2019
ELF4 facilitates innate host defenses against Plasmodium by activating transcription of Pf4 and Ppbp
Wang D, Zhang Z, Cui S, Zhao Y, Craft S, Fikrig E, You F. ELF4 facilitates innate host defenses against Plasmodium by activating transcription of Pf4 and Ppbp. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2019, 294: 7787-7796. PMID: 30898878, PMCID: PMC6514618, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006321.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPlatelet factor 4Host defenseComponent of plateletsPro-platelet basic proteinKilling of parasitesFactor 4Innate immune moleculesInnate immune signalingInnate host defenseC chemokinesWT littermatesTranscription factor 4Control animalsImmune moleculesInnate immunityInfected erythrocytesImmune signalingInfectionExpression levelsMiceType IBasic proteinDefense peptidesPlateletsPlasmodium
2015
Nlrp6 regulates intestinal antiviral innate immunity
Wang P, Zhu S, Yang L, Cui S, Pan W, Jackson R, Zheng Y, Rongvaux A, Sun Q, Yang G, Gao S, Lin R, You F, Flavell R, Fikrig E. Nlrp6 regulates intestinal antiviral innate immunity. Science 2015, 350: 826-830. PMID: 26494172, PMCID: PMC4927078, DOI: 10.1126/science.aab3145.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsI/III interferonIntestinal antiviral innate immunityEncephalomyocarditis virusEnteric virus infectionType I/III interferonsGut microbiota homeostasisAntiviral innate immunityViral RNA sensorsViral loadControl miceVirus infectionGastrointestinal tractMicrobiota homeostasisSimilar mortalityIII interferonsAntibacterial immunityInnate immunityIntestinal tractRNA helicase DHX15MiceViral RNANLRP6Murine norovirus-1RNA sensorsMortality
2010
A Paradoxical Role for Neutrophils in the Pathogenesis of West Nile Virus
Bai F, Kong KF, Dai J, Qian F, Zhang L, Brown CR, Fikrig E, Montgometry R. A Paradoxical Role for Neutrophils in the Pathogenesis of West Nile Virus. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2010, 202: 1804-1812. PMID: 21050124, PMCID: PMC3053000, DOI: 10.1086/657416.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWest Nile virusPolymorphonuclear leukocytesWNV infectionNile virusHigh viremiaViral clearanceEarly deathEarly infectionControl groupProtective roleBiphasic responseInnate immunityViral pathogenesisInfectionMiceViremiaPathogenesisParadoxical roleEfficient replicationVirusCXCL1CXCL2ChemokinesCXCR2NeutrophilsIncreased TLR4 Expression and Downstream Cytokine Production in Immunosuppressed Adults Compared to Non-Immunosuppressed Adults
Dunne DW, Shaw A, Bockenstedt LK, Allore HG, Chen S, Malawista SE, Leng L, Mizue Y, Piecychna M, Zhang L, Towle V, Bucala R, Montgomery RR, Fikrig E. Increased TLR4 Expression and Downstream Cytokine Production in Immunosuppressed Adults Compared to Non-Immunosuppressed Adults. PLOS ONE 2010, 5: e11343. PMID: 20596538, PMCID: PMC2893205, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011343.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-immunosuppressed adultsMIF levelsImmunosuppressive medicationsAutoimmune diseasesIL-8Cytokine productionMonocyte Toll-like receptor (TLR) expressionInnate immunityToll-like receptor expressionEnhanced innate immune responseAltered host immunityAutoimmune disease groupDownstream cytokine productionNon-immunosuppressed individualsUnderlying autoimmune diseaseFeatures of patientsHuman peripheral blood monocytesTLR4 surface expressionCytokine IL-8Number of patientsSurface expressionPeripheral blood monocytesInnate immune responseRisk of infectionImmunosuppressed adults
2009
The IFITM Proteins Mediate Cellular Resistance to Influenza A H1N1 Virus, West Nile Virus, and Dengue Virus
Brass AL, Huang IC, Benita Y, John SP, Krishnan MN, Feeley EM, Ryan BJ, Weyer JL, van der Weyden L, Fikrig E, Adams DJ, Xavier RJ, Farzan M, Elledge SJ. The IFITM Proteins Mediate Cellular Resistance to Influenza A H1N1 Virus, West Nile Virus, and Dengue Virus. Cell 2009, 139: 1243-1254. PMID: 20064371, PMCID: PMC2824905, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.12.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiviral restriction factorsWest Nile virusDengue virusInfluenza A H1N1 virusesNile virusRestriction factorsInterferon type ICellular innate immunityH1N1 virusRespiratory illnessMajor human pathogenViral infectionInnate immunityViral replicationIFITM proteinsInfluenza virusInfluenzaHost cell machineryVirusIFITMsInfectionEndosomal acidificationCellular resistanceType IHuman pathogensHuman innate immunosenescence: causes and consequences for immunity in old age
Panda A, Arjona A, Sapey E, Bai F, Fikrig E, Montgomery RR, Lord JM, Shaw AC. Human innate immunosenescence: causes and consequences for immunity in old age. Trends In Immunology 2009, 30: 325-333. PMID: 19541535, PMCID: PMC4067971, DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2009.05.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInnate immune system initiatesNatural killer T cellsOlder ageAntiviral cytokine productionKiller T cellsInnate immune responseInnate immune systemDendritic cellsNatural killerCytokine productionHuman immunosenescenceT cellsImmune responseAdaptive immunityImmune systemInnate immunityImmunityAgeCellsDiverse cellsImmunosenescenceVaccinationNeutrophilsMonocytesInfection
2007
Abrogation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor decreases West Nile virus lethality by limiting viral neuroinvasion
Arjona A, Foellmer HG, Town T, Leng L, McDonald C, Wang T, Wong SJ, Montgomery RR, Fikrig E, Bucala R. Abrogation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor decreases West Nile virus lethality by limiting viral neuroinvasion. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2007, 117: 3059-3066. PMID: 17909632, PMCID: PMC1994625, DOI: 10.1172/jci32218.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMacrophage migration inhibitory factorMigration inhibitory factorViral neuroinvasionWest Nile virusInvolvement of MIFInhibitory factorProinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factorCytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factorWNV-infected miceBlood-brain barrierLife-threatening encephalitisWild-type miceAcute WNV infectionFlavivirus West Nile virusMIF expressionMIF levelsViral loadWNV encephalitisMIF actionPharmacotherapeutic approachesInflammatory responseWNV infectionCerebrospinal fluidSusceptible individualsInnate immunity
2003
Invasion and survival strategies of Anaplasma phagocytophilum
Carlyon JA, Fikrig E. Invasion and survival strategies of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Cellular Microbiology 2003, 5: 743-754. PMID: 14531890, DOI: 10.1046/j.1462-5822.2003.00323.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnaplasma phagocytophilumA. phagocytophilumHuman granulocytic ehrlichiosisHostile intracellular environmentTick-borne zoonosisObligate intracellular bacteriumHost neutrophilsNeutrophil adhesionInnate immunityPolymorphonuclear leucocytesAetiological agentGranulocytic ehrlichiosisIntracellular bacteriumNeutrophilsMicrobicidal activityPhagocytophilumHost cellsProteolytic compoundsAcidic lysosomesBacteria-containing phagosomesKey playersLeucocytesImmunityEhrlichiosisPhagocytesSTAT3 deletion during hematopoiesis causes Crohn's disease-like pathogenesis and lethality: A critical role of STAT3 in innate immunity
Welte T, Zhang SS, Wang T, Zhang Z, Hesslein DG, Yin Z, Kano A, Iwamoto Y, Li E, Craft JE, Bothwell AL, Fikrig E, Koni PA, Flavell RA, Fu XY. STAT3 deletion during hematopoiesis causes Crohn's disease-like pathogenesis and lethality: A critical role of STAT3 in innate immunity. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2003, 100: 1879-1884. PMID: 12571365, PMCID: PMC149927, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0237137100.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDeletion of Stat3STAT3 deletionInnate immune responseKey transcriptional mediatorNormal embryonic developmentCell-autonomous proliferationAbsence of STAT3Tissue-specific disruptionImmune responseInnate immunityCritical roleTumor necrosis factor alphaNF-kappa B activationTranscriptional mediatorsEmbryonic developmentBowel wall thickeningHematopoiesis resultsInflammatory cell infiltrationSignal transducerNecrosis factor alphaTranscription 3NAPDH oxidase activityBone marrow cellsMyeloid lineageSTAT3
1997
Ablation of interleukin-12 exacerbates Lyme arthritis in SCID mice
Anguita J, Samanta S, Barthold SW, Fikrig E. Ablation of interleukin-12 exacerbates Lyme arthritis in SCID mice. Infection And Immunity 1997, 65: 4334-4336. PMID: 9317045, PMCID: PMC175621, DOI: 10.1128/iai.65.10.4334-4336.1997.Peer-Reviewed Original Research