Chlamydia pneumoniae CPj0783 interaction with Huntingtin-protein14

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a Gram-negative, obligate intracellular pathogen that causes community-acquired respiratory infections. After C. pneumoniae invades host cells, it disturbs the vesicle transport system to escape host lysosomal or autophagosomal degradation. By using a yeast mis-sorting assay, we found 10 C. pneumoniae candidate genes involved in aberrant vesicular trafficking in host cells. One of the candidate genes, CPj0783, was recognized by antibodies from C. pneumoniae-infected patients. The expression of CPj0783 was detected at mid to late-cycle time points and increased during the inclusion maturation. Two-hybrid screening in yeast cells revealed that CPj0783 interacted with Huntingtin-interacting protein 14 (HIP14). The specific interaction between CPj0783 and HIP14 could be demonstrated by an in vivo co-immunoprecipitation assay and an in vitro GST pull-down assay. It was also demonstrated that HIP14 was localized in the Golgi apparatus and colocalized with CPj0783. HIP14 has a palmitoyl transferase activity that is involved in the palmitoylation-dependent vesicular trafficking of several acylated proteins. These findings suggest that CPj0783 might cause abnormal vesicle-mediated transport by interacting with HIP14. [Int Microbiol 18(4):225-233 (2015)]Keywords: Chlamydia pneumoniae · intracellular pathogens · yeast two-hybrid screening CPj0783–HIP14 · protein mis-sorting · vesicle transpor

Detection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses by a real-time PCR assay using universal primers and probes from blood in patients with febrile neutropenia.

Febrile neutropenia is the main treatment-related cause of mortality in cancer patients. During June 2012 to April 2013, 76 blood culture samples from patients receiving chemotherapy for hematological malignancy and cancer with febrile neutropenia episodes (FNEs) were examined for the presence of bacteria and fungi based on 16S rRNA gene and 18S rRNA combined with real-time PCR amplification and sequencing. Furthermore, we used a loopmediatedisothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the detection of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV-1,2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), epstein-barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human herpes virus type6 and 7 (HHV-6,7), followed by a real-time PCR amplification assay. Of these samples, bacteria were identified in 19 of 76 FNEs (25.0%) by a real-time PCR assay and in 9 of 76 (11.8%) by blood culture. In 6 blood culture-positive samples, real-timePCR assay detected the same type of bacteria. No fungus was detected both real-time PCR assay and blood culture. Viruses were identified in 6 of 76 FNE (7.9%). During antibiotic therapy, all samples were negative in blood culture, but a real time PCR assay yielded a positive result in 2 cases of 2 (100%). The number of bacteria DNA copy and serum CRP titer of patients with FNE did not correlated well. We conclude a real-time PCR assay could be given higher microbe\u27s detection rate, and need shorter turnaround time, and smaller blood sample than blood culture. Using a real-time PCR assay combined with blood culture improves microbiological documentation in febrile neuropenia episodes

A Study of Gram Stained Specimens Obtained from Pediatric Inpatients of Kawasaki Medical School Hospital - Achievements from an elementary research experiment by a 2nd year medical student

　This study was designed as an elementary medical research experiment course for a 2nd year medical student. All Gram stained specimens deriving from upper respiratory tract specimens collected from pediatric inpatients admitted to the pediatric ward of our hospital during 2018 October 1st through 31st were examined; the result was assessed as to whether or not it was in concordance with past reports or not.　Gram-negative cocci (Moraxella catarrhalis -like), Gram-negative rods (Haemophilus influenzae -like), and Gram-positive diplococci (Streptococcus pneumoniae -like) were frequently encountered in this order; these three most encountered species were in concordance with previous reports, whereas their order was not. This difference in the order of frequency might be attributed to the legislation of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae

Cellulitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes at the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination site: A case report

Recently, the number of reports on skin manifestations, including tuberculids, developing as adverse reactions to the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has increased in Japan. We encountered a case in which an infant developed cellulitis at the vaccination site. The patient was a girl who received the BCG vaccine 5 months after birth. Two months after vaccination, she developed a fever of 39ºC, and redness and swelling spread to the entire left upper arm. After being treated with oral cefditoren pivoxil, she was referred to our hospital and received treatment with intravenous sulbactam/ampicillin. Streptococcus pyogenes was detected in a culture of the vaccination scars, and the reaction was very likely caused by pathogenic bacteria. There has been no previous report on a patient developing cellulitis following BCG vaccination caused by S. pyogenes at the vaccination site. Here, we describe such a case with a literature review

Home-based subcutaneous immunoglobulin after switch from intravenous immunoglobulin improved quality of life in pediatric patient with common variable immunodeficiency: A case report

　Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is one of the primary immunodeficiency. Regular immunoglobulin G (IgG) replacement therapy is often performed for patients with CVID.　We experienced a patient who was hospitalized in our hospital for repeated pneumonia and diagnosed CVID at the age of 10 years. He had often been absent from school due to infectious diseases. We were administered intravenous IgG (IVIG) two times and his serum level of IgG became over 1,000 mg/dL. Afterward, he was affected the hand-foot-and-mouth disease one week after discharge. At that time, his IgG level decreased to 751 mg/dL. To maintain stable IgG trough levels, we introduced subcutaneous IgG (SCIG). Since then, his IgG levels remained around 1,000 mg/dL, he has lived without suffering from infectious diseases.　There are some reports that IVIG and SCIG were compared and SCIG was able to obtain a stable IgG trough levels to prevent infection. In addition, because our patient is a mother and child family, it was difficult to visit the outpatient department frequently, so it was desirable to infuse at home.　We experienced a patient who had a stable trough levels with SCIG and improved quality of life, so we report this case with literature reviews

Reactive oxygen metabolites as a biomarker of congenital heart disease in children

　Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), as a hematological biomarker, has been widely used in congenital heart disease (CHD). However, its sensitivity and specificity vary depending on age and pathological condition. In the present study, we assessed whether reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP), as oxidative stress indicators, could be new biomarkers in CHD.　Forty-two patients diagnosed with CHD were enrolled in this study. The levels of ROMs, BAP, BNP, cardiac muscle creatinine kinase, and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein were measured using the findings of echocardiography. The ROM and BNP levels were significantly higher than the standard reference levels. The estimated Qp/Qs correlated mildly with BNP and ROM levels. The medication caused a significant decrease in BNP and ROM levels. The optimal decision, Qp/Qs greater than 1.5, estimated from receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves was 371 U.CARR (58% sensitivity, 90% specificity) for ROMs, and that for BNP was 28.4 pg/ml (97% sensitivity 45% specificity). Direct comparison of ROMs and BNP did not show significantly different area under the curve values.　ROM levels can be a new biomarker for oxidative stress evaluation in children with CHD at almost the same sensitivity as the previous biomarkers, and an effective indicator when combined with other biomarkers and indicators

Understanding confidence in the human papillomavirus vaccine in Japan: a web-based survey of mothers, female adolescents, and healthcare professionals.

Vaccine confidence reflects social, individual, and political factors indicating confidence in vaccines and associated health systems. In Japan, the government ceased proactive recommendation of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in June 2013, only several months after the recommendation had begun. Seven years later, as of October 2020, the suspension persists and vaccine coverage has precipitously declined, resulting in many young women being continually exposed to the risk of preventable HPV-related diseases. Accordingly, understanding stakeholder opinions on HPV vaccination issues is critical for informing strategies to improve HPV vaccine confidence and acceptance. In October 2019, we performed a nationwide, web-based survey of 1646 mothers of HPV-vaccination-eligible girls, 562 female adolescents aged 15-19 years, and 919 healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Japan. This survey captured key elements of vaccine confidence (i.e., importance, effectiveness, and safety of the HPV vaccine), awareness, and the willingness to receive (in HPV-vaccination-eligible girls) or recommend (in HCPs) the HPV vaccine, and the factors responsible for these decisions. HPV vaccine confidence was generally higher among HCPs than among mothers or female adolescents. Nearly half of all stakeholders were neutral regarding their willingness to receive/recommend the HPV vaccine. The seriousness of cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine's effectiveness or safety were important deciding factors for receiving/recommending the HPV vaccine. Besides these factors, sufficient information and free vaccination were crucial. Our results suggest several factors that could help shape public policy and communication strategies to improve HPV vaccine confidence and acceptance in Japan