Current Issue : October-December Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 4 Articles : 6 Articles
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, like XBB.1.5, causing immune evasion and frequent breakthrough infections, emphasizes the need for vaccines that limit transmission and target newly emerging variants. Mucosal vaccines, particularly live attenuated vaccines (LAV), are promising candidates for inducing strong mucosal immune responses to prevent viral replication and transmission. Vaccination with the previously described “one-to-stop” codon-modified LAV OTS-228, carrying the ancestral spike protein, induced sterilizing immunity against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 but also broad protection against Omicron variants, including XBB.1.5, but transmission of XBB.1.5 to contacts could not be prevented completely. As a proof-of-concept, we updated OTS-228 by replacing the sequence coding for the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with that of the XBB.1.5 variant. We applied flow cytometry to detect SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses, as well as ELISA and qPCR, to characterize systemic and mucosal immune responses in Syrian hamsters in detail. The new OTS construct designated as “OTS-300” exhibited an optimal safety profile in Syrian hamsters comparable to the original candidate vaccine. A single-dose intranasal (i.n.) vaccination with OTS- 300 protects against disease, substantially limits XBB.1.5 replication, and reduces transmission in Syrian hamsters, showcasing the adaptability of the OTS platform for other emerging variants. OTS-300 induced accelerated mucosal and systemic antibody responses and reduced virus-mediated inflammation as compared with an intramuscularly delivered mRNA vaccine encoding the XBB.1.5 Spike....
Background: Lymph node biopsy is an important means of etiologic diagnosis for patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO) and lymphadenopathy. However, it is an invasive procedure and may yield negative results. It is worth exploring which kinds of patients could benet most from lymph node biopsy. Methods: FUO patients (n = 242) who had lymphadenopathy and underwent lymph node biopsy were enrolled into this retrospective single-center study. Clinical manifestations were documented and risk factors suggestive of an underlying positive lymph node biopsy (providing diagnostic clues) and lymphoma were analyzed. Results: The etiologies were as follows: infectious disease in 10 (4.1%) cases, connective tissue diseases in 51 (21.1%) cases, neoplastic diseases in 57 (23.6%) cases, other diseases in 28 (11.6%) cases, and unknown diagnosis in 96 (39.7%) cases. A total of 88 patients (36.4%) were diagnosed through lymph node biopsy. The following four independent risk factors were found to be related to positive lymph node biopsy: male gender (OR 2.471; 95% CI 1.158–5.270; p = 0.019), no rash (OR 3.531; 95% CI 1.595–7.816; p = 0.002), shape index of the lymph node (OR 8.566; 95% CI 1.035–70.915; p = 0.046), and hypoalbuminemia (OR 3.370; 95% CI 1.470–7.728; p = 0.004). Later, 146 patients with a conrmed diagnosis (including 57 cases of lymphoma and 89 cases of non-lymphoma) were included in the analysis of lymphoma-related factors. Age older than 45 years (OR 8.663; 95% CI 3.045–24.647; p < 0.001), no rash (OR 4.946; 95% CI 1.646–14.859; p = 0.004), serositis (OR 3.588; 95% CI 1.137–11.318; p = 0.029), abnormal blood ow of the lymph node (OR 3.025; 95% CI 1.034–8.848; p = 0.043), abnormal central lymph nodes (OR 6.546; 95% CI 1.721–24.898; p = 0.006), focal lesions in the spleen (OR 13.386; 95% CI 2.067– 86.706; p = 0.006), and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) > 250 U/L (OR 3.885; 95% CI 1.111–13.584; p = 0.034) were independent risk factors for lymphoma. Conclusions: Lymph node biopsy is a valuable diagnostic procedure for patients with FUO and lymphadenopathy. For male patients without rash, more rounded lymph nodes, and hypoalbuminemia, we strongly recommend lymph node biopsy. Age older than 45 years, no rash, serositis, abnormal blood ow of the lymph node, abnormal central lymph nodes, focal lesions in the spleen, and serum LDH > 250 U/L are risk factors suggesting an underlying lymphoma, and multi-site biopsy should be considered if necessary....
Fungal pathogens represent a rising global concern with increasing impacts on human health and food security. Despite their significance, research on fungal infections continues to lag behind other infectious diseases, hindering diagnostic and treatment advances. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful tool widely used to identify biomarkers and targets of intervention in various fields, including host-pathogen research. Owing to its ability to resolve cellular heterogeneity, scRNAseq has been successfully applied in host-viral and host-bacterial studies, providing in-depth insights into the mechanisms of pathogenesis. Recently, this method has also been increasingly adopted in fungal infection research. Here, we provide a brief overview, that summarizes key findings and offers in-depth insights into the dynamics of host–fungal pathogen interactions uncovered through this approach. The review also addresses current limitations, gaps and future directions, encouraging researchers for the broader adoption of single-cell technologies in this field....
Germline GATA2 deficiency predisposes to bone marrow failure, myeloid neoplasia, and immune dysregulation. The syndrome is often complicated by infection with intracellular pathogens and viruses, autoimmunity, and inflammation. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare occurrence that can present further management challenges. Here, we describe a young adult with GATA2 deficiency presenting with Legionella pneumonia, COVID- 19, and HLH with underlying SF3B1- mutated myelodysplasia that responded successfully to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation....
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination, neuroinflammation, and progressive neurodegeneration. While there is a small component of genetic susceptibility to MS risk, environmental factors, including infectious exposures, are gaining increased recognition as playing a critical role in MS initiation and progression. Viral infections, especially by Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), have emerged as strong candidates and triggers of MS symptoms, through antibody-mediated molecular mimicry and B-cell dysregulation. In contrast, parasitic infections, including helminths and select protozoa, appear to exert neuroprotective effects by skewing immune responses toward regulation and tolerance. In this review, we examine antibody-driven mechanisms by which viral pathogens promote autoimmunity in MS and contrast these with parasite-induced immunoregulatory pathways that suppress pathogenic inflammation. We further discuss diagnostic and therapeutic implications, highlighting how insights from infectious immunology may inform novel strategies for MS treatment....
Whipple’s disease is a rare and chronic multisystem infectious disorder caused by Tropheryma whipplei. Blood-culture negative infective endocarditis may complicate the course of classical Whipple’s disease or appear as an isolated manifestation. The pathophysiology of this rare and complex disorder is still unclear, and the appropriate therapeutic management is debated. Recent reports have highlighted the role of biologic response modifiers in causing overt disease or in accelerating patient presentation by worsening pre-existing symptoms especially when administered in patients with isolated joint manifestations. In this clinical scenario, we describe the first reported case of classical Whipple’s disease complicated with endocarditis in which patient symptoms were exacerbated by administration of IL-17 inhibitors. The patient presented with a history of long-standing fever and seronegative spondylarthritis and received a diagnosis of native aortic valve blood-culture negative infective endocarditis. Associated gastrointestinal symptoms prompted duodenal endoscopy with histology and molecular biology confirming the diagnosis. The following review provides valuable insights in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of Whipple’s disease and underlies how modern medicine and newer treatment options are shaping the host-pathogen interaction and presentation patterns of infectious diseases....
Loading....