Biology subjects

Rathore, D. K.

Publications and source records attributed to Rathore, D. K..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Antibody Responses to Salmonella Typhi Antigens among Typhoid Recovered Individuals in an Endemic Region

BackgroundTyphoid fever remains a major public health concern in endemic regions, yet the nature of antibody responses to individual Salmonella Typhi antigens and their potential role in modulating cellular immune functions are not well understood. This gap also applies to the long-term immune response after the vaccination against the disease. ObjectivesTo evaluate the humoral and cellular immune response against the Salmonella Typhi antigens among the Typhoid recovered individuals. MethodsELISA was used to measure antibody responses against five S. Typhi antigens in plasma samples from typhoid-recovered individuals and healthy participants. Vi polysaccharide-specific plasma antibodies were tested for their ability to activate NK cells isolated from healthy donors. Flow cytometry-based assays were performed to analyze T cell and B cell profiles in the peripheral circulation of these individuals. ResultsPolysaccharide antigens mounted better IgA responses among typhoid-recovered individuals compared with healthy participants. Anti-S. Typhi IgM was significantly elevated in the typhoid group for all five antigens (p<0.05), while no significant differences were observed in IgG responses. NK cell activation assays showed comparable levels of activation markers of the NK cells isolated from healthy individuals and treated with the plasma of Typhoid recovered individuals. Analysis of B cell subsets revealed largely comparable distributions between the two groups; however, transitional B cells were elevated among the Typhoid recovered individuals. HlyE-specific memory B cells were detectable in both the groups. CD4 T cell subsets were similar between typhoid-recovered and healthy individuals, whereas differences were observed in CD8 T cell populations, with higher TEMRA cells among recovered individuals and relatively higher central memory CD8 T cells in healthy participants. ConclusionPolysaccharide antigens elicited significantly better IgA response in recovered typhoid participants, possibly reflecting mucosal immune priming from the gut. Persistent IgM antibodies after recovery suggest durable IgM responses following typhoid infection. Similar IgG levels between groups and the presence of antigen-specific memory cells in healthy individuals highlight the influence of repeated exposure in endemic settings. Elevated transitional B cells suggest the reinforcement of the B cells to the peripheral circulation during the disease which remained in the circulation of these individuals. However, elevated TEMRA population of the CD8 T cells has been observed in several other infectious diseases including this study. These findings demonstrate the complexity of humoral and cellular immune responses to S. Typhi in endemic regions.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2025

Cytokine profiling identifies circulating IL-2, IL23 and sPD-L1 as prognostic biomarkers for treatment outcomes in Non-Small cell Lung Cancer patients undergoing anti-PD1 therapy

BackgroundThis study investigates the predictive potential of circulating cytokines for response and survival outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Materials and MethodsA cohort of 64 patients with advanced NSCLC receiving ICI therapy were included. Baseline serum samples were collected prior to ICI initiation and profiled using a multiplex cytokine panel. Logistic regression, Cox regression, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were employed to assess associations between cytokine levels, therapeutic response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Gene expression levels of key cytokines were validated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using quantitative real-time PCR. ResultsElevated baseline levels of IL-2, IL-23, and sPD-L1 were significantly associated with clinical response to ICI therapy. Among these, sPD-L1 emerged as an independent predictor of response (AUC = 0.87). Multivariate Cox regression showed IL-2 (HR = 0.67), sPD-L1 (HR = 0.15), and IL-23 (HR = 1.18) were significantly associated with PFS and also predictive of OS. Notably, combined profiling of IL-2 and sPD-L1 enhanced predictive power (AUC = 0.95 for both PFS and OS). RT-PCR analysis of PBMCs corroborated these findings, confirming upregulation of IL-2 in responders and elevated IL-23 expression in non-responders. ConclusionBaseline cytokine profiling particularly of IL-2, sPD-L1, and IL-23 provides important prognostic and predictive information in advanced NSCLC patients undergoing ICI therapy. These biomarkers may facilitate more personalized approaches to immunotherapy and guide clinical decision-making.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2023

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies cross-react and enhance dengue infection

The presence of non-neutralizing antibodies of any dengue serotype, increase the severity of subsequent infection by other dengue serotypes. During SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the number of symptomatic dengue cases increased in India. We describe that antibodies isolated from convalescent plasma from COVID-19 patients enhances DENV2 infection in vitro. CR3022, one antibody against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, also showed elevated DENV2 infection in vitro. In silico protein-protein interactions between the spike antibodies and the DENV2 E-protein revealed significant interactions. Likewise, few monoclonal/polyclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 showed increased dengue infection in vitro. Importantly, the AG129 mice infected with SARS-CoV-2 three-weeks prior to DENV2 infection, showed elevated dengue pathogenesis. Thus, highlighting the possibilities of elevated infection and symptomatic dengue disease in COVID-19 survivors.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2022

Innate immune response and distinct metabolomic signatures together drive and shape the SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell response during COVID-19

The underlying factors contributing to the evolution of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses during COVID-19 infection remain unidentified. To address this, we characterized innate and adaptive immune responses with metabolomic profiling longitudinally at three different time points (0-3, 7-9, and 14-16 days post-COVID-19 positivity) from young mildly symptomatic active COVID-19 patients infected during the first wave in mid-2020. We observed that anti-RBD IgG and viral neutralization are significantly reduced against the Delta variant compared to the ancestral strain. In contrast, compared to the ancestral strain, T cell responses remain preserved against the delta and omicron variants. We determined innate immune responses during the early stage of active infection in response to TLR 3/7/8 mediated activation in PBMCs and serum metabolomic profiling. Correlation analysis indicated PBMCs-derived proinflammatory cytokines, IL-18, IL-1{beta}, and IL-23, and the abundance of plasma metabolites involved in arginine biosynthesis were predictive of a robust SARS-CoV-2-specific Th1 response at a later stage (two weeks after PCR positivity). These observations may contribute to designing effective vaccines and adjuvants that promote innate immune responses and metabolites to induce long-lasting anti-SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells response.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2021

A combination of potently neutralizing monoclonal antibodies isolated from an Indian convalescent donor protects against the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant

Although efficacious vaccines have significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19, there remains an unmet medical need for treatment options, which monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can potentially fill. This unmet need is exacerbated by the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) that have shown some resistance to vaccine responses. Here we report the isolation of two highly potently neutralizing mAbs (THSC20.HVTR04 and THSC20.HVTR26) from an Indian convalescent donor, that neutralize SARS-CoV-2 VOCs at picomolar concentrations including the delta variant (B.1.617.2). These two mAbs target non-overlapping epitopes on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein thereby preventing the virus attachment to its host receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (hACE2). Furthermore, the mAb cocktail demonstrated protection against the Delta variant at low antibody doses when passively administered in the K18 hACE2 transgenic mice model, highlighting their potential as cocktail for prophylactic and therapeutic applications. Developing the capacity to rapidly discover and develop mAbs effective against highly transmissible pathogens like coronaviruses at a local level, especially in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) such as India, will enable prompt responses to future pandemics as an important component of global pandemic preparedness. HighlightsO_LIIdentification of an Indian convalescent donor prior to emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant whose plasma demonstrated neutralization breadth across SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). C_LIO_LITwo (THSC20.HVTR04 and THSC20.HVTR26) monoclonal antibodies isolated from peripheral memory B cells potently neutralize SARS-CoV-2 VOCs: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and VOIs: Kappa and Delta Plus. C_LIO_LITHSC20.HVTR04 and THSC20.HVTR26 target non-competing epitopes on the receptor binding domain (RBD) and represent distinct germline lineages. C_LIO_LIPassive transfer of THSC20.HVTR04 and THSC20.HVTR26 mAbs demonstrated protection against Delta virus challenge in K18-hACE2 mice at low antibody doses. C_LI Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=142 SRC="FIGDIR/small/474152v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (31K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1f1b55corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1b9b438org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@e6d2a6org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@f92cd_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Megakaryopoiesis in Dengue virus infected K562 cell promotes viral replication which inhibits endomitosis and accumulation of ROS associated with differentiation

In the human host blood Monocytes and bone marrow Megakaryocytes are implicated as major sites supporting high replication. The human K562 cell line supports DENV replication and represent Megakaryocyte-Erythrocyte progenitors (MEP), replicating features of in vivo Megakaryopoiesis upon stimulation with Phorbol esters. In this article, we report results that indicate the mutual influence of Megakaryopoiesis and DENV replication on each other, through comparison of PMA-induced differentiation of either mock-infected or DENV-infected K562 cells. We present data showing PMA-induced differentiation to drastically increase DENV replication and a concomitant augmented secretion of infectious virus. Although the mechanism is not clear yet, we show that it is not through an increased uptake of virus by differentiated cells. On the other hand, DENV replication in cells undergoing PMA-induced differentiation, interferes with major differentiation markers of Megakaryopoiesis including activation of ERK1/2 MAP Kinase, endomitosis and surface expression of platelet-specific proteins without any drastic effect on cell death. Among signaling intermediaries of the JAK-STAT pathway, we observed infection associated degradation of SOC3 protein similar to earlier observations with STAT2. DENV infection leads to accumulation of Reactive-oxygen species (ROS) in different cells including K562. PMA-induced differentiation of uninfected K562 cells also leads to intracellular ROS accumulation. Interestingly, we observed ROS accumulation to be suppressed by concomitant DENV replication in K562 cells undergoing PMA-induced differentiation. This is the first report of a model system where DENV replication suppresses intracellular ROS accumulation. The implications of these results for Megakaryopoiesis and viral replication would be discussed.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.View Full Text

microbiology↗