Mostly Microbes and Infection

Ivermectin is currently approved for treatment of both clinical and veterinary infections by nematodes, including  Onchocerca cervicalis  in horses and  Onchocerca volvulus  in humans. However, ivermectin has never been shown to be effective against bacterial pathogens. Here we show that ivermectin also inhibits infection of epithelial cells by the bacterial pathogen,  Chlamydia trachomatis , at doses that could be envisioned clinically for sexually-transmitted or ocular infections by  Chlamydia .

  Hightlights • The context summarizes the latest effects of rhizosphere microorganisms on plants. • The context summarizes the mechanisms by which plant hosts shape their own rhizosphere microbial communities. • Further explore its impact and utilization potential on microbial communities from the aspects of genotype, functional genes. • Provide new ideas for the development of green fertilizer, green agriculture and environmental restoration.

Purpose This narrative review explores the multifaceted links between periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis) and systemic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, Alzheimer’s disease, cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, and respiratory infections. It aims to synthesize evidence on how local oral infections exert systemic effects and evaluate the potential of diagnostic technologies to monitor these interactions. Methods This narrative review synthesizes current scientific literature on periodontal disease pathogenesis, focusing on key pathogens (e.g.,  Porphyromonas gingivalis ,  Fusobacterium nucleatum ) and their roles in driving local and systemic inflammation via virulence factors and microbial dysbiosis. It examines biomarker-based diagnostic approaches (e.g., IL-1β, TNF-α, microbial DNA) in saliva, blood, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and evaluates current and emerging diagnostic tools (e.g., ELISA, PCR, lat...

Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii contribute to the development of Valley Fever. The ability of these fungal pathogens to evade the host immune system creates difficulty in recognition and treatment of this debilitating infection. In this review, we describe the current knowledge of Valley Fever and approaches to improve prevention, detection, and treatment.  

Microbial organisms express pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that can stimulate expression of proinflammatory mediators following ligation of pathogen recognition receptors. However, both commensal organisms and pathogens can express PAMPs. The immune system can distinguish between commensals and pathogens in part through secretion of the key inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. A PAMP such as lipopolysaccharide can induce production of intracellular pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18, but not their secretion. A second “danger signal”, derived from host-cell molecules that are released from stressed or infected cells, or detected as a PAMP that is present in the cytosol, can stimulate assembly of an inflammasome that activates the protease caspase-1. Caspase-1, in turn, is responsible for processing and secretion of the mature IL-1β and IL-18. Many diverse ligands leading to inflammasome activation have been identified, but the cell signaling pathways initiated by t...

Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode that survives naturally in a variety of environments throughout the world. This nematode has been used for decades as a model system for development, cancer and aging, since it shares with humans key genes and signaling pathways that are involved in disease. In addition, this nematode is easy to maintain in the laboratory and is genetically tractable. Major discoveries relevant for human cancer, innate immunity and longevity have been made with C. elegans, but this nematode has not been used yet for studying genes or microbiota relevant for oral health. Several laboratories in the world are starting to study the effect of the gut microbiota on the health of C. elegans. We propose to study the effect of the oral microbiota on C. elegans, by feeding the nematodes bacteria isolated from human saliva. From a dentistry perspective, being able to characterize the human oral microbiota with data analyzed from C. elegans can provide a convenient approach to...