Review
Immunology
Odir Antonio Dellagostin, Sibele Borsuk, Thais Larre Oliveira, Fabiana Kommling Seixas
Summary: This review explores the strategies for developing and using auxotrophic BCG strains, which can serve as a model for studying M. tuberculosis and potentially provide a stable and effective alternative to BCG, as well as a vector for recombinant live vaccines.
Article
Immunology
Nicola Campbell, Ayesha J. Verrall, Simon Donkor, Jayne S. Sutherland, Philip C. Hill
Summary: The study found that BCG vaccine protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection decreased with increasing exposure to the pathogen in the Gambia, with the strongest protection observed in the lowest exposure tertile. These findings are consistent with previous results from Indonesia.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Patricio Retamal, Pedro abalos, Raul Alegria-Moran, Nicolas Valdivieso, Martin Vordermeier, Gareth Jones, Karina Saadi, Carolina Perez Watt, Constanza Salinas, Constanza avila, Valentina Padilla, Belen Benavides, Romina Orellana
Summary: The study evaluated the efficacy of vaccinating dairy cattle with the BCG Russia strain in a high prevalence area of Chile for tuberculosis prevention. Results showed a significant reduction in infection rates and beneficial effects on milk production parameters.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
C. Kanipe, P. M. Boggiatto, E. J. Putz, M. V. Palmer
Summary: The study found that BCG vaccination can reduce the number and size of tuberculosis lesions, decrease necrosis, and increase fibrosis in low-grade lesions. Vaccination has minimal impact on mineralization and density of multinucleated giant cells.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Viridiana Garcia-Ruiz, Patricia Orduna, Antonia Castillo-Rodal, Teresa J. Flores-Rodriguez, Yolanda Lopez-Vidal
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the differences in glycosylation profiles between two recombinant strains of Mycobacterium microti and found distinct proteome and glycoproteome profiles between the strains.
Article
Immunology
Rania Bouzeyen, Saurabh Chugh, Tannu Priya Gosain, Mohamed-Ridha Barbouche, Meriam Haoues, Kanury V. S. Rao, Makram Essafi, Ramandeep Singh
Summary: This study demonstrates that enhancing the protective efficacy of M. bovis BCG in mice and guinea pig infection models by inhibiting Akt inhibitor MK-2206 promotes FOXO3 activation and BCG-induced immune responses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Eamonn Gormley, Deirdre Ni Bhuachalla, Tara Fitzsimons, James O'Keeffe, Guy McGrath, Jamie M. Madden, Naomi Fogarty, Kevin Kenny, Locksley L. Mc Messam, Denise Murphy, Leigh A. L. Corner
Summary: Vaccination of badgers with Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has been shown to protect badgers against tuberculosis in experimental trials. The study results suggest that BCG vaccination could indirectly protect unvaccinated badgers, leading to a high level of population immunity against tuberculosis. This indicates that BCG vaccination could be an effective method for reducing tuberculosis incidence in badger populations.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Lazaro Moreira Marques-Neto, Monalisa Martins Trentini, Alex Issamu Kanno, Dunia Rodriguez, Luciana Cezar de Cerqueira Leite
Summary: The rBCG-LTAK63 vaccine induces a long-term polyfunctional Th1/Th17 response and an increased presence of memory T cells, leading to improved protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in mice. This enhanced immune response may contribute to the long-term protection provided by the vaccine.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Mitchell Foster, Philip C. Hill, Todia Pediatama Setiabudiawan, Valerie A. C. M. Koeken, Bachti Alisjahbana, Reinout van Crevel
Summary: This review examines the protective effect of BCG vaccine against Mtb infection, discusses limitations and variations, and explores potential mechanisms for BCG efficacy against Mtb infection, including the role of trained immunity.
IMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Nonna I. Nadolinskaia, Maria S. Kotliarova, Anna V. Goncharenko
Summary: Tuberculosis is a major infectious disease with high mortality rates in certain regions, and the existing BCG vaccine is ineffective for long-term protection. The exact immune factors crucial for preventing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and progression of the disease are still unknown after decades of research. Developing a new vaccine to replace BCG and provide better protection is a challenging task due to the intracellular lifestyle of the pathogen and its manipulation of host immunity. This review discusses promising strategies and possibilities for creating a new vaccine, including supplementing mycobacterial strains with immunodominant antigens and genetic engineering to alter the bacterium-host cell interaction.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Christoph Lange, Peter Aaby, Marcel A. Behr, Peter R. Donald, Stefan H. E. Kaufmann, Mihai G. Netea, Anna M. Mandalakas
Summary: The BCG vaccine, initially designed for cattle, has saved many lives since its first administration to a newborn in Paris in 1921. While providing strong protection against miliary and meningeal tuberculosis in children, it is less effective in preventing pulmonary tuberculosis in adults. It has also shown non-specific benefits against non-tuberculous infections and immunotherapeutic benefits in certain cancers.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ana Paula Junqueira-Kipnis, Carine de Castro Souza, Ana Carolina de Oliveira Carvalho, Fabio Muniz de Oliveira, Vinnycius Pereira Almeida, Alisson Rodrigues de Paula, Mara Rubia Celes, Andre Kipnis
Summary: A new tuberculosis vaccine PEPf was developed, which can reduce lung bacterial load and improve protection. Combining PEPf with the Advax4 adjuvant and using a prime-boost strategy as a subunit vaccine significantly enhances protection.
Article
Microbiology
Fabiola Silva, Raphael Enaud, Elizabeth Creissen, Marcela Henao-Tamayo, Laurence Delhaes, Angelo Izzo
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of BCG vaccination and M. tuberculosis infection on the gut and lung microbiota in mice. The results showed that both vaccination and infection had an impact on the relative abundance and diversity of microbiota in the lung and gut. However, the lung was more affected than the gut. The study also revealed that the host's local response to infection affected the overall microbial flora, while the immune response to vaccination mainly influenced the gut microbiota. This study highlights the importance of gut and lung microbiota in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis and suggests that manipulating these microbial communities could improve vaccine response and develop treatment adjuvants.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Fathiah Zakham, Tarja Sironen, Olli Vapalahti, Ravi Kant
Summary: This study aimed to conduct a comparative genome analysis of human adapted Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex species, including BCG vaccine strains, to identify and pinpoint conserved genes related to virulence across all species. The core genome consists of 1166 conserved genes among these species, representing a small portion of the 7036 genes in the pan-genome, suggesting potential for vaccine candidate development.
Article
Immunology
Mi-Hyun Lee, Hyejun Seo, Moon-Su Lee, Byoung Jun Kim, Hye Lin Kim, Du Hyung Lee, Jaehun Oh, Ju Yeop Shin, Ju Young Jin, Do Hyeon Jeong, Bum-Joon Kim
Summary: Skin vaccination using dissolving microneedle patch (MNP) technology is a promising strategy to improve vaccine delivery. In this study, a MNP loaded with live Mycobacterium paragordonae (Mpg) was developed as a booster vaccine to enhance BCG vaccine efficacy against tuberculosis. The Mpg-MNP showed successful transdermal delivery and increased protective efficacy compared to BCG-only immunization or BCG-MNP boost.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pathology
Helena Aegerter, Bart N. Lambrecht
Summary: Despite the use of new biologics for treating asthma, the disease persists, and patients still experience symptoms even after treatment. Mucus plugs play a significant role in the disease by physically obstructing airways and perpetuating inflammation, acting as an immunogenic stimulus. Changes in mucus biology caused by type 2 inflammation result in sticky and difficult-to-expectorate sputum, which also increases the risk of infections. Therefore, mucus plugs are an overlooked but critical feature of asthma.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Helena Aegerter, Bart N. Lambrecht, Claudia Jakubzick
Summary: This article describes how single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics can be used to separate and study different subpopulations of lung macrophages, as well as their importance and complexity in lung homeostasis and disease. It also discusses how lung macrophages undergo functional changes in different tissue states.
Article
Rheumatology
Simon Krabbe, Thomas Renson, Lennart Jans, Dirk Elewaut, Filip Van den Bosch, Philippe Carron, Mikkel Ostergaard
Summary: The study aims to investigate the reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of a novel MRI scoring system in early peripheral SpA (pSpA). Results showed that the proposed MRI lower-extremity inflammation index demonstrated good reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change in patients with early pSpA, and was correlated with other measures of disease activity.
Article
Rheumatology
Desiree van der Heijde, Atul Deodhar, Xenofon Baraliakos, Matthew A. Brown, Hiroaki Dobashi, Maxime Dougados, Dirk Elewaut, Alicia M. Ellis, Carmen Fleurinck, Karl Gaffney, Lianne S. Gensler, Nigil Haroon, Marina Magrey, Walter P. Maksymowych, Alexander Marten, Ute Massow, Marga Oortgiesen, Denis Poddubnyy, Martin Rudwaleit, Julie Shepherd-Smith, Tetsuya Tomita, Filip van den Bosch, Thomas Vaux, Huji Xu
Summary: The BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2 trials demonstrated that bimekizumab, a dual IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor, improved efficacy outcomes in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and was well tolerated. These findings support the use of bimekizumab as a potential treatment option for axSpA.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jonas Van Lent, Leen Vendredy, Elias Adriaenssens, Tatiana Da Silva Authier, Bob Asselbergh, Marcus Kaji, Sarah Weckhuysen, Ludo van den Bosch, Jonathan Baets, Vincent Timmerman
Summary: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), with CMT1A accounting for 40-50% of cases. This study presents an organoid model derived from induced pluripotent stem cells that contains various cell types of the PNS, including myelinating human Schwann cells. They used this model to study disease signatures of CMT1A and found that downregulating PMP22 expression can ameliorate the myelin defects in CMT1A-organoids.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Cristian Vidal-Quist, Jozefien Declercq, Stijn Vanhee, Bart N. Lambrecht, Jose Gomez-Rial, Carmen Vidal, Eylem Aydogdu, Stephane Rombauts, Pedro Hernandez-Crespo
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of viral infection on the physiological characteristics and allergenicity of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Transcriptional changes and allergen accumulation were observed, but the impact on allergic asthma and human IgE binding was not significant. Overall, viral infection did not significantly affect the allergenic performance of extracts or their practical use in allergy diagnosis.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Elias Adriaenssens, Bob Asselbergh, Pablo Rivera-Mejias, Sven Bervoets, Leen Vendredy, Vicky De Winter, Katrien Spaas, Riet de Rycke, Gert van Isterdael, Francis Impens, Thomas Langer, Vincent Timmerman
Summary: Adriaenssens et al. provide evidence that cytosolic small heat shock proteins localize to the mitochondrial intermembrane space and function as molecular chaperones. The study demonstrates that small heat shock proteins are imported into the mitochondrial intermembrane space and play a role in protein quality control. Depletion of these proteins results in mitochondrial dysfunction, while their presence prevents protein aggregation. The findings also suggest a potential connection between HSPB1 mutations and mitochondrial dysfunction in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Roman V. V. Chernozem, Igor Pariy, Maria A. A. Surmeneva, Vladimir V. V. Shvartsman, Guillaume Planckaert, Joost Verduijn, Stef Ghysels, Anatolii Abalymov, Bogdan V. V. Parakhonskiy, Eric Gracey, Amanda Goncalves, Sanjay Mathur, Frederik Ronsse, Diederik Depla, Doru C. C. Lupascu, Dirk Elewaut, Roman A. A. Surmenev, Andre G. G. Skirtach
Summary: This study comprehensively examines the effects of biodegradation on the properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) scaffolds supplemented with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The addition of 1.0 wt% rGO does not affect the enzymatic biodegradation rate of PHB scaffolds for 30 days. Biodegradation leads to depolymerization of the amorphous phase and an increase in crystallinity. The PHB-0.7rGO fibers exhibit the strongest piezoresponse, making them promising for tissue-engineering applications.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anton De Spiegeleer, Amelie Descamps, Srinath Govindarajan, Julie Coudenys, Kevin van der Borght, Hannah Hirmz, Nele van den Noortgate, Dirk Elewaut, Bart De Spiegeleer, Evelien Wynendaele
Summary: This study discovered the potential of quorum-sensing peptides to modulate the immune system in microbiome-host interactions. Through screening 89 peptides, four of them were found to activate immune cells in vitro, and one of them was detected in human plasma. These findings are biologically significant and reveal the immunomodulatory potential of quorum-sensing peptides.
Article
Immunology
Kavita Rawat, Anita Tewari, Xin Li, Arlind B. B. Mara, William T. T. King, Sophie L. L. Gibbings, Chinaza F. F. Nnam, Fred W. W. Kolling, Bart N. N. Lambrecht, Claudia V. V. Jakubzick
Summary: Dendritic cells and monocytes capture, transport, and present antigen to cognate T cells in the draining lymph nodes in a CCR7-dependent manner. It is unclear how monocytes reach the lymph nodes since only migratory dendritic cells express this chemokine receptor.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Biljana Ermanoska, Bob Asselbergh, Laura Morant, Maria-Luise Petrovic-Erfurth, Seyyedmohsen Hosseinibarkooie, Ricardo Leitao-Goncalves, Leonardo Almeida-Souza, Sven Bervoets, Litao Sun, LaTasha Lee, Derek Atkinson, Akram Khanghahi, Ivaylo Tournev, Patrick Callaerts, Patrik Verstreken, Xiang-Lei Yang, Brunhilde Wirth, Avital A. Rodal, Vincent Timmerman, Bruce L. Goode, Tanja A. Godenschwege, Albena Jordanova
Summary: Mutations in tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and other tRNA ligases cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth peripheral neuropathy, with dysregulation of F-actin organization playing a role. A gain-of-function mechanism is implicated in the pathogenicity. Genetic modulation of F-actin improves neuronal features in flies expressing the disease-causing mutations. This study reveals the evolutionary-conserved role of YARS1 as an F-actin organizer and its link to tRNA-synthetase-induced neurodegeneration.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Manouk de Hooge, Alla Ishchenko, Ann-Sophie De Craemer, Serge Steinfeld, Adrien Nzeusseu, Dirk Elewaut, Rik Lories, Kurt de Vlam, Filip van den Bosch
Summary: This study aimed to examine radiographic axial damage of the sacroiliac joints and spine in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) in private and academic Belgian practices. The data comparison between the two patient groups found that patients with SpA tend to have more severe spinal damage compared to those with PsA. In patients with PsA, the cervical spine is more often affected, while in patients with SpA, the location of syndesmophytes is more evenly distributed.
Article
Rheumatology
Manouk de Hooge, Alla Ischenko, Serge Steinfeld, Adrien Nzeusseu, Dirk Elewaut, Rik Lories, Filip van den Bosch, Kurt De Vlam
Summary: This study investigates the association between different definitions of axial involvement and syndesmophytes development in patients with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). The results show that the probability of developing syndesmophytes is much higher when axial involvement is determined radiographically rather than clinically, particularly in the context of high CRP.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Thomas Van den Berghe, Danilo Babin, Min Chen, Martijn Callens, Denim Brack, Helena Maes, Jan Lievens, Marie Lammens, Maxime Van Sumere, Lieve Morbee, Simon Hautekeete, Stijn Schatteman, Tom Jacobs, Willem-Jan Thooft, Nele Herregods, Wouter Huysse, Jacob L. Jaremko, Robert Lambert, Walter Maksymowych, Frederiek Laloo, Xenofon Baraliakos, Ann-Sophie De Craemer, Philippe Carron, Filip van den Bosch, Dirk Elewaut, Lennart Jans
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of a deep learning network for detection of structural lesions of sacroiliitis on multicenter pelvic CT scans. The results showed that the optimized deep learning pipeline, including an explainability analysis, can detect structural lesions of sacroiliitis on pelvic CT scans with excellent statistical performance on a slice-by-slice and patient level.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Koen Venken, Tine Decruy, Tim Sparwasser, Dirk Elewaut
Summary: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells play a crucial role in controlling autoimmune diseases. The study reveals that Treg depletion enhances iNKT cell responses and leads to severe liver and gut pathology in preclinical models of autoimmunity.