Download Infectious disease

Infectious disease
1. Asymptomatic seminal infection of herpes simplex virus: impact on male
infertility. J Biomed Res, 2013,27(1):51-55
Seyed Hamidreza Monavaria, Mostafa Salehi Vazirib, Mohammadali Khalilic,
Mahmoud Shamsi- Shahrabadib, Hossein Keyvanib, Hamidreza Mollaeib, Mehdi
Fazlalipourb
a
Department of Virology and Anti -Microbial Resistant Research Center, Tehran
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran;
b
Department of Virology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
1417613151, Iran;
c
Research and Clinical Center of Infertility, Yazd 8916877391, Iran.
Abstract: In more than half of infertile men, the cause of their infertility is unknown.
Several studies revealed the role of viral infections in male infertility. The aim of the
present study was to determine the prevalence of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and
HSV-2 in semen from asymptomatic infertile male patients, and its association with
altered semen parameters. A total of 70 semen samples were collected from infertile
men who attended the Research and Clinical Center for Infertility in Yazd, Iran.
Semen analysis and diagnostic real-time PCR using specific primers and probes for
HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA were performed. Comparison of semen parameters between
virally in-fected and non-infected samples were performed with independent t-test and
Mann-Whitney test. Semen analysis showed that infertile men fell into two groups,
the male factor group and the unexplained group. HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA was
detected in 16 (22.9%) and 10 (14.3%) of 70 semen samples, respectively. All
HSV-positive samples had abnormal semen parameters (the male factor group).
Although HSV infection was not associated with sperm motility and morphological
defects, it was correlated with lower sperm count in the seminal fluid. The findings
suggest that asymptomatic seminal infection of HSV plays an important role in male
infertility by adversely af-fecting sperm count.
http://www.jbr-pub.org/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=JBR130108&flag=1
2. Development of Leishmania vaccines: predicting the future from past and
present experience. J Biomed Res, 2013,27(2):85-102
Joshua Muli Mutisoa,b, John Chege Machariaa, Maria Ndunge Kiioa, James Maina
Ichagichua, Hitler Rikoia, Michael Muita Gicherub
a
Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, Karen,
Nairobi 24481 -00502, Kenya;
b
Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi 43844 -00100,
Kenya.
Abstract: Leishmaniasis is a disease that ranges in severity from skin lesions to
serious disfigurement and fatal systemic infection. Resistance to infection is
associated with a T-helper-1 immune response that activates macrophages to kill the
intracellular parasite in a nitric oxide-dependent manner. Conversely, disease
progression is generally associated with a T-helper-2 response that activates humoral
immunity. Current control is based on chemotherapeutic treatments which are
expensive, toxic and associated with high relapse and resistance rates. Vaccination
remains the best hope for control of all forms of the disease, and the development of a
safe, effective and affordable antileishmanial vaccine is a critical global public-health
priority. Extensive evidence from studies in animal models indicates that solid
protection can be achieved by immunization with defined subunit vaccines or
live-attenuated strains of Leishmania. However, to date, no vaccine is available
despite substantial efforts by many laboratories. Major impediments in Leishmania
vaccine development include: lack of adequate funding from national and
international agencies, problems related to the translation of data from animal models
to human disease, and the transition from the laboratory to the field. Furthermore, a
thorough understanding of protective immune responses and generation and
maintenance of the immunological memory, an important but least-studied aspect of
antiparasitic vaccine development, during Leishmania infection is needed. This
review focuses on the progress of the search for an effective vaccine against human
and canine leishmaniasis.
http://www.jbr-pub.org/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=JBR130203&flag=1
3. Prevalence and trends of aminoglycoside resistance in Shigella worldwide,
1999-2010. J Biomed Res, 2013,27(2):103-115
Bing Gua,b, Xing Kea,b, Shiyang Pana,b, Yan Caoa,b, Ling Zhuangc, Rongbin Yud,
Huimin Qianc, Genyan Liua,b, Mingqing Tonga,b
a
Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical
University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China;
b
National Key Clinical, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029,
China;
c
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jiangsu Provincial
Center for Disease Prevention and Control,Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China;
d
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing
Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
Abstract: Shigellosis causes diarrheal disease in humans in both developed and
developing countries, and multi-drug resistance in Shigella is an emerging problem.
Understanding changing resistance patterns is important in determining appropriate
antibiotic treatments. This meta-analysis systematically evaluated aminoglycoside
resistance in Shigella. A systematic review was constructed based on MEDLINE and
EMBASE databases. Random-effect models or fixed-effect models were used based
on P value considering the possibility of heterogeneity between studies for
meta-analysis. Data manipulation and statistical analyses were performed using
software STATA 11.0. By means of meta-analysis, we found a lower resistance to
three kinds of aminoglycosides in the Europe-America areas during the 12 year study
period than that of the Asia-Africa areas. Kanamycin resistance was observed to be
the most common drug resistance among Shigella isolates with a prevalence of 6.88%
(95%CI: 6.36%-7.43%). Comparison of data from Europe-America and Asia-Africa
areas revealed that Shigella flexneri resistance was greater than the resistance
calculated for Shigella sonnei. Importantly, S higella sonnei has played a significant
role in aminoglycoside-resistance in recent years. Similarly, data showed that
resistance to these drugs in children was higher than the corresponding data of adults.
In conclusion, aminoglycoside-resistant Shigella is not an unusual phenomenon
worldwide. Distribution in Shigella resistance differs sharply based on geographic
areas, periods of time and subtypes. The results from the present study highlight the
need for continuous surveillance of resistance and control of antibiotic usage.
http://www.jbr-pub.org/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=JBR130204&flag=1
4. Lactobacillus isolates from healthy volunteers exert immunomodulatory
effects on activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. J Biomed
Res,2013,27(2):116-126
Keyi Suna, Chao Xiea Donghua Xua, Xiaofan Yanga, James Tangb, Xiaohui Jia
a
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing,
Jiangsu 210029, China;
b
Cultech Limited, Unit 2 Christchurch Road, Baglan Industrial Park, Port Talbot,
SA12 7BZ, Wales, UK.
Abstract: As probiotics in the gut, Lactobacilli are believed to play important roles in
the development and maintenance of both the mucosal and systemic immune system
of the host. This study was aimed to investigate the immuno-modulatory function of
candiate lactobacilli on T cells. Lactobacilli were isolated from healthy human feces
and the microbiological characteristics were identified by API 50 CHL and randomly
amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assays. Anti-CD3 antibody activated peripheral
blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were treated by viable, heat-killed lactobacilli and
genomic DNA of lactobacilli, and cytokine profiles were tested by ELISA. Isolated
lactobacilli C44 and C48 were identified as L. acidophilus and L. paracacei, which
have properties of acid and bile tolerance and inhibitor effects on pathogens. Viable
and heat-killed C44 and C48 induced low levels of proinflammatory cytokines
(TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8) and high levels of IFN-γ and IL-12p70 in PBMCs. In antiCD3 antibody activated PBMCs, viable and heat-killed C44 increased Th2 cytokine
levels (IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10), and simultaneously enhanced Th1 responses by
inducing IFN-γ and IL-12p70 production. Different from that of lactabacillus strains,
their genomic DNA induced low levels of IL-12p70, IFN-γ and proinflammatory
cytokines in PBMCs with or without anti-CD3 antibody activation. These results
provided in vitro evidence that the genomic DNA of strains of C44 and C48,
especially C44, induced weaker inflammation, and may be potentially applied for
treating allergic diseases.
http://www.jbr-pub.org/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=JBR130205&flag=1
5. Risk assessment on the epidemics of human infection with a novel avian
influenza A (H7N9) virus in Jiangsu Province, China. J Biomed Res,
2013,27(3):163-166
Wendong Liu, Yefei Zhu, Xian Qi, Ke Xu, Aihua Ge, Hong Ji, Jing Ai, Changjun Bao,
Fenyang Tang, Minghao Zhou
Department of Acute Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
Abstract: A novel avian influenza A (H7N9) virus was discovered in February 2013 in
China and has resulted in more than 100 comfirmed human infections including 26
fatal cases as of May 2, 2013. The situation raises many ur-gent questions and global
public health concerns. In this study, epidemiologic characteristics of infected human
cases in Jiangsu province were analyzed and risk assessment was undertaken based on
the information available. Briefly, it is highly unlikely that a pandemic of human
infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus will happen in Jiangsu Province in the
near future. In the end, some measures are recommended to prevent the situation from
becoming worse.
http://www.jbr-pub.org/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=JBR130301&flag=1
6. Risk for worldwide pandemic of the new H7N9 influenza infection. J Biomed
Res, 2013,27(4):339
Viroj Wiwanitkit
Chulalongkorn University, Wiwanitkit House, Bangkhae, Bangkok, Thailand
http://www.jbr-pub.org/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=JBR130412&flag=1
7. A novel recombinant DNA vaccine encoding Mycobacterium tuberculosis
ESAT-6 and FL protects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge in
mice. J Biomed Res, 2013,27(5):406-420
Qingtao Jianga, Jing Zhanga, Xia Chena, Mei Xiaa, Yanlai Lua, Wen Qiua, Ganzhu
Fenga, Dan Zhaoa, Yan Lia, Fengxia Hea, Guangyong Pengb, Yingwei Wanga
a
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing,
Jiangsu 210029, China;
b
Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal
Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104,
USA.
Abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis 6-kDa early secretory antigenic target (ESAT-6)
is a dominant target antigen for cell-mediated immunity in the early phase of
tuberculosis. The fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FL) that induces potent immune
response has been used as an adjuvant in vaccine development. In this study, a new
recombinant plasmid (pIRES-epitope-peptides-FL) encoding three T cell epitopes of
ESAT-6 and FL was constructed, and the immunogenicity of the DNA vaccine was
assessed in C57BL/6 mice immunized with the plasmid DNA vaccine. Additionally, a
strategy of intramuscular injection with the DNA vaccine (prime) and intranasal
administration of the epitope peptides (boost) was employed to induce higher immune
reaction of the mice. The results showed that mice vaccinated with the recombinant
plasmid DNA vaccine and boosted with the peptides not only increased the levels of
Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12), the number of IFN-γ+ T cells and activities of
cytotoxic T lymphocytes as well as IgG, but also enhanced protection against
Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge. In conclusion, these data indicate that the
novel recombinant pIRES-epitope-peptides-FL plasmid is a useful DNA vaccine for
pre-venting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
http://www.jbr-pub.org/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=JBR130508&flag=1
8. Preparation and application of polyclonal antibodies against KSHV v-cyclin.
J Biomed Res,2013,27(5):421-429
Min Xuea,b, Yuanyuan Guoa, Qin Yana, Di Qina, Chun Lua
a
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing
210029, P. R. China;
b
Department of Physiology, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221000, P. R.
China; Jiangsu 223300, China
Abstract: We prepared rabbit polyclonal antibodies against Kaposi's
sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-encoded v-cyclin (ORF 72) and detected the
natural viral protein using these polyclonal antibodies. Three antigenic polypep-tides
of v-cyclin were designed and synthesized. A fragment of the v-cyclin gene was
cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector pEF-MCS-Flag-IRES/Puro to construct a
recombinant vector, pEF v-cyclin. Then, pEF v-cyclin was transfected into 293T and
EA.hy926 cells to obtain v-cyclin-Flag fusion proteins. Six New Zealand white
rabbits were immunized with KLH-conjugated peptides to generate polyclonal
antibodies against v-cyclin. The polyclonal antibodies were then characterized by
ELISA and Western blotting assays. Finally, the polyclonal anti-bodies against
v-cyclin were used to detect natural viral protein expressed in BCBL-1, BC-3, and
JSC-1 cells. The results showed that using the Flag antibody, v-cyclin-Flag fusion
protein was detected in 293T and EA.hy926 cells transfected with pEF-v-cyclin.
Furthermore, ELISA showed that the titer of the induced polyclonal rabbit
anti-v-cyclin antibodies was higher than 1:8,000. In Western blotting assays, the
antibodies reacted specifically with the v-cyclin-Flag fusion protein as well as the
natural viral protein. The recombinant expression vector pEF-v-cyclin was
constructed successfully, and the polyclonal antibodies prepared can be used for
various biological tests in-cluding ELISA and Western blotting assays.
http://www.jbr-pub.org/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=JBR130509&flag=1