Osteomyelitis is associated with increased anti-inflammatory response and immune exhaustion

IntroductionOsteomyelitis (OMS) is a bone infection causing bone pain and severe complications. A balanced immune response is critical to eradicate infection without harming the host, yet pathogens manipulate immunity to establish a chronic infection. Understanding OMS-driven inflammation is essential for disease management, but comprehensive data on immune profiles and immune cell activation during OMS are lacking.MethodsUsing high-dimensional flow cytometry, we investigated the detailed innate and adaptive systemic immune cell populations in OMS and age- and sex-matched controls.ResultsOur study revealed that OMS is associated with increased levels of immune regulatory cells, namely T regulatory cells, B regulatory cells, and T follicular regulatory cells. In addition, the expression of immune activation markers HLA-DR and CD86 was decreased in OMS, while the expression of immune exhaustion markers TIM-3, PD-1, PD-L1, and VISTA was increased. Members of the T follicular helper (Tfh) cell family as well as classical and typical memory B cells were significantly increased in OMS individuals. We also found a strong correlation between memory B cells and Tfh cells.DiscussionWe conclude that OMS skews the host immune system towards the immunomodulatory arm and that the Tfh memory B cell axis is evident in OMS. Therefore, immune-directed therapies may be a promising alternative for eradication and recurrence of infection in OMS, particularly in individuals and areas where antibiotic resistance is a major concern

Decreased Prevalence of Lymphatic Filariasis among Diabetic Subjects Associated with a Diminished Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Response (CURES 83)

Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse correlation between the incidence of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and the incidence of allergies and autoimmunity. However, the interrelationship between LF and type-2 diabetes is not known and hence, a cross sectional study to assess the baseline prevalence and the correlates of sero-positivity of LF among diabetic subjects was carried out (n = 1416) as part of the CURES study. There was a significant decrease in the prevalence of LF among diabetic subjects (both newly diagnosed [5.7%] and those under treatment [4.3%]) compared to pre-diabetic subjects [9.1%] (p = 0.0095) and non-diabetic subjects [10.4%] (p = 0.0463). A significant decrease in filarial antigen load (p = 0.04) was also seen among diabetic subjects. Serum cytokine levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines—IL-6 and GM-CSF—were significantly lower in diabetic subjects who were LF positive, compared to those who were LF negative. There were, however, no significant differences in the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines—IL-10, IL-13 and TGF-β—between the two groups. Although a direct causal link has yet to be shown, there appears to be a striking inverse relationship between the prevalence of LF and diabetes, which is reflected by a diminished pro-inflammatory cytokine response in Asian Indians with diabetes and concomitant LF

In Search of an Uncultured Human-Associated TM7 Bacterium in the Environment

We have identified an environmental bacterium in the Candidate Division TM7 with ≥98.5% 16S rDNA gene homology to a group of TM7 bacteria associated with the human oral cavity and skin. The environmental TM7 bacterium (referred to as TM7a-like) was readily detectable in wastewater with molecular techniques over two years of sampling. We present the first images of TM7a-like cells through FISH technique and the first images of any TM7 as viable cells through the STARFISH technique. In situ quantification showed TM7 concentration in wastewater up to five times greater than in human oral sites. We speculate that upon further characterization of the physiology and genetics of the TM7a-like bacterium from environmental sources and confirmation of its genomic identity to human-associated counterparts it will serve as model organisms to better understand its role in human health. The approach proposed circumvents difficulties imposed by sampling humans, provides an alternative strategy to characterizing some diseases of unknown etiology, and renders a much needed understanding of the ecophysiological role hundreds of unique Bacteria and Archaea strains play in mixed microbial communities

Prolonging the shelf life of jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) buds by chemical treatments under cold storage condition

Aim of this study is to enhance the shelf life of jasmine flower buds by application of different anti-senescence chemicals to meet out the marketing demand with improved post-harvest quality. The experimental design followed for this study is completely randomized block design with seven treatments, each replicated thrice. The harvested jasmine flowers were treated with different anti-senescence chemicals viz., Silver nanoparticle (SNP) (20ppm), Boric acid (4%), Sucrose (4%), NAA (100 ppm), BA (500 ppm), α-AIB (20µM) and packed in 200 gauge polypropylene bag without ventilation then stored in cold storage condition. Among the different anti-senescence chemical treatments silver nanoparticle (20 ppm) shows positive significant difference in freshness index, flower opening index, color retention index and maintained the shelf life up to 11 days over the control for 7 days

Effect of Heat Stress on Photosystem II, Antioxidant Activity and Micronutrient Concentration in Contrasting Cultivars of Greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)

Heat stress around flowering has negative effect on greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) grain yield. The pot culture experiments were conducted to study the response of antioxidant system, photosystem II and micronutrient concentration to above-optimum temperature at flowering stage in two cultivars of greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) cv. SAMRAT (heat tolerant) and VBN-2 (heat susceptible). The plants were grown under natural light and atmospheric conditions (33/22°C day/night) up to the first appearance of flower. Then, cohort of plants were: (a) exposed to natural environment (33/22°C day/night) for 13 days and were (b) exposed to controlled environment 33/22 to 45/30°C (day/night) for 13 days by gradually increasing 1°C per day in day/night temperature and then pots were shifted to natural environment for 5 days for recovery. The activity of antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT and APX) were increased significantly as the temperatures increased upto 38/26°C in both cultivars and showed less reduction appropriately at 45/30°C in SAMRAT compared to VBN-2. It is possible that better tolerant to heat stress of SAMRAT was related to its ability to maintain higher levels of activity of antioxidant enzymes in all the temperature regimes. Quantum yield (Fv/Fm) showed significant reduction at 41/28°C in VBN-2 while at 45/30°C in SAMRAT indicating relative tolerance to heat stress. Micronutrient composition was not affected at 45/30°C except Cu content in leaves and Mn and Fe content in shoots. Upon heat stress treatment SAMRAT showed relatively less reduction of micronutrients like Cu, Mn and Fe content in leaves compared to VBN-2. The tolerant cultivar SAMRAT can serve as parents for breeding for heat stress tolerant variety

Paraneoplastic glomerulopathies associated with hematologic malignancies

Paraneoplastic glomerulopathy (PG) includes a group of glomerular lesions that are not directly related to tumor burden, invasion, or metastasis, but induced by products from tumor cells such as hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and tumor antigens. PG was first described by Galloway in 1922, in which nephrotic syndrome (NS) secondary to Hodgkin's lymphoma was reported. They can present before, at the time of diagnosis, during remission, or at relapse of the hematological malignancies. We present three cases of paraneoplastic NS associated with hematological malignancies. Early diagnosis and treatment can alter prognosis of these patients. Paraneoplastic syndromes would remit only with proper treatment of the neoplasia