Multi-cohort study on cytokine and chemokine profiles in the progression of COVID-19.

Various substances in the blood plasma serve as prognostic indicators of the progression of COVID-19. Consequently, multi-omics studies, such as proteomic and metabolomics, are ongoing to identify accurate biomarkers. Cytokines and chemokines, which are crucial components of immune and inflammatory responses, play pivotal roles in the transition from mild to severe illness. To determine the relationship between plasma cytokines and the progression of COVID-19, we used four study cohorts to perform a systematic study of cytokine levels in patients with different disease stages. We observed differential cytokine expression between patients with persistent-mild disease and patients with mild-to-severe transformation. For instance, IL-4 and IL-17 levels significantly increased in patients with mild-to-severe transformation, indicating differences within the mild disease group. Subsequently, we analysed the changes in cytokine and chemokine expression in the plasma of patients undergoing two opposing processes: the transition from mild to severe illness and the transition from severe to mild illness. We identified several factors, such as reduced expression of IL-16 and IL-18 during the severe phase of the disease and up-regulated expression of IL-10, IP-10, and SCGF-ß during the same period, indicative of the deterioration or improvement of patients' conditions. These factors obtained from fine-tuned research cohorts could provide auxiliary indications for changes in the condition of COVID-19 patients.

LygA retention on the surface of Listeria monocytogenes via its interaction with wall teichoic acid modulates bacterial homeostasis and virulence.

Wall teichoic acid (WTA) is the abundant cell wall-associated glycopolymer in Gram-positive bacteria, playing crucial roles in surface proteins retention, bacterial homeostasis, and virulence. The WTA glycosylation of Listeria monocytogenes is essential for surface anchoring of virulence factors, whereas the nature and function of the noncovalent interactions between cell wall-associated proteins and WTA are less unknown. In this study, we found that galactosylated WTA (Gal-WTA) of serovar (SV) 4h L. monocytogenes plays a key role in modulating the novel glycine-tryptophan (GW) domain-containing autolysin protein LygA through direct interactions. Gal-deficient WTA of Lm XYSN (ΔgalT) showed a dramatic reduction of LygA on the cell surface. We demonstrated that LygA binds to Gal-WTA through the GW domains, and the binding affinity is associated with the number of GW motifs. Moreover, we confirmed the direct Gal-dependent binding of the GW protein Auto from the type I WTA strain, which has no interaction with rhamnosylated WTA, indicating that the complexity of both WTA and GW proteins affect the coordination patterns. Importantly, we revealed the crucial roles of LygA in facilitating bacterial homeostasis as well as crossing the intestinal and blood-brain barriers. Altogether, our findings suggest that both the glycosylation patterns of WTA and a fixed numbers of GW domains are closely associated with the retention of LygA on the cell surface, which promotes the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes within the host.

[Value of arthroscopy in the diagnosis of acute traumatic cartilage injuries to the knee joint].

We assessed the clinical value of arthroscopy in the diagnosis of acute traumatic cartilage injuries of the knee joint in 27 patients. Cartilage fracture was detected in the patella in 7, in the femur condyle in 3 and the tibial plateau in 6 cases. Arthroscopy proves to be a valuable modality for diagnosis of acute traumatic cartilage fracture of the knee.