Mitochondrial injury induced by a Salmonella genotoxin triggers the proinflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype.

Bacterial genotoxins damage host cells by targeting their chromosomal DNA. In the present study, we demonstrate that a genotoxin of Salmonella Typhi, typhoid toxin, triggers the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) by damaging mitochondrial DNA. The actions of typhoid toxin disrupt mitochondrial DNA integrity, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and disturbance of redox homeostasis. Consequently, it facilitates the release of damaged mitochondrial DNA into the cytosol, activating type I interferon via the cGAS-STING pathway. We also reveal that the GCN2-mediated integrated stress response plays a role in the upregulation of inflammatory components depending on the STING signaling axis. These SASP factors can propagate the senescence effect on T cells, leading to senescence in these cells. These findings provide insights into how a bacterial genotoxin targets mitochondria to trigger a proinflammatory SASP, highlighting a potential therapeutic target for an anti-toxin intervention.

Clinical Application of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies Suffering from Sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis remains a common but fatal complication among patients with immune suppression. We aimed to investigate the performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) compared with standard microbiological diagnostics in patients with hematologic malignancies. METHODS: We performed a prospective study from June 2019 to December 2019. Adult patients with hematologic malignancies and a clinical diagnosis of sepsis were enrolled. Conventional diagnostic methods included blood cultures, serum galactomannan for Aspergillus, cryptococcal antigen and cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral loads. Blood samples for mNGS were collected within 24 h after hypotension developed. RESULTS: Of 24 patients enrolled, mNGS and conventional diagnostic methods (blood cultures, serology testing and virus RT-PCR) reached comparable positive results in 9 cases. Of ten patients, mNGS was able to identify additional pathogens compared with conventional methods; most of the pathogens were virus. CONCLUSION: Our results show that mNGS may serve as adjunctive diagnostic tool for the identification of pathogens of hematologic patients with clinically sepsis.