Publication

In the gastro-intestinal tract, the complex network of multiple innate cell populations play critical roles not only as a first line of defense against invading pathogens and in driving adaptive immune responses but also in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Here, we describe the roles of various innate immune cell populations in gut immunity and detail studies investigating the impact of acute and chronic HIV infection on these cell populations.

Silencing of nuclear DNA is an essential feature of innate immune responses to invading pathogens. Early in infection, unintegrated lentiviral cDNA accumulates in the nucleus yet remains poorly expressed. In HIV-1-like lentiviruses, the Vpr accessory protein enhances unintegrated viral DNA expression, suggesting Vpr antagonizes cellular restriction. We previously showed how Vpr remodels the host proteome, identifying multiple cellular targets.

Solid organ transplant recipients are vulnerable to severe infection during induction therapy. We report a case of a 67-year-old male who died unexpectedly 10 days after receiving a kidney transplant on February 10, 2020. There was no clear cause of death, but COVID-19 was considered retrospectively, as the death occurred shortly after the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Canada. We confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 components in the renal allograft and native lung tissue using immunohistochemistry for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and RNA scope in situ hybridization for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

BACKGROUND: Occult hepatitis C infection (OCI)is a new form of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in which HCV-RNA is present in hepatocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)with undetectable plasma HCV-RNA , regardless of hepatic transaminase elevation.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous γ-herpesvirus with latent and lytic cycles. EBV replicates in the stratified epithelium but the nasopharynx is also composed of pseudostratified epithelium with distinct cell types. Latent infection is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Here, we show with nasopharyngeal conditionally reprogrammed cells cultured at the air-liquid interface that pseudostratified epithelial cells are susceptible to EBV infection.

Chronic infusion of Ang II caused increased of leukocyte (CD45+) content in PVAT in both WT and ACKR2-/- mice. This increase was particularly evident for T cell subsets in WT but not in ACKR2-/-. However the number of macrophages (F4/80+CD11b+) was increased in both groups. Interestingly, ACKR2-/- revealed decreased T cell number infiltrating PVAT upon Ang II infusion in comparison to WT. Hypertension was associated with increased CCR1, CCR2 and CCR3 expression in PVAT in both WT and ACKR2-/-. However, ACKR2-/- revealed higher expression of CCR1 and CCR2 but not CCR3 in comparison to WT.

Purpose: The synovial joint exhibits extraordinary biotribological properties allowing the articular cartilage layers to slide past each other at very low friction even under local pressures of up to 18 MPa (~180 atm). Articular cartilage is exquisitely mechanical sensitive. Compressive mechanical load contributes to articular cartilage homeostasis; however, overuse or destabilizing the joint increases surface shear stress, which promotes cartilage degradation.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is commonly associated with adverse outcomes among asphyxiated neonates with higher burden reported in middle and low income countries. With the many limitations accredited to the current assessment of renal function in asphyxiated neonates, other biomarkers amongst them being urinary b2-microglobulin can be evaluated as promising tests for AKI. We aimed to determine the accuracy of urinary b2-microglobulin for early detection of AKI in asphyxiated neonates at a tertiary hospital in northern Tanzania.

Introduction: Conventional 2D mono-culture in vitro models using immortalized cell lines are still widely used in experimental nephrology, albeit their limited translatability and predictivity for the in vivo situation. The feasibility of more sophisticated assays is often reduced by complex protocols and long lasting procedures.