Medical Microbiology and Immunology This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Deficit of IgG2 in HIV-positive pregnant women is responsible of inadequate IgG2 levels in their HIV-uninfected children in Malawi
ConclusionsTransplacental passage was reduced for all IgG subclasses and inversely correlated to high levels of maternal IgGs and to the degree of immunoactivation. The profound depression of IgG2 in mothers suggests that IgG2 neonatal levels mostly reflect the maternal deficit rather than a selective impairment of IgG2 transfer. (Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - February 27, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Poly(I:C) adjuvant strongly enhances parasite-inhibitory antibodies and Th1 response against Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein-1 (42-kDa fragment) in BALB/c mice
AbstractMalaria vaccine development has been confronted with various challenges such as poor immunogenicity of malaria vaccine candidate antigens, which is considered as the main challenge. However, this problem can be managed using appropriate formulations of antigens and adjuvants. Poly(I:C) is a potent Th1 inducer and a human compatible adjuvant capable of stimulating both B- and T-cell immunity.Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 142 (PfMSP-142) is a promising vaccine candidate for blood stage of malaria that has faced several difficulties in clinical trials, mainly due to improper adjuvants. Therefore, in ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - February 3, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Rab27a facilitates human parainfluenza virus type 2 growth by promoting cell surface transport of envelope proteins
AbstractHuman parainfluenza virus type 2 (hPIV-2) proteins and genomes newly synthesized in the cytoplasm need to be transported to the plasma membrane where budding occurs. This mechanism, where Rab proteins regulate intracellular traffic by switching between GTP-bound active form and GDP-bound inactive form, is not fully understood. mRNA and protein expression levels of Rab8a, Rab11a, and Rab27a are not altered by hPIV-2 infection. hPIV-2 growth is affected by depletion of Rab27a but not Rab8a and Rab11a. Overexpression of a constitutively active mutant of Rab27a Q78L promotes the cell surface levels of fusion (F) and he...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - January 27, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

The microbiology and treatment of human mastitis
AbstractMastitis, which is generally described as an inflammation of breast tissue, is a common and debilitating disease which frequently results in the cessation of exclusive breastfeeding and affects up to 33% of lactating women. The condition is a primary cause of decreased milk production and results in organoleptic and nutritional alterations in milk quality. Recent studies employing culture-independent techniques, including metagenomic sequencing, have revealed a loss of bacterial diversity in the microbiome of mastitic milk samples compared to healthy milk samples. In those infected, the pathogensStaphylococcus aure...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - January 19, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Changes in the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis 9B-m (O11a) clinical strain in response to planktonic or biofilm type of growth
AbstractThe impact of planktonic and biofilm lifestyles of the clinical isolateProteus mirabilis 9B-m on its lipopolysaccharide (O-polysaccharide, core region, and lipid A) was evaluated.Proteus mirabilis bacteria are able to form biofilm and lipopolysaccharide is one of the factors involved in the biofilm formation. Lipopolysaccharide was isolated from planktonic and biofilm cells of the investigated strain and analyzed by SDS –PAGE with silver staining, Western blotting and ELISA, as well as NMR and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry techniques. Chemical and NMR spectroscopic a...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - January 12, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Editorship for Medical Microbiology and Immunology : the baton has been passed on
(Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology)
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - January 8, 2018 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Trypanosoma cruzi serinecarboxipeptidase is a sulfated glycoprotein and a minor antigen in human Chagas disease infection
AbstractIn this work, the presence of sulfatedN-glycans was studied in a high-mannose-type glycoprotein ofTrypanosoma cruzi with serinecarboxipeptidase (TcSCP) activity. The immune cross-reactivity between purified SCP and Cruzipain (Cz) was evidenced using rabbit sera specific for both glycoproteins. Taking advantage that SCP co-purifies with Cz from Concanavalin-A affinity columns, the Cz –SCP mixture was desulfated, ascribing the cross-reactivity to the presence of sulfate groups in both molecules. Therefore, knowing that Cz is a sulfated glycoprotein, with antigenic sulfated epitopes (sulfotopes), SCP was excised fro...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - December 22, 2017 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Blocking of opioid receptors in experimental formaline-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus (FI-RSV) immunopathogenesis: from beneficial to harmful impacts
AbstractOpioid system plays a significant role in pathophysiological processes, such as immune response and impacts on disease severity. Here, we investigated the effect of opioid system on the immunopathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine (FI-RSV)-mediated illness in a widely used mouse model. Female Balb/c mice were immunized at days 0 and 21 with FI-RSV (2  × 106 pfu, i.m.) and challenged with RSV-A2 (3 × 106 pfu, i.n.) at day 42. Nalmefene as a universal opioid receptors blocker administered at a dose of 1 mg/kg in combination with FI-RSV (FI-RSV + NL), and daily after live virus chal...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - December 18, 2017 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Detection and genotyping of HPV in urine samples from Chilean women attending primary health care centers
AbstractCervical cancer is the second most common malignant neoplasm in women worldwide representing approximately 10% of all types of cancers.Triage of women through cervical cytology has been an important strategy for the surveillance and control of new cases of cervical cancer. However, in many regions around the world cervical cytology has a low coverage compared to developed countries. The molecular detection of HPV is the most effective method to increase the screening sensitivity of women at risk of developing cervical cancer. There are very few studies about the efficacy of urine testing for detection of HPV in wom...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - December 14, 2017 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Bordetella Pertussis virulence factors in the continuing evolution of whooping cough vaccines for improved performance
AbstractDespite high vaccine coverage, whooping cough caused byBordetella pertussis remains one of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases worldwide. Introduction of whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccines in the 1940s and acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines in 1990s reduced the mortality due to pertussis. Despite induction of both antibody and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses by aP and wP vaccines, there has been resurgence of pertussis in many countries in recent years. Possible reasons hypothesised for resurgence have ranged from incompliance with the recommended vaccination programmes with the currently used aP vacci...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 21, 2017 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Maturation and cytokine pattern of human dendritic cells in response to different yeasts
This study systematically investigated the capacity of different biotechnically relevant yeast species and strains includingSaccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces lactis, Pichia pastoris, Hansenula polymorpha,Yarrowia lipolytica, andCandida glabrata to initiate maturation of human DC. As important prerequisite for T-cell activation, all yeasts were shown to effectively induce, though to a different extent, the expression of the activation marker CD83, the co-stimulatory molecules CD80, CD86, CD54, CD58, and CD40, as well as the antigen-presenting molecules MHCs I and II. Furthermore, yeast-activ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 21, 2017 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Genotype-related variations in proinflammatory and regulatory cytokine levels in treated and treatment-naive HCV-infected patients
AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) modulates immune-related inflammatory responses to induce milder reactions leading to virus persistence. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the link between the HCV genotypes and the proinflammatory and regulatory cytokine levels. Ninety  patients with hepatitis C infection (68 treatment-naive and 22 treated patients) and 76 healthy blood donors were studied. The serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-17A, and IL-21 were measured by ELISA in the patients and healthy controls. IL-10, IL-17A, and IL-21 levels were significantly higher in HCV patients than in the healthy control...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 17, 2017 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Higher expression of inhibitory CD158b and CD158e NK cell receptor and age predicts treatment response in children with chronic hepatitis C
AbstractTreatment with pegylated interferon- α and ribavirin (PEG–IFN/RBV) is the only choice for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in children. Natural killer (NK) cells were described to play a vital role in CHC. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of peripheral blood NK cell receptors in their relation to PEG–IFN/RBV treatment response. Study included 26 children with CHC—13 boys, age range 13.42 ± 3.28 years. Blood for biochemical, virological and cytometric testing was taken for evaluation prior to the antiviral treatment. NK cell receptors were detected by flow cytometry and the results were pres...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - November 8, 2017 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of curcumin-silver nanoparticles with improved stability and selective toxicity to bacteria over mammalian cells
AbstractAntibiotic resistance has necessitated search for new antibacterials for combating threat of pathogenic bacteria. Though chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles are a well-known antimicrobial agent, they are toxic to human cells at higher concentrations. Hence in the present study, curcumin-silver nanoparticles (Cur –AgNPs) of size 25–35 nm, were synthesized using curcumin, a phytochemical. These nanoparticles were effective against both Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria and were less toxic to human keratinocytes. They had very low total silver content and high stability. The antibacterial activity ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - October 28, 2017 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

MCPIP1 inhibits coxsackievirus B3 replication by targeting viral RNA and negatively regulates virus-induced inflammation
AbstractMonocyte chemotactic protein-induced protein 1(MCPIP1) is identified as an important inflammatory regulator during immune response. MCPIP1 possesses antiviral activities against several viruses, such as Japanese encephalitis. However, its role on Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection, a positive-stranded RNA virus, has not been addressed. Here, we reported that MCPIP1 was up-regulated in cardiomyocytes by CVB3 infection and in hearts and pancreas of infected mice. Then we found that overexpression of MCPIP1 inhibited CVB3 replication and knockdown of it promoted virus replication. Luciferase assay demonstrated MCPIP1 ...
Source: Medical Microbiology and Immunology - October 17, 2017 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research