Enhanced early immune response of leptospiral outer membrane protein LipL32 stimulated by narrow band mid-infrared exposure

Peptidoglycan mediates Leptospira outer membrane protein Loa22 to toll-like receptor 2 for inflammatory interaction: a novel innate immune recognition

Leptospirosis is an overlooked zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira depended on virulence of Leptospira and the host–pathogen interaction. Kidney is the major organ infected by Leptospira which causes tubulointerstitial nephritis. Leptospira outer membrane contains several virulence factors and an outer membrane protein A (OmpA) like protein (Loa22) is essential for virulence. Pull-down assays suggested that Loa22 was a potential Toll-Like Receptor 2 (TLR2) binding candidates from pathogenic Leptospira. Confocal microscopy was employed to observe the co-localization of TLR2 and Loa22-LPGN (Leptospira peptidoglycan) complexes. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), side-directed mutagenesis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed to investigate the affinity between rLoa22, LPGN, and TLR2. Real time PCR was applied to measure the cytokines expression. Downstream signal transduction components were verified by western blot to evaluate the gene regulations. Mutation of two Loa22 key residues (Asp¹²² and Arg¹⁴³) attenuated the affinities for LPGN. rLoa22-LPGN complexes were observed to co-localize with TLR2 and provoked inflammatory responses including CXCL8/IL8, hCCL2/MCP-1, and hTNF-α. Affinity studies suggested that Loa22-LPGN complexes elevated the affinity to TLR2 as compared to Loa22 protein. Downstream signals from TLR2 including p38, ERK, and JNK were regulated under rLoa22-LPGN complexes treatments. This study identified LPGN mediates interactions between Loa22 and TLR2 and induces downstream signals to trigger inflammatory responses. rLoa22-LPGN-TLR2 complexes reveal a novel binding mechanism for the innate immune system.

High-beam-quality 2.1 µm pumped mid-infrared type-II phase-matching BaGa4Se7 optical parametric oscillator with a ZnGeP2 amplifier

We firstly demonstrated a tunable 2.1 µm pumped mid-infrared type-II phase-matching BaGa₄Se₇ (BGSe) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). A signal tuning range of 3.82-3.99 µm was achieved. With a signal light produced by the BGSe OPO serving as seed, the ZnGeP₂ (ZGP) optical parametric amplifier (OPA) was first introduced. A 4.35 W mid-infrared laser was obtained in the novel type-II BGSe OPO with a ZGP OPA system, which was pumped by a 24 W 1 kHz Q-switched Ho:YAG laser. The beam quality factor M² of the whole system is ∼2.3, which is over a 50% promotion on the previous M² results of single BGSe OPO.

Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappa B pathway is involved in activating microphages by polysaccharides isolated from Fagopyrum esculentum

Buckwheat polysaccharide fractions (BPFs) isolated from seeds of Fagopyrum esculentum have shown extensive immunomodulatory activities including activation of immune system. In this study, the immuno-modulation effects of BPFs on microphages were investigated. The obtained results show that BPFs can activate microphages as indicated by significant increases in the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (12.6 ± 1.30 U/mg prot), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) protein levels, and secretion of nitric oxide (NO) (21.5 ± 1.20 μmol/ml) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (71.2 ± 18.20 pg/ml). Moreover, blocking toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB pathway using a specific antibody to TLR4 or inhibitor of NF-κB led to the significant inhibitory immuno-modulation effect on microphages as indicated by the decrease in the secretion level of NO and TNF-α. It is demonstrated that BPFs can activate microphages and TLR4/NF-κB pathway is involved in the induction of NO and TNF-α in macrophages by BPFs.