Project description:Approximately 20% of sleeping sickness patients exhibit respiratory complications which are commonly attributed to secondary bacterial infections, with an unknown role of the parasite. Using a Glossina morsitans tsetse fly initiated Trypansoma brucei infection in mice we found that parasites rapidly and permanently colonize the lungs, representing one of the major target organs next to the adipose tissue. Trypanosomes were found by immunofluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy to occupy the extravascular spaces surrounding the blood vessels of the alveoli and bronchi. Parasites were even found in the lung cartilage. Trypanosomes were often observed as nests of multiplying parasites exhibiting close interactions with collagen and highly active secretion of extracellular vesicles that are engaged in intercellular communication. The local immune response was analysed by flow cytometry after 10 and 21 days of infection and was characterized by a substantial increase of CD11b+ Ly6C+ monocytes, CD11b+ Ly6C+ F4/80+ macrophages and CD11b+ CD11c+ dendritic cells. CD11b+ Ly6G+ neutrophils only accumulated prominently at the late infection time point. Interestingly, parasite presence resulted in a significant reduction of B220+ IgM+ B cells, CD11b+ CD11clo/- SiglecF+ eosinophils and TcR-β- NK1.1+ natural killer cells. Digital transcriptomics revealed infection-induced upregulation of Il-10, IFN-ɣ- and IFN-α-responses, IL-2-, IL-6- and TNF-signalling, a Th1 pro-inflammatory signature, negative immune checkpoint regulators and a predominant M1 macrophage polarization. Il12a and genes associated with complement and the B cell receptor were downregulated. No infection-associated pulmonary dysfunction could be detected by in vivo lung function measurements, mirroring the limited pulmonary complications during sleeping sickness. However, the substantial reduction of eosinophils, B cells and NK cells may render individuals more susceptible to opportunistic infections. Collectively, these observations provide essential insights in the peculiar parasite biology, immunological reactions and physiological function of a largely overlooked target organ which may trigger new diagnostic approaches for sleeping sickness.
Project description:An air embolism (AE) is a rare but dreaded complication during endovascular procedures. Current guidance recommends hyperbaric oxygen therapy and aspiration for the management of a venous AE. However, the management of an arterial AE is much less described. We report a case of a 79-year-old man with symptomatic mitral regurgitation who underwent a MitraClip procedure. During the intervention, a massive AE was detected in the ascending aorta on transesophageal echocardiography. The AE was successfully aspirated while the patient remained hemodynamically stable. This report demonstrates the efficacy of an arterial AE's aspiration with a real-time echocardiography recording of the technique.
Project description:MAK98 strain trypanosomes were cultured for 7 weeks. Control sequences are uploaded separately. These are paired reads in separate files.
Project description:During infections with malaria parasites P. vivax, patients exhibit rhythmic fevers every 48 hours. These fever cycles correspond with the time parasites take to traverse the Intraerythrocytic Cycle (IEC) and may be guided by a parasite-intrinsic clock. Different species of Plasmodia have cycle times that are multiples of 24 hours, suggesting they may be coordinated with the host circadian clock. We utilized an ex vivo culture of whole blood from patients infected with P. vivax to examine the dynamics of the host circadian transcriptome and the parasite IEC transcriptome. Transcriptome dynamics revealed that the phases of the host circadian cycle and the parasite IEC were correlated across multiple patients, suggesting that the cycles are coupled. In mouse model systems, host-parasite cycle coupling appears to provide a selective advantage for the parasite. Thus, understanding how host and parasite cycles are coupled in humans could enable anti-malarial therapies that disrupt this coupling.
Project description:The take-all disease caused by the soilborne fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var tritici (Ggt) is one of the most-studied and widespread root diseases worldwide. Here, we investigated the ability of the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa to induce take-all disease tolerance in Triticum aestivum.