Spatial distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis mRNA and secreted antigens in acid-fast negative human antemortem and resected tissue.

BACKGROUND: The ability to detect evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection within human tissues is critical to the study of Mtb physiology, tropism, and spatial distribution within TB lesions. The capacity of the widely-used Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining method for identifying Mtb acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in tissue is highly variable, which can limit detection of Mtb bacilli for research and diagnostic purposes. Here, we sought to circumvent these limitations via detection of Mtb mRNA and secreted antigens in human tuberculous tissue. METHODS: We adapted RNAscope, an RNA in situ hybridisation (RISH) technique, to detect Mtb mRNA in ante- and postmortem human TB tissues and developed a dual ZN/immunohistochemistry staining approach to identify AFB and bacilli producing antigen 85B (Ag85B). FINDINGS: We identified Mtb mRNA within intact and disintegrating bacilli as well as extrabacillary mRNA. Mtb mRNA was distributed zonally within necrotic and non-necrotic granulomas. We also found Mtb mRNA within, and adjacent to, necrotic granulomas in ZN-negative lung tissue and in Ag85B-positive bronchiolar epithelium. Intriguingly, we observed accumulation of Mtb mRNA and Ag85B in the cytoplasm of host cells. Notably, many AFB were negative for Ag85B staining. Mtb mRNA was observed in ZN-negative antemortem lymph node biopsies. INTERPRETATION: RNAscope and dual ZN/immunohistochemistry staining are well-suited for identifying subsets of intact Mtb and/or bacillary remnants in human tissue. RNAscope can identify Mtb mRNA in ZN-negative tissues from patients with TB and may have diagnostic potential in complex TB cases. FUNDING: Wellcome Leap Delta Tissue Program, Wellcome Strategic Core Award, the National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA), the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health at UAB, the UAB Heersink School of Medicine.

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human tissue via RNA in situ hybridization.

Rationale: Accurate TB diagnosis is hampered by the variable efficacy of the widely-used Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining method to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ) acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Here, we sought to circumvent this current limitation through direct detection of Mtb mRNA. Objectives: To employ RNAscope to determine the spatial distribution of Mtb mRNA within tuberculous human tissue, to appraise ZN-negative tissue from confirmed TB patients, and to provide proof-of-concept of RNAscope as a platform to inform TB diagnosis and Mtb biology. Methods: We examined ante- and postmortem human TB tissue using RNAscope to detect Mtb mRNA and a dual ZN/immunohistochemistry staining approach to identify AFB and bacilli producing antigen 85B (Ag85B). Measurements and main results: We adapted RNAscope for Mtb and identified intact and disintegrated Mtb bacilli and intra- and extracellular Mtb mRNA. Mtb mRNA was distributed zonally within necrotic and non-necrotic granulomas. We also found Mtb mRNA within, and adjacent to, necrotic granulomas in ZN-negative lung tissue and in Ag85B-positive bronchial epithelium. Intriguingly, we observed accumulation of Mtb mRNA and Ag85B in the cytoplasm of host cells. Notably, many AFB were negative for Ag85B staining. Mtb mRNA was observed in ZN-negative antemortem lymph node biopsies. Conclusions: RNAscope has diagnostic potential and can guide therapeutic intervention as it detects Mtb mRNA and morphology in ZN-negative tissues from TB patients, and Mtb mRNA in ZN-negative antemortem biopsies, respectively. Lastly, our data provide evidence that at least two phenotypically distinct populations of Mtb bacilli exist in vivo .

Targeting dendritic cells with TLR-2 ligand-coated nanoparticles loaded with Mycobacterium tuberculosis epitope induce antituberculosis immunity.

Novel vaccination strategies are crucial to efficiently control tuberculosis, as proposed by the World Health Organization under its flagship program "End TB Strategy." However, the emergence of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), particularly in those coinfected with HIV-AIDS, constitutes a major impediment to achieving this goal. We report here a novel vaccination strategy that involves synthesizing a formulation of an immunodominant peptide derived from the Acr1 protein of Mtb. This nanoformulation in addition displayed on the surface a toll-like receptor-2 ligand to offer to target dendritic cells (DCs). Our results showed an efficient uptake of such a concoction by DCs in a predominantly toll-like receptor-2-dependent pathway. These DCs produced elevated levels of nitric oxide, proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6, interleukin-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α, and upregulated the surface expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules as well as costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86. Animals injected with such a vaccine mounted a significantly higher response of effector and memory Th1 cells and Th17 cells. Furthermore, we noticed a reduction in the bacterial load in the lungs of animals challenged with aerosolized live Mtb. Therefore, our findings indicated that the described vaccine triggered protective anti-Mtb immunity to control the tuberculosis infection.

Phycoremediation of textile effluents with enhanced efficacy of biodiesel production by algae and potential use of remediated effluent for improving growth of wheat.

The uncontrolled industrialization and unrestricted textile production combined with inappropriate effluent treatment services in developing countries like Pakistan have multiplied the number of harmful effluent discharge. These effluents are enriched with dyes, heavy metal ions, and other hazardous materials that are poisonous and carcinogenic to living organisms. For that reason, the utilization of economic and efficient control techniques against such pollutants is imperative to protect natural resources. The triple algal role for phycoremediation of textile effluent was utilized in this study to make it suitable for irrigation and higher biofuel production. Locally isolated two strains, CKW1 (Spirogyra sp.) and PKS33 (Cladophora sp.), were used to treat the effluent collected from the direct outlets of the textile industries. The treated effluent was then tested for its toxicity and applied to wheat at initial stage grown under axenic conditions to check its effect on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) vegetative growth and development. Finally, the algal biomass obtained after treatment was subjected to trans-esterification for predicting the amount of biodiesel production. Study outcomes revealed that the algal strains were able to decolorize the effluent entirely within 96-120 h. Compared to un-treated textile effluent, the phycoremediated wastewater application to wheat plants enhanced the plant biomass by 80%. Lastly, the production of biodiesel from algal biomass attained after phycoremediation was 35% less to algal biomass obtained under normal growth conditions. It can be concluded that the algal use helps to treat the contaminated effluent and marks them re-usable for irrigating plants and producing biomass which could be utilized for biodiesel production.

A multiple T cell epitope comprising DNA vaccine boosts the protective efficacy of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 80% - 90% of individuals infected with latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remain protected throughout their life-span. The release of unique, latent-phase antigens are known to have a protective role in the immune response against Mtb. Although the BCG vaccine has been administered for nine decades to provide immunity against Mtb, the number of TB cases continues to rise, thereby raising doubts on BCG vaccine efficacy. The shortcomings of BCG have been associated with inadequate processing and presentation of its antigens, an inability to optimally activate T cells against Mtb, and generation of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, BCG vaccination lacks the ability to eliminate latent Mtb infection. With these facts in mind, we selected six immunodominant CD4 and CD8 T cell epitopes of Mtb expressed during latent, acute, and chronic stages of infection and engineered a multi-epitope-based DNA vaccine (C6). RESULT: BALB/c mice vaccinated with the C6 construct along with a BCG vaccine exhibited an expansion of both CD4 and CD8 T cell memory populations and augmented IFN-γ and TNF-α cytokine release. Furthermore, enhancement of dendritic cell and macrophage activation was noted. Consequently, illustrating the elicitation of immunity that helps in the protection against Mtb infection; which was evident by a significant reduction in the Mtb burden in the lungs and spleen of C6 + BCG administered animals. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results suggest that a C6 + BCG vaccination approach may serve as an effective vaccination strategy in future attempts to control TB.

Potential Role of Gut Microbiota in Induction and Regulation of Innate Immune Memory.

The gut microbiota significantly regulates the development and function of the innate and adaptive immune system. The attribute of immunological memory has long been linked only with adaptive immunity. Recent evidence indicates that memory is also present in the innate immune cells such as monocytes/macrophages and natural killer cells. These cells exhibit pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognize microbe- or pathogen-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs or PAMPs) expressed by the microbes. Interaction between PRRs and MAMPs is quite crucial since it triggers the sequence of signaling events and epigenetic rewiring that not only play a cardinal role in modulating the activation and function of the innate cells but also impart a sense of memory response. We discuss here how gut microbiota can influence the generation of innate memory and functional reprogramming of bone marrow progenitors that helps in protection against infections. This article will broaden our current perspective of association between the gut microbiome and innate memory. In the future, this knowledge may pave avenues for development and designing of novel immunotherapies and vaccination strategies.

Nickel phytoextraction through bacterial inoculation in Raphanus sativus.

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of two plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) viz. Bacillus sp. CIK-516 and Stenotrophomonas sp. CIK-517Y for improving the growth and Ni uptake of radish (Raphanus sativus) in the presence of four different levels of Ni contamination (0, 50, 100, 150 mg Ni kg-1 soil). Plant growth, dry biomass, chlorophyll and nitrogen contents were significantly reduced by the exogenous application of Ni, however, bacterial inoculation diluted the negative impacts of Ni stress on radish by improving these parameters. PGPR strain CIK-516 increased root length (9-27%), shoot length (8-27%), root dry biomass (2-32%), shoot dry biomass (9-51%), root girth (6-48%), total chlorophyll (4-38%) and shoot nitrogen contents (11-15%) in Ni contaminated and non-contaminated soils. Positive regulation of chlorophyll and nitrogen contents by the inoculated plants shows plant tolerance mechanism of Ni stress. Bacterial strain (CIK-516) exhibited indole acetic acid and 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase potentials which would have helped radish plant to stabilize in Ni contaminated soil and thereby increased Ni uptake (24-257 in shoot and 58-609 in root mg kg-1 dry biomass) and facilitated accumulation in radish (bioaccumulation factor = 0.6-1.7) depending upon soil Ni contamination. Based on the findings of this study, it might be suggested that inoculation with bacterial strain CIK-516 could be an efficient tool for enhanced Ni phytoextraction in radish.

A lipidated peptide of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resuscitates the protective efficacy of BCG vaccine by evoking memory T cell immunity.

BACKGROUND: The current BCG vaccine induces only short-term protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), suggesting its failure to generate long-lasting memory T cells. Previously, we have demonstrated that a self-adjuvanting peptide of Mtb (L91), successfully generated enduring memory Th1 cells. Consequently, we investigated if L91 was able to recuperate BCG potency in perpetuating the generation of memory T cells and protection against Mtb infected mice. METHODS: In the present study, we evaluated the potency of a self adjuvanting Mtb peptide vaccine L91 in invigorating BCG immune response against Mtb in mice. Female BALB/c mice were immunized with BCG. Later, they were boosted twice with L91 or an antigenically irrelevant lipidated influenza virus hemagglutinin peptide (LH). Further, PBMCs obtained from BCG vaccinated healthy subjects were cultured in vitro with L91. T cell responses were determined by surface markers and intracellular cytokine staining. Secretion of cytokines was estimated in the culture supernatants (SNs) by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared to the BCG-vaccinated controls, L91 booster significantly enhanced the percentage of memory Th1 cells and Th17 cells and reduced the mycobacterial burden in BCG primed and L91-boosted (BCG-L91) group, even after 229 days of BCG vaccination. Further, substantial augmentation in the central (CD44hiCD62LhiCD127hi) and effector memory (CD44hiCD62LloCD127lo) CD4 T cells was detected. Furthermore, greater frequency of polyfunctional Th1 cells (IFN-γ+TNF-α+) and Th17 cells (IFN-γ+IL-17A+) was observed. Importantly, BCG-L91 successfully prevented CD4 T cells from exhaustion by decreasing the expression of PD-1 and Tim-3. Additionally, augmentation in the frequency of Th1 cells, Th17 cells and memory CD4 T cells was observed in the PBMCs of the BCG-vaccinated healthy individuals following in vitro stimulation with L91. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that L91 robustly reinvigorate BCG potency to invoke enduring protection against Mtb. This novel vaccination stratagem involving BCG-priming followed by L91-boosting can be a future prophylactic measure to control TB.

A novel therapeutic strategy of lipidated promiscuous peptide against Mycobacterium tuberculosis by eliciting Th1 and Th17 immunity of host.

Regardless of the fact that potent drug-regimen is currently available, tuberculosis continues to kill 1.5 million people annually. Tuberculosis patients are not only inflicted by the trauma of disease but they also suffer from the harmful side-effects, immune suppression and drug resistance instigated by prolonged therapy. It is an exigency to introduce radical changes in the existing drug-regime and discover safer and better therapeutic measures. Hence, we designed a novel therapeutic strategy by reinforcing the efficacy of drugs to kill Mtb by concurrently boosting host immunity by L91. L91 is chimera of promiscuous epitope of Acr1 antigen of Mtb and TLR-2 agonist Pam2Cys. The adjunct therapy using drugs and L91 (D-L91) significantly declined the bacterial load in Mtb infected animals. The mechanism involved was through enhancement of IFN-γ(+)TNF-α(+) polyfunctional Th1 cells and IL-17A(+)IFN-γ(+) Th17 cells, enduring memory CD4 T cells and downregulation of PD-1. The down-regulation of PD-1 prevents CD4 T cells from undergoing exhaustion and improves their function against Mtb. Importantly, the immune response observed in animals could be replicated using T cells of tuberculosis patients on drug therapy. In future, D-L91 therapy can invigorate drugs potency to treat tuberculosis patients and reduce the dose and duration of drug-regime.

Concentration-dependent antagonistic persuasion of SDS and naphthalene derivatives on the fibrillation of stem bromelain.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate, a biological membrane mimetic, can be used to study the conversion of globular proteins into amyloid fibrils in vitro. Using multiple approaches, the effect of SDS was examined on stem bromelain (SB), a widely recognized therapeutic protein. SB is known to exist as a partially folded intermediate at pH 2.0, situation also encountered in the gastrointestinal tract (its site of absorption). In the presence of sub-micellar SDS concentration (500-1000 µM), this intermediate was found to exhibit great propensity to form large-sized ß-sheeted aggregates with fibrillar morphology, the hall marks of amyloid structure. We also observed inhibition of fibrillation by two naphthalene-based compounds, ANS and bis-ANS. While bis-ANS significantly inhibited fibril formation at 50 µM, ANS did so at relatively higher concentration (400 µM). Alcohols, but not salts, were found to weaken the inhibitory action of these compounds suggesting the possible involvement of hydrophobic interactions in their binding to protein. Besides, isothermal titration calorimetry and molecular docking studies suggested that inhibition of fibrillation by these naphthalene derivatives is mediated not just through hydrophobic forces, but also by disruption of π-π interactions between the aromatic residues together with the inter-polypeptide chain repulsion among negatively charged ANS/bis-ANS bound SB.