We report 5 studies examining the unique role of felt understanding in intergroup relations. In intergroup terms, felt understanding is the belief that members of an outgroup understand and accept ...the perspectives of ingroup members, including ingroup members' beliefs, values, experiences, and self-definition/identity. In Studies 1 (Scotland-U.K. relations; N = 5,033) and 2 (U.K.-EU relations; N = 861) felt understanding consistently and strongly predicted outcomes such as trust, action intentions, and political separatism, including participants' actual "Brexit" referendum vote in Study 2. These effects were apparent even when controlling for outgroup stereotypes and metastereotypes. Felt understanding was a unique predictor of outgroup trust and forgiveness in Study 3 (Catholic-Protestant relations in Northern Ireland; N = 1,162), and was a powerful predictor of political separatism even when controlling for specific, relational appraisals including negative interdependence and identity threat in Study 4 (Basque-Spanish relations; N = 205). Study 5 (N = 190) included a direct manipulation of felt understanding, which had predicted effects on evaluation of the outgroup and of ingroup-outgroup relations. Overall, the findings provide converging evidence for the critical role of felt understanding in intergroup relations. We discuss future research possibilities, including the emotional correlates of felt understanding, and its role in intergroup interactions.
Previous work had shown that, in some Staphylococcus aureus strains, low concentrations of the virulent phage vB_SauM_phiIPLA-RODI (phiIPLA-RODI) promoted the formation of DNA-rich biofilms, whose ...cells exhibited significant transcriptional differences compared to an uninfected control. This study aimed to dissect the sequence of events leading to these changes. Analysis of phage propagation throughout biofilm development revealed that the number of phage particles increased steadily up to a certain point and then declined. This partial phage inactivation seemed to be a consequence of medium acidification due to glucose fermentation by the bacterium. Computer simulation of phage-host dynamics during biofilm development showed how even small differences in pH evolution can affect the outcome of phage infection. An acidic pH, together with successful phage propagation, was also necessary to observe the phage-associated changes in biofilm architecture and in the transcriptional profile of the bacterial population. Altogether, this study shows how the dynamics between phage and host can be tightly coordinated through an environmental cue, even in the context of a complex biofilm population.
Since their discovery, bacteriophages have been traditionally regarded as the natural enemies of bacteria. However, recent advances in molecular biology techniques, especially data from "omics" ...analyses, have revealed that the interplay between bacterial viruses and their hosts is far more intricate than initially thought. On the one hand, we have become more aware of the impact of viral predation on the composition and genetic makeup of microbial communities thanks to genomic and metagenomic approaches. Moreover, data obtained from transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies have shown that responses to phage predation are complex and diverse, varying greatly depending on the bacterial host, phage, and multiplicity of infection. Interestingly, phage exposure may alter different phenotypes, including virulence and biofilm formation. The complexity of the interactions between microbes and their viral predators is also evidenced by the link between quorum-sensing signaling pathways and bacteriophage resistance. Overall, new data increasingly suggests that both temperate and virulent phages have a positive effect on the evolution and adaptation of microbial populations. From this perspective, further research is still necessary to fully understand the interactions between phage and host under conditions that allow co-existence of both populations, reflecting more accurately the dynamics in natural microbial communities.
The alarming spread of multiresistant infections has kick-started the quest for alternative antimicrobials. In a way, given the steady increase in untreatable infectious diseases, success in this ...endeavor has become a matter of life and death. Perhaps we should stop searching for an antibacterial panacea and explore a multifaceted strategy in which a wide range of compounds are available on demand depending on the specific situation. In the context of this novel tailor-made approach to combating bacterial pathogens, the once forgotten phage therapy is undergoing a revival. Indeed, the compassionate use of bacteriophages against seemingly incurable infections has been attracting a lot of media attention lately. However, in order to take full advantage of this strategy, bacteria's natural predators must be taken from their environment and then carefully selected to suit our needs. In this review, we have explored the vast literature regarding phage isolation and characterization for therapeutic purposes, paying special attention to the most recent studies, in search of findings that hint at the most efficient strategies to identify suitable candidates. From this information, we will list and discuss the traits that, at the moment, are considered particularly valuable in phages destined for antimicrobial therapy applications. Due to the growing importance given to biofilms in the context of bacterial infections, we will dedicate a specific section to those characteristics that indicate the suitability of a bacteriophage as an antibiofilm agent. Overall, the objective is not just to have a large collection of phages, but to have the best possible candidates to guarantee elimination of the target pathogens.
Methicillin-resistant
(MRSA) is one of the most threatening microorganisms for global human health. The current strategies to reduce the impact of
include a restrictive control of worldwide ...antibiotic use, prophylactic measures to hinder contamination, and the search for novel antimicrobials to treat human and animal infections caused by this bacterium. The last strategy is currently the focus of considerable research. In this regard, phage lytic proteins (endolysins and virion-associated peptidoglycan hydrolases VAPGHs) have been proposed as suitable candidates. Indeed, these proteins display narrow-spectrum antimicrobial activity and a virtual lack of bacterial-resistance development. Additionally, the therapeutic use of phage lytic proteins in
animal infection models is yielding promising results, showing good efficacy without apparent side effects. Nonetheless, human clinical trials are still in progress, and data are not available yet. This minireview also analyzes the main obstacles for introducing phage lytic proteins as human therapeutics against
infections. Besides the common technological problems derived from large-scale production of therapeutic proteins, a major setback is the lack of a proper legal framework regulating their use. In that sense, the relevant health authorities should urgently have a timely discussion about these new antimicrobials. On the other hand, the research community should provide data to dispel any doubts regarding their efficacy and safety. Overall, the appropriate scientific data and regulatory framework will encourage pharmaceutical companies to invest in these promising antimicrobials.
•There is solid evidence about the increase in autoimmune diseases in the last years.•Vaccines are an efficient preventive strategy for patients with autoimmune diseases.•Adjuvanted vaccines are ...necessary to achieve a high immunogenicity.•Fendrix® produces an adequate immune response in patients with autoimmune diseases.
Hepatitis B vaccination is necessary for patients with biologic therapies because of the immunomodulatory effect of these drugs. Due to the elevated use of these therapies in the latest years, the research for new vaccination regimens and the improvement of the current ones is essential. New adjuvants like AS04C might be a potential strategy to improve immune response. Hepatitis B vaccine adjuvanted with AS04C has not been studied in this population before.
We analyzed the immunogenicity of an adjuvanted hepatitis B vaccine in patients with biologic therapies. Variables that might affect vaccine response were also evaluated.
Analytic observational retrospective cohort study performed between January 2016 and September 2018. 301 patients under biological treatment aged from 18 years were included. Patients received 4 doses of hepatitis B adjuvanted vaccine (Fendrix®) in a 0–1–2–6 month immunization schedule. Several sociodemographic, clinical and pharmacological variables were evaluated. The outcome variable was measured as the antibody titers (anti-HBs). The geometric mean of titers (GMT) as a measure for the central tendency was calculated from these values.
The immunization schedule of the hepatitis B vaccine adjuvanted with AS04C demonstrated high levels of seroconversion with 82.1 % (95 % CI, 77.6–86.6) of vaccinated patients seroconverting after primary vaccination and achieving 89.0 % (95 % IC, 85.3–92.7) after the booster doses for non-responders. The use of corticosteroid therapy and high doses of them, age over 60 years and the main diagnosis were associated with lower seroconversion rates and lower anti-HBs titers.
The hepatitis B vaccine adjuvanted with AS04C (Fendrix®) produces an adequate immune response in patients with autoimmune diseases and immunosuppressive and/or immunomodulating therapies. This immunization schedule is proposed as a very suitable and adapted option for the protection of patients with autoimmune diseases under active biological therapies.
Despite occurring at the microscopic scale, the armed race between phages and their bacterial hosts involves multiple mechanisms, some of which are just starting to be understood. On the one hand, ...bacteria have evolved strategies that can stop the viral infection at different stages (adsorption, DNA injection and replication, biosynthesis and assembly of the viral progeny and/or release of the newly formed virions); on the other, phages have gradually evolved counterattack strategies that allow them to continue infecting their prey. This co-evolutionary process has played a major role in the development of microbial populations in both natural and man-made environments. Notably, understanding the parameters of this microscopic war will be paramount to fully benefit from the application of phage therapy against dangerous, antibiotic-resistant human pathogens. This review gathers the current knowledge regarding the mechanisms of phage resistance in the
genus, which includes
, one of the most concerning microorganisms in terms of antibiotic resistance acquisition. Some of these strategies involve permanent changes to the bacterial cell via mutations, while others are transient, adaptive changes whose expression depends on certain environmental cues or the growth phase. Finally, we discuss the most plausible strategies to limit the impact of phage resistance on therapy, with a special emphasis on the importance of a rational design of phage cocktails in order to thwart therapeutic failure.
Even though antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a natural phenomenon, the alarming increase in pathogenic bacteria refractory to a wide range of antimicrobials is attracting attention worldwide. ...Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently published a list of priority pathogens for which new antimicrobial alternatives are urgently needed. Among these pathogens, methicillin-resistant
(MRSA) strains are perhaps the best known by the general public. In addition to its potential to acquire antibiotic resistance,
can produce a large number of virulence factors, such as hemolysins, enterotoxins, and proteases, and exhibits the ability to form biofilms as well as to evolve into different clones that can spread and colonize new environments. This review provides a brief overview of the latest options in antibacterial therapies, mainly focusing on phage therapy. In this regard, the current stage of research about antimicrobial compounds based on bacteriophages and endolysins against MRSA infections is shown and discussed.
Vitamin A Deficiency and the Lung Timoneda, Joaquín; Rodríguez-Fernández, Lucía; Zaragozá, Rosa ...
Nutrients,
08/2018, Letnik:
10, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Vitamin A (all-
-retinol) is a fat-soluble micronutrient which together with its natural derivatives and synthetic analogues constitutes the group of retinoids. They are involved in a wide range of ...physiological processes such as embryonic development, vision, immunity and cellular differentiation and proliferation. Retinoic acid (RA) is the main active form of vitamin A and multiple genes respond to RA signalling through transcriptional and non-transcriptional mechanisms. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a remarkable public health problem. An adequate vitamin A intake is required in early lung development, alveolar formation, tissue maintenance and regeneration. In fact, chronic VAD has been associated with histopathological changes in the pulmonary epithelial lining that disrupt the normal lung physiology predisposing to severe tissue dysfunction and respiratory diseases. In addition, there are important alterations of the structure and composition of extracellular matrix with thickening of the alveolar basement membrane and ectopic deposition of collagen I. In this review, we show our recent findings on the modification of cell-junction proteins in VAD lungs, summarize up-to-date information related to the effects of chronic VAD in the impairment of lung physiology and pulmonary disease which represent a major global health problem and provide an overview of possible pathways involved.
PDF
