Intracellular microbes and haemophagocytosis

Intracellular sensors of microbes and danger.

2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Immunological Reviews 0105-2896 The editors of this volume of Immunological Reviews respectfully acknowledge the passing of Jürg Tschopp, who died suddenly on March 22, 2011. A towering figure in the field, Jürg made many important contributions to our understanding of cell death and inflammation signaling pathways. His seminal description of the inflammasome has not ...

Lice, Humans, and Microbes

Lice are small, wingless, minor ectoparasites of mammals and birds. More than 540  blood-sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) have been described with each host having its own type of louse, suggesting the cospeciation of the lice species with their host. Among these, two lice species from two different genera infest humans: Pediculus humanus and Phthirus pubis (pubic “crab” l...

Haemophagocytosis in typhoid fever.

This report deals with a young man who developed features of haemophogocytosis during the course of typhoid fever. The pertinent clinical and laboratory features of typhoid-associated haemophagocytosis are discussed. The need for blood component replacement therapy in addition to specific anti-microbials to treat haemophagocytosis complicating typhoid fever is stressed.

Visceral leishmaniasis complicated by haemophagocytosis.

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase and haemophagocytosis in the sepsis syndrome.

Sepsis syndrome (SS) is associated with depressed PAF acetylhydrolase, the enzyme responsible for the degradation of platelet activating factor. PAF acetylhydrolase is in a large part produced by macrophages, whose inadequate activation with haemophagocytosis is frequent in patients with SS. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that PAF acetylhydrolase levels could be affected in th...