Review
Immunology
Anna Malyshkina, Alicia Brueggemann, Annette Paschen, Ulf Dittmer
Summary: CD4(+) T cells are important in immune responses against pathogens and cancer cells. They provide help to other immune cells and can directly kill infected or transformed cells. CD4(+) CTLs play a crucial role in controlling chronic viral infections and combating solid cancers.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Amani Al-Mekhlafi, Kurt-Wolfram Suhs, Sven Schuchardt, Maike Kuhn, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl, Corinna Trebst, Thomas Skripuletz, Frank Klawonn, Martin Stangel, Frank Pessler
Summary: This research compared concentrations of 188 metabolites in CSF samples from patients with bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis/encephalitis, and noninflamed controls. Results showed that phosphatidylcholine concentrations were significantly higher in bacterial meningitis, associated with local disease and a shift in CNS metabolism.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Amani Al-Mekhlafi, Fakhar H. Waqas, Maike Krueger, Frank Klawonn, Manas K. Akmatov, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl, Corinna Trebst, Thomas Skripuletz, Martin Stangel, Kurt-Wolfram Suehs, Frank Pessler
Summary: The study analyzed cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with viral CNS infections, autoimmune neuroinflammation, and non-inflamed controls using targeted metabolomic/lipidomic analysis. It identified multiple metabolites as potential biomarkers for distinguishing between viral infections and autoimmune neuroinflammation. The findings suggest changes in CNS metabolism are drastically different between viral CNS infections and autoimmune neuroinflammation, with CSF metabolites serving as pathophysiologically relevant diagnostic biomarkers.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Massimo Andreatta, Ariel Tjitropranoto, Zachary Sherman, Michael C. Kelly, Thomas Ciucci, Santiago J. Carmona
Summary: This study utilized single-cell transcriptomics to characterize the diversity of CD4(+) T cells responding to viral infections and built a comprehensive map of their transcriptional states. The research revealed the progressive changes in CD4(+) T cell subtypes during acute infections and identified distinct programs associated with chronic infections. Additionally, the study demonstrated the private nature of virus-specific CD4(+) T cell responses across individuals and their differentiation into Tfh and Th1 subtypes. Moreover, the CD4(+) T cell map developed in this study can be used to interpret cell states in other single-cell datasets.
Review
Immunology
Forrest C. Walker, Pratyush R. Sridhar, Megan T. Baldridge
Summary: Interferons play specific roles in limiting local and systemic infection, showing synergistic activities and a spectrum of protective and detrimental effects during the infection response.
TRENDS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jerome Kervevan, Lisa A. Chakrabarti
Summary: CD4+ T cells play a crucial role in adaptive immune responses by recruiting and providing help to other immune effectors, as well as exerting direct effector functions. High-affinity T cell receptor (TCR) clonotypes are important in mediating antiviral CD4+ T cell responses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Koen B. Pouwels, Emma Pritchard, Philippa C. Matthews, Nicole Stoesser, David W. Eyre, Karina-Doris Vihta, Thomas House, Jodie Hay, John Bell, John N. Newton, Jeremy Farrar, Derrick Crook, Duncan Cook, Emma Rourke, Ruth Studley, Tim E. A. Peto, Ian Diamond, A. Sarah Walker
Summary: A large, community-based study in the United Kingdom indicates that the effectiveness of BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infections with symptoms or high viral burden is reduced with the Delta variant compared to the Alpha variant. Although the effectiveness of two doses is at least as great as protection afforded by prior natural infection, there are significant differences in the dynamics of immunity after the second dose between BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sathyabaarathi Ravichandran, Ushashi Banerjee, D. R. Gayathri Devi, Rooparani Kandukuru, Chandrani Thakur, Dipshikha Chakravortty, Kithiganahalli Narayanaswamy Balaji, Amit Singh, Nagasuma Chandra
Summary: By analyzing blood transcriptomes and human protein interaction networks, we discovered a 10-gene panel with high predictive performance to distinguish viral from bacterial infections. We developed a new standalone patient-wise score with high diagnostic accuracy, which was validated in multiple datasets from different countries and a new cohort from South India.
Article
Immunology
Chantal D. Tan, Bryan S. van den Broek, Rebecca Womersley, Myrsini N. Kaforou, Nienke Hagedoorn, Michiel van der Flier, Heather A. Jackson, Henriette Moll, Rozemarijn I. Snijder, Marien L. de Jonge, Clementien Vermont
Summary: This study aims to distinguish bacterial and viral infections in febrile children attending the emergency department by identifying a combination of blood protein biomarkers. The best 3-protein signature, including TRAIL, LCN2, and IL-6, shows promising performance in classifying bacterial and viral infections in emergency care.
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jennifer Y. So, Nathan N. O'Hara, Blaine Kenaa, John G. Williams, Christopher L. deBorja, Julia F. Slejko, Zafar Zafari, Michael Sokolow, Paul Zimand, Meagan Deming, Jason Marx, Andrew N. Pollak, Robert M. Reed
Summary: The implementation of public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with decreased COPD admissions, which may be explained by the reduced prevalence of seasonal respiratory viruses.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
J. A. A. S. Jayaweera, A. J. Morel, A. M. S. B. Abeykoon, F. N. N. Pitchai, H. S. Kothalawela, J. S. M. Peiris, F. Noordeen
Summary: The study in Sri Lanka aimed to identify the viral diversity, seasonality, and burden associated with childhood acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI). Results showed that respiratory viruses like hMPV and RSV were commonly detected with a clear seasonality, highlighting the importance of identifying viruses and their seasonal patterns for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Qi Li, Ran Wang, Hui Xu, Linlin Zhang, Yiliang Fu, Jiao Tian, Mengjia Liu, Guoshuang Feng, Yueping Zeng, Xiangpeng Chen, Zhengde Xie
Summary: This study analyzed the epidemiological characteristics and disease burden of hospitalized children with viral central nervous system (CNS) infections in China. It found that these infections exhibited seasonal patterns and seizures were the most common complication. The results of this study provide insights into the clinical epidemiology and disease burden of viral CNS infections in hospitalized children in China.
PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Nelson Lee, Stephanie Smith, Nathan Zelyas, Scott Klarenbach, Lori Zapernick, Christian Bekking, Helen So, Lily Yip, Graham Tipples, Geoff Taylor, Samira Mubareka
Summary: This study analyzed the data of hospitalized adult patients with noninfluenza respiratory virus infections in two regions of Canada over three consecutive seasons. The burden of NIRV infections in this population was found to be substantial, with outcomes similar to influenza. Age > 60 years, immunocompromised state, and hospital-acquired viral infection were associated with worse outcomes.
CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Matteo Mombelli, Brian M. Lang, Dionysios Neofytos, John-David Aubert, Christian Benden, Christoph Berger, Katia Boggian, Adrian Egli, Paola M. Soccal, Laurent Kaiser, Cedric Hirzel, Manuel Pascual, Michael Koller, Nicolas J. Mueller, Christian van Delden, Hans H. Hirsch, Oriol Manuel
Summary: The study described the epidemiology and outcomes of respiratory viral infection (RVI) in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients in Switzerland. The research found that RVI caused important morbidity and may affect long-term outcomes, highlighting the need for improved preventive strategies.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Gabor Mihala, Keith Grimwood, Stephen Bernard Lambert, Robert Stuart Ware
Summary: The timing and nature of initial infections by potentially vaccine-preventable gastrointestinal viruses were investigated in a birth cohort in an Australian city. Norovirus II and sapovirus were found to be the most important pathogens in this cohort.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Letter
Allergy
Hirsh D. Komarow, Jason M. Brenchley, Andrea Robin Eisch, Michael L. Young, Linda M. Scott, Joseph M. Kulinski, Theo Heller, Yun Bai, Dean D. Metcalfe
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rachel L. Rutishauser, Christian Deo T. Deguit, Joseph Hiatt, Franziska Blaeschke, Theodore L. Roth, Lynn Wang, Kyle A. Raymond, Carly E. Starke, Joseph C. Mudd, Wenxuan Chen, Carolyn Smullin, Rodrigo Matus-Nicodemos, Rebecca Hoh, Melissa Krone, Frederick M. Hecht, Christopher D. Pilcher, Jeffrey N. Martin, Richard A. Koup, Daniel C. Douek, Jason M. Brenchley, Rafick-Pierre Sekaly, Satish K. Pillai, Alexander Marson, Steven G. Deeks, Joseph M. McCune, Peter W. Hunt
Summary: The transcription factor TCF-1 plays a crucial role in regulating the memory properties and expansion capacity of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells, which are important for controlling HIV infection. Increasing TCF-1 levels may enhance the secondary expansion capacity of HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells.
Article
Biology
Ousmane H. Cisse, Liang Ma, John P. Dekker, Pavel P. Khil, Jung-Ho Youn, Jason M. Brenchley, Robert Blair, Bapi Pahar, Magali Chabe, Koen K. A. Van Rompay, Rebekah Keesler, Antti Sukura, Vanessa Hirsch, Geetha Kutty, Yueqin Liu, Li Peng, Jie Chen, Jun Song, Christiane Weissenbacher-Lang, Jie Xu, Nathan S. Upham, Jason E. Stajich, Christina A. Cuomo, Melanie T. Cushion, Joseph A. Kovacs
Summary: By sequencing and comparing the genomes of Pneumocystis species infecting different mammals, researchers gained insights into the molecular basis of host specificity in Pneumocystis.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jacob K. Flynn, Charlotte A. Langner, Erik P. Karmele, Phillip J. Baker, Luxin Pei, Edlawit G. Gorfu, Rachele M. Bochart, Marianita Santiana, Margery G. Smelkinson, Thomas B. Nutman, Nihal Altan-Bonnet, Steven E. Bosinger, Brian L. Kelsall, Jason M. Brenchley, Alexandra M. Ortiz
Summary: Microbial translocation plays a role in persistent inflammation in both treated and untreated HIV infection. The study demonstrates alterations in intestinal epithelial microvesicle cargo after progressive SIV infection, affecting the growth of translocating bacterial taxa. These findings could potentially lead to the development of new therapeutics for chronic HIV infection, microbial translocation, and inflammation.
MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Krystelle Nganou-Makamdop, Aarthi Talla, Ashish Arunkumar Sharma, Sam Darko, Amy Ransier, Farida Laboune, Jeffrey G. Chipman, Gregory J. Beilman, Torfi Hoskuldsson, Slim Fourati, Thomas E. Schmidt, Sahaana Arumugam, Noemia S. Lima, Damee Moon, Samuel Callisto, Jordan Schoephoerster, Jeffery Tomalka, Peter Mugyenyi, Francis Ssali, Proscovia Muloma, Patrick Ssengendo, Ana R. Leda, Ryan K. Cheu, Jacob K. Flynn, Antigoni Morou, Elsa Brunet-Ratnasingham, Benigno Rodriguez, Michael M. Lederman, Daniel E. Kaufmann, Nichole R. Klatt, Cissy Kityo, Jason M. Brenchley, Timothy W. Schacker, Rafick P. Sekaly, Daniel C. Douek
Summary: The study found that changes in microbial composition after HIV treatment initiation have a significant impact on immune cell numbers and overall immune status. High Serratia abundance is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and metabolites that may contribute to immune cell recovery. Subsequently, the decrease in Serratia abundance and regulation of inflammatory cytokines promote the re-establishment of systemic T cell homeostasis.
Article
Orthopedics
Adam L. Isaac, Sarwat Siddiqui, David Vieweger, Brock W. Adams, Gene Mirkin, Xingpei Hao
Summary: Fibro-osseous pseudotumor (FOPT) is a rare benign soft tissue neoplasm characterized by localized pain, swelling, and redness. It typically occurs in the hands and less frequently in the feet. Complete surgical excision is the standard treatment and has an excellent prognosis.
JOURNAL OF FOOT & ANKLE SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Jason Birkel, Gene Mirkin, Xingpei Hao
Summary: Spindle cell lipoma (SCL) is a rare variant of lipomas that predominantly occurs in the shoulder and neck regions, but is rarely seen on the toes. This article reports the first case of SCL on the plantar hallux in a young female patient with scleroderma and Ehlers-Danlos disease, aiming to raise awareness among clinicians regarding this rare variant of lipomas.
JOURNAL OF FOOT & ANKLE SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Maria Pino, Susan Pereira Ribeiro, Amelie Pagliuzza, Khader Ghneim, Anum Khan, Emily Ryan, Justin L. Harper, Colin T. King, Sarah Welbourn, Luca Micci, Sol Aldrete, Keith A. Delman, Theron Stuart, Michael Lowe, Jason M. Brenchley, Cynthia A. Derdeyn, Kirk Easley, Rafick P. Sekaly, Nicolas Chomont, Mirko Paiardini, Vincent C. Marconi
Summary: Clinical outcomes are inferior in individuals with HIV experiencing suboptimal CD4 T-cell recovery during ART. The study found that immunologic suboptimal responders (ISR) had higher HIV-DNA levels in multiple CD4 T-cell subsets and higher expression of PD-1 and TIGIT exclusively on CM and TM CD4 T-cells pre-ART, indicating higher HIV reservoir maintenance. Additionally, ISR showed a lack of response to IL-7 and IL-15, potentially contributing to suboptimal CD4 T-cell recovery during ART.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jason M. Brenchley, Alexandra M. Ortiz
Summary: In the NHP model, observations of differing bacterial and intestinal microbiomes following SIV infection are inconsistent, and clear experimental assessments are lacking. Despite compelling associations, the defined contributions of the microbiome to HIV and SIV disease remain unclear.
CURRENT HIV/AIDS REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Rachel M. Presti, Eunice Yeh, Brett Williams, Alan Landay, Jeffrey M. Jacobson, Cara Wilson, Carl J. Fichtenbaum, Netanya S. Utay, Michael P. Dube, Karin L. Klingman, Jacob D. Estes, Jacob K. Flynn, Amanda Loftin, Jason M. Brenchley, Adriana Andrade, Douglas W. Kitch, Edgar T. Overton
Summary: In this study, participants receiving Visbiome Extra Strength (ES) showed characteristics of safety and good tolerance. However, compared to the placebo group, Visbiome ES did not have a significant impact on inflammatory markers, cellular activation, and gut permeability. The microbiome demonstrated an increase in probiotic species and a decrease in Gammaproteobacteria in the Visbiome ES group.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Charlotte A. Langner, Alexandra M. Ortiz, Jacob K. Flynn, Heather Kendall, Laurel A. Lagenaur, Jason M. Brenchley
Summary: Vaginal microbiome composition is categorized based on dominance of Lactobacillus species. Therapeutic interventions can alter the composition, but humans are the only mammalian species with Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiomes.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexandra M. Ortiz, Jennifer Simpson, Charlotte A. Langner, Phillip J. Baker, Cynthia Aguilar, Kelsie Brooks, Jacob K. Flynn, Carol L. Vinton, Andrew R. Rahmberg, Heather D. Hickman, Jason M. Brenchley
Summary: Supplementation with sodium butyrate did not significantly improve immune reconstitution or reduce inflammation in ARV-treated, SIV-infected rhesus macaques, suggesting that this therapeutic approach may not be effective in reducing comorbidities and mortalities in treated individuals living with HIV.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Christine E. Nelson, Sivaranjani Namasivayam, Taylor W. Foreman, Keith D. Kauffman, Shunsuke Sakai, Danielle E. Dorosky, Nickiana E. Lora, Kelsie Brooks, E. Lake Potter, Nicole L. Garza, Bernard A. P. Lafont, Reed F. Johnson, Mario Roederer, Alan Sher, Daniela Weiskopf, Alessandro Sette, Emmie de Wit, Heather D. Hickman, Jason M. Brenchley, Laura E. Via, Daniel L. Barber
Summary: This study used rhesus macaques to model mild COVID-19 and found that SARS-CoV-2 replication decreases in the lungs, nasal, and oral mucosa before antigen-specific effector T cells arrive, suggesting that innate immunity efficiently restricts viral replication during mild COVID-19.
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Xingpei Hao, Marcus Cognetti, Rhonda Burch-Smith, Emerald O'Sullivan Mejia, Gene Mirkin
Summary: Mycetoma is a cutaneous and subcutaneous infection caused by fungi or bacteria, characterized by swelling, sinuses, and discharged particles. It predominantly affects the feet and is endemic in regions including Africa, South America, and South Asia. The number of mycetomas in the USA is likely higher due to immigrants from endemic regions.
Article
Orthopedics
Michael Tritto, Gary W. Procop, Steven T. Billings, Gene Mirkin, Xingpei Hao
Summary: Eumycetoma, caused by fungi, is a neglected tropical disease that is rare in North America but common in endemic countries. This case report describes a successful treatment of pedal eumycetoma in a male immigrant from Guatemala in Maryland, highlighting the importance of raising awareness of this disease in medical community. Differentiation from other lesions and optimal treatment including surgical excision and antifungal therapy are crucial for managing eumycetoma.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2021)