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128 records returned

Long-term flaxseed oil supplementation diet protects BALB/c mice against Streptococcus pneumoniae infectionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Intense host immune response to infection contributes significantly to the pathology of pneumococcal pneumonia. Therefore, the regulation of host immune response is critical for the successful outcome of pneumonia in such patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of n-3 PUFA, i.e. flaxseed oil supplementation for short (4 weeks) as well as long (9 weeks) term, on the course of S. pneumoniae D39 serotype 2 infection in mice. The efficacy of flaxseed oil supplementation was investigated in terms of survival of animals and production of various inflammatory molecule...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 17, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C in patients with advanced liver disease and after liver transplantationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents one of the major causes for end-stage liver disease worldwide. Although liver transplantation offers an effective treatment, HCV reinfection of the transplanted graft is a critical and almost inevitable complication with major influence on graft- and patient survival. Pre-transplant antiviral therapy in advanced liver disease is limited by poor tolerance and only applicable to mildly decompensated patients but was able to show promising results in patients reaching negative viral load when undergoing transplantation. Prophylactic therapy ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 9, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Cellular immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigen culture filtrate protein-10 in south IndiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis)-specific culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10) is highly recognized by M. tuberculosis infected subjects. In the present study, the proliferative response and IFN-γ secretion was found for C-terminal peptides of the protein (Cfp651–70, Cfp761–80, Cfp871–90, and Cfp981–100). The alleles HLA DRB1 *04 and HLA DRB1 *10 recognized the C-terminal peptides Cfp7, Cfp8, and Cfp9 in HHC. Cfp6 was predominantly recognized by the alleles HLA DRB1 *03 and HLA DRB1 *15 by PTB. The minimal nonameric epitopes from the C-terminal region were CFP-1056–64 and C...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 9, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Possible hidden hazards of mass vaccination against new influenza A/H1N1: have the cardiovascular risks been adequately weighed?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Programs for vaccination against the new influenza A/H1N1 targeting many hundred million citizens in Europe and the USA are to be launched in the fall of this year. The USA is planning to employ a non-adjuvanted vaccine, whereas European nations are opting for inclusion of MF59, the adjuvant contained in an alternative seasonal flu vaccine, or the related adjuvant AS03 that is contained in a recently developed H5N1 vaccine. We draw attention to unappreciated hazards of using adjuvanted vaccine in Europe. Evidence from animal experiments in conjunction with clinical epidemiological data indicates tha...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - October 22, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Multicentre evaluation of the Elecsys® hepatitis B surface antigen II assay for detection of HBsAg in comparison with other commercially available assaysEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the Elecsys HBsAg II assay is suitable for routine HBsAg screening in China. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s00430-009-0127-4Authors Ji-Dong Jia, Capital Medical University Beijing Friendship Hospital 95 Yong-an Road 100050 Xuanwu District, Beijing People’s Republic of ChinaMa Hong, Capital Medical University Beijing Friendship Hospital 95 Yong-an Road 100050 Xuanwu District, Beijing People’s Republic of ChinaLai Wei, Peking University Hepatology Institute Peking University People’s Hospital Beijing People’s Republic of ChinaXin-X...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - October 15, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Survival of the fittest: how Brucella strains adapt to their intracellular niche in the hostEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Brucella strains produce abortion and infertility in their natural hosts and a zoonotic disease in humans known as undulant fever. These bacteria do not produce classical virulence factors, and their capacity to successfully survive and replicate within a variety of host cells underlies their pathogenicity. Extensive replication of the brucellae in placental trophoblasts is associated with reproductive tract pathology in natural hosts, and prolonged persistence in macrophages leads to the chronic infections that are a hallmark of brucellosis in both natural hosts and humans. This review describes ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - October 14, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Measurement of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity of human cytomegalovirus seropositive individuals by a highly sensitive coupled luminescent methodEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, CLM represents a highly sensitive, fast, material-saving and non-toxic/non-radioactive method for the measurement of antigen-specific CTL cytotoxic activity. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s00430-009-0126-5Authors Henry Ogbomo, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Institut für Medizinische Virologie, Zentrum der Hygiene Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 40 60596 Frankfurt am Main GermanyJanina Geiler, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Institut für Medizinische Virologie, Zentrum der Hygiene Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 40 60596 Frankfurt am Main GermanyAnke Le...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - October 8, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Humoral immune responses and protective efficacy of sequential B- and T-cell epitopes of V antigen of Yersinia pestis by intranasal immunization in microparticlesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Capsular F1 and secretory V antigen are the putative vaccine candidates for plague, caused by Yersinia pestis. Contemplating this, we studied the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of collinearly synthesized B- and T-cell epitopes (B-T constructs) of V antigen entrapped in poly (dl-lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles immunized intranasally using single dose immunization schedule in outbred, H-2b and H-2d mice. High antibody levels were observed in terms of IgG, IgA and SIgA peak titers in sera and mucosal washes to different B-T constructs. The constructs ai, bi and fi especially showed high peak...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - September 24, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Ross River virus infection in a traveller returning from northern AustraliaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Ross River virus is an arthropod-borne alphavirus (family Togaviridae) causing epidemic polyarthritis in the Australia-Pacific region. The infection causes substantial morbidity due to long-lasting arthralgia. Despite being the most common arboviral infection in Australia, reports in travellers are scarce. Here, we describe the disease in a German traveller who was not aware of the prevalence of this infection in his holiday destination, the Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia. The patient had neither fever nor rash, but presented with chills, watery diarrhoea and severe, prolonged arthriti...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - September 3, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

The clinical value of neutrophil extracellular trapsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have recently been discovered as a central part of antimicrobial innate immunity. In the meanwhile, evidence accumulated that NETs are also generated upon non-infectious stimuli in various clinical settings. In acute or chronic inflammatory disorders aberrantly enhanced NET formation and/or decreased NET degradation seems to correlate with disease outcome. This review summarizes current knowledge about the relation of NETs in a broad spectrum of clinical settings. Specifically, we focus on the importance of NETs as a predictive marker in severely ill patients an...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 3, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Manganese-induced changes of the biochemical characteristics of the recombinant wild-type and mutant PrPsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, recombinant human wild-type (WT) PrP and PrP mutants with deleted or inserted octarepeats were exposed to manganese, and their biochemical and biophysical characteristics were evaluated by proteinase K (PK) digestion, sedimentation experiments, transmission electron microscopy and circular dichroism. It demonstrated that incubation of manganese remarkably increased PK-resistances, protein aggregations and β-sheet contents of the PrPs. Moreover, the PrP mutants of inserted or deleted octarepeats were much vulnerable to the influence of manganese, which showed obviously more aggregation and higher β-she...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - July 25, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Tentative identification of glycerol dehydrogenase as Escherichia coli K1 virulence factor cglD and its involvement in the pathogenesis of experimental neonatal meningitisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common gram-negative organism causing meningitis during the neonatal period. The mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of E. coli meningitis remains unclear. We previously identified a pathogenicity island GimA (genetic island of meningitic E. coli containing ibeA) from the genomic DNA library of E. coli K1, which may contribute to the E. coli invasion of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). CglD is one of the genes in GimA, and its function remains unknown. In order to characterize the role of cglD in the E. coli meningitis, an isogenic in-frame cglD deletion muta...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - July 14, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Novel swine-origin influenza A virus in humans: another pandemic knocking at the doorEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Influenza A viruses represent a continuous pandemic threat. In April 2009, a novel influenza A virus, the so-called swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV), was identified in Mexico. Although S-OIV originates from triple-reassortant swine influenza A (H1) that has been circulating in North American pig herds since the end of the 1990s, S-OIV is readily transmitted between humans but is not epidemic in pigs. After its discovery, S-OIV rapidly spread throughout the world within few weeks. In this review, we sum up the current situation and put it into the context of the current state of knowledg...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - June 20, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Single domain antibodies: promising experimental and therapeutic tools in infection and immunityEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Antibodies are important tools for experimental research and medical applications. Most antibodies are composed of two heavy and two light chains. Both chains contribute to the antigen-binding site which is usually flat or concave. In addition to these conventional antibodies, llamas, other camelids, and sharks also produce antibodies composed only of heavy chains. The antigen-binding site of these unusual heavy chain antibodies (hcAbs) is formed only by a single domain, designated VHH in camelid hcAbs and VNAR in shark hcAbs. VHH and VNAR are easily produced as recombinant proteins, designated sing...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - June 16, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Human immunodeficiency virus: 25 years of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and their impact on hepatitis B and C virusEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) had spread unrecognized in the human population as sexually transmitted disease and was finally identified by its disease AIDS in 1981. Even after the isolation of the causative agent in 1983, the burden and death rate of AIDS accelerated worldwide especially in young people despite the confection of new drugs capable to inhibit virus replication since 1997. However, at least in industrialised countries, this trend could be reversed by the introduction of combination therapy strategies. The design of new drugs is on going; besides the inhibition of the three en...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - June 4, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

RfaB, a galactosyltransferase, contributes to the resistance to detergent and the virulence of Salmonella enterica serovar EnteritidisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, a deletion mutant of rfaB (ΔrfaB) was observed to be susceptible to sodium dodecyl sulfate and less tolerant to bile salts. In addition, pre-incubation in 10% bile salts increased bacterial tolerance to 30% bile salts. We also showed that the ΔrfaB mutant invaded HeLa cells less than the wild type and resulted in a lower ratio of intracellular bacteria. Competitive infection of mice showed that the ΔrfaB mutant was defective in the colonization of host organs and was cleared more quickly in fecal shedding. Transforming of a plasmid containing a wild-type allele of rfaB (pRB3-rfaB) partially rescued the...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - April 30, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

What determines the success or failure of intracellular cutaneous parasites? Lessons learned from leishmaniasisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Most parasitic skin infections are averted by very efficient strategies of preventing pathogen invasion. Innate immune cells such as mast cells, macrophages and dendritic cells are responsible for detecting parasites and for recruiting proinflammatory cells that help to contain and control the pathogen at sites of infection. This induces efficient adaptive immunity, which is crucially important for parasite control. Using the example of cutaneous leishmaniasis, we highlight how the skin utilizes different strategies to prevent skin infection and how containment of the infection to the skin site may ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - April 25, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Nitric oxide participation in granulomatous response induced by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection in miceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The role of nitric oxide (NO) in granulomas of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis-infected inducible NO synthase-deficient C57BL/6 mice (iNOS KO) and their wild-type counterparts and its association with osteopontin (OPN) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was studied. At 15 days after infection (DAI), iNOS KO mice showed compact and necrotic granulomas with OPN+ macrophages and multinucleated giant cells, whereas wild-type mice developed loose granulomas with many fungi and OPN+ cells distributed throughout the tissue. In addition, high OPN levels and fungal load were observed in iNOS KO mice. Bo...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - April 10, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Influence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing signal molecule N-(3-oxododecanoyl) homoserine lactone on mast cellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Quorum sensing system is a cell-to-cell communication system that plays a pivotal role in virulence expression in bacteria. Recent advances have demonstrated that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing molecule, N-3-oxododecanoyl homoserine lactone (3OC12-HSL), exerts effects on mammalian cells and modulates host immune response. Mast cells (MCs) are strategically located in the tissues that are constantly exposed to external stimulus. Therefore, it is very much possible that 3OC12-HSL may interact with MCs. Little is known, however, about specific effects of 3OC12-HSL on MCs. To address this, we i...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - April 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Influence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing signal molecule N -(3-oxododecanoyl) homoserine lactone on mast cellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Quorum sensing system is a cell-to-cell communication system that plays a pivotal role in virulence expression in bacteria. Recent advances have demonstrated that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing molecule, N-3-oxododecanoyl homoserine lactone (3OC12-HSL), exerts effects on mammalian cells and modulates host immune response. Mast cells (MCs) are strategically located in the tissues that are constantly exposed to external stimulus. Therefore, it is very much possible that 3OC12-HSL may interact with MCs. Little is known, however, about specific effects of 3OC12-HSL on MCs. To address this, we i...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - April 1, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Diagnostic value of HCMV pp65 antigen detection by FCA for symptomatic and asymptomatic infection: compared to quantification of HCMV DNA and detection of IgM antibody in infantsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can cause symptomatic or asymptomatic infection in infants. One hundred and twenty-six infants were assessed clinically for disease in infantile period. Eighty of them were classified as symptomatic infection on the basis of physical, instrumental, and laboratory findings, 5 were demonstrated by following up to have later developed HCMV disease, and the other 41 infants were classified as asymptomatic infection. HCMV DNA was positive in all urine samples of the symptomatic infants detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. HCMV-IgM antibody detected by chemilumi...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 24, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

No evidence of chikungunya virus and antibodies shortly before the outbreak on Sri LankaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study determined the prevalence of anti-CHIKV IgG antibodies as well as CHIKV RNA shortly before the outbreak. Two hundred and six human sera were collected from patients with acute febrile illness in 2004/2005. Validated indirect immunofluorescence and real-time RT-PCR assays for dengue as well as CHIKV were employed. Laboratory evidence of dengue virus infection was seen in 67% of patients, indicating virus activity and exposure to Aedes spp. vectors. These vectors are the same as for chikungunya. However, no evidence of acute or previous chikungunya infection could be demonstrated in the same cohort. This stud...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - February 18, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Buruli ulcer disease: prospects for a vaccineEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article reviews the present state of the art with special emphasis on the immunology of the infection and the prospects for development of a vaccine. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory ReviewDOI 10.1007/s00430-009-0109-6Authors Kris Huygen, Scientific Institute of Public Health Rue Engelandstraat 642 1180 Brussels BelgiumOhene Adjei, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research Kumasi GhanaDissou Affolabi, Laboratoire de Référence des Mycobactéries Cotonou BeninGisela Bretzel, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Munich GermanyCaroline Demangel, Institut Pasteur ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - February 7, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Oncomodulation by human cytomegalovirus: evidence becomes strongerEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Mini ReviewDOI 10.1007/s00430-009-0107-8Authors Martin Michaelis, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Institut für Medizinische Virologie Paul Ehrlich-Str. 40 60596 Frankfurt am Main GermanyHans Wilhelm Doerr, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Institut für Medizinische Virologie Paul Ehrlich-Str. 40 60596 Frankfurt am Main GermanyJindrich Cinatl, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Institut für Medizinische Virologie Paul Ehrlich-Str. 40 60596 Frankfurt am Main Germany Journal Medical Microbiology and ImmunologyOnline ISSN 1432-1831...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - February 7, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Seroprevalence of influenza A and B in German infants and adolescentsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, the annual influenza vaccination in children and adolescents may improve considerably the protection against influenza virus infection occurring during epidemics. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s00430-009-0108-7Authors Andreas Sauerbrei, Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena Institute of Virology and Antiviral Therapy Hans-Knoell-Strasse 2 07745 Jena GermanyR. Schmidt-Ott, GlaxoSmithKline Theresienhöhe 11 80339 Munich GermanyH. Hoyer, Institute for Medical Statistics, Computer Sciences and Documentation Bachstrasse 18 07743 Jena GermanyP. Wutzler, Friedrich-Sch...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - February 5, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Seroepidemiological study in a Puumala virus outbreak area in South-East GermanyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, the PUUV seroprevalence in the residents of the outbreak region in Lower Bavaria was found to be up to fivefold higher than the average hantavirus seroprevalence of the German population. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s00430-009-0106-9Authors Marc Mertens, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, OIE Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses in Europe, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases Südufer 10 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems GermanyRoman Wölfel, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology 80937 Munich GermanyKatrin Ullri...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - January 16, 2009 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

A Neisseria meningitidis NMB1966 mutant is impaired for invasion of respiratory epithelial cells, survival in human blood and for virulence in vivoEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract We sought to determine whether NMB1966, encoding a putative ABC transporter, has a role in pathogenesis. Compared to its isogenic wild-type parent strain Neisseria meningitidis MC58, the NMB1966 knockout mutant was less adhesive and invasive for human bronchial epithelial cells, had reduced survival in human blood and was attenuated in a systemic mouse model of infection. The transcriptome of the wild-type and the NMB1966 mutant was compared. The data are consistent with a previous functional assignment of NMB1966 being the ABC transporter component of a glutamate transporter operon. Forty-seven per...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - December 3, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Comparison of performance in two diagnostic methods for tuberculosis infectionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Performance of two diagnoses, T-SPOT®.TB (T-SPOT) and QuantiFERON-TB® Gold (QFT-G), was compared in Japanese subjects. Forty-seven confirmed tuberculosis patients and eighty-four healthy subjects were recruited. All samples were assessed for both T-SPOT and QFT-G, and the sensitivities and the specificities were compared between two methods. The sensitivity was 100% for T-SPOT, and 87.2% for QFT-G. The specificity was 83.3 and 98.8%, respectively. The overall agreement of two tests was substantially high (Kappa coefficient = 0.671). The sensitivity of T-SPOT appeared to be higher than th...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 26, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Characterization of Gag and Nef-specific ELISpot-based CTL responses in HIV-1 infected Indian individualsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to Gag have been most frequently linked to control of viremia whereas CTL responses to Nef have direct relationship with viral load. IFN-γ ELISpot assay was used to screen CTL responses at single peptide level directed at HIV-1 subtype C Gag and Nef proteins in 30 antiretroviral therapy naive HIV-1 infected Indian individuals. PBMCs from 73.3% and 90% of the study population showed response to Gag and Nef antigens, respectively. The magnitude of Gag-specific CTL responses was inversely correlated with plasma viral load (r = −0.45, P = 0.0...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 6, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

The bradykinin B2 receptor in the early immune response against Listeria infectionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The endogenous danger signal bradykinin was recently found implicated in the development of immunity against parasites via dendritic cells. We here report an essential role of the B2 (B2R) bradykinin receptor in the early immune response against Listeria infection. Mice deficient in B2R (B2R−/− mice) were shown to suffer from increased hepatic bacterial burden and concomitant dramatic weight loss during infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Levels of cytokines known to play a pivotal role in the early phase immune response against L. monocytogenes, IL-12p70 and IFN-γ, were reduced in B2R−/− ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - September 23, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Inhibition of HBV infection by bovine lactoferrin and iron-, zinc-saturated lactoferrinEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, BLf, iron- or zinc-saturated BLf is one of the candidates for anti-HBV reagents in treatment of patients with hepatitis. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s00430-008-0100-7Authors Songtao Li, Northeast Agricultural University Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education; College of Food Science 150030 Harbin Heilongjiang ChinaHaibo Zhou, Northeast Agricultural University Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education; College of Food Science 150030 Harbin Heilongjiang ChinaGuirong Huang, Harbin Medical University Staff Room of Epidemiology, College...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - September 23, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Immune complexed (IC) hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronically and acutely HCV-infected patientsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract In infected individuals, hepatitis C virus (HCV) exists in various forms of circulating particles which role in virus persistence and in HCV resistance to IFN therapy is still debated. Here, the proportion of HCV bound to immunoglobulin was determined in plasma of 107 chronically infected patients harbouring different HCV genotypes and, for comparison, of six patients with acute HCV infection. The results showed that, in spite of wide individual variability, chronically HCV-infected patients exhibited an extremely high proportion of immune complexed (IC) virus regardless of plasma HCV load and infec...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 12, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication by small interference RNA induces expression of MICA in HepG2.2.15 cellsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replicates in most tumor tissues of patients with HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we have shown that the expression of HBV in the HCC cell lines, HepG2 and Huh7, down-regulated the expression of MHC class I-related molecule A (MICA), a ligand of the NKG2D receptor. Inhibition of HBV expression by small interference RNAs (siRNAs) in HepG2.2.15, a cell line that constitutively expresses HBV, induced up-regulation of MICA. The up-regulation of MICA increased the lysis of HepG2.2.15 cells by NK cells. Our results suggest that HBV compromises t...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - August 7, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

HLA class I alleles in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy and asymptomatic carriers from the Brazilian cohort GIPHEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Discussion The presence of HLA-A2 elicits a stronger cytotoxic response, which is involved in the HTLV-1 proviral load reduction. This study confirmed a tendency of this allele to protect against HAM-TSP. Therefore, A*02 might be of interest for researches involved with HTLV-1 vacine. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s00430-008-0096-zAuthors B. C. Catalan-Soares, Fundação Hemominas Rua Grão Pará, 882 Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais 30.150-340 BrazilAnna Bárbara F. Carneiro-Proietti, Fundação Hemominas Rua Grão Pará, 882 Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais 30.150-340 ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - June 3, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Evaluation of a recombinant BCG expressing antigen Ag85B and PPE protein Rv3425 from DNA segment RD11 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in C57BL/6 miceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study we constructed a new rBCG which included this united gene (Ag85B-Rv3425). The level of antigen-stimulated T cells expressing IFN-γ was significantly higher in the C57BL/6 mice vaccinated with rBCG::Ag85B-Rv3425 than with BCG. In addition, the sera from mice immunized with rBCG::Ag85B-Rv3425 revealed an increase in the specific immunoglobulin G titers than that from mice immunized with BCG. Antigen specific IgG subclass analysis showed that rBCG::Ag85B-Rv3425 tended to facilitate IgG2a production, suggesting enhancement of predominant Th1 response which in turn may facilitate increased production of prot...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - May 20, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Characterization and intracellular localization of putative Chlamydia pneumoniae effector proteinsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract We here describe four proteins of Chlamydia pneumoniae, which might play a role in host-pathogen interaction. The hypothetical bacterial proteins CPn0708 and CPn0712 were detected in Chlamydia pneumoniae-infected host cells by indirect immunofluorescence tests with polyclonal antisera raised against the respective proteins. While CPn0708 was localized within the inclusion body, CPn0712 was identified in the inclusion membrane and in the surrounding host cell cytosol. CPn0712 colocalizes with actin, indicating its possible interaction with components of the cytoskeleton. Investigations on CPn0809 and...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - May 1, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Does the proper intravenous immunoglobulin substitution in primary immunodeficiency protect against HBV infections?: a description of a case seriesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract There are no recommendations concerning preoperative management of primary immunodeficiency patients in cases of emergency or planned surgery in relation to risk of hepatitis type B virus infection. To assess if immunodeficient patients regularly supplemented with immunoglobulins are protected against hepatitis B. IgG, IgM and IgA total levels and anti-HBs level were estimated in adult patients with primary humoral immunodeficiency before and after immunoglobulins supplementation according to a standardized schedule. Serum IgG and anti-HBs level significantly increased after immunoglobulin supplem...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - April 8, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with latently infected donors does not transmit virus to immunocompromised recipients in the murine model of cytomegalovirus infectionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) bears a risk of reactivating latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) in either the transplanted hematopoietic donor cells or in parenchymal and stromal tissue cells of the immunocompromised recipient, or in both. While reactivated human CMV in recipients of organ transplantations is frequently the virus variant of the donor, this is not usually the case in HSCT recipients. Here we have used experimental sex-mismatched HSCT in the BALB/c mouse model to test if latent murine CMV from CMV-immune donors is transmitted with bone marrow cells to naive immunocompromised ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 26, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Polyclonal cytomegalovirus-specific antibodies not only prevent virus dissemination from the portal of entry but also inhibit focal virus spread within target tissuesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Therapy of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) by immune serum transfer did not fulfill the high clinical expectations, although immune sera or immunoglobulin-enriched preparations pooled from many CMV-immune donors are likely to contain virus neutralizing antibodies covering a broad range of virus variants. Likewise, the highest risk of CMV disease in HSCT recipients results from the reactivation of the latently infected recipient’s own virus despite pre-transplantation humoral immunity. These findings suggest the conclusion that antivir...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 26, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Characterisation of a chikungunya virus from a German patient returning from Mauritius and development of a serological testEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract We have isolated a Chikungunya (Chik) virus from a patient who returned to Germany after a three-month visit to Mauritius in spring 2006. Upon return she developed a transient fever up to 40°C. This was followed by myalgia and joint pain. IgG antibodies in serum to Chik virus were undetectable. Virus (Chik-Wü1) was isolated on Vero cells. We molecularly cloned the whole genome of Chik-Wü1 from viral RNA by RT-PCR. The complete sequence was determined and functional domains of the genome were assigned. Chik-Wü1 clearly belongs to the group of viruses analysed from the recent Indian Ocean outbreak...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 20, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

CD8 T-cell-based immunotherapy of cytomegalovirus infection: “proof of concept” provided by the murine modelEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Adoptive transfer of antiviral effector or memory CD8 T cells is a therapeutic option for preventing acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after primary or recurrent infection in immunocompromised recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) aimed at curing hematopoietic malignancies. Preclinical research in murine models has demonstrated the power of CD8 T-cell-based preemptive immunotherapy and has encouraged clinical trials that gave promising results. The clinical evidence, however, is based primarily on statistical analyses indicating a reduced incidence of CMV-associated complica...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 15, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Correlation of dendritic cell maturation and the formation of aggregates of poly-ubiquitinated proteins in the cytosolEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most powerful antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the immune system. Therefore, they are able to take up antigen by phagocytosis, macropinocytosis or endocytosis, process it in the cytosol and present it to naive T cells. It is known that presentation of the immunodominant influenza virus nucleoprotein-derived CTL epitope is delayed in bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) compared to non-professional APCs. This delay coincided with the formation of transient aggregations of ubiquitinated proteins (DALIS, dendritic cell aggresome-like induced structures), which contain probabl...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 14, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Epitope-specific in vivo protection against cytomegalovirus disease by CD8 T cells in the murine model of preemptive immunotherapyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Preclinical research in murine models as well as subsequent clinical trials have concordantly revealed a high protective potential of antiviral CD8 T cells, of donor-derived ex vivo memory CD8 T cells in particular, in the immunotherapy of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompromised recipients. Although it is generally held view that the observed beneficial effect of the transferred cells is viral epitope-specific, involving the recognition of MHC class-I presented peptides by cognate T cell receptors, this assumption awaits formal proof, at least with regard to the in vivo function of the ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 14, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

MHC class I immune evasion in MCMV infectionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) is a well-studied model of natural β-herpesvirus infection. However, many questions remain regarding its control by and evasion of the immune response it generates. CD8 and CD4 T cells have both unique and redundant roles in control of the virus that differ based on the immunocompetence of the infected mice. MCMV encodes major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I immune evasion genes that can have an impact in vitro, but their role in infection of immunocompetent mice has been difficult to identify. This review addresses the evidence for their in vivo function and ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 11, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

New tools to study the role of B cells in cytomegalovirus infectionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract B cells were previously shown to mediate partial protection against CMV infection, as in the absence of B cells, latently infected mice were more susceptible to virus reactivation. It remains unclear if this effect stems from the loss of B cells as antibody producers or as antigen presenting cells. To address this fundamental question, we propose to make use of new mouse models that allow conditional ablation of B cells or that allow for the generation of mice with B cells that are not able to produce antibodies. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory ReviewDOI 10.1007/s00430-008-0088-zAuthors Ar...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 11, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Human cytomegalovirus infection and antiviral immunity in septic patients without canonical immunosuppressionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a relevant pathogen in patients with immunosuppressive therapy; however, reactivation and subsequent recurrence occurs also in individuals without canonical immunosuppression as e.g., in patients with septic shock. Analyzing the impact of NK- and T-cell immunity on the natural course of HCMV infection in patients with septic shock, it became clear that the presence of HCMV reactive T-helper cells did not prevent the development of reactivation but, the control of active infection was achieved mostly by specific T-cells. NK-cells seemed to be dispensable for cleara...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 8, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Conditional gene expression systems to study herpesvirus biology in vivoEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a prototypic β-herpesvirus, is an important human pathogen causing protean clinical manifestations in immature and immunocompromised patients. Mechanisms of infection can be studied in a mouse model. Mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) resembles in pathogenesis its human counterpart in many ways. Although MCMV infection is studied extensively on the level of organs, the contribution of specific cell types to viral replication in vivo is still elusive. Here we describe our approach based on the the Cre/loxP-system to investigate MCMV infection at the level of cell types in vivo. Usin...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 7, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Refinement of strategies for the development of a human cytomegalovirus dense body vaccineEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Development of a vaccine against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection has been identified as a high priority goal in biomedical research, yet no vaccine has been licensed until now. Recombinant subviral dense bodies (recDB) are a promising basis for the establishment of such a vaccine. In this article, strategies for the generation of recDB, based on recombination-mediated genetic engineering of the 230 kb HCMV DNA genome in E. coli are outlined. Analysis of viral mutants that were constructed in this process provided the proof-of-principle that heterologous antigens can be packaged into recD...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - March 5, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals

Activation of hepatic natural killer cells and control of liver-adapted lymphoma in the murine model of cytomegalovirus infectionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a promising therapeutic option against hematopoietic malignancies. Infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and tumor relapse are complications that limit the success of HSCT. In theory, CMV infection can facilitate tumor relapse and growth by inhibiting “graft take” and reconstitution of the immune system or by inducing the secretion of tumor cell growth-promoting cytokines. Conversely, one can also envisage an anti-tumoral effect of CMV by cytopathic/oncolytic infection of tumor cells, by inducing the secretion of death ligands for tumor cell apopt...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - February 29, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Source Type: journals