Curr Top Microbiol
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All living organisms sense and respond to harmful changes in their intracellular and extracellular environment through complex signaling pathways that lead to changes in gene expression and cellular function in order to maintain homeostasis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a large and heterogeneous group of functional RNAs, play important roles in cellular response to stressful conditions. lncRNAs constitute a significant fraction of the genes differentially expressed in response to diverse stressful stimuli and, once induced, contribute to the regulation of downstream cellular processes, including feedback regulation of key stress response proteins. ⋯ In addition to stress-induced RNAs, several constitutively expressed lncRNAs also exert a strong regulatory impact on the stress response. Although our understanding of the contribution of lncRNAs to the cellular stress response is still highly rudimentary, the existing data point to the presence of a complex network of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins in regulation of the cellular response to stress.
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Resistance of important bacterial pathogens to common antimicrobial therapies and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria are increasing at an alarming rate and constitute one of our greatest challenges in the combat of bacterial infection and accompanied diseases. The current shortage of effective drugs, lack of successful prevention measures and only a few new antibiotics in the clinical pipeline demand the development of novel treatment options and alternative antimicrobial therapies. ⋯ In the past decade, numerous new bacterial targets for anti-virulence therapies have been identified, and structure-based tailoring of intervention strategies and screening assays for small-molecule inhibitors of such pathways were successfully established. In this chapter, we will take a closer look at the bacterial virulence-related factors and processes that present promising targets for anti-virulence therapies, recently discovered inhibitory substances and their promises and discuss the challenges, and problems that have to be faced.
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During the current seventh cholera pandemic, Africa bore the major brunt of global disease burden. More than 40 years after its resurgence in Africa in 1970, cholera remains a grave public health problem, characterized by large disease burden, frequent outbreaks, persistent endemicity, and high CFRs, particularly in the region of the central African Great Lakes which might act as reservoirs for cholera. There, cases occur year round with a rise in incidence during the rainy season. ⋯ This requires considerable human and financial resources and time. In the short and medium term, vaccination may help to prevent and control the spread of cholera outbreaks. Regardless of the intervention, further understanding of cholera biology and epidemiology is essential to identify populations and areas at increased risk and thus ensure the most efficient use of scarce resources for the prevention and control of cholera.
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CD4(+) helper T cells are crucial for autoimmune and infectious diseases; however, the recognition of the many, diverse fates available continues unabated. Precisely what controls specification of helper T cells and preserves phenotypic commitment is currently intensively investigated. In this review, we will discuss the major factors that impact helper T cell fate choice, ranging from cytokines and the microbiome to metabolic control and epigenetic regulation. We will also discuss the technological advances along with the attendant challenges presented by "big data," which allow the understanding of these processes on comprehensive scales.
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Since its discovery in 1955, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has consistently been noted to be the single most important cause of lower respiratory tract illness in infants <1 year of age. RSV also causes repeat infections and significant disease throughout life. In addition to the young child, persons with compromised immune, pulmonary or cardiac systems, and the elderly have significant risk from infection. ⋯ The available data on burden of disease suggests there are at least four potential target populations for a vaccine, the young infant, young children >4-6 months of age, pregnant women, and the elderly. A link between infection in the young infant and later reactive airway disease and mortality in developing countries is needed. Each target population has different vaccine safety and efficacy concerns and may warrant a different type of vaccine.