Microbiology and Immunology最新文献

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common head and neck cancers, and immunotherapy targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) has become a treatment option for recurrent OSCC after surgery and radiation therapy. However, few studies have identified definitive biomarkers for predicting patient response to anti-PD1 therapy in OSCC. In the present study, biopsy specimens were obtained from 23 patients with recurrent OSCC who were subsequently treated with anti-PD1 therapy. Immunohistochemical examinations of CD3, CD8, FOXP3, CD103, CD163, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), HLA-A/B/C, HLA-DR, and β2 microglobulin were performed, and their correlation with clinical response was statistically analyzed. We found that an increased density of CD8-positive lymphocytes and increased PD-L1 expression predicted a favorable response to anti-PD1 therapy in recurrent OSCC. In contrast, clinical factors such as age and sex, and immune-related factors such as HLA-Classes I and II, were not associated with the response to anti-PD1 therapy. Taken together, our results suggest that immunohistochemical analysis of CD8 and PD-L1 may be useful for predicting the efficacy of anti-PD1 therapy in recurrent OSCC.

Crohn's disease‒associated adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) colonizes the gut lumen through Type 1 fimbriae. We demonstrated that the two-component signal transduction system BasRS is involved in the expression of fimbriae in the AIEC strain LF82, as evidenced by the reduced transcriptional activity of fimA in an LF82 mutant lacking BasRS. Consequently, the basRS mutant showed decreased invasiveness to HeLa cells, which was restored by introducing a plasmid expressing fimbriae in a BasRS-independent manner. These findings may provide new prospects for developing therapeutic interventions for AIEC-related Crohn's disease.

Lipoproteins are a class of potential vaccine candidates for Streptococcus pyogenes. The present study was conducted to purify and detect the immunogenicity of the fusion protein HtsA + FtsB of the iron transport lipoproteins HtsA and FtsB of S. pyogenes. The recombinant expression vector pBAD-htsA + ftsB was successfully constructed, and the fusion protein HtsA + FtsB with a purity above 95% was successfully obtained. Western blot analysis confirmed that the HtsA + FtsB fusion protein had good antigenicity and could be specifically recognized by both HtsA antiserum and FtsB antisera, and the antibody specificity of the HtsA + FtsB fusion protein was good. ELISA results showed that IgG antibody levels were significantly increased in the HtsA + FtsB fusion protein immunization group compared to the PBS control group. Additionally, cytokine levels, including IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-17A, were significantly elevated. Furthermore, the antiserum from HtsA + FtsB-immunized mice enhanced the opsonophagocytic activity against S. pyogenes. The HtsA + FtsB fusion protein has strong immunogenicity and potential as a candidate vaccine for S. pyogenes.

Silicosis is a lung disease that is very harmful. This makes the disease worse. This study looks at how the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene affects macrophage M1/M2 polarisation and pulmonary fibrosis in silicosis. Macrophages were isolated from alveolar lavage fluid in silicosis and bronchiectasis (BE) patients. Gene expression was detected by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). Pulmonary fibrosis was assessed by CT_FLV/TLV% using 3D CT and Masson staining assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to assess inflammatory factor level. The macrophage M1/M2 polarization characteristics (iNOS, CD206) was quantified by Immunofluorescence and Flow cytometry assays. Silicosis patients alveolar lavage macrophages polarized towards M1 type, and the expression level of M1 polarization-related chemokines also increased. More importantly, FTO gene downregulation promotes macrophage polarization to M1 type and the secretion of pro-inflammatory factor TNF-α and IL-6. And FTO knockdown can strengthen the glycolysis of macrophages, especially anaerobic glycolysis, thus inducing macrophages M1 polarization. Moreover, downregulation of FTO ameliorates silicosis pulmonary fibrosis. And FTO upregulation is associated with the M2 polarization of macrophage and the deterioration of pulmonary fibrosis in silicosis patients. FTO downregulation facilitates the infiltration of inflammatory cells by promoting M1 polarization of macrophages in silicosis.