Project description:Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen causing mucosal and systemic infections, but human anti-fungal immunity remains poorly defined. Expression profiling of Candida-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) provides new insights into Candida-specific host defense mechanisms in humans.
Project description:Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen causing mucosal and systemic infections, but human anti-fungal immunity remains poorly defined. Expression profiling of Candida-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) provides new insights into Candida-specific host defense mechanisms in humans. Total RNA was extracted from PBMCs from healthy human volunteers. PBMCs were stimulated with heat-killed Candida albicans (10^6/ml), non-fungal inflammatory stimuli or RPMI control for 4 or 24 hours. A large number of biological replicates (>20) were included per stimulation condition and duration.
Project description:Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus: GAS) is a major human pathogen that causes streptococcal pharyngitis, skin and soft-tissue infections, and life-threatening conditions such as streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). A large number of virulence-related genes are encoded on GAS genomes, which are involved in host-pathogen interaction, colonization, immune invasion, and long-term survival within hosts, causing the diverse symptoms. Here, we investigated the interaction between GAS-derived extracellular vesicles and host cells in order to reveal pathogenicity mechanisms induced by GAS infection.
Project description:Candida albicans is a commensal of the urogenital tract and the predominant cause of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Roughly, 70% of otherwise healthy women succumb to VVC at least once in their life time. Elevated oestrogen levels are associated with C. albicans colonisation of the vagina and symptomatic infection. However, little is known about how C. albicans adapts to oestrogen. Here, we investigate how adaptation of C. albicans to elevated concentrations of oestrogen on the C. albicans host-pathogen interaction. Growth of C. albicans in physiological relevant concentrations of oestrogen promoted fungal innate immune evasion through reduction of both macrophage and neutrophil phagocytosis. Oestrogen-induced innate immune evasion was mediated via inhibition of opsonophagocytosis through enhanced Gpd2 dependent acquisition of Factor H on the fungal cell surface. The zebrafish larval model of infection confirmed that in vivo oestrogen and Gpd2 promote pathogenicity. Understanding the impact of oestrogen on C. albicans host-pathogen interaction will help improve our knowledge on how oestrogen promotes VVC.
Project description:In this study we have analysed the regulation of miRNA in bone marrow derived macrophages in response to the fungal pathogen heat killed Candida albicans and bacterial cell wall component, LPS. The aim of the study was to identify and validate miRNAs involved in the innate immune system in response to fungal and bacterial stimuli and investigate potential mechanisms for their transcription.
Project description:N2 young adult animals were analyzed four hours after exposure to wild-type Candida albicans DAY185, heat-killed C. albicans DAY185 and heat-killed Escherichia coli OP50, all on Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar. It was necessary to use heat-killed E. coli OP50 as a control for these experiments because live E. coli OP50 (the normal nematode food source) is pathogenic to nematodes on BHI agar. These data identify the C. elegans genes that are differentially regulated during nematode infection with a human fungal pathogen.
Project description:Ciboria carunculoides is a major fungal pathogen that infect of mulberry fruit causing popcorn disease leading extensive damage and productivity loss. In spite of such a major impact, mulberry fruit response to C. carunculoides infection is yet to be witnessed. We carried out a transcriptomic study to get insights into the molecular mechanisms and dynamics of the mulberry fruit response to the C. carunculoides infection using RNA-seq analysis with Illumina HiSeq 2000.
Project description:Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is linked to Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare and aggressive skin cancer. This study investigated the influence of MCPyV T antigens on the host genome using transcriptomics and epigenomics. Results revealed a role for the small Tumor (sT) antigen in subverting type I interferon response and immune evasion, contributing to persistent infection and tumor progression. These findings enhance our understanding of MCPyV pathogenesis and may inform new therapeutic strategies.
