Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are mother cell derived transport units released into the extracellular environment. They are a new pillar of intercellular communication as they carry nucleic acids, proteins, and other signalling molecules, protecting them from degradation in the extracellular environment until fusion of the vesicle with the target cell. The transport mechanism relies on surface structures involved in cell adhesion. It is well known that all cellular organisms are capable of producing EVs. Most human cells have this capability, and EVs can be detected in all body compartments. At the time of their discovery, EVs were considered as useless waste vesicles of marginal interest. Thanks to the newly described transport mechanisms of biologically active molecules, EVs are currently known to participate in a variety of homeostatic mechanisms. In infectious diseases, the most studied area is the modulation of the immune response, where they are seen as potential biomarkers, as their production or the content they carry can be altered under pathological conditions. For microbes, interactions at the pathogen-pathogen and pathogen-host level are at the forefront of attention. EVs also have potential for use as drug delivery systems and novel targets for pharmacotherapy.

• Klíčová slova
• biomarker, extracellular vesicles, extracelulární vezikuly, infectious diseases, pathogen,
• MeSH
• biologické markery analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• extracelulární vezikuly * chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• infekční nemoci * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the immune response after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is essential to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent studies indicate that vaccine-induced humoral immunity may not be long-lasting and is weaker in the elderly. METHODOLOGY AND SAMPLE: At the turn of June and July 2021, 653 seniors (426 women and 197 men with a mean age of 74 years) were tested once for antibodies against SARS-Cov-2 in the South Moravian Region between 9 and 161 days after the second dose of vaccine (558 Pfizer -BioNTech, 28 Moderna, 36 AstraZeneca, 1 Johnson & Johnson). Samples of the whole capillary blood were tested in two point-of-care iCHROMA II immunofluorescence assays: (1) COVID-19 Ab against mix of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid and spike proteins (IgM Ab, IgG Ab) and (2) COVID-19 nAb against S1-RBD protein (nAb). Results were analysed in relation to gender, age, vaccine type, and past COVID-19 disease. RESULTS: Our results show high variability in the antibody response but indicate an overall relatively weak and decreasing antibody response in the first six months after vaccination. Only 58.4% (95% CI: 54.6-62.3) of subjects had virus neutralizing antibodies (nAb). The level of nAb decreased with time from vaccination - at post-vaccination months 4 and 5, nAb were only detected in 41.1% (95% CI: 30.9-51.3) and 15.4% (95% CI: 1.5-29.3) of subjects, respectively. Vaccinees in older age groups, those vaccinated with AstraZeneca, and naive individuals showed a lower antibody response. CONCLUSION: The antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the elderly was relatively weak and decreased in the first six months after vaccination. Although humoral immunity is complex and cellular immune memory is a key element of the humoral response after exposure to the wild virus, our results suggest that vaccine-induced humoral immunity may not be long-lasting. The oldest koncenage groups who have not acquired natural SARS-CoV-2 infection are particularly at risk. This finding is relevant for adjusting vaccination strategies in selected population groups to include a booster dose. More research into the antibody response and the complex immune response after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 over longer time is needed.

• Klíčová slova
• COVID-19, Immune response, SARS-CoV-2, antibody, vaccine,
• MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• vakcinace MeSH
• vakcíny proti COVID-19 MeSH
• virové vakcíny * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• vakcíny proti COVID-19 MeSH
• virové vakcíny * MeSH

OBJECTIVES: HIV-infected individuals are at higher risk of non-AIDS diseases associated with procoagulant status. Microparticles are elevated in disorders associated with thrombosis (e.g., cardiovascular diseases). We investigated the association between microparticle levels in untreated and treated HIV-infected subjects, and determined the association with immune status, viral replication, and duration of antiretroviral therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 144 HIV-infected subjects, including 123 on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 21 before treatment initiation. A control group of 40 HIV-negative healthy adults matched for age and sex was used for comparison of microparticle levels. Treated subjects were divided into five groups depending on the period of antiretroviral exposure. Statistically significant differences were determined by Kruskal-Wallis test and Chi2 test. The relation between microparticles and other parameters was assessed using Spearman's coefficient of correlation. RESULTS: Microparticle levels were significantly higher in treated and untreated HIV-infected subjects than in non-HIV-infected controls (P<0.001). The microparticle level was similar between the groups on treatment (P=0.913). No association between the microparticle level and CD4+ count, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, number of HIV-1 RNA copies, or duration of exposure to antiretroviral treatment was observed. CONCLUSION: Increased levels of microparticles may be due to processes independent of viral replication and CD4+ cell count, and microparticle release might persist even during viral suppression by antiretroviral treatment. Elevated microparticle levels might occur in response to other triggers.

• Klíčová slova
• Antiretroviral therapy, Coagulation, HIV, Maladies non liées au SIDA, Microparticles, Microparticules, Non-AIDS diseases, Traitement antirétroviral, VIH,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hemokoagulace * MeSH
• HIV infekce krev   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikropartikule * MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe disease of the central nervous system with very high mortality. It is caused by the JC virus with high seroprevalence, at up to 80%. Development of PML is typically opportunistic, particularly in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and usually affects patients with profound immunodeficiency. Furthermore, as a result of highly efficient immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory treatments in recent years, the number of PML cases has increased in the general population. In this article, the authors mention virological and epidemiological relationships and characteristic manifestations of PML. Possible relationships of humoral and cellular immunity are discussed and limited treatment options including prophylaxis are mentioned.

• Klíčová slova
• CD4/CD8 ratio, HIV, cellular immunity, multiple sclerosis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy,
• MeSH
• antivirové látky terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• progresivní multifokální leukoencefalopatie * farmakoterapie   epidemiologie   imunologie   patologie   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
• virus JC * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antivirové látky MeSH

AIM: Using a prospective analysis to assess the success of faecal bacteriotherapy (FBT) in antibiotic-associated colitis due to Clostridium difficile. To analyse whether any of the factors according to which the treated patients can be categorized has a statistically significant effect on the therapeutic outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the 2-year study period (2015-2016), 71 patients received FBT. After treatment, the patients were followed up by means of clinic visits or by phone. If colitis did not recur within eight weeks of follow-up, the treatment was considered successful. RESULTS: The overall success rate was 76%, with statistically insignificant decline in recurrences. Subgroup analysis did not show any statistically significant difference in the success rate between the routes of administration, i.e. through a naso-enteral feeding tube and rectal enema. Likewise, there were no statistically significant differences in the success rate between the types of prior antibiotic therapy or between using fresh and cryo-stored stool suspension. No unexpected adverse event or lethality occurred during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Faecal bacteriotherapy is a successful and safe therapeutic alternative for recurrent C. difficile infections.

• Klíčová slova
• faecal bacteriotherapy - recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis - intestinal microbiome, faecal bacteriotherapy - recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis - intestinal microbiome.,
• MeSH
• Clostridioides difficile MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   MeSH
• fekální transplantace * MeSH
• klostridiové infekce * komplikace   terapie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• pseudomembranózní enterokolitida * etiologie   terapie   MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of fecal bacteriotherapy in the treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study of fecal bacteriotherapy in 80 adult patients hospitalized in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Brno between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014. RESULTS: During the study period, 80 patients were treated with fecal bacteriotherapy. The majority of the study group received fecal bacteriotherapy via a nasojejunal tube (n=78) and two patients via a rectal enema. Six patients were instilled with 20 g of feces, with a success rate of 50 %. The outcomes of nine patients were unevaluable. In the rest of 65 patients, the success rate with 40 g of feces was 83.1 %. There were no severe adverse events or mortality associated with fecal bacteriotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Fecal bacteriotherapy is a safe and effective treatment modality in Clostridium difficile colitis.

• Klíčová slova
• Clostridium difficile colitis - recurrence - fecal bacteriotherapy.,
• MeSH
• ambulantní zařízení MeSH
• biologická terapie * MeSH
• Clostridioides difficile fyziologie   virologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   MeSH
• klostridiové infekce mikrobiologie   terapie   MeSH
• kolitida mikrobiologie   terapie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemocnice univerzitní statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

OBJECTIVE: To provide basic clinical, laboratory, and microbiological characteristics of adult patients with campylobacteriosis admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases University Hospital Brno (UHB), in 2011-2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters of 160 patients hospitalized with campylobacteriosis at the Department of Infectious Diseases, UHB from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013. RESULTS: There was no lethality or bacteremia reported in the study group of 160 adult patients (n=160) with campylobacteriosis. A more severe form of the disease with signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) occurred in 24 patients, i.e. 15% of the study population. Transient mild to moderate leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were seen in 16 (10.0%) and 24 patients (15.0%), respectively, and seven patients (4.4%) had bicytopenia. The following factors correlated statistically significantly with the intestinal form of the disease and SIRS: age under 70 years (p=0.037), absence of arterial hypertension (p=0.044), immunosuppressive treatment (p=0.008), leukocyte count in the peripheral blood over 12.0×10(9)/l (p=0.023), and body temperature over 38.0 °C (p<0.001). Antibiotic treatment was used in 96.3% of patients with the intestinal form and in 100.0% of patients with SIRS. The average duration of antibiotic treatment was 8.8 and 9.3 days, respectively. Postantibiotic colitis due to Clostridium difficile occurred in seven patients (4.4%). There were no organ or autoimmune complications observed. CONCLUSIONS: Campylobacteriosis with SIRS occurs preferentially in persons under 70 years of age. Empirical antibiotic treatment is used too frequently without being adequately deescalated.

• Klíčová slova
• campylobacteriosis - invasive disease - antibiotic resistance.,
• MeSH
• Clostridioides difficile genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hospitalizace MeSH
• kampylobakterové infekce epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemocnice univerzitní statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• syndrom systémové zánětlivé reakce epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Hepatitis E (HE) is a ubiquitous infection, occurring both in developing and in developed countries. It is caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV), a small, non-enveloped RNA virus. The reported incidence in the Czech Republic in 2013 was 2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and the number of HE cases has been growing over the past years. Besides the long known fecal-oral transmission, zoonotic and blood product transmission of HEV has recently been observed in industrialized countries. Most infections are asymptomatic. Symptomatic infection may present as acute hepatitis with nonspecific flu-like symptoms and liver enzymes elevation. In immunocompromised patients, HEV can lead to chronic hepatitis E and can even cause acute liver failure in pregnant women. Several extrahepatic manifestations have also been reported. Antiviral therapy has been successfully used in chronic hepatitis E. The first vaccine available for clinical use is licensed in China so far.

• Klíčová slova
• hepatitis E - HEV - review - Czech Republic.,
• MeSH
• akutní nemoc MeSH
• chronická hepatitida epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   terapie   MeSH
• hepatitida E epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   terapie   přenos   MeSH
• hostitel s imunodeficiencí * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• virus hepatitidy E imunologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• zoonózy MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Čína epidemiologie   MeSH

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH