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Dietary fibres can exert beneficial anti-inflammatory effects through microbially fermented short-chain fatty acid metabolites1,2, although the immunoregulatory roles of most fibre diets and their microbiota-derived metabolites remain poorly defined. Here, using microbial sequencing and untargeted metabolomics, we show that a diet of inulin fibre alters the composition of the mouse microbiota and the levels of microbiota-derived metabolites, notably bile acids. This metabolomic shift is associated with type 2 inflammation in the intestine and lungs, characterized by IL-33 production, activation of group 2 innate lymphoid cells and eosinophilia. Delivery of cholic acid mimics inulin-induced type 2 inflammation, whereas deletion of the bile acid receptor farnesoid X receptor diminishes the effects of inulin. The effects of inulin are microbiota dependent and were reproduced in mice colonized with human-derived microbiota. Furthermore, genetic deletion of a bile-acid-metabolizing enzyme in one bacterial species abolishes the ability of inulin to trigger type 2 inflammation. Finally, we demonstrate that inulin enhances allergen- and helminth-induced type 2 inflammation. Taken together, these data reveal that dietary inulin fibre triggers microbiota-derived cholic acid and type 2 inflammation at barrier surfaces with implications for understanding the pathophysiology of allergic inflammation, tissue protection and host defence.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) can promote host defense, chronic inflammation, or tissue protection and are regulated by cytokines and neuropeptides. However, their regulation by diet and microbiota-derived signals remains unclear. We show that an inulin fiber diet promotes Tph1-expressing inflammatory ILC2s (ILC2INFLAM) in the colon, which produce IL-5 but not tissue-protective amphiregulin (AREG), resulting in the accumulation of eosinophils. This exacerbates inflammation in a murine model of intestinal damage and inflammation in an ILC2- and eosinophil-dependent manner. Mechanistically, the inulin fiber diet elevated microbiota-derived bile acids, including cholic acid (CA) that induced expression of ILC2-activating IL-33. In IBD patients, bile acids, their receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR), IL-33, and eosinophils were all upregulated compared with controls, implicating this diet–microbiota–ILC2 axis in human IBD pathogenesis. Together, these data reveal that dietary fiber–induced changes in microbial metabolites operate as a rheostat that governs protective versus pathologic ILC2 responses with relevance to precision nutrition for inflammatory diseases.

Protective immunity relies on the interplay of innate and adaptive immune cells with complementary and redundant functions. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have recently emerged as tissue-resident, innate mirror images of the T cell system, with which they share lineage-specifying transcription factors and effector machinery1. Located at barrier surfaces, ILCs are among the first responders against invading pathogens and thus could potentially determine the outcome of the immune response2. However, so far it has not been possible to dissect the unique contributions of ILCs to protective immunity owing to limitations in specific targeting of ILC subsets. Thus, all of the available data have been generated either in mice lacking the adaptive immune system or with tools that also affect other immune cell subsets. In addition, it has been proposed that ILCs might be dispensable for a proper immune response because other immune cells could compensate for their absence3–7. Here we report the generation of a mouse model based on the neuromedin U receptor 1 (Nmur1) promoter as a driver for simultaneous expression of Cre recombinase and green fluorescent protein, which enables gene targeting in group 2 ILCs (ILC2s) without affecting other innate and adaptive immune cells. Using Cre-mediated gene deletion of Id2and Gata3in Nmur1-expressing cells, we generated mice with a selective and specific deficiency in ILC2s. ILC2-deficient mice have decreased eosinophil counts at steady state and are unable to recruit eosinophils to the airways in models of allergic asthma. Further, ILC2-deficient mice do not mount an appropriate immune and epithelial type 2 response, resulting in a profound defect in worm expulsion and a non-protective type 3 immune response. In total, our data establish non-redundant functions for ILC2s in the presence of adaptive immune cells at steady state and during disease and argue for a multilayered organization of the immune system on the basis of a spatiotemporal division of labour.

Imaging probes are an important consideration for any type of contrast agent-based imaging method. X-ray luminescence imaging (XLI) and x-ray luminescence computed tomography (XLCT) are both contrast agent-based imaging methods that employ x-ray excitable scintillating imaging probes that emit light to be measured for optical imaging. In this work, we compared the performance of several select imaging probes, both commercial and self-synthesized, for application in XLI/XLCT imaging. Commercially available cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs) and europium-doped gadolinium oxysulfide (GOS:Eu) microphosphor as well as synthesized NaGdF_4 nanophosphors doped with either europium or terbium were compared through their x-ray luminescence emission spectra, luminescence intensity, and also by performing XLCT scans using phantoms embedded with each of the imaging probes. Each imaging probe displayed a unique emission spectrum that was ideal for deep-tissue optical imaging. In terms of luminescence intensity, due to the large particle size, GOS:Eu had the brightest emission, followed by NaGdF_4:Tb, NaGdF_4:Eu, and finally the CdTe QDs. Lastly, XLCT scans showed that each imaging probe could be reconstructed with good shape and location accuracy.

Background: Moisture damage and aging take place together in asphalt binder as it is on road-pavement in service life and, therefore, quite challenging to overcome. Various techniques, such as crumb rubber, fibers, etc. have been applied to improve the behaviour of asphalt materials. The use of nanomaterials was found as one of the effective techniques to develop temperature performances of asphalt binder. Methods: This study investigated moisture damage and aging of asphalt binder mixing with the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The base binder was primarily modified with 4% SBS polymer. Later on, CNTs were mixed in different percentages (i.e. 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) by weight with the 4% styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) modified binders. A special functionalized (-NH3) AFM probe with spring constant 3.44 N/m was utilized to complete the study. Results: The results were compared with 4% SBS modified asphalt with and without CNT addition. The adhesion forces of dry samples were found smaller as compared to wet and aged asphalt samples of with and without CNT. However, the adhesion forces of wet and aged samples with the investigated percentage of CNT performed considerably better than those without CNT. Conclusion: This result indicated significant improvement of asphalt to overcome moisture damage and aging owing to exposure in the outdoor environment as a paving material. This study recommends any dosage (i.e. 0.5 to 1.5% by weight) of CNT with 4% SBS modified asphalt to resist moisture damage and aging in the field.

A large-scale protein interaction network is carried out by pull-down assay in Escherichia coli using His-tagged bait proteins. It provides a framework for elucidation of cellular activities, targeted-drug design, and whole cell engineering.

ABSTRACTThe avidity of antibodies to specific antigens and the relationship of avidity to memory B cell responses to these antigens have not been studied in patients with cholera or those receiving oral cholera vaccines. We measured the avidity of antibodies to cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) and Vibrio choleraeO1 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in Bangladeshi adult cholera patients (n= 30), as well as vaccinees (n= 30) after administration of two doses of a killed oral cholera vaccine. We assessed antibody and memory B cell responses at the acute stage in patients or prior to vaccination in vaccinees and then in follow-up over a year. Both patients and vaccinees mounted CTB-specific IgG and IgA antibodies of high avidity. Patients showed longer persistence of these antibodies than vaccinees, with persistence lasting in patients up to day 270 to 360. The avidity of LPS-specific IgG and IgA antibodies in patients remained elevated up to 180 days of follow-up. Vaccinees mounted highly avid LPS-specific antibodies at day 17 (3 days after the second dose of vaccine), but the avidity waned rapidly to baseline by 30 days. We examined the correlation between antigen-specific memory B cell responses and avidity indices for both antigens. We found that numbers of CTB- and LPS-specific memory B cells significantly correlated with the avidity indices of the corresponding antibodies (P< 0.05; Spearman's ?= 0.28 to 0.45). These findings suggest that antibody avidity after infection and immunization is a good correlate of the development and maintenance of memory B cell responses to Vibrio choleraeO1 antigens.

ABSTRACTYoung children, older children, and adults develop comparable levels and durations of immunity following cholera. In comparison, young children receiving oral killed cholera vaccines (OCV) develop a lower level and shorter duration of protection than those of older children and adults. The reasons for this are unclear. We investigated OCV-induced memory T cell responses in younger and older children and compared responses to those in children with cholera. We found that patients with cholera developed significant levels of toxin-specific effector memory T cells (TEM) with follicular helper and gut-homing characteristics. Older children (6 to 14 years of age) receiving two doses of OCV containing recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) had more modest TEMresponses with follicular helper and gut-homing characteristics, but younger vaccinees (24 to 71 months of age) did not develop TEMresponses. The TEMresponse correlated positively with subsequent IgG memory B cell responses specific to rCTB in older vaccinees. Cytokine analyses indicated that cholera patients developed significant Th1, Th17, and Th2 responses, while older children receiving vaccine developed more modest increases in Th1 and Th17 cells. Younger vaccinees had no increase in Th1 cells, a decrease in Th17 cells, and an increase in regulatory T (Treg) cells. Our findings suggest that T cell memory responses are markedly diminished in children receiving OCV, especially young children, compared to responses following naturally acquired cholera, and that these differences affect subsequent development of memory B cell responses. These findings may explain the lower efficacy and shorter duration of protection afforded by OCV in young children.

Vibrio cholerae O1 is a noninvasive enteric pathogen and serves as a model for studies of mucosal immunity. Although symptomatic V. cholerae infection induces durable protection against subsequent disease, vaccination with oral killed whole-cell V. cholerae stimulates less long-lasting protection against cholera. In this study, we demonstrated that cholera induces an early proinflammatory cellular immune response that results in priming of Th1- and Th17-type cytokine responses to ex vivo antigenic stimulation and an increase in the ratio of Th1 to Th2 CD4+T-cell responses. Comparable priming of Th1 and Th17 responses, with an increased ratio of Th1 to Th2 CD4+T-cell responses, was not observed in subjects who received two doses of the oral cholera vaccine Dukoral (a whole-cell cholera toxin B subunit containing [WC-CTB] vaccine). These findings suggest that natural V. cholerae infection induces an early, proinflammatory cellular immune response, despite the apparent lack of clinical signs of inflammation. The failure of the WC-CTB vaccine to activate equivalent, CD4+T-cell responses is a potential explanation for the shorter duration of protection following immunization with this vaccine. Additional studies are needed to determine whether these early T-cell-mediated events predict the subsequent duration of immunologic memory.

ABSTRACTVibrio choleraeO1 is a noninvasive enteric pathogen and serves as a model for studies of mucosal immunity. Although symptomatic V. choleraeinfection induces durable protection against subsequent disease, vaccination with oral killed whole-cell V. choleraestimulates less long-lasting protection against cholera. In this study, we demonstrated that cholera induces an early proinflammatory cellular immune response that results in priming of Th1- and Th17-type cytokine responses to ex vivoantigenic stimulation and an increase in the ratio of Th1 to Th2 CD4+T-cell responses. Comparable priming of Th1 and Th17 responses, with an increased ratio of Th1 to Th2 CD4+T-cell responses, was not observed in subjects who received two doses of the oral cholera vaccine Dukoral (a whole-cell cholera toxin B subunit containing [WC-CTB] vaccine). These findings suggest that natural V. choleraeinfection induces an early, proinflammatory cellular immune response, despite the apparent lack of clinical signs of inflammation. The failure of the WC-CTB vaccine to activate equivalent, CD4+T-cell responses is a potential explanation for the shorter duration of protection following immunization with this vaccine. Additional studies are needed to determine whether these early T-cell-mediated events predict the subsequent duration of immunologic memory.

ABSTRACTVibrio choleraeO1 can cause severe watery diarrhea that can be life-threatening without treatment. Infection results in long-lasting protection against subsequent disease. Development of memory B cells of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA isotypes to V. choleraeO1 antigens, including serotype-specific lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB), after cholera infection has been demonstrated. Memory B cells of the IgM isotype may play a role in long-term protection, particularly against T-cell-independent antigens, but IgM memory has not been studied in V. choleraeO1 infection. Therefore, we assayed acute- and convalescent-phase blood samples from cholera patients for the presence of memory B cells that produce cholera antigen-specific IgM antibody upon polyclonal stimulation in in vitro culture. We also examined the development of serological and antibody-secreting cell responses following infection. Subjects developed significant IgM memory responses by day 30 after infection, both to the T-cell-independent antigen LPS and to the T-cell-dependent antigen CTB. No significant corresponding elevations in plasma IgM antibodies or circulating IgM antibody-secreting cells to CTB were detected. In 17 subjects followed to day 90 after infection, significant persistence of elevated IgM memory responses was not observed. The IgM memory response to CTB was negatively correlated with the IgG plasma antibody response to CTB, and there was a trend toward negative correlation between the IgM memory and IgA plasma antibody responses to LPS. We did not observe an association between the IgM memory response to LPS and the vibriocidal titer.

Vibrio cholerae O1 can cause severe watery diarrhea that can be life-threatening without treatment. Infection results in long-lasting protection against subsequent disease. Development of memory B cells of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA isotypes to V. cholerae O1 antigens, including serotype-specific lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB), after cholera infection has been demonstrated. Memory B cells of the IgM isotype may play a role in long-term protection, particularly against T-cell-independent antigens, but IgM memory has not been studied in V. cholerae O1 infection. Therefore, we assayed acute- and convalescent-phase blood samples from cholera patients for the presence of memory B cells that produce cholera antigen-specific IgM antibody upon polyclonal stimulation in in vitro culture. We also examined the development of serological and antibody-secreting cell responses following infection. Subjects developed significant IgM memory responses by day 30 after infection, both to the T-cell-independent antigen LPS and to the T-cell-dependent antigen CTB. No significant corresponding elevations in plasma IgM antibodies or circulating IgM antibody-secreting cells to CTB were detected. In 17 subjects followed to day 90 after infection, significant persistence of elevated IgM memory responses was not observed. The IgM memory response to CTB was negatively correlated with the IgG plasma antibody response to CTB, and there was a trend toward negative correlation between the IgM memory and IgA plasma antibody responses to LPS. We did not observe an association between the IgM memory response to LPS and the vibriocidal titer.

ABSTRACTVibrio choleraeO1 can cause diarrheal disease that may be life-threatening without treatment. Natural infection results in long-lasting protective immunity, but the role of T cells in this immune response has not been well characterized. In contrast, robust B-cell responses to V. choleraeinfection have been observed. In particular, memory B-cell responses to T-cell-dependent antigens persist for at least 1 year, whereas responses to lipopolysaccharide, a T-cell-independent antigen, wane more rapidly after infection. We hypothesize that protective immunity is mediated by anamnestic responses of memory B cells in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, and T-cell responses may be required to generate and maintain durable memory B-cell responses. In this study, we examined B- and T-cell responses in patients with severe V. choleraeinfection. Using the flow cytometric assay of the specific cell-mediated immune response in activated whole blood, we measured antigen-specific T-cell responses using V. choleraeantigens, including the toxin-coregulated pilus (TcpA), a V. choleraemembrane preparation, and the V. choleraecytolysin/hemolysin (VCC) protein. Our results show that memory T-cell responses develop by day 7 after infection, a time prior to and concurrent with the development of B-cell responses. This suggests that T-cell responses to V. choleraeantigens may be important for the generation and stability of memory B-cell responses. The T-cell proliferative response to VCC was of a higher magnitude than responses observed to other V. choleraeantigens.

Vibrio cholerae O1 can cause diarrheal disease that may be life-threatening without treatment. Natural infection results in long-lasting protective immunity, but the role of T cells in this immune response has not been well characterized. In contrast, robust B-cell responses to V. cholerae infection have been observed. In particular, memory B-cell responses to T-cell-dependent antigens persist for at least 1 year, whereas responses to lipopolysaccharide, a T-cell-independent antigen, wane more rapidly after infection. We hypothesize that protective immunity is mediated by anamnestic responses of memory B cells in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, and T-cell responses may be required to generate and maintain durable memory B-cell responses. In this study, we examined B- and T-cell responses in patients with severe V. cholerae infection. Using the flow cytometric assay of the specific cell-mediated immune response in activated whole blood, we measured antigen-specific T-cell responses using V. cholerae antigens, including the toxin-coregulated pilus (TcpA), a V. cholerae membrane preparation, and the V. cholerae cytolysin/hemolysin (VCC) protein. Our results show that memory T-cell responses develop by day 7 after infection, a time prior to and concurrent with the development of B-cell responses. This suggests that T-cell responses to V. cholerae antigens may be important for the generation and stability of memory B-cell responses. The T-cell proliferative response to VCC was of a higher magnitude than responses observed to other V. cholerae antigens.

Recent studies have shown that children with blood group A have increased susceptibility to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) diarrhea and that Lewis blood group "a" antigen (Lea) may be a candidate receptor for ETEC colonization factor (CF) antigen I (CFA/I) fimbriae. Based on these findings, we have attempted to determine if children with the Le(a+b–) phenotype may be more susceptible to diarrhea caused by ETEC, in particular ETEC expressing CFA/I and related fimbriae of the CFA/I group, than Le(a–b+) children. To test this hypothesis, we have determined the Lewis antigen expression in 179 Bangladeshi children from a prospective birth cohort study in urban Dhaka in which ETEC expressing major CFs such as CFA/I, CS3, CS5, and CS6 was the most commonly isolated diarrhea pathogen during the first 2 years of life. The Lewis blood group phenotypes were determined by a dot blot immunoassay using saliva samples and by a tube agglutination test using fresh red blood cells. The results indicate that Le(a+b–) children more often had symptomatic than asymptomatic ETEC infections (P < 0.001), whereas symptomatic and asymptomatic ETEC infections were equally frequent in Le(a–b+) children. We also show that children with the Le(a+b–) blood type had significantly higher incidences of diarrhea caused by ETEC expressing fimbriae of the CFA/I group than Le(a–b+) children (P < 0.001). In contrast, we did not find any association between the Lewis blood group phenotype and diarrhea caused by ETEC expressing CS6 or rotavirus.

ABSTRACTRecent studies have shown that children with blood group A have increased susceptibility to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC) diarrhea and that Lewis blood group “a” antigen (Lea) may be a candidate receptor for ETEC colonization factor (CF) antigen I (CFA/I) fimbriae. Based on these findings, we have attempted to determine if children with the Le(a+b−) phenotype may be more susceptible to diarrhea caused by ETEC, in particular ETEC expressing CFA/I and related fimbriae of the CFA/I group, than Le(a−b+) children. To test this hypothesis, we have determined the Lewis antigen expression in 179 Bangladeshi children from a prospective birth cohort study in urban Dhaka in which ETEC expressing major CFs such as CFA/I, CS3, CS5, and CS6 was the most commonly isolated diarrhea pathogen during the first 2 years of life. The Lewis blood group phenotypes were determined by a dot blot immunoassay using saliva samples and by a tube agglutination test using fresh red blood cells. The results indicate that Le(a+b−) children more often had symptomatic than asymptomatic ETEC infections (P< 0.001), whereas symptomatic and asymptomatic ETEC infections were equally frequent in Le(a−b+) children. We also show that children with the Le(a+b−) blood type had significantly higher incidences of diarrhea caused by ETEC expressing fimbriae of the CFA/I group than Le(a−b+) children (P< 0.001). In contrast, we did not find any association between the Lewis blood group phenotype and diarrhea caused by ETEC expressing CS6 or rotavirus.

The utility of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a probe to monitor protein localization in living cells is gaining a great deal of attention. In this study, to understand the localization of luciferases in E. coli, we have attached GFP tags at both the N- and the C-terminus of firefly luciferase (FF-Luc) (from Pyrocoelia miyako) and of red (RE-Luc) and green (GR-Luc) bioluminescence-emitting luciferases (from Phrixothrixrailroad-worms), respectively. There was no significant change in the bioluminescence emission spectrum for any of the three luciferases following the tagging with GFP at either the N- or C-terminus, confirming the absence of energy transfer between one another. Using confocal imaging microscopy, we observed that all three luciferases expressed in the E.colicultured at 37 °C tend to aggregate and are seen to localize in the poles, thus confirming their poor folding properties. In contrast, in the E.colicultured at 18 °C FF-Luc was found to be highly expressed in the soluble form when compared to RE-Luc and GR-Luc. These results support our previous finding that the folding properties of FF-Luc and RE/GR-Luc are totally different.

The folding of many proteins including luciferase in vivorequires the assistance of molecular chaperone proteins. To understand how a chaperone targets luciferase, we took three luciferases that give different bioluminescence with the same luciferin substrate and with differences in homology. The three luciferase genes, firefly luciferase (FF-Luc) (from Pyrocoelia miyako), and red (RE-Luc) and green (GR-Luc) bioluminescence-emitting luciferases (from Phrixothrixrailroad-worms), were expressed in Escherichia colito produce fusion proteins with predicted molecular masses. Subsequently, we observed that DnaK and GroEL were co-purified along with recombinant luciferase. Although the amount of co-purified DnaK was almost the same compared to FF-Luc, GroEL was 25 and 32 times higher in GR-Luc and RE-Luc respectively. Furthermore, co-expression of GroEL/GroES along with luciferase substantially refolded RE-Luc and GR-Luc compared to FF-Luc.