Publication analysis of the contact lens field: What are the current topics of interest?

Preprin

Regulatory T Cells in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

Anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells have lately attracted attention as part of the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, where they counterbalance the protective but pro-inflammatory immune response mediated by Th17 cells and especially by the better-known Th1 cells. In chronic infectious diseases there is a delicate balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. While Th1 and Th17 are needed in order to control infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the inflammatory onset can ultimately become detrimental for the host. In this review, we assess current information on the controversy over whether counterbalancing regulatory T cells are promoting pathogen growth or protecting the host

La Tuberculosi? no s'havia eradicat? cent anys del bacteri més persistent

Aquest treball pretén donar una visió de l'estat de la lluita contra la tuberculosi fa cent anys a Catalunya, bo i repassant-ne aspectes epidemiològics, de profilaxi i tractament de la malaltia. Igualment s'aprofundeix en les contribucions d'investigadors catalans en l'estudi de l'etiopatogènia: des de la teoria de la mutabilitat del doctor Ferran que porta al disseny de la vacuna antialfa, passant per la matisació que va donar a la teoria Ravetllat-Pla i la comercialització d'una nova teràpia basada en la utilització d'un sèrum específic contra la «forma d'atac» del bacil tuberculós, i a les observacions del doctor Conrad Xalabarder de les formes sense paret ceŀlular. Igualment es posen de manifest els reptes que encara romanen: el desconeixement del mecanisme d'infecció latent o d'inducció de la lesió més característica, la cavitat pulmonar. En aquest sentit es presenten les contribucions del nostre grup basades en la «hipòtesi dinàmica», que defensa la infecció com un procés continu de reinfecció endògena, que preveu la impossibilitat de generar vacunes que l'evitin, i que ha permès el disseny d'una vacuna terapèutica (la RUTI) per reduir el temps de la quimioteràpia.This work pretends to offer a view on the fight against tuberculosis in Catalonia 100 years ago, summarizing aspects on its epidemiology, prophylaxis and treatment. It also explains the contribution of catalonian researchers in the study of its etiopathogenesis: The mutability theory of Dr. Ferran and the design of the anti-alpha vaccine. The refinement of this theory that led to the theory Ravetllat-Pla and the introduction of a new therapy based on the administration of specific serum against the attack form of the bacilli. And the studies of Dr. Conrad Xalabarder on the cell wall deficient forms. Furthermore, it is highlighted the challenges that still remain. The lack of knowledge on the mechanisms that led to latent tuberculosis infection or the induction of the most characteristic lesion: the pulmonary cavity. In this regard the contributions of our group in these fields are summarized. Mainly based in the “dynamic hypothesis”, that considers the infection as a continuous process of endogenous reinfection. This theory supports that the design of vaccines able to avoid it are impossible, and has been the bases for the design of the therapeutic vaccine RUTI, which will allow the reduction of, chemotherapy treatment