Evidence of a conserved mammalian immunosuppression mechanism in upon infection with .

Introduction: Sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) belonging to the genus transmit parasites. To understand the complex interaction between the vector and the parasite, we have been investigating the sand fly immune responses during the infection. Our previous studies showed that genes involved in the IMD, Toll, and Jak-STAT immunity pathways are regulated upon and bacterial challenges.

Proteomic analysis of exosomes derived from procyclic and metacyclic-like cultured Leishmania infantum chagasi.

Leishmania infantum chagasi is the primary etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Latin America, a lethal disease that afflicts hundreds of thousands of people worldwide every year. Previous studies have shown that the parasite releases microvesicles known as exosomes, which prolong and exacerbate infection in the vertebrate vector. However, little is known of their role in the insect vector, the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis.

Recurrent sterile abscesses in a case of X-linked neutropenia.

Cutaneous manifestations are common in monogenic immune disorders, including both infectious and non-infectious etiologies. We report follow-up of a case initially published in Pediatric Dermatology in 2001 of a 13-year-old boy with a history of inflammatory skin lesions and neutropenia who developed neutrophilic dermatoses precipitated by G-CSF. Whole exome sequencing performed at 36 years of age revealed a gain-of-function mutation in the WAS gene, leading to a diagnosis of X-linked neutropenia.

Longitudinal clinical findings and outcome among patients with Cryptococcus gattii infection in British Columbia.

Background: Cryptococcus gattii (Cg) infection emerged in British Columbia in 1999. A longitudinal, clinical description of patients has not been reported.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed for Cg patients identified through surveillance (1999-2007).

Imaging features of pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma-associated immune reconstitution syndrome.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the radiologic features of pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma-associated immune reconstitution syndrome. The syndrome is a phenomenon characterized by clinical deterioration of the condition of HIV-positive patients after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Materials And Methods: The study included four patients at our institution who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma-associated immune reconstitution syndrome from 2001 to 2006.