The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of MHCⅠ gene in different tissues of Rana dybowskii under the stress of Aeromonas hydrophila (Ah), and to provide evidence for revealing the anti-infective immune response mechanism of amphibians. The experimental animal model of Aeromonas hydrophila infection was first constructed, and the pathological changes were observed by HE staining. The MHCⅠ gene α1+α2 peptide binding region of Rana dybowskii was cloned by RT-PCR and analyzed by bioinformatics. Real-time PCR was used to detect the transcription level of MHCⅠ in different tissues under Ah stress. After Ah infection, the skin, liver and muscle tissues showed signs of cell structure disappearance and texture disorder. The MHCⅠ gene α1+α2 peptide binding region fragment was 494 bp, encoding 164 amino acids, and homology with amphibians. Above 77%, the homology with mammals was as low as 14.96%, indicating that the α1+α2 region of MHC gene was less conserved among different species. The results of real-time PCR show that the liver, spleen and kidney of the experimental group were under Ah stress. The transcript levels of MHCⅠ gene in skin and muscle tissues were higher than those in the control group at 72 h, but the time to peak of each tissue was different (P<0.01), indicating that the response time of MHCⅠ gene in different tissues was different under Ah stress. This study provides a reference for further exploring the immune function of MHC molecules in anti-infection.
Aeromonas hydrophila ; Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; immunology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; immunology ; Liver ; metabolism ; Ranidae ; genetics ; immunology ; microbiology ; Skin ; metabolism

In this paper, we review the results of previous studies and summarize the effects of various factors on the regulation of bone metabolism in traumatic bone infections. Infection-related bone destruction incorporates pathogens and iatrogenic factors in the process of bone resorption dominated by the skeletal and immune systems. The development of bone immunology has established a bridge of communication between the skeletal system and the immune system. Exploring the effects of pathogens, skeletal systems, immune systems, and antibacterials on bone repair in infectious conditions can help improve the treatment of these diseases.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage* ; Bone and Bones/metabolism* ; Cellular Microenvironment ; Humans ; Immune System/immunology* ; Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology* ; Osteitis/microbiology* ; Osteoblasts/physiology* ; Osteoclasts/physiology* ; Staphylococcal Infections

Inflatable penile prostheses are an important tool in the treatment of medically refractory erectile dysfunction. One of the major complications associated with these prostheses is infections, which ultimately require device explanation and placement of a new device. Over the past several decades, significant work has been done to reduce infection rates and optimize treatment strategies to reduce patient morbidity. This article reviews the current state of knowledge surrounding penile prosthesis infections, with attention to the evidence for methods to prevent infection and best practices for device reimplantation.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local/therapeutic use* ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis/methods* ; Bandages ; Carrier State/drug therapy* ; Chlorhexidine/therapeutic use* ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Device Removal ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology* ; Erectile Dysfunction/surgery* ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/therapy* ; Hair Removal/methods* ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host/immunology* ; Male ; Penile Implantation/methods* ; Penile Prosthesis ; Preoperative Care/methods* ; Prosthesis-Related Infections/therapy* ; Reoperation ; Risk Factors ; Spinal Cord Injuries/epidemiology* ; Staphylococcal Infections/therapy* ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Surgical Drapes ; Surgical Instruments ; Surgical Wound Infection/therapy*

ObjectiveGastroscopy combined with gastric mucosa biopsies is currently regarded as a gold standard for diagnosis of gastric cancer. However, its application is restricted in clinical practice due to its invasive property. A new noninvasive population screening process combining the assay of anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody and serum pepsinogen (PG) (ABC method) is adopted to recognize the high-risk patients for further endoscopy examination, avoiding the unnecessary gastroscopy for most population and saving the cost consumption for mass screening annually. Nevertheless, controversies exist for the grouping of ABC method and the intervals of gastroscopy surveillance for each group. In this review, we summarized these popular concerned topics for providing useful references to the healthcare practitioner in clinical practice.

Data SourcesThe PubMed databases were systematically searched from the inception dates to November 22, 2017, using the keywords "Helicobacter pylori," "Pepsinogens," and "Stomach Neoplasms."

Study SelectionOriginal articles and reviews on the topics were selected.

ResultsAnti-H. pylori antibody and serum PG concentration showed significant changes under the different status of H. pylori infection and the progression of atrophic gastritis, which can be used for risk stratification of gastric cancer in clinic. In addition, anti-H. pylori antibody titer can be used for further risk stratification of gastric cancer contributing to determine better endoscopy surveillance interval.

ConclusionsThe early detection and diagnosis of gastric cancer benefit from the risk stratification, but the cutoff values for H. pylori antibody and serum PG concentration require further modification.

Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; immunology ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter Infections ; blood ; immunology ; Helicobacter pylori ; immunology ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; microbiology

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection in infertile men, its influence on routine semen parameters and the distribution of antisperm antibody (AsAb) and its types in infertile patients with UU infection. METHODS: We detected the positive rate of UU infection, semen parameters, and the distribution of AsAb and its types in 662 infertile men and 25 normal fertile male controls followed by comparison of the obtained data between the two groups of subjects. RESULTS: The positive rate of UU infection was significantly higher in the infertile men than in the normal controls (52.87% ［350/662］ vs 16.00% ［4/25］, χ2 = 11.68, P <0.05). The semen volume, sperm count, sperm concentration and percentage of progressively motile sperm were remarkably lower in the UU-positive infertile males than in the control group (P <0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed between the UU-positive and UU-negative groups in the positive rates of total AsAb (43.4% vs 36.5%, χ2 = 3.25, P >0.05) and AsAb IgA, IgM and IgG in the seminal plasma, or in the percentages of serum AsAb IgM (16.9% vs 20.5%, χ2 = 1.22, P >0.05) and IgG (32.7% vs 28.9%, χ2 = 0.99, P >0.05) except in that of serum AsAb IgA (23.6% vs 17.0%, χ2 = 4.03, P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The UU infection rate is high in infertile males, which decreases the semen volume, total sperm count, motile sperm concentration and percentage of progressively motile sperm and increases the positive rate of serum AsAb IgA.
Antibodies, Bacterial ; analysis ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; immunology ; microbiology ; Male ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; immunology ; Ureaplasma Infections ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; immunology

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. Baumannii) is an emerging opportunistic pathogen responsible for hospital-acquired infections, and which now constitutes a sufficiently serious threat to public health to necessitate the development of an effective vaccine. In this study, a recombinant fused protein named OmpK/Omp22 and two individual proteins OmpK and Omp22 were obtained using recombinant expression and Ni-affinity purification. Groups of BALB/c mice were immunized with these proteins and challenged with a clinically isolated strain of A. baumannii. The bacterial load in the blood, pathological changes in the lung tissue and survival rates after challenge were evaluated. Mice immunized with OmpK/Omp22 fused protein provided significantly greater protection against A. baumannii challenge than those immunized with either of the two proteins individually. The results provide novel clues for future design of vaccines against A. baumannii.
Acinetobacter Infections ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; genetics ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Bacterial Load ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Bacterial Vaccines ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prokaryotic expression of proteins pneumococcal endopeptidase O (PepO) and pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA) in Streptococcus pneumoniae and their immunoprotective effect as vaccine candidate proteins.

METHODSSpecific primers of target gene fragments were designed, and then PCR amplification was performed to establish recombinant plasmids pET28a(+)-pepO and pET28a(+)-psaA, which were transformed into host cells, Escherichia coli BL21 and DE3, respectively, to induce expression. Highly purified target proteins PepO and PsaA were obtained after purification. Mucosal immunization was performed for BALB/c mice and specific antiserum was prepared. ELISA was used to measure the antibody titer, and Western blot was used to analyze the specificity of the antiserum of target proteins. The mice were randomly divided into negative control group, PepO group, PsaA group, and PepO+PsaA combined immunization group, with 18 mice in each group. The models of different serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection were established to evaluate the immunoprotective effect of target proteins used alone or in combination.

RESULTSThe target proteins PepO and PsaA were successfully obtained and Western blot demonstrated that the antiserum of these proteins had good specificity. There was no significant difference in the titers of IgA in saliva and IgG in serum between the PepO group and the combined immunization group (P>0.05); however, these two groups had significantly higher antibody titers than the PsaA group (P<0.05). The PepO, PsaA, and combined immunization groups had significantly higher protection rates for mice infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 and CMCC31436 in the nasal cavity than the negative control group (P<0.05). The PepO and combined immunization groups had a significantly higher protection rate for mice infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 than the PsaA group (P<0.05). The results of colonization experiment showed that compared with the control group, the PepO, PsaA, and combined immunization groups showed a significant reduction in the colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae (CMCC31693 and CMCC31207) in the nasopharynx and lung (P<0.05). The combined immunization group showed a better effect on reducing the colonization of CMCC31207 in the lung than the PepO and PsaA alone groups.

CONCLUSIONSCombined PepO/PsaA vaccines may produce a better protective effect by mucosal immunization compared with the vaccine used alone in mice. The combined vaccines can effectively reduce the colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the nasopharynx and lung. Therefore, such protein vaccines may have a great potential for research and development.

Adhesins, Bacterial ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; analysis ; Bacterial Proteins ; immunology ; Female ; Immunization ; Lipoproteins ; immunology ; Lung ; microbiology ; Metalloendopeptidases ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pneumococcal Infections ; prevention & control ; Pneumococcal Vaccines ; immunology ; Saliva ; immunology

RNA helicases are involved in almost every aspect of RNA, from transcription to RNA decay. DExD/H-box helicases comprise the largest SF2 helicase superfamily, which are characterized by two conserved RecA-like domains. In recent years, an increasing number of unexpected functions of these proteins have been discovered. They play important roles not only in innate immune response but also in diseases like cancers and chronic hepatitis C. In this review, we summarize the recent literatures on one member of the SF2 superfamily, the DEAD-box protein DDX41. After bacterial or viral infection, DNA or cyclic-di-GMP is released to cells. After phosphorylation of Tyr414 by BTK kinase, DDX41 will act as a sensor to recognize the invaders, followed by induction of type I interferons (IFN). After the immune response, DDX41 is degraded by the E3 ligase TRIM21, using Lys9 and Lys115 of DDX41 as the ubiquitination sites. Besides the roles in innate immunity, DDX41 is also related to diseases. An increasing number of both inherited and acquired mutations in DDX41 gene are identified from myelodysplastic syndrome and/or acute myeloid leukemia (MDS/AML) patients. The review focuses on DDX41, as well as its homolog Abstrakt in Drosophila, which is important for survival at all stages throughout the life cycle of the fly.
Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase ; Animals ; Bacterial Infections ; genetics ; immunology ; Cyclic GMP ; analogs & derivatives ; genetics ; immunology ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases ; genetics ; immunology ; Drosophila Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Drosophila melanogaster ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; immunology ; Mutation ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; immunology ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; immunology ; Virus Diseases ; genetics ; immunology

We tested correlations between anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG and IgA levels and the urease test, anti-CagA protein antibody, degree of gastritis, and age. In total, 509 children (0-15 years) were enrolled. Subjects were stratified as 0-4 years (n = 132), 5-9 years (n = 274), and 10-15 years (n = 103) and subjected to the urease test, histopathology, ELISA, and western blot using whole-cell lysates of H. pylori strain 51. The positivity rate in the urease test (P = 0.003), the degree of chronic gastritis (P = 0.021), and H. pylori infiltration (P < 0.001) increased with age. The median titer for anti-H. pylori IgG was 732.5 IU/mL at 0-4 years, 689.0 IU/mL at 5-9 years, and 966.0 IU/mL at 10-15 years (P < 0.001); the median titer for anti-H. pylori IgA was 61.0 IU/mL at 0-4 years, 63.5 IU/mL at 5-9 years, and 75.0 IU/mL at 10-15 years (P < 0.001). The CagA-positivity rate was 26.5% at 0-4 years, 36.5% at 5-9 years, and 46.6% at 10-15 years for IgG (P = 0.036), and 11.3% at 0-4 years, 18.6% at 5-9 years, and 23.3% at 10-15 years for IgA (P < 0.001). Anti-H. pylori IgG and IgA titers increased with the urease test grade, chronic gastritis degree, active gastritis, and H. pylori infiltration. Presence of CagA-positivity is well correlated with a high urease test grade and high anti-H. pylori IgG/IgA levels.
Adolescent ; Antibodies, Bacterial/*blood ; Antigens, Bacterial/*analysis/immunology ; Bacterial Proteins/*analysis/immunology/metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chronic Disease ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Gastritis/pathology ; Helicobacter Infections/blood/microbiology/*pathology ; Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/*blood ; Immunoglobulin G/*blood ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Severity of Illness Index ; Urease/metabolism

Although it is well known that pneumococcal conjugate vaccines provide cross-protection against some vaccine-related serotypes, these mechanisms are still unclear. This study was performed to investigate the role of cross-protective IgM antibodies against vaccine-related serotypes 6A, 6C, and 19A induced in children aged 12-23 months after immunization with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). We obtained serum samples from 18 Korean children aged 12-23 months after a PCV7 booster immunization. The serum IgG and IgM concentrations of serotypes 6B and 19F were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum. The opsonic indices (OIs) against vaccine serotypes 6B and 19F and vaccine-related serotypes 6A, 6C, and 19A were determined by an opsonophagocytic killing assay (OPA) in IgM-depleted and control serum. Both IgG and IgM antibodies in ELISA and opsonic indices in OPA against serotypes 6B and 19F were demonstrated in the immune serum. IgM depletion decreased the OIs against vaccine serotypes 6B (geometric means of OIs (GMIs) of 3,009 vs. 1,396, 38% reduction) and 19F (1,117 vs. 750, 36% reduction). In addition, IgM depletion markedly decreased the OIs against vaccine-related serotypes 6A (GMIs of 961 vs. 329, 70% reduction), 6C (432 vs. 185, 72% reduction), and 19A (301 vs. 166, 58% reduction). The booster immunization PCV7 induced protective antibodies in the form of both IgG and IgM isotypes. IgM antibodies contributed to eliciting cross-protection against vaccine-related serotypes as well as against vaccine serotypes.
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M/*blood ; Infant ; Pneumococcal Infections/*prevention & control ; Pneumococcal Vaccines/*immunology ; Serogroup ; Streptococcus pneumoniae/immunology