https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 Inhibition of allergic airways disease by immunomodulatory therapy with whole killed Streptococcus pneumoniae https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:22116 Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn). The effect of Spn IMT on the development of asthma [allergic airways disease (AAD)] was determined in mice. Killed Spn was administered before, during or after ovalbumin sensitization, and the subsequent development of AAD was assessed. IMT attenuated T cell cytokine production, goblet cell hyperplasia, airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and eosinophil numbers in the blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and peribronchial tissue. This indicates the potential of Spn as an IMT for asthma.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:13:18 AEDT ]]> Neonatal chlamydial infection induces mixed T-cell responses that drive allergic airway disease https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:22114 Chlamydia-induced lung disease was observed 10–15 days after infection, as evidenced by increased bacterial numbers and histopathology in the lung and a reduction in weight gain. After 6 weeks, infection and histopathology had resolved and the rate of weight gain had recovered. Neonatal but not adult infection resulted in significant decreases in interleukin-5 production from helper T cells and by the numbers of eosinophils recruited to the lung in response to ovalbumin exposure. Remarkably, the effects of early-life infection were associated with the generation of both type 1 and 2 ovalbumin-specific helper T-cell cytokine and antibody responses. Furthermore, although neonatal infection significantly attenuated eosinophilia, the generation of the mixed T-cell response exacerbated other hallmark features of asthma: mucus hypersecretion and airway hyperresponsiveness. Moreover, infection prolonged the expression of AAD and these effects were restricted to early-life infection. Conclusions: Early-life chlamydial infection induces a mixed type 1 and 2 T-cell response to antigen, which differentially affects the development of key features of AAD in the adult.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:13:18 AEDT ]]>