Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Laura Garcia-Mendivil, Diego R. Mediano, Adelaida Hernaiz, David Sanz-Rubio, Francisco J. Vazquez, Belen Marin, Oscar Lopez-Perez, Alicia Otero, Juan J. Badiola, Pilar Zaragoza, Laura Ordovas, Rosa Bolea, Inmaculada Martin-Burriel
Summary: This study demonstrates for the first time how ovine mesenchymal stem cells react to scrapie prion infection in vitro and how the differentiation into neuron-like cells increases their susceptibility to prion infection. The results indicate that in neurogenic conditions, ovine MSCs maintain detectable levels of PrPSc and the signal increases progressively over time, while in growth conditions, the PrPSc signal weakens and is lost over time.
Article
Microbiology
Michael Y. T. Chow, Rachel Yoon Kyung Chang, Mengyu Li, Yuncheng Wang, Yu Lin, Sandra Morales, Andrew J. McLachlan, Elizabeth Kutter, Jian Li, Hak-Kim Chan
Summary: Inhaled bacteriophage therapy shows potential as an alternative to combat MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Studies on the PK and PD profiles of phage PEV31 delivered by the pulmonary route in mice demonstrated a potential reduction in MDR bacterial burden through lung delivery.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Martin Eiden, Alma Gedvilaite, Fabienne Leidel, Rainer G. Ulrich, Martin H. Groschup
Summary: Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases with no approved therapeutic treatment available, but immunization with VLPs presenting PrP peptides may represent a promising strategy for increasing survival time.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulia Pinto, Ines Saenz-de-Santa-Maria, Patricia Chastagner, Emeline Perthame, Caroline Delmas, Christine Toulas, Elizabeth Moyal-Jonathan-Cohen, Christel Brou, Chiara Zurzolo
Summary: GBM cells are capable of intercellular communication through TNTs, allowing mitochondria transfer. In the organoid model, a network between cells was observed, constituted of both TMs and TNTs.
BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Joseph D. Phillips, Kayla A. Fay, Elliot Wakeam, Nathan J. Graham, Caroline M. Godfrey, Hannah N. Marmor, Eric L. Grogan, Robert A. Meguid, Helen J. Madsen, Christina M. Stuart, Uma M. Sachdeva, Danny Wang, Mohamad K. Abou Chaar, Shanda H. Blackmon, Matthew E. Maeder, Jennifer A. Emond, Rian M. Hasson, Timothy M. Millington, David J. Finley
Summary: This study investigated the effect of residency in food deserts on 30-day readmission rates in esophageal cancer patients. The findings showed that residing in a food desert was significantly associated with increased 30-day readmission rates. There were no differences in trauma status, length of stay, complications, or 30-day mortality. Identifying patients residing in food deserts could help in implementing preventative interventions to improve outcomes during and after treatment.
ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Elmira Esmaeilzadeh, Behzad Etemad, Christy L. Lavine, Lauren Garneau, Yijia Li, James Regan, Colline Wong, Radwa Sharaf, Elizabeth Connick, Paul Volberding, Manish Sagar, Michael S. Seaman, Jonathan Z. Li
Summary: Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) can alter viral rebound kinetics after analytic treatment interruption (ATI) and may promote HIV-1 remission. Autologous neutralizing antibodies (aNAbs) play a key role in the immune response to HIV-1. In this study, we investigated the role of aNAbs in shaping post-ATI HIV-1 rebound variants. Our findings suggest that aNAbs matured during suppressive ART and exerted selective pressure on rebounding viruses. Certain pre-ATI features, such as HIV-1 sequence similarity to consensus subtype B, restricted proviral diversity, and a strong aNAbs response, were associated with post-treatment control.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Armin Rashidi, Maryam Ebadi, Tauseef Ur Rehman, Heba Elhusseini, Hossam Halaweish, Shernan G. Holtan, Sivapriya Ramamoorthy, Daniel J. Weisdorf, Alexander Khoruts, Christopher Staley
Summary: Neutropenic fever is a common complication of chemotherapy in cancer patients, but its etiology is unclear. This study found that there were changes in serum metabolites after neutropenic fever, and these metabolites were mainly associated with the gut microbiota. The decrease of these metabolites was consistent with changes in the intestinal epithelium. The results suggest that the current antimicrobial approach may need to be revised to protect the commensal microbiota.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Shirley Marino Lee, Jacob Hudobenko, Louise D. McCullough, Anjali Chauhan
Summary: Microglia play a crucial role in ischemic injury response, with aged microglia showing increased inflammation after stroke. Depletion of microglia in aged mice led to increased infarct volume and infiltrating monocytes post-stroke, indicating a differential immune response. Treatment with PLX5622 and AFS98 resulted in depleted microglia but increased neuroinflammation in aged animals following ischemic stroke.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jin Liu, Yang Liu, Snigdha Panda, Anguo Liu, Jun Lei, Irina Burd
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the subsets of placenta CD8+ T cells, revealing that LPS injection induced changes in the properties of CD8+ T cells and Tc1/Tc2 ratio, with an expansion of Tc1 cells and a significantly higher Tc1/Tc2 ratio in the LPS group compared to the PBS group in a mouse model. The study also found an increase in TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma expression in the LPS group, indicating a Tc1-bias response following intrauterine injection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Nour Mammari, Ysaline Krier, Quentin Albert, Marc Devocelle, Mihayl Varbanov
Summary: Plant peptides with antiviral properties show potential in inhibiting the growth of viruses causing human diseases, highlighting the role of plants in antimicrobial therapy. Studies demonstrate that plant cyclotides, defensin-like peptides exhibit anti-viral activity, and lipid transfer proteins and lectins display varied antimicrobial profiles.
Review
Neurosciences
Amanda de Oliveira Ferreira Leite, Joao Bento Torres Neto, Renata Rodrigues dos Reis, Luciane Lobato Sobral, Aline Cristine Passos de Souza, Nonata Trevia, Roseane Borner de Oliveira, Nara Alves de Almeida Lins, Daniel Guerreiro Diniz, Jose Antonio Picanco Diniz, Pedro Fernando da Costa Vasconcelos, Daniel Clive Anthony, Dora Brites, Cristovam Wanderley Picanco Diniz
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased social isolation and sedentary lifestyles for people of all ages, with the elderly being particularly vulnerable. Older individuals are more susceptible to infections and chronic neurodegenerative diseases, with systemic inflammatory responses accelerating disease progression. Survivors of COVID-19 among elderly patients with chronic neurodegenerative diseases may experience worsening conditions over time.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elsa Gonzalez De la Cruz, Quan Vo, Katie Moon, Karen N. McFarland, Mary Weinrich, Tristan Williams, Benoit Giasson, Paramita Chakrabarty
Summary: MHCII molecules play a key role in the cellular immune response to alpha-synuclein, and this immune response may affect the transmission of alpha-syn seeds from the periphery to the CNS. Deficiency in MhcII accelerates the appearance of alpha-syn pathology and shortens the lifespan in PFF-seeded M83 mice.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xun Wu, Kele Qin, Di Wang, Kun Xiang, Jun Peng, Jianjun Guo, Jinfu Yang, Chengming Fan
Summary: In this study, a new method of multiple ultrasound-guided percutaneous injections of hiPSC-CMs was presented to enhance the cell transplantation rates for cardiac tissue regeneration. The protocol also includes the culture process, pretreatment, and ultrasound-guided percutaneous delivery methods of hiPSC-CMs. The use of human mitochondrial DNA was utilized to detect the presence of hiPSC-CMs in other mouse organs. The changes in cardiac function, angiogenesis, cell size, and apoptosis at the infarcted border zone in mice were also described after cell delivery.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Uma Shankar Gautam, Rosemarie Asrican, Gregory D. Sempowski
Summary: This study investigated the impact of a silicon antifoaming agent (SAF) on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) aerosolization and whole-body mouse aerosol infection. The results showed that SAF does not have a negative effect on the viability and aerosolization of Mtb, and it maintains controlled environmental conditions and spray factors during aerosolization.
Article
Immunology
Fatemeh Ahmadi, Fredrik Junghus, Christian Ashworth, Amanda Lappalainen, Urs Morbe, Knut Kotarsky, William W. Agace
Summary: This study reveals that the post-weaning accumulation of Th1 cells in the intestine, which is microbiota-dependent, requires the expression of MHC-II and IL-27 by cDC1 cells. IL-27 derived from cDC1 cells plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between Th1 and Th17 cells in the small intestinal lamina propria.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Friederike Michel, Ute Ziegler, Christine Fast, Martin Eiden, Christine Klaus, Gerhard Dobler, Karin Stiasny, Martin H. Groschup
Summary: In an experimental study on ducks infected with TBEV, it was found that the ducks did not show any clinical symptoms, but TBEV-specific RNA was detected in brain samples and some blood and swab samples. Additionally, all challenged birds produced TBEV antibodies and exhibited mild to severe acute to subacute necrotizing encephalitis.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Immaculata Arifin, Samia Hannaoui, Sheng Chun Chang, Simrika Thapa, Hermann M. Schatzl, Sabine Gilch
Summary: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease found in both free-ranging and farmed cervids, with susceptibility governed by various factors, including PrP polymorphisms. While most polymorphisms reduce susceptibility to CWD, there have been no reports of cervid PrP alleles providing absolute resistance to CWD. Studies have focused on understanding the role of animal genetics in predicting, containing, or preventing transmission of CWD in endemic areas.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Pauline Dianne Santos, Friederike Michel, Claudia Wylezich, Dirk Hoper, Markus Keller, Cora M. Holicki, Claudia A. Szentiks, Martin Eiden, Aemero Muluneh, Antonie Neubauer-Juric, Sabine Thalheim, Anja Globig, Martin Beer, Martin H. Groschup, Ute Ziegler
Summary: The emergence of WNV and USUV in Europe caused significant outbreaks leading to avifauna mortality and human infections. In Germany, a bird surveillance network was established to monitor these zoonotic arthropod-borne viruses. Co-infections of WNV and USUV were detected in dead birds, with WNV strains classified as lineage 2 and USUV strains as lineages Africa 2, Africa 3, and Europe 2. Further reports of co-infections in animals and humans are expected in the future.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Franziska Stoek, Melanie Rissmann, Reiner Ulrich, Martin Eiden, Martin H. Groschup
Summary: Black rats showed high susceptibility to Rift Valley fever virus infection without clinical manifestation or histopathological lesions, indicating their potential role in the transmission cycle. No evidence of horizontal transmission was found in contact animals, but infected rats showed viral shedding in oral, rectal, and conjunctival routes.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Cristina Aira Pino, Maren Penning, Martin Eiden, Anne Balkema-Buschmann, Sandra Blome, Katrin Strutzberg-Minder, Lissett Lopez, Paloma Rueda, Patricia Sastre
Summary: The livestock industry is crucial for the livelihood of around 1.3 billion people worldwide, with the swine industry contributing significantly. Continuous sero-surveillance is essential for targeted veterinary public health interventions and prevention strategies. Multiplex assays are powerful tools that can simplify surveillance programs.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Lukas Mathias Michaely, Melanie Rissmann, Markus Keller, Rebecca Koenig, Felicitas von Arnim, Martin Eiden, Karl Rohn, Wolfgang Baumgaertner, Martin Groschup, Reiner Ulrich
Summary: The interferon type 1 response is critical for controlling RVFV replication and disease, while functional NK cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes are essential for virus clearance during RVFV infection.
Review
Virology
Simrika Thapa, Cristobal Marrero Winkens, Waqas Tahir, Maria Arifin, Sabine Gilch, Hermann M. Schatzl
Summary: This article discusses in vitro and in vivo models of chronic wasting disease (CWD) and the impact of gene-editing strategies. Currently, only a limited number of cell lines are suitable for persistent propagation of CWD prions. Gene-editing has proven to be useful for developing CWD models.
Article
Microbiology
Ute Ziegler, Felicitas Bergmann, Dominik Fischer, Kerstin Mueller, Cora M. Holicki, Balal Sadeghi, Michael Sieg, Markus Keller, Rebekka Schwehn, Maximilian Reuschel, Luisa Fischer, Oliver Krone, Monika Rinder, Karolin Schuette, Volker Schmidt, Martin Eiden, Christine Fast, Anne Gunther, Anja Globig, Franz J. Conraths, Christoph Staubach, Florian Brandes, Michael Lierz, Ruediger Korbel, Thomas W. Vahlenkamp, Martin H. Groschup
Summary: This report summarizes the monitoring results of birds in different regions of Germany, identifying the circulation of USUV and WNV, as well as analyzing the seroprevalence of the viruses in different regions. The findings suggest that wild bird monitoring can serve as an early warning system for predicting human exposure risk.
Article
Microbiology
Filip Cierniak, Rainer G. Ulrich, Martin H. Groschup, Martin Eiden
Summary: Zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging cause of acute viral hepatitis in developed countries. Rabbit-derived HEV strains pose a particular risk for zoonotic infection. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of HEV pathogenesis is limited due to the lack of efficient cell culture systems. By developing a chimeric reporter replicon system, researchers found that HEV replication in HepG2 cells is determined by an interplay of longer segments of the nonstructural polyprotein rather than a single domain. This implies that a specific combination of viral factors is required for efficient HEV propagation in cell culture.
Article
Virology
Hannah Reemtsma, Cora M. Holicki, Christine Fast, Felicitas Bergmann, Martin Eiden, Martin H. Groschup, Ute Ziegler
Summary: West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging infectious pathogen that circulates between mosquitoes and birds, causing mortality in avifauna and occasional diseases in humans and horses. A study in Germany infected 15 goslings with WNV and found that the geese developed viremia and shed virus, but they are not considered as important amplifying hosts for the virus. Geese can be used as sentinel animals for WNV surveillance.
Article
Microbiology
Grit Priemer, Filip Cierniak, Carola Wolf, Rainer G. Ulrich, Martin H. Groschup, Martin Eiden
Summary: Hepatitis E is a major cause of acute liver disease in humans worldwide, and it is primarily transmitted in Europe through zoonotic foodborne transmission from domestic pigs, wild boar, rabbits, and deer. This study investigated pig and wild boar samples collected in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany in 2019, and found a high, but varying prevalence of HEV RNA in these animals. The study highlights the importance of establishing sustainable surveillance and treatment strategies at the interface between humans, animals, and the environment to prevent foodborne HEV infection.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Maria A. Risalde, Mario Frias, Javier Caballero-Gomez, Pedro Lopez-Lopez, Christine Fast, Saul Jimenez-Ruiz, Irene Agullo-Ros, Martin Eiden, Debora Jimenez-Martin, Ignacio Garcia-Bocanegra, Antonio Rivero, Jose Carlos Gomez Villamandos, Antonio Rivero-Juarez
Summary: The study found that HEV was present in the testis of naturally infected wild boars, indicating potential implications for transmission and epidemiology.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Markus Keller, Norbert Peter, Cora M. Holicki, Anna Schantz, Ute Ziegler, Martin Eiden, Dorian D. Doerge, Andreas Vilcinskas, Martin H. Groschup, Sven Klimpel
Summary: Unlike farm animals, wild animals are not subject to continuous health surveillance. Therefore, individual projects screening wildlife populations for specific pathogens are important for human health. The formation of a reservoir for highly pathogenic zoonotic pathogens in wild animals is a research focus.
Article
Virology
Lukas Mathias Michaely, Melanie Rissmann, Federico Armando, Felicitas von Arnim, Markus Keller, Martin Eiden, Rebecca Koenig, Benjamin Gutjahr, Wolfgang Baumgaertner, Martin H. Groschup, Reiner Ulrich
Summary: This study investigates the pathomechanism of intranuclear inclusion body formation in severe Rift Valley fever using a mouse model. The results suggest that the intranuclear accumulation of RVFV NSs is involved in the nuclear translocation of active caspase-3, and both nuclear NSs and active caspase-3 are involved in the formation of visible inclusion bodies. This research is important for understanding severe complications caused by Rift Valley fever virus.
Article
Microbiology
Ansgar Schulz, Balal Sadeghi, Franziska Stoek, Jacqueline King, Kerstin Fischer, Anne Pohlmann, Martin Eiden, Martin H. Groschup
Summary: By sequencing samples of arboviruses circulating in Africa, we demonstrated the effectiveness of a nonspecific sequencing technique, SISPA, in generating complete genomes without the need for virus-specific whole-genome PCRs. The results of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the genetic diversity of neglected arboviruses.