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Liang Y, Wang H, Sun K, Sun J, Soong L. Lack of the IFN-γ signal leads to lethal Orientia tsutsugamushi infection in mice with skin eschar lesions. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012020. [PMID: 38743761 PMCID: PMC11125519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus is an acute febrile disease due to Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot) infection and can be life-threatening with organ failure, hemorrhage, and fatality. Yet, little is known as to how the host reacts to Ot bacteria at early stages of infection; no reports have addressed the functional roles of type I versus type II interferon (IFN) responses in scrub typhus. In this study, we used comprehensive intradermal (i.d.) inoculation models and two clinically predominant Ot strains (Karp and Gilliam) to uncover early immune events. Karp infection induced sequential expression of Ifnb and Ifng in inflamed skin and draining lymph nodes at days 1 and 3 post-infection. Using double Ifnar1-/-Ifngr1-/- and Stat1-/- mice, we found that deficiency in IFN/STAT1 signaling resulted in lethal infection with profound pathology and skin eschar lesions, which resembled to human scrub typhus. Further analyses demonstrated that deficiency in IFN-γ, but not IFN-I, resulted in impaired NK cell and macrophage activation and uncontrolled bacterial growth and dissemination, leading to metabolic dysregulation, excessive inflammatory cell infiltration, and exacerbated tissue damage. NK cells were found to be the major cellular source of innate IFN-γ, contributing to the initial Ot control in the draining lymph nodes. In vitro studies with dendritic cell cultures revealed a superior antibacterial effect offered by IFN-γ than IFN-β. Comparative in vivo studies with Karp- and Gilliam-infection revealed a crucial role of IFN-γ signaling in protection against progression of eschar lesions and Ot infection lethality. Additionally, our i.d. mouse models of lethal infection with eschar lesions are promising tools for immunological study and vaccine development for scrub typhus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuejin Liang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Hui Wang
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Keer Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jiaren Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
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Liu ES, Wu YT, Liang WM, Kuo FY. Association of scrub typhus with the risk of venous thromboembolism and long-term mortality: a population-based cohort study. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 43:905-914. [PMID: 38472518 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-024-04793-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The existing literature lacks studies examining the epidemiological link between scrub typhus and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), and the long-term outcomes. The objective of this study is to explore the potential association between scrub typhus and the subsequent risk of venous thromboembolism, and long-term mortality. METHOD This nationwide cohort study identified 10,121 patients who were newly diagnosed with scrub typhus. Patients with a prior DVT or PE diagnosis before the scrub typhus infection were excluded. A comparison cohort of 101,210 patients was established from the general population using a propensity score matching technique. The cumulative survival HRs for the two cohorts were calculated by the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULT After adjusting for sex, age, and comorbidities, the scrub typhus group had an adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.02 (0.80-1.30) for DVT, 1.11 (0.63-1.93) for PE, and 1.16 (1.08-1.25) for mortality compared to the control group. The post hoc subgroup analysis revealed that individuals younger than 55 years with a prior scrub typhus infection had a significantly higher risk of DVT (HR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.12-2.25) and long-term mortality (HR: 1.75; 95% CI, 1.54-1.99). CONCLUSION The scrub typhus patients showed a 16% higher risk of long-term mortality. For those in scrub typhus cohort below 55 years of age, the risk of developing DVT was 1.59 times higher, and the risk of mortality was 1.75 times higher. Age acted as an effect modifier influencing the relationship between scrub typhus and risk of new-onset DVT and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- En-Shao Liu
- Cardiovascular Medical Center, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No. 386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City, 813, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ting Wu
- Cardiovascular Medical Center, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No. 386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City, 813, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Miin Liang
- Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Yu Kuo
- Cardiovascular Medical Center, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No. 386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City, 813, Taiwan.
- Department of Pharmacy and Master Program, College of Pharmacy and Health Care, Tajen University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
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Konyak BM, Soni M, Saikia S, Chang T, Gogoi I, Khongstid I, Chang CM, Sharma M, Pandey RP. Scrub typhus in Northeast India: epidemiology, clinical presentations, and diagnostic approaches. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2024; 118:206-222. [PMID: 37972992 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trad082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus is one of the most neglected tropical diseases, a leading cause of acute undifferentiated febrile illness in areas of the 'tsutsugamushi triangle', diagnosed frequently in South Asian countries. The bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi is the causative agent of the disease, which enters the human body through the bite of trombiculid mites (also known as chiggers) of the genus Leptotrombidium deliense. Diagnosis of the disease is challenging, as its early symptoms mimic other febrile illnesses like dengue, influenza and corona viruses. Lack of rapid, reliable and cost-effective diagnostic methods further complicates the identification process. Northeast India, a mountainous region with a predominantly rural tribal population, has witnessed a resurgence of scrub typhus cases in recent years. Various ecological factors, including rodent populations, habitat characteristics and climatic conditions, influence its prevalence. Entomological investigations have confirmed the abundance of vector mites, highlighting the importance of understanding their distribution and the probability of transmission of scrub typhus in the region. Proper diagnosis, awareness campaigns and behavioural interventions are essential for controlling scrub typhus outbreaks and reducing its impact on public health in Northeast India. Further research and community-based studies are necessary to accurately assess the disease burden and implement effective prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beyau M Konyak
- Integrated Molecular Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (BSL-2), District Hospital Tuensang, Tuensang-798612, Nagaland, India
- Department of Biosciences, Assam Don Bosco University, Tapesia Garden, Sonapur, Guwahati-782402, Assam, India
| | - Monika Soni
- Department of Biosciences, Assam Don Bosco University, Tapesia Garden, Sonapur, Guwahati-782402, Assam, India
| | - Shyamalima Saikia
- Department of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh-786004, Assam, India
| | - Tochi Chang
- Integrated Molecular Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (BSL-2), District Hospital Tuensang, Tuensang-798612, Nagaland, India
| | - Indrani Gogoi
- Department of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh-786004, Assam, India
| | - Ibakmensi Khongstid
- Department of Biosciences, Assam Don Bosco University, Tapesia Garden, Sonapur, Guwahati-782402, Assam, India
| | - Chung-Ming Chang
- Master's and PhD Program in Biotechnology Industry, Chang Gung University, No. 259, Wenhua 1st Rd, Guishan District, Taoyuan City-33302, Taiwan (ROC)
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Chang Gung University, No. 259, Wenhua 1st Rd, Guishan District, Taoyuan City-33302, Taiwan (ROC)
| | - Mohan Sharma
- Integrated Molecular Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (BSL-2), District Hospital Tuensang, Tuensang-798612, Nagaland, India
| | - Ramendra Pati Pandey
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun-248007, Uttarakhand, India
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4
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Han S, Yang S, Wang Y, Xu Y. Case Report: Encephalitis with Initial Manifestation of Orientia Tsutsugamushi Infection Detected by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing. Infect Drug Resist 2024; 17:749-760. [PMID: 38433784 PMCID: PMC10906725 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s450693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is characterized by fever, eschars, lymphadenopathy, and rash. The absence of eschars in some cases makes it difficult to distinguish it from other diseases, complicating the diagnosis process. Atypical Scrub typhus is difficult to diagnose and often leads to delayed treatment. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment through effective detection methods have high clinical value. Here, a case of scrub typhus with encephalitis symptoms is reported. Patients and Methods A 64-year-old man and mNGS testing. Results A 64-year-old man developed cough, headache, and fever, dismissing it as a respiratory tract infection. Initial treatment with cephalosporin antibiotics had minimal effect. Admission to the respiratory department showed inflammation in blood tests. Subsequent CT and further treatment provided no improvement. Multidisciplinary discussions and neurology department guidance were conducted to consider the suspected diagnosis of encephalitis in the patient. After improving the mNGS detection, the patient was diagnosed with "Orientia tsutsugamushi encephalitis". After treatment with doxycycline, the patient's symptoms were alleviated. He remained afebrile in follow-up and adhered well to medical advice. Conclusion Our case demonstrates that it is difficult to distinguish Orientia tsutsugamushi encephalitis from central nervous system infectious diseases such as meningitis and encephalitis using conventional diagnostic methods, which may affect the treatment plan for the disease. mNGS is a useful and valuable method for early diagnosis of scrub typhus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Han
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Cheeloo College of Medicine of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People’s Republic of China
| | - Suge Yang
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Cheeloo College of Medicine of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Neurology Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Cheeloo College of Medicine of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yingying Xu
- Department of Neurology Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Cheeloo College of Medicine of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, People’s Republic of China
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Kim CG, Kim WK, Kim N, Pyung YJ, Park DJ, Lee JC, Cho CS, Chu H, Yun CH. Intranasal Immunization With Nanoparticles Containing an Orientia tsutsugamushi Protein Vaccine Candidate and a Polysorbitol Transporter Adjuvant Enhances Both Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses. Immune Netw 2023; 23:e47. [PMID: 38188601 PMCID: PMC10767547 DOI: 10.4110/in.2023.23.e47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus, a mite-borne infectious disease, is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. Despite many attempts to develop a protective strategy, an effective preventive vaccine has not been developed. The identification of appropriate Ags that cover diverse antigenic strains and provide long-lasting immunity is a fundamental challenge in the development of a scrub typhus vaccine. We investigated whether this limitation could be overcome by harnessing the nanoparticle-forming polysorbitol transporter (PST) for an O. tsutsugamushi vaccine strategy. Two target proteins, 56-kDa type-specific Ag (TSA56) and surface cell Ag A (ScaA) were used as vaccine candidates. PST formed stable nano-size complexes with TSA56 (TSA56-PST) and ScaA (ScaA-PST); neither exhibited cytotoxicity. The formation of Ag-specific IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgA in mice was enhanced by intranasal vaccination with TSA56-PST or ScaA-PST. The vaccines containing PST induced Ag-specific proliferation of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, the vaccines containing PST improved the mouse survival against O. tsutsugamushi infection. Collectively, the present study indicated that PST could enhance both Ag-specific humoral immunity and T cell response, which are essential to effectively confer protective immunity against O. tsutsugamushi infection. These findings suggest that PST has potential for use in an intranasal vaccination strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheol Gyun Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Bio-MAX/N-Bio, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Won Kyong Kim
- Division of Zoonotic and Vector Borne Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Narae Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Young Jin Pyung
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Da-Jeong Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jeong-Cheol Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Chong-Su Cho
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hyuk Chu
- Division of Zoonotic and Vector Borne Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Cheol-Heui Yun
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Institutes of Green-bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Korea
- Interdisciplinary Programs in Agricultural Genomics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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Thiriot JD, Liang Y, Gonzales C, Sun J, Yu X, Soong L. Differential cellular immune responses against Orientia tsutsugamushi Karp and Gilliam strains following acute infection in mice. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011445. [PMID: 38091346 PMCID: PMC10752558 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus is a leading cause of febrile illness in endemic countries due to infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot), a seriously understudied intracellular bacterium. Pulmonary involvement associated with vascular parasitism in patients is common and can develop into life threatening interstitial pneumonia. The diverse antigenicity of Ot genotypes and inter-strain differences in genome content are connected to varied virulence and clinical outcomes; however, detailed studies of strain-related pulmonary immune responses in human patients or small animal models of infection are lacking. In this study, we have used two clinically prevalent bacterial strains (Karp and Gilliam) to reveal cellular immune responses in inflamed lungs and potential biomarkers of disease severity. The results demonstrate that outbred CD-1 mice are highly susceptible to both Karp and Gilliam strains; however, C57BL/6 (B6) mice were susceptible to Karp, but resistant to Gilliam (with self-limiting infection), corresponding to their tissue bacterial burdens and lung pathological changes. Multicolor flow cytometric analyses of perfused B6 mouse lungs revealed robust and sustained influx and activation of innate immune cells (macrophages, neutrophils, and NK cells), followed by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, during Karp infection, but such responses were greatly attenuated during Gilliam infection. The robust cellular responses in Karp-infected B6 mice positively correlated with significantly early and high levels of serum cytokine/chemokine protein levels (CXCL1, CCL2/3/5, and G-CSF), as well as pulmonary gene expression (Cxcl1/2, Ccl2/3/4, and Ifng). In vitro infection of B6 mouse-derived primary macrophages also revealed bacterial strain-dependent immune gene expression profiles. This study provided the lines of evidence that highlighted differential tissue cellular responses against Karp vs. Gilliam infection, offering a framework for future investigation of Ot strain-related mechanisms of disease pathogenesis vs. infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. Thiriot
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yuejin Liang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Casey Gonzales
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jiaren Sun
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Xiaoying Yu
- Department of Biostatistics & Data Science, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
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Mukhopadhyay S, Gupta R, Shukla S, Bhattacharjee P, Bhatnagar R, Yadav S, Kamal SF, Virk A, Imran S, Liyakath A. Once Forgotten Now Re-emerging: Scrub Typhus Infection in Pediatric Patients From North West India. Cureus 2023; 15:e44044. [PMID: 37746469 PMCID: PMC10517703 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Scrub typhus is an important cause of acute febrile illness in children. It is one of the re-emerging infections in the Asia Pacific region. It is caused by the gram-negative bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi and is spread by the bite of trombiculid mites. The initial symptomatology is nonspecific with fever, headache, vomiting, etc. The presence of eschar is said to be pathognomic. It is a systemic illness, and vasculitis is the basic pathogenic mechanism. Materials and methods A retrospective observational study was conducted in two medical colleges and associated hospitals of western Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Rajasthan, India. Case files of 21 confirmed cases of scrub typhus admitted from April 2021 to October 2022 were reviewed. Scrub typhus was suspected in children with acute undifferentiated fever, and suggestive signs and symptoms were confirmed serologically with IgM enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Demographic and clinical details were noted. Results During the study period, a total of 335 cases of acute undifferentiated fever were seen, and 6.2% of them were diagnosed as having scrub typhus infection on detailed investigation. The most common symptom was fever in 100% of them, vomiting in 57.1%, abdomen pain in 42.8%, and diarrhea in 19%. Maculopapular, erythematous rash was present in 19% of cases. None of the patients had eschar. Microvascular leakage was the main complication in 28.5%. Unusual complications seen were empyema and valvulitis in 4.7% of patients. Conclusion Scrub typhus is also seen in urban setups and in dry arid areas like Rajasthan and North West UP. So, relevant investigations should be a part of the evaluation in pediatric patients with acute undifferentiated fever. Eschar can be absent, and empyema and valvulitis are some uncommon complications. A high degree of suspicion and early diagnosis are essential as an undiagnosed infection is rapidly fatal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rakesh Gupta
- Pediatrics, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, IND
| | - Shalini Shukla
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, IND
| | | | - Ruchika Bhatnagar
- Pediatrics, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, IND
| | - Sanju Yadav
- Paediatrics, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, IND
| | | | - Arashdeep Virk
- Pediatrics, Ananta Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Rajsamand, IND
| | - Shazmeen Imran
- Paediatrics, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, IND
| | - Azhar Liyakath
- Pediatrics, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, IND
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8
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Jagadeesan S, Patel P, Kushwaha P, Patidar N. Scrub typus fulminating as liver failure: A rare report. J Vector Borne Dis 2023; 60:333-335. [PMID: 37843246 DOI: 10.4103/0972-9062.374042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus is almost an endemic tropical mite-borne, zoonotic illness often cognate with the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. After a typical incubation period of a fortnight, non-specific symptoms including fever, headache, and a specific skin 'eschar' is customary. If untreated after a symptomatic week, scrub typus may precipitate end-organ involvements spiraling into vivid complications. Nevertheless, crub typhus tends to display mild transaminitis, frank liver failure is hardly common in clinical practice. An instance of scrub typus triggering fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) in a middle-aged female is being reported here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subramani Jagadeesan
- Medicine, Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences, Gajraula, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Pranav Patel
- Acute Medicine, North Middlesex University Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pushpendra Kushwaha
- Internal Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Nehal Patidar
- Internal Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
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9
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Liang Y, Aditi, Onyoni F, Wang H, Gonzales C, Sunyakumthorn P, Wu P, Samir P, Soong L. Brain transcriptomics reveal the activation of neuroinflammation pathways during acute Orientia tsutsugamushi infection in mice. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1194881. [PMID: 37426673 PMCID: PMC10326051 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1194881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus, an acute febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot), is prevalent in endemic areas with one million new cases annually. Clinical observations suggest central nervous system (CNS) involvement in severe scrub typhus cases. Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) associated with Ot infection is a major public health problem; however, the underlying mechanisms of neurological disorder remain poorly understood. By using a well-established murine model of severe scrub typhus and brain RNA-seq, we studied the brain transcriptome dynamics and identified the activated neuroinflammation pathways. Our data indicated a strong enrichment of several immune signaling and inflammation-related pathways at the onset of disease and prior to host death. The strongest upregulation of expression included genes involved in interferon (IFN) responses, defense response to bacteria, immunoglobulin-mediated immunity, IL-6/JAK-STAT signaling, and TNF signaling via NF-κB. We also found a significant increase in the expression of core genes related to blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and dysregulation in severe Ot infection. Brain tissue immunostaining and in vitro infection of microglia revealed microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokine production, suggesting a crucial role of microglia in neuroinflammation during scrub typhus. This study provides new insights into neuroinflammation in scrub typhus, highlighting the impact of excessive IFN responses, microglial activation, and BBB dysregulation on disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuejin Liang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Aditi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Florence Onyoni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Casey Gonzales
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Piyanate Sunyakumthorn
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, United States Army Medical Directorate, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (United States MD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ping Wu
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Parimal Samir
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
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10
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Modi T, Sood T, Moudgil S, Arora N. Neurological manifestations of scrub typhus: encephalitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). BMJ Case Rep 2023; 16:e253350. [PMID: 36990652 PMCID: PMC10069484 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2022-253350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus is a tropical febrile illness that mainly affects rural populations in tropical and subtropical countries. It can range in severity from a mild febrile illness to multisystem involvement. Systemic dysfunction often appears in the second week of sickness, and hepatic, renal and brain involvement are well documented. Although encephalitis is the most frequent neurological ailment, a wide range of unusual complications involving the central and peripheral nervous systems have been identified-however, concomitant multiaxial involvement of the central and peripheral nervous systems is unique. We report a case of a young man with serologically confirmed scrub typhus presenting with fever, eschar, altered sensorium and progressive quadriplegia with hyporeflexic deep tendon reflexes. MRI revealed changes suggestive of encephalitis, and there was evidence of axonopathy on nerve conduction studies. A diagnosis of scrub typhus encephalitis with concomitant Guillain-Barré syndrome was made. He received doxycycline and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, in addition to supportive treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanish Modi
- Department of Internal Medicine, GMCH, Chandigarh, India
| | - Tina Sood
- Department of Internal Medicine, GMCH, Chandigarh, India
| | | | - Navneet Arora
- Department of Internal Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
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11
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Rao RSP, Ghate SD, Shastry RP, Kurthkoti K, Suravajhala P, Patil P, Shetty P. Prevalence and heterogeneity of antibiotic resistance genes in Orientia tsutsugamushi and other rickettsial genomes. Microb Pathog 2023; 174:105953. [PMID: 36529286 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite a million infections every year and an estimated one billion people at risk, scrub typhus is regarded as a neglected tropical disease. The causative bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, a member of rickettsiae, seems to be intrinsically resistant to several classes of antibiotics. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant scrub typhus is likely to become a global public health concern. Yet, it is unknown as to how common antibiotic resistance genes are in O. tsutsugamushi, and how variable these loci are among the genomes of rickettsiae. By using the comprehensive antibiotic resistance database, we explored 79 complete genomes from 24 species of rickettsiae for antibiotic resistance loci. There were 244 unique antibiotic resistance genes in rickettsiae. Both the total and unique antibiotic resistance genes in O. tsutsugamushi were significantly less compared to other members of rickettsiae. However, antibiotic resistance genes in O. tsutsugamushi genomes were more unique and highly variable. Many genes such as resistant variants of evgS, and vanS A/G were present in numerous copies. These results will have important implications in the context of antibiotic-resistant scrub typhus.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Shyama Prasad Rao
- Center for Bioinformatics, NITTE deemed to be University, Mangaluru, 575018, India.
| | - Sudeep D Ghate
- Center for Bioinformatics, NITTE deemed to be University, Mangaluru, 575018, India
| | - Rajesh P Shastry
- Division of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Yenepoya Research Center, Yenepoya deemed to be University, Mangaluru, 575018, India
| | - Krishna Kurthkoti
- Mycobacterium Research Laboratory, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India
| | - Prashanth Suravajhala
- Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Clappana PO, 690525, Kerala, India
| | - Prakash Patil
- Central Research Laboratory, KS Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), NITTE deemed to be University, Mangaluru, 575018, India
| | - Praveenkumar Shetty
- Central Research Laboratory, KS Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), NITTE deemed to be University, Mangaluru, 575018, India; Department of Biochemistry, KS Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), NITTE deemed to be University, Mangaluru, 575018, India
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12
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Liang Y, Wang H, Gonzales C, Thiriot J, Sunyakumthorn P, Melby PC, Sun J, Soong L. CCR7/dendritic cell axis mediates early bacterial dissemination in Orientia tsutsugamushi-infected mice. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1061031. [PMID: 36618364 PMCID: PMC9813216 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1061031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus is a life-threatening zoonosis caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot) that is transmitted by the infected larvae of trombiculid mites. However, the mechanism by which Ot disseminates from the bite site to visceral organs remains unclear; host innate immunity against bacterial dissemination and replication during early infection is poorly understood. In this study, by using an intradermal infection mouse model and fluorescent probe-labeled Ot, we assessed the dynamic pattern of innate immune cell responses at the inoculation site. We found that neutrophils were the first responders to Ot infection and migrated into the skin for bacterial uptake. Ot infection greatly induced neutrophil activation, and Ot-neutrophil interaction remarkably promoted cell death both in vitro and in vivo. Depletion of neutrophils did not alter bacterial dissemination in mice, as evidenced by similar bacterial burdens in the skin and draining lymph nodes (dLN) at day 3, as well as in the lungs and brains at day 14, as compared to the control mice. Instead, dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages played a role as a Trojan horse and transmitted Ot from the skin into dLN. Importantly, the absence of homing receptor CCR7 or neutralization of its ligand, CCL21, significantly impaired DC migration, resulting in reduced bacterial burdens in dLN. Taken together, our study sheds light on a CCR7/dendritic cell-mediated mechanism of early Ot dissemination and provides new insights into therapeutic and vaccine development strategies for scrub typhus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuejin Liang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Hui Wang
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Casey Gonzales
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Joseph Thiriot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Piyanate Sunyakumthorn
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, United States Army Medical Directorate, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Peter C. Melby
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Jiaren Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
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Rathnasekara T, Wijekoon L, Senanayake H, Siribaddana S. Rapid Recovery of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Scrub Typhus, With Pulse Methylprednisolone and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange. Cureus 2022; 14:e30329. [PMID: 36407237 PMCID: PMC9662697 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.30329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an atypical presentation of scrub typhus infection with associated high morbidity and mortality compared to uncomplicated scrub typhus infection. Here we report an otherwise healthy 41-year-old female patient admitted with moderate ARDS secondary to scrub typhus infection who gained comparatively rapid recovery within 72 hours following intravenous methylprednisolone pulse (MPP) therapy with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), suggesting a beneficial role of MPP and TPE in the treatment of ARDS secondary to scrub typhus infection. To our knowledge, this is the first case report regarding the use of MPP therapy and TPE in a patient with ARDS due to scrub typhus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilina Rathnasekara
- Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, LKA
| | - Lanka Wijekoon
- Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rajarata, Anuradhapura, LKA
| | - Hemal Senanayake
- Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rajarata, Anuradhapura, LKA
| | - Sisira Siribaddana
- Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rajarata, Anuradhapura, LKA
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Bhandari S, Bhandari S, Gautam K, Jha R, Devkota S. Meningeal Signs and Cerebellar Involvement in Scrub Typhus: A Case Report. Cureus 2022; 14:e25708. [PMID: 35812590 PMCID: PMC9270076 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.25708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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15
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Liang Y, Fisher J, Gonzales C, Trent B, Card G, Sun J, Tumanov AV, Soong L. Distinct Role of TNFR1 and TNFR2 in Protective Immunity Against Orientia tsutsugamushi Infection in Mice. Front Immunol 2022; 13:867924. [PMID: 35479068 PMCID: PMC9035742 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.867924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi, an obligate intracellular bacterium, can cause mild or severe scrub typhus. Some patients develop acute lung injury, multi-organ failure, and fatal infection; however, little is known regarding key immune mediators that mediate infection control or disease pathogenesis. Using murine models of scrub typhus, we demonstrated in this study the requirement of TNF-TNFR signaling in protective immunity against this infection. Mice lacking both TNF receptors (TNFR1 and TNFR2) were highly susceptible to O. tsutsugamushi infection, displaying significantly increased tissue bacterial burdens and succumbing to infection by day 9, while most wild-type mice survived through day 20. This increased susceptibility correlated with poor activation of cellular immunity in inflamed tissues. Flow cytometry of lung- and spleen-derived cells revealed profound deficiencies in total numbers and activation status of NK cells, neutrophils, and macrophages, as well as CD4 and CD8 T cells. To define the role of individual receptors in O. tsutsugamushi infection, we used mice lacking either TNFR1 or TNFR2. While deficiency in either receptor alone was sufficient to increase host susceptibility to the infection, TNFR1 and TNFR2 played a distinct role in cellular responses. TNF signaling through TNFR1 promoted inflammatory responses and effector T cell expansion, while TNFR2 signaling was associated with anti-inflammatory action and tissue homeostasis. Moreover, TNFRs played an intrinsic role in CD8+ T cell activation, revealing an indispensable role of TNF in protective immunity against O. tsutsugamushi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuejin Liang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - James Fisher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Casey Gonzales
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Brandon Trent
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Galen Card
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Jiaren Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Alexei V. Tumanov
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
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16
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Investigating the Intercellular Communication Network of Immune Cell in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome with Sepsis. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:4586648. [PMID: 35222683 PMCID: PMC8866031 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4586648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is recognized as a serious public health issue that results in respiratory failure and high mortality rates. The syndrome is characterized by immune cell aggregation, communication, activation, and alveolar epithelial damage. To elucidate the complex dynamic process of the immune system's response in ARDS, we construct the intercellular communication network of immune cells in ARDS based on a single-cell RNA sequencing dataset (including three sepsis-induced ARDS patients and four sepsis-only patients). The results show that macrophages relayed most of the intercellular signals (ligand–receptor pairs) in both groups. Many genes related to immune response (IFI44L, ISG, and HLA-DQB1) and biological functions (response to virus, negative regulation of viral life cycle, and response to interferon-beta) were detected via differentially expressed gene analysis of macrophages between the two groups. Deep analysis of the intercellular signals related to the macrophage found that sepsis-induced ARDS harbored distinctive intercellular signals related to chemokine–chemokine receptors (CCL3/4/5−CCR1), which mainly are involved in the disturbance of the STAT family transcription factors (TFs), such as STAT2 and STAT3. These signals and downstream TFs might play key roles in macrophage M1/M2 polarization in the process of sepsis-induced ARDS. This study provides a comprehensive view of the intercellular communication landscape between sepsis and sepsis-induced ARDS and identifies key intercellular communications and TFs involved in sepsis-induced ARDS. We believe that our study provides valuable clues for understanding the immune response mechanisms of ARDS.
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17
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Baalaaji ARM. Scrub typhus in infants: Food for thought. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/jpcc.jpcc_23_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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18
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Mukhopadhyay K, Chakrabarty S, Chatterjee C, Misra SC. Mortality and complications of scrub typhus in the paediatric population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021; 115:1234-1246. [PMID: 34595519 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trab143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus is a leading cause of treatable febrile illness. It can produce complications and dysfunction of multiple organs in children and is associated with considerable mortality. We attempted to perform a systematic review of original articles published between 1990 to 2020 based on certain selection criteria to estimate the case fatality risk of this disease in children. We addressed the pattern of complications of this disease with its impact on mortality We calculated pooled prevalence with a random effects model (restricted maximum likelihood method) that assumed varying effect sizes between studies using R statistical software. We reported the case fatality rate and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the pooled analysis. Thirty-seven articles with a total of 3329 children were identified for inclusion. The case fatality rate was 1.1% (CI 0.05 to 2, I2=58% and prediction interval 0-6%). The mortality rate showed a declining trend over the last 5 y. Hepatitis (30.68% [95% CI 18.52 to 44.38]) remains the most common complication, followed by shock (14.45% [95% CI 7.71 to 22.85]), pneumonia (14.71% [95% CI 9.76 to 20.48]), acute kidney injury (13.72% [95% CI 8.49 to 19.97]) and meningitis/meningoencephalitis (11.57% [95% CI 7.83 to 15.92]). Multi-organ dysfunction syndrome was the main contributor to mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Mukhopadhyay
- Pharmacology, ESIC PGIMSR & ESIC Medical College, Diamond Harbour Road, Joka, Kolkata 700104, West Bengal, India
| | - Samir Chakrabarty
- General Medicine, ESIC PGIMSR & ESIC Medical College, Diamond Harbour Road, Joka, Kolkata 700104, West Bengal, India
| | - Chandan Chatterjee
- Pharmacology, ESIC PGIMSR & ESIC Medical College, Diamond Harbour Road, Joka, Kolkata 700104, West Bengal, India
| | - Saheli Chatterjee Misra
- Pediatrics, ESIC PGIMSR & ESIC Medical College, Diamond Harbour Road, Joka, Kolkata 700104, West Bengal, India
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19
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Thirteen-year-old Girl Presents With Kawasaki Disease-like Symptoms. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2021. [PMID: 34260487 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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20
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Loganathan SK, Jaybhaye A, Dash N, Punnen A, Ghosh U, Rose W. Acute respiratory distress syndrome in paediatric scrub typhus. Trop Doct 2021; 51:514-517. [PMID: 34238058 DOI: 10.1177/00494755211029146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a life-threatening complication of scrub typhus; we sought to describe its mortality and associated factors, namely eschar, hepatomegaly and severe thrombocytopenia, in a retrospective study in India of 65 children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amol Jaybhaye
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Paediatric Infectious Disease, CMC, Vellore, India
| | - Nabaneeta Dash
- Post-Doctoral Fellow in Paediatric Infectious Disease, CMC, Vellore, India
| | - Anu Punnen
- Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, CMC, Vellore, India
| | - Urmi Ghosh
- Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, CMC, Vellore, India
| | - Winsley Rose
- Professor, Department of Paediatrics (Paediatric Infectious Disease), CMC, Vellore, India
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21
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Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Eight Novel Loci for Susceptibility of Scrub Typhus and Highlights Immune-Related Signaling Pathways in Its Pathogenesis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030570. [PMID: 33807835 PMCID: PMC7999653 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus is a fatal zoonotic disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. This disease is accompanied by systemic vasculitis, lymphadenopathy, headache, myalgia, and eschar. In recent studies, a novel strain that is resistant to current medical treatment was identified in Thailand. Thus, the development of new specific drugs for scrub typhus is needed. However, the exact molecular mechanism governing the progression of scrub typhus has not been fully elucidated. To understand disease-related genetic factors and mechanisms associated with the progression of scrub typhus, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in scrub typhus-infected patients and found a scrub typhus-related signaling pathway by molecular interaction search tool (MIST) and PANTHER. We identified eight potent scrub typhus-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on the PRMT6, PLGLB2, DTWD2, BATF, JDP2, ONECUT1, WDR72, KLK, MAP3K7, and TGFBR2 genes using a GWAS. We also identified 224 genes by analyzing protein-protein interactions among candidate genes of scrub typhus and identified 15 signaling pathways associated with over 10 genes by classifying these genes according to signaling pathways. The signaling pathway with the largest number of associated genes was the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor pathway, followed by the TGF-beta signaling pathway and the apoptosis signaling pathway. To the best of our knowledge, this report describes the first GWAS in scrub typhus.
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22
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Garg D, Manesh A. Neurological facets of scrub typhus: A comprehensive narrative review. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2021; 24:849-864. [PMID: 35359522 PMCID: PMC8965938 DOI: 10.4103/aian.aian_739_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus is one of the most frequent causes of acute febrile illness in South and South-east Asian countries. Neurological features accompany 20% of scrub typhus infections, and may affect the central or peripheral nervous system, and sometime, may even occur in combination. Of late, its recognition among clinicians has increased with widening detection of its cutaneous hallmark, called eschar. Multiple mechanisms underlie neurological involvement, including direct invasion (meningitis, encephalitis), vasculitis (myositis) or immune-mediated mechanisms (opsoclonus, myoclonus, optic neuritis, Guillain–Barre syndrome). Despite an immunological basis for several neurological manifestations, response to doxycycline is remarkable, although immune therapy may be necessary for severe involvement. Scientific literature on scrub typhus neurology chiefly emanates from case reports, case series and small studies, and a comprehensive review is warranted to aid clinicians in recognising neurological involvement. This review aims at enriching this gap, and summarises clinical features, laboratory findings, and treatment options for various neurological facets of scrub typhus.
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23
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Banerjee A, Kulkarni S. Orientia tsutsugamushi: The dangerous yet neglected foe from the East. Int J Med Microbiol 2020; 311:151467. [PMID: 33338890 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2020.151467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Orientia tsutsugamushi (OT), the causative agent of the vector-borne Scrub typhus zoonotic disease in humans, is a unique microorganism that exists in the Asia-Pacific region since a long time. In spite of its occurrence, the organism had been neglected until recent years. Humans are the accidental dead-end hosts of O. tsutsugamushi and display manifestations which are both severe and misleading. The vast antigenic diversity of OT and non-pathognomic symptoms of Scrub typhus, create hurdles in the clinical management of the disease and impede the OT-research. Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region have reported the resurgence of OT- infections and have raised concerns for its expanding distribution. This has triggered the development of advanced techniques for diagnosis and research on exploring a successful vaccine candidate to reduce the burden of the disease. Thus, the aim of this systematic review is to provide an update on the recent advances in the OT-research and highlight the key areas that have remained obscure and demand attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwesha Banerjee
- ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Bhosari, Pune, 411026, India
| | - Smita Kulkarni
- ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Bhosari, Pune, 411026, India.
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24
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Park SM, Gu MJ, Ju YJ, Cheon IS, Hwang KJ, Gill B, Shim BS, Jeong HJ, Son YM, Choi S, Jeung W, Han SH, Chu H, Yun CH. Intranasal Vaccination with Outer-Membrane Protein of Orientia tsutsugamushi induces Protective Immunity Against Scrub Typhus. Immune Netw 2020; 21:e14. [PMID: 33996170 PMCID: PMC8099613 DOI: 10.4110/in.2021.21.e14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrub typhus develops after the individual is bitten by a trombiculid mite infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi. Since it has been reported that pneumonia is frequently observed in patients with scrub typhus, we investigated whether intranasal (i.n.) vaccination with the outer membrane protein of O. tsutsugamushi (OMPOT) would induce a protective immunity against O. tsutsugamushi infection. It was particular interest that when mice were infected with O. tsutsugamushi, the bacteria disseminated into the lungs, causing pneumonia. The i.n. vaccination with OMPOT induced IgG responses in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. The anti-O. tsutsugamushi IgA Abs in BAL fluid after the vaccination showed a high correlation of the protection against O. tsutsugamushi. The vaccination induced strong Ag-specific Th1 and Th17 responses in the both spleen and lungs. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that i.n. vaccination with OMPOT elicited protective immunity against scrub typhus in mouse with O. tsutsugamushi infection causing subsequent pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Moo Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Min Jeong Gu
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Young-Jun Ju
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - In Su Cheon
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Laboratory Sciences Division, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Kyu-Jam Hwang
- Division of Zoonotic and Vector Borne Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Byoungchul Gill
- Division of Zoonotic and Vector Borne Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Byoung-Shik Shim
- Laboratory Sciences Division, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hang-Jin Jeong
- Division of Zoonotic and Vector Borne Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Young Min Son
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sangho Choi
- Division of Zoonotic and Vector Borne Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Woonhee Jeung
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Seung Hyun Han
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, DRI, and BK21 Plus Program, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hyuk Chu
- Division of Zoonotic and Vector Borne Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Cheol-Heui Yun
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Institutes of Green Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Korea.,Interdisciplinary Program in Agricultural Genomics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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Yang J, Luo L, Chen T, Li L, Xu X, Zhang Y, Cao W, Yue P, Bao F, Liu A. Efficacy and Safety of Antibiotics for Treatment of Scrub Typhus: A Network Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e2014487. [PMID: 32857146 PMCID: PMC7455851 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.14487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Antibiotics have been used for many years to treat scrub typhus, but their efficacy and safety have not been studied thoroughly. OBJECTIVE To compare and rank different antibiotics to identify which one can safely eliminate Orientia tsutsugamushi and efficiently alleviate fever in patients with scrub typhus. DATA SOURCES An electronic search of PubMed and Embase was conducted, from database inception to July 12, 2019. The study was conducted from July 12 to September 2, 2019. STUDY SELECTION Randomized clinical trials and retrospective studies that evaluated the use of antibiotics for treatment in patients diagnosed with scrub typhus caused by O tsutsugamushi were included. Records of articles in English were considered eligible. Studies were assessed independently by 2 reviewers, with disagreement resolved by consensus. Of 6408 studies initially identified, 10 randomized clinical trials and 4 retrospective study met the criteria for further analysis. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension statement for systematic reviews incorporating network meta-analyses of health care interventions. Data were independently extracted by 2 reviewers and synthesized with frequentist random-effects network meta-analyses. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was efficacy of the antibiotic, considered as the number of patients who achieved complete healing with an antibiotic. Safety, defined as the prevalence of adverse events associated with the antibiotics, was the secondary outcome, and defervescence time was the tertiary outcome. P scores (scale of 0 to 1, with 1 indicating superiority to other treatments) were used to rank the efficacy, safety, and defeverescence time of the antibiotics. RESULTS Three searches for articles in Embase and PubMed identified 10 randomized clinical trials (888 participants) and 4 retrospective studies (323 participants) for further analyses. No particular treatment regimen showed a significant advantage or disadvantage with regard to efficacy or safety. However, meta-analysis of retrospective studies indicated that clarithromycin (P score = 0.8730) alleviated fever more efficiently than other antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE No treatment regimen reported in this network meta-analysis showed a significant advantage or disadvantage with regard to efficacy or safety. However, clarithromycin might be a better choice than the other drugs for alleviating fever.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaru Yang
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Major Children Diseases Research, The Childrens Hospital of Kunming, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Tropical Infectious Diseases in Universities, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Lisha Luo
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Tropical Infectious Diseases in Universities, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Taigui Chen
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Tropical Infectious Diseases in Universities, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Lianbao Li
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Tropical Infectious Diseases in Universities, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Xin Xu
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Tropical Infectious Diseases in Universities, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Tropical Infectious Diseases in Universities, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Wenjing Cao
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Tropical Infectious Diseases in Universities, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Peng Yue
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Tropical Infectious Diseases in Universities, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Fukai Bao
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Major Children Diseases Research, The Childrens Hospital of Kunming, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Tropical Infectious Diseases in Universities, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Aihua Liu
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Major Children Diseases Research, The Childrens Hospital of Kunming, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory for Tropical Infectious Diseases in Universities, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
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26
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Trent B, Liang Y, Xing Y, Esqueda M, Wei Y, Cho NH, Kim HI, Kim YS, Shelite TR, Cai J, Sun J, Bouyer DH, Liu J, Soong L. Polarized lung inflammation and Tie2/angiopoietin-mediated endothelial dysfunction during severe Orientia tsutsugamushi infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007675. [PMID: 32119672 PMCID: PMC7067486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Orientia tsutsugamushi infection can cause acute lung injury and high mortality in humans; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we tested a hypothesis that dysregulated pulmonary inflammation and Tie2-mediated endothelial malfunction contribute to lung damage. Using a murine model of lethal O. tsutsugamushi infection, we demonstrated pathological characteristics of vascular activation and tissue damage: 1) a significant increase of ICAM-1 and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) proteins in inflamed tissues and lung-derived endothelial cells (EC), 2) a progressive loss of endothelial quiescent and junction proteins (Ang1, VE-cadherin/CD144, occuludin), and 3) a profound impairment of Tie2 receptor at the transcriptional and functional levels. In vitro infection of primary human EC cultures and serum Ang2 proteins in scrub typhus patients support our animal studies, implying endothelial dysfunction in severe scrub typhus. Flow cytometric analyses of lung-recovered cells further revealed that pulmonary macrophages (MΦ) were polarized toward an M1-like phenotype (CD80+CD64+CD11b+Ly6G-) during the onset of disease and prior to host death, which correlated with the significant loss of CD31+CD45- ECs and M2-like (CD206+CD64+CD11b+Ly6G-) cells. In vitro studies indicated extensive bacterial replication in M2-type, but not M1-type, MΦs, implying the protective and pathogenic roles of M1-skewed responses. This is the first detailed investigation of lung cellular immune responses during acute O. tsutsugamushi infection. It uncovers specific biomarkers for vascular dysfunction and M1-skewed inflammatory responses, highlighting future therapeutic research for the control of this neglected tropical disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Trent
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yuejin Liang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yan Xing
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Marisol Esqueda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yang Wei
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nam-Hyuk Cho
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong-Il Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon-Sook Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Thomas R. Shelite
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jiyang Cai
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jiaren Sun
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Donald H. Bouyer
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jinjun Liu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
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