Medical Immunology Commons^™

Extracellular Vesicles Released By All Patients Contain Hne-Adducted Proteins: Implications Of Collateral Damage., Jenni Ho, Suriyan Sukati, Tamara Taylor, Sherry Carter, Brittany Fuller, Amy Marmo, Caryn Sorge, John D'Orazio, D Allan Butterfield, Subbarao Bondada, Heidi Weiss, Daret K St Clair, Luksana Chaiswing

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Off-target neuronal injury is a serious side-effect observed in cancer survivors. It has previously been shown that pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors have a decline in neurocognition compared to healthy age-matched counterparts. Elevated oxidative stress has been documented to be a mediator in off-target tissue damage in cancer survivors. Early detection of oxidative stress markers may provide an opportunity to prevent off-target tissue damage. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have surfaced as a potential diagnostic tool due to molecular cargo they contain. We investigated the potential for EVs to be a sensitive indicator of oxidative stress and off-target tissue damage by …

Management Of Children With Food Allergies By Allergists In The United States, Aikaterini Anagnostou, Matthew Greenhawt, Jay A Lieberman, Christina E Ciaccio, Sayantani B Sindher, Blaine Creasy, Katherine Baran, Sachin Gupta, Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Management of patients with food allergies is complex, especially in cases of patients with multiple and potentially severe food allergies. Although international guidelines exist for food allergy management, the role of the allergist in the decision-making process is key.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the management patterns and educational needs of practicing allergists treating patients with food allergies.

METHODS: An online survey was e-mailed to United States-based practicing allergists (N = 2833) in November-December 2021. The allergists were screened for managing 1 or more patients (including ≥25% pediatric patients) with food allergies per month. The allergists responded to …

Inflammatory Hyperplastic Mass Mimicking Local Recurrence Following Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Of A Colonic Adenoma, Isiah Gonzalez, Linda K Green, Salmaan Jawaid, Wasseem Skef

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This case presents a hyperplastic inflammatory mass at the resection site of a colorectal tubular adenoma. A 65-year-old man with a history of alcohol-associated liver cirrhosis, >10 lifetime polyps, and a CHEK2 mutation underwent hybrid endoscopic submucosal dissection of a 3 cm lateral spreading tumor, nongranular, Paris 0-IIa polyp in the ascending colon. Postresection pathology confirmed tubular adenoma with negative margins (R0). Six-month surveillance colonoscopy in the community identified a mass at the resection site, initially suspected to be local recurrence. Repeat colonoscopy demonstrated a mass which appeared inflammatory, with a Kudo type II hyperplastic pit pattern on narrow-band imaging …

Use Of Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy In Clinical Practice: A Review, Jibran Ahmed, Yeonjoo Choi, Taeyeong Ko, Joann Lim, Joud Hajjar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Immunoglobulins (Igs) are produced by B lymphocytes and play a key role in humoral immunity. Igs are classified into five isotypes (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgD). Their primary function is to recognize and bind to foreign antigens. When Igs bind to antigens, they facilitate phagocytosis and promote clearance mediated by other immune cells. It is an essential component in protecting the host from outside pathogens. Hypogammaglobulinemia predisposes an individual to severe and recurrent infections. Therefore, replacement therapy is recommended to maintain optimal Ig level. In addition, Igs can modulate immune responses by to neutralizing proteins such as endotoxins or …

Hybrid Versus Vaccine Immunity Of Mrna-1273 Among People Living With Hiv In East And Southern Africa: A Prospective Cohort Analysis From The Multicentre Covpn 3008 (Ubuntu) Study, Nigel Garrett, Asa Tapley, Aaron Hudson, Sufia Dadabhai, Bo Zhang, Nyaradzo M Mgodi, Jessica Andriesen, Azwidihwi Takalani, Leigh H Fisher, Jia Jin Kee, Craig A Magaret, Manuel Villaran, John Hural, Erica Andersen-Nissen, Guido Ferarri, Maurine D Miner, Bert Le Roux, Eduan Wilkinson, Richard Lessells, Tulio De Oliveira, Jackline Odhiambo, Parth Shah, Laura Polakowski, Margaret Yacovone, Taraz Samandari, Zvavahera Chirenje, Peter James Elyanu, Joseph Makhema, Ethel Kamuti, Harriet Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha, Sharlaa Badal-Faesen, William Brumskine, Soritha Coetzer, Rodney Dawson, Sinead Delany-Moretlwe, Andreas Henri Diacon, Samantha Fry, Katherine Margaret Gill, Zaheer Ahmed Ebrahim Hoosain, Mina C Hosseinipour, Mubiana Inambao, Craig Innes, Steve Innes, Dishiki Kalonji, Margaret Kasaro, Priya Kassim, Noel Kayange, William Kilembe, Fatima Laher, Moelo Malahleha, Vongane Louisa Maluleke, Grace Mboya, Kirsten Mcharry, Essack Mitha, Kathryn Mngadi, Pamela Mda, Tumelo Moloantoa, Cissy Kityo Mutuluuza, Nivashnee Naicker, Vimla Naicker, Anusha Nana, Annet Nanvubya, Maphoshane Nchabeleng, Walter Otieno, Elsje Louise Potgieter, Disebo Potloane, Zelda Punt, Jamil Said, Yashna Singh, Mohammed Siddique Tayob, Yacoob Vahed, Deo Ogema Wabwire, M Juliana Mcelrath, James G Kublin, Linda-Gail Bekker, Peter B Gilbert, Lawrence Corey, Glenda E Gray, Yunda Huang, Philip Kotze, Covpn 3008 Ubuntu Study Team

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: With limited access to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in lower income countries, and people living with HIV (PLWH) largely excluded from clinical trials, Part A of the multicentre CoVPN 3008 (Ubuntu) study aimed to assess the safety of mRNA-1273, the relative effectiveness of hybrid versus vaccine immunity, and SARS-CoV-2 viral persistence among PLWH in East and Southern Africa during the omicron outbreak.

METHODS: Previously unvaccinated adults with HIV and/or other comorbidities associated with severe COVID-19 received either one (hybrid immunity) or two (vaccine immunity) 100-mcg doses of ancestral strain mRNA-1273 in the first month, depending on baseline evidence of prior …

Characterization Of Vaccine-Enhanced Humoral Immune Responses Against Emergent Sars-Cov-2 Variants In A Convalescent Cohort, Jared Sheehan, Amber J. Trauth, Michael E. Hagensee, Alistair J. Ramsay

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Vaccination of COVID-19–convalescent individuals may generate ‘hybrid’ immunity of enhanced magnitude, durability, and cross-reactive breadth. Our primary goal was to characterize hybrid antibody (Ab) responses in a patient cohort infected with ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 virus and vaccinated between 6 and 10 months later with the Wuhan-Hu-1–based BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. We were particularly interested in determining the efficacy of neutralizing Ab responses against subsequently emergent SARS-CoV-2 variants. Sera collected at 3-monthly intervals over a period of 12 months were analyzed by ELISA for SARS-CoV-2 RBD–specific Ab responses, and also for neutralizing Ab activity using pseudovirus-based neutralization assays. We found that convalescent RBD-reactive …

Predictive Value Of Fdg Uptake On Pet For Future Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Mediated Colitis: A Case Series, Malek Shatila, Kei Takigawa, Yang Lu, Andres Caleb Urias Rivera, Nitish Mittal, Abdullah Sagar Aleem, Sean Ngo, Eric Lu, Deanna Wu, Gabriel Sperling, Sidra Naz, Bryan Schneider, Anusha Shirwaikar Thomas, Yinghong Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Immune-mediated colitis (IMC) is a common immune-related adverse event during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. This case series and review aimed to highlight atypical cases of IMC and explore the potential of PET/CT to predict imminent ICI colitis.

Methods: Through a descriptive, retrospective study at a tertiary cancer center, we identified adult patients receiving ICIs for any cancer between 2010 and 2022 who also underwent PET/CT for routine cancer surveillance during this time. We included patients who had signs and symptoms of colitis and reviewed their surveillance PET/CT scans obtained 2 to 6 weeks before and up to 3 …

In Vivo Evaluation Of Novel Nanoparticles And Repurposed Pharmaceuticals To Combat Antimicrobial Resistance, Sarah E. Evans

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In a 2019 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections resistant to antibiotic treatment amount to about three million infections and 48,000 deaths. Antimicrobial resistance is an escalating global threat as existing antibiotics lose efficacy over time. The project described is focused on partnering with pharmaceutical researchers and producers to test new nanoparticle-based or repurposed compounds. The central hypothesis of this thesis is that pharmaceutical formulations such as nanoparticles may provide a cost-effective means of combating the emerging antimicrobial resistance. The nanoparticle compounds allowed for a wide range of customization for the pharmaceutical design, since the …

Reproductive Autonomy In Immunological Intervention: Ethical Boundaries In Maternal-Fetal Immune Therapy, Marium Z. Rizvi

Journal of Health Ethics

Recent advances in immunology have broken barriers in reproductive medicine through immune-modulating therapies that support fertility and pregnancy. Treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and intralipid infusions are increasingly offered to patients with Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF) or Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL), conditions that result in miscarriages and failed IVF treatments (Pillarysetti et al., 2023). Maternal-fetal immunology reveals a delicate interplay between immune tolerance and defense: the maternal system must accept a genetically foreign fetus while preserving immunological protection. Disruptions in this balance are implicated in implantation disorders and pregnancy failure. As a result, immune-based therapies have emerged as promising …

Improving Knowledge And Confidence Of Family Nurse Practitioners In Offering The Hpv Vaccine, Leni Terano Fisher

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Abstract

Introduction

Despite the recommendations of the United States Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, HPV immunization lags behind other routine vaccines by up to 31%. Although there are many reasons for the low vaccine rate, provider hesitancy and lack of confidence significantly contribute to suboptimal HPV vaccine uptake.

Objectives

This project aimed to utilize evidence-driven interventions to increase family nurse practitioners' (FNPs) knowledge and confidence in offering the HPV vaccine.

Methods

Participants were given pre- and post-questionnaire surveys. The Wilcoxon Rank Test was used to compare, quantify, and measure the results of the eight-week data collection.

Results

The subjects were …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

Borreliosis And Doxycycline Treatment Disrupt Gut Microbiota And Immune Responses In Nonhuman Primates, Ethan G. Napier, Isaac R. Cinco, Sheridan B. Wagner, Ethan V. Stuart, Qi Qiao, Joshua Taylor, Brian Stevenson, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) is the spirochete that causes Lyme disease (LD). Transmission to humans occurs via bites of infected Ixodes spp. ticks. Doxycycline is often used to treat LD patients, which is sometimes delayed due to current diagnostic challenges. Recently, several lines of evidence show dysbiosis of the gut microbiome in LD patients, which may be a host factor contributing to pathogenesis and symp tomology but is still an understudied area in the field. To address this knowledge gap, we longitudinally compared the immune response and gut microbial composi tion of Japanese macaques after intradermal infection with Bb strain 297 …

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Induces Phenotypic And Functional Alterations Consistent With A Hyper-Inflammatory State In Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell-Derived Microglia In A Rhesus Macaque Model, Hami Hemati, Madison B. Blanton, Heather E. True, Jude Koura, Rupak Khadka, Kathleen A. Grant, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Alcohol-induced dysregulation of microglial activity is associated with neuroinflammation, cognitive decline, heightened risk for neurodegenerative diseases, alcohol dependence, and escalation of alcohol drinking. Given the challenge of longitudinally sampling primary microglia, we optimized an in vitro method to differentiate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from rhesus macaque (RM) into induced microglia-like cells (RM-iMGLs). The RM-iMGLs displayed transcriptional profiles distinct from monocyte progenitors and closely resembling primary microglia. Notably, morphological features showed that differentiated RM-iMGLs derived from subjects with chronic alcohol consumption (CAC), while bigger, exhibited a bipolar-like morphology. Additionally, dysregulation in key inflammatory and regulatory markers, along with increased baseline …

Targeting Prmt5 In Inflammation And Cancer: A Nexus Of Endotoxin Signaling, Antigen Presentation And Immune Evasion., Jimmy James Msemo

Theses and Dissertations--Medical Sciences

Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is a member of PRMT family that controls both intrinsic and extrinsic oncogenic processes [1]. Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is a type II methyltransferase that exerts widespread influence over gene expression, splicing, DNA repair, and immune regulation through symmetric dimethylation of arginine residues on histone and non-histone proteins [2]. The addition of methyl groups induces gene silencing through producing dictatorial histone marks like H2AR3ne2s, H3R8me2s and H4R3mes [3], which act as epigenetic repressive marks on gene promoters. In non-histone proteins, PRMT5 can methylate and regulate transcription factor proteins such as p53, E2F1, and p65, …

Limiting H1n1 Replication Via The Dsrnai Pathway Using Sequence-Specific Ldsrna, Shawn Marie Sharon Carr, Stephanie Dewitte-Orr

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The seasonal influenza virus causes a common respiratory illness that can be life threatening to the immunocompromised, the very young, and the elderly. The current strategies for avoiding a serious influenza virus infection are good hygiene practices and the annual influenza vaccine. Unfortunately, last year’s influenza virus vaccine effectiveness ranged between 32-60% for children and adolescents and 46-54% for adults. These low efficacy rates are due to the vaccine often targeting hemagglutinin, a highly variable surface protein. This thesis seeks to create a prophylactic treatment via the RNA interference (RNAi) response that targets the virus’s conserved genes that are integral …

The Characterization Of Il-27 Production And Its Impact On T Cell Antigen-Specificity And Diversity In A Neonatal Bcg Vaccination Model, Ashley M. Divens

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), and it has plagued humans for most of recorded history. Despite strong efforts to prevent and treat TB, it remains the leading cause of death due to a pathogen and is most prevalent in certain regions of Asia and Africa. Currently, the only approved vaccine to prevent TB is the live-attenuated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. Most countries have a universal BCG vaccination policy, but the vaccine ultimately fails to be protective. The BCG vaccine is most effective in children and protects against disseminated TB, but protection wanes 10-15 years after vaccination causing …

Impact Of Obesity On The Gut Microbiome And Inflammatory Markers During Siv Infection And Antiretroviral Therapy, Casey M. Mcguire, Isaac R. Cinco, Diana Takahashi, Kristin A. Sauter, Melissa Kirigiti, Ilhem Messaoudi, Jonah B. Sacha, Charles T. Roberts, Paul Kievit

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Dysbiosis and impaired gut barrier integrity contribute to chronic immune activation associated with both obesity and HIV infection. Given the increased incidence of obesity in people living with HIV, we explored the impact of obesity on the gut microbiome and microbial translocation (MT) biomarkers during HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART). Lean and obese rhesus macaques were infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and subsequently treated with ART. Obese animals exhibited higher initial MT and inflammation biomarkers that remained constant throughout the study, while lean animals exhibited significant increases in these biomarkers that approached levels observed in obese animals. Lean …

Intracellular Survival Of Staphylococcus Aureus In Macrophages During Osteomyelitis, William A. Lathram, Christopher D. Radka

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Staphylococcus aureus, traditionally viewed as an extracellular pathogen, is increasingly recognized for its ability to persist intracellularly, particularly within macrophages. This intracellular lifestyle is central to osteomyelitis, a chronic bone infection characterized by persistent inflammation, bone destruction, and impaired repair. Within bone, S. aureus exploits macrophage plasticity by driving a shift from pro-inflammatory, bactericidal M1-like states to anti-inflammatory, tissue-reparative M2-like phenotypes. This polarization suppresses immune clearance and promotes an environment conducive to bacterial survival and dissemination. Additional strategies – including biofilm formation, small colony variants, and inhibition of phagolysosomal killing – further enhance persistence and immune evasion. While these …

Thromboelastography Versus Thromboelastometry For Unfractionated Heparin Monitoring In Adult Patients On Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, Ellen B Yin, Arthur W Bracey, Subhasis Chatterjee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Monitoring the anticoagulant effect of unfractionated heparin (UFH) in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients is complex but critically important to balance the risks of treatment related bleeding and circuit thrombosis. While guidelines recommend using more than one method to monitor UFH activity, the use of thromboelastometry (ROTEM) to monitor UFH in ECMO patients has not been investigated in detail.

Methods: This is an observational, single-center retrospective study looking at adult ECMO patients on UFH that had ROTEM and thromboelastography (TEG) tests obtained concurrently. A total of 20 samples were obtained from nine patients during the study period, …

Gout Flare Burden In The United States: A Multiyear Cross-Sectional Survey Study, Jasvinder A Singh, Amy Morlock, Robert Morlock

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the burden of gout flares and examine associated patient characteristics and outcomes in a sample of US adults.

METHODS: Data were collected via an online survey of US adults ≥18 years using a random stratified sampling framework. Participants with gout completed questions about treatments, serum urate (SU) levels, severity, satisfaction with control, and gout flares. All participants completed the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-Item Scale. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses examined factors predictive of …