Experience of using bedaquiline in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with multiple drug resistance

Safety and efficiency of chemotherapy regimens including the new anti-tuberculosis drug of bedaquiline have been evaluated in 49 patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis with multiple and extensive drug resistance. The chemotherapy tolerance monitoring has detected the causality between bedaquiline intake as per Naranjo score in 12.2% of the patients, all reactions were reversible, but the cancellation of the drug was needed in 5 cases out of 6. The efficiency evaluation of six month treatment with bedaquiline showed satisfactory results as per the main efficiency criterion – sputum conversion. Sputum smear conversion was registered in 80.0% of patients, sputum conversion confirmed by culture was registered in 66.7% of patients with cessation or significant reduction of intoxication syndrome – in 83.3% of patients. The positive changes in X-ray were observed in 63.3% of cases, but cavity closure was achieved only in 25% of patients which was due to continuity of the preceding follow-up with the development of expressed fibrosis lesions in the lung tissue of the examined patients. The conclusion was made about satisfactory tolerance and efficiency of the new anti-tuberculosis drug of bedaquiline

Model membrane systems to reconstitute immune cell signaling

Understanding the broad variety of functions encoded in cellular membranes requires experimental systems mimicking both their biochemical composition and biophysical properties. Here, we review the interplay between membrane components and the physical properties of the plasma membrane worth considering for biomimetic studies. Later, we discuss the main advantages and caveats of different model membrane systems. We further expand on how the use of model systems has contributed to the understanding of immune cell signaling, with a specific focus on the immunological synapse. We discuss the similarities of immune synapses observed for innate and adaptive immune cells and focus on the physical principles underlying these similarities