Warnerbrun8407
When combined with a conditional randomization testing procedure, the model discovers markers of therapeutic response that recapitulate known biology and suggest new avenues for investigation. All code for the article is publicly available at https//github.com/tansey/deep-dose-response.Previous human milk studies have confirmed the existence of a highly diverse bacterial community using culture-independent and targeted culture-dependent techniques. However, culture-enriched molecular profiling of milk microbiota has not been done. Additionally, the impact of storage conditions and milk fractionation on microbiota composition is not understood. In this feasibility study, we optimized and applied culture-enriched molecular profiling to study culturable milk microbiota in eight milk samples collected from mothers of infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. Fresh samples were immediately plated or stored at -80°C for 2 weeks (short-term frozen). Long-term samples were stored at -20°C for >6 months. Samples were cultured using 10 different culture media and incubated both aerobically and anaerobically. We successfully isolated major milk bacteria, including Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Bifidobacterium, from fresh milk samples, but were unable to culture any bacteria from the long-term frozen samples. Short-term freezing shifted the composition of viable milk bacteria from the original composition in fresh samples. Nevertheless, the inter-individual variability of milk microbiota composition was observed even after short-term storage. There was no major difference in the overall milk microbiota composition between milk fractions in this feasibility study. This is among the first studies on culture-enriched molecular profiling of the milk microbiota demonstrating the effect of storage and fractionation on milk microbiota composition.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent plasma (CCP) received an Emergency Use Authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). CCP with a signal-to-cutoff ratio of ≥12 using the Ortho VITROS severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) test (OVSARS2IgG) is permitted to be labeled "high titer." Little is known about the relationship between OVSARS2IgG ratio and neutralizing capacity of plasma/sera against genuine SARS-CoV-2.
Nine hundred eighty-one samples from 196 repeat CCP donors 0-119 days post-initial donation (DPID) were analyzed. Neutralizing capacity was assessed for 50% (PRNT50) and 90% (PRNT90) reduction of infectious virus using the gold standard plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). A subset of 91 donations was evaluated by OVSARS2IgG and compared to PRNT titers for diagnostic accuracy.
Of donations, 32.7%/79.5% (PRNT90/PRNT50) met a 180 titer initially but only 14.0%/48.8% (PRNT90/PRNT50) met this cutoff ≥85 DPID. Correlation of OVSARS2IgG results to neutralizing capacity allowed extrapolation to CCP therapy results. CCP with OVSARS2IgG ratios equivalent to a therapeutically beneficial group had neutralizing titers of ≥1640 (PRNT50) and/or ≥180 (PRNT90). Specificity and positive predictive value of the OVSARS2IgG for qualifying highly neutralizing CCP was optimal using ratios significantly greater than the FDA cutoff.
This information provides a basis for refining the recommended properties of CCP used to treat COVID-19.
This information provides a basis for refining the recommended properties of CCP used to treat COVID-19.
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) causes community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia linked to a high mortality rate. The emergence and rapid transmission of multidrug-resistant S. aureus strains have become a serious health concern, and highlight the challenges associated with the development of a vaccine to combat S. aureus pneumonia.
This study evaluated the effects of intrapulmonary (i.pulmon.) immunization on the immune response and protection against S. aureus lung infection in a respiratory mouse model using a subunit vaccine.
Compared with the intranasal immunized mice, the i.pulmon. immunized mice had lower levels of pulmonary bacterial colonization and lethality, accompanied by alleviated lung inflammation with reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased levels of interleukin-10 and antimicrobial peptide following i.pulmon. challenge. Optimal protection was associated with increased pulmonary antibodies and resident memory T cells. Moreover, i.pulmon. immunization provided long-lasting pulmonary protection for at least 6 months, with persistent cellular and humoral immunity in the lungs.
Vaccine reaching the deep lung by i.pulmon. immunization plays a significant role in the induction of efficacious and long-lasting immunity against S. aureus in the lung parenchyma. Hence, i.pulmon. immunization can be a strategy for the development of a vaccine against S. aureus pneumonia.
Vaccine reaching the deep lung by i.pulmon. check details immunization plays a significant role in the induction of efficacious and long-lasting immunity against S. aureus in the lung parenchyma. Hence, i.pulmon. immunization can be a strategy for the development of a vaccine against S. aureus pneumonia.Sampling of different body regions can reveal highly specialized bacterial associations within the holobiont and facilitate identification of core microbial symbionts that would otherwise be overlooked by bulk sampling methods. Here, we characterized compartment-specific associations present within the model cnidarian Nematostella vectensis by dividing its morphology into three distinct microhabitats. This sampling design allowed us to uncover a capitulum-specific dominance of spirochetes within N. vectensis. Bacteria from the family Spirochaetaceae made up 66% of the community in the capitulum, while only representing 1.2% and 0.1% of the communities in the mesenteries and physa, respectively. A phylogenetic analysis of the predominant spirochete sequence recovered from N. vectensis showed a close relation to spirochetes previously recovered from wild N. vectensis. These sequences clustered closer to the recently described genus Oceanispirochaeta, rather than Spirochaeta perfilievii, supporting them as members of this clade.