Stuart M. Levitz
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View article: Vaccine-Mediated Protection of Mice Against African and Asian Clinical Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans
Vaccine-Mediated Protection of Mice Against African and Asian Clinical Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans Open
Infections with strains of the Cryptococcus neoformans species complex are responsible for over 100,000 deaths per year, predominantly due to meningitis in immunocompromised individuals. Despite much research, there are no licensed fungal …
View article: Vaccine-Mediated Protection of Mice Against African and Asian Clinical Strains of <em>Cryptococcus neoformans</em>
Vaccine-Mediated Protection of Mice Against African and Asian Clinical Strains of <em>Cryptococcus neoformans</em> Open
Infections with strains of the Cryptococcus neoformans species complex are responsible for over 100,000 deaths per year, predominantly due to meningitis in immunocompromised individuals. Despite much research, there are no licensed fungal …
View article: Peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to Cryptococcus candidate vaccine antigens in human subjects with and without cryptococcosis
Peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to Cryptococcus candidate vaccine antigens in human subjects with and without cryptococcosis Open
Immunological studies of persons with cryptococcal disease without known immunocompromise could inform vaccine development and identify novel requirements for antifungal immunity. We tested recall responses to heat-killed (HK) Cryptococcus…
View article: Use of sequential lateral flow assays to diagnose cryptococcal infection among people living with HIV in Monrovia, Liberia
Use of sequential lateral flow assays to diagnose cryptococcal infection among people living with HIV in Monrovia, Liberia Open
Cryptococcal meningitis is one of the top causes of morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV/AIDS. In high prevalence regions, current recommendations are to screen individuals with blood CD4 + T cell counts less than 200 cells/µl…
View article: Immunological correlates of protection mediated by a whole organism, <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> , vaccine deficient in chitosan
Immunological correlates of protection mediated by a whole organism, <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> , vaccine deficient in chitosan Open
The global burden of infections due to the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus is substantial in persons with low CD4 + T-cell counts. Previously, we deleted three chitin deacetylase genes from Cryptococcus neoformans to create a chitosan-defic…
View article: Protection against experimental cryptococcosis elicited by Cationic Adjuvant Formulation 01-adjuvanted subunit vaccines
Protection against experimental cryptococcosis elicited by Cationic Adjuvant Formulation 01-adjuvanted subunit vaccines Open
The fungal infection, cryptococcosis, is responsible for >100,000 deaths annually. No licensed vaccines are available. We explored the efficacy and immune responses of subunit cryptococcal vaccines adjuvanted with Cationic Adjuvant Formula…
View article: Immunological correlates of protection mediated by a whole organism<i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>vaccine deficient in chitosan
Immunological correlates of protection mediated by a whole organism<i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>vaccine deficient in chitosan Open
The global burden of infections due to the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus is substantial in persons with low CD4 + T cell counts. Previously, we deleted three chitin deacetylase genes from C. neoformans to create a chitosan-deficient, avir…
View article: A glucan-particle based tularemia subunit vaccine induces T-cell immunity and affords partial protection in an inhalation rat infection model
A glucan-particle based tularemia subunit vaccine induces T-cell immunity and affords partial protection in an inhalation rat infection model Open
Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by the facultative intracellular gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis . F . tularensis has a very low infection dose by the aerosol route which can result in an acute, and potentially lethal…
View article: Protection against experimental cryptococcosis elicited by Cationic Adjuvant Formulation 01-adjuvanted subunit vaccines
Protection against experimental cryptococcosis elicited by Cationic Adjuvant Formulation 01-adjuvanted subunit vaccines Open
The fungal infection, cryptococcosis, is responsible for >100,000 deaths annually. No licensed vaccines are available. We explored the efficacy and immune responses of subunit cryptococcal vaccines adjuvanted with Cationic Adjuvant Formula…
View article: Immune evasion by Cryptococcus gattii in vaccinated mice coinfected with C. neoformans
Immune evasion by Cryptococcus gattii in vaccinated mice coinfected with C. neoformans Open
Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii , the etiologic agents of cryptococcosis, cause over 100,000 deaths worldwide every year, yet no cryptococcal vaccine has progressed to clinical trials. In preclinical studies, mice vaccinated with an …
View article: Dysregulated pulmonary inflammatory responses exacerbate the outcome of secondary aspergillosis following influenza
Dysregulated pulmonary inflammatory responses exacerbate the outcome of secondary aspergillosis following influenza Open
Inhalation of airborne conidia of the ubiquitous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus commonly occurs but invasive aspergillosis is rare except in profoundly immunocompromised persons. Severe influenza predisposes patients to invasive pulmonary as…
View article: Dysregulated Pulmonary Inflammatory Responses Exacerbate the Outcome of Secondary Aspergillosis Following Influenza
Dysregulated Pulmonary Inflammatory Responses Exacerbate the Outcome of Secondary Aspergillosis Following Influenza Open
Inhalation of airborne conidia of the ubiquitous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus commonly occurs but invasive aspergillosis is rare except in profoundly immunocompromised persons. Severe influenza predisposes patients to invasive pulmonary as…
View article: One Step Purification—Vaccine Delivery System
One Step Purification—Vaccine Delivery System Open
Glucan particles (GPs) are hollow, porous 3–5 µm microspheres derived from the cell walls of Baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Their 1,3-β-glucan outer shell allows for receptor-mediated uptake by macrophages and other phagocytic i…
View article: Immunological correlates of protection following vaccination with glucan particles containing Cryptococcus neoformans chitin deacetylases
Immunological correlates of protection following vaccination with glucan particles containing Cryptococcus neoformans chitin deacetylases Open
Vaccination with glucan particles (GP) containing the Cryptococcus neoformans chitin deacetylases Cda1 and Cda2 protect mice against experimental cryptococcosis. Here, immunological correlates of vaccine-mediated protection were explored. …
View article: Similar evolutionary trajectories in an environmental <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> isolate after human and murine infection
Similar evolutionary trajectories in an environmental <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> isolate after human and murine infection Open
A pet cockatoo was the suspected source of Cryptococcus neoformans recovered from an immunocompromised patient with cryptococcosis based on molecular analyses available in 2000. Here, we report whole genome sequence analysis of the clinica…
View article: Immunological correlates of protection following vaccination with glucan particles containing Cryptococcus neoformans chitin deacetylases
Immunological correlates of protection following vaccination with glucan particles containing Cryptococcus neoformans chitin deacetylases Open
Vaccination with glucan particles (GP) containing the Cryptococcus neoformans chitin deacetylases Cda1 and Cda2 protect mice against experimental cryptococcosis. Here, immunological correlates of vaccine-mediated protection were explored. …
View article: Cross-reactivity between vaccine antigens from the chitin deacetylase protein family improves survival in a mouse model of cryptococcosis
Cross-reactivity between vaccine antigens from the chitin deacetylase protein family improves survival in a mouse model of cryptococcosis Open
Meningitis due to the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is estimated to cause nearly 200,000 deaths annually, mostly in resource-limited regions. We previously identified cryptococcal protein antigens which, when delivered in glucan …
View article: When Community-Acquired Pneumonia Guidelines Provide Misguided Guidance
When Community-Acquired Pneumonia Guidelines Provide Misguided Guidance Open
Limited diagnostic testing and empirical antimicrobial therapy are recommended in practice guidelines for adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Although following CAP guidelines is cost-effective with high cure rates, considerati…
View article: Human and murine <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> infection selects for common genomic changes in an environmental isolate
Human and murine <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> infection selects for common genomic changes in an environmental isolate Open
A pet cockatoo was the suspected source of Cryptococcus neoformans recovered from the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of an immunocompromised patient with cryptococcosis based on the molecular analyses available in 2000. Here we report whole g…
View article: Protection of Mice against Experimental Cryptococcosis by Synthesized Peptides Delivered in Glucan Particles
Protection of Mice against Experimental Cryptococcosis by Synthesized Peptides Delivered in Glucan Particles Open
Cryptococcosis, due to infection by fungi of the Cryptococcus neoformans species complex, is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised persons, particularly those with AIDS. Cryptococcal vaccines are a public…
View article: Protection of mice against experimental cryptococcosis by synthesized peptides delivered in glucan particles
Protection of mice against experimental cryptococcosis by synthesized peptides delivered in glucan particles Open
The high global burden of cryptococcosis has made development of a protective vaccine a public health priority. We previously demonstrated that a vaccine composed of recombinant Cryptococcus neoformans chitin deacetylase 2 (Cda2) delivered…
View article: Cryptococcus neoformans Cda1 and Cda2 coordinate deacetylation of chitin during infection to control fungal virulence
Cryptococcus neoformans Cda1 and Cda2 coordinate deacetylation of chitin during infection to control fungal virulence Open
Chitosan, a deacetylated form of chitin, is required for the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. There are three chitin deacetylase genes (CDA) that are essential for chitosan production, and deletion of all three genes results in the ab…
View article: Lung eosinophils elicited during allergic and acute aspergillosis express RORγt and IL-23R but do not require IL-23 for IL-17 production
Lung eosinophils elicited during allergic and acute aspergillosis express RORγt and IL-23R but do not require IL-23 for IL-17 production Open
Exposure to the mold, Aspergillus , is ubiquitous and generally has no adverse consequences in immunocompetent persons. However, invasive and allergic aspergillosis can develop in immunocompromised and atopic individuals, respectively. Pre…
View article: Expanded access use of rezafungin for salvage therapy of invasive <i>Candida glabrata</i> infection: A case report
Expanded access use of rezafungin for salvage therapy of invasive <i>Candida glabrata</i> infection: A case report Open
Rezafungin is a semi-synthetic, long acting echinocandin with broad spectrum activity against many Candida species (spp)., and Aspergillus spp., including subset of drug-resistant strains. It is currently in phase III trials and was found …
View article: The “Black Fungus” in India: The Emerging Syndemic of COVID-19–Associated Mucormycosis
The “Black Fungus” in India: The Emerging Syndemic of COVID-19–Associated Mucormycosis Open
India is experiencing a second wave of COVID-19, with 28.2 million cases reported as of this writing, although this is likely an underestimate; the true toll is estimated at more than 500 million cases. The unprecedented increase in COVID-…
View article: SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in a Liver Transplant Recipient
SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in a Liver Transplant Recipient Open
Letters20 April 2021SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in a Liver Transplant RecipientFREEChristopher H. Tomkins-Tinch, BS, Jennifer S. Daly, MD, Adrianne Gladden-Young, MS, Nicole M. Theodoropoulos, MD, MS, Michael P. Madaio, DO, Neng Yu, MD, Vijay K…
View article: Structural basis of Blastomyces Endoglucanase-2 adjuvancy in anti-fungal and -viral immunity
Structural basis of Blastomyces Endoglucanase-2 adjuvancy in anti-fungal and -viral immunity Open
The development of safe subunit vaccines requires adjuvants that augment immunogenicity of non-replicating protein-based antigens. Current vaccines against infectious diseases preferentially induce protective antibodies driven by adjuvants…