The Journal of infectious diseases
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Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum has emerged in Southeast Asia and poses a threat to malaria control and elimination. Mutations in a P. falciparum gene encoding a kelch protein on chromosome 13 have been associated with delayed parasite clearance following artemisinin treatment elsewhere in the region, but not yet in China. ⋯ Plasmodium falciparum infections in southern China displayed markedly delayed clearance following artemisinin treatment. F446I was the predominant K13 mutation and was associated with delayed parasite clearance.
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A major barrier to effective tuberculosis control is our limited understanding of risk factors for tuberculosis disease progression. This study examined the role of apoptosis in immunity to tuberculosis. ⋯ While T cells are clearly able to mount a robust immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, there are increased levels of apoptosis seen in effector T cells from tuberculosis patients. Dysregulation of several apoptotic genes suggest that apoptosis is a major functional pathway that could be targeted for future host-directed therapeutics.
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Syndecan-4 is a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan expressed in a variety of cells, and glycosaminoglycan side chains of syndecan-4 bind to several proteins, suggesting several biological functions. However, the role of syndecan-4 in acute bacterial pneumonia has not yet been elucidated. ⋯ These results suggest that syndecan-4 has an anti-inflammatory function in acute pneumonia and could serve as a useful biomarker in these patients.
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Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a central role in the innate immune response to complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSIs), with TLR10 being the first family member known to have an inhibitory function. This study assessed the role of TLR10 in recognition of cSSSI-related pathogens and whether genetic variation in TLR10 influences susceptibility to cSSSIs. ⋯ TLR10 is a modulatory receptor of innate immune responses to cSSSI-related pathogens, and genetic variants in TLR10 are associated with protection against cSSSIs.