A Moonlighting Protein Secreted by a Nasal Microbiome Fortifies the Innate Host Defense Against Bacterial and Viral Infections

Effects of Panax species and their bioactive components on allergic airway diseases

Panax species include Panax ginseng Meyer, Panax quinquefolium L., Panax notoginseng, Panax japonicum, Panax trifolium, and Panax pseudoginseng, which contain bioactive components (BCs) such as ginsenosides and polysaccharides. Recently, growing evidence has revealed the pharmacological effects of Panax species and their BCs on allergic airway diseases (AADs), including allergic asthma (AA) and allergic rhinitis (AR). AADs are characterized by damaged epithelium, sustained acquired immune responses with enforced Th2 responses, allergen-specific IgE production, and enhanced production of histamine and leukotrienes by activated mast cells and basophils. In this review, we summarize how Panax species and their BCs modulate acquired immune responses involving interactions between dendritic cells and T cells, reduce the pro-inflammatory responses of epithelial cells, and reduce allergenic responses from basophils and mast cells in vitro. In addition, we highlight the current understanding of the alleviative effects of Panax species and their BCs against AA and AR in vivo. Moreover, we discuss the unmet needs of research and considerations for the treatment of patients to provide basic scientific knowledge for the treatment of AADs using Panax species and their BCs.

Ten-year retrospective data analysis reveals frequent respiratory co-infections in hospitalized patients in Augsburg

Clinical data on the types of respiratory pathogens which are most frequently engaged in respiratory co-infections of children and adults are lacking. We analyzed 10 years of data on a total of over 15,000 tests for 16 viral and bacterial pathogens detected in clinical samples at the University Hospital of Augsburg, Germany. Co-infection frequencies and their seasonal patterns were examined using a proportional distribution model. Co-infections were detected in 7.3% of samples, with a higher incidence in children and males. The incidence of interbacterial and interviral co-infections was higher than expected, whereas bacterial-viral co-infections were less frequent. H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were most frequently involved. Most co-infections occurred in winter, but distinct summer peaks were also observed, which occurred even in children, albeit less pronounced than in adults. Seasonality of respiratory (co-)infections decreased with age. Our results suggest to adjust existing testing strategies during high-incidence periods.

Bacteria-based drug delivery for treating non-oncological diseases

Bacteria inhabit all over the human body, especially the skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, urogenital tract, as well as specific lesion sites, such as wound and tumor. By leveraging their distinctive attributes including rapid proliferation, inherent abilities to colonize various biointerfaces in vivo and produce diverse biomolecules, and the flexibility to be functionalized via genetic engineering or surface modification, bacteria have been widely developed as living therapeutic agents, showing promising potential to make a great impact on the exploration of advanced drug delivery systems. In this review, we present an overview of bacteria-based drug delivery and its applications in treating non-oncological diseases. We systematically summarize the physiological positions where living bacterial therapeutic agents can be delivered to, including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and female genital tract. We discuss the success of using bacteria-based drug delivery systems in the treatment of diseases that occur in specific locations, such as skin wound healing/infection, inflammatory bowel disease, respiratory diseases, and vaginitis. We also discuss the advantages as well as the limitations of these living therapeutics and bacteria-based drug delivery, highlighting the key points that need to be considered for further translation. This review article may provide unique insights for designing next-generation bacteria-based therapeutics and developing advanced drug delivery systems.