ORCID Profile
0000-0002-6257-0952
Current Organisation
Monash University
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Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 31-08-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.08.30.458184
Abstract: 3. Influenza A virus (IAV) causes respiratory tract disease and is responsible for seasonal and reoccurring epidemics affecting all age groups. Next to typical disease symptoms such as fever and fatigue, IAV infection has been associated with behavioral alterations presumably contributing to the development of major depression. Previous experiments using IAV/H1N1 infection models have shown impaired hippoc al neuronal morphology and cognitive abilities, but the underlying pathways have not been fully described. In this study, we demonstrate that infection with a low dose non-neurotrophic H1N1 strain of IAV causes le peripheral immune response followed by a temporary blood-brain-barrier disturbance. Although histological examination did not reveal obvious pathological processes in the brains of IAV-infected mice, detailed multidimensional flow cytometric characterization of immune cells uncovered subtle alterations in the activation status of microglia cells. More specifically, we detected an altered expression pattern of major histocompatibility complex class I and II, CD80, and F4/80 accompanied by elevated mRNA levels of CD36, CD68, C1QA, and C3, suggesting evolved synaptic pruning. To closer evaluate how these profound changes affect synaptic balance, we established a highly sensitive multiplex flow cytometry-based approach called Flow Synaptometry. The introduction of this novel technique enabled us to simultaneously quantify the abundance of pre- and postsynapses from distinct brain regions. Our data reveal a significant reduction of VGLUT1 in excitatory presynaptic terminals in the Cortex and Hippoc us, identifying a subtle dysbalance in glutamatergic synapse transmission upon H1N1 infection in mice. In conclusion, our results highlight the consequences of systemic IAV-triggered inflammation on the central nervous system and the induction and progression of neuronal alterations.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 16-09-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-07-2017
DOI: 10.1038/CMI.2017.53
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-08-2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-07-2022
DOI: 10.1111/CEA.14200
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-07-2017
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-017-05212-4
Abstract: Airway epithelial cells (AECs) display remarkable plasticity in response to infectious stimuli and their functional adaptations are critical for antimicrobial immunity. However, the roles of AECs and humoral mediators to host defense in non-communicable lung inflammation remain elusive. We dissected pulmonary defense against Streptococcus pneumoniae in hosts with pre-existing inflammatory conditions (SPC-HAxTCR-HA mice). Lung tissue transcriptomics and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) proteomics revealed an induction of humoral defense mechanisms in inflamed lungs. Accordingly, besides antibacterial proteins and complement components being overrepresented in inflamed lungs, elevated polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR)-expression in AECs correlated with increased secretory immunoglobulin (SIg) transport. Consequently, opsonization assays revealed augmented pneumococcal coverage by SIgs present in the BALF of SPC-HAxTCR-HA mice, which was associated with enhanced antipneumococcal resistance. These findings emphasize the immunologic potential of AECs as well as their central role in providing antibacterial protection and put forward pIgR as potential target for therapeutic manipulation in infection-prone in iduals.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 13-02-2018
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-11-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S00408-021-00498-8
Abstract: Transport of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) through the airway epithelial cell barrier into the mucosal lumen by the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) is an important mechanism of respiratory mucosal host defense. Identification of immunomodulating substances that regulate secretory immunity might have therapeutic implications with regard to an improved immune exclusion. Thus, we sought to analyze secretory immunity under homeostatic and immunomodulating conditions in different compartments of the murine upper and lower respiratory tract (URT& LRT). Pigr gene expression in lung, trachea, and nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) of germ-free mice, specific pathogen-free mice, mice with an undefined microbiome, as well as LPS- and IFN-γ-treated mice was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. IgA levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), nasal lavage (NAL), and serum were determined by ELISA. LPS- and IFN-γ-treated mice were colonized with Streptococcus pneumoniae and bacterial CFUs were determined in URT and LRT. Respiratory Pigr expression and IgA levels were dependent on the degree of exposure to environmental microbial stimuli. While immunostimulation with LPS and IFN-γ differentially impacts respiratory Pigr expression and IgA in URT vs . LRT, only prophylactic IFN-γ treatment reduces nasal colonization with S. pneumoniae . Airway-associated secretory immunity can be partly modulated by exposure to microbial ligands and proinflammatory stimuli. Prophylactic IFN-γ-treatment modestly improves antibacterial immunity in the URT, but this does not appear to be mediated by SIgA or pIgR.
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 04-08-2021
DOI: 10.21203/RS.3.RS-759484/V1
Abstract: PurposeTransport of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) through the airway epithelial cell barrier into the mucosal lumen by the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) is an important mechanism of respiratory mucosal host defense. Identification of immunomodulating substances that regulate secretory immunity might have therapeutic implications with regard to an improved immune exclusion. Thus, we sought to analyze secretory immunity under homeostatic and immunomodulating conditions in different compartments of the murine upper and lower respiratory tract (URT& LRT). MethodsPigr gene expression in lung, trachea and nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) of germ-free mice, specific-pathogen-free mice, mice with an undefined microbiome as well as LPS- and IFN-γ-treated mice was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. IgA levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), nasal lavage (NAL) and serum were determined by ELISA. LPS- and IFN-γ-treated mice were colonized with Streptococcus pneumoniae and bacterial CFUs were determined in URT and LRT. ResultsRespiratory Pigr expression and IgA levels were dependent on the degree of exposure to environmental microbial stimuli. While immunostimulation with LPS and IFN-γ differentially impact respiratory Pigr expression and sIgA in URT vs . LRT, only prophylactic IFN-γ treatment reduces nasal colonization with S. pneumoniae . ConclusionAirway-associated secretory immunity can be partly modulated by exposure to microbial ligands and proinflammatory stimuli. Prophylactic IFN-γ-treatment significantly improves antibacterial immunity in the URT.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-2018
DOI: 10.3390/IJMS19092602
Abstract: The respiratory tract is constantly exposed to the environment and displays a favorable niche for colonizing microorganisms. However, the effects of respiratory bacterial carriage on the immune system and its implications for secondary responses remain largely unclear. We have employed respiratory carriage with Bordetella bronchiseptica as the underlying model to comprehensively address effects on subsequent immune responses. Carriage was associated with the stimulation of Bordetella-specific CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cell responses, and broad transcriptional activation was observed in CD4+CD25+ T cells. Importantly, transfer of leukocytes from carriers to acutely B. bronchiseptica infected mice, resulted in a significantly increased bacterial burden in the recipient’s upper respiratory tract. In contrast, we found that respiratory B. bronchiseptica carriage resulted in a significant benefit for the host in systemic infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Adaptive responses to vaccination and influenza A virus infection, were unaffected by B. bronchiseptica carriage. These data showed that there were significant immune modulatory processes triggered by B. bronchiseptica carriage, that differentially affect subsequent immune responses. Therefore, our results demonstrated the complexity of immune regulation induced by respiratory bacterial carriage, which can be beneficial or detrimental to the host, depending on the pathogen and the considered compartment.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-10-2015
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 12-12-2018
DOI: 10.1101/494864
Abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous β-herpesvirus that establishes life-long latent infection in a high percentage of the population worldwide. CMV induces the strongest and most durable CD8+ T cell response known in human clinical medicine. Due to its unique properties, the virus represents a promising candidate vaccine vector for the induction of persistent cellular immunity. To take advantage of this, we constructed a recombinant murine CMV (MCMV) expressing an MHC-I restricted epitope from influenza A virus (IAV) H1N1 within the immediate early 2 (ie2) gene. Only mice that were immunized intranasally (i.n.) were capable of controlling IAV infection, despite the greater potency of the intraperitoneally (i.p.) vaccination in inducing a systemic IAV-specific CD8+ T cell response. The protective capacity of the i.n. immunization was associated with its ability to induce IAV-specific tissue-resident memory CD8+ T (CD8TRM) cells in the lungs. Our data demonstrate that the protective effect exerted by the i.n. immunization was critically mediated by antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. CD8TRM cells promoted the induction of IFNγ and chemokines that facilitate the recruitment of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells to the lungs. Overall, our results showed that locally applied MCMV vectors could induce mucosal immunity at sites of entry, providing superior immune protection against respiratory infections.
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 26-10-2021
Abstract: Influenza A virus (IAV) causes respiratory tract disease and is responsible for seasonal and reoccurring epidemics affecting all age groups. Next to typical disease symptoms, such as fever and fatigue, IAV infection has been associated with behavioral alterations presumably contributing to the development of major depression.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 14-08-2019
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-08-2012
DOI: 10.1002/JSFA.5825
Abstract: Horseradish plants (Armoracia rusticana) contain high concentrations of glucosinolates. Former studies have revealed that Armoracia plants cultivated in vitro have markedly lower glucosinolate concentrations than those grown in soils. Yet, these studies neglected that the sulfate concentration in the growth medium may have had a strong impact on glucosinolate metabolism. Accordingly, in this study horseradish in vitro plants were cultivated with differing sulfate concentrations and the glucosinolate concentrations were quantified by ion pair HPLC. Cultivation in 1.7 mmol L(-1) sulfate (as used in the prior studies) resulted in the accumulation of 16.2 µmol g(-1) DW glucosinolates, while the glucosinolate concentration increased to more than 23 µmol g(-1) DW when 23.5 mmol L(-1) sulfate was used in the medium. Correspondingly, the glucosinolate concentration decreased to 1.6 µmol g(-1) DW when sulfate concentration was lowered to 0.2 mmol L(-1). Since the glucosinolate accumulation in relation to the sulfate concentration follows a typical saturation curve, we deduce that the availability of sulfate determines the glucosinolate concentration in horseradish in vitro plants.
Location: Germany
No related grants have been discovered for Julia Boehme.