Neuronal guidance signaling in neurodegenerative diseases: Key regulators that function at neuron-glia and neuroimmune interfaces

The nervous system processes a vast amount of information, performing computations that underlie perception, cognition, and behavior. During development, neuronal guidance genes, which encode extracellular cues, their receptors, and downstream signal transducers, organize neural wiring to generate the complex architecture of the nervous system. It is now evident that many of these neuroguidance cues and their receptors are active during development and are also expressed in the adult nervous system. This suggests that neuronal guidance pathways are critical not only for neural wiring but also for ongoing function and maintenance of the mature nervous system. Supporting this view, these pathways continue to regulate synaptic connectivity, plasticity, and remodeling, and overall brain homeostasis throughout adulthood. Genetic and transcriptomic analyses have further revealed many neuronal guidance genes to be associated with a wide range of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Although the precise mechanisms by which aberrant neuronal guidance signaling drives the pathogenesis of these diseases remain to be clarified, emerging evidence points to several common themes, including dysfunction in neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and endothelial cells, along with dysregulation of neuron-microglia-astrocyte, neuroimmune, and neurovascular interactions. In this review, we explore recent advances in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which aberrant neuronal guidance signaling contributes to disease pathogenesis through altered cell-cell interactions. For instance, recent studies have unveiled two distinct semaphorin-plexin signaling pathways that affect microglial activation and neuroinflammation. We discuss the challenges ahead, along with the therapeutic potentials of targeting neuronal guidance pathways for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Particular focus is placed on how neuronal guidance mechanisms control neuron-glia and neuroimmune interactions and modulate microglial function under physiological and pathological conditions. Specifically, we examine the crosstalk between neuronal guidance signaling and TREM2, a master regulator of microglial function, in the context of pathogenic protein aggregates. It is well-established that age is a major risk factor for neurodegeneration. Future research should address how aging and neuronal guidance signaling interact to influence an individual's susceptibility to various late-onset neurological diseases and how the progression of these diseases could be therapeutically blocked by targeting neuronal guidance pathways.

Is age-related myelinodegenerative change an initial risk factor of neurodegenerative diseases?

Myelination, the continuous ensheathment of neuronal axons, is a lifelong process in the nervous system that is essential for the precise, temporospatial conduction of action potentials between neurons. Myelin also provides intercellular metabolic support to axons. Even minor disruptions in the integrity of myelin can impair neural performance and increase susceptibility to neurological diseases. In fact, myelin degeneration is a well-known neuropathological condition that is associated with normal aging and several neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. In the central nervous system, compact myelin sheaths are formed by fully mature oligodendrocytes. However, the entire oligodendrocyte lineage is susceptible to changes in the biological microenvironment and other risk factors that arise as the brain ages. In addition to their well-known role in action potential propagation, oligodendrocytes also provide intercellular metabolic support to axons by transferring energy metabolites and delivering exosomes. Therefore, myelin degeneration in the aging central nervous system is a significant contributor to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Interventions that mitigate age-related myelin degeneration can improve neurological function in aging individuals. In this review, we investigate the changes in myelin that are associated with aging and their underlying mechanisms. We also discuss recent advances in understanding how myelin degeneration in the aging brain contributes to neurodegenerative diseases and explore the factors that can prevent, slow down, or even reverse age-related myelin degeneration. Future research will enhance our understanding of how reducing age-related myelin degeneration can be used as a therapeutic target for delaying or preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles enhance the therapeutic effect of retinal progenitor cells in retinal degenerative disease rats

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202602000-00050/figure1/v/2025-05-05T160104Z/r/image-tiff Our previous study demonstrated that combined transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and retinal progenitor cells in rats has therapeutic effects on retinal degeneration that are superior to transplantation of retinal progenitor cells alone. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells regulate and interact with various cells in the retinal microenvironment by secreting neurotrophic factors and extracellular vesicles. Small extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, which offer low immunogenicity, minimal tumorigenic risk, and ease of transportation, have been utilized in the treatment of various neurological diseases. These vesicles exhibit various activities, including anti-inflammatory actions, promotion of tissue repair, and immune regulation. Therefore, novel strategies using human retinal progenitor cells combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles may represent an innovation in stem cell therapy for retinal degeneration. In this study, we developed such an approach utilizing retinal progenitor cells combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles to treat retinal degeneration in Royal College of Surgeons rats, a genetic model of retinal degeneration. Our findings revealed that the combination of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles and retinal progenitor cells significantly improved visual function in these rats. The addition of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles as adjuvants to stem cell transplantation with retinal progenitor cells enhanced the survival, migration, and differentiation of the exogenous retinal progenitor cells. Concurrently, these small extracellular vesicles inhibited the activation of regional microglia, promoted the migration of transplanted retinal progenitor cells to the inner nuclear layer of the retina, and facilitated their differentiation into photoreceptors and bipolar cells. These findings suggest that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of retinal progenitor cells in retinal degeneration by promoting their survival and differentiation.

Combination of exhaled volatile organic compounds with serum biomarkers predicts respiratory infection severity

OBJECTIVE

During respiratory infections, host-pathogen interaction alters metabolism, leading to changes in the composition of expired volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and soluble immunomodulators. This study aims to identify VOC and blood biomarker signatures to develop machine learning-based prognostic models capable of distinguishing infections with similar symptoms.

METHODS

Twenty-one VOCs and fifteen serum biomarkers were quantified in samples from 86 COVID-19 patients, 75 patients with non-COVID-19 respiratory infections, and 72 healthy donors. The populations were categorized into severity subgroups based on their oxygen support requirements. Descriptive and statistical analyses were conducted to assess group differentiation. Additionally, machine learning classifiers were developed to predict disease severity in both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.

RESULTS

VOC and biomarker profiles differed significantly among groups. Random Forest models demonstrated the best performance for severity prediction. The COVID-19 model achieved 93% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, and 89% specificity, identifying IL-6, IL-8, thrombomodulin, and toluene as key severity predictors. In non-COVID-19 patients, the model reached 89% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, and 67% specificity, with CXCL10 and methyl-isobutyl-ketone as key markers.

CONCLUSION

VOCs and serum biomarkers differentiated HD, COVID-19, and non-COVID-19 patients, and enabled the development of high-performance severity prediction models. While promising, these findings require validation in larger independent cohorts.

Low tumor interleukin-1β expression predicts a limited effect of adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with completely resected lung adenocarcinoma: An identification and validation study

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy for completely resected non-small cell lung cancer is associated with modest improvement in survival; nevertheless, no validated biomarker exists for predicting the benefit or harm of adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We simultaneously measured 27 cytokines in operative tumor specimens from a discovery cohort (n = 97) by multiplex immunoassay; half of the patients received adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy, and the other half were observed. We tested possible prognostic and predictive factors in multivariate Cox models for overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS), and a tree-based method was applied to detect predictive factors with respect to RFS. The results were validated in an independent validation cohort (n = 93).

RESULTS

Fifty-two of 97 (54 %) patients in the discovery cohort and 50 of 93 (54 %) in the validation cohort received adjuvant chemotherapy; forty-four (85 %) patients in the discovery cohort and 37 (74 %) in the validation cohort received four cycles as planned. In patients with low IL-1β-expressing tumors, RFS and OS were worse after adjuvant chemotherapy than after observation. The limited effect of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with low IL-1β-expressing tumors was confirmed in the validation cohort. Additionally, RFS and OS were prolonged by adjuvant chemotherapy only in patients with high IL-1β-expressing tumors in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified and validated low tumor IL-1β expression as a potential biomarker of a limited response to adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy after complete resection of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. This finding has the potential to inform adjuvant treatment decisions.

Autophagy machinery as exploited by viruses

Viruses adapt and modulate cellular pathways to allow their replication in host cells. The catabolic pathway of macroautophagy, for simplicity referred to as autophagy, is no exception. In this review, we discuss anti-viral functions of both autophagy and select components of the autophagy machinery, and how viruses have evaded them. Some viruses use the membrane remodeling ability of the autophagy machinery to build their replication compartments in the cytosol or efficiently egress from cells in a non-lytic fashion. Some of the autophagy machinery components and their remodeled membranes can even be found in viral particles as envelopes or single membranes around virus packages that protect them during spreading and transmission. Therefore, studies on autophagy regulation by viral infections can reveal functions of the autophagy machinery beyond lysosomal degradation of cytosolic constituents. Furthermore, they can also pinpoint molecular interactions with which the autophagy machinery can most efficiently be manipulated, and this may be relevant to develop effective disease treatments based on autophagy modulation.

Analysis of how antigen mutations disrupt antibody binding interactions toward enabling rapid and reliable antibody repurposing

Antibody repurposing is the process of changing a known antibody so that it binds to a mutated antigen. One of the findings to emerge from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was that it was possible to repurpose neutralizing antibodies for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, a related disease, to work for COVID-19. Thus, antibody repurposing is a possible pathway to prepare for and respond to future pandemics, as well as personalizing cancer therapies. For antibodies to be successfully repurposed, it is necessary to know both how antigen mutations disrupt their binding and how they should be mutated to recover binding, with this work describing an analysis to address the first of these topics. Every possible antigen point mutation in the interface of 246 antibody-protein complexes were analyzed using the Rosetta molecular mechanics force field. The results highlight a number of features of how antigen mutations affect antibody binding, including the effects of mutating critical hotspot residues versus other positions, how many mutations are necessary to be likely to disrupt binding, the prevalence of indirect effects of mutations on binding, and the relative importance of changing attractive versus repulsive energies. These data are expected to be useful in guiding future antibody repurposing experiments.

Circulating cytokine associations with clinical outcomes in melanoma patients treated with combination nivolumab plus ipilimumab

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (aCTLA-4/aPD-1) combination therapy has significantly improved clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic melanoma, with 50%-60% of patients responding to treatment, but predictors of response are poorly characterized. We hypothesized that circulating cytokines and peripheral white blood cells may predict response to therapy and evaluated 15 cytokines and complete blood counts (CBC with differentials) from 89 patients with advanced melanoma treated with combination therapy from three points in time: pre-treatment, one month and approximately three months after starting therapy. Clinical endpoints evaluated included durable clinical benefit (DCB), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). A parsimonious predictive model was developed to identify cytokines predictors of response to combination therapy. In this study, we found that pre-treatment, patients with DCB had higher IL-23, lower CXCL6, and lower IL-10 levels. Lower NLR one month after starting therapy predicted better PFS and OS, primarily driven by an increase in absolute lymphocytes. A multivariate model demonstrated that baseline CXCL6, IL-10, IL-23 were independent predictors of therapy response, and the combined model has reached an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 in prediction of response to combination therapy. Our study identified baseline CXCL6, IL-23, and IL-10 as predictors of response to aCTLA4/aPD1 combination therapy among patients with metastatic melanoma. This study also provides a framework for identifying patients who are likely to respond to combination ICB, as well as a subset of patients with high risk of developing resistance and are thus in need of alternative therapeutic options, such as clinical trials.

A novel mannan-specific chimeric antigen receptor M-CAR redirects T cells to interact with Candida spp. hyphae and Rhizopus oryzae spores

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are responsible for elevated rates of morbidity and mortality, causing around of 1.5 million deaths annually worldwide. One of the main causative agents of IFIs is Candida albicans, and non-albicans Candida species have emerged as a spreading global public health concernment. Furthermore, COVID-19 has contributed to a boost in the incidence of IFIs, such as mucormycosis, in which Rhizopus oryzae is the most prevalent causative agent. The effector host immune response against IFIs depends on the activity of T cells, which are susceptible to the regulatory effects triggered by fungal virulence factors. The fungal cell wall plays a crucial role as a virulence factor, and its remodeling compromises the development of a specific T-cell response. The redirection of Jurkat T cells to target Candida spp. by recognizing targets expressed on the fungal cell wall can be facilitated using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology. This study generated an M-CAR that contains an scFv with specificity to α-1,6 mannose backbone of fungal mannan, and the expression of M-CAR on the surface of modified Jurkat cells triggered a strong activation against Candida albicans (hyphae form), Candida tropicalis (hyphae form), Candida parapsilosis (pseudohyphal form), and Candida glabrata (yeast form). Moreover, M-CAR Jurkat cells recognized Rhizopus oryzae spores, which induced high expression of cell activation markers. Thus, a novel Mannan-specific CAR enabled strong signal transduction in modified Jurkat cells in the presence of Candida spp. or R. oryzae.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the heterogeneity and interactions of immune cells and Müller glia during zebrafish retina regeneration

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202512000-00031/figure1/v/2025-01-31T122243Z/r/image-tiff Inflammation plays a crucial role in the regeneration of fish and avian retinas. However, how inflammation regulates Müller glia (MG) reprogramming remains unclear. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the cell heterogeneity and interactions of MG and immune cells in the regenerating zebrafish retina. We first showed that two types of quiescent MG (resting MG1 and MG2) reside in the uninjured retina. Following retinal injury, resting MG1 transitioned into an activated state expressing known reprogramming genes, while resting MG2 gave rise to rod progenitors. We further showed that retinal microglia can be categorized into three subtypes (microglia-1, microglia-2, and proliferative) and pseudotime analysis demonstrated dynamic changes in microglial status following retinal injury. Analysis of cell-cell interactions indicated extensive crosstalk between immune cells and MG, with many interactions shared among different immune cell types. Finally, we showed that inflammation activated Jak1-Stat3 signaling in MG, promoting their transition from a resting to an activated state. Our study reveals the cell heterogeneity and crosstalk of immune cells and MG in zebrafish retinal repair, and may provide valuable insights into future mammalian retina regeneration.

Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with the gut microbiome maturation in infants according to delivery mode

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) plays a crucial role in infant gut microbiome assembly and development. However, few studies have investigated the effects of EBF in restoring a perturbed microbiome. In this study, we applied whole metagenomic sequencing to assess the gut microbiome assembly in 525 Brazilian infants from 3 to 9 months of age of the Germina Cohort, demonstrating the early determinants of microbial taxonomy and function modulation. Our analysis shows that EBF alters the relative abundance of genes related to the microbiome taxonomy and function, with effects varying by delivery mode. EBF alters the pattern of carbohydrates, lipid metabolism, and cell structure pathways depending on the delivery mode. The microbiome age is closer to chronological infant age in EBF than in non-EBF infants, meaning a lower microbiome maturation index (MMI). Using a complementary machine learning approach, we show that Escherichia coli, Ruminococcus gnavus, and Clostridium neonatale, as well as vitamin K and o-antigen pathways contribute strongly to EBF prediction. Moreover, EBF influences the microbiome maturation in early life, toward a microbiome age more similar to the chronological infant's age.

Global research trends on biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy: Visualization and bibliometric analysis

The global burden of cancer continues to grow, posing a significant public health challenge. Although cancer immunotherapy has shown significant efficacy, the response rate is not high. Therefore, the objective of our research was to identify the latest research trends and hotspots on biomarkers from 1993 to 2023. Data were collected from the database Web of Science core collection. Bibliometric analysis and visualization were conducted with CiteSpace(6.3.1), VOSviewer (v1.6.20), R-bibliometrix(v4.3.3), and Microsoft Excel(2019). A total of 2686 literatures were retrieved. The sheer annual volume of publications has shown a rapid upward trend since 2015. The United States has generated the most publications and Harvard University ranked as a leading institution. The global biomarker research on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) revealed regional differences and in-depth explorations should be promoted in developing countries. Although China has become the second largest country in terms of publication, the average citation per paper and the total link strength were both lower than the other countries. The research on biomarkers mainly concentrated upon the following aspects: PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4, gene expression, adverse events, total mutational burden (TMB), body mass index (BMI), gut microbiota, cd8(+)/cd4(+) t-cells, and blood-related biomarkers such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), cytokines. Furthermore, "artificial intelligence" and "machine learning" have become the most important research hotspot over the last 2 y, which will help us to identify useful biomarkers from complex big data and provide a basis for precise medicine for malignant tumors.

Oxidation of human mitochondrial RNA strongly potentiates immunostimulation in an interferon-associated manner

Inflammation is associated with a wide range of medical conditions, most leading causes of death, and high healthcare costs. It can thus benefit from new insights. Here we extended previous studies and found that oxidation of human native mtRNA to 'mitoxRNA' strongly potentiated IFNβ and TNFα immunostimulation in human cells, and that this newly identified type 1 interferon potentiation was transcriptional. This potentiation was significantly greater than with mtDNA oxidation, and t-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) oxidation of RNA was more proinflammatory than hydrogen peroxide (HP). mtRNA triggered a modest increase in apoptosis that was not potentiated by oxidation, and mtDNA triggered a much greater increase. For native mtRNA, we found that chloroquine-inhibitable endosomes and MDA5 are key signaling pathways for IFNβ and TNFα production. For mitoxRNAs, RNAseq revealed a major increase in both tBHP- and HP-mitoxRNA modulated genes compared with native mtRNA. This increase was very prominent for interferon-related genes, identifying them as important mediators of this powerful oxidation effect. Moderately different gene modulations and KEGG pathways were observed for tBHP- versus HP-mitoxRNAs. These studies reveal the profound effect that mitochondrial RNA oxidation has on immunostimulation, providing new insights into DAMP inflammation and identifying potential therapeutic targets to minimize DAMP mtRNA/mitoxRNA-mediated inflammation.

Calpain 2 regulates IL-1α secretion and inhibits tumor development via modulating calpain 1 expression in the tumor microenvironment

Tumor-promoting inflammation significantly impacts cancer progression, and targeting inflammatory cytokines has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach in clinical trials. Interleukin (IL)-1α, a member of the IL-1 cytokine family, plays a crucial role in both inflammation and carcinogenesis. How IL-1α is secreted in the tumor microenvironment has been poorly understood, and we previously showed that calpain 1 cleaves pro-IL-1α for mature IL-1α secretion, which exacerbates hepatocellular carcinoma by recruiting myeloid-derived suppressor cells. In this study, we report that calpain 2 also modulates IL-1α secretion. Notably, a deficiency in calpain 2 resulted in enhanced hepatocellular carcinoma development within an IL-1α-enriched tumor microenvironment. Further investigations revealed that calpain 2 deficiency increased calpain 1 expression, implying a compensatory mechanism between the two calpains. Mechanistically, calpain 2 deficiency led to increased expression of FoxO3, which is a forkhead transcription factor that promotes calpain 1 expression. Collectively, these results suggest that calpain 2 modulates calpain 1 expression, and therefore IL-1α secretion through the induction of FoxO3, offering novel potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

With great power, comes great responsibility: the importance of broadly measuring Fc-mediated effector function early in the antibody development process

The field of antibody therapeutics is rapidly growing, with over 210 antibodies currently approved or in regulatory review and ~ 1,250 antibodies in clinical development. Antibodies are highly versatile molecules that, with strategic design of their antigen-binding domain (Fab) and the domain responsible for mediating effector functions (Fc), can be used in a wide range of therapeutic indications. Building on many years of progress, the biopharmaceutical industry is now advancing innovative research and development by exploring new targets and new formats and using antibody engineering to fine-tune functions tailored to specific disease requirements. In addition to considering the target and the disease context, however, the unique features of each therapeutic antibody trigger a diverse set of Fc-mediated effector functions. To avoid unexpected results on safety and efficacy outcomes during the later stages of the development process, it is crucial to measure the impact of antibody design on Fc-mediated effector function early in the antibody development process. Given the breadth of effector functions antibodies can deploy and the close interplay between the antibody Fab and Fc functional domains, it is important to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of Fc-mediated functions using an array of antigen-specific biophysical and cell-mediated functional assays. Here, we review antibody and Fc receptor properties that influence Fc effector functions and discuss their implications on development of safe and efficacious antibody therapeutics.

The gut microbiota predicts and time-restricted feeding delays experimental colitis

The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear, treatment options unsatisfactory and disease development difficult to predict for individual patients. Dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal microbiota and disruption of the biological clock have been implicated and studied as diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Here, we examine the relationship of IBD to biological clock and gut microbiota by using the IL-10 deficient (IL-10-/-) mouse model for microbiota-dependent spontaneous colitis in combination with altered (4 h/4 h) light/dark cycles to disrupt and time-restricted feeding (TRF) to restore circadian rhythmicity. We show that while altered light/dark cycles disrupted the intestinal clock in wild type (WT) mice, IL-10-/- mice were characterized by altered microbiota composition, impaired intestinal clock, and microbiota rhythmicity irrespective of external clock disruption, which had no consistent colitis-promoting effect on IL-10-/- mice. TRF delayed colitis onset reduced the expression of inflammatory markers and increased the expression of clock genes in the intestine, and increased gut microbiota rhythmicity in IL-10-/- mice. Compositional changes and reduced rhythmicity of the fecal microbiota preceded colitis and could predict colitis symptoms for individual IL-10-/- mice across different experiments. Our findings provide perspectives for new diagnostic and TRF-based, therapeutic applications in IBD that should be further explored.

A promising endeavor against human cytomegalovirus: Predominant epitopes-based recombinant subunit vaccine RHEcIE1/pp65/pp150

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is widespread in the population, typically remaining latent. However, it can cause severe morbidity and mortality in transplant patients and immunodeficient individuals. Currently, there is no approved vaccine against HCMV. This study used immunoinformatics methods to predict the predominant T and B-cell epitopes of three key HCMV proteins, including phosphoprotein 65 (pp65), pp150, and immediate-early protein 1 (IE1). Subsequently, we synthesized a recombinant subunit vaccine (RHEcIE1/pp65/pp150) from Escherichia coli, comprising RHEc-1 and RHEc-2. We observed that the RHEcIE1/pp65/pp150 vaccine exhibited high safety and immunogenicity in mice, enhancing a significant upregulation of CD80, CD86, CD40, and MHCII on dendritic cells and macrophages. Additionally, the vaccine activated innate immune responses through the NF-κB signalling pathway, triggering CD4+ and CD8+T cells to secrete tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-2, directing the T-cell response towards Th1. Moreover, it stimulated CD4+T cells to secrete IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10, promoting B-cell immunity. Furthermore, the RHEcIE1/pp65/pp150 vaccine induced the formation of abundant memory cells and high levels of neutralizing antibody titres, conducive to providing long-lasting protection. Taken together, the RHEcIE1/pp65/pp150 vaccine is a promising endeavour against HCMV, and these findings contribute valuable insights to the development of HCMV vaccine candidates.

The molybdate transport protein ModA regulates nitrate reductase activity to increase the intestinal colonization and extraintestinal dissemination of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the inflamed gut

The mammalian intestine is a major site of colonization and a starting point of severe infections by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an inflammatory disorder of the gut, and host-derived nitrate in IBD confers a luminal growth advantage upon Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium through nitrate respiration in the inflamed gut. However, the impact of nitrate on the growth and pathogenicity of K. pneumoniae in this microenvironment is poorly understood. In this study, we used oral administration of dextran sodium sulphate to induce IBD in mouse models. We then analysed the colonization levels of K. pneumoniae wild-type (WT), the nitrate reductase gene mutant strains (ΔnarG, ΔnarZ and ΔnarGΔnarZ), and the molybdate uptake gene mutant strain (ΔmodA) in the inflamed intestinal tract. Results showed that the growth, intestinal colonization, and extraintestinal dissemination of K. pneumoniae were increased in the intestines of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-treated mice. Nitrate in the inflamed bowel conferred a growth advantage to K. pneumoniae through nitrate respiration. The molybdate transport protein ModA regulated nitrate reductase activity to increase the growth, intestinal colonization, and extraintestinal dissemination of K. pneumoniae. Tungstate will be a promising antibacterial agent to tackle K. pneumoniae infections in IBD patients.

Fecal microbiota transplantation modulates myeloid-derived suppressor cells and attenuates renal fibrosis in a murine model

BACKGROUND

Renal fibrosis is a hallmark of progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD), with emerging evidence linking gut microbiota dysbiosis to disease progression. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have demonstrated renoprotective effects, yet the impact of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on MDSC-mediated modulation of renal fibrosis remains unclear.

METHODS

C57BL/6J mice underwent unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) to induce renal fibrosis, followed by FMT administration via gavage. Flow cytometry was used to quantify granulocytic (G-MDSCs) and monocytic (M-MDSCs) MDSC populations in peripheral blood, kidney, and spleen. To elucidate the role of MDSCs in FMT-mediated effects, MDSCs were depleted or adoptively transferred in vivo. Renal fibrosis severity and inflammatory cytokine expression were subsequently analyzed.

RESULTS

FMT altered MDSC distribution, increasing M-MDSC accumulation in the blood and kidney. This was associated with downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and attenuation of renal fibrosis. Adoptive MDSC transfer similarly produced anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects, reinforcing their therapeutic role in FMT-mediated renal protection.

CONCLUSIONS

FMT enhances M-MDSC-mediated immunomodulation, reducing inflammation and renal fibrosis in UUO-induced CKD. These findings suggest a potential therapeutic strategy targeting the gut-kidney axis in CKD management.

Mini-review on the therapeutic vaccines targeting chronic infectious diseases: Evaluation system of therapeutic vaccines targeting HPV and EBV-related cancers

Chronic infectious diseases are threatening human health today, and their public health severity is increasing. The efficacy issues of drugs and the increase in drug-resistant pathogens require new response strategies for chronic infectious diseases, and therapeutic vaccines have recently been proposed as an effective alternative. However, research on therapeutic vaccines is still relatively underdeveloped. To solve this problem, an accurate understanding of the status and the challenge at hand of therapeutic vaccines targeting chronic infectious diseases is needed. In the present review, we provide an overview of the latest research trends in therapeutic vaccines targeting chronic infectious diseases and summarize the development status of therapeutic vaccines currently undergoing clinical research, focusing on the cases of human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as representative examples. We highlight the importance of standard methods for the evaluation of therapeutic vaccine, focusing on the cell-mediated immune response, which might accelerate therapeutic vaccine development.

Protection acquired upon intraperitoneal group a Streptococcus immunization is independent of concurrent adaptive immune responses but relies on macrophages and IFN-γ

Group A Streptococcus (GAS; Streptococcus pyogenes) is an important bacterial pathogen causing over 700 million superficial infections and around 500.000 deaths due to invasive disease or severe post-infection sequelae yearly. In spite of this major impact on society, there is currently no vaccine available against this bacterium. GAS strains can be separated into >250 distinct emm (M)-types, and protective immunity against GAS is believed to in part be dependent on type-specific antibodies. Here, we analyse the nature of protective immunity generated against GAS in a model of intraperitoneal immunization in mice. We demonstrate that multiple immunizations are required for the ability to survive a subsequent lethal challenge, and although significant levels of GAS-specific antibodies are produced, these are redundant for protection. Instead, our data show that the immunization-dependent protection in this model is induced in the absence of B and T cells and is accompanied by the induction of an altered acute cytokine profile upon subsequent infection, noticeable e.g. by the absence of classical pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased IFN-γ production. Further, the ability of immunized mice to survive a lethal infection is dependent on macrophages and the macrophage-activating cytokine IFN-γ. To our knowledge these findings are the first to suggest that GAS may have the ability to induce forms of trained innate immunity. Taken together, the current study proposes a novel role for the innate immune system in response to GAS infections that potentially could be leveraged for future development of effective vaccines.

Microbiota transplant therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: advances and mechanistic insights

Microbiota transplant therapy is an emerging therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, but factors influencing its efficacy and mechanism remain poorly understood. In this narrative review, we outline key elements affecting therapeutic outcomes, including donor factors (such as age and patient relationship), recipient factors, control selection, and elements impacting engraftment and its correlation with clinical response. We also examine potential mechanisms through inflammatory bowel disease trials, focusing on the interplay between the microbiota, host, and immune system. Finally, we briefly explore potential future directions for microbiota transplant therapy and promising emerging treatments.

Pathogenicity and virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Recent advances and under-investigated topics

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a model for the study of quorum sensing, protein secretion, and biofilm formation. Consequently, it has become one of the most intensely reviewed pathogens, with many excellent articles in the current literature focusing on these aspects of the organism's biology. Here, though, we aim to take a slightly different approach and consider some less well appreciated (but nonetheless important) factors that affect P. aeruginosa virulence. We start by reminding the reader of the global importance of P. aeruginosa infection and that the "virulome" is very niche-specific. Overlooked but obvious questions such as "what prevents secreted protein products from being digested by co-secreted proteases?" are discussed, and we suggest how the nutritional preference(s) of the organism might dictate its environmental reservoirs. Recent studies identifying host genes associated with genetic predisposition towards P. aeruginosa infection (and even infection by specific P. aeruginosa strains) and the role(s) of intracellular P. aeruginosa are introduced. We also discuss the fact that virulence is a high-risk strategy and touch on how expression of the two main classes of virulence factors is regulated. A particular focus is on recent findings highlighting how nutritional status and metabolism are as important as quorum sensing in terms of their impact on virulence, and how co-habiting microbial species at the infection site impact on P. aeruginosa virulence (and vice versa). It is our view that investigation of these issues is likely to dominate many aspects of research into this WHO-designated priority pathogen over the next decade.

Undenatured type II collagen for knee osteoarthritis

INTRODUCTION

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) leads to significant pain and reduced function and affects patients' overall quality of life (QoL). Conservative modalities are the first line of management, resorting to surgery only if they fail. However, these modalities have limitations, and do not address the underlying cause of knee OA. The use of nutraceuticals, including native/undenatured type II collagen (UC-2), has evolved and shown promise in the conservative management of knee OA. This article highlights the mechanism of action, and qualitatively presents the pre-clinical, clinical and on-going scientific literature exploring the safety and efficacy of UC-2 for the management of knee OA.

METHODS

A search was performed using multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus) employing terms for UC-2 and Knee OA for articles published in English language, while adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. All pre-clinical and clinical studies utilizing UC-2 for knee OA were included. Studies not using UC-2 alone or not focusing on the management of knee OA were excluded.

RESULTS

Twelve studies (3 pre-clinical studies, 8 clinical studies and 1 study with both pre-clinical and clinical component) met our pre-defined search and inclusion criteria, and were included in this review.

DISCUSSION

UC-2 acts via a specific immune mediated mechanism, known as oral tolerance, which can lead to reduced inflammation and enhanced cartilage repair in the knee joint. In addition, administration of UC-2 (40 mg daily) is safe and efficacious in the short- and mid-term, reducing inflammation and pain, and improving function, range of motion (ROM) and overall QoL. Nonetheless, more adequately powered, prospective, multi-center, non-randomized and randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up are warranted to establish the long-term efficacy of UC-2 in knee OA patients and justify its routine clinical use.

Dilemma in prevention of pertussis infection among infants under six months in China

INTRODUCTION

Pertussis poses a significant threat to infants under six months due to their immature immune systems, limited maternal antibody protection, and constraints in the vaccination schedule. Despite vaccination efforts, this group remains highly susceptible to severe complications. Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving the health outcomes of infants in China.

AREAS COVERED

This review examines the primary challenges in preventing pertussis infections among infants under six months in China, focusing on factors such as underdeveloped immune system and inadequate maternal antibody protection. It analyzes limitations in current vaccination strategies and the impact of socio-cultural factors, healthcare resource distribution, and surveillance inadequacies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify potential solutions, including enhancing maternal immunization, adjusting early vaccination strategies, increasing vaccine coverage, and developing new vaccines. The review synthesizes current research findings and data to provide a detailed overview of these issues.

EXPERT OPINION

Infants under six months are particularly vulnerable to pertussis. Early and effective prevention strategies, such as enhanced maternal immunization and adjusted vaccination schedules, are needed. Increasing vaccine coverage and developing safer, more immunogenic vaccines are essential. Policymakers should prioritize these measures to reduce pertussis incidence and complications among infants in China.

Lessons for medical countermeasure development from unforeseen outbreaks

The unanticipated emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid spread of the mpox epidemic in 2022 and 2024 brought unforeseen challenges to public health. While distinct in nature, these outbreaks share some similarities and offer valuable insights into responding to novel virus dissemination in vulnerable populations. In light of these two experiences, we aim to discern the prioritization of medical countermeasures (MCM) among antivirals, antibodies, and vaccines. Comparative analysis of MCMs reveals that while antivirals serve essential roles as therapeutic tools, monoclonal antibodies can be used for both prevention and treatment, and vaccines remain of paramount importance for controlling epidemics as mass or targeted prophylaxis. Variability in production processes, administration methods, logistics, and costs distinguish these countermeasures. Vaccines, by inducing long-lasting immunity and ideally promoting herd effects, exhibit substantial advantages over other options. To enhance future pandemic readiness, proactive measures must include ready-to-use vaccine platforms with regulatory approval and manufacturing capacities, as well as prototype vaccines for representative pathogens and preexisting protocols to evaluate their efficacies and side effects. The comparison underscores the challenges of social acceptance and equity, particularly in vaccine production and distribution. As the world faces unknown agents, the three major types of MCMs do not have equal and symmetrical effects in terms of epidemic control. Thus, a vaccine-oriented strategy with a community-centered approach, proves essential for effective pandemic preparedness, encouraging continued innovation in vaccinology.

Revealing the role of natural killer cells in ankylosing spondylitis: identifying diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets

BACKGROUND

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the axial joints. Immune cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of AS. This study integrated bioinformatics methods with experimental validation to explore the role of natural killer (NK) cells in AS.

METHODS

Two microarray datasets, GSE25101 and GSE73754, were selected, and the scRNA-seq data were obtained from GSE194315 and Liu's research. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functional enrichment analysis were performed respectively. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted to identify key modules of co-expressed genes and genes involved in NK cell function. The diagnostic value of the identified key genes was evaluated using ROC curves, logistic regression analysis, and a nomogram. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to quantified the expression of genes. Statistical analysis was conducted using the R software package, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Pathways enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of NK cell-mediated immune pathways and regulation of the innate immune response, indicating the crucial role of innate immunity, especially NK cells, in AS pathogenesis. The construction of a co-expression network revealed that the MElightyellow module was most relevant to the NK cell-mediated immune pathway. IL2RB, CD247, PLEKHF1, EOMES, S1PR5, FGFBP2 from the MElightyellow module were identified as key genes involved in NK cell-mediated immune response and served as potential diagnostic biomarkers for AS, with moderate to high diagnostic values based on AUC values. Further analysis using scRNA-seq profiling revealed the higher expression level of IL2RB, CD247, PLEKHF1, S1PR5, FGFBP2 in NK cells compared to that in other cell types. CD247, PLEKHF1, EOMES, S1PR5, and FGFBP2 were reduced expressed in AS patients as compare to control group verified by scRNA-seq data, CD247, EOMES, FGFBP2, IL2RB and S1PR5 were reduced expressed verified by RT-PCR, and PLEKHF1, S1PR5, and FGFBP2 was upregulated after TNF-α blocker therapy.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed the potential role of NK cells and identified IL2RB, CD247, PLEKHF1, EOMES, S1PR5, and FGFBP2 as key genes associated with NK cells in the pathogenesis of AS.

An antibody developability triaging pipeline exploiting protein language models

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a successful class of biologic drugs that are frequently selected from phage display libraries and transgenic mice that produce fully human antibodies. However, binding affinity to the correct epitope is necessary, but not sufficient, for a mAb to have therapeutic potential. Sequence and structural features affect the developability of an antibody, which influences its ability to be produced at scale and enter trials, or can cause late-stage failures. Using data on paired human antibody sequences, we introduce a pipeline using a machine learning approach that exploits protein language models to identify antibodies which cluster with antibodies that have entered the clinic and are therefore expected to have developability features similar to clinically acceptable antibodies, and triage out those without these features. We propose this pipeline as a useful tool in candidate selection from large libraries, reducing the cost of exploration of the antibody space, and pursuing new therapeutics.

Engineered bacteria as an orally administered anti-viral treatment and immunization system

The emergence of new viral pathogens necessitates innovative antiviral therapies and vaccines. Traditional approaches, such as monoclonal antibodies and vaccines, are often hindered by resistance, limited effectiveness, and high costs. Here, we develop an engineered probiotic-based antiviral platform using Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN), capable of providing both mucosal and systemic immunity via oral administration. EcN was engineered to display anti-spike nanobodies or express the Spike-Receptor Binding Domain on its surface. Our findings reveal that EcN with nanobodies effectively inhibits the interaction between spike protein-expressing pseudoviruses and the ACE2 receptor. Furthermore, we observed the translocation of nanobodies to distant organs, facilitated by outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). The oral administration of EcN expressing spike proteins induced a robust immune response characterized by the production of both IgG and IgA, antibodies that blocked the pseudovirus-ACE2 interaction. While SARS-CoV-2 served as a model, this versatile probiotic platform holds potential for developing customizable biotherapeutics against a wide range of emerging pathogens such as influenza virus or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by engineering EcN to express viral surface protein or neutralizing nanobodies demonstrating its versatility as a next-generation mucosal vaccine strategy.

Impact of FcRn antagonism on vaccine-induced protective immune responses against viral challenge in COVID-19 and influenza mouse vaccination models

Antagonism of the neonatal Fc receptor through an engineered antibody Fc fragment, such as efgartigimod, results in a decrease in immunoglobulin G levels. This approach is being evaluated as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of IgG-mediated autoimmune diseases. Our goal was to evaluate the impact of mFc-ABDEG, a mouse-adapted antibody Fc fragment with a mode of action highly similar to efgartigimod, on vaccine-induced protective immune responses against viral infections. Therefore, mouse vaccination models for COVID-19 and influenza were employed, utilizing an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (COMIRNATY) and an adjuvanted, inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (Seqirus+AddaVax), respectively. In both models, vaccination induced robust humoral responses. As expected, animals treated with mFc-ABDEG had lower levels of virus-specific IgG, while virus-specific IgM responses remained unaffected. The COVID-19 vaccine induced a strong Th1-type T cell response irrespective of mFc-ABDEG treatment. Influenza vaccination resulted in a poor T cell induction, regardless of mFc-ABDEG treatment, due to the Th2-biased response that inactivated influenza vaccines typically induce. Importantly, mFc-ABDEG treatment had no effect on protective immunity against live viral challenges in both models. Vaccinated animals treated with mFc-ABDEG were equally protected as the non-treated vaccinated controls. These non-clinical data demonstrate that FcRn antagonism with mFc-ABDEG did not affect the generation of vaccine-induced protective humoral and cellular responses, or protection against viral challenges. These data substantiate the clinical observations that, although IgG titers were reduced, FcRn antagonism with efgartigimod did not impair the ability to generate new specific IgG responses, regardless of the timing of vaccination.

Immune-microbiota dysregulation in maintenance hemodialysis: a 16S rRNA sequencing-based analysis of gut flora and T cell profiles

BACKGROUND

Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients frequently exhibit immune dysregulation and gut dysbiosis, both of which contribute to increased infection risk and adverse outcomes. However, the relationship between gut microbial composition and immune competence in this population remains underexplored.

METHODS

This study assessed 45 MHD patients and 30 healthy controls, stratifying MHD patients into immunocompetent (HD-NLI, CD4+/CD8+ ≥ 1) and immunodeficient (HD-LI, CD4+/CD8+ < 1) groups. Circulating cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ) were quantified using ELISA. Gut microbiota profiles were derived via 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3-V4 regions), followed by QIIME2 and LEfSe-based bioinformatics analyses.

RESULTS

HD-LI patients displayed severe T cell dysregulation and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines. Compared to controls, HD patients had reduced abundance of beneficial taxa (e.g., Prevotella copri, Bacteroides vulgatus, Agathobacter), and enrichment of pro-inflammatory taxa (e.g., Escherichia-Shigella, Blautia, Citrobacter). LEfSe identified 39 discriminatory taxa with distinct immune group signatures. Redundancy analysis revealed that CD4+ levels, CD4+/CD8+ ratios, and TNF-α significantly shaped microbiota composition. Correlation analysis confirmed strong associations between immune parameters and microbial taxa involved in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolism.

CONCLUSION

This study provides novel evidence linking gut microbial dysbiosis to immune impairment in MHD patients. The findings suggest that SCFA-producing bacteria are depleted in immunodeficient states, offering a potential target for microbiota-directed immunomodulatory therapies in ESRD.

PMA1-containing extracellular vesicles of Candida albicans triggers immune responses and colitis progression

Candida albicans (C. albicans) exhibits aberrant changes in patients with colitis, and it has been reported to dominate the colonic mucosal immune response. Here, we found that PMA1 expression was significantly increased in C. albicans from patients with IBD compared to that in healthy controls. A Crispr-Cas9-based fungal strain editing system was then used to knock out PMA1 expression in C. albicans. Compared to WT-C.a, ΔPMA1-C.a could not aggravate colitis. Proteomic analysis showed that PMA1 was transported by extracellular vesicles (EVs) of C. albicans. PMA1-containing EVs aggravated colitis, modulated the migration of cDC2 from the lamina propria to mesenteric lymph nodes, and induced TH17 cell differentiation. Moreover, the adaptor protein CARD9 was critical in PMA1-containing EV-induced colitis, and CARD9-deficient DCs did not induce TH17 cell differentiation or IL-17A production. Mechanically, CARD9 combines with the glycolytic protein GAPDH (aa2-146 domain) through its CARD region. CARD9 deficiency led to decreased enzyme activity of GAPDH and decreased glycolysis of DCs. These findings indicate that PMA1 is a potential virulence factor responsible for the pathogenesis of C. albicans colitis.

From chaos to order: optimizing fecal microbiota transplantation for enhanced immune checkpoint inhibitors efficacy

The integration of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) presents a promising approach for enhancing cancer treatment efficacy and overcoming therapeutic resistance. This review critically examines the controversial effects of FMT on ICIs outcomes and elucidates the underlying mechanisms. We investigate how FMT modulates gut microbiota composition, microbial metabolite profiles, and the tumor microenvironment, thereby influencing ICIs effectiveness. Key factors influencing FMT efficacy, including donor selection criteria, recipient characteristics, and administration protocols, are comprehensively discussed. The review delineates strategies for optimizing FMT formulations and systematically monitoring post-transplant microbiome dynamics. Through a comprehensive synthesis of evidence from clinical trials and preclinical studies, we elucidate the potential benefits and challenges of combining FMT with ICIs across diverse cancer types. While some studies report improved outcomes, others indicate no benefit or potential adverse effects, emphasizing the complexity of host-microbiome interactions in cancer immunotherapy. We outline critical research directions, encompassing the need for large-scale, multi-center randomized controlled trials, in-depth microbial ecology studies, and the integration of multi-omics approaches with artificial intelligence. Regulatory and ethical challenges are critically addressed, underscoring the imperative for standardized protocols and rigorous long-term safety assessments. This comprehensive review seeks to guide future research endeavors and clinical applications of FMT-ICIs combination therapy, with the potential to improve cancer patient outcomes while ensuring both safety and efficacy. As this rapidly evolving field advances, maintaining a judicious balance between openness to innovation and cautious scrutiny is crucial for realizing the full potential of microbiome modulation in cancer immunotherapy.

Meta-analysis of shotgun sequencing of gut microbiota in obese children with MASLD or MASH

Alterations in the gut microbiome affect the development and severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). We analyzed microbiomes of obese children with and without MASLD, MASH, and healthy controls. Electronic databases were searched for studies on the gut microbiome in children with obesity with/without MASLD or MASH, providing shotgun-metagenomic-sequencing data. Nine studies and an additionally recruited cohort were included. Fecal microbiomes of children with MASLD (n = 153) and MASH (n = 70) were significantly different in alpha- and beta-diversity (p < 0.001) compared to obese (n = 58) and healthy (n = 132). Species Faecalibacterium_prausnitzii and Prevotella_copri are differentially abundant between obese, MASLD and MASH groups. XGBoost and random forest-models accurately predict MASLD over obesity with an AUROC of 87% and MASH over MASLD with 89%. Pathway-abundance-based models accurately predict MASLD over obesity with an AUROC of 81% and MASH over MASLD with 88%. The composition of the gut microbiome is altered with increasing hepatic fibrosis and concomitant species-abundance increase of Prevotella_copri (p = 0.0082). Machine-learning models discriminate pediatric from adult MASH with an AUROC of 97%. The gut microbial composition is increasingly altered in children with the progression of MASLD toward MASH. This can be utilized as a fecal biomarker and highlights the impact of diet on the gut microbiome for disease intervention.

Development and application of an uncapped mRNA platform

BACKGROUND

A novel uncapped mRNA platform was developed.

METHODS

Five lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA constructs were made to evaluate several aspects of our platform, including transfection efficiency and durability in vitro and in vivo and the activation of humoral and cellular immunity in several animal models. The constructs were eGFP-mRNA-LNP (for enhanced green fluorescence mRNA), Fluc-mRNA-LNP (for firefly luciferase mRNA), SδT-mRNA-LNP (for Delta strain SARS-CoV-2 spike protein trimer mRNA), gDED-mRNA-LNP (for truncated glycoprotein D mRNA coding ectodomain from herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2)) and gDFR-mRNA-LNP (for truncated HSV2 glycoprotein D mRNA coding amino acids 1-400).

RESULTS

Quantifiable target protein expression was achieved in vitro and in vivo with eGFP- and Fluc-mRNA-LNP. SδT-mRNA-LNP, gDED-mRNA-LNP and gDFR-mRNA-LNP induced both humoral and cellular immune responses comparable to those obtained by previously reported capped mRNA-LNP constructs. Notably, SδT-mRNA-LNP elicited neutralizing antibodies in hamsters against the Omicron and Delta strains. Additionally, gDED-mRNA-LNP and gDFR-mRNA-LNP induced potent neutralizing antibodies in rabbits and mice. The mRNA constructs with uridine triphosphate (UTP) outperformed those with N1-methylpseudouridine triphosphate (N1mψTP) in the induction of antibodies via SδT-mRNA-LNP.

CONCLUSIONS

Our uncapped, process-simplified and economical mRNA platform may have broad utility in vaccines and protein replacement drugs.KEY MESSAGESThe mRNA platform described in our paper uses internal ribosome entry site (IRES) (Rapid, Amplified, Capless and Economical, RACE; Register as BH-RACE platform) instead of caps and uridine triphosphate (UTP) instead of N1-methylpseudouridine triphosphate (N1mψTP) to synthesize mRNA.Through the self-developed packaging instrument and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery system, mRNA can be expressed in cells more efficiently, quickly and economically.Particularly exciting is that potent neutralizing antibodies against Delta and Omicron real viruses were induced with the new coronavirus S protein mRNA vaccine from the BH-RACE platform.

Transmissible Staphylococcus pseudintermedius thwarts neutrophil extracellular trap-driven containment to promote invasive disease

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that causes a variety of clinical diseases in mammalian hosts. While it frequently causes infections in dogs and other domestic animals, accumulating evidence indicates that zoonotic spillover and cross-species transmission events favour local and invasive S. pseudintermedius infections in humans. However, immuno-evasive maneuvers that shape S. pseudintermedius pathogenicity and survival in diseased hosts remain enigmatic. Powered by multi-tech imaging and a mouse model of bloodstream infection, we illustrate that S. pseudintermedius adopted a virulence mechanism from predominant bacterial pathogens to surmount neutrophilic responses and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-mediated killing. Specifically, release of NucB, a thermostable nuclease, helps MRSP coping with the antimicrobial and pathogen-immobilizing properties of NETs and even promotes intra-neutrophil survival upon phagocytosis, thereby contributing to S. pseudintermedius pathogenesis and persistence within hepatic abscesses. Combined with the analysis of genetically distinct human clinical isolates, all of which display nuclease activity and features of resistance to NETosis-induced killing, our data highlight how zoonotic staphylococci overcome innate immune responses and concurrently uncover a mechanism that may exacerbate animal-borne MRSP infections in humans.

Innate immune recognition in hepatitis B virus infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major global public health challenge, with approximately 254 million individuals chronically infected worldwide. The interaction between HBV and the innate immune system has garnered significant attention within the scientific community, with numerous studies exploring this relationship over the past several decades. While some research suggests that HBV infection activates the host's innate immune response, other studies indicate that HBV suppresses innate immune signaling pathways. These conflicting findings underscore the complexity of the HBV-innate immunity interaction, which remains inadequately understood. This review aims to clarify this interplay by examining it from three perspectives: (a) studies showing HBV activation of innate immunity; (b) evidence suggesting HBV suppression of innate immunity; and (c) findings that support HBV's role as a stealth virus. By synthesizing these perspectives, we aim to deepen the understanding of virus-host interactions that are crucial to HBV persistence and immune evasion, with potential implications for developing new therapeutic strategies for chronic HBV infection.

Deciphering the causal link between gut microbiota and membranous nephropathy: insights into potential inflammatory mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Membranous nephropathy (MN), a leading cause of adult nephrotic syndrome and renal failure, has been linked to gut microbiota (GM) and their metabolites. However, direct causal relationships and therapeutic implications remain unclear.

METHODS

We utilized a comprehensive GWAS dataset that encompasses GM, metabolites, and MN through two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, bidirectional MR evaluations, and detailed sensitivity tests.

RESULTS

We identified strong causal associations between nine specific types of GM, including class Clostridia (OR = 1.816, 95%CI: 1.021-3.236, p = .042), class Melainabacteria (OR = 0.661, 95%CI: 0.439-0.996, p = .048), order Gastranaerophilales (OR = 0.689, 95%CI: 0.480-0.996, p = .044), genus Alistipes (OR = 0.480, 95%CI: 0.223-0.998, p = .049), genus Butyricicoccus (OR = 0.464, 95%CI: 0.216-0.995, p = .048), genus Butyrivibrio (OR = 0.799, 95%CI: 0.639-0.998, p = .048), genus Ruminococcaceae UCG003 (OR = 0.563, 95%CI: 0.362-0.877, p = .011), genus Streptococcus (OR = 0.619, 95%CI: 0.393-0.973, p = .038), and genus Oscillibacter (OR = 1.90, 95%CI: 1.06-3.40, p = .031). Additionally, the metabolite tryptophan also exhibited a significant causal influence on MN (OR = 0.852, 95%CI: 0.754-0.963, p = .010). Sensitivity and reverse MR analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Further exploration using gutMGene database suggests that GM may influence MN by affecting the release of inflammatory factors and modulating inflammatory pathways.

CONCLUSION

This study offers a comprehensive understanding of the causal links between GM, their metabolites, and MN, which highlight potential pathways for developing new preventive and therapeutic strategies for this condition.

The search for a TNBC vaccine: the guardian vaccine

Nearly 20 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year with breast cancer being the most common among women. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), defined by its no/low expression of ER and PR and lack of amplification of HER2, makes up 15-20% of all breast cancer cases. While patients overall have a higher response to chemotherapy, this subgroup is associated with the lowest survival rate indicating significant clinical and molecular heterogeneity demanding alternate treatment options. Therefore, new therapies have been explored, with a large focus on utilizing the immune system. A whole host of immunotherapies have been studied including immune checkpoint inhibitors, now standard of care for eligible patients, and possibly the most exciting and promising is that of a TNBC vaccine. While currently there are no approved TNBC vaccines, this review highlights many promising studies and points to an antigen, p53, which we believe is highly relevant for TNBC.

Upregulation of Lactobacillus spp. in gut microbiota as a novel mechanism for environmental eustress-induced anti-pancreatic cancer effects

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with limited effective treatment options. Emerging evidence links enriched environment (EE)-induced eustress to PDAC inhibition. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we explored the role of gut microbiota in PDAC-suppressive effects of EE. We demonstrated that depletion of gut microbiota with antibiotics abolished EE-induced tumor suppression, while fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EE mice significantly inhibited tumor growth in both subcutaneous and orthotopic PDAC models housed in standard environment. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that EE enhanced gut microbiota diversity and selectively enriched probiotic Lactobacillus, particularly L. reuteri. Treatment with L. reuteri significantly suppressed PDAC tumor growth and increased natural killer (NK) cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. Depletion of NK cells alleviated the anti-tumor effects of L. reuteri, underscoring the essential role of NK cell-mediated immunity in anti-tumor response. Clinical analysis of PDAC patients showed that higher fecal Lactobacillus abundance correlated with improved progression-free and overall survival, further supporting the therapeutic potential of L. reuteri in PDAC. Overall, this study identifies gut microbiota as a systemic regulator of PDAC under psychological stress. Supplementation of psychobiotic Lactobacillus may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for PDAC.

Past, present, and future of exosomes research in cancer: A bibliometric and visualization analysis

Cancer seriously threatens the lives and health of people worldwide, and exosomes seem to play an important role in managing cancer effectively, which has attracted extensive attention from researchers in recent years. This study aimed to scientifically visualize exosomes research in cancer (ERC) through bibliometric analysis, reviewing the past, summarizing the present, and predicting the future, with a view to providing valuable insights for scholars and policy makers. Researches search and data collection from Web of Science Core Collection and clinical trial.gov. Calculations and visualizations were performed using Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, Bibliometrix R-package, and CiteSpace. As of December 1, 2024, and March 8, 2025, we identified 8,001 ERC-related publications and 107 ERC-related clinical trials, with an increasing trend in annual publications. Our findings supported that China, Nanjing Medical University, and International Journal of Molecular Sciences were the most productive countries, institutions, and journals, respectively. Whiteside, Theresa L. had the most publications, while Théry, C was the most co-cited scholar. In addition, Cancer Research was the most co-cited journal. Spatial and temporal distribution of clinical trials was the same as for publications. High-frequency keywords were "extracellular vesicle," "microRNA" and "biomarker." Additional, "surface functionalization," "plant," "machine learning," "nanomaterials," "promotes metastasis," "engineered exosomes," and "macrophage-derived exosomes" were promising research topics. Our study comprehensively and visually summarized the structure, hotspots, and evolutionary trends of ERC. It would inspire subsequent studies from a macroscopic perspective and provide a basis for rational allocation of resources and identification of collaborations among researchers.

Trends in the immunotherapy for glioblastoma: A two-decade bibliometric analysis

Glioblastoma is a life-threatening primary malignant brain tumor with an unfavorable prognosis. Contributing factors to its poor outcome include tumor heterogeneity, low mutational burden, and immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment. Recognizing these challenges, immunotherapeutic strategies have emerged as a promising avenue for glioblastoma treatment. Although several dynamic research and scientific trend have increasingly taken pace in the immunotherapeutic approaches to glioblastoma, systematic bibliometric studies on such trends are few. On this note, this study explores a bibliometric analysis of the research hotspots and trends in glioblastoma immunotherapy. We conducted a search in the Web of Science Core Collection database for articles on glioblastoma immunotherapy published between 2004 and 2024. Using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software, we analyzed collected articles to explore aspects such as country of origin, journal of publication, affiliated institute, authorship, keywords, and citation patterns. As of May 1, 2024, we retrieved 3,729 papers on Glioblastoma Immunotherapy. In the field of glioblastoma immunotherapy, the United States stands out as the leading contributor, with 1,708 publications and a substantial 90,590 citations. Following closely, China has made significant contributions through 926 publications, earning 17,533 citations, while Germany adds to the body of knowledge with 349 publications and 16,355 citations. Furthermore, Authoritative journals in this field include Clinical Cancer Research and Neuro-Oncology. The top five keywords during this period were temozolomide, radiotherapy, dendritic cell, cytotoxic T lymphocyte, and vaccination. Moreover, Hotspots in the field include immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.

Clinical manifestations and pathogenicity of Clade IIb monkeypox virus in rabbits

The 2022 monkeypox outbreak involved rapid global dissemination, prompting research into animal models for the monkeypox virus (MPXV), including non-human primates and mice. However, studies utilizing rabbits as models remain limited. In this study, we established three rabbit models using the current epidemic MPXV strain. Following intravenous MPXV injection, adult rabbits exhibited characteristic clinical manifestations, including widespread rash and fever, with viral replication in the skin, lungs, and testes, resulting in severe pathological damage by 6 days post-infection (dpi). Intradermal injection of MPXV into the dorsal skin of adult rabbits produced red lesions with central necrosis and hemorrhage accompanied by dense inflammatory infiltrates. Abundant viral particles were observed in epidermal cells at 6 dpi. Additionally, a fatal MPXV model was developed in 10-day-old rabbits using intranasal virus administration. These young rabbits exhibited lethargy and diarrhea beginning at 2 dpi, significant weight loss, and a 50% mortality rate by 15 dpi. Viral dissemination was detected in multiple organs, leading to extensive multi-organ damage. This study highlights the utility of rabbit models for MPXV, displaying typical clinical features and pathogenic mechanisms.

Sigma1 inhibitor suppression of adaptive immune resistance mechanisms mediated by cancer cell derived extracellular vesicles

Adaptive immune resistance in cancer describes the various mechanisms by which tumors adapt to evade anti-tumor immune responses. IFN-γ induction of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was the first defined and validated adaptive immune resistance mechanism. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is central to adaptive immune resistance as immune modulatory secreted and integral membrane proteins are dependent on ER. Sigma1 is a unique ligand-regulated integral membrane scaffolding protein enriched in the ER of cancer cells. PD-L1 is an integral membrane glycoprotein that is translated into the ER and processed through the cellular secretory pathway. At the cell surface, PD-L1 is an immune checkpoint molecule that binds PD-1 on activated T-cells and blocks anti-tumor immunity. PD-L1 can also be incorporated into cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), and EV-associated PD-L1 can inactivate T-cells within the tumor microenvironment. Here, we demonstrate that a selective small molecule inhibitor of Sigma1 can block IFN-γ mediated adaptive immune resistance in part by altering the incorporation of PD-L1 into cancer cell-derived EVs. Sigma1 inhibition blocked post-translational maturation of PD-L1 downstream of IFN-γ/STAT1 signaling. Subsequently, EVs released in response to IFN-γ stimulation were significantly less potent suppressors of T-cell activation. These results suggest that by reducing tumor derived immune suppressive EVs, Sigma1 inhibition may promote antitumor immunity. Sigma1 modulation presents a novel approach to regulating the tumor immune microenvironment by altering the content and production of EVs. Altogether, these data support the notion that Sigma1 may play a role in adaptive immune resistance in the tumor microenvironment.

Alterations in mucosa branched N-glycans lead to dysbiosis and downregulation of ILC3: a key driver of intestinal inflammation

The perturbation of the symbiotic relationship between microbes and intestinal immune system contributes to gut inflammation and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) development. The host mucosa glycans (glycocalyx) creates a major biological interface between gut microorganisms and host immunity that remains ill-defined. Glycans are essential players in IBD immunopathogenesis, even years before disease onset. However, how changes in mucosa glycosylation shape microbiome and how this impact gut immune response and inflammation remains to be clarified. Here, we revealed that alterations in the expression of complex branched N-glycans at gut mucosa surface, modeled in glycoengineered mice, resulted in dysbiosis, with a deficiency in Firmicutes bacteria. Concomitantly, this mucosa N-glycan switch was associated with a downregulation of type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3)-mediated immune response, leading to the transition of ILC3 toward an ILC1 proinflammatory phenotype and increased TNFα production. In addition, we demonstrated that the mucosa glycosylation remodeling through prophylactic supplementation with glycans at steady state was able to restore microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids and microbial sensing (by NOD2 expression) alongside the rescue of the expression of ILC3 module, suppressing intestinal inflammation and controlling disease onset. In a complementary approach, we further showed that IBD patients, often displaying dysbiosis, exhibited a tendency of decreased MGAT5 expression at epithelial cells that was accompanied by reduced ILC3 expression in gut mucosa. Altogether, these results unlock the effects of alterations in mucosa glycome composition in the regulation of the bidirectional crosstalk between microbiota and gut immune response, revealing host branched N-glycans/microbiota/ILC3 axis as an essential pathway in gut homeostasis and in preventing health to intestinal inflammation transition.

Characterization and anti-tuberculosis effects of γδ T cells expanded and activated by Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat-resistant antigen

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) that poses a severe threat to human health. A variety of highly immunogenic tuberculosis proteins have been used as targets in vaccine development to mitigate the spread of TB. Although Th1-type immunity has long been considered a crucial part of resistance to Mtb, γδ T cells, the predominant source of IL-17, are not negligible in controlling the early stages of TB infection. In addition to classical phosphoantigens, Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat-resistant antigens (HAg), a complex containing 564 proteins obtained from live tuberculosis bacteria after heat treatment at 121 °C for 20 min, have been confirmed to be highly effective γδ T cell stimulators as well. Several studies have demonstrated that HAg-activated γδ T cells can participate in TB immunity by secreting multiple cytokines against Mtb or by interacting with other innate immune cells. In this review, we present a possible mechanism of HAg stimulation of γδ T cells and the role of HAg-activated γδ T cells in anti-TB immunity. We also highlight the limitations of studies on HAg activation of γδ T cells and suggest further research directions on the relationship between HAg and γδ T cells.

Bacterial extracellular vesicles in the initiation, progression and treatment of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, current anti-atherosclerosis drugs have shown conflicting therapeutic outcomes, thereby spurring the search for novel and effective treatments. Recent research indicates the crucial involvement of oral and gastrointestinal microbiota in atherosclerosis. While gut microbiota metabolites, such as choline derivatives, have been extensively studied and reviewed, emerging evidence suggests that bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs), which are membrane-derived lipid bilayers secreted by bacteria, also play a significant role in this process. However, the role of BEVs in host-microbiota interactions remains insufficiently explored. This review aims to elucidate the complex communication mediated by BEVs along the gut-heart axis. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on BEVs, with a specific focus on how pathogen-derived BEVs contribute to the promotion of atherosclerosis, as well as how BEVs from gut symbionts and probiotics may mitigate its progression. We also explore the potential and challenges associated with engineered BEVs in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. Finally, we discuss the benefits and challenges of using BEVs in atherosclerosis diagnosis and treatment, and propose future research directions to address these issues.

Lactic acid in the vaginal milieu modulates the Candida-host interaction

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the most common infections caused by Candida albicans. VVC is characterized by an inadequate hyperinflammatory response and clinical symptoms associated with Candida colonization of the vaginal mucosa. Compared to other host niches in which C. albicans can cause infection, the vaginal environment is extremely rich in lactic acid that is produced by the vaginal microbiota. We examined how lactic acid abundance in the vaginal niche impacts the interaction between C. albicans and the human immune system using an in vitro culture in vaginal simulative medium (VSM). The presence of lactic acid in VSM (VSM+LA) increased C. albicans proliferation, hyphal length, and its ability to cause damage during subsequent infection of vaginal epithelial cells. The cell wall of C. albicans cells grown in VSM+LA displayed a robust mannan fibrillar structure, β-glucan exposure, and low chitin content. These cell wall changes were associated with altered immune responses and an increased ability of the fungus to induce trained immunity. Neutrophils were compromised in clearing C. albicans grown in VSM+LA conditions, despite mounting stronger oxidative responses. Collectively, we found that fungal adaptation to lactic acid in a vaginal simulative context increases its immunogenicity favouring a pro-inflammatory state. This potentially contributes to the immune response dysregulation and neutrophil recruitment observed during recurrent VVC.

Update on the correlation between mitochondrial function and osteonecrosis of the femoral head osteocytes

Mitochondrial health is maintained in a steady state through mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy processes. Recent studies have identified healthy mitochondria as crucial regulators of cellular function and survival. This process involves adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), regulation of calcium metabolism and inflammatory responses, and intracellular oxidative stress management. In the skeletal system, they participate in the regulation of cellular behaviors and the responses of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, chondrocytes, and osteocytes to external stimuli. Indeed, mitochondrial damage or dysfunction occurs in the development of a few bone diseases. For example, mitochondrial damage may lead to an imbalance in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, resulting in osteoporosis, osteomalacia, or poor bone production, and chondrocyte death and inflammatory infiltration in osteoarthritis are the main causes of cartilage degeneration due to mitochondrial damage. However, the opposite exists for osteosarcoma, where overactive mitochondrial metabolism is able to accelerate the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells, which is a major disease feature. Bone is a dynamic organ and osteocytes play a fundamental role in all regions of bone tissue and are involved in regulating bone integrity. This review examines the impact of mitochondrial physiological function on osteocyte health and summarizes the microscopic molecular mechanisms underlying its effects. It highlights that targeted therapies focusing on osteocyte mitochondria may be beneficial for osteocyte survival, providing a new insight for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases associated with osteocyte death.