inhaled nanosuspension formulation of an ARB using approved materials. In vitro tests have shown that the formulation is stable, active against SARV-CoV-2 replication, and has good pharmacokinetics in the lungs. Animal studies have also demonstrated acceptable tolerability. Clinical development of this formulation for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections is underway.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Physiology
Chantal Darquenne, Azadeh A. T. Borojeni, Mitchel J. Colebank, M. Gregory Forest, Balazs G. Madas, Merryn Tawhai, Yi Jiang
Summary: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought aerosol science to the forefront, emphasizing the role of virus-laden respiratory droplets and aerosols. This review examines existing data and models on the generation, exhalation, inhalation, and fate of infectious droplet transport in the respiratory tract. It suggests that aerosol transport modeling can serve as a bridge between within-host and epidemiological models, providing a comprehensive tool for understanding respiratory tract exposure and infection.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Alistair D. Calder, Giulia Perucca, Sarah May Johnson, Ashwin R. Pandey, Karyn Moshal, Maaike A. Kusters
Summary: Pulmonary infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children. This comprehensive review focuses on imaging findings and imaging-based management of lung infections. It includes an overview of respiratory tract immune defenses, etiologies of immune defects in children, features of specific infections, important differential diagnoses, and diagnostic strategies using imaging and non-imaging techniques.
PEDIATRIC RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Cui Wang, Zhaoxiang Du, Ranhui Li, Ying Luo, Cuiming Zhu, Nan Ding, Aihua Lei
Summary: Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are crucial for type 2 pulmonary immunity and play a significant role in allergic diseases and virus-induced respiratory diseases. Interferons (IFNs), a family of cytokines with antiviral effects, have been found to modulate ILC2 responses in allergic lung inflammation and viral infections.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE-JMM
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nitipong Permpalung, Tao Liang, Shilpa Gopinath, Katrina Bazemore, Joby Mathew, Darin Ostrander, Christine M. Durand, Shmuel Shoham, Sean X. Zhang, Kieren A. Marr, Robin K. Avery, Pali D. Shah
Summary: This study found that respiratory viral infections are associated with chronic lung allograft dysfunction and mortality in lung transplant recipients. Secondary invasive fungal infections were also found to be prevalent in these patients and were associated with CLAD progression/death. Screening for fungal infections is crucial in this setting.
JOURNAL OF HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Sara Frosth, Ellen Ruth A. Morris, Hayley Wilson, Lars Frykberg, Karin Jacobsson, Julian Parkhill, Jan-Ingmar Flock, Tim Wood, Bengt Guss, David M. Aanensen, Ashley G. Boyle, Miia Riihimaki, Noah D. Cohen, Andrew S. Waller
Summary: This study analysed the antigen sequences of 759 isolates of Streptococcus equi from around the world and found that the antigen sequences in the Strangvac vaccine are highly conserved.
EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Refath Farzana, Lim S. Jones, Md Anisur Rahman, Kirsty Sands, Andries J. van Tonder, Edward Portal, Jose Munoz Criollo, Julian Parkhill, Martyn F. Guest, W. John Watkins, Monira Pervin, Ian Boostrom, Brekhna Hassan, Jordan Mathias, Md Abul Kalam, Timothy R. Walsh
Summary: This study is the largest study from a South Asian public hospital combining clinical outcomes, microbiology, and genomics. The findings demonstrate the urgent need for targeted diagnostics, appropriate antibiotic use, and infection-control interventions in South Asian public institutions.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
L. R. Caley, H. White, M. C. de Goffau, R. A. Floto, J. Parkhill, B. Marsland, D. G. Peckham
Summary: Gut dysbiosis is evident in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), characterized by reduced diversity and taxonomic changes. The relationship between gut dysbiosis and systemic and lung inflammation is limited. The causes of gut dysbiosis are multifactorial and the impact of CFTR modulators on the gut microbiota is still unclear.
DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Andries J. van Tonder, Huw C. Ellis, Colin P. Churchward, Kartik Kumar, Newara Ramadan, Susan Benson, Julian Parkhill, Miriam F. Moffatt, Michael R. Loebinger, William O. C. Cookson
Summary: This study investigates the transmission potential of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) among CF and non-CF patients. The results show possible transmission clusters for MAC species, but few epidemiological links were found. Global transmission clusters of Mycobacterium chimaera were associated with heater-cooler units, but the initial ancestor was already circulating among patients.
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Kelsey A. Gregg, Yihui Wang, Jason Warfel, Elizabeth Schoenfeld, Ewa Jankowska, John F. Cipollo, Matthew Mayho, Christine Boinett, Deepika Prasad, Timothy J. Brickman, Sandra K. Armstrong, Julian Parkhill, Ricardo Da Silva Antunes, Alessandro Sette, James F. Papin, Roman Wolf, Tod J. Merkel
Summary: Despite high vaccination rates, the United States has experienced a resurgence in reported cases of pertussis after switching to the acellular pertussis vaccine. This study identified B. pertussis antigens recognized by convalescent baboon serum and nasopharyngeal wash and identified genes essential for persistence in the baboon airway. The identified antigens are potential candidates for improving acellular pertussis vaccines.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jody Phelan, Paula Josefina Gomez-Gonzalez, Nuria Andreu, Yosuke Omae, Licht Toyo-Oka, Hideki Yanai, Reiko Miyahara, Supalert Nedsuwan, Paola Florez de Sessions, Susana Campino, Neneh Sallah, Julian Parkhill, Nat Smittipat, Prasit Palittapongarnpim, Taisei Mushiroda, Michiaki Kubo, Katsushi Tokunaga, Surakameth Mahasirimongkol, Martin L. Hibberd, Taane G. Clark
Summary: This study identified eight genetic interaction points associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis, including human loci DAP and RIMS3, as well as FSTL5. The analysis supports the co-evolution and adaptation between host and pathogen in tuberculosis.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dermot A. Linden, Gisli G. Einarsson
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Dermot A. Linden, Hong Guo-Parke, Michael C. Mckelvey, Gisli G. Einarsson, Andrew J. Lee, Derek J. Fairley, Vanessa Brown, Gavin Lundy, Christina Campbell, Danielle Logan, Margaret McFarland, Dave Singh, Daniel F. McAuley, Clifford C. Taggart, Joseph C. Kidney
Summary: Valaciclovir is shown to be safe and effective for suppressing EBV in COPD, and it may reduce inflammatory cell infiltration in sputum. Further research is needed to evaluate its long-term clinical outcomes.
Article
Microbiology
Romney M. Humphries, Eugene Bragin, Julian Parkhill, Grace Morales, Jonathan E. Schmitz, Paul A. Rhodes
Summary: The declining cost of bacterial whole-genome sequencing and the availability of sequence data have allowed the development of machine-learning models for predicting drug susceptibility in Escherichia coli. In this study, a ML-based model was tested for predicting the susceptibility of cefepime, a commonly used drug, in E. coli isolates. The results showed that the ML model had a high level of agreement with the reference method, indicating its potential use in clinical practice.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ram P. Maharjan, Geraldine J. Sullivan, Felise G. Adams, Bhumika S. Shah, Jane Hawkey, Natasha Delgado, Lucie Semenec, Hue Dinh, Liping Li, Francesca L. Short, Julian Parkhill, Ian T. Paulsen, Lars Barquist, Bart A. Eijkelkamp, Amy K. Cain
Summary: Using functional genomics, we have identified the transcriptional regulator DksA as a master regulator for broad stress protection and virulence in Acinetobacter baumannii. DksA controls various aspects such as ribosomal protein expression, metabolism, mutation rates, desiccation, antibiotic resistance, and host colonization. This study lays the groundwork for understanding the role of DksA as a major regulator in stress response and virulence in this important pathogen.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Dorota Jamrozy, Guduru Gopal Rao, Theresa Feltwell, Theresa Lamagni, Priya Khanna, Androulla Efstratiou, Julian Parkhill, Stephen D. D. Bentley
Summary: This study characterized the population structure of GBS isolates from pregnant women in London and found that the majority of isolates belonged to five main lineages. The study also identified nine serotypes, with III, V, II, and Ia being the most common. Moreover, it revealed associations between maternal ethnicity and GBS population structure.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
My H. Pham, Le Thi Hoi, Mathew A. Beale, Fahad A. Khokhar, Nguyen Thi Hoa, Patrick Musicha, Grace A. Blackwell, Hoang Bao Long, Dang Thi Huong, Nguyen Gia Binh, Dao Xuan Co, Tran Giang, Cuong Bui, Hai Ninh Tran, James Bryan, Archie Herrick, Theresa Feltwell, Behzad Nadjm, Julian Parkhill, Hindrik Rogier van Doorn, Nguyen Vu Trung, Nguyen Van Kinh, Mili Estee Torok, Nicholas R. Thomson
Summary: A study in Hanoi, Vietnam, highlights the high prevalence of ESBL-positive carbapenem-resistant K pneumoniae in intensive care units. The study also reveals that the important resistance genes are carried broadly by patients entering the two hospitals directly or through referral.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher Ruis, Aaron Weimann, Gerry Tonkin-Hill, Arun Prasad Pandurangan, Marta Matuszewska, Gemma G. R. Murray, Roger C. Levesque, Tom L. Blundell, R. Andres Floto, Julian Parkhill
Summary: The study reveals that mutagens and defects in DNA repair can generate context-specific mutational signatures in bacteria, similar to the findings in cancer cells. By reconstructing mutational spectra and analyzing bacterial lineages, the researchers identified mutational patterns associated with DNA repair defects and niche-specific mutagens. These mutational signatures were found to be influenced by both bacterial phylogeny and replication niche. The results suggest that mutational spectra can be used to infer transmission routes for bacterial pathogens.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Juan M. Belardinelli, Divya Arora, Charlotte Avanzi, William H. Wheat, Josephine M. Bryant, John S. Spencer, Tom L. Blundell, Julian Parkhill, R. Andres Floto, Mary Jackson
Summary: Functional genomics analysis of Mycobacterium abscessus clinical isolates revealed phoR as one of the genes under strong evolutionary pressure during lung adaptation. This study demonstrated that acidic pH upregulates phoP in M. abscessus and that clinically relevant non-synonymous mutations in PhoR exacerbate this response. PhoR modulates the autoregulation of its cognate response regulator, PhoP, by controlling its dephosphorylation.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Susannah J. Salter, Robyn L. Marsh, Julian Parkhill
Summary: This study reports the complete genome sequence of the Ornithobacterium hominis type strain MSHR-COH1 (ATCC TSD-185/NCTC 14317), a bacterial species isolated from the human nasopharynx. Long-read sequencing reveals that the genome is 2,036,909 bp in length, with a GC content of 35.72%.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2023)