Bacterial-Specific Induction of Inflammatory Cytokines Significantly Decreases upon Dual Species Infections of Implant Materials with Periodontal Pathogens in a Mouse Model

Sonopermeation combined with stroma normalization enables complete cure using nano-immunotherapy in murine breast tumors

Nano-immunotherapy shows great promise in improving patient outcomes, as seen in advanced triple-negative breast cancer, but it does not cure the disease, with median survival under two years. Therefore, understanding resistance mechanisms and developing strategies to enhance its effectiveness in breast cancer is crucial. A key resistance mechanism is the pronounced desmoplasia in the tumor microenvironment, which leads to dysfunction of tumor blood vessels and thus, to hypoperfusion, limited drug delivery and hypoxia. Ultrasound sonopermeation and agents that normalize the tumor stroma have been employed separately to restore vascular abnormalities in tumors with some success. Here, we performed in vivo studies in two murine, orthotopic breast tumor models to explore if combination of ultrasound sonopermeation with a stroma normalization drug can synergistically improve tumor perfusion and enhance the efficacy of nano-immunotherapy. We found that the proposed combinatorial treatment can drastically reduce primary tumor growth and in many cases tumors were no longer measurable. Overall survival studies showed that all mice that received the combination treatment survived and rechallenge experiments revealed that the survivors obtained immunological memory. Employing ultrasound elastography and contrast enhanced ultrasound along with proteomics analysis, flow cytometry and immunofluorescene staining, we found the combinatorial treatment reduced tumor stiffness to normal levels, restoring tumor perfusion and oxygenation. Furthermore, it increased infiltration and activity of immune cells and altered the levels of immunosupportive chemokines. Finally, using machine learning analysis, we identified that tumor stiffness, CD8+ T cells and M2-type macrophages were strong predictors of treatment response.

Circulating Inflammatory Factors and Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Analysis in Patients with Kawasaki Disease

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD), also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is a systemic immune vasculitis with an unclear etiology. It is often complicated by coronary artery disease. This study uses bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the interaction between KD and circulating inflammatory factors, providing insights into their causal relationships.

Methods

We conducted a two-way pooled MR analysis to examine the causal links between 41 circulating inflammatory regulators and the risk of KD. Genetic data related to inflammation were sourced from three genome-wide association studies (GWASs) involving CRP, PCT, and cytokines, while KD data were derived from other studies. Inverse-variance weighting (IVW) was the primary MR method, with sensitivity analyses performed using MR‒Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-PRESSO to ensure robustness.

Results

Forward MR analyses showed no significant relationship between inflammatory factors and KD outcomes. In contrast, reverse MR, with KD as the exposure factor, revealed that interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were significantly associated with KD (IL-2: OR=1.0085, P=0.037; IL-8: OR=1.0099, P=0.014). Borderline significant associations were observed for factors such as B_NGF, EOTAXIN, HGF, and IL_12_P70 in MR‒Egger and weighted median analyses.

Conclusion

This bidirectional MR study highlights the role of circulating inflammatory modulators in KD risk, offering insights into KD pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.

A generic cell-based biosensor converts bacterial infection signals into chemoattractants for immune cells

Bacterial infection is a major challenge to human health. Although various potent antibiotics have emerged in recent decades, current challenges arise from the increasing number of multi-drug-resistant species. Infections associated with implants represent a particular challenge because they are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage and are difficult to treat with antibiotics owing to the formation of protective biofilms. In this study, we designed and explored a synthetic biology-inspired cell-based biosensor/actor for the detection and counteraction of bacterial infections. The system is generic, as it senses diverse types of infections and acts by enhancing the endogenous immune system. This strategy is based on genetically engineered sensor/actor cells that can sense type I interferons (IFNs), which are released by immune cells at the early stages of infection. IFN signalling activates a synthetic circuit to induce reporter genes with a sensitivity of only 5 pg ml-1of IFN and leads to a therapeutic protein output of 100 ng ml-1, resulting in theranostic cells that can visualize and fight infections. Robustness and resilience were achieved by implementing a positive feedback loop. We showed that diverse gram-positive and gram-negative implant-associated pathogenic bacteria activate the cascade in co-culture systems in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we showed that this system can be used to secrete chemoattractants that facilitate the infiltration of immune cells in response to bacterial triggers. Together, the system is not only universal to bacterial infections, but also hypersensitive, allowing the sensing of infections at initial stages.

Immunomodulation in Non-traditional Therapies for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Management

The rise of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant challenge in clinical settings due to its ability to evade conventional antibiotic treatments. This overview explores the potential of immunomodulatory strategies as alternative therapeutic approaches to combat MRSA infections. Traditional antibiotics are becoming less effective, necessitating innovative solutions that harness the body's immune system to enhance pathogen clearance. Recent advancements in immunotherapy, including the use of antimicrobial peptides, phage therapy, and mechanisms of immune cells, demonstrate promise in enhancing the body's ability to clear MRSA infections. However, the exact interactions between these therapies and immunomodulation are not fully understood, underscoring the need for further research. Hence, this review aims to provide a broad overview of the current understanding of non-traditional therapeutics and their impact on immune responses, which could lead to more effective MRSA treatment strategies. Additionally, combining immunomodulatory agents with existing antibiotics may improve outcomes, particularly for immunocompromised patients or those with chronic infections. As the landscape of antibiotic resistance evolves, the development of effective immunotherapeutic strategies could play a vital role in managing MRSA infections and reducing reliance on traditional antibiotics. Future research must focus on optimizing these approaches and validating their efficacy in diverse clinical populations to address the urgent need for effective MRSA management strategies.

Editorial of Special Issue "Pharmacomicrobiomics in Non-Communicable Disease"

The human superorganism, also known as the human holobiont, is a complex organism made up of host body as well as the bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi that live inside it along with their genes [...].