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Topic Review
Microbiota in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic immune-mediated disease caused by genetic and environmental factors. It is often characterized by the generation of autoantibodies that lead to synovial inflammation and eventual multi-joint destruction. A growing number of studies have shown significant differences in the gut microbiota composition of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to healthy controls. 
  • 815
  • 15 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cytotoxins
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most virulent opportunistic Gram-negative bacterial pathogens in humans. It causes many acute and chronic infections with morbidity and mortality rates as high as 40%. P. aeruginosa owes its pathogenic versatility to a large arsenal of cell-associated and secreted virulence factors which enable this pathogen to colonize various niches within hosts and protect it from host innate immune defenses. Induction of cytotoxicity in target host cells is a major virulence strategy for P. aeruginosa during the course of infection. P. aeruginosa has invested heavily in this strategy, as manifested by a plethora of cytotoxins that can induce various forms of cell death in target host cells.
  • 815
  • 11 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Scaling of Vascular Structures
Vasculature interacts with variety of cell types in vivo and hence it can function as relevant component with various co-cultures. We have previously developed in vitro angiogenesis model. At the end point the cultures contain continuous vascular network spreading evenly across the well. In vitro vascular structures formed from human adipose stromal cell (hASC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) co-culture were now scaled for various well plate formats. These included 48, 96 and 384. The vascular structures have been optimized and characterized previously on 48 well format. After scaling it was utilized for culturing cancer cell line cells and primary cancer cells from patients. They were also utilized to estimate the angiogenic induction potential of the primary patient derived cancer cells. This scaling of the vascular structures allows better utilization of the in vitro vasculature. Now it can be utilized in high throughput applications. The applications of these in vitro vascular structures can include cancer research, cell biology, drug development and screening, and for personalized medicine.
  • 814
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Microbiota, Diet and Mucus in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The gastrointestinal tract is optimized to efficiently absorb nutrients and provide a competent barrier against a variety of lumen environmental compounds. Different regulatory mechanisms jointly collaborate to maintain intestinal homeostasis, but alterations in these mechanism lead to a dysfunctional gastrointestinal barrier and are associated to several inflammatory conditions usually found in chronic pathologies such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The gastrointestinal mucus, mostly composed of mucin glycoproteins, covers the epithelium and plays an essential role in digestive and barrier functions. However, its regulation is very dynamic and is still poorly understood. This review presents some aspects concerning the role of mucus in gut health and its alterations in IBD. In addition, the impact of gut microbiota and dietary compounds as environmental factors modulating the mucus layer is addressed. To date, studies have evidenced the impact of the three-way interplay between the microbiome, diet and the mucus layer on the gut barrier, host immune system and IBD. This review emphasizes the need to address current limitations on this topic, especially regarding the design of robust human trials and highlights the potential interest of improving our understanding of the regulation of the intestinal mucus barrier in IBD.
  • 814
  • 21 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Microbiome and Sudden Death
Sudden unexpected death (SUD) is one of the most important and worthy investigation case profiles in emergency medicine and forensic pathology. Sudden unexpected deaths in adults (SUDA) are frequently caused by cardiac events, while infections usually cause those in infants younger than one year (SUDI), and to a lesser extent, in children older than one year (SUDC). Several studies demonstrate that the microbiome influences host immunity, alters susceptibility to viral respiratory infections, and has a vital role in various health, disease, and death outcomes. 
  • 814
  • 23 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Huanglongbing Pandemic: Current Challenges and Emerging Management Strategies
Huanglongbing (HLB, aka citrus greening), one of the most devastating diseases of citrus, has wreaked havoc on the global citrus industry in recent decades. The culprit behind such a gloomy scenario is the phloem-limited bacteria “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” (CLas), which are transmitted via psyllid. To date, there are no effective long-termcommercialized control measures for HLB, making it increasingly difficult to prevent the disease spread. To combat HLB effectively, introduction of multipronged management strategies towards controlling CLas population within the phloem system is deemed necessary. This entry presents a comprehensive review of up-to-date scientific information about HLB, including currently available management practices and unprecedented challenges associated with the disease control. Additionally, a triangular disease management approach has been introduced targeting pathogen, host, and vector. Pathogen-targeting approaches include (i) inhibition of important proteins of CLas, (ii) use of the most efficient antimicrobial or immunity-inducing compounds to suppress the growth of CLas, and (iii) use of tools to suppress or kill the CLas. Approaches for targeting the host include (i) improvement of the host immune system, (ii) effective use of transgenic variety to build the host’s resistance against CLas, and (iii) induction of systemic acquired resistance. Strategies for targeting the vector include (i) chemical and biological control and (ii) eradication of HLB-affected trees. Finally, a hypothetical model for integrated disease management has been discussed to mitigate the HLB pandemic.
  • 812
  • 17 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Gut Dysbiosis during COVID-19
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), an RNA virus of the family Coronaviridae, causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an influenza-like disease that chiefly infects the lungs through respiratory transmission. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, a transmembrane protein in its outer portion, targets angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the binding receptor for the cell entry. As ACE2 is highly expressed in the gut and pulmonary tissues, SARS-CoV-2 infections frequently result in gastrointestinal inflammation, with presentations ordinarily ranging from intestinal cramps to complications with intestinal perforations. However, the evidence detailing successful therapy for gastrointestinal involvement in COVID-19 patients is currently limited. A significant change in fecal microbiomes, namely dysbiosis, was characterized by the enrichment of opportunistic pathogens and the depletion of beneficial commensals and their crucial association to COVID-19 severity has been evidenced. Oral probiotics had been evidenced to improve gut health in achieving homeostasis by exhibiting their antiviral effects via the gut–lung axis.
  • 811
  • 16 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Gut-Antimicrobial Peptides
Due to huge diversity and dynamic competition, the human gut microbiome produces a diverse array of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that play an important role in human health. The gut microbiome has an important role in maintaining gut homeostasis by the AMPs and by interacting with other human organs via established connections such as the gut–lung, and gut–brain axis. Additionally, gut AMPs play a synergistic role with other gut microbiota and antimicrobials to maintain gut homeostasis by fighting against multi-antibiotic resistance (MAR) bacteria. 
  • 809
  • 19 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Methods for Manipulating Cryptococcus Spores
Spores are essential for the long-term survival of many diverse organisms, due to their roles in reproduction and stress resistance. In the environmental human fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus, basidiospores are robust cells with the ability to cause disease in animal models of infection.
  • 808
  • 23 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Colistin Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae
Colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae is commonly caused by the mutations in the chromosomal gene mgrB. MgrB spans the inner membrane and negatively regulates PhoP phosphorylation, which is essential for bacterial outer membrane lipid biosynthesis.
  • 808
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Pharmacological Activities of AgNPs
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are commonly used in numerous consumer products, including textiles, cosmetics, and health care items. 
  • 806
  • 27 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Lactobacillus Genus Complex
Microorganisms belonging to the Lactobacillus genus complex (LGC) are naturally associated or deliberately added to fermented food products and are widely used as probiotic food supplements. Moreover, these bacteria normally colonize the mouth, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and female genitourinary tract of humans. They exert multiple beneficial effects and are regarded as safe microorganisms. However, infections caused by lactobacilli, mainly endocarditis, bacteremia, and pleuropneumonia, occasionally occur. 
  • 805
  • 24 Aug 2022
Topic Review
The Gut–Brain Axis within the Human Body
The human gut microbiota (GM) is a complex microbial ecosystem that colonises the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and is comprised of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. The GM has a symbiotic relationship with its host that is fundamental for body homeostasis. The GM is not limited to the scope of the GIT, but there are bidirectional interactions between the GM and other organs, highlighting the concept of the “gut–organ axis”. Any deviation from the normal composition of the GM, termed ”microbial dysbiosis”, is implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Only a few studies have demonstrated a relationship between GM modifications and disease phenotypes, and it is still unknown whether an altered GM contributes to a disease or simply reflects its status. Restoration of the GM with probiotics and prebiotics has been postulated, but evidence for the effects of prebiotics is limited. Prebiotics are substrates that are “selectively utilized by host microorganisms, conferring a health benefit”.
  • 800
  • 19 Oct 2023
Topic Review
B, C and D in Escherichia coli
The basic properties of the Escherichia coli duplication process can be defined by two time periods: C, the time for a round of chromosome replication, and D, the time between the end of a round of replication and cell division. Given the durations of these periods, the pattern of chromosome replication during the cell cycle can be determined for cells growing with any doubling time.
  • 797
  • 04 May 2023
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Impacts of Microbial Metabolites on Fishery Products
Biopreservative bacteria, or their metabolites, compete with the undesirable microbiota and dominate the microbiota by utilizing available nutrients. Microbial metabolites (bacteriocins, reuterin, pediocin, lacticin, bacteriophage, organic acids and others) possess antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms, including anti-listeria.
  • 796
  • 27 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Apicortin and Its Tentative Role
Apicortin was identified in silico, in 2009, as a characteristic protein of apicomplexans. It combines a partial p25alpha domain with a DCX (doublecortin) one. Based on its occurrence and one of its characteristic domains, it was termed apicortin. Apicortin, when identified, was shown to occur in apicomplexan parasites and in the placozoan animal, Trichoplax adhaerens. The apicomplexan genomes known then contained it without exception. This situation practically has not changed since then; this statement is valid for the newly sequenced genomes and transcriptomes of apicomplexans as well, almost without exception.
  • 795
  • 16 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Elements in the Immune System of a Newborn
The initial exposure to a microbial world for an infant born vaginally is from the mother’s microbiota, influenced by maternal diet, level of stress, smoking history and living conditions. The intestinal microbiome in the first 2–3 years of life participates in the programming and development of the gut immune system, important to immune reactivity and general health as well as to response to infectious organisms and vaccines resulting in protective immunity. The intestinal microbiome and the immune system early in life can put infants on a long-term path to health or lead to medical and allergic disorders that can persist into adulthood.
  • 793
  • 14 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Advantages of the Use of Adjuvants against COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination focused on mRNA-type and viral vector vaccines. Adjuvanted vaccines are capable of inducing potent responses, not only humoral but also cellular, in populations whose immune systems are weak or do not respond properly, such as the elderly. 
  • 791
  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
Phytochemicals as Antimicrobials
Among all available antimicrobials, antibiotics hold a prime position in the treatment of infectious diseases. However, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has posed a serious threat to the effectiveness of antibiotics, resulting in increased morbidity, mortality, and escalation in healthcare costs causing a global health crisis. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in global healthcare setups have accelerated the development and spread of AMR, leading to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, which further limits treatment options. This creates a critical need to explore alternative approaches to combat bacterial infections. Phytochemicals have gained attention as a potential source of alternative medicine to address the challenge of AMR. Phytochemicals are structurally and functionally diverse and have multitarget antimicrobial effects, disrupting essential cellular activities.
  • 791
  • 28 Jun 2023
Topic Review
S. aureus Infections as a Challenge to Vaccinology
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive pathogenic bacterium that may be found on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and several animal species. S. aureus colonizes the nares or nasopharynx of about 30% of a population in an asymptomatic manner and becomes pathogenic after breaching epithelial barriers, making colonization an important risk factor. Typical staphylococcal infections range from minor skin and soft tissue infections, such as abscesses, furuncles and impetigo, to life threatening diseases, such as bacteremia, infective endocarditis, sepsis and toxic shock syndrome. S. aureus is also a leading causative agent in surgical site infections, biomaterial-associated infections (e.g., catheters, artificial heart valves, bone and joint prostheses) and food poisoning. Epidemiological data show that S. aureus bacteremia leads to approximately 20,000 deaths a year in the USA, which accounts for more deaths than those from AIDS, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis combined together. Furthermore, patients with risk factors (e.g., diabetics, immunocompromised, transplant recipients, oncological patients) are prone to developing severe staphylococcal infections.
  • 790
  • 15 Feb 2022
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