• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.40.1-40.20
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• 2021

Mycobacteroides abscessus (previously Mycobacterium abscessus; Mabc), one of rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), is an important pathogen of NTM pulmonary diseases (NTM-PDs) in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Mabc infection is chronic and often challenging to treat due to drug resistance, motivating the development of new therapeutics. Despite this, there is a lack of understanding of the relationship between Mabc and the immune system. This review highlights recent progress in the molecular architecture of Mabc and host interactions. We discuss several microbial components that take advantage of host immune defenses, host defense pathways that can overcome Mabc pathogenesis, and how host-pathogen interactions determine the outcomes of Mabc infection. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions during Mabc infection will enable the identification of biomarkers and/or drugs to control immune pathogenesis and protect against NTM infection.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.37.1-37.15
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• 2020

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is an etiologic pathogen of human tuberculosis (TB), a serious infectious disease with high morbidity and mortality. In addition, the threat of drug resistance in anti-TB therapy is of global concern. Despite this, it remains urgent to research for understanding the molecular nature of dynamic interactions between host and pathogens during TB infection. While Mtb evasion from phagolysosomal acidification is a well-known virulence mechanism, the molecular events to promote intracellular parasitism remains elusive. To combat intracellular Mtb infection, several defensive processes, including autophagy and apoptosis, are activated. In addition, Mtb-ingested phagocytes trigger inflammation, and undergo necrotic cell death, potentially harmful responses in case of uncontrolled pathological condition. In this review, we focus on Mtb evasion from phagosomal acidification, and Mtb interaction with host autophagy, apoptosis, and necrosis. Elucidation of the molecular dialogue will shed light on Mtb pathogenesis, host defense, and development of new paradigms of therapeutics.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2002

To understand plant-pathogen interactions, a complete set of hot pepper genes differentially expressed against pathogen attack was isolated. As an initial step, hundreds of differentially expressed cDNAS were isolated from hot pepper leaves showing non-host resistance against bacterial plant pathogens (Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycines and Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae) using differential display reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (DDDRT-PCR) technique. Reverse Northern and Northern blot analyses revealed that 50% of those genes were differentially expressed in pepper loaves during non-host resistance response. Among them, independent genes without redundancy were micro-arrayed for further analysis. Random EST sequence database were also generated from various CDNA libraries including pepper tissue specific libraries and leaves showing non-host hypersensitive response against X. campestris pv. glycines. As a primary stage, thousands of cDNA clones were sequenced and EST data were analyzed. These clones are being spotted on glass slide to study the expression profiling. Results of this study may further broaden knowledge on plant-pathogen interactions.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.415-426
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• 2008

The interactions between the host and microbial pathogen largely dictate the onset, progression, and outcome of infectious diseases. Pathogens subvert host components to promote their pathogenesis and, among these, cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans are exploited by many pathogens for their initial attachment and subsequent cellular entry. The ability to interact with heparan sulfate proteoglycans is widespread among viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Certain pathogens also use heparan sulfate proteoglycans to evade host defense mechanisms. These findings suggest that heparan sulfate proteoglycans are critical in microbial pathogenesis, and that heparan sulfate proteoglycan-pathogen interactions are potential targets for novel prophylactic and therapeutic approaches.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.244-254
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• 2009

The hypersensitive reaction (HR) is the most common plant defense reaction against pathogens. HR is produced during both host- and nonhost-incompatible interactions. Several reports suggest that similarities exist between host and nonhost resistances. We assayed the pattern of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and scavenging enzyme activities during nonhost pathogen-plant interactions (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris/Capsicum annuum L.) and incompatible host pathogen-plant interactions (Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria race1/Capsicum annuum L.). Both ${O_2}^-\;and\;H_2O_2 $ accumulated much faster during nonhost resistance when compared to the host resistance. The scavenging enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) were also different during the host- and nonhost-incompatible interactions. CAT activity was much higher during nonhost resistance, and several new isozymes of SOD and POX were detected during nonhost resistance when compared to the host resistance. Lipoxygenase (LOX) activity was higher in host resistance than nonhost resistance during the early stages of infection. Interestingly, the nitric oxide (NO) radical accumulated equal amounts during both host and nonhost resistance at early stages of infection. Further studies are needed to determine the specific pathways underlying these differences between host and nonhost resistance responses.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.337-351
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• 2008

Host-pathogen interaction in rice bacterial blight pathosystem was analyzed for a better understanding of their relationship and recognition of stable pathogenicity among the populations of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. A total number of 52 bacterial strains isolated from diseased leaf samples collected from 12 rice growing states and one Union Territory of India, were inoculated on 16 rice varieties, each possessing known genes for resistance. Analysis of variance revealed that the host genotypes(G) accounted for largest(78.4%) proportion of the total sum of squares(SS), followed by 16.5% due to the pathogen isolates(I) and 5.1% due to the $I{\times}G$ interactions. Application of the Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction(AMMI) model revealed that the first two interaction principal component axes(IPCA) accounted for 66.8% and 21.5% of the interaction SS, respectively. The biplot generated using the isolate and genotypic scores of the first two IPCAs revealed groups of host genotypes and pathogen isolates falling into four sectors. A group of five isolates with high virulence, high absolute IPCA-1 scores, moderate IPCA-2 scores, low AMMI stability index '$D_i$' values and minimal deviations from additive main effects displayed in AMMI biplot as well as response plot, were identified as possessing stable pathogenicity across 16 host genotypes. The largest group of 27 isolates with low virulence, small IPCA-1 as well as IPCA-2 scores, low $D_i$ values and minimal deviations from additive main effect predictions, possessed stable pathogenicity for low virulence. The AMMI analysis and biplot display facilitated in a better understanding of the host-pathogen interaction, adaptability of pathogen isolates to specific host genotypes, identification of isolates showing stable pathogenicity and most discriminating host genotypes, which could be useful in location specific breeding programs aiming at deployment of resistant host genotypes in bacterial blight disease control strategies.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.99-101
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• 2005

Host cell death occurs during many, but not all, interactions between plants and the pathogens that infect them. This cell death can be associated with disease resistance or susceptibility, depending on the nature of the pathogen. The most well-known cell death response in plants is the hypersensitive response (HR) associated with a resistance response. HR is commonly regulated by direct or indirect interactions between avirulence proteins from pathogen and resistance proteins from plant and it can be the result of multiple signaling pathways. Ion fluxes and the generation of reactive oxygen species commonly precede cell death, but a direct involvement of the latter seems to vary with the plant-pathogen combination. Exciting advances have been made in the identification of cellular protective components and cell death suppressors that might operate in HR. In this review, recent progress in the mechanisms by which plant programmed cell death (PCD) occurs during disease resistance will be discussed.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.299-309
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• 2024

The rice blast disease, caused by the fungal pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae (syn. Pyricularia oryzae), poses a significant threat to the global rice production. Understanding how this disease impacts the plant's microbial communities is crucial for gaining insights into host-pathogen interactions. In this study, we investigated the changes in communities of bacterial and fungal endophytes inhabiting different compartments in healthy and diseased plants. We found that both alpha and beta diversities of endophytic communities do not change significantly by the pathogen infection. Rather, the type of plant compartment appeared to be the main driver of endophytic community structures. Although the overall structure seemed to be consistent between healthy and diseased plants, our analysis of differentially abundant taxa revealed the specific bacterial and fungal operational taxonomic units that exhibited enrichment in the root and leaf compartments of infected plants. These findings suggest that endophyte communities are robust to the changes at the early stage of pathogen infection, and that some of endophytes enriched in infected plants might have roles in the defense against the pathogen.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.151-152
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• 2002

Bacterial infection is a very complex process in which both pathogenic microorganisms and host cells play crucial roles, and it is the outcome of interactions between the two participants. To elucidate the bacterial pathogenesis mechanisms, therefore, it is essential to understand the cellular and systemic responses of the host as well as the virulence factors of the pathogen. Infection of a host by pathogenic bacteria causes drastic changes in the physiology of host cells, leading to activation of a program of various gene expression. (omitted)

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.31.1-31.16
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• 2024

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent one of the most prevalent bacterial infections globally, manifesting in diverse clinical phenotypes with varying degrees of severity and complications. The mechanisms underlying UTIs are gradually being elucidated, leading to an enhanced understanding of the immune responses involved. Innate immune cells play a crucial defensive role against uropathogenic bacteria through various mechanisms. Despite their significant contributions to host defense, these cells often fail to achieve complete clearance of uropathogens, necessitating the frequent prescription of antibiotics for UTI patients. However, the persistence of infections and related pathological symptoms in the absence of innate immune cells in animal models underscore the importance of innate immunity in UTIs. Therefore, the host protective functions of innate immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells, NK cells, innate lymphoid cells, and γδ T cells, are delicately coordinated and timely regulated by a variety of cytokines to ensure successful pathogen clearance.