The Pathogenic Yeast Research Group at the University of the Free State focuses on understanding the roles of bioactive lipids in yeast infections. Dr. Carolina Pohl's research examines how lipids like prostaglandins modulate host immunity and yeast virulence. Her work has shown that some yeast lipids mimic host signals to induce inflammation or change yeast structure. The group also studies multi-species biofilms and the oxylipins they produce. Inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis is a potential treatment approach, and the group aims to identify unique yeast enzyme targets for new antifungals.
Vaccines work by enhancing the body's immune response to disease-causing microorganisms. They contain weakened or killed forms of viruses or bacteria, or purified components, which trigger an immune response and develop antibodies without causing illness. Vaccines are formulated with antigens, fluids, preservatives and adjuvants to ensure potency over the shelf life. They are prepared from isolated microbial strains grown in culture and tested in clinical trials before use in vaccine production. The immune response triggered by vaccination mimics natural infection and prepares the body to fight the disease if exposed in the future.
1) Vaccine delivery systems aim to improve the immune response to vaccines. Virosomes are a type of delivery system that are biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic. They enable drug delivery into target cells and protect drugs from degradation. However, virosomes have short shelf lives and scaling up poses challenges.
2) Vaccines work by exposing the immune system to antigens from pathogens in a way that stimulates antibody production without causing illness. Antibodies bind to antigens and help the immune system recognize and destroy pathogens. Vaccines contain antigens along with other ingredients like adjuvants to enhance the immune response.
3) There are various types of traditional and innovative vaccines that target different
Specific prophylaxis and therapy of infectious diseases. Vaccines & toxoidesEneutron
Vaccines provide protection against infectious diseases by exposing individuals to antigens from pathogens in a way that does not cause disease. There are several types of vaccines, including live attenuated vaccines which use weakened live pathogens, and inactivated vaccines which use killed pathogens. Live vaccines typically produce stronger and longer-lasting immunity but carry some risk, while inactivated vaccines are safer but may require booster doses to maintain protection. Both vaccine types aim to stimulate the immune system's memory response to future pathogens, protecting individuals and populations through herd immunity when widely adopted.
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease causing microorganism and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins or one of its surface proteins. The agent stimulates the body's immune system to recognize foreign agents, destroy it, and keep a record of it, so that the immune system can more easily recognize and destroy any of these microorganisms that it later encounters.
Vaccine delivery systems can be categorized as needle-based or needle-free. Common needle-based routes include intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal injection. Needle-free options include oral, intranasal, and transdermal delivery. Various technologies are being developed to enhance vaccine uptake through mucosal surfaces without needles, such as live viral/bacterial vectors, particulate systems like microparticles, and chemical or physical permeation of the skin. The design of mucosal and transdermal vaccines aims to protect antigens, deliver them across barriers, and target immune cells while avoiding tolerance.
This document discusses vaccine drug delivery systems. It begins with an introduction to vaccines, including their history and mechanisms of action. It then covers various types of vaccines such as live attenuated, inactivated, subunit, toxoid, recombinant protein, and RNA vaccines. The document discusses antigen uptake pathways and the mechanisms by which endogenous and exogenous antigens are processed. It also covers topics like single shot vaccines, mucosal delivery systems, transdermal delivery systems, adjuvants, and advanced encapsulation methods for vaccine development.
Vaccines work by enhancing the body's immune response to disease-causing microorganisms. They contain weakened or killed forms of viruses or bacteria, or purified components, which trigger an immune response and develop antibodies without causing illness. Vaccines are formulated with antigens, fluids, preservatives and adjuvants to ensure potency over the shelf life. They are prepared from isolated microbial strains grown in culture and tested in clinical trials before use in vaccine production. The immune response triggered by vaccination mimics natural infection and prepares the body to fight the disease if exposed in the future.
1) Vaccine delivery systems aim to improve the immune response to vaccines. Virosomes are a type of delivery system that are biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic. They enable drug delivery into target cells and protect drugs from degradation. However, virosomes have short shelf lives and scaling up poses challenges.
2) Vaccines work by exposing the immune system to antigens from pathogens in a way that stimulates antibody production without causing illness. Antibodies bind to antigens and help the immune system recognize and destroy pathogens. Vaccines contain antigens along with other ingredients like adjuvants to enhance the immune response.
3) There are various types of traditional and innovative vaccines that target different
Specific prophylaxis and therapy of infectious diseases. Vaccines & toxoidesEneutron
Vaccines provide protection against infectious diseases by exposing individuals to antigens from pathogens in a way that does not cause disease. There are several types of vaccines, including live attenuated vaccines which use weakened live pathogens, and inactivated vaccines which use killed pathogens. Live vaccines typically produce stronger and longer-lasting immunity but carry some risk, while inactivated vaccines are safer but may require booster doses to maintain protection. Both vaccine types aim to stimulate the immune system's memory response to future pathogens, protecting individuals and populations through herd immunity when widely adopted.
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease causing microorganism and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins or one of its surface proteins. The agent stimulates the body's immune system to recognize foreign agents, destroy it, and keep a record of it, so that the immune system can more easily recognize and destroy any of these microorganisms that it later encounters.
Vaccine delivery systems can be categorized as needle-based or needle-free. Common needle-based routes include intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal injection. Needle-free options include oral, intranasal, and transdermal delivery. Various technologies are being developed to enhance vaccine uptake through mucosal surfaces without needles, such as live viral/bacterial vectors, particulate systems like microparticles, and chemical or physical permeation of the skin. The design of mucosal and transdermal vaccines aims to protect antigens, deliver them across barriers, and target immune cells while avoiding tolerance.
This document discusses vaccine drug delivery systems. It begins with an introduction to vaccines, including their history and mechanisms of action. It then covers various types of vaccines such as live attenuated, inactivated, subunit, toxoid, recombinant protein, and RNA vaccines. The document discusses antigen uptake pathways and the mechanisms by which endogenous and exogenous antigens are processed. It also covers topics like single shot vaccines, mucosal delivery systems, transdermal delivery systems, adjuvants, and advanced encapsulation methods for vaccine development.
Vaccine- Biological preparation containing weakened or killed form of microbes that provides immunity against a particular disease.
Stimulates the body’s immune system which perceives the microbes as a threat and destroys them.
WHO report shows there are vaccines for 25 different infections.
Vaccination is responsible for the worldwide eradication of small pox and restriction of diseases as polio, measles and tetanus.
Doctrine about infection. Pathogenicity & virulence of Bacteria. Development ...Eneutron
This document discusses the key concepts of infection and infectious disease. It defines infection as the penetration of a pathogenic microorganism into a host organism, which can lead to an infectious process and potentially an infectious disease. The main factors required for an infection to develop are the presence of a pathogen, a susceptible host, and a site of entry. Pathogenicity and virulence refer to a microbe's ability to cause disease and the intensity of disease caused. Bacteria exhibit several virulence factors including toxins, enzymes, and adhesins that facilitate adhesion, colonization, invasion and damage of host tissues. Infectious diseases progress through distinct phases and can be classified based on factors like duration, localization, and origin of the
The document discusses several methods for controlling infectious diseases, including preventing transmission, modifying the environment, behavioral changes, immunization, and using antimicrobial drugs and vaccines. It provides details on the different types of vaccines, how they work, and new approaches like DNA vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The roles of organizations like the WHO and CDC in monitoring, controlling and preventing the spread of diseases globally are also summarized.
This document provides an overview of vaccine drug delivery systems. It begins with an introduction that defines what a vaccine is and its three main forms. The history section outlines the development of important early vaccines including the world's first vaccine for smallpox developed by Edward Jenner in 1796. Key points about the ideal characteristics of vaccines and the advantages and disadvantages of various vaccine types are summarized. The document also briefly discusses mechanisms of vaccine uptake, quality control aspects, global vaccination trends, and concludes with references.
Recent developments in nanovaccine. Nanovaccines can be designed and manufactured to improve health at the molecular level. Nanovaccines offer different routes of administration and include delivery via nanobeads, polymeric nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, and viral vectors. They have potential advantages like stronger immune responses, stability without refrigeration, and pain-free delivery. However, challenges remain regarding production costs, safety, and reproducibility. Future prospects include using nanomaterials to deliver vaccines for diseases like HIV, influenza, and Alzheimer's.
This document discusses a project called Project Mutamba that aims to identify the efficiency of tannins extracted from the Guazuma ulmifolia plant in inhibiting the reverse transcriptase of the HIV virus with lower toxicity. The project seeks to determine the molecular weight of tannin that best inhibits HIV replication while posing minimal health risks. If successful, it could help reduce viral load, preserve immune function, and slow disease progression for those living with HIV/AIDS. The document provides background on HIV/AIDS and how current antiretroviral drugs can cause side effects, justifying the need to explore alternative treatment options from plants like G. ulmifolia that may have antiviral properties with fewer adverse effects.
The document discusses vaccine delivery systems. It begins by introducing vaccines and how they work, preparing the immune system to recognize and fight pathogens. It then discusses different types of vaccines and delivery methods, including live attenuated, inactivated, toxoid, conjugate, and subunit vaccines. Physical approaches like electroporation and chemical/vesicular approaches like liposomes, niosomes, and viral vectors can be used for transdermal vaccine delivery to stimulate an immune response. The skin is a promising target for topical vaccination due to immune cells present that can recognize antigens and initiate a response.
This document discusses vaccine delivery systems, including uptake of antigens, single shot vaccines, and mucosal and transdermal delivery. It defines vaccines as biological preparations that improve immunity, and outlines the history from Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccine to modern vaccines. Traditional vaccines include killed and live attenuated versions for bacteria and viruses. Single shot vaccines aim to replace boosters with encapsulated antigens. Mucosal surfaces are a major entry point for pathogens, and mucosal vaccines aim to induce protective immunity at sites of entry using emulsions, strips, liposomes or nanoparticles. The skin is also a vaccine delivery site due to its size and accessibility, using technologies like microneedles or electroporation to enhance permeation
1. The history of vaccine development began with early attempts at variolation and inoculation against smallpox in the 1000s/1600s. Edward Jenner published findings on using cowpox to immunize against smallpox in 1798. Louis Pasteur discovered ways to attenuate microorganisms and created the first rabies vaccine in 1885.
2. Oral vaccines have advantages over traditional needle vaccines like easier administration, lower costs, and increased compliance. However, challenges include protecting antigens from degradation and ensuring delivery and uptake in the intestinal mucosa.
3. Successful oral vaccines currently in use include polio, rotavirus, and cholera vaccines, while further research is still needed to develop
Reverse vaccinology uses genomics and bioinformatics to identify antigens that could be used in vaccines, rather than relying on culturing pathogens. It sequences the genome of a pathogen and predicts potential antigens, allowing development of vaccines for pathogens that cannot be grown in culture. This approach was used to develop a vaccine for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, the first reverse vaccinology vaccine approved for use. Traditional vaccinology is limited by only being able to use antigens that are abundant during infection and that the pathogen can be cultured, whereas reverse vaccinology makes all antigens available for vaccine development.
This document discusses how whole genome sequencing (WGS) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has improved understanding of drug resistant tuberculosis (TB). WGS has identified specific mutations that cause resistance to classical and new antitubercular drugs. It has also revealed how resistance evolves within patients and spreads between patients. Clinical applications of WGS include rapid detection of drug resistance and tracking of TB outbreaks. However, challenges remain in applying WGS to improve TB control and diagnosis.
Vaccines provide immunity to diseases and contain agents that stimulate the immune system. There are several types including whole organism vaccines using killed or attenuated microbes, purified components like toxoids and polysaccharides, recombinant and DNA vaccines. Vaccines work by inducing both antibody and cellular immune responses. While effective, they also carry small risks like adverse reactions that researchers continue working to understand and improve safety.
The document discusses the normal flora of various body sites. It defines normal flora as the bacteria and fungi permanently residing on the skin, in the oral cavity, gut, and vagina. While viruses and parasites are usually not considered normal flora, they can be present without causing symptoms. The three major roles of normal flora are: (1) causing disease in immunocompromised individuals, (2) providing colonization resistance against pathogens, and (3) producing vitamins for the host. Specific normal flora are then described for the skin, gut, ears, and nose.
This document discusses various vaccine delivery systems. It begins by defining vaccines and describing traditional types like inactivated, live attenuated, and toxoid vaccines. It then categorizes vaccine delivery systems and describes several methods - including delivery by liposomes, virosomes, emulsions, polymers, polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, and dendrimers. Key mechanisms of antigen uptake are also summarized. The document concludes by discussing advantages of single-dose vaccines and listing references.
An Overview of Immunity to Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi and PtozoansAtifa Ambreen
This document provides an overview of immunity to various pathogens. It discusses the characteristics of pathogens like viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. It explains that pathogens have developed mechanisms to interact with and exploit hosts, while hosts have innate and adaptive immune responses. It describes the complex life cycles of some pathogens like fungi and protozoa that allow them to evade drug treatments by switching forms. It also explains how viruses are highly dependent on host cell machinery to replicate and produce new virus particles to infect other cells.
This document discusses bacteriophage therapy as an alternative approach to antibiotic resistance. It begins with an introduction to antibiotic resistance and discusses the mechanisms and factors contributing to resistance. It then introduces bacteriophage or phages, describing their classification, life cycles, and mechanisms of infecting bacteria. The document outlines methods for preparing and administering phage therapy. It discusses advantages of phage therapy over antibiotics and provides examples of phage therapy applications in food and agriculture. Finally, it addresses some challenges to phage therapy including host range, bacterial debris in preparations, and lysogeny.
Host-pathogen Interactions, Molecular Basis and Host Defense: Pathogen Detect...QIAGEN
Host–pathogen interactions are strikingly complex during infection. This slidedeck provides an overview of the molecular basis of these intricate interactions: the impact of microbiota on innate and adaptive immunity, metabolism, and insulin resistance and host defense mechanisms. Various research tools will be introduced to simplify and streamline each step of studying the host response, enabling detection of pathogens, analysis of gene expression and regulation, epigenetic modification, genotyping and signal transduction pathway activation.
This document provides an overview of vaccine delivery systems. It begins with definitions of immunity and describes the immune cells involved in vaccine responses, including lymphocytes like B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells, as well as granulocytes such as neutrophils and macrophages. The document then reviews the history of vaccine development from Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccine to modern vaccines. Finally, it outlines different types of vaccines including killed, attenuated, toxoid, subunit, conjugate, and recombinant vector vaccines.
The document discusses using tannins extracted from Guazuma ulmifolia to inhibit the HIV reverse transcriptase. It aims to identify the molecular weight of tannin that most effectively inhibits HIV replication with lowest toxicity. The justification is the need for new anti-HIV drugs due to virus persistence and resistance to current treatments, which can cause side effects. Some studies found tannins show inhibitory activity against HIV replication.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Roles of Different Stakeholders_Prof saidur rahmanUdderHealthBD
This document summarizes a presentation on antimicrobial resistance and the roles of different stakeholders. It discusses the importance and development of antimicrobial resistance, including how resistance genes can be transferred between microbes and across human, animal, and environmental boundaries. It outlines global trends in antimicrobial consumption and reviews evidence that overuse contributes to resistance. The document also summarizes the limited pipeline of new antimicrobial drugs and calls for optimization of medically important antimicrobial use in animals and humans to preserve drug effectiveness. It identifies stakeholders across human, animal, and environmental domains that must work together to address antimicrobial resistance as a global challenge.
The document provides information about Team Citraville from IMT-Ghaziabad participating in a preliminary round. It also discusses various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube and how they can be used for social media marketing through strategies like content creation, community building and commerce. Trending topics, interactive campaigns, Facebook apps and hashtags are mentioned as effective social media marketing techniques.
This document discusses organizational game changers and principles for developing insights and taking action. It identifies common challenges that prevent organizations from developing insights like time pressures. It also discusses how a lack of common direction can lead to failed starts. Additionally, it covers how managing expectations, energy, and execution is important for success. Finally, it promotes taking action and contacting the author.
Vaccine- Biological preparation containing weakened or killed form of microbes that provides immunity against a particular disease.
Stimulates the body’s immune system which perceives the microbes as a threat and destroys them.
WHO report shows there are vaccines for 25 different infections.
Vaccination is responsible for the worldwide eradication of small pox and restriction of diseases as polio, measles and tetanus.
Doctrine about infection. Pathogenicity & virulence of Bacteria. Development ...Eneutron
This document discusses the key concepts of infection and infectious disease. It defines infection as the penetration of a pathogenic microorganism into a host organism, which can lead to an infectious process and potentially an infectious disease. The main factors required for an infection to develop are the presence of a pathogen, a susceptible host, and a site of entry. Pathogenicity and virulence refer to a microbe's ability to cause disease and the intensity of disease caused. Bacteria exhibit several virulence factors including toxins, enzymes, and adhesins that facilitate adhesion, colonization, invasion and damage of host tissues. Infectious diseases progress through distinct phases and can be classified based on factors like duration, localization, and origin of the
The document discusses several methods for controlling infectious diseases, including preventing transmission, modifying the environment, behavioral changes, immunization, and using antimicrobial drugs and vaccines. It provides details on the different types of vaccines, how they work, and new approaches like DNA vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The roles of organizations like the WHO and CDC in monitoring, controlling and preventing the spread of diseases globally are also summarized.
This document provides an overview of vaccine drug delivery systems. It begins with an introduction that defines what a vaccine is and its three main forms. The history section outlines the development of important early vaccines including the world's first vaccine for smallpox developed by Edward Jenner in 1796. Key points about the ideal characteristics of vaccines and the advantages and disadvantages of various vaccine types are summarized. The document also briefly discusses mechanisms of vaccine uptake, quality control aspects, global vaccination trends, and concludes with references.
Recent developments in nanovaccine. Nanovaccines can be designed and manufactured to improve health at the molecular level. Nanovaccines offer different routes of administration and include delivery via nanobeads, polymeric nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, and viral vectors. They have potential advantages like stronger immune responses, stability without refrigeration, and pain-free delivery. However, challenges remain regarding production costs, safety, and reproducibility. Future prospects include using nanomaterials to deliver vaccines for diseases like HIV, influenza, and Alzheimer's.
This document discusses a project called Project Mutamba that aims to identify the efficiency of tannins extracted from the Guazuma ulmifolia plant in inhibiting the reverse transcriptase of the HIV virus with lower toxicity. The project seeks to determine the molecular weight of tannin that best inhibits HIV replication while posing minimal health risks. If successful, it could help reduce viral load, preserve immune function, and slow disease progression for those living with HIV/AIDS. The document provides background on HIV/AIDS and how current antiretroviral drugs can cause side effects, justifying the need to explore alternative treatment options from plants like G. ulmifolia that may have antiviral properties with fewer adverse effects.
The document discusses vaccine delivery systems. It begins by introducing vaccines and how they work, preparing the immune system to recognize and fight pathogens. It then discusses different types of vaccines and delivery methods, including live attenuated, inactivated, toxoid, conjugate, and subunit vaccines. Physical approaches like electroporation and chemical/vesicular approaches like liposomes, niosomes, and viral vectors can be used for transdermal vaccine delivery to stimulate an immune response. The skin is a promising target for topical vaccination due to immune cells present that can recognize antigens and initiate a response.
This document discusses vaccine delivery systems, including uptake of antigens, single shot vaccines, and mucosal and transdermal delivery. It defines vaccines as biological preparations that improve immunity, and outlines the history from Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccine to modern vaccines. Traditional vaccines include killed and live attenuated versions for bacteria and viruses. Single shot vaccines aim to replace boosters with encapsulated antigens. Mucosal surfaces are a major entry point for pathogens, and mucosal vaccines aim to induce protective immunity at sites of entry using emulsions, strips, liposomes or nanoparticles. The skin is also a vaccine delivery site due to its size and accessibility, using technologies like microneedles or electroporation to enhance permeation
1. The history of vaccine development began with early attempts at variolation and inoculation against smallpox in the 1000s/1600s. Edward Jenner published findings on using cowpox to immunize against smallpox in 1798. Louis Pasteur discovered ways to attenuate microorganisms and created the first rabies vaccine in 1885.
2. Oral vaccines have advantages over traditional needle vaccines like easier administration, lower costs, and increased compliance. However, challenges include protecting antigens from degradation and ensuring delivery and uptake in the intestinal mucosa.
3. Successful oral vaccines currently in use include polio, rotavirus, and cholera vaccines, while further research is still needed to develop
Reverse vaccinology uses genomics and bioinformatics to identify antigens that could be used in vaccines, rather than relying on culturing pathogens. It sequences the genome of a pathogen and predicts potential antigens, allowing development of vaccines for pathogens that cannot be grown in culture. This approach was used to develop a vaccine for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, the first reverse vaccinology vaccine approved for use. Traditional vaccinology is limited by only being able to use antigens that are abundant during infection and that the pathogen can be cultured, whereas reverse vaccinology makes all antigens available for vaccine development.
This document discusses how whole genome sequencing (WGS) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has improved understanding of drug resistant tuberculosis (TB). WGS has identified specific mutations that cause resistance to classical and new antitubercular drugs. It has also revealed how resistance evolves within patients and spreads between patients. Clinical applications of WGS include rapid detection of drug resistance and tracking of TB outbreaks. However, challenges remain in applying WGS to improve TB control and diagnosis.
Vaccines provide immunity to diseases and contain agents that stimulate the immune system. There are several types including whole organism vaccines using killed or attenuated microbes, purified components like toxoids and polysaccharides, recombinant and DNA vaccines. Vaccines work by inducing both antibody and cellular immune responses. While effective, they also carry small risks like adverse reactions that researchers continue working to understand and improve safety.
The document discusses the normal flora of various body sites. It defines normal flora as the bacteria and fungi permanently residing on the skin, in the oral cavity, gut, and vagina. While viruses and parasites are usually not considered normal flora, they can be present without causing symptoms. The three major roles of normal flora are: (1) causing disease in immunocompromised individuals, (2) providing colonization resistance against pathogens, and (3) producing vitamins for the host. Specific normal flora are then described for the skin, gut, ears, and nose.
This document discusses various vaccine delivery systems. It begins by defining vaccines and describing traditional types like inactivated, live attenuated, and toxoid vaccines. It then categorizes vaccine delivery systems and describes several methods - including delivery by liposomes, virosomes, emulsions, polymers, polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, and dendrimers. Key mechanisms of antigen uptake are also summarized. The document concludes by discussing advantages of single-dose vaccines and listing references.
An Overview of Immunity to Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi and PtozoansAtifa Ambreen
This document provides an overview of immunity to various pathogens. It discusses the characteristics of pathogens like viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. It explains that pathogens have developed mechanisms to interact with and exploit hosts, while hosts have innate and adaptive immune responses. It describes the complex life cycles of some pathogens like fungi and protozoa that allow them to evade drug treatments by switching forms. It also explains how viruses are highly dependent on host cell machinery to replicate and produce new virus particles to infect other cells.
This document discusses bacteriophage therapy as an alternative approach to antibiotic resistance. It begins with an introduction to antibiotic resistance and discusses the mechanisms and factors contributing to resistance. It then introduces bacteriophage or phages, describing their classification, life cycles, and mechanisms of infecting bacteria. The document outlines methods for preparing and administering phage therapy. It discusses advantages of phage therapy over antibiotics and provides examples of phage therapy applications in food and agriculture. Finally, it addresses some challenges to phage therapy including host range, bacterial debris in preparations, and lysogeny.
Host-pathogen Interactions, Molecular Basis and Host Defense: Pathogen Detect...QIAGEN
Host–pathogen interactions are strikingly complex during infection. This slidedeck provides an overview of the molecular basis of these intricate interactions: the impact of microbiota on innate and adaptive immunity, metabolism, and insulin resistance and host defense mechanisms. Various research tools will be introduced to simplify and streamline each step of studying the host response, enabling detection of pathogens, analysis of gene expression and regulation, epigenetic modification, genotyping and signal transduction pathway activation.
This document provides an overview of vaccine delivery systems. It begins with definitions of immunity and describes the immune cells involved in vaccine responses, including lymphocytes like B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells, as well as granulocytes such as neutrophils and macrophages. The document then reviews the history of vaccine development from Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccine to modern vaccines. Finally, it outlines different types of vaccines including killed, attenuated, toxoid, subunit, conjugate, and recombinant vector vaccines.
The document discusses using tannins extracted from Guazuma ulmifolia to inhibit the HIV reverse transcriptase. It aims to identify the molecular weight of tannin that most effectively inhibits HIV replication with lowest toxicity. The justification is the need for new anti-HIV drugs due to virus persistence and resistance to current treatments, which can cause side effects. Some studies found tannins show inhibitory activity against HIV replication.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Roles of Different Stakeholders_Prof saidur rahmanUdderHealthBD
This document summarizes a presentation on antimicrobial resistance and the roles of different stakeholders. It discusses the importance and development of antimicrobial resistance, including how resistance genes can be transferred between microbes and across human, animal, and environmental boundaries. It outlines global trends in antimicrobial consumption and reviews evidence that overuse contributes to resistance. The document also summarizes the limited pipeline of new antimicrobial drugs and calls for optimization of medically important antimicrobial use in animals and humans to preserve drug effectiveness. It identifies stakeholders across human, animal, and environmental domains that must work together to address antimicrobial resistance as a global challenge.
The document provides information about Team Citraville from IMT-Ghaziabad participating in a preliminary round. It also discusses various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube and how they can be used for social media marketing through strategies like content creation, community building and commerce. Trending topics, interactive campaigns, Facebook apps and hashtags are mentioned as effective social media marketing techniques.
This document discusses organizational game changers and principles for developing insights and taking action. It identifies common challenges that prevent organizations from developing insights like time pressures. It also discusses how a lack of common direction can lead to failed starts. Additionally, it covers how managing expectations, energy, and execution is important for success. Finally, it promotes taking action and contacting the author.
The document evaluates how a music magazine represents its target social groups. The magazine targets male and female teenagers aged 17-25 who enjoy music beyond chart hits and regularly attend festivals. The front cover features a 17-year-old girl dressed in an indie style to represent the target audience. Her casual look and makeup reflect current trends for this age group. Images throughout portray ordinary teenagers at concerts to make the audience feel represented and welcome.
The document is a profile for Keith Robertson, an Operations Director who offers services to transform business strategy, performance, and efficiency. It summarizes that Keith Robertson has the skills, resources and experience to help businesses that are struggling with poor performance, low motivation, inefficient processes, and adversarial customer/supplier relationships. It provides examples of achievements in improving delivery performance, implementing lean transformations, turning around a losing business, changing suppliers to reduce costs, and more. The document promotes Keith Robertson as able to successfully achieve operational transformations.
Indo-Japan Trade and Investment Bulletine by Japan Desk of Corporate Professionals,
Kose Corporation Enters into its First Overseas JV with Elder Pharma
India’s Rollatainers Limited forms a 50:50 JV with Japan’s Toyo Machine
L&T to exit from JV with Komatsu
Japan’s Isuzu Motors Ltd to set up an LCV manufacturing plant in India
India-Japanese Hospital in Bangalore to Start Functioning from July
Kalyani Appointed Head of India-Japan Business Leader's Forum
Mitsubishi Electric Planning for Elevator Production in India
Japan's Kyosan Electric opens up in India
Jamna Auto may Sell its Stake in the NHK Springs JV
Pune Farmer and Japan’s NEC Corporation Join Hands to Produce High-Value
Strawberry
India’s Reliance Group enters the Top 2 Gaming Markets in the World
Tata Metaliks Ends its Collaboration with Japanese Kubota and Metal One
Mitsubishi Partners with Neuland Laboratories in an API Deal
India and Japan Cooperate to Ensure Freedom of Navigation on the High Seas
Japan Grants an Aid of USD 2.32 Billion to India
Knowledge Centre : Impact of the Companies Bill, 2012 on the Foreign Companies having a Place of Business in India
Buzzpad 5x5 Yarışma Eğlence Formatı - www.arskeypad.comarskeypad
Buzzpad 5x5 Yarışma Eğlence Formatı, 5x5 toplam 25 sorudan oluşur ve yaklaşık 30-35 dk. sürer. Takımlar halinde oynanabilir, en fazla 10 takım aynı anda yarışabilir, ekiplerdeki kişi sayısı konusunda herhangi bir kısıtlama yoktur. Takımların kişi sayılarının eşit olmasına da gerek yoktur. Her takımda bir adet Buzzpad bulunur. Takımların kendi içlerinde iyi bir ekip çalışması yapmaları, içlerinden Buzzpad'i en hızlı kullanacağını düşündükleri kişiye Buzzpad'e basma sorumluluğunu vermeleri ve soru ekrana geldiğinde hızlı bir şekilde birlikte düşünüp, Buzzpad'i kullanarak soruya cevap verme hakkını elde etmeleri gerekmektedir.
Sorulacak ilk soruyu seçecek takımı sistem otomatik olarak belirler. Takım bir soru kategorisi ve puan değeri belirler. Örneğin; "Sinema kategorisinden 300 puanlık soru" gibi. Soru ekrana gelmeye başlar, ancak bu esnada süre başlamadığı için Buzzpad'lere basılmaması gerekir. Buzzpad'e erken basan takımların Buzzpad'leri 5 saniye boyunca kilitlenir. Süre başladıktan sonra doğru cevabı bildiğini düşünen takımlar hızlı bir şekilde Buzzpad'lerine basarlar ve ekranda en hızlı Buzzpad'ini kullanan takımın numarası yanar. Takım sözlü olarak yanıtını söyler, eğer cevap doğru ise soru puanı kadar puan takım hanesine yazılır. Eğer takım yanlış yanıt verir ise eksi puan alır ve diğer tüm takımların yeniden Buzzpad'e basma şansları doğar. Soruyu doğru bilen takım bir sonraki kategori ve puan değerini seçme hakkını kazanır.
Buzzpad 5x5, sorularının tamamını siz oluşturabilirsiniz ya da bizim sizin için çeşitli genel kültür kategorilerinden sorular oluşturmamızı isteyebilirsiniz. Firmanız, ürününüz ya da eğitim içeriğiniz ile ilgili soruları içeren kategori(ler) oluşturmak suretiyle ekibinizin bilgilerini onları eğlendirirken pekiştirebilirsiniz. Soruların ardından kullanabileceğiniz bilgi ekranları ile doğru cevapları görsel olarak da destekleyebilirsiniz.
The document discusses copyrights related to photos and music from an event. All copyrights to photos and music belong to their original authors. The document expresses gratitude and references a show by the artist Mana.
Cisco ios ip routing advanced rip featuresKong King
The document discusses advanced RIP features including:
1) The HFC RIP Relay feature allows delivery of RIP messages between a Cisco router with an integrated cable modem and a CMTS when they are on different subnets.
2) The RIPv2 MIB extensions allow monitoring of the RIPv2 routing protocol using SNMP by adding new global counters and table objects to track changing routes and failing neighbors.
3) Objects in the RIPv2 MIB include global counters to track route changes and query responses, and interface tables to track per-interface statistics not available via show commands.
This document lists properties available for rent and sale across various residential projects in Delhi NCR, including details like size, price, location and other terms. Properties listed include apartments, villas and plots in developments by major builders like DLF, Ireo, Paras, Ansal etc. Contact information is provided for queries related to the properties.
The document provides an update on current import-related events, including the Importer Security Filing requirement, reporting on plant-based imports, and enforcement of trade agreements. It discusses US Customs partnership programs with other countries to promote supply chain security, such as C-TPAT, and inspection programs at foreign ports like SFI and CSI for ocean freight security. It concludes with a Q&A section.
The document discusses the intermittent vapor absorption refrigeration cycle. It defines absorption refrigeration as using a heat source like solar energy to drive the cooling process rather than electricity. The cycle works by evaporating a refrigerant like ammonia at low pressure to absorb heat, then absorbing the gaseous refrigerant in a solution, and regenerating it by heating the solution to release the refrigerant gas. Industrial applications include using lithium bromide solutions. Advantages are using waste heat, but disadvantages include lower efficiency than vapor compression refrigeration.
Este documento describe diferentes tipos de normas. Las normas religiosas son prescritas por la comunidad religiosa y su sanción es divina. Las sociónomas son aprobadas por el grupo social a través de usos y costumbres. Las normas internas son realizadas de forma consciente y libre para hacer el bien, y su sanción es el remordimiento. Las normas jurídicas son obligatorias y usan la coacción para garantizar el cumplimiento.
Global governance, indigenous peoples and the right to prior consultation in ...Dr Lendy Spires
This document summarizes and analyzes an article about legal disputes over the prior consultation of indigenous peoples regarding economic projects on their lands. It discusses how these disputes are part of a broader process of "ethnicity.gov", where ethnic claims are increasingly governed by a plurality of public and private regulations. It argues that prior consultation processes have become highly contested as indigenous rights movements oppose neoliberal approaches. The document examines these issues through a case study of indigenous communities in Colombia facing displacement and violence from development, armed groups, and natural resource extraction. It explores how legal procedures have come to dominate indigenous resistance, and the paradox of both order and chaos coexisting in these "social minefields".
The document is a worksheet about shopping centers that asks students to identify various locations within their city based on a map. It lists places where you can get money, borrow a book, rent a video, buy food, get a haircut, send emails, buy a newspaper, buy a shirt, and more. It then asks students to identify the locations of a cinema, bank, and supermarket on the map. It also asks where you can chat with friends, rent a DVD, surf the net, buy presents, pay bills, have lunch with friends, and buy a magazine. The worksheet directs students to do their homework in their folder and can get help from notes on their netbook.
The document discusses various risks to consider for retirement planning such as longevity risk, inflation risk, and investment risk. It introduces variable annuities as a potential solution to help mitigate these risks by providing guaranteed lifetime income, protection against market downturns, and upside potential from stock market investments. Variable annuities can help secure retirement income through features such as living benefits and death benefits. Working with a financial advisor can help assess if a variable annuity is a suitable strategy for individual retirement goals and risk tolerance.
This document summarizes the process of creating a marketing poster for musician Paul Hart's debut EP "Progression". The poster was created in Photoshop using tools like text, shapes, and importing images. Key information included the artist name, EP title and details, and where the EP can be purchased. Feedback was received and minor text resizing was done to improve the layout. The finished poster effectively promoted the artist and EP for its intended purpose.
This document summarizes a doctoral thesis on the pharmaceutical and immunological challenges of fungal pathogens. The thesis explored the interactions between the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans and human immune cells like neutrophils and mast cells. It developed a high-throughput screening assay to identify small molecules that block the yeast-to-hypha transition in C. albicans, which is important for its virulence. The screening revealed several FDA-approved drugs with previously unknown antifungal activity. The thesis provides new insights into antifungal defenses and tools to discover more effective antifungal therapies.
This document provides information about malaria vaccines. It discusses the context of malaria globally and the need for a vaccine. Several potential vaccine candidates target different stages of the malaria parasite's lifecycle, including sporozoites, infected hepatocytes, and erythrocytic stages. Developing an effective vaccine is challenging due to the parasite's diversity and complexity. The most promising current candidate is RTS,S, which provides some protection against malaria in clinical trials but is not fully effective.
The document discusses proteins, their structure and function. It provides details about two specific viral proteins: the measles virus proteins F and H, which help the virus enter cells, and the HPV E6 and E7 proteins, which disrupt cell death and cause infected cells to continuously divide. Understanding how viral proteins interact with host cell receptors could help develop new vaccines and therapies to prevent viral infections and the cancers they can cause.
The document discusses proteins, their structure and function. It provides examples of viral proteins from measles virus and human papillomavirus. Measles virus uses two pairs of binding proteins to enter host cells, while HPV uses E6 and E7 proteins to disrupt cell death processes and cause cancer. Understanding viral protein interactions could help develop new vaccines and therapies to prevent infection and disease.
This document summarizes several research grant proposals awarded by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in 2019. The proposals cover a wide range of topics related to agriculture, health and biotechnology:
1) A proposal to study ferroptosis-like cell death in plants which occurs in response to heat stress and could lead to new approaches for crop protection during climate change.
2) Engineering vitamin A-rich orange eggplant which could help reduce vitamin A deficiency in developing countries.
3) Defining the soybean leaf microbiome to search for disease-suppressing bacteria against Asian Soybean Rust, a major threat to Brazilian soybean production.
4) Develop
This document proposes research on experimenting with a novel seaweed extract to control Pseudomonas infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa commonly causes infections and is difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. The aim is to screen Pseudomonas strains using a micro-assay to test if the seaweed extract inhibits their growth. Seaweed extracts contain bioactive compounds and have potential pharmaceutical benefits. The proposed methodology involves culturing bacteria, analyzing growth with and without the extract, and examining changes at the DNA and carbohydrate levels to evaluate the extract's effects on bacterial exploitation and possible adaptation. The goal is to develop a cheap, effective, and environmentally friendly treatment for Pseudomonas infections.
Kevin Hugins research paper.
Meriam-Webster defines endocrinology as “a branch of medicine concerned with the structure, function, and disorders of the endocrine glands.” When considering the human endocrine system, most people think of endocrine glands such as the hypothalamus, pituitary, gonads, adrenals, and pancreas. No one would deny that hormones released from endocrine glands have a powerful effect on cell function throughout the human body. A relatively new field of study called Microbial Endocrinology suggests that the interactions and effects of the human endocrine system involve more organisms than just the human.
Herbal drugs – an alternative to antibiotics in controlling human skin infectionBRNSSPublicationHubI
This document summarizes research on using herbal products as alternatives to antibiotics for treating skin infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. It discusses three herbal products - henna (Lawsonia inermis), green tea (Camellia sinensis), and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) - that have antibacterial properties and can potentially help control P. aeruginosa skin infections. The document also describes characteristics of P. aeruginosa bacteria, how it causes infection, develops multidrug resistance, and the role of quorum sensing communication in its virulence and biofilm formation.
The document discusses immunity to fungal infections. It notes that fungi can cause diseases through either a lack of immune recognition or overactivation of the inflammatory response. The immune system uses pattern recognition receptors and innate immune cells like phagocytes to recognize and respond to fungal pathogens. Both resistance mechanisms that limit fungal growth and tolerance mechanisms that limit host damage are important for maintaining immune homeostasis during fungal infections.
1) The study examined levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and IL-17 in 34 women who experienced repeated spontaneous abortions, comparing those with and without toxoplasmosis.
2) 13 (38.2%) of the women tested positive for toxoplasmosis antibodies. Levels of both IL-8 and IL-17 were significantly higher in women with toxoplasmosis who experienced repeated abortions compared to women without toxoplasmosis and the control group.
3) While toxoplasmosis appeared to be a causative factor in some abortion cases, elevated cytokine levels were also seen in women who experienced repeated abortions without toxoplasmosis antibodies. This suggests other infectious factors beyond
The document discusses several key points:
1) It questions the common belief that childhood exposure to measles provides immunity and that avoiding it threatens health.
2) It suggests that genetically modified foods and agricultural chemicals may promote disease more than genetics.
3) It warns that mandatory vaccinations could require Americans to accept poor and chronic health. Overall, the document casts doubt on mainstream views of health, immunity, and the role of vaccines and industrialized foods.
Engineering of Phage-Derived Lytic Enzymes: Improving Their Potential as Antimicrobials
Carlos São-José
ID
Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa,
Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; csaojose@ff.ul.pt; Tel.: +351-217-946-420
This document summarizes a talk on probiotics and mucosal immunity interactions in early life. It discusses how the microbiota changes throughout life, from pregnancy and birth through adulthood. Signals from the environment, including probiotics, shape immune development during critical windows. While some probiotic studies show benefits, effects depend on many factors and probiotics alone may not be sufficient. The microbiota plays an important role in immune maturation, and disturbances could impact health through epigenetic changes. Careful consideration of the microbiota is needed when evaluating human development and health.
The document discusses a 1965 study conducted by Scott and colleagues to further define the toxicity of the antibiotic chloramphenicol. The study administered various doses of chloramphenicol to men and concluded that a dose of 25-30 mg prevents detrimental side effects. However, the study methods would not be considered ethical today according to guidelines. The document also discusses how informed consent was lacking in the unethical Tuskegee syphilis study, emphasizing the need for ethical guidelines. When involving human subjects in scientific studies, understanding and implementing bioethics is important to prevent repeating past ethical issues.
Evolution in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseaseDrAtulKoundel
Periodontal disease (PD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases affecting humans. It is of multi-factorial origin where host, environment and bacterial factors interplay to initiate immune-inflammatory response that causes most of the soft and hard tissue destruction
1. Periodontal diseases are caused by complex biofilms containing multiple bacterial species that interact with host tissues. A key group is the "red complex" comprising Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tanerella forsythia.
2. These bacteria employ various virulence factors to adhere to surfaces, acquire nutrients, and evade the host immune response in order to colonize and cause disease. Important factors include fimbriae, proteases, and capsules that aid adhesion and facilitate tissue destruction.
3. P. gingivalis possesses specific fimbriae, proteases, and a capsule that help it adhere, acquire iron through hemol
This document provides an introduction to microbiology. It defines microbiology as the science that deals with microscopic living organisms. The study of microorganisms began after the invention of the microscope. Key figures in the development of microbiology include Antony Van Leeuwenhoek, known as the father of microbiology for his early microscopic observations, and Louis Pasteur, who demonstrated that microorganisms cause fermentation and is considered the father of modern microbiology. The document further discusses the classification, characteristics, and importance of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa and viruses. It also outlines the scope and major divisions of microbiology.
This document discusses the production of bio-molecules, vaccines, therapeutic products, nutritional components, and industrial products in plants. It provides examples of antigens, antibodies, enzymes, proteins, vitamins, and minerals that have been successfully produced in plants. The advantages of plant-based production include lower costs, the ability to perform post-translational modifications, and the potential for large-scale manufacturing to meet global demands.
The document discusses several applications of genomics and bioinformatics across various fields such as medicine, agriculture, microbiology, and more. It describes how genomic studies of humans and model organisms are providing insights into disease mechanisms and treatments. Applications in agriculture include developing crops with improved traits like insect or drought resistance. Microbial genomics is explored for uses like bioremediation, alternative energy, and industrial applications. Bioinformatics tools aid research through literature retrieval and comparative genomics studies.
Similar to Carolina_Pohl_Intl_Innovation_171_Research_Media (20)
1. Could you begin by introducing the work of
the Pathogenic Yeast Research Group?
The Pathogenic Yeast Research Group focuses
on diseases caused by yeasts, especially those
belonging to the Candida and Cryptococcus
genera. My focus is the role of bioactive lipids
produced by Candida species. I am interested
in understanding how fatty acids, including
those obtained from the host, are used by
these yeasts to produce lipid metabolites
(oxylipins) that contribute to their survival
in the host, as well as to tissue damage
caused by the yeast during infection.
What is the immunological role of bioactive
lipids in hosts of these diseases?
Certain oxylipins can modulate the mammalian
immune system and often have several different
functions in distinct cell types. One of the
best-studied oxylipins produced by both the
host and pathogenic yeasts is prostaglandin E2
(PGE2
), which can shift host immune responses
in favour of the pathogen. It can inhibit the type
of immune response needed to protect against
Candida infection and induce an immune
response that may lead to associated chronic
or disseminated diseases. It can also stimulate
another type of immune response that may
cause uncontrolled inflammation and damage
to the host. Thus the production of PGE2
during infections can benefit the pathogen.
Another important effect caused by PGE2
is
tissue eosinophilia leading to tissue damage,
which is characteristic of some chronic
fungal infections. Interestingly, it is not only
the host that is affected: PGE2
has biological
activity on yeast by stimulating germ tube
formation in Candida species. This change in
morphology, from unicellular to filamentous, is
considered the start of biofilm formation and is
associated with an increased ability to invade
tissue. Interestingly, biofilms also produce
more PGE2
than unicellular yeast forms.
Can you highlight some of the roles that lipids
have as ‘inter-kingdom’ signalling molecules
in yeast-associated multispecies infections?
This is an exciting new research focus for us.
It is increasingly being recognised that many
infections are not caused by one organism.
Interaction between pathogen and host may be
influenced by other non-pathogenic organisms.
Although it is known that lipid metabolites
can act as signals between organisms – even
those belonging to different kingdoms – very
little work has been done on the bioactive
lipids produced by mixed communities. An
example of a multispecies interaction is the
biofilms consisting of Candida albicans and
the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium in
the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis.
Are there particularly advanced
imaging techniques that you
incorporate in your studies?
Most studies of different antimicrobial effects
start with the production of standardised
biofilms, which are notoriously resistant
to antifungal treatment. To assess the
effectiveness of potential antifungal drugs,
biofilms are stained for viability and visualised
using a confocal laser scanning microscope.
The potential of drugs to decrease biofilm
viability or metabolic activity is assessed in an
XTT-assay based on the ability of mitochondrial
dehydrogenases to convert a substrate to a
coloured formazan. The effect of compounds
on the ultrastructure – including surface
characteristics and organelle structure
– is examined by electron microscopy.
Our group pioneered the use of nano-scanning
Auger microscopy (Nano-SAM) on yeast
cells. With Nano-SAM, nanometre-thin slices
of a yeast cell enable observation of its 3D
structure. The cell elements can also be
mapped. Similarly, time-of-flight secondary
ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) is used to
map the distribution of certain compounds,
including oxylipins, in cells. We also use
various assays to measure oxidative stress.
Has collaboration with other research
groups aided your research?
My own speciality is enhanced by that of Dr
Olihile Sebolai who focuses on Cryptococcus
species and immunology. Dr Chantel Swart
is an expert in ultrastructural analyses and
was a leading member of the group that
pioneered the application of Nano-SAM to
yeast research. In this, we also collaborate
with our university’s physics department. The
fourth member of the group is Professor J
Albertyn, who is an expert in yeast molecular
biology and yeast signal transduction.
To date, has your work drawn any
interesting conclusions?
An obvious conclusion is that the lipids of
pathogenic yeasts are much more than
structural compounds or reserve material; like
mammalian and plant lipids, they have other
functions. It has also become obvious that much
of the knowledge regarding metabolic pathways
and enzymes responsible for production of
mammalian oxylipins does not translate directly
to yeasts. With the completion of each project,
we end up with more questions – the study of
these bioactive compounds is always exciting.
Dr Carolina Pohl describes the work of her research team, one of few groups in the world that are
exploring the roles of bioactive fatty acids in the development of yeast infections
The lipid connection
70 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION
DR CAROLINA POHL
2. Oxylipins are central elements
in adaptation and survival;
in some instances they
aid organisms to defend
themselves, propagate or
prompt symbiotic relationships,
whereas in other situations they
can induce pathogenesis
A RICH AND diverse population of bacteria
and fungi live in a mutualistic fashion within
the human body. Unfortunately, when their
normal balance is disturbed, their populations
can respond with rapid growth, giving rise to
infection. Because such disturbances typically
follow an event of ill health, the impact of such
infections may have severe consequences,
especially for already immune-compromised
individuals. For example, fungal infections
caused by the Candida yeast are common
among individuals who are HIV-positive and
can inhibit their nutrition. Candida species
infections can also exacerbate infection
by the tuberculosis bacterium or lead to
deterioration in patients with cystic fibrosis
or head and neck cancers. Similarly, infection
by pathogenic Cryptococcus causes serious
fungal infections that can result in pneumonia-
like symptoms, infertility, central nervous
system damage, encephalitis or death.
In the Republic of South Africa – where the
incidence of tuberculosis is high, low birth
weight and infant mortality are prevalent,
sexually-transmitted infections are
widespread and HIV infection is at epidemic
proportions – pathogenic yeasts lie at the
intersection of a number of priority health
issues: women and children’s health, and
infectious and noncommunicable diseases.
ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM
The Pathogenic Yeast Research Group at the
University of the Free State in South Africa is
focused on the role of bioactive lipids, the fatty
molecules fundamental to cellular growth in
both hosts and pathogenic yeasts, with the
aim of furthering development of new drugs
and treatments to counteract yeast infections.
The Group is particularly interested in the
role of these lipids in multispecies infections,
as found in cystic fibrosis, peritonitis and
tuberculosis, and in cancer-related and female
reproductive tract infections. In addition, they
aim to discover more about the vulnerability
of yeasts to antimicrobial compounds, in
order to counteract the growing problem
of multidrug-resistant yeast strains.
This Group was the first to discover yeast
oxylipins, or oxidised fatty acids, including
prostaglandins. One member, Dr Carolina
Pohl, is an expert in lipid metabolism in
yeasts and has been involved in the discovery
of the antifungal effect of acetylsalicylic
acid – an oxylipin that is a mitochondrial
inhibitor and anti-inflammatory compound.
Since making these findings, her work has
mainly concentrated on biofilm formation
and subsequent infection by the Candida
species C. albicans and C. dubliniensis – highly
related strains that behave in similar ways,
which makes them ideal as model systems
of pathogenic yeasts. “These two species
both have the ability to produce the lipid
signalling molecule prostaglandin E2
(PGE2
),
and react in the same way to this chemical
by producing germ tubes,” Pohl explains.
“With both, the formation of biofilms, and
subsequent increase in ability to form PGE2
,
is an important disease-causing mechanism
through the stimulation of inflammation.”
THE ROLE OF OXYLIPINS
Oxylipins have ancient origins as signalling
molecules, elements of which are conserved
across different kingdoms of life. Pohl recently
undertook a review of oxylipin mediation of
diverse inter-organism communication that
leads to beneficial or deleterious interaction:
between plants, animals, fungi and bacteria.
Although the mechanism by which yeasts
‘sense’ the presence of bioactive lipids in their
environment or host remains unclear, the
review has led Pohl to conclude that oxylipins
Research into the molecular mechanisms of common yeasts
and bacteria at the University of the Free State in South Africa
seeks to exploit the roles of lipid molecules as instigators of
disease symptoms towards development of new therapeutics
and antifungal agents
Pathways of infection
Ultrastructure Antifungal drugs
Molecular
biology
Immunology
Bioactive
lipids
www.internationalinnovation.com 71
3. EFFECT OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY
ACIDS ON PATHOGENICITY OF CANDIDA
ALBICANS AND CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS
OBJECTIVES
• To understand the metabolism of arachidonic acid
to proinflammatory oxylipins by Candida species
• To understand the signalling pathways of oxylipins
leading to morphological changes in Candida species
• To investigate the lipid metabolisms of
mixed species biofilms and the influence
of the produced oxylipins on the host
KEY COLLABORATORS
Professor J Albertyn; Dr O Sebolai; Dr C Swart,
University of the Free State, South Africa
FUNDING
South African National Research Foundation
CONTACT
Dr Carolina Pohl
Associate Professor
University of the Free State
PO Box 339
Bloemfontein 9300
Republic of South Africa
T +27 824 540 072
E pohlch@ufs.ac.za
twitter.com/PathYeastRes
www.facebook.com/PathYeastRes
www.linkedin.com/pub/carlien-pohl/53/7a7/905
http://bit.ly/RGPohl
DR CAROLINA POHL is an
associate professor in the
Department of Microbial,
Biochemical and Food
Biotechnology at the University
of the Free State, South Africa. Her research focus
is Bioactive Lipids in pathogenic Candida species.
She had been part of a research group studying the
distribution and functions of these compounds in
environmental yeasts since completing her PhD in 1999.
She started her own research group in 2006, focusing
on yeasts that are important human pathogens.
INTELLIGENCE
are central elements in adaptation and
survival; in some instances they aid organisms
to defend themselves, propagate or prompt
symbiotic relationships, whereas in other
situations they can induce pathogenesis.
Pohl’s research has shown that some yeast
oxylipins work by mimicking host signalling
molecules to induce an immune response.
They can also bring about structural changes
in the yeast that then assist its colonisation
activities or help it to evade host defences.
Additonally, lipids are involved in cross-talk
between different cellular compartments, such
as cell walls and mitochondria, which can aid
the acquisition of multidrug resistance, but
also underlies their potential as antifungal
agents. Hence Pohl recently conducted an
assessment of the effects of an omega-3 fatty
acid on C. albicans and C. dubliniensis growth.
In this study, the long-chain stearidonic fatty
acid stopped biofilm formation by increasing
reactive oxygen species production and the rate
of apoptosis. The study also suggested that
stearidonic acid can act in synergy with some
antifungal compounds. This was the first finding
that it is not just medium-chain fatty acids that
can stop the growth of pathogenic yeasts.
OXYLIPINS IN MULTISPECIES INFECTION
Pohl’s investigation into the effects of
supplementing levels of an omega-6 fatty acid,
sciadonic acid, in epithelial cells on infection
with C. albicans and C. dubliniensis, showed
changes in PGE2
concentrations, but no
reduction in those of benign anti-inflammatory
omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore a trial of
the effects of aromatic amine phenothiazine
– a constituent of several types of drugs in
medical and veterinary use – on C. albicans
biofilms, demonstrated significant reductions
in biofilm metabolic activity and biomass
and large reductions in PGE2
production.
Given their abilities to mediate communication
between species, bioactive lipids in single-
species yeast or host contexts are not,
however, Pohl’s only line of
research. Multispecies infections,
particularly concerning the
production of oxylipins and
subsequent reactions of the
host and pathogens in mixed
populations of yeasts and bacteria,
are a current key area of study:
“Finding out more about the types
and levels of oxylipins produced by
different organisms when growing
together may tell us more about
the influence of interaction on each
microbe, and the potential effects
on the host,” she elaborates.
Such information would be particularly
relevant for understanding the oxylipin
role in generating the symptoms of mixed
pathogen diseases, such as cystic fibrosis.
TRANSLATING IN VITRO RESULTS
In a recent project, Pohl explored the principle
of inhibiting the release of arachidonic
acid – a necessary component of the PGE2
production pathway. This was achieved by
substituting sciadonic acid for arachidonic
acid in C. albicans and C. dubliniensis biofilms
grown in vitro. Her team found that the
levels of PGE2
were indeed reduced and
now aim to further validate this result in
experiments using in vivo infection models.
Potential approaches to mitigating yeast
infections currently being tested by Pohl’s
team include preventing the production of
PGE2
in yeast biofilms, so reducing their
proinflammatory effects: “An ideal drug
target may be a metabolic pathway that is
unique to yeasts and not found in the host,”
Pohl muses. She is also working to identify
the pathway that allows Candida species to
react to the presence of oxylipins produced
by either the host or other yeast cells.
Pohl is confident that greater knowledge of
the role of lipids and the mechanisms of lipid
metabolism of pathogenic yeasts will lead to
significant advances in the near future. With
a focus on their structures and their ability to
metabolise fatty acids, she now plans to follow
up several candidate enzymes that her team
have already identified as being implicated
in prostaglandin production and virulence
in Candida. With the support of the rest of
the Pathogenic Yeast Research Group, Pohl
also intends to further explore the influence
of arachidonic acid on gene expression
of pathogenic yeasts, using genomic and
proteomic analysis techniques. She intends for
this to deliver as yet unanticipated antifungal
drug targets and lead to new applications in
diverse fields, from medicine to agriculture.
The Pathogenic Yeast Research Group
72 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION