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Infection Sites (infection + site)
Selected AbstractsType IV pili-mediated secretion modulates Francisella virulenceMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Anthony J. Hager Summary Francisella tularensis are the causative agent of the zoonotic disease, tularaemia. Among four F. tularensis subspecies, ssp. novicida (F. novicida) is pathogenic only for immunocompromised individuals, while all four subspecies are pathogenic for mice. This study utilized proteomic and bioinformatic approaches to identify seven F. novicida secreted proteins and the corresponding Type IV pilus (T4P) secretion system. The secreted proteins were predicted to encode two chitinases, a chitin binding protein, a protease (PepO), and a ,-glucosidase (BglX). The transcription of F. novicida pepO and bglX was regulated by the virulence regulator MglA. Intradermal infection of mice with F. novicida mutants defective in T4P secretion system or PepO resulted in enhanced F. novicida spread to systemic sites. Infection with F. novicida pepO mutants also resulted in increased neutrophil infiltration into the mouse airways. PepO is a zinc protease that is homologous to mammalian endothelin-converting enzyme ECE-1. Therefore, secretion of PepO likely results in increased production of endothelin and increased vasoconstriction at the infection site in skin that limits the F. novicida spread. Francisella human pathogenic strains contain a mutation in pepO predicted to abolish its secretion. Loss of PepO function may have contributed to evolution of highly virulent Francisellae. [source] Analysing scots pine defence-related transcripts and fungal DNA levels in seedlings single- or dual-inoculated with endophytic and pathogenic Rhizoctonia speciesFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2009H. Grönberg Summary Fungal DNA and induction of host defence-related transcripts were monitored by real-time PCR in young Scots pine seedlings inoculated with pathogenic uninucleate (UNR) and endophytic binucleate (BNR) Rhizoctonia species. The UNR (teleomorph Ceratobasidium bicorne) causes root dieback in conifer seedlings following invasion of the vascular cylinder via root apex and destroying apical meristems whilst the BNR, representing anastomosis group AG-I of genus Ceratobasidium, is primarily restricted to the cortex in basal root regions. In the experiment 1 the fungi were simultaneously inoculated on roots, while in experiment 2, BNR was pre-inoculated 168 h before inoculation with UNR. Nucleic acids were extracted from infected roots at intervals up to 192 h post-infection (hpi), and the genomic DNA levels of the host and fungi and the transcript levels of a house-keeping gene (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and nine putative defence genes were quantified. In simultaneous inoculation UNR was more competitive than BNR whereas pre-inoculation of BNR suppressed but did not completely prevent root colonization by UNR. Stilbene synthase (STS) transcription was significantly up-regulated in single-inoculations with both fungi and in dual inoculation in both experiments. Maximum STS transcript levels were observed in roots single-inoculated with UNR; the peak level at 48 hpi in experiment 2 was significantly higher than in seedlings single-inoculated with BNR or co-inoculated with both fungi, the latter two treatments showing relatively similar STS transcript levels. Similarly, transcript levels of phenylalanine ammonia lyase at 48 hpi in experiment 2 were significantly higher in roots single-inoculated with UNR compared with BNR or in UNR+BNR co-inoculations. The other seven putative defence genes monitored did not show any clear-cut up-regulation following fungal inoculation. We conclude that BNR suppresses UNR in Scots pine roots via direct competition for infection sites, since the studied transcripts showed no evidence of BNR induced resistance against UNR. [source] Gamma,delta T cell subsets are differentially associated with granuloma development and organization in a bovine model of mycobacterial diseaseINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Brandon L. Plattner Summary The characteristic lesion in bovine tuberculosis is well-organized respiratory granulomas. This is typically associated with a strong T-helper 1 biased cell-mediated immune response and eventual containment of the infection. In bovine paratuberculosis, the classic lesion is unorganized granulomatous intestinal inflammation. Clinical paratuberculosis is associated with a T-helper 2 biased humoral immune response and eventual death because of inability of the host to contain the infection. Recent reports have suggested that gamma,delta (,,) T cells play a significant role in granuloma development and/or maintenance during initial stages of infection and may influence the subsequent adaptive immune response. The objective of this study was to use an in vivo bovine model to evaluate ,, T cells during the early host immune response to mycobacterial infection. We used immunofluorescent staining, hyperspectral microscopy, and computerized assisted morphometry to evaluate staining and distribution of ,, T cells during development of organized and unorganized granulomas. Our data suggest that bovine ,, T cell subsets are differentially recruited to early infection sites, and may be instrumental during the initial antimycobacterial host immune response as well as for granuloma organization. [source] Monitoring Host Nuclear Migration and Degradation with Green Fluorescent Protein during Compatible and Incompatible Interactions of Nicotiana tabacum with Colletotrichum SpeciesJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 8-9 2004X. C. Shan Abstract Recent evidence has emerged suggesting that nuclei sense and migrate towards infection sites in plants, and a novel approach to examine the dynamics of nuclei is described utilizing transgenic plants expressing a version of green fluorescent protein (GFP) that specifically labels plant nuclei. Nicotiana tabacum with GFP-labelled nuclei were inoculated with GFP-labelled strains of the hemibiotrophic fungi, Colletotrichum destructivum and C. graminicola. The nucleus in an epidermal host cell migrated to just underneath the appressorium of the compatible fungus, C. destructivum, but then migrated away from the developing fungus once it had penetrated and started to grow biotrophically. As the necrotrophic phase developed, the nuclei appeared to shrink and eventually their green fluorescence was no longer visible. The interaction of C. graminicola with N. tabacum was considered to show non-host incompatibility. The host nuclei in the epidermal cells also migrated underneath the appressoria. Once fungal penetration had failed, the nuclei then migrated back towards locations typically observed in epidermal cells of uninoculated plants. The use of both plant structures and a fungus that are labelled with a readily detectable fluorescent marker provides significant advantages as it permits direct observation of changes in living host and pathogen cells during a plant,fungal interaction. [source] Efficacy of trimethoprim-sulfadoxine against Escherichia coli in a tissue cage model in calvesJOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2002C. Greko Tissue cages implanted subcutaneously in calves were infected with Escherichia coli. Twenty-four hours later, the calves were treated either with single doses of 2.5 + 12.5 or 5 + 25 mg/kg trimethoprim (TMP) + sulfadoxine (SDX) or with five doses of 7.5 + 37.5 mg/kg TMP + SDX at 12-h intervals. In addition, one cage in each of three calves in the highest dose group was infected 3 h after initiation of treatment. Untreated calves were kept as controls. Concentrations of TMP and SDX in plasma and tissue cage fluid (TCF) and counts of viable bacteria in TCF were determined. In the highest dose group, concentrations of TMP in TCF remained above the minimum inhibitory concentration of the test strain for 94,101 h and peak to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio was close to 10. In spite of this, an effect of treatment was noted only in cages infected after initiation of treatment. In vitro studies and analysis of thymidine content in serum and TCF from calves suggest that levels of thymidine in TCF are high enough to antagonize the antibacterial effect of TMP. The results indicate that soft tissue infections in secluded infection sites of calves are refractory to treatment with TMP + SDX. [source] Cathelicidin LL-37 induces the generation of reactive oxygen species and release of human ,-defensins from neutrophilsBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Y. Zheng Summary Background, Psoriasis is characterized by epidermal infiltration of neutrophils that destroy invading microorganisms via a potent antimicrobial arsenal of oxidants and antimicrobial agents. In contrast to atopic dermatitis, psoriasis exhibits low levels of skin infections due to the presence of antimicrobial agents, including cathelicidin LL-37. LL-37 kills a broad spectrum of microbes, and activates neutrophil chemotaxis. Objective, To determine whether or not LL-37 could regulate additional neutrophil functions such as production of cytokines/chemokines, reactive oxygen species and release of neutrophil antimicrobial peptides. Methods, Human peripheral blood neutrophils were used in this study. The production of interleukin (IL)-8 and release of ,-defensins were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to quantify ,-defensin gene expression. Phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was determined by Western blotting. The generation of reactive oxygen species was examined using flow cytometry, and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization was measured using a calcium assay kit. Results, LL-37 enhanced the production of IL-8 under the control of MAPK p38 and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), as evidenced by the inhibitory effects of p38 and ERK1/2 inhibitors on LL-37-mediated IL-8 production. Furthermore, LL-37 induced phosphorylation of p38 and ERK. We also revealed that LL-37 stimulated the generation of reactive oxygen species dose- and time-dependently, most probably via NADPH oxidase activation and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Finally, LL-37 induced both mRNA expression and protein release of ,-defensins, known as human neutrophil peptide 1,3. Conclusion, Taken together, we suggest that in addition to its microbicidal properties, LL-37 may contribute to innate immunity by enhancing neutrophil host defence functions at inflammation and/or infection sites. [source] | |||||||||||||