@article{gilbertie_schaer_engiles_seiler_deddens_schubert_jacob_stefanovski_ruthel_hickok_et al._2022, title={A Platelet-Rich Plasma-Derived Biologic Clears Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms While Mitigating Cartilage Degeneration and Joint Inflammation in a Clinically Relevant Large Animal Infectious Arthritis Model}, volume={12}, ISSN={2235-2988}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.895022}, DOI={10.3389/fcimb.2022.895022}, abstractNote={The leading cause of treatment failure in Staphylococcus aureus infections is the development of biofilms. Biofilms are highly tolerant to conventional antibiotics which were developed against planktonic cells. Consequently, there is a lack of antibiofilm agents in the antibiotic development pipeline. To address this problem, we developed a platelet-rich plasma (PRP)-derived biologic, termed BIO-PLY (for the BIOactive fraction of Platelet-rich plasma LYsate) which has potent in vitro bactericidal activity against S. aureus synovial fluid free-floating biofilm aggregates. Additional in vitro studies using equine synoviocytes and chondrocytes showed that BIO-PLY protected these cells of the joint from inflammation. The goal of this study was to test BIO-PLY for in vivo efficacy using an equine model of infectious arthritis. We found that horses experimentally infected with S. aureus and subsequently treated with BIO-PLY combined with the antibiotic amikacin (AMK) had decreased bacterial concentrations within both synovial fluid and synovial tissue and exhibited lower systemic and local inflammatory scores compared to horses treated with AMK alone. Most importantly, AMK+BIO-PLY treatment reduced the loss of infection-associated cartilage proteoglycan content in articular cartilage and decreased synovial tissue fibrosis and inflammation. Our results demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of AMK+BIO-PLY and represents a new approach to restore and potentiate antimicrobial activity against synovial fluid biofilms.}, journal={Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology}, publisher={Frontiers Media SA}, author={Gilbertie, Jessica M. and Schaer, Thomas P. and Engiles, Julie B. and Seiler, Gabriela S. and Deddens, Bennett L. and Schubert, Alicia G. and Jacob, Megan E. and Stefanovski, Darko and Ruthel, Gordon and Hickok, Noreen J. and et al.}, year={2022}, month={May} } @article{bitting_hedgespeth_ehrhardt-humbert_arthur_schubert_bradding_tilley_cruse_2022, title={Identification of redundancy between human Fc epsilon RI beta and MS4A6A proteins points toward additional complex mechanisms for Fc epsilon RI trafficking and signaling}, volume={12}, ISSN={["1398-9995"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/all.15595}, DOI={10.1111/all.15595}, abstractNote={AbstractBackgroundAllergic diseases are triggered by signaling through the high‐affinity IgE receptor, FcεRI. In both mast cells (MCs) and basophils, FcεRI is a tetrameric receptor complex comprising a ligand‐binding α subunit (FcεRIα), a tetraspan β subunit (FcεRIβ, MS4A2) responsible for trafficking and signal amplification, and a signal transducing dimer of single transmembrane γ subunits (FcεRIγ). However, FcεRI also exists as presumed trimeric complexes that lack FcεRIβ and are expressed on several cell types outside the MC and basophil lineages. Despite known differences between humans and mice in the presence of the trimeric FcεRI complex, questions remain as to how it traffics and whether it signals in the absence of FcεRIβ. We have previously reported that targeting FcεRIβ with exon‐skipping oligonucleotides eliminates IgE‐mediated degranulation in mouse MCs, but equivalent targeting in human MCs was not effective at reducing degranulation.ResultsHere, we report that the FcεRIβ‐like protein MS4A6A exists in human MCs and compensates for FcεRIβ in FcεRI trafficking and signaling. Human MS4A6A promotes surface expression of FcεRI complexes and facilitates degranulation. MS4A6A and FcεRIβ are encoded by highly related genes within the MS4A gene family that cluster within the human gene loci 11q12‐q13, a region linked to allergy and asthma susceptibility.ConclusionsOur data suggest the presence of either FcεRIβ or MS4A6A is sufficient for degranulation, indicating that MS4A6A could be an elusive FcεRIβ‐like protein in human MCs that performs compensatory functions in allergic disease.}, number={5}, journal={ALLERGY}, author={Bitting, Katie and Hedgespeth, Barry and Ehrhardt-Humbert, Lauren C. and Arthur, Greer K. and Schubert, Alicia G. and Bradding, Peter and Tilley, Stephen L. and Cruse, Glenn}, year={2022}, month={Dec} } @article{fowler_johannes_o'connor_collins_lustgarten_yuan_weishaar_sullivan_hume_mahoney_et al._2020, title={Ecological level analysis of primary lung tumors in dogs and cats and environmental radon activity}, volume={34}, ISSN={["1939-1676"]}, DOI={10.1111/jvim.15936}, abstractNote={AbstractBackgroundEpidemiologic studies suggest residential radon exposure might increase the risk of primary lung cancer in people, but these studies are limited by subject mobility. This limitation might be overcome by evaluating the association in pets.HypothesisPrimary pulmonary neoplasia (PPN) rate is higher in dogs and cats residing in counties with a high radon exposure risk (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] zone 1) compared to zones 2 (moderate radon exposure risk) and 3 (low radon exposure risk).AnimalsSix hundred ninety client‐owned dogs and 205 client‐owned cats with PPN.MethodsRetrospective review of medical records at 10 veterinary colleges identified dogs and cats diagnosed with PPN between 2010 and 2015. Each patient's radon exposure was determined by matching the patient's zip code with published county radon exposure risk. County level PPN rates were calculated using the average annual county cat and dog populations. The PPN counts per 100 000 dog/cat years at risk (PPN rates) were compared across radon zones for each species.ResultsThe PPN rate ratio in counties in high radon zone (1) was approximately 2‐fold higher than in counties in lower radon zones for dogs (rate ratio zone 1 to 2, 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56‐4.00; rate ratio zone 1 to 3, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.46‐3.59) and cats (rate ratio zone 1 to 2, 2.13; 95% CI, 0.95‐4.79; zone 1 to 3, 1.81; 95% CI, 0.9‐3.61).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceExposure to household radon might play a role in development of PPN in dogs and cats.}, number={6}, journal={JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE}, author={Fowler, Brittany L. and Johannes, Chad M. and O'Connor, Annette and Collins, Deanna and Lustgarten, Jonathan and Yuan, Chaohui and Weishaar, Kristen and Sullivan, Kelly and Hume, Kelly R. and Mahoney, Jennifer and et al.}, year={2020}, month={Nov}, pages={2660–2670} } @article{gilbertie_schaer_schubert_jacob_menegatti_lavoie_schnabel_2020, title={Platelet-rich plasma lysate displays antibiofilm properties and restores antimicrobial activity against synovial fluid biofilms in vitro}, volume={38}, ISSN={["1554-527X"]}, DOI={10.1002/jor.24584}, abstractNote={AbstractInfectious arthritis is difficult to treat in both human and veterinary clinical practice. Recent literature reports Staphylococcus aureus as well as other gram‐positive and gram‐negative isolates forming free‐floating biofilms in both human and equine synovial fluid that are tolerant to traditional antimicrobial therapy. Using an in vitro equine model, we investigated the ability of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) formulations to combat synovial fluid biofilm aggregates. Synovial fluid was infected, and biofilm aggregates allowed to form over a 2‐hour period. PRP was collected and processed into different formulations by platelet concentration, leukocyte presence, and activation or lysis. Infected synovial fluid was treated with different PRP formulations with or without aminoglycoside cotreatment. Bacterial load (colony‐forming unit/mL) was determined by serial dilutions and plate counting at 8 hours posttreatment. All PRP formulations displayed antimicrobial properties; however, formulations containing higher concentrations of platelets without leukocytes had increased antimicrobial activity. Lysis of PRP and pooling of the PRP lysate (PRP‐L) from multiple horses as compared to individual horses further increased antimicrobial activity. This activity was lost with the removal of the plasma component or inhibition of the proteolytic activity within the plasma. Fractionation of pooled PRP‐L identified the bioactive components to be cationic and low‐molecular weight (<10 kDa). Overall, PRP‐L exhibited synergism with amikacin against aminoglycoside tolerant biofilm aggregates with greater activity against gram‐positive bacteria. In conclusion, the use of PRP‐L has the potential to augment current antimicrobial treatment regimens which could lead to a decrease in morbidity and mortality associated with infectious arthritis.}, number={6}, journal={JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH}, author={Gilbertie, Jessica M. and Schaer, Thomas P. and Schubert, Alicia G. and Jacob, Megan E. and Menegatti, Stefano and Lavoie, R. Ashton and Schnabel, Lauren V}, year={2020}, month={Jun}, pages={1365–1374} }