scholarly journals A non-optimal cervicovaginal microbiota in pregnancy is associated with a distinct metabolomic signature among non-Hispanic Black individuals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin D. Gerson ◽  
Jingqiu Liao ◽  
Clare McCarthy ◽  
Heather H. Burris ◽  
Tal Korem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Birth Outcome ◽  
Molecular Processes ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth ◽  
Host Immune Responses ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Cervical Remodeling ◽  
In Pregnancy

AbstractBiomechanical and molecular processes of premature cervical remodeling preceding spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) likely result from interactions between the cervicovaginal microbiota and host immune responses. A non-optimal cervicovaginal microbiota confers increased risk of sPTB. The cervicovaginal space is metabolically active in pregancy; microbiota can produce, modify, and degrade metabolites within this ecosystem. We establish that cervicovaginal metabolomic output clusters by microbial community in pregnancy among Black individuals, revealing increased metabolism within the amino acid and dipeptide pathways as hallmarks of a non-optimal microbiota. Few differences were detected in metabolomic profiles when stratified by birth outcome. The study raises the possibility that metabolites could distinguish women with greater risk of sPTB among those with similar cervicovaginal microbiota, and that metabolites within the amino acid and carbohydrate pathways may play a role in this distinction.

scholarly journals Amino Acid Residues in the Carboxy-Terminal Region of Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus E6 Influence Spontaneous Regression of Cutaneous Papillomas

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (23) ◽  
pp. 11801-11808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiafen Hu ◽  
Nancy M. Cladel ◽  
Martin D. Pickel ◽  
Neil D. Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
High Frequencies ◽  
Host Immune Responses ◽  
Cottontail Rabbit ◽  
Single Amino Acid Change ◽  
Carboxy Terminal

ABSTRACT Previous studies have identified two different strains of cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) that differ by approximately 5% in base pair sequence and that perform quite differently when used to challenge New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit skin. One strain caused persistent lesions (progressor strain), and the other induced papillomas that spontaneously regressed (regressor strain) at high frequencies (J. Salmon, M. Nonnenmacher, S. Caze, P. Flamant, O. Croissant, G. Orth, and F. Breitburd, J. Virol. 74:10766-10777, 2000; J. Salmon, N. Ramoz, P. Cassonnet, G. Orth, and F. Breitburd, Virology 235:228-234, 1997). We generated a panel of CRPV genomes that contained chimeric and mutant progressor and regressor strain E6 genes and assessed the outcome upon infection of both outbred and EIII/JC inbred NZW rabbits. The carboxy-terminal 77-amino-acid region of the regressor CRPV strain E6, which contained 15 amino acid residues that are different from those of the equivalent region of the persistent CRPV strain E6, played a dominant role in the conversion of the persistent CRPV strain to one showing high rates of spontaneous regressions. In addition, a single amino acid change (G252E) in the E6 protein of the CRPV progressor strain led to high frequencies of spontaneous regressions in inbred rabbits. These observations imply that small changes in the amino acid sequences of papillomavirus proteins can dramatically impact the outcome of natural host immune responses to these viral infections. The data imply that intrastrain differences between separate isolates of a single papillomavirus type (such as human papillomavirus type 16) may contribute to a collective variability in host immune responses in outbred human populations.

scholarly journals Linking the antigen archive structure to pathogen fitness in African trypanosomes

2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1753) ◽  
pp. 20122129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erida Gjini ◽  
Daniel T. Haydon ◽  
J. D. Barry ◽  
Christina A. Cobbold
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Antigenic Variation ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Molecular Processes ◽  
Pathogen Population ◽  
African Trypanosomes ◽  
Host Immune Responses ◽  
Selective Pressures ◽  
Pathogen Fitness

Systems that generate antigenic variation enable pathogens to evade host immune responses and are intricately interwoven with major pathogen traits, such as host choice, growth, virulence and transmission. Although much is understood about antigen switching at the molecular level, little is known about the cross-scale links between these molecular processes and the larger-scale within and between host population dynamics that they must ultimately drive. Inspired by the antigenic variation system of African trypanosomes, we apply modelling approaches to our expanding understanding of the organization and expression of antigen repertoires, and explore links across these scales. We predict how pathogen population processes are determined by underlying molecular genetics and infer resulting selective pressures on important emergent repertoire traits.

Role of convalescent plasma therapy in new Coronavirus disease (nCOVID-19): A review

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 546-549
Author(s):  
Shweta Dadarao Parwe ◽  
Milind Abhimanyu Nisargandha ◽  
Rishikesh Thakre
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Indian Population ◽  
Preventive Treatment ◽  
The Body ◽  
Therapeutic Antibodies ◽  
Plasma Therapy ◽  
Host Immune Responses ◽  
Transparent Liquid

Hitherto, there is no proper line of treatment for the new (nCOVID19). The development of unique antiviral drugs has taken precedence. Therapeutic antibodies () will be a significantly beneficial agent against nCOVID-19. Here the host immune responses to new discussed in this review provide strategy and further treatment and understanding of clinical interventions against nCOVID-19. Plasma therapy uses the antibodies found in the blood of people recovering (or convalesced) from an infection to treat infected patients. When an infection occurs, the body begins producing proteins specially made to kill the germ, called antibodies. Those antibodies coat specifically plasma in the blood of survivors, the yellow transparent liquid blood portion for months or even years. research assesses plasma use from Convalescent patients of infected with nCOVID-19 as a possible preventive treatment. But it is not yet recommended as a line of treatment, and it is used as a clinical trial in the new in Indian population.

scholarly journals Evaluation of dsRNA delivery methods for targeting macrophage migration inhibitory factor MIF in RNAi-based aphid control

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoshuai Liu ◽  
Maria Jose Ladera-Carmona ◽  
Minna M. Poranen ◽  
Aart J. E. van Bel ◽  
Karl-Heinz Kogel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Artificial Diet ◽  
Sieve Tube ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Macrophage Migration ◽  
Delivery Methods ◽  
Host Immune Responses ◽  
Aphid Control ◽  
Barley Leaves ◽  
Sieve Tubes

AbstractMacrophage migration inhibitory factors (MIFs) are multifunctional proteins regulating major processes in mammals, including activation of innate immune responses. In invertebrates, MIF proteins participate in the modulation of host immune responses when secreted by parasitic organisms, such as aphids. In this study, we assessed the possibility to use MIF genes as targets for RNA interference (RNAi)-based control of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (Sa) on barley (Hordeum vulgare). When nymphs were fed on artificial diet containing double-stranded (ds)RNAs (SaMIF-dsRNAs) that target sequences of the three MIF genes SaMIF1, SaMIF2 and SaMIF3, they showed higher mortality rates and these rates correlated with reduced MIF transcript levels as compared to the aphids feeding on artificial diet containing a control dsRNA (GFP-dsRNA). Comparison of different feeding strategies showed that nymphs’ survival was not altered when they fed from barley seedlings sprayed with naked SaMIF-dsRNAs, suggesting they did not effectively take up dsRNA from the sieve tubes of these plants. Furthermore, aphids’ survival was also not affected when the nymphs fed on leaves supplied with dsRNA via basal cut ends of barley leaves. Consistent with this finding, the use of sieve tube-specific YFP-labeled Arabidopsis reporter lines confirmed that fluorescent 21 nt dsRNACy3, when supplied via petioles or spraying, co-localized with xylem structures, but not with phloem tissue. Our results suggest that MIF genes are a potential target for insect control and also imply that application of naked dsRNA to plants for aphid control is inefficient. More efforts should be put into the development of effective dsRNA formulations.

scholarly journals Endometriosis and Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 667
Author(s):  
Kjerstine Breintoft ◽  
Regitze Pinnerup ◽  
Tine Brink Henriksen ◽  
Dorte Rytter ◽  
Niels Uldbjerg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Cesarean Section ◽  
Placental Abruption ◽  
Gestational Hypertension ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Placenta Previa ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Spontaneous Hemoperitoneum ◽  
In Pregnancy

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes the evidence for the association between endometriosis and adverse pregnancy outcome, including gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, low birth weight, and small for gestational age, preterm birth, placenta previa, placental abruption, cesarean section, stillbirth, postpartum hemorrhage, spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy, and spontaneous bowel perforation in pregnancy. Methods: We performed the literature review in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), by searches in PubMed and EMBASE, until 1 November 2020 (PROSPERO ID CRD42020213999). We included peer-reviewed observational cohort studies and case-control studies and scored them according to the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, to assess the risk of bias and confounding. Results: 39 studies were included. Women with endometriosis had an increased risk of gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, placenta previa, placental abruption, cesarean section, and stillbirth, compared to women without endometriosis. These results remained unchanged in sub-analyses, including studies on spontaneous pregnancies only. Spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy and bowel perforation seemed to be associated with endometriosis; however, the studies were few and did not meet the inclusion criteria. Conclusions: The literature shows that endometriosis is associated with an increased risk of gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, placenta previa, placental abruption, cesarean section, and stillbirth.

A case of minimal change disease during pregnancy – Benefits of early diagnosis and use of corticosteroids

2021 ◽  
pp. 1753495X2199021
Author(s):  
Priyanka S Sagar ◽  
Eddy Fischer ◽  
Muralikrishna Gangadharan Komala ◽  
Bhadran Bose
Keyword(s):  
Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Renal Biopsy ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Minimal Change Disease ◽  
Minimal Change ◽  
Risk Of Bleeding ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Prompt Diagnosis ◽  
In Pregnancy

Nephrotic syndrome presenting in pregnancy is rare and poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Timing of renal biopsy is important given the increased risk of bleeding and miscarriage, and the choice of immunosuppression is limited due to the teratogenicity profiles of standard drugs. We report and discuss a case of minimal change disease diagnosed by renal biopsy during early pregnancy and treated with corticosteroids throughout the pregnancy. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of glomerular disease in pregnancy are vital to prevent poor maternal and fetal outcomes.

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