Old enemies meet new friends for colon cancer prevention.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Poutahidis T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4589059 | biostudies-other | 2015 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
Similar Datasets
Project description:In the progression of the life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum, a small proportion of asexual parasites differentiate into male or female sexual forms called gametocytes. Just like their asexual counterparts, gametocytes are contained within the infected host's erythrocytes (RBCs). However, unlike their asexual partners, they do not exit the RBC until they are taken up in a blood meal by a mosquito. In the mosquito midgut, they are stimulated to emerge from the RBC, undergo fertilization, and ultimately produce tens of thousands of sporozoites that are infectious to humans. This transmission cycle can be blocked by antibodies targeting proteins exposed on the parasite surface in the mosquito midgut, a process that has led to the development of candidate transmission-blocking vaccines (TBV), including some that are in clinical trials. Here we review the leading TBV antigens and highlight the ongoing search for additional gametocyte/gamete surface antigens, as well as antigens on the surfaces of gametocyte-infected erythrocytes, which can potentially become a new group of TBV candidates.
| S-EPMC6529669 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The long history of local anesthetics (LAs) starts out in the late 19th century when the content of coca plant leaves was discovered to alleviate pain. Soon after, cocaine was established and headed off to an infamous career as a substance causing addiction. Today, LAs and related substances-in modified form-are indispensable in our clinical everyday life for pain relief during and after minor and major surgery, and dental practices. In this review, we elucidate on the interaction of modern LAs with their main target, the voltage-gated sodium channel (Navs), in the light of the recently published channel structures. Knowledge of the 3D interaction sites of the drug with the protein will allow to mechanistically substantiate the comprehensive data available on LA gating modification. In the 1970s it was suggested that LAs can enter the channel pore from the lipid phase, which was quite prospective at that time. Today we know from cryo-electron microscopy structures and mutagenesis experiments, that indeed Navs have side fenestrations facing the membrane, which are likely the entrance for LAs to induce tonic block. In this review, we will focus on the effects of LA binding on fast inactivation and use-dependent inhibition in the light of the proposed new allosteric mechanism of fast inactivation. We will elaborate on subtype and species specificity and provide insights into modelling approaches that will help identify the exact molecular binding orientation, access pathways and pharmacokinetics. With this comprehensive overview, we will provide new perspectives in the use of the drug, both clinically and as a tool for basic ion channel research.
| S-EPMC8996304 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Heart failure is a complex health issue, with important consequences on the overall wellbeing of patients. It can occur both in acute and chronic forms and, in the latter, the immune system appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In particular, in the forms with preserved ejection fraction or with only mildly reduced ejection fraction, some specific associations with chronic inflammatory diseases have been observed. Another interesting aspect that is worth considering is the role of microbiota modulation, in this context: given the importance of microbiota in the modulation of immune responses, it is possible that changes in its composition may somewhat influence the progression and even the pathogenesis of heart failure. In this narrative review, we aim to examine the relationship between immunity and heart failure, with a special focus on the role of microbiota in this pathological condition.
| S-EPMC9687270 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Serine Protease Inhibitors (Serpins) control tightly regulated physiological processes and their dysfunction is associated to various diseases. Thus, increasing interest is given to these proteins as new therapeutic targets. Several studies provided functional and structural data about human serpins. By comparison, only little knowledge regarding bacterial serpins exists. Through the emergence of metagenomic studies, many bacterial serpins were identified from numerous ecological niches including the human gut microbiota. The origin, distribution and function of these proteins remain to be established. In this report, we shed light on the key role of human and bacterial serpins in health and disease. Moreover, we analyze their function, phylogeny and ecological distribution. This review highlights the potential use of bacterial serpins to set out new therapeutic approaches.
| S-EPMC6718151 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Adoptive immunotherapy with virus-specific cytotoxic T cells (VSTs) has evolved over the last three decades as a strategy to rapidly restore virus-specific immunity to prevent or treat viral diseases after solid organ or allogeneic hematopoietic cell-transplantation (allo-HCT). Since the early proof-of-principle studies demonstrating that seropositive donor-derived T cells, specific for the commonest pathogens post transplantation, namely cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and generated by time- and labor-intensive protocols, could effectively control viral infections, major breakthroughs have then streamlined the manufacturing process of pathogen-specific T cells (pSTs), broadened the breadth of target recognition to even include novel emerging pathogens and enabled off-the-shelf administration or pathogen-naive donor pST production. We herein review the journey of evolution of adoptive immunotherapy with nonengineered, natural pSTs against infections and virus-associated malignancies in the transplant setting and briefly touch upon recent achievements using pSTs outside this context.
| S-EPMC9831191 | biostudies-literature
Project description:During the 21st century, the incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising globally. Despite the pathogenesis of IBD remaining largely unclear, the interactions between environmental exposure, host genetics and immune response contribute to the occurrence and development of this disease. Growing evidence implicates that food additives might be closely related to IBD, but the involved molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. Food additives may be categorized as distinct types in accordance with their function and property, including artificial sweeteners, preservatives, food colorant, emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners and so on. Various kinds of food additives play a role in modifying the interaction between gut microbiota and intestinal inflammation. Therefore, this review comprehensively synthesizes the current evidence on the interplay between different food additives and gut microbiome alterations, and further elucidates the potential mechanisms of food additives-associated microbiota changes involved in IBD.
| S-EPMC9330785 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND: Naturally occurring CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (TReg) are involved in the control of autoimmune diseases, transplantation tolerance, and anti-tumor immunity. Thus far, genomic studies on TReg cells were restricted to murine systems, and requirements for their development, maintenance, and mode of action in humans are poorly defined. RESULTS: To improve characterization of human TReg cells, we compiled a unique microarray consisting of 350 TReg cell associated genes (Human TReg Chip) based on whole genome transcription data from human and mouse TReg cells. TReg cell specific gene signatures were created from 11 individual healthy donors. Statistical analysis identified 62 genes differentially expressed in TReg cells, emphasizing some cross-species differences between mice and humans. Among them, several 'old friends' (including FOXP3, CTLA4, and CCR7) that are known to be involved in TReg cell function were recovered. Strikingly, the vast majority of genes identified had not previously been associated with human TReg cells (including LGALS3, TIAF1, and TRAF1). Most of these 'new players' however, have been described in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. Real-time RT-PCR of selected genes validated our microarray results. Pathway analysis was applied to extract signaling modules underlying human TReg cell function. CONCLUSION: The comprehensive set of genes reported here provides a defined starting point to unravel the unique characteristics of human TReg cells. The Human TReg Chip constructed and validated here is available to the scientific community and is a useful tool with which to study the molecular mechanisms that orchestrate TReg cells under physiologic and diseased conditions.
| S-EPMC1779567 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Peas are an important legume for human and animal consumption and are also being used as green manure or intermediate crops to sustain and improve soil condition. Pea production faces constraints from fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases. We investigated the virome of German pea crops over the course of three successive seasons in different regions of pea production to gain an overview of the existing viruses. Pools from 540 plants, randomly selected from symptomatic and asymptomatic peas, and non-crop plants surrounding the pea fields were used for ribosomal RNA-depleted total RNA extraction followed by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and RT-PCR confirmation. Thirty-five different viruses were detected in addition to nine associated nucleic acids. From these viruses, 25 are classified as either new viruses, novel strains or viruses that have not been reported previously from Germany. Pea enation mosaic virus 1 and 2 were the most prevalent viruses detected in the pea crops, followed by pea necrotic yellow dwarf virus (PNYDV) and turnip yellows virus which was also found also in the surrounding non-legume weeds. Moreover, a new emaravirus was detected in symptomatic peas in one region for two successive seasons. Most of the identified viruses are known to be aphid transmissible. The results revealed a high virodiversity in the German pea fields that poses new challenges to diagnosticians, researchers, risk assessors and policy makers, as the impact of the new findings are currently unknown.
| S-EPMC7691430 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers affecting humans, with a complex genetic and environmental aetiology. Unlike cancers with known environmental, heritable, or sex-linked causes, sporadic CRC is hard to foresee and has no molecular biomarkers of risk in clinical use. One in twenty CRC cases presents with an established heritable component. The remaining cases are sporadic and associated with partially obscure genetic, epigenetic, regenerative, microbiological, dietary, and lifestyle factors. To tackle this complexity, we should improve the practice of colonoscopy, which is recommended uniformly beyond a certain age, to include an assessment of biomarkers indicative of individual CRC risk. Ideally, such biomarkers will be causal to the disease and potentially modifiable upon dietary or therapeutic interventions. Multi-omics analysis, including transcriptional, epigenetic as well as metagenomic, and metabolomic profiles, are urgently required to provide data for risk analyses. The aim of this article is to provide a perspective on the multifactorial derailment of homeostasis leading to the initiation of CRC, which may be explored via multi-omics and Gut-on-Chip analysis to identify much-needed predictive biomarkers.
| S-EPMC9229931 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background:Interpersonal positivity and negativity are separable dimensions both recognized as having important effects on health. Though online social interactions and research examining them are increasingly common, no validated instrument has heretofore been developed to examine social support and social negativity specifically in online contexts. The present studies describe the development and validation of the Online Social Experiences Measure (OSEM) to allow for assessment of online social positivity and negativity simultaneously. Methods and results:In Study I, responses to a potential item pool were collected from participants (N?=?557), who were then subdivided into two groups for the purposes of cross-validation via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Results suggested the emergence of two factors: online social support (OSEM+ subscale) and online social negativity (OSEM- subscale). Across Studies I and II (N?=?139), the OSEM showed good convergent and discriminant validity, and both subscales had high internal consistency. Study II included an ambulatory cardiovascular assessment and found the OSEM- subscale to be predictive of elevated diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. The OSEM+ subscale was predictive of more favorable cardiovascular readings for some types of participants (e.g. those with a greater number of online-only social ties). Conclusions:Overall, results suggest online social positivity and negativity may have implications for physical health, and that the OSEM may be a useful tool in understanding online social processes.
| S-EPMC6759713 | biostudies-literature