Author Spotlight: Adjuvant Activity of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Enhancing the Immunogenicity of Autoantigens During Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

We studied the pathogenesis of several neurological diseases with new techniques developed by our experts to improve treatment for patient with movement disorders who have interactive diseases. Part of our research focuses on the role of pathogens and the etiology of new inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis or NMOSD, which are characterized by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Various pathogens have been associated with these diseases, although their role is unclear.

We found that antigenic components of Mycobacterium avian cell species paratuberculosis can elicit a strong humoral and cell-mediated response in patient with multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Mycobacteria provide inset autogenic potential by acting on the gut immune brain axis in the EAE model. We identified Mycobacterium paratuberculosis as a potent adjuvant candidate in the induction of active EAE, which resulted in a more severe disease than that induced by inactivated Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

This difference could be because Mycobacterium paratuberculosis produces a lipo pentapeptide antigen on the cell wall surface instead of glycopeptide lipids. One of the goals of our future research is to elucidate the crosstalk between the immune response of the peripheral and central nervous system, and to understand the mechanism of infection-mediated neuroinflammation. For this, we were developing unique genetics model of neuroinflammations.