Minilungs from Human Embryonic Stem Cells to Study the Interaction of Streptococcus pneumoniae with the Respiratory Tract

The new generation of organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells holds a promising strategy for modeling host-bacteria interaction studies. Organoids recapitulate the composition, diversity of cell types, and, to some extent, the functional features of the native organ. We generated lung bud organoids derived from human embryonic stem cells to study the interaction of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) with the alveolar epithelium. Invasive pneumococcal disease is an important health problem that may occur as a result of the spread of pneumococcus from the lower respiratory tract to sterile sites. We show here an efficient experimental approach to model the main events of the pneumococcal infection that occur in the human lung, exploring bacterial adherence to the epithelium and internalization and triggering an innate response that includes the interaction with surfactant and the expression of representative cytokines and chemokines. Thus, this model, based on human minilungs, can be used to study pneumococcal virulence factors and the pathogenesis of different serotypes, and it will allow therapeutic interventions in a reliable human context. Importance: Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for high morbidity and mortalities rates worldwide, affecting mainly children and adults older than 65 years. Pneumococcus is also the most common etiologic agent of bacterial pneumonia and nonepidemic meningitis, and it is a frequent cause of bacterial sepsis. Although the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines has decreased the burden of pneumococcal disease, the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains and nonvaccine types by serotype replacement is worrisome. To study the biology of pneumococcus and to establish a reliable human model for pneumococcal pathogenesis, we generated human minilungs from embryonic stem cells. The results show that these organoids can be used to model some events occurring during the interaction of pneumococcus with the lung, such as adherence, internalization, and the initial alveolar innate response. This model also represents a great alternative for studying virulence factors involved in pneumonia, drug screening, and other therapeutic interventions.This work was supported by grant PI19CIII/00003 from the ISCIII to A.Z. and grantsPID2020-119298RB-I00 and PID2020-114546RB-I00 from the Spanish Ministry of Scienceand Innovation (MICINN) to J.Y. and O.Z., respectively. M.P.D.L. and J.M.R.-C. received grantsupport from AESI (PI20CIII/0029), the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC,CGB14143035THOM), and CIBERONC (group CB16/12/00273). S.A.R. was granted apostdoctoral fellowship by the Fundacão de Amparo á pesquisa do Estado do SãoPaulo (reference FAPESP-BEBE 2020/09919-0).S

Antioxidant properties of soy-dairy milk blends fermented with probiotics

ABSTRACT Objective: Evaluate the effect of the substitution of cow milk with soy beverage on the antioxidant properties, physicochemical parameters, and sensory quality of the probiotic and conventional fermented beverages. Design/methodology/approach: Different combinations of soy beverage (T1=80%, T2=60%, T3=40%, and T4=20%) with cow milk (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%, respectively) were fermented with either conventional or probiotic cultures. The antioxidant activity of fermented beverages was evaluated by DPPH method and the samples were also characterized for protein, fat, solids non-fat, density, and acidity. Sensory evaluation was done in order to determine the acceptability of the fermented beverages. Results: Overall, most treatments fermented with the probiotic culture showed higher (P<0.05) antioxidant capacity compared to those fermented with the conventional culture. In contrast, for both starter cultures, it was observed that the T1 treatment displayed the highest (P<0.05) antioxidant activity compared with the other treatments (T2, T3, and T4). Similarly, the treatment T1-probiotic culture was the most preferred, being the aroma and appearance, the sensory properties scored with the highest degree of liking. Study Limitations: Follow-up research is needed to identify the bioactive compounds responsible for antioxidant properties exhibited by fermented soy-dairy milk beverages. Findings/conclusions: Probiotic cultures can be used to generate soy-dairy milk fermented beverages with noticeable antioxidant and sensory properties.Objective: Evaluate the effect of the substitution of cow milk with soy beverage on the antioxidant properties, physicochemical parameters, and sensory quality of the probiotic and conventional fermented beverages.Design/methodology/approach: Different combinations of soy beverage (T1=80%, T2=60%, T3=40%, and T4=20%) with cow milk (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%, respectively) were fermented with either conventional or probiotic cultures. The antioxidant activity of fermented beverages was evaluated by DPPH method and the samples were also characterized for protein, fat, solids non-fat, density, and acidity. Sensory evaluation was done in order to determine the acceptability of the fermented beverages.Results: Overall, most treatments fermented with the probiotic culture showed higher (P<0.05) antioxidant capacity compared to those fermented with the conventional culture. In contrast, for both starter cultures, it wasobserved that the T1 treatment displayed the highest (P<0.05) antioxidant activity compared with the other treatments (T2, T3, and T4). Similarly, the treatment T1-probiotic culture was the most preferred, being the aroma and appearance, the sensory properties scored with the highest degree of liking. Study Limitations: Follow-up research is needed to identify the bioactive compounds responsible for antioxidant properties exhibited by fermented soy-dairy milk beverages.Findings/conclusions: Probiotic cultures can be used to generate soy- dairy milk fermented beverages with noticeable antioxidant and sensory properties

Ankylosing Spondylitis and Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cell Therapy: A New Therapeutic Approach

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatoid disease categorized within spondyloarthropathies (SpA) and manifested by chronic spinal arthritis. Several innate and adaptive immune cells and secreted-mediators have been indicated to play a role in AS pathogenesis. Considering the limitations of current therapeutic approaches (NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, DMARDs and biologic drugs), finding new treatments with fewer side effects and high therapeutic potentials are required in AS. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with considerable immunomodulatory and regenerative properties could be able to attenuate the inflammatory responses and help tissue repair by cell-to-cell contact and secretion of soluble factors. Moreover, MSCs do not express HLA-DR, which renders them a favorable therapeutic choice for transplantation in immune-mediated disorders. In the present review, we describe immunopathogenesis and current treatments restrictions of AS. Afterwards, immunomodulatory properties and applications of MSCs in immune-mediated disorders, as well as recent findings of clinical trials involving mesenchymal stem cell therapy (MSCT) in ankylosing spondylitis, will be discussed in detail. Additional studies are required to investigate several features of MSCT such as cell origin, dosage, administration route and, specifically, the most suitable stage of disease for ideal intervention

Distinct in vitro T-helper Th17 differentiation capacity of peripheral naive T cells in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis

BACKGROUND: The T-helper 17 (Th17) cells have a prominent role in inflammation as well as in bone and join destruction in both rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis (RA and PsA). Here, we studied Th17 cell differentiation in RA and PsA. METHODS: Blood samples from healthy donors, RA and PsA patients were collected. CD45RO- (naive) and CD45RO+ (memory) T cells were isolated from peripherial blood mononuclear cell by magnetic separation. Naive T cells were stimulated with anti-CD3, anti-CD28, and goat anti-mouse IgG antibodies and treated with transforming grow factor beta, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and IL-23 cytokines and also with anti-IL-4 antibody. IL-17A and IL-22 production were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, RORC, and T-box 21 (TBX21) expression were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry. C-C chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6), CCR4, and C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 expression were determined by flow cytometry. Cell viability was monitored by impedance-based cell analyzer (CASY-TT). RESULTS: RORC, TBX21, CCR6, and CCR4 expression of memory T cells of healthy individuals (but not RA or PsA patients) were increased (p < 0.01; p < 0.001; p < 0.05; p < 0.05, respectively) compared to the naive cells. Cytokine-induced IL-17A production was different in both RA and PsA patients when compared to healthy donors (p = 0.0000026 and p = 0.0001047, respectively). By contrast, significant differences in IL-22 production were observed only between RA versus healthy or RA versus PsA patients (p = 0.000006; p = 0.0013454, respectively), but not between healthy donors versus PsA patients. CONCLUSION: The naive CD4 T-lymphocytes are predisposed to differentiate into Th17 cells and the in vitro Th17 cell differentiation is profoundly altered in both RA and PsA

Jornada Estatal sobre Llegim en parella

Una de les activitats emblemàtiques de l'ICE de la UAB, gairebé des dels seu orígens a l'any 1968, són les jornades, que tenen com a objectiu afavorir l'actualització de coneixements i l'intercanvi d'experiències entre els professionals de l'educació d'un àmbit concret. En molts casos els continguts de les jornades queden recollits en unes actes, que fins ara es publicaven en paper o, darrerament, en format CD, amb un abast més aviat limitat. Tenint en compte que la difusió de la feina feta té un caràcter prioritari per a l'ICE i que els publicacions on-line n'amplien exponencialment, gairebé infinitament, les possibilitats, hem volgut encetar una "sèrie digital" de la "Col·lecció Jornades", a través de la qual canalitzarem totes les publicacions d'aquesta mena a partir d'ara. En el primer exemplar d'aquesta nova sèrie hi trobareu la sinopsi de la Primera Jornada "Llegim en parella"."Llegim en parella" va néixer com una proposta metodològica basada en l'aprenentatge entre iguals que té com a finalitat promoure la lectura entre els alumnes de les aules de primària i de secundària. Les escoles que s'han adherit a aquesta manera de treballar formen una xarxa, amb nodes a Catalunya, les Illes, l'Aragó i el País Basc, mitjançant la qual es coordinen i intercanvien experiències. Els dies 4 i 5 de maig del 2012, van tenir lloc a la Universitat Autònoma de Bacelona les Jornades estatals sobre Llegim en parella, organitzades per l'ICE i el GRAI, amb el suport del Departament d'Ensenyament de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Les jornades van ser ser un punt de trobada i reflexió sobre la pràctica i el coneixement construït per les xarxes de centres que a Catalunya, Euskadi i Aragó han implementat el programa Llegim en parella i com una oportunitat per presentar-lo a la comunitat educativa en general. Més de 160 professionals hi van prendre part. En la publicació hi trobareu els textos de les intervencions (conferències, tallers i comunicacions), així com els pòsters que s'hi varen presentar i un reportatge fotogràfic de les sessions. El textos es reprodueixen en la llengua en què varen ser presentats, atesa la procedència dels participants