COVID-19 in a lung transplant recipient: Exploring the diagnostic role of circulating exosomes and the clinical impact of advanced immunosuppression
TRANSPLANT INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Authors: Goodlet, Kellie J.; Bansal, Sandhya; Arjuna, Ashwini; Nailor, Michael D.; Buddhdev, Bhuvin; Abdelrazek, Hesham; Mohamed, Hesham; Omar, Ashraf; Walia, Rajat; Mohanakumar, Thalachallour; Tokman, Sofya
Abstract
Exosomes isolated from plasma of lung transplant recipients with allograft injury contain donor-derived lung self-antigens (collagen V and K alpha 1 tubulin) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules. We present a case of a 76-year-old, female lung transplant recipient treated for acute cellular rejection with methylprednisolone and anti-thymocyte globulin, who subsequently contracted SARS-CoV-2 and developed a sharp increase in the mean fluorescent intensity of anti-HLA antibodies. Analysis of circulating exosomes during rejection, but before SARS-CoV-2 infection, revealed the presence of lung self-antigens and HLA class II molecules. After the patient contracted SARS-CoV-2, exosomes with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were also found. After resolution of infectious symptoms, exosomes with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were no longer detected; however, exosomes with lung self-antigens and HLA class II molecules persisted, which coincided with a progressive decline in spirometric flows, suggesting chronic lung allograft dysfunction. We propose that the analysis of circulating exosomes may be used to detect allograft injury mediated by both rejection and infection. Furthermore, the detection of exosomes containing viral proteins may be helpful in identifying allograft injury driven by viral pathogens.
Arcopilus amazonicus (Chaetomiaceae), a new fungal species from the Amazon rainforest native plant Paullinia cupana
PHYTOTAXA
Authors: Sousa, Thiago F.; Dos Santos, Aline O.; Da Silva, Felipe M. A.; Caniato, Fernanda F.; De Queiroz, Claudia A.; De Souza, Thayna M.; Maciel, Joyce B. S.; Catarino, Aricleia De M.; Gwinner, Raoni; Prachya, Surasak; Kittakoop, Prasat; Angolini, Celio F. F.; Koolen, Hector H. F.; Silva, Gilvan F.
Abstract
Arcopilus is a genus recently proposed after the taxonomic restructuring of Chaetomium with only seven described species so far. During the characterization of the microbiome of the Amazonian guarana plant (Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis), nine red pigment-producing strains of fungi were isolated. These strains were identified through morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S large subunit (LSU), partial second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) and beta-tubulin (TUB2) regions. Moreover, chemical profiles were obtained via high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), in which the isolated strains were able to produce significant amounts of the polyketide oosporein. The obtained results indicate the occurrence of a new fungal species, A. amazonicus. Chemical analyses showed that oosporein is overproduced by these strains under laboratory culture conditions.