PLB-985 Neutrophil-Like Cells as a Model To Study Aspergillus fumigatus Pathogenesis

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are an important defense against human fungal pathogens, yet our model systems to study this group of cells remain very limited in scope. In this study, we established that differentiated PLB-985 cells can serve as a model to recapitulate several important aspects of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte interactions with the important human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus .

Phenotypical Comparison of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolated from Human and Veterinary Samples; Impact of Host Adaptation on Infection Pathogenesis

Purpose: Determinants of virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa vary strongly depending on its habitat. In this study, we analyzed these alterations depending on the host organism in isolates cultured from canine ears and compared it to clinical extended-spectrum antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (XDR), clinical antibiotic-sensitive (non-XDR) from humans and environmental isolates (EI) analyzed during our first study in 2017. Methods: A total of 22 veterinary isolates cultured from canine ears (VET) were examined for spontaneous biofilm formation, stress response in biofilm formation induced by meropenem, in vitro fitness, susceptibility to human serum and polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the genetically determined virulence factors toxA, exoS, exoT, exoU, exoY, nan1, cif, lasA and lasB.Results: We observed significantly elevated spontaneous biofilm formation and serum susceptibility in VET isolates compared to EI and non-XDR isolates as well as significantly decreased in vitro fitness compared to XDR isolates. The VET isolates resembled most the XDR subgroup of isolates previously cultured from blood. Within the environmental isolates, we observed an increase of spontaneous biofilm formation and exoU presence in isolates cultured from community water samples over hospital water samples to pool samples.Conclusions: Considering the distinct differences in some features of the examined VET isolates, a higher degree of phenotypical adaption can be assumed. Increased biofilm formation seems to be a common and characteristic event in isolates adapted to a specific habitat. Therefore amplification of potentially more virulent Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in domestic animals may lead to elevated zoonotic risk for example for pet owners.

Streptococcus gordonii DL1 evades polymorphonuclear leukocyte-mediated killing via resistance to lysozyme

Streptococcus gordonii is an etiological bacterial agent of infective endocarditis. Although the pathogenesis mechanisms are not well understood, the interaction between streptococci and phagocytes is considered important for the development of infective endocarditis. Previous studies show that some S. gordonii strains, including DL1, survive in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), whereas other strains such as SK12 are sensitive to PMN-dependent killing. In this study, we assessed the differences between the sensitivity of S. gordonii DL1 and S. gordonii SK12 to PMN-dependent killing. S. gordonii DL1 showed a higher survival when treated with PMNs than SK12. Both S. gordonii DL1 and S. gordonii SK12 showed high resistance to low pH condition. Compared to S. gordonii SK12, S. gordonii DL1 was sensitive to hydrogen peroxide. However, the resistance of S. gordonii DL1 to the tested bactericidal agents, especially lysozyme, was higher than that of SK12. Furthermore, we performed a bactericidal assay by treating a mixture of S. gordonii DL1 and SK12 with PMNs. S. gordonii DL1 did not enhance the survival of S. gordonii SK12 exposed to PMNs. These results indicated that S. gordonii DL1 is resistant to bactericidal agents that degrade bacteria in phagolysosomes. In addition, there was no secretory factor involved in the resistance to bactericidal agents. The findings of this study may help develop treatments for infective endocarditis caused by S. gordonii.

Dihydrophenanthrenes from a Sicilian Accession of Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.) P. Delforge Showed Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Antiproliferative Activities

The peculiar aspect that emerges from the study of Orchidaceae is the presence of various molecules, which are particularly interesting for pharmaceutical chemistry due to their wide range of biological resources. The aim of our study was to investigate the properties of two dihydrophenanthrenes, isolated, for the first time, from Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.) P. Delforge (Orchidaceae) bulbs and roots. Chemical and spectroscopic study of the bulbs and roots of Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.) P. Delforge resulted in the isolation of two known dihydrophenanthrenes—loroglossol and hircinol—never isolated from this plant species. The structures were evaluated based on 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and two-dimensional spectra, and by comparison with the literature. These two molecules have been tested for their possible antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic activities. In particular, it has been shown that these molecules cause an increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN); show antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and have anti-proliferative effects on gastric cancer cell lines, inducing apoptosis effects. Therefore, these two molecules could be considered promising candidates for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical preparations.

Polymorphonuclear Cells Show Features of Dysfunctional Activation During Fatal Sepsis

Sepsis and septic shock remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality for patients in the intensive care unit. During the early phase, immune cells produce various cytokines leading to prompt activation of the immune system. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) respond to different signals producing inflammatory factors and executing their antimicrobial mechanisms, resulting in the engulfment and elimination of invading pathogens. However, excessive activation caused by various inflammatory signals produced during sepsis progression can lead to the alteration of PMN signaling and subsequent defects in their functionality. Here, we analyzed samples from 34 patients in septic shock, focusing on PMNs gene expression and proteome changes associated with septic shock. We revealed that, compared to those patients who survived longer than five days, PMNs from patients who had fulminant sepsis were characterized by a dysfunctional hyper-activation, show altered metabolism, and recent exit from the cell cycle and signs of cellular lifespan. We believe that this multi-omics approach, although limited, pinpoints the alterations in PMNs’ functionality, which may be rescued by targeted treatments.

Maternal and umbilical cord blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes showed moderate oxidative burst at phagocytosis of Gardnerella vaginalis

Objective Pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis due to Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) infection presents with a wide-ranging disease symptomatology. We speculate this may be due to interaction that varies between host immune response and the pathogen. We studied the oxidative burst in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL)s from maternal blood (MB) and cord blood (CB) upon phagocytosis of GV and compared against E. coli and Group B Streptococcus (GBS). Results The PHAGOBURST™ assay detects fluorescence from oxidized dihydrorhodamine during oxidative burst. The average percentage of PMNL showing oxidative burst was almost two-fold greater with GBS (99.5%) and E. coli (98.2%) than GV (56.9%) (p < 0.01) in MB, but a similar proportion of PMNL with burst activity was seen in CB (84.7%). The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of oxidative burst in MB PMNL with GV was lower compared to E. coli but comparable to GBS. The MFI of CB PMNL (1580 ± 245.8) was significantly higher than MB PMNL (1198 ± 262.1) with GV, p = 0.031. The live-cell imaging showed neutrophil oxidative burst upon phagocytosis of GV produces hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Overall, the HOCL-mediated microbicidal activity against GV is more variable and less robust than E. coli and GBS, especially in maternal than CB PMNL.

Dynamics of changes in nonspecific resistance of guinea pigs under conditions of formation of experimental periodontitis and immobilization stress

The aim of our study was to determine the phagocytic activity of leukocytes and nitrosine tetrazolium test (NST - test) in the dynamics of experimental periodontitis (EP) and immobilization stress (IS). It is established in the work that the indicators studied by us, namely phagocytic number, phagocytic index and NST - test increase on the 3 rd, 5 th and 15 th days of our experiment. The above tests have a high diagnostic value and allow to characterize the degree of activity of the inflammatory process and determine the participation of individual parts of the body's defense mechanisms. The obtained results make it possible to express the opinion that polymorphonuclear leukocytes take an active part in the formation of EP and IS, as well as indicate the stimulation of metabolic processes in leukocytes.

COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS SCHEMES OF IMMUNOREHABILITATION IN INFERTILITY OF TUBOPERITONEAL GENESIS

The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of various pharmacotherapy regimens for infertility of tubo-peritoneal genesis. Under constant supervision were 96 patients referred to the hospital for diagnostic laparoscopy for infertility of tubo-peritoneal genesis, divided equally into 4 groups depending on the pharmacological treatment methods: the 1st group received basic pharmacotherapy (BPT) after endoscopic surgery (antibacterial, antifungal, vitamin therapy). Patients of groups 2-4, in addition to BPT, received Hepon, Cycloferon or Lavomax, respectively. The control group consisted of 38 gynecologically healthy women. Laboratory examination was performed within 24 hours after the operation and on the 30th day after BPT. Vaginocervical lavage and plasma were assayed for the activity of lipid peroxidation processes, the state of the antioxidant system, the level of stable nitric oxide metabolites, neopterin, C-reactive protein, cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-8, IFNγ, IL-18, G-CSF, IL-4, IL-10), immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA, sIgA), components of the complement system (C3, C4, C5, C5А), phagocytic and oxygen-dependent activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. It was established that the use of immunomodulatory and antiviral activity medication with BPT according to the degree of increasing efficiency in the correction of immunometabolic laboratory parameters at the systemic and local level in infertility of tuboperitoneal genesis is as the following sequence: basic pharmacotherapy < basic pharmacotherapy + Hepon < basic pharmacotherapy + Cycloferon < basic pharmacotherapy + Lavomax.