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Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.)) Jul 2024Insects and their natural microbial pathogens are intertwined in constant arms races, with pathogens continually seeking entry into susceptible hosts through distinct...
Insects and their natural microbial pathogens are intertwined in constant arms races, with pathogens continually seeking entry into susceptible hosts through distinct routes. Entomopathogenic fungi are primarily believed to infect host insects through external cuticle penetration. Here, we report a new variety, var. (Bbm), that can infect insects through the previously unrecognized foregut. Dual routes of infection significantly accelerate insect mortality. The pH-responsive transcription factor PacC in Bbm exhibits rapid upregulation and efficient proteolytic processing via PalC for alkaline adaptation in the foregut. Expression of is regulated by the adjacent downstream gene . Compared to non-enteropathogenic strains such as ARSEF252, in Bbm lacks a 249-bp fragment, resulting in its enhanced alkaline-induced expression. This induction promotes upregulation and facilitates PacC activation. Expressing the active form of BbmPacC in ARSEF252 enables intestinal infection. This study uncovers the pH-responsive Aia-PalC-PacC cascade enhancing fungal alkaline tolerance for intestinal infection, laying the foundation for developing a new generation of fungal insecticides to control destructive insect pests.
PubMed: 38933340
DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100644 -
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental... 2024Basic research on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has advanced significantly in the past two decades, yet a comprehensive understanding of its pathogenic mechanisms remains... (Review)
Review
Basic research on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has advanced significantly in the past two decades, yet a comprehensive understanding of its pathogenic mechanisms remains elusive. Concurrently, there is a growing interest among scientists in exploring the involvement of autophagy in various human diseases, including tumors and inflammatory conditions. While the role of autophagy in asthma has been extensively studied in airway inflammatory diseases, its significance in CRS with or without nasal polyps (NPs), a condition closely linked to asthma pathophysiology, has also garnered attention, albeit with conflicting findings across studies. This review delves into the role of autophagy in CRS, suggesting that modulating autophagy to regulate inflammatory responses could potentially serve as a novel therapeutic target.
PubMed: 38933334
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1417735 -
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental... 2024Endometriosis (EM), characterized by ectopic growth of endometrial tissues and recurrent pelvic pain, is a common disease with severe negative impacts on the life... (Review)
Review
Endometriosis (EM), characterized by ectopic growth of endometrial tissues and recurrent pelvic pain, is a common disease with severe negative impacts on the life quality of patients. Conventional uterine tissue transplantation-based models have been broadly used to investigate the pathogenic mechanism(s) of EM. Transgenic mice with whole body or uterine/pelvic tissue-specific labelling by the expression of GFP, β-gal or other light-emitting or chromogenic markers enable investigators to analyze the contribution to endometriotic lesions by the donor or recipient side after uterine tissue transplantation. Moreover, when coupled to uterine tissue transplantation, transgenic mice with a specific EM-related gene knocked out or overexpressed make it possible to determine the gene's role(s) for EM pathogenesis. Furthermore, observations on the rise of endometriotic lesions as well as structural/functional changes in the eutopic endometrium or pelvic tissues after gene manipulation will directly relate the cognate gene to the onset of EM. A major advantage of transgenic EM models is their efficiency for analyzing gene interactions with hormonal, dietetic and/or environmental factors. This review summarizes the features/sources/backgrounds of transgenic mice and their applications to EM studies concerning hormonal regulation, angiogenesis and inflammation. Findings from these studies, the advantages/disadvantages of transgenic EM models, and future expectations are also discussed.
PubMed: 38933332
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1376414 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024Necroptosis, a recently discovered form of cell-programmed death that is distinct from apoptosis, has been confirmed to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of... (Review)
Review
Necroptosis, a recently discovered form of cell-programmed death that is distinct from apoptosis, has been confirmed to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections in various animal models. Necroptosis is advantageous to the host, but in some cases, it can be detrimental. To understand the impact of necroptosis on the pathogenesis of bacterial infections, we described the roles and molecular mechanisms of necroptosis caused by different bacterial infections in this review.
Topics: Necroptosis; Humans; Bacterial Infections; Animals; Apoptosis; Host-Pathogen Interactions
PubMed: 38933265
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1394857 -
Fundamental Research May 2024
PubMed: 38933209
DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2024.03.002 -
Fundamental Research May 2024Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has exerted a profound adverse impact on human health. Studies have demonstrated that aerosol transmission is one of the major... (Review)
Review
Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has exerted a profound adverse impact on human health. Studies have demonstrated that aerosol transmission is one of the major transmission routes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Pathogenic microorganisms such as SARS-CoV-2 can survive in the air and cause widespread infection among people. Early monitoring of pathogenic microorganism transmission in the atmosphere and accurate epidemic prediction are the frontier guarantee for preventing large-scale epidemic outbreaks. Monitoring of pathogenic microorganisms in the air, especially in densely populated areas, may raise the possibility to detect viruses before people are widely infected and contain the epidemic at an earlier stage. The multi-scale coupled accurate epidemic prediction system can provide support for governments to analyze the epidemic situation, allocate health resources, and formulate epidemic response policies. This review first elaborates on the effects of the atmospheric environment on pathogenic microorganism transmission, which lays a theoretical foundation for the monitoring and prediction of epidemic development. Secondly, the monitoring technique development and the necessity of monitoring pathogenic microorganisms in the atmosphere are summarized and emphasized. Subsequently, this review introduces the major epidemic prediction methods and highlights the significance to realize a multi-scale coupled epidemic prediction system by strengthening the multidisciplinary cooperation of epidemiology, atmospheric sciences, environmental sciences, sociology, demography, etc. By summarizing the achievements and challenges in monitoring and prediction of pathogenic microorganism transmission in the atmosphere, this review proposes suggestions for epidemic response, namely, the establishment of an integrated monitoring and prediction platform for pathogenic microorganism transmission in the atmosphere.
PubMed: 38933199
DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2023.05.022 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2024Infection with is associated with high rates of amputation and mortality. Alterations in the global climate have heightened the risk of atypical infections caused by...
BACKGROUND
Infection with is associated with high rates of amputation and mortality. Alterations in the global climate have heightened the risk of atypical infections caused by this pathogen.
CASE PRESENTATION
In the case report we describe, a 75-year-old man residing in a coastal city contracted secondary to an insect bite.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
This case underscores the importance for clinicians of recognizing that early administration of appropriate antibiotics in patients with non-traditional routes of infection can significantly reduce rates of amputation and mortality.
PubMed: 38933117
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1419074 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2024Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) is a rare autosomal dominant inheritable disease caused by Fumarate hydratase (FH) gene germline mutation. It is...
BACKGROUND
Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) is a rare autosomal dominant inheritable disease caused by Fumarate hydratase (FH) gene germline mutation. It is speculated that for HRLCC infertility women with multiple uterine leiomyomas, preimplantation genetic testing may help block transmission of mutated FH gene during pregnancy.
CASE PRESENTATION
We present the case of a 26-year-old nulligravida with a history of early-onset uterine leiomyomatosis had a heterozygous nonsense mutation [NM_000143.4 (FH): c.1027C > T(p.Arg343Ter)] in the HRLLC gene. After ovulation induction and fertilization, preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) on embryos revealed the absence of the pathogenic allele in two blastomeres. Uterine fibroids were identified before embryo transfer, leading to a submucosal myomectomy and long period of pituitary suppression by Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa). The patient achieved a healthy live birth after the second cycle of frozen-thawed embryo transfer.
CONCLUSION
This case details the successful treatment of an infertile patient with an HRLLC family history, resulting in a healthy birth through myomectomy and PGT-M selected embryo transplantation. Our literature search indicates the first reported live birth after HRLLC-PGT-M.
PubMed: 38933105
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1400694 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Antimicrobial resistance is increasingly becoming a global health concern. This study aimed to investigate and report MDR prevalence, resistance, and virulence genes...
INTRODUCTION
Antimicrobial resistance is increasingly becoming a global health concern. This study aimed to investigate and report MDR prevalence, resistance, and virulence genes from poultry in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
METHODS
The samples were analyzed using microbiological standard methods and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
RESULTS
A total of 179 cloacal swabs were collected from bothlocal and exotic poultry breeds, of which 99.4% (178/179) tested positive for . Among these culturally identified samples, 99.4% (177/178) were furtherconfirmed with a molecular weight of 401 bp. Multidrugresistance of 45% (80/178) was observed from the confirmed isolates. PCR assays were conducted to detect genes associated with resistance to antibiotics, specifically, tetracycline ( gene), sulfonamide ( gene), ampicillin ( gene), and quinolone ( gene). Antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) results revealed substantial antibiotic resistance, with 81.9% (145/177) of the isolates being resistant to tetracycline, 80.2% (142/177) to quinolone, 69.5% (123/177) to sulfonamide, and 66.1% (117/177) to ampicillin. Further analysis on 18 isolates that showed resistance to up to four different antibiotics was carried out using multiplex PCR to detect and virulence genes. The study found that 44.4% (15/18) of the isolates were positive for the gene, 27.7% (5/18) for , 22.2% (4/18) for gene, and 5.5% (1) for gene, and none tested positive for gene.
CONCLUSION
These results showed high antibiotic resistance, virulent genes, and significant levels of MDR in from poultry. This study highlights the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship practices within the poultry industry due to their profound implications for food safety and public health. This issue is particularly critical in Nigeria, where poultry farming constitutes a significant portion of smallholder farming practices.
PubMed: 38933030
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1298582 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Commensal microbial-host interaction is crucial for host metabolism, growth, development, and immunity. However, research on microbial-host immunity in large animal...
Commensal microbial-host interaction is crucial for host metabolism, growth, development, and immunity. However, research on microbial-host immunity in large animal models has been limited. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the commensal microbiota on immune function in two model groups: germ-free (GF) and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) piglets. The weight and organ index of the spleen of the GF piglet were larger than those in the SPF piglet ( < 0.05). The histological structure of the red pulp area and mean area of germinal centers were larger in the SPF piglet than in the GF piglet ( < 0.05), whereas the areas of staining of B cells and T cells in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were lower in the GF piglet ( < 0.05). We identified immune-related genes in the spleen and MLNs using RNA sequencing, and used real-time quantitative PCR to analyze the expression of core genes identified in gene set enrichment analysis. The expression levels of genes in the transforming growth factor-β/SMAD3 signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor 2/MyD88/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, and pro-inflammatory factor genes and in the spleen and MLNs were higher in the SPF piglet and in splenic lymphocytes compared with those in the GF and control group, respectively, under treatment with acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or concanavalin A (ConA). The abundances of plasma cells, CD8 T cells, follicular helper T cells, and resting natural killer cells in the spleen and MLNs were significantly greater in the SPF piglet than in the GF piglet ( < 0.05). In conclusion, the commensal microbiota influenced the immune tissue structure, abundances of immune cells, and expression of immune-related pathways, indicating the importance of the commensal microbiota for spleen and MLNs development and function. In our study, GF piglet was used as the research model, eliminating the interference of microbiota in the experiment, and providing a suitable and efficient large animal research model for exploring the mechanism of "microbial-host" interactions.
PubMed: 38933022
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1398631