Use of a lytic bacteriophage to control Salmonella Enteritidis in retail food

A Salmonella Enteritidis lytic bacteriophage designated as SE07 was isolated from retail meat samples. Electron micrograph revealed that phage SE07 belonged to family Podoviridae. Phage SE07 was relatively stable at the temperature ranging from 28 to 65 °C. Furthermore, it exhibited remarkable pH stability (between pH 4.0–11.0). The effectiveness of phage SE07 was determined in different food matrices (fruit juice, fresh eggs, beef and chicken meat) experimentally contaminated with S. Enteritidis. A significant reduction of S. Enteritidis population (about 2 log cycles) was obtained in fruit juice and fresh eggs after incubation at 4 °C for 48 h. Furthermore, within the same period, bacterial population was reduced by 2.1 and 2.0 log cycles on the bacteriophage treated beef and chicken meat samples, respectively. In this study, the obtained data suggested that phage SE07 might have potential uses against Salmonella food-borne infections

A Genome-wide CRISPR Screen Reveals a Role for the Non-canonical Nucleosome-Remodeling BAF Complex in Foxp3 expression and regulatory T cell function

Regulatory T cells (Treg) play a pivotal role in suppressing auto-reactive T cells and maintaining immune homeostasis. Treg development and function are dependent on the transcription factor Foxp3. Although a large body of work has been devoted to dissecting the molecular mechanisms regulating Foxp3 expression, a systematic, genome-wide approach has not been elucidated. In this study, we performed genome-wide CRISPR loss-of-function screens to identify Foxp3 regulators in mouse primary Treg cells. The screen results not only confirmed a number of known Foxp3 regulators but also revealed many novel factors that control Foxp3 expression. Gene ontology analysis showed Foxp3 regulators were highly enriched in genes encoding subunits of the SWI/SNF nucleosome remodeling and SAGA chromatin modifying complexes. Among the three SWI/SNF-related complexes, the Brd9-containing non-canonical (nc)BAF complex promoted Foxp3 expression, whereas the PBAF complex was repressive. Gene ablation or chemical-induced degradation of Brd9 led to reduced Foxp3 expression and reduced Treg function. Brd9 ablation compromised Treg function in inflammatory disease and tumor immunity. Furthermore, Brd9 promoted Foxp3 binding and expression of a subset of Foxp3 target genes, indicating that Brd9 actively participates in the Foxp3-dependent transcriptional program. In summary, this work provides an unbiased analysis of the genetic networks regulating Foxp3 and reveal ncBAF as a target for therapeutic manipulation of Treg function

A Genome-wide CRISPR Screen Reveals a Role for the Non-canonical Nucleosome-Remodeling BAF Complex in Foxp3 expression and regulatory T cell function

Regulatory T cells (Treg) play a pivotal role in suppressing auto-reactive T cells and maintaining immune homeostasis. Treg development and function are dependent on the transcription factor Foxp3. Although a large body of work has been devoted to dissecting the molecular mechanisms regulating Foxp3 expression, a systematic, genome-wide approach has not been elucidated. In this study, we performed genome-wide CRISPR loss-of-function screens to identify Foxp3 regulators in mouse primary Treg cells. The screen results not only confirmed a number of known Foxp3 regulators but also revealed many novel factors that control Foxp3 expression. Gene ontology analysis showed Foxp3 regulators were highly enriched in genes encoding subunits of the SWI/SNF nucleosome remodeling and SAGA chromatin modifying complexes. Among the three SWI/SNF-related complexes, the Brd9-containing non-canonical (nc)BAF complex promoted Foxp3 expression, whereas the PBAF complex was repressive. Gene ablation or chemical-induced degradation of Brd9 led to reduced Foxp3 expression and reduced Treg function. Brd9 ablation compromised Treg function in inflammatory disease and tumor immunity. Furthermore, Brd9 promoted Foxp3 binding and expression of a subset of Foxp3 target genes, indicating that Brd9 actively participates in the Foxp3-dependent transcriptional program. In summary, this work provides an unbiased analysis of the genetic networks regulating Foxp3 and reveal ncBAF as a target for therapeutic manipulation of Treg function

Phospholipase A 2

Phospholipases represent one of the earliest enzyme activities to be identified and studied, and the phospholipase A2 superfamily traces its roots to the identification of lytic actions of snake venom at the end of the 19th century. Both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions contribute to the interfacial binding of sPLA2 to anionic phospholipid membranes. The interaction between basic residues on the binding surface with anionic vesicles plays an important role in interfacial binding. The major functions will be summarized below and include the ability to kill Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, thereby affecting host defense against bacterial infections. sPLA2 may be involved in the pathogensis of inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. GIIA sPLA2 protein and mRNA were detected in Paneth cells of the small intestinal mucosa in the intestine in Crohn's disease patients

Body mass index and complications following major gastrointestinal surgery: a prospective, international cohort study and meta-analysis.

AIM: Previous studies reported conflicting evidence on the effects of obesity on outcomes after gastrointestinal surgery. The aims of this study were to explore the relationship of obesity with major postoperative complications in an international cohort and to present a meta-analysis of all available prospective data. METHODS: This prospective, multicentre study included adults undergoing both elective and emergency gastrointestinal resection, reversal of stoma or formation of stoma. The primary end-point was 30-day major complications (Clavien-Dindo Grades III-V). A systematic search was undertaken for studies assessing the relationship between obesity and major complications after gastrointestinal surgery. Individual patient meta-analysis was used to analyse pooled results. RESULTS: This study included 2519 patients across 127 centres, of whom 560 (22.2%) were obese. Unadjusted major complication rates were lower in obese vs normal weight patients (13.0% vs 16.2%, respectively), but this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.863) on multivariate analysis for patients having surgery for either malignant or benign conditions. Individual patient meta-analysis demonstrated that obese patients undergoing surgery for malignancy were at increased risk of major complications (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.49-2.96, P < 0.001), whereas obese patients undergoing surgery for benign indications were at decreased risk (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46-0.75, P < 0.001) compared to normal weight patients. CONCLUSIONS: In our international data, obesity was not found to be associated with major complications following gastrointestinal surgery. Meta-analysis of available prospective data made a novel finding of obesity being associated with different outcomes depending on whether patients were undergoing surgery for benign or malignant disease

Body mass index and complications following major gastrointestinal surgery: A prospective, international cohort study and meta-analysis

Aim Previous studies reported conflicting evidence on the effects of obesity on outcomes after gastrointestinal surgery. The aims of this study were to explore the relationship of obesity with major postoperative complications in an international cohort and to present a metaanalysis of all available prospective data. Methods This prospective, multicentre study included adults undergoing both elective and emergency gastrointestinal resection, reversal of stoma or formation of stoma. The primary end-point was 30-day major complications (Clavien\u2013Dindo Grades III\u2013V). A systematic search was undertaken for studies assessing the relationship between obesity and major complications after gastrointestinal surgery. Individual patient meta-analysis was used to analyse pooled results. Results This study included 2519 patients across 127 centres, of whom 560 (22.2%) were obese. Unadjusted major complication rates were lower in obese vs normal weight patients (13.0% vs 16.2%, respectively), but this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.863) on multivariate analysis for patients having surgery for either malignant or benign conditions. Individual patient meta-analysis demonstrated that obese patients undergoing surgery formalignancy were at increased risk of major complications (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.49\u20132.96, P &lt; 0.001), whereas obese patients undergoing surgery for benign indications were at decreased risk (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46\u20130.75, P &lt; 0.001) compared to normal weight patients. Conclusions In our international data, obesity was not found to be associated with major complications following gastrointestinal surgery. Meta-analysis of available prospective data made a novel finding of obesity being associated with different outcomes depending on whether patients were undergoing surgery for benign or malignant disease

Body mass index and complications following major gastrointestinal surgery: A prospective, international cohort study and meta-analysis

Aim Previous studies reported conflicting evidence on the effects of obesity on outcomes after gastrointestinal surgery. The aims of this study were to explore the relationship of obesity with major postoperative complications in an international cohort and to present a metaanalysis of all available prospective data. Methods This prospective, multicentre study included adults undergoing both elective and emergency gastrointestinal resection, reversal of stoma or formation of stoma. The primary end-point was 30-day major complications (Clavien–Dindo Grades III–V). A systematic search was undertaken for studies assessing the relationship between obesity and major complications after gastrointestinal surgery. Individual patient meta-analysis was used to analyse pooled results. Results This study included 2519 patients across 127 centres, of whom 560 (22.2%) were obese. Unadjusted major complication rates were lower in obese vs normal weight patients (13.0% vs 16.2%, respectively), but this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.863) on multivariate analysis for patients having surgery for either malignant or benign conditions. Individual patient meta-analysis demonstrated that obese patients undergoing surgery formalignancy were at increased risk of major complications (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.49–2.96, P < 0.001), whereas obese patients undergoing surgery for benign indications were at decreased risk (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46–0.75, P < 0.001) compared to normal weight patients. Conclusions In our international data, obesity was not found to be associated with major complications following gastrointestinal surgery. Meta-analysis of available prospective data made a novel finding of obesity being associated with different outcomes depending on whether patients were undergoing surgery for benign or malignant disease