Conveners
In-host infections, HIV, immunity
- Harshana Rajakaruna (University of Tennessee)
The elderly population is particularly susceptible to infectious diseases, such as influenza, as evidenced by increased occurrence and severity of infection, and reduced vaccine efficacy. Studies suggest an association between persistent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and deficiencies of the aged immune system. CMV is a common herpes virus that infects up to 85% of the population aged 40...
Recent studies show that human immune system interacts with intestinal microbiome. A certain group of intestinal bacteria is known to be possible suppressor of undesirable immune response [1]. They produce short chain fatty acid such as butyrate and induce regulatory T cells [1]. Regulatory T cells are suppressor of exaggerated immune responses [2]. Therefore, collapse of the ecological...
Tuberculosis (TB), a deadly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The disease is characterized by the development of granulomas consisting of immune cells that form a cluster around the bacteria to limit bacterial growth and disease outcomes. Control of the TB epidemic is limited by a complicated drug regimen, development of antibiotic resistance, and the...
Understanding the mechanisms of HIV latency is important in the development of strategies for managing infection. Time from infection until production of virus has been shown to vary among infected cells, hence challenging the dichotomous assumption that cells are either latent or productively infected at time of infection. In this paper, we will explore the implications of an alternative...
Experiments in rhesus macaques have shown that for simian immunodeficiency virus the size of the viral inoculum and the infection stage of the donor animal alter the likelihood of establishment of infection. In this study, we postulate a role for the host and donor antibodies in explaining the dependence of infectiousness on donor infection stage. The resulting mathematical model exhibits...
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infection. It can also infect the eyes and is a major cause of blindness in many developing countries. During the infection of a mammalian host, Chlamydia must decide when to proliferate and when to convert into a differentiated form, since the differentiated form is the only form to survive outside the host...