Scanning electron micrographs of B. subtilisIMAGE: COURTESY OF THE BEN-YEHUDA LABORATORY
1. Cytokines, infection blockers
Patients infected by Candida albicans -- the causative agent of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis disease (CMCD), an infection of the oral and genital mucosae, skin, and nails -- and possibly Staphylococcus aureus, often have mutations in genes encoding interleukin-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) and IL-17F, suggesting an essential role of these cytokines in protecting against such infections.
A. Puel et al., "Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis in humans with inborn errors of interleukin-17 immunity," Science, 332:65-8, 2011. Evaluated by Dan Conrad, Virginia Commonwealth Univ; Jay Kolls, LSU Health Sciences Cen; Klaus Ley, La Jolla Inst for Allergy & Immunology; Sarah Gaffen, Univ Pitt; Joshua Milner, National Inst of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Free F1000 evaluation
Researchers detail the crystal structure of ...