Background Probiotics positively affect inflammatory responses, in part, through Janus kinase/signal transduction and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) and inflammatory signaling pathways. To evaluate the precise effects of probiotics as protective treatment, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and a mixture of these probiotics in modulating the JAK/STAT and inflammatory signaling pathways. Methods A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was used to analyze the expression of JAK/STAT and inflammatory genes (TIRAP, IRAK4, NEMO, and RIP) following HT-29 cell line treatment with sonicated pathogens Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and a mixed cocktail. A cytokine assay was also used to evaluate the IL-6 and IL-1β production following the probiotic treatment. Results The probiotic cocktail downregulated the JAK genes and TIRAP, IRAK4, NEMO, and RIP genes in the NF-kB pathway compared to sonicate pathogen treatment cells. The expression of STAT genes was variable following probiotic treatment. The IL-6 and IL-1β production decreased after probiotic treatment. Conclusions Our probiotic cocktail showed anti-inflammatory effects on HT-29 cells by modulating JAK/STAT and NF-kB pathways. Therefore, Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. probiotics as nutritional supplements may reduce inflammation-associated diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Background: Probiotics have a beneficial effect on inflammatory responses and immune regulation, via Janus kinase/signal transduction and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) and NF-κB signaling pathways. To evaluate the precise effects of Lactobacillus spp. as a protective and therapeutic agent, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of Lactobacillus spp. in modulating JAK/ STAT and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inflammatory signaling pathways. Methods: A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was used to analyze the expression of JAK/STAT and inflammatory genes (TIR-associated Protein [TIRAP], Interleukin 1 Receptor Associated Kinase [IRAK4], Nuclear factor-kappa B Essential Modulator [NEMO], and receptor interacting protein [RIP]) followed by treatment of the HT-29 cell line with sonicated pathogens before, after, and simultaneously with Lactobacillus spp.A cytokine assay was also used to evaluate interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β production after treatment with Lactobacillus spp. Results: Lactobacillus spp. downregulated JAK and TIRAP, IRAK4, NEMO, and RIP genes in the NF-κB pathway compared to sonicate-treated cells. The expression of STAT genes was different after treatment with probiotics. The production of IL-6 and IL-1β decreased after probiotic treatment.Conclusions: Our Lactobacillus spp. cocktail showed anti-inflammatory effects on HT-29 cells by modulating JAK/STAT and NF-κB signaling pathways in all three treatment variants. Therefore, Lactobacillus spp. as a dietary supplement can both prevent and reduce inflammation-related diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Classical (CKp) and hypervirulent (hvKp) Klebsiella pneumoniae are two different circulating pathotypes. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, epidemiology and molecular relatedness of hvKps using a systemic review and meta-analysis. The data extracted from Medline, Embase, and Web of Science and finally 14 studies met the eligible criteria. To combine prevalence proportions of all studies, we performed the metaprop command embedded in the Meta package software. Totally, of 1814 K. pneumoniae isolates, 21.7% (394/1814) were hvKp. The molecular typing showed that all hvKp isolates were grouped into 50 different sequence types (STs) of them ST23, ST11, ST65 and ST86 were common. K1, K2 and K64 were dominant capsule serotypes that strongly related to ST23, ST65 and ST11, respectively. It seems that clonal group 23 (CG23) is associated with liver abscess and CG11 related to various clinical sources.

Significance and Impact of the Study: Several aetiologic mechanisms are suspected in IBD, including an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signal transduction pathways. JAK/STAT plays various roles in association with different types of cytokines that might influence the status of IBD. Balancing and modulating the immune system and strain-specific anti-inflammatory abilities are two of the crucial features of probiotics. Bifidobacterium spp. could play an important role in modulating JAK/STAT and NF-kB signalling pathways.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen causing high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients with prolonged hospitalization. Multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections are on the rise worldwide. Therefore, the discovery of an effective vaccine against this bacterium seems necessary as a cost-effective and preventive strategy. Methods: In this present study, 35 genomes of A. baumannii strains were considered, and the extracellular proteins were selected, maximally having one transmembrane helix with high adhesion probability and no similarity to host proteins, as immunogenic candidates using the web tool Vaxign. Subsequently, the role of these selected proteins in bacterial pathogenesis was investigated using VICMpred. Then, the major histocompatibility complex class II, linear B-cell epitopes, and conservation of epitopes were identified using the Immune Epitope Database, BepiPred, and Epitope Conservancy Analysis, respectively. Finally, the B-cell discontinuous epitopes of each protein were predicted using ElliPro and plotted on the three-dimensional structure (3D) of the proteins. The role of the unknown proteins was predicted using the STRING database. Results: In this study, eight acceptable immunogenic candidates, including FilF, FimA, putative acid phosphatase, putative exported protein, subtilisin-like serine protease, and three uncharacterized proteins, were identified in A. baumannii. Conclusions: The results of the STRING database showed that these three uncharacterized proteins play a role in nutrition (heme utilization), peptide bond cleavage (serine peptidases), and cellular processes (MlaD protein). Extracellular proteins might play a catalyst role in the outer membrane protein-based vaccine of A. baumannii. Furthermore, this study proposed a list of potent immunogenic candidates of extracellular proteins.