2022
A tick C1q protein alters infectivity of the Lyme disease agent by modulating interferon γ
Tang X, Arora G, Matias J, Hart T, Cui Y, Fikrig E. A tick C1q protein alters infectivity of the Lyme disease agent by modulating interferon γ. Cell Reports 2022, 41: 111673. PMID: 36417869, PMCID: PMC9909562, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111673.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2018
Neutralization of the Plasmodium-encoded MIF ortholog confers protective immunity against malaria infection
Baeza Garcia A, Siu E, Sun T, Exler V, Brito L, Hekele A, Otten G, Augustijn K, Janse CJ, Ulmer JB, Bernhagen J, Fikrig E, Geall A, Bucala R. Neutralization of the Plasmodium-encoded MIF ortholog confers protective immunity against malaria infection. Nature Communications 2018, 9: 2714. PMID: 30006528, PMCID: PMC6045615, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05041-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdaptive ImmunityAdoptive TransferAnimalsAntibodies, ProtozoanCD4-Positive T-LymphocytesCD8-Positive T-LymphocytesFemaleGene ExpressionGerminal CenterImmunologic MemoryInterferon-gammaInterleukin-12Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory FactorsMalariaMalaria VaccinesMiceMice, Inbred BALB CPlasmodium bergheiProtein IsoformsProtozoan ProteinsRNA, ProtozoanTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaVaccines, DNAConceptsCD4 T cellsT cellsBlood-stage Plasmodium infectionMemory CD4 T cellsCytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factorMacrophage migration inhibitory factorBlood-stage patencyCD8 T cellsBlood-stage infectionMigration inhibitory factorHost inflammatory responseInflammatory markers TNFGerminal center responseMIF inhibitionTfh cellsAdoptive transferIL-12Protective immunityAntibody titersMalaria infectionPlasmodium infectionInflammatory responseSporozoite infectionCenter responseHost response
2009
Inflammasome-activating nanoparticles as modular systems for optimizing vaccine efficacy
Demento SL, Eisenbarth SC, Foellmer HG, Platt C, Caplan MJ, Saltzman W, Mellman I, Ledizet M, Fikrig E, Flavell RA, Fahmy TM. Inflammasome-activating nanoparticles as modular systems for optimizing vaccine efficacy. Vaccine 2009, 27: 3013-3021. PMID: 19428913, PMCID: PMC2695996, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.03.034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdjuvants, ImmunologicAnimalsAntibody FormationCarrier ProteinsCD8-Positive T-LymphocytesDendritic CellsLactic AcidLipopolysaccharidesMiceMice, Inbred C57BLNanoparticlesNLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 ProteinPolyglycolic AcidPolylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid CopolymerVaccinationViral Envelope ProteinsWest Nile FeverWest Nile Virus VaccinesConceptsPattern recognition receptorsToll-like receptorsInflammasome activationInnate immune system activationEffective adaptive immune responseIntracellular pattern recognition receptorsAntigen-presenting cellsAdaptive immune responsesWest Nile encephalitisImmune system activationInnate immune pathwaysWild-type macrophagesDendritic cellsCellular immunityVaccination approachesVaccine efficacyIL-1betaNLRP3 inflammasomeAdjuvant systemImmune responsePotent new approachMurine modelInflammasome activitySystem activationImmune pathways
2007
c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase 2 Inhibits Gamma Interferon Production during Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infection
Pedra JH, Mattner J, Tao J, Kerfoot SM, Davis RJ, Flavell RA, Askenase PW, Yin Z, Fikrig E. c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase 2 Inhibits Gamma Interferon Production during Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infection. Infection And Immunity 2007, 76: 308-316. PMID: 17998313, PMCID: PMC2223674, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00599-07.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIFN-gamma productionA. phagocytophilum infectionPhagocytophilum infectionIFN-gammaJnk2-null miceNatural killer T cellsA. phagocytophilumKiller T cellsIFN-gamma releaseIFN-gamma secretionGamma interferon productionT cell agonistsAnaplasma phagocytophilum infectionT cellsEarly eradicationGamma interferonInterferon productionInfectionC-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-2Inhibitory effectElevated levelsMiceAnaplasma phagocytophilumPhagocytophilumKinase 2IL-12/23p40-dependent clearance of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the murine model of human anaplasmosis
Pedra JH, Tao J, Sutterwala FS, Sukumaran B, Berliner N, Bockenstedt LK, Flavell RA, Yin Z, Fikrig E. IL-12/23p40-dependent clearance of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the murine model of human anaplasmosis. Pathogens And Disease 2007, 50: 401-410. PMID: 17521390, DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2007.00270.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIL-12/23p40Deficient miceT cellsImmune responseHuman anaplasmosisTh1 immune responseIFN-gamma productionDay 6 postinfectionAnaplasma phagocytophilumA. phagocytophilum burdenIL-23Dendritic cellsIL-12Neutrophil numbersIFN-gammaMurine modelMicrobial agonistsPathogen clearanceDependent clearanceInfectious diseasesEarly susceptibilityPathogen eliminationCausative agentA. phagocytophilumIndependent mechanisms
2006
γδ T Cells Facilitate Adaptive Immunity against West Nile Virus Infection in Mice
Wang T, Gao Y, Scully E, Davis CT, Anderson JF, Welte T, Ledizet M, Koski R, Madri JA, Barrett A, Yin Z, Craft J, Fikrig E. γδ T Cells Facilitate Adaptive Immunity against West Nile Virus Infection in Mice. The Journal Of Immunology 2006, 177: 1825-1832. PMID: 16849493, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.177.3.1825.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdoptive TransferAnimalsCD8-Positive T-LymphocytesGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseImmunity, CellularImmunity, InnateImmunization, SecondaryImmunoglobulin GImmunoglobulin MImmunologic MemoryLymphocyte DepletionMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutReceptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-deltaRecurrenceT-Lymphocyte SubsetsWest Nile FeverWest Nile virusConceptsGammadelta T cellsWild-type miceT cellsWN virus infectionPrimary infectionVirus infectionWN virusNaive miceSecondary challengeImmune responseAdaptive immunityCD8 memory T cellsWest Nile virus infectionMemory T cellsProtective immune responseAdaptive immune responsesAdoptive transferWest Nile virusAb responsesLethal infectionViral challengeFatal meningoencephalitisSecondary infectionInfectionMice
2004
Immunity to West Nile virus
Wang T, Fikrig E. Immunity to West Nile virus. Current Opinion In Immunology 2004, 16: 519-523. PMID: 15245749, DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2004.05.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWN virus infectionWest Nile virusVirus infectionImportant public health concernWN virusNile virusPublic health concernActive immunizationPassive transferEffective vaccineT cellsMurine susceptibilityHealth concernExperimental modelEnvelope proteinVirusInfectionImmunityRecent studiesImmunotherapyImmunizationPathogenesisTherapyVaccine