Dysregulation of immunity in COVID-19 and SLE

Inflammopharmacology - The immune response plays a crucial role in preventing diseases, such as infections. There are two types of immune responses, specific and innate immunity, each of which...     

Study of Orientation and Penetration of LAH4 into Lipid Bilayer Membranes: pH and Composition Dependence

LAH4 is an antimicrobial peptide that is believed to possess both antibiotic and DNA delivery capabilities. It is one of a number of membrane‐active peptides that show increased affinity toward anionic lipids. Herein, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations to compare LAH4 effects on anionic palmitoyl–oleoyl–phosphatidylglycerol bilayer, which approximate a prokaryotic membrane environment and zwitterionic palmitoyl–oleoyl–phosphatidylcholine bilayer, which approximate a eukaryotic membrane environment. One particular interest in this work is to study how different kinds of lipid bilayers respond to the attraction of LAH4. Remarkably, our data have shown that the depth of peptide penetration strongly depends on membrane composition and pH. At acidic pH, LAH4 has exhibited a high tendency to interact strongly with and be adsorbed on anionic membrane. We have also shown that electrostatic interactions between His11 and the phosphor atoms of bilayers should have a significant impact on the penetration of LAH4. These results provide insights into the interactions of LAH4 and lipid bilayers at the atomic level, which is useful to understand cell selectivity and mechanism of the peptide action.     

Mycobacterium genavense infections: a retrospective multicenter study in France, 1996-2007

Mycobacterium genavense, a nontuberculous mycobacterium, led to devastating infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) before highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was available, as well as in other immunocompromised patients. We conducted the current study to describe the features of this infection in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the HAART era and in non HIV-infected patients.We conducted a retrospective cohort survey in France. All patients with M. genavense infection diagnosed from 1996 to 2007 at the National Reference Center, Institut Pasteur, Paris, were identified and their clinical, laboratory, and microbiologic data were centralized in a single database. Twenty-five cases of M. genavense infection originating from 19 centers were identified. Twenty patients had AIDS, 3 had solid organ transplantation, and 2 had sarcoidosis. Sixty-four percent (n = 16) were male, mean age was 42 years, and median CD4 count was 13/mm (range, 0-148/mm) in patients with AIDS. Twenty-four patients had disseminated infection with fever (75%, n = 18), weight loss (79%, n = 19), abdominal pain (71%, n = 17), diarrhea (62.5%, n = 15), splenomegaly (71%, n = 17), hepatomegaly (62.5%, n = 15), or abdominal adenopathy (62.5%, n = 15). M. genavense was isolated from the lymph node (n = 13), intestinal biopsy (n = 9), blood (n = 6), sputum (n = 3), stool (n = 3), and bone marrow (n = 5). Eleven patients (44%) died, 8 (32%) were considered cured with no residual symptoms, and 6 (24%) had chronic symptoms. The 1-year survival rate was 72%.The prognosis of M. genavense infection in HIV-infected patients has dramatically improved with HAART. Clinical presentations in HIV and non-HIV immunocompromised patients were similar.     

Pyogenic spondylodiscitis of the thoracic and lumbar spine : a new classification and guide for surgical decision-making

Despite modern diagnostic imaging options pyogenic infections of the spine are often detected tardily and therefore accompanied by a high mortality rate. To ensure an efficient and adequate therapy it is necessary to identify and treat the focus of inflammation. The recommendations for the operative strategy are still a highly controversial issue. On the other hand no classification and guidelines for surgical treatment and treatment strategies of pyogenic spinal infection have yet been published. Pyogenic spinal infections are often underestimated in frequency of occurrence and severity of symptoms. From 1994 until 2008, 269?patients suffering from an infection of the thoracic and lumbar spine were treated in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery Heidelberg and 221?patients underwent surgery. Within the scope of a clinical trial clinical aspects and therapeutic consequences of patients with pyogenic spinal infections were retrospectively investigated. Based on the study data a classification of pyogenic spinal infections of the thoracic and lumbar spine and a guide for surgical decision-making was developed.