Characterisation and pure culture of putative health-associated oral bacterium BU063 (Tannerella sp. HOT-286) reveals presence of a potentially novel glycosylated S-layer.

Tannerella HOT-286 (phylotype BU063) is a recently identified novel filamentous Gram-negative anaerobic oral bacterium cultured for the first time recently in co-culture with Propionibacterium acnes. In contrast to the related periodontal disease-associated pathobiont Tannerella forsythia, it is considered a putative health-associated bacterium. In this paper, we identified that this organism could be grown in pure culture if N-acetyl muramic acid (NAM) was provided in the media, although surprisingly the genetic basis of this phenomenon is not likely to be due to a lack of NAM synthesis genes. During further microbiological investigations, we showed for the first time that T. HOT-286 possesses a prominent extracellular S-layer with a novel morphology putatively made up of two proteins modified with an unknown glycan. These data further our knowledge of this poorly understood organism and genus that is an important part of the oral and human microbiome.

Activation of chicken bone marrow-derived dendritic cells induced by a Salmonella Enteritidis ghost vaccine candidate.

Bacterial Ghost-based vaccine development has been applied to a variety of gram-negative bacteria. Developed Salmonella Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) ghost are promising vaccine candidates because of their immunogenic and enhanced biosafety potential. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the immunostimulatory effect of a S. Enteritidis ghost vaccine on the maturation of chicken bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (chBM-DCs) in vitro The immature chBM-DCs were stimulated with S. Enteritidis ghost vaccine candidate. The vaccine efficiently stimulated maturation events in chBM-DCs, indicated by up-regulated expression of CD40, CD80, and MHC-II molecules. Immature BM-DCs responded to stimulation with S. Enteritidis ghost by increased expression of IL-6 and IL-12p40 cytokines. Also, S. Enteritidis ghost stimulated chBM-DCs induced the significant expression of IFN-γ and IL-2 in co-cultured autologous CD4+ T cells. In conclusion, our data suggest that S. Enteritidis ghost vaccine candidate is capable of activating and interacting with chBM-DCs. The results from current study may help for rational designing of Salmonella ghost based heterologous antigen delivery platforms to dendritic cells.

Clinical and imaging characteristics of 16 patients with autoimmune neuronal synaptic encephalitis.

OBJECTIVES: Autoimmune neuronal synaptic encephalitis (AIE) encompasses a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by immune-mediated neuronal cell destruction. In this study, we aim to study the clinical features, imaging profile and treatment outcome of patients with AIE. METHODS: This is a chart review of 16 (M: F-3:13) patients with AIE from 2011 to 2015. RESULTS: Among the patients, 10 had anti-NMDA, 4 had anti-TPO, and 2 had anti-VGKC antibody positivity. Cognitive impairment and seizures were the predominant symptoms present in nearly all patients, followed by psychiatric disturbances (87.5%), mutism (62.5%), movement disorders (62.5%), myoclonic jerks (37.5%) and visual hallucinations (18.75%). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain was available in 15 patients; it was abnormal in 53.3% patients. Abnormalities were seen in all patients with anti-VGKC positivity; and, 60% of patients with anti-NMDA positivity. Imaging was normal in 26.7% of the patients (3: anti-NMDA; and, 1: anti-TPO positivity); and, diffuse cerebral atrophy was noted in rest of the 20% (3: anti-TPO positivity) patients. All patients improved gradually with immunomodulation. CONCLUSIONS: All patients with anti-VGKC, anti-NMDA and anti-TPO antibody positivity presented with a triad of behavioral changes, impaired cognition and seizures. Mutism was a predominant symptom in patients with an anti-NMDA antibody positivity, which may help in the early identification of this disorder. MRI brain showed changes restricted to limbic structures in anti-NMDA and anti-VGKC antibody positivity. An early diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune encephalitis is essential for a better outcome and for prevention of long-term sequel.

Effect of TGF-ß1 superfamily members on survival of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryonic stem-like cells.

This study examined the effects of supplementation of ES-like cell culture medium with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4 (0, 10, 20 or 100 ng/ml) or Noggin (250, 500 or 750 ng/ml) or TGF-ß1 (0, 0.1, 1 or 10 ng/ml) or SB431542 (0, 10, 25 or 50 µm), an inhibitor of TGF-ß1 signalling, on survival, colony area and expression level of pluripotency genes in buffalo ES-like cells at passage 40-80, under different culture conditions. BMP-4 supplementation significantly reduced (p < 0.05) colony survival rate, percentage increase in colony area and relative mRNA abundance of OCT4, whereas that of NANOG and SOX-2 was increased significantly (p < 0.05). Noggin supplementation did not affect the colony survival rate and percentage increase in colony area in the presence of FGF-2 and LIF. In the presence of FGF-2 alone, it significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the relative mRNA abundance of OCT4 and SOX-2 and increased (p < 0.05) that of NANOG. Supplementation with TGF-ß1 at 1.0 ng/ml but not at other concentrations increased colony survival rate but had no effect on percentage increase in colony area at any concentration. Supplementation with SB-431542 decreased (p < 0.05) colony survival rate at 50 µm but not at other concentrations. The percentage increase in colony area was lower (p < 0.05) with 10 µm SB-431542 than that in the controls, whereas at higher concentrations of 25 or 50 µm, SB-431542 decreased (p < 0.05) the colony size instead of increasing it. In conclusion, these results suggest that BMP-4 induces differentiation in buffalo ES-like cells, whereas TGF-ß/activin/nodal pathway may not be playing a crucial role in maintaining pluripotency in these cells.

Brain metastasis as the site of relapse in germ cell tumor of testis.

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases occur in approximately 8-15% of patients with testicular germ cell tumors and invariably are associated with relapse at other sites, most commonly the lungs, or as a terminal event. METHODS: The authors, from the Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, a regional cancer center in northern India, did a retrospective analysis to determine how many previously treated patients had isolated cerebral metastasis develop. RESULTS: Three of 123 patients with testicular germ cell tumor seen during a 6-year period starting in January 1986 had isolated cerebral metastasis develop during remission after initial treatment. Two patients who had pure seminoma were treated with radiation therapy and are alive and symptom free at 15 and 18 months. The third patient had a combined tumor, the major component of which was embryonal cell carcinoma, that required debulking surgery and radiation therapy, and the patient died with recurrent cerebral metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Review of the literature reveals that although cerebral metastasis is well recognized in testicular cancer, particularly nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT), it is invariably preceded by systemic metastasis. Cerebral metastasis is extremely rare as the sole and presenting feature of relapse. This complication must be recognized and treatment defined because it may become more frequent as patients survive for longer periods with modern disease management.