Downloads & Free Reading Options - Results

This article is from Parasites & Vectors , volume 6 . Abstract Background: Dicistroviridae is a new family of small, non-enveloped, +ssRNA viruses pathogenic to both beneficial arthropods and insect pests. Little is known about the dicistrovirus replication mechanism or gene function, and any knowledge on these subjects comes mainly from comparisons with mammalian viruses from the Picornaviridae family. Due to its peculiar genome organization and characteristics of the per os viral transmission route, dicistroviruses make good candidates for use as biopesticides. Triatoma virus (TrV) is a pathogen of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of the human trypanosomiasis disease called Chagas disease. TrV was postulated as a potential control agent against Chagas’ vectors. Although there is no evidence that TrV nor other dicistroviruses replicate in species outside the Insecta class, the innocuousness of these viruses in humans and animals needs to be ascertained. Methods: In this study, RT-PCR and ELISA were used to detect the infectivity of this virus in Mus musculus BALB/c mice. Results: In this study we have observed that there is no significant difference in the ratio IgG2a/IgG1 in sera from animals inoculated with TrV when compared with non-inoculated animals or mice inoculated only with non-infective TrV protein capsids. Conclusions: We conclude that, under our experimental conditions, TrV is unable to replicate in mice. This study constitutes the first test to evaluate the infectivity of a dicistrovirus in a vertebrate animal model.

This article is from Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia , volume 35 . Abstract Hemophilia A is a disease caused by a deficiency of coagulation factor VIII resulting from genetic inheritance linked to chromosome X. One treatment option is the administration of plasma or recombinant FVIII. However, some patients develop inhibitors or antibodies against this factor. Inhibitors are alloantibodies that bind to the epitope of factor VIII causing it to be recognized by the immune system as a foreign peptide. This is the most serious complication in hemophilia patients in respect to replacement therapy. Some studies have suggested that genetic factors influence the development of factor VIII inhibitors such as ethnicity, family history, mutations in the factor VIII gene and in genes of the immune system. The aim of this study was to conduct a literature review to assess the influence of genetic factors of immune response genes, especially genes of the major histocompatibility complex and cytokines, which may be related to the development of factor VIII inhibitors in hemophilia A patients. Understanding these risk factors will help to determine future differential treatment in the control and prevention of the development of inhibitors.

This article is from BMC Veterinary Research , volume 8 . Abstract Background: Melatonin regulates several physiological processes and its powerful action as antioxidant has been widely reported. Melatonin acts modulating the immune system, showing a protective effect on the cardiovascular system and improving vaccine administration as an adjuvant-like agent. Here, we have investigated the role of melatonin as an adjuvant of the Clostridium perfringens vaccine in prepartum sheep and whether melatonin modulates platelet physiology during peripartum. Results: The experiments were carried out in peripartum sheep from a farm located in an area of Mediterranean-type ecosystem. Plasma melatonin levels were determined by ELISA and sheep platelet aggregation was monitored using an aggregometer. Here we demonstrated for the first time that plasma melatonin concentration were higher in pregnant (125 pg/mL) than in non-pregnant sheep (15 pg/mL; P 

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 9 . Abstract Botanicals are rich in bioactive compounds, and some offer numerous beneficial effects to animal and human health when consumed. It is well known that phytochemicals in cranberries have anti-oxidative and antimicrobial activities. Recently, an increasing body of evidence has demonstrated that cranberry phytochemicals may have potential benefits that promote healthy aging. Here, we use Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to show that water-soluble cranberry extract standardized to 4.0% proanthocyanidins (WCESP), a major component of cranberries, can enhance host innate immunity to resist against Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae; wild type C6706 (O1 El Tor biotype)) infection. Supplementation of WCESP did not significantly alter the intestinal colonization of V. cholerae, but upregulated the expression of C. elegans innate immune genes, such as clec-46, clec-71, fmo-2, pqn-5 and C23G10.1. Additionally, WCESP treatment did not affect the growth of V. cholerae and expression of the major bacterial virulence genes, and only slightly reduced bacterial colonization within C. elegans intestine. These findings indicate that the major components of WCESP, including proanthocyanidins (PACs), may play an important role in enhancing the host innate immunity. Moreover, we engaged C. elegans mutants and identified that the p38 MAPK signaling, insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS), and HSF-1 play pivotal roles in the WCESP-mediated host immune response. Considering the level of conservation between the innate immune pathways of C. elegans and humans, the results of this study suggest that WCESP may also play an immunity-promoting role in higher order organisms.

This article is from BMC Infectious Diseases , volume 14 . Abstract Background: Previous exposures to flu and subsequent immune responses may impact on 2009/2010 pandemic flu vaccine responses and clinical symptoms upon infection with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza strain. Qualitative and quantitative differences in humoral and cellular immune responses associated with the flu vaccination in 2009/2010 (pandemic H1N1 vaccine) and natural infection have not yet been described in detail. We designed a longitudinal study to examine influenza- (flu-) specific immune responses and the association between pre-existing flu responses, symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI), impact of pandemic flu infection, and pandemic flu vaccination in a cohort of 2,040 individuals in Sweden in 2009–2010. Methods: Cellular flu-specific immune responses were assessed by whole-blood antigen stimulation assay, and humoral responses by a single radial hemolysis test. Results: Previous seasonal flu vaccination was associated with significantly lower flu-specific IFN-γ responses (using a whole-blood assay) at study entry. Pandemic flu vaccination induced long-lived T-cell responses (measured by IFN-γ production) to influenza A strains, influenza B strains, and the matrix (M1) antigen. In contrast, individuals with pandemic flu infection (PCR positive) exhibited increased flu-specific T-cell responses shortly after onset of ILI symptoms but the immune response decreased after the flu season (spring 2010). We identified non-pandemic-flu vaccinated participants without ILI symptoms who showed an IFN-γ production profile similar to pandemic-flu infected participants, suggesting exposure without experiencing clinical symptoms. Conclusions: Strong and long-lived flu-M1 specific immune responses, defined by IFN-γ production, in individuals after vaccination suggest that M1-responses may contribute to protective cellular immune responses. Silent flu infections appeared to be frequent in 2009/2010. The pandemic flu vaccine induced qualitatively and quantitatively different humoral and cellular immune responses as compared to infection with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic H1N1 influenza strain.

This article is from Oncoimmunology , volume 2 . Abstract Extending observations on the immunogenicity of neo-antigens that arise in the course of oncogenesis and tumor progression, we suggest that somatic mutations affecting normal tissues also lead to generation of new epitopes. We hypothesize that, at least under inflammatory conditions, immune responses against such neo-antigens may lead to the elimination or functional impairment of normal cells, thus contributing to aging.

This article is from Cell Journal (Yakhteh) , volume 15 . Abstract Objective:: Garlic (Allium sativum) has anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenesis, and immunomodulatory properties that modulate anti-tumor immunity and inhibit tumor growth. In this study we have examined the effect of a protein fraction isolated from fresh garlic on anti-tumor response and intra-tumor lymphocyte infiltration. Materials and Methods:: In this experimental study a protein fraction was purified from fresh garlic bulbs using ultra-filtration, followed by chromatofocusing, and SDS-PAGE analysis. Anti-tumor activity was assessed by intra-tumor injection of the protein fraction and garlic extract, itself, into groups of 5 mice each. The percentage of peripheral blood and intra-tumor CD4+ and CD8+ cells were assessed by flow cytometry. Unpaired student’s t test using the SPSS program was applied for all statistical analyses. Results:: Garlic extract included different type of proteins with different molecular weight. One of protein’s fraction was immunomodeulator and was composed of three single polypeptides, with molecular masses of ~10-13 kDa and different isoelectric points (pI). These molecules augmented the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response compared to the control group. Intra-tumor injection of the fraction provoked a significant increase in the CD8+ subpopulation of T-lymphocytes, as well as a decrease in tumor size. The fraction increased peripheral blood CD8+ T-lymphocytes in treated animals. Conclusion:: The data confirms that protein fractions purified from fresh garlic bulbs augment CD8+ T-cell infiltration into the tumor site, inhibiting tumor growth more efficiently than garlic extract. These findings provide a basis for further investigations on the purified polypeptide as a useful candidate for immunomodulation and tumor treatment.

The purpose of this paper is to construct a mathematical model for process of pathological formation growth. Existing models of cell populations growth are analyzed and it is proposed to consider the growth of paraplasms with the help of Richards dynamic model. Its solution allows observing the ways, which make ill- defined cell diffused, saving contiguous cells

Explains how the immune system functions, visualized with animation. 1 videocassette (VHS) (16 min.) : 1/2 in. + Explains how the immune system functions, visualized with animation Advisors, O. Roger Anderson, Judy Owen

Explains how the immune system functions, visualized with animation. 1 videocassette (VHS) (16 min.) : 1/2 in. + Explains how the immune system functions, visualized with animation Advisors, O. Roger Anderson, Judy Owen

"Cellular Immune Response" by Walter Forsberg. Copyright 2017. OMG LOL ROTF IRL What happens when you're on your phone.

"Cellular Immune Response" by Walter Forsberg. Copyright 2017. OMG LOL ROTF IRL What happens when you're on your phone.

Introduction [1] : The use of agricultural and food industry by-products in animal feed leads to a reduction in breeding costs. In addition application of agricultural waste in poultry feed also reduces the environmentally harmful effects. One of these by-products is pistachio green peel, which is produced in food industries. Common pistachio (common pistachio in the market) with the scientific name Pistacia vera is a plant of the genus Anacardiaceae. Iran is the world's largest pistachio producer with 58% of the world's pistachio production. Research has shown that about four hundred thousand tons of pistachio by-products are produced annually in Iran and large volumes in the harvest season and high humidity of these products cause environmental pollution and pistachio orchards. Pistachio green peel has a parenchymal and fibrous structure and contains water, sugars, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, color compounds and terpenes. Green pistachio skin contains 4425.45 Kcal/kg of gross energy, 32.64% of dry matter, 11.24% of crude protein, 15.38% of crude fiber, 13.13% of ash, 5.79% of ether extract, 1.08 of calcium, 0.11% of phosphorus, 0.31% of magnesium, 4.44% of potassium. The concentrations of iron, manganese, copper and zinc in pistachio green peel are 660.68, 23.6, 16.23 and 5.27 mg/kg, respectively. There are significant amounts of alpha-pinene, alpha-terpinolene, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Food sources rich in phenolic compounds have a set of physiological properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-mutagenicity, lipoprotein oxidation inhibitor and have platelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory activity   and strengthen the immune response. The use of pistachio green peel extract improved the growth performance of broiler chickens, blood lipids and abdominal fat. The use of pistachio green skin extract in the diet of broiler infected with Staphylococcus aureus improved growth performance, increased antibody titer against sheep erythrocytes, decreased blood lipids and microbial population of the gastrointestinal tract of broilers. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the effect of Green Pistacia of kallequchi and it’s processed with urea on growth performance, blood indices, immune response and jejunum morphology of broiler chickens . Materials and Methods: A total of 280 male broilers were randomly distributed in 28 experimental units including 7 treatments, 4 replicates and 10 chicks each. The experimental diets consisted of the levels of 0, 1.5, 3, and 5% of the raw and processed green hull of kallequchi pistachio. The broilers were fed with three dietary programs including starter (1-10 days), grower (11-24 days), and finisher (25-42 days). At the end of each period, the body weight gain and feed consumption were recorded and the feed conversion ratio was calculated. Two birds of each replicate were slaughtered and their blood was gathered to analyze the biochemical blood indices at 42 days of age. The data were analyzed with SAS software and the mean was compared with the Tukey test at 0.05 . Results and Discussion: The addition of green hull of pistachio and its processed to diets cause a decrease in the feed conversion ratio during the starter and the whole period of the experiment (P≤0.05). In the starter period, adding 3% of the green hull of the pistachio increased the body weight gain compared to the control (P <0.05). The pistachio green hull increased total antibody and immunoglobulin G antibody titer against sheep red blood cells compared to control (P≤0.05). Experimental diets decreased serum cholesterol and LDL concentrations compare to control (P≤0.05). The green hull of kallequchi pistachio and its processed increased the villus height and decreased villus width and the ratio of height to crypt depth compared to the control (P≤0.05). Different levels of kallequchi pistachio green hull and its processed increased relative weight of the breast, heart, burs fabricius and decreased abdominal fat compared to control (P≤0.05). The same findings were reported by researchers that pistachio green hull extract decreased blood lipids and increased the immune response of broiler chickens (Yousefi et al., 2018; Hosseini Vashan et al., 2020). Conclusion: It is concluded that adding green hull of kallequchi pistachio up to 5% into broiler diets may improve growth performance, however, the addition of 3% could reduce cholesterol, FCR and improve the immune response of broiler chickens.

Aim: The purpose of the study is to investigate the importance of hematological inflammatory parameters in predicting pregnancy loss in the first trimester. Material and Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively between February and May 2022 in Aksaray University Training and Research Hospital, Obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic. Fifty-five of 110 patients diagnosed with first trimester pregnancy loss were included in the study. The control group consisted of 55 pregnant women with first trimester pregnancies. Results: When the whole groups were compared, no statistically significant difference was observed in terms of hemoglobin, platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), derived NLR ratio (dNLR), systemic inflammatory index (SII), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV). Discussion: NLR, PLR, LMR, dNLR, SII, SIRI and PIV parameters were not associated with first trimester abortions. In this study, unlike previous studies, no hematological parameters, including the pan-immune-inflammation value, were found to have a role in predicting first trimester pregnancy loss.

There are now compelling human epidemiological and animal experimental data that indicate the risk of developing complex diseases is influenced by persistent epigenetic adaptations in response to environmental exposures such as toxins and stress. We propose to examine the epigenomic response to diisopropyl fluorophosphates (DFP), a sarin surrogate, and associated changes to the immune and endocrine response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in a mouse model of Gulf War Illness (GWI), with stress hormone exposure as an experimental mediator. We will study the relationship between changes in DNA methylation and chromatin modifications in peripheral blood and the brain (specifically hippocampus and prefrontal cortex) in order to pursue a mechanistic understanding of the underlying pathology of GWI. During this reporting period, we have begun data collection on DNA methylation modifications and gene expression profiles in the brains of mice exposed to saline control, corticosterone and DFP, and have developed and refined protocols for this project in line with the GWIRC sister project.

There are now compelling human epidemiological and animal experimental data that indicate the risk of developing complex diseases is influenced by persistent epigenetic adaptations in response to environmental exposures such as toxins and stress. We propose to examine the epigenomic response to diisopropyl fluorophosphates (DFP), a sarin surrogate, and associated changes to the immune and endocrine response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in a mouse model of Gulf War Illness (GWI), with stress hormone exposure as an experimental mediator. We will study the relationship between changes in DNA methylation and chromatin modifications in peripheral blood and the brain (specifically hippocampus and prefrontal cortex) in order to pursue a mechanistic understanding of the underlying pathology of GWI. During this reporting period, we have begun data collection on DNA methylation modifications and gene expression profiles in the brains of mice exposed to saline control, corticosterone and DFP, and have developed and refined protocols for this project in line with the GWIRC sister project.

267 pages :

Philip Morris Records; budget; budget review; form; research proposal, scientific; extr, extra; marg, marginalia

Immunotherapy (IT) has become popular as an alternative treatment for late-stage and metastatic prostate cancer, however, IT alone is not a very effective modality due to multiple tumor escape mechanisms and would benefit from combination with other therapies, such as Radiation Therapy (RT). Our working hypothesis is that while radiation induces danger signals or alarmins in the tumor microenvironment up-regulating co-stimulatory molecules and hence promoting T cell activation, it also affects antigen processing through the proteasome. We believe that radiation also affects antigen presentation by inducing cellular maturation. We observed increases in cell surface markers on irradiated dendritic cells such as MHC II and CD86 in vitro and we were able to show immature dendritic cells appeared to have their propensity to degrade antigen enhanced when they had received radiation prior to antigen exposure. This is important because the state of maturation is in turn known to affect the composition of proteasomes, and hence the antigen repertoire presented. One goal of the proposal is to determine if radiation affects the hierarchy of antigenic peptide presented by DCs and tumor cells. We used murine prostate tumor cells TRAMP but with a human MHC class I molecule, which allowed us to monitor responses to tumor specific antigens that are relevant in the clinical settings. We show that irradiating tumor cells prior to vaccination does not alter their antigenicity. Whether this holds true for local tumor irradiation in vivo will have to be determined. Overall, we conclude from these experiments that the effects of radiation on antigen cross-presentation by dendritic cells in vitro and in vivo are encouraging and give us no reason to believe that radiotherapy is not a good candidate to be used in conjunction with cancer IT, although immune deviation may result in a slightly different response.

Immunotherapy (IT) has become popular as an alternative treatment for late-stage and metastatic prostate cancer, however, IT alone is not a very effective modality due to multiple tumor escape mechanisms and would benefit from combination with other therapies, such as Radiation Therapy (RT). Our working hypothesis is that while radiation induces danger signals or alarmins in the tumor microenvironment up-regulating co-stimulatory molecules and hence promoting T cell activation, it also affects antigen processing through the proteasome. We believe that radiation also affects antigen presentation by inducing cellular maturation. We observed increases in cell surface markers on irradiated dendritic cells such as MHC II and CD86 in vitro and we were able to show immature dendritic cells appeared to have their propensity to degrade antigen enhanced when they had received radiation prior to antigen exposure. This is important because the state of maturation is in turn known to affect the composition of proteasomes, and hence the antigen repertoire presented. One goal of the proposal is to determine if radiation affects the hierarchy of antigenic peptide presented by DCs and tumor cells. We used murine prostate tumor cells TRAMP but with a human MHC class I molecule, which allowed us to monitor responses to tumor specific antigens that are relevant in the clinical settings. We show that irradiating tumor cells prior to vaccination does not alter their antigenicity. Whether this holds true for local tumor irradiation in vivo will have to be determined. Overall, we conclude from these experiments that the effects of radiation on antigen cross-presentation by dendritic cells in vitro and in vivo are encouraging and give us no reason to believe that radiotherapy is not a good candidate to be used in conjunction with cancer IT, although immune deviation may result in a slightly different response.

Immunotherapy (IT) has become popular as an alternative treatment for late-stage and metastatic prostate cancer, however, IT alone is not a very effective modality due to multiple tumor escape mechanisms and would benefit from combination with other therapies, such as Radiation Therapy (RT). Our working hypothesis is that while radiation induces danger signals or alarmins in the tumor microenvironment up-regulating co-stimulatory molecules and hence promoting T cell activation, it also affects antigen processing through the proteasome. We believe that radiation also affects antigen presentation by inducing cellular maturation. We observed increases in cell surface markers on irradiated dendritic cells such as MHC II and CD86 in vitro and we were able to show immature dendritic cells appeared to have their propensity to degrade antigen enhanced when they had received radiation prior to antigen exposure. This is important because the state of maturation is in turn known to affect the composition of proteasomes, and hence the antigen repertoire presented. One goal of the proposal is to determine if radiation affects the hierarchy of antigenic peptide presented by DCs and tumor cells. We used murine prostate tumor cells TRAMP but with a human MHC class I molecule, which allowed us to monitor responses to tumor specific antigens that are relevant in the clinical settings. We show that irradiating tumor cells prior to vaccination does not alter their antigenicity. Whether this holds true for local tumor irradiation in vivo will have to be determined. Overall, we conclude from these experiments that the effects of radiation on antigen cross-presentation by dendritic cells in vitro and in vivo are encouraging and give us no reason to believe that radiotherapy is not a good candidate to be used in conjunction with cancer IT, although immune deviation may result in a slightly different response.

Following severe burn injury, persistent inflammation perpetuated by surface eschar, bacterial colonisation and neutrophil proteolytic activity can impede normal healing and result in further tissue damage. Extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) has been shown in the clinical setting to promote the healing of burn and difficult to heal wounds; however, the mechanism is unclear. We investigated the role of ESWT on the early proinflammatory response using a severe, full-thickness and highly inflammatory cutaneous burn wound in a murine model. Various wound-healing parameters were measured and leukocyte infiltration quantitated. A panel of 188 candidate genes known to be involved in acute inflammation and wound healing was screened. We show that ESWT of burn wounds 1 hour postwounding significantly blunts polymorphonuclear neutrophil and macrophage infiltration into the wound. ESWT treatment potently attenuates both CC- and CXC-chemokine expression, acute proinflammatory cytokine expression and extracellular matrix proteolytic activity at the wound margin. Given these findings and the clinical success of ESWT, we speculate that ESWT may be a potential therapeutic modality to treat severe wounds wherein excessive inflammatory responses involving increased levels of inflammatory cells, proinflammatory cytokines and proteases may become self-resolving allowing wound healing to progresses by way of normal physiological repair processes.

Following severe burn injury, persistent inflammation perpetuated by surface eschar, bacterial colonisation and neutrophil proteolytic activity can impede normal healing and result in further tissue damage. Extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) has been shown in the clinical setting to promote the healing of burn and difficult to heal wounds; however, the mechanism is unclear. We investigated the role of ESWT on the early proinflammatory response using a severe, full-thickness and highly inflammatory cutaneous burn wound in a murine model. Various wound-healing parameters were measured and leukocyte infiltration quantitated. A panel of 188 candidate genes known to be involved in acute inflammation and wound healing was screened. We show that ESWT of burn wounds 1 hour postwounding significantly blunts polymorphonuclear neutrophil and macrophage infiltration into the wound. ESWT treatment potently attenuates both CC- and CXC-chemokine expression, acute proinflammatory cytokine expression and extracellular matrix proteolytic activity at the wound margin. Given these findings and the clinical success of ESWT, we speculate that ESWT may be a potential therapeutic modality to treat severe wounds wherein excessive inflammatory responses involving increased levels of inflammatory cells, proinflammatory cytokines and proteases may become self-resolving allowing wound healing to progresses by way of normal physiological repair processes.

This article is from Virology Journal , volume 9 . Abstract Epitope-based vaccination might play an important role in the protective immunity against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the immune characteristics of recombinant MVA carrying multi-epitope gene of JEV (rMVA-mep). The synthetic gene containing critical epitopes (B-cell, CTL and Th) of JEV was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pGEM-K1L, and the rMVA-mep was prepared. BALB/c mice were immunized with different dosages of purified rMVA-mep and the immune responses were determined in the form of protective response against JEV, antibodies titers (IgG1 and IgG2a), spleen cell lymphocyte proliferation, and the levels of interferon-γ and interleukin-4 cytokines. The results showed that live rMVA-mep elicited strongly immune responses in dose-dependent manner, and the highest level of immune responses was observed from the groups immunized with 107 TCID50 rMVA-mep among the experimental three concentrations. There were almost no difference of cytokines and neutralizing antibody titers among 107 TCID50 rMVA-mep, recombinant ED3 and inactivated JEV vaccine. It was noteworthy that rMVA-mep vaccination potentiates the Th1 and Th2-type immune responses in dose-dependent manner, and was sufficient to protect the mice survival against lethal JEV challenge. These findings demonstrated that rMVA-mep can produce adequate humoral and cellular immune responses, and protection in mice, which suggested that rMVA-mep might be an attractive candidate vaccine for preventing JEV infection.

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 9 . Abstract The effects of dietary vitamin A supplementation on reproductive performance, liver function, fat-soluble vitamin retention, and immune response were studied in laying broiler breeders. In the first phase of the experiment, 1,120 Ross-308 broiler breeder hens were fed a diet of corn and soybean meal supplemented with 5,000 to 35,000 IU/kg vitamin A (retinyl acetate) for 20 weeks. In the second phase, 384 Ross-308 broiler breeder hens were fed the same diet supplemented with 5,000 to 135,000 IU/kg vitamin A (retinyl acetate) for 24 weeks. The hens' reproductive performance, the concentrations of vitamins A and E in liver and egg yolk, liver function, mRNA expression of vitamin D receptor in duodenal mucosa, antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus vaccine, and T-cell proliferation responses were evaluated. Supplementation of vitamin A at levels up to and including 35,000 IU/kg did not affect reproductive performance and quadratically affected antibody titer to Newcastle disease virus vaccine (p

This research aims to map the existing literature on this topic, highlighting the progress made and identifying remaining gaps.

This research aims to map the existing literature on this topic, highlighting the progress made and identifying remaining gaps.

This registration contains raw data from a study titled "The Demographic Profile of Colorectal Cancer Patients in Indonesia: Insights from a Single Center Experience and Exploration of Immune Response and Survival Outcomes."

Stage 1 IPA at Royal Society Open Science

We study the maturation of the antibody population following primary antigen presentation as a global optimization problem. Emphasis is placed on the trade-off between the safety of mutations that lead to local improvements to the antibody's affinity and the necessity of eventual mutations that result in global reconfigurations in the antibody's shape. The model described herein gives evidence of the underlying optimization process from which the rapidity and consistency of the biologic response could be derived.

This article is from Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences , volume 27 . Abstract Different herbs and spices have been used as feed additives for various purposes in poultry production. This study was conducted to assess the effect of feed supplemented with black pepper (Piper nigrum), turmeric powder (Curcuma longa), coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum) and their combinations on the performance of broilers. A total of 210 (Cobb) one-d-old chicks were divided into seven groups of 30 birds each. The treatments were: a control group received no supplement, 0.5% black pepper (T1), 0.5% turmeric powder (T2), 2% coriander seeds (T3), a mixture of 0.5% black pepper and 0.5% turmeric powder (T4), a mixture of 0.5% black pepper and 2% coriander seed (T5), and a mixture of 0.5% black pepper, 0.5% turmeric powder and 2% coriander seeds (T6). Higher significant values of body weight gain during the whole period of 5 weeks (p

This article is from Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences , volume 8 . Abstract Turnips with a long history of usage, are helpful in preventing breast and prostate cancer, inflammation and body`s immune system dysfunction. In this study, we investigated the effects of chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of Brassica rapa L. on cell-mediated immune response in mice. Chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of B. rapa glands were prepared by maceration method. To study the effects of B. rapa on acquired immunity, groups of Balb/c mice (n=8) were used. Sheep red blood cell (SRBC) was injected (s.c., 1×108cells/ml, 0.02 ml) and 5 days later, different extracts (10, 100 and 500 mg/kg), betamethasone (4 mg/kg) and Levamisol (4 mg/kg) as a positive control and normal saline as a negative control were given i.p. After 1 h SRBC was injected to footpad (s.c., 1×108cells/ml, 0.02 ml) and footpad swelling was measured up to 72 h. To investigate the effects of B. rapa on innate immunity the same procedure was used, but animals only received one injection of SRBC 1 h after i.p. injection of test compounds. Our findings showed that SRBC induced an increase in paw swelling with maximum response at 6-8 and 2-4 h for innate and acquired immunity, respectively. Betamethasone inhibited and levamisol increased paw thickness in both models. In both innate and acquired immunity models, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of B. rapa glands significantly and dose-dependently reduced paw thickness. Ethyl acetate extract showed better effect. As glucosinolates are better extracted by ethyl acetate, it may be concluded that they are contributed in the more pronounced effects of ethyl acetate extract.

This article is from Frontiers in Oncology , volume 4 . Abstract The endothelium is nowadays described as an entire organ that regulates various processes: vascular tone, coagulation, inflammation, and immune cell trafficking, depending on the vascular site and its specific microenvironment as well as on endothelial cell-intrinsic mechanisms like epigenetic changes. In this review, we will focus on the control of the adaptive immune response by the tumor vasculature. In physiological conditions, the endothelium acts as a barrier regulating cell trafficking by specific expression of adhesion molecules enabling adhesion of immune cells on the vessel, and subsequent extravasation. This process is also dependent on chemokine and integrin expression, and on the type of junctions defining the permeability of the endothelium. Endothelial cells can also regulate immune cell activation. In fact, the endothelial layer can constitute immunological synapses due to its close interactions with immune cells, and the delivery of co-stimulatory or co-inhibitory signals. In tumor conditions, the vasculature is characterized by an abnormal vessel structure and permeability, and by a specific phenotype of endothelial cells. All these abnormalities lead to a modulation of intra-tumoral immune responses and contribute to the development of intra-tumoral immunosuppression, which is a major mechanism for promoting the development, progression, and treatment resistance of tumors. The in-depth analysis of these various abnormalities will help defining novel targets for the development of anti-tumoral treatments. Furthermore, eventual changes of the endothelial cell phenotype identified by plasma biomarkers could secondarily be selected to monitor treatment efficacy.

This article is from Journal of Neuroinflammation , volume 10 . Abstract Background: Alcohol abuse has dramatic effects on the health of the elderly. Recent studies indicate that ethanol increases immune activity in younger animals and that some of these proinflammatory molecules alter alcohol consumption and addiction. However, the effects of alcohol on immune activation in aged animals have not been thoroughly investigated. Findings: We compared the effects of ethanol on chemokine and cytokine expression in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex of aged C57BL/6 mice. Mice were treated via gavage with 6 g/kg ethanol for 10 days and tissue was harvested 1 day post-treatment. Ethanol selectively increased mRNA levels of the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2/monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the hippocampus and cerebellum, but not in the cortex of aged mice relative to control animals. In this paradigm, ethanol did not affect mRNA levels of the cytokines IL-6 or TNF-α in any of these brain regions in aged animals. Conclusions: Collectively, these data indicate a region-specific susceptibility to ethanol regulation of neuroinflammatory and addiction-related molecules in aged mice. These studies could have important implications concerning alcohol-induced neuropathology and alcohol addiction in the elderly.

Aim: Recent studies show that the immune inflammatory response plays an important role in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). The aim of the study was to examine whether pan-immune inflammation value (PIV) and systemic inflammatory response index (SII) are effective in predicting CSU.  Material and Methods: Sixty-five patients and 65 healthy controls followed in the Allergy and Immunology Clinics of Ordu University Training and Research Hospital were included in this retrospective study. Results: Neutrophil and lymphocyte,  MPV, PDW, PCT and CRP levels were statistically significant between the patient and healthy controls (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference was found in PLR, dNLR, SIRI and PIV indices between the groups (p<0.05). We concluded that SIRI and PIV could be novel cost-effective biomarkers in patients with CSU. Discussion: SIRI and PIV levels were statistically significant in patients with CSU. SIRI and PIV are newly designed indexes that are accepted as easily calculable and comprehensive indicators of immune response and systemic inflammation.  Inflammatory indices can be an inexpensive, practical and safe indicator of the inflammatory state in patients with CSU.

This article is from Nature Communications , volume 2 . Abstract Activin is an important orchestrator of wound repair, but its potential role in skin carcinogenesis has not been addressed. Here we show using different types of genetically modified mice that enhanced levels of activin in the skin promote skin tumour formation and their malignant progression through induction of a pro-tumourigenic microenvironment. This includes accumulation of tumour-promoting Langerhans cells and regulatory T cells in the epidermis. Furthermore, activin inhibits proliferation of tumour-suppressive epidermal γδ T cells, resulting in their progressive loss during tumour promotion. An increase in activin expression was also found in human cutaneous basal and squamous cell carcinomas when compared with control tissue. These findings highlight the parallels between wound healing and cancer, and suggest inhibition of activin action as a promising strategy for the treatment of cancers overexpressing this factor.

The emergence of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is certainly a serious threat to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. After its irruption, some variants disappear or are irrelevant and others persist and are concerning because of its potential health repercussions and the immune response of vaccines that are being administered with great effort. One of the reasons why the SARS-CoV-2 virus is generating variants and will continue to do so is because a relatively few people in the world are immune and protected. The virus replicating is communicating to us that it is going to exhibit a lot of changes. Acquiring the infection involves risks of serious illness and death, so immunization is more logical, convincing and indispensable. It is also a better recourse for slowing viral replication, since infection offers viruses the opportunity to improve their performance. In addition, since multiple treatments, including antibody-based treatments, are often administered in severe infections, the surviving escape variants may be more resistant to these therapies effective against earlier versions of the virus. Two contenders (the surviving virus and the immune system) will be confronted with each other in an attempt to win, with the virus utilizing new weapons and subterfuges in a race that will lead to an evolutionary deadlock. A rising concern is whether available vaccines and those under investigation have a reduced or inadequate level of protection against emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, particularly the variants of concern with changes in the spike protein. Despite these ongoing threats, at this time the general preventive measures and protection offered by the available SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are already a fundamental resource in the fight against COVID-19 and its variants, and a very hopeful measure for the immediate future. In the current situation, people should be aware of and learn to live with the virus variants and how to optimize its prevention and control.

The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds. Researchers find that the malaria parasite mimics a natural molecule that inhibits the release of NK cells, and the effect of insecticide resistance on the reproductive potential of Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes has been revealed. More: www.fightmalaria.uk/MalariaMinute

The work of the current year continues to demonstrate broad spectrum antiviral activity of immunomodulators against herpes simplex virus (HSV-2), and Banzi flavivirus, Semliki forest alphatogavirus (SFV), and Caraparu bunyavirus. There were, however, distinct patterns in the sensitivity of the virus infections to immunomodulation. HSV-2 infection was the most sensitive; therapeutic treatment with Ampligen or any of the three types of interferon (IFN) was effective even when the start of treatment was delayed until 48 hr after infection. The results indicated that IFN may be the major component in the antiviral activity of Ampligen and ABMP, and to a lesser extent, CL246, 738 and MVE-2. Anti-IFN antibody treatment, however, although effectively neutralizing poly ICLC-induced IFN, did not reduce the antiviral activity of poly ICLC. These data suggest that mechanisms in addition to IFN may be involved in the antiviral efficacy of this compound. Keywords: Banzi Virus; Caraparuvirus; Ribavirun.

We compared the immune response of BALB/c mice to two biological agents, Coxiella burnetii and Burkholderia mallei. Both C. burnetii and B. mallei cell preparations induced a proliferative and a mixed Th1- and Th2-like cytokine response in splenocytes from vaccinated mice. B. mallei cell preparations induced higher levels of IgG and IgM than did C. burnetii. The ratio of the subclasses IgG2a over IgG1 from C. burnetii vaccinated mice was higher than 1.0, while the ratio from B. mallei was lower than 1.0. The difference in the Th1-like response of the Ig subclasses may be part of the reason why vaccination with the C. burnetii can lead to a protective response, while vaccination with B. mallei does not.

Cytokine production and other effector functions ofCD4+ T helper (Th) cells are crucial for the initiation of a primary immune response. The activation of naive CD4+ Thcells requires two signals delivered from antigen presenting cells (APCs). The engagement of the T cell surface receptor (TCR) by antigenic peptides presented in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class IT molecules on APCs provides the primary signal, but this Ag-specific signal alone is not sufficient to activate naiveCD4+ Th cells. A second or costimulatory signal from APCs, which is independent of Tcell receptor signaling, is required for optimal activation, proliferation, and cytokine production by naive CD4+ Th cells. Recent studies have shown that T cell surface molecule CD28, and its homologue CTLA-4, can provide costimulatory signals to 10cells when they interact with their ligands, B7-11B7-2 on APCs. Interactions between 10cell surface CD40 ligand (CD40L) and B cell CD40 molecules have also been shown to costimulate Th cell activation. In this investigation, the role of CD28/CTLA4-ligand costimulation in nave Th cell activation and T cell cytokine production was examined by blocking CTLA-4-Iigand interactions in two in vivo type 2 immune response models.

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 9 . Abstract Eukaryotes have evolved complex defense pathways to combat invading pathogens. Here, we investigated the role of the Arabidopsis thaliana heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP-Q) LIF2 in the plant innate immune response. We show that LIF2 loss-of-function in A. thaliana leads to changes in the basal expression of the salicylic acid (SA)- and jasmonic acid (JA)- dependent defense marker genes PR1 and PDF1.2, respectively. Whereas the expression of genes involved in SA and JA biosynthesis and signaling was also affected in the lif2-1 mutant, no change in SA and JA hormonal contents was detected. In addition, the composition of glucosinolates, a class of defense-related secondary metabolites, was altered in the lif2-1 mutant in the absence of pathogen challenge. The lif2-1 mutant exhibited reduced susceptibility to the hemi-biotrophic pathogen Pseudomonas syringae and the necrotrophic ascomycete Botrytis cinerea. Furthermore, the lif2-1 sid2-2 double mutant was less susceptible than the wild type to P. syringae infection, suggesting that the lif2 response to pathogens was independent of SA accumulation. Together, our data suggest that lif2-1 exhibits a basal primed defense state, resulting from complex deregulation of gene expression, which leads to increased resistance to pathogens with various infection strategies. Therefore, LIF2 may function as a suppressor of cell-autonomous immunity. Similar to its human homolog, NSAP1/SYNCRIP, a trans-acting factor involved in both cellular processes and the viral life cycle, LIF2 may regulate the conflicting aspects of development and defense programs, suggesting that a conserved evolutionary trade-off between growth and defense pathways exists in eukaryotes.

This article is from BMC Microbiology , volume 14 . Abstract Background: Previous findings suggested that Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 is able to increase resistance of children to intestinal viral infections. However, the intestinal cells, cytokines and receptors involved in the immunoregulatory effect of this probiotic strain have not been fully characterized. Results: We aimed to gain insight into the mechanisms involved in the immunomodulatory effect of the CRL1505 strain and therefore evaluated in vitro the crosstalk between L. rhamnosus CRL1505, porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and antigen presenting cells (APCs) from swine Peyer’s patches in order to deepen our knowledge about the mechanisms, through which this strain may help preventing viral diarrhoea episodes. L. rhamnosus CRL1505 was able to induce IFN–α and –β in IECs and improve the production of type I IFNs in response to poly(I:C) challenge independently of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 or TLR9 signalling. In addition, the CRL1505 strain induced mRNA expression of IL-6 and TNF-α via TLR2 in IECs. Furthermore, the strain significantly increased surface molecules expression and cytokine production in intestinal APCs. The improved Th1 response induced by L. rhamnosus CRL1505 was triggered by TLR2 signalling and included augmented expression of MHC-II and co-stimulatory molecules and expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ in APCs. IL-10 was also significantly up-regulated by CRL1505 in APCs. Conclusions: It was recently reviewed the emergence of TLR agonists as new ways to transform antiviral treatments by introducing panviral therapeutics with less adverse effects than IFN therapies. The use of L. rhamnosus CRL1505 as modulator of innate immunity and inductor of antiviral type I IFNs, IFN-γ, and regulatory IL-10 clearly offers the potential to overcome this challenge.

This article is from Arthritis Research & Therapy , volume 13 . Abstract Introduction: In this study, we analysed the number of IL-17+ cells in facet joints, in the peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients and compared these results with those of patients with other rheumatic diseases and controls. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of IL-17+ cells was performed in facet joints of 33 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and compared with data from 20 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. The frequency of IL-17+CD4+ T cells in PB and SF of SpA patients (PB n = 30, SF n = 11), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (PB n = 14, SF n = 7), OA patients (PB n = 10) and healthy controls (PB n = 12) was analysed after stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxin B and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin and quantified by flow cytometry. Results: In AS facet joints, the frequency of IL-17-secreting cells was significantly higher than in samples obtained from OA patients (P < 0.001), with a slight predominance of IL-17+ cells among the mononuclear cells (61.5% ± 14.9%) compared to cells with polysegmental nuclei. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the majority of IL-17+ cells were myeloperoxidase-positive (35.84 ± 13.06/high-power field (HPF) and CD15+ neutrophils (24.25 ± 10.36/HPF), while CD3+ T cells (0.51 ± 0.49/HPF) and AA-1+ mast cells (2.28 ± 1.96/HPF) were less often IL-17-positive. The frequency of IL-17+CD4+ T cells in the PB and SF of SpA patients did not differ significantly compared to RA patients, OA patients or healthy controls. Conclusions: Our data suggest an important role for IL-17 in the inflammatory processes in AS. However, the innate immune pathway might be of greater relevance than the Th17-mediated adaptive immune response.

In recent years, progress has been made in the development of immune-based therapy for cancer. Conceptually, these treatment strategies have the potential of harnessing the immune system to combat and eliminate cancer cells. One major obstacle to the success of immunotherapy in both human and animal studies is the development of immunologic tolerance in tumor-bearing hosts. Therefore, the immune system fails to recognize cancer cells as dangerous and actively suppresses antitumorimmune responses. Identification of the underlying mechanisms and the critical players that drive tolerance to the tumoris critical to improve the therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapy. Recent data indicate that activin A, a small protein secreted by some immune cells and by breast cancer cells has immune regulatory functions that may play a key role in promoting escape of tumors from immune control. The proposed studies will test the hypothesis that activin A secreted by breast cancer cells plays a key role in suppressing anti tumor immunity. The goals are to demonstrate the role of activin A produced by breast cancer cells in tumor growth and metastasis, and the potential therapeutic benefit of blocking activin A to increase theresponse to radiotherapy.

The nematode parasite, B: polygyrus, has been extensively used as a model to study the type 2 in vivo immune response. This response is characterized by the development of ILA producing T cells which mediate the development of other allergy associated effector cell populations. Following oral inoculation with H. polygyrus larvae, the host rapidly develops a type 2 immune response characterized by intestal mastocytosis, blood eosinophilia, elevations in T cell IL-2R expression, in situ CD4+ T cell expansion and ILA production, and increases in B cell MHC class II expression, MLN 6C formation and serum IgE and IgGi levels. The costimulatory signal provided to naive T helper (Th) cells through CD28/CTLAA interactions is required for in vivo Th cell effector function associated with cytokine production. In this project, I examined whether the two well-characterized ligands for these molecules, B7-1 and B7-2, differentially influence the development of a type 1 or type 2 immune response. Administration of the combination of anti-B7-1 and anti-B7-2 mAbs inhibited H polygyrus-induced increases in serum IgG1 and IgE levels, the expansion of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) germinal centers, in situ CD4+ T cell expansion, elevated blood eosinophils, and increased intestinal mucosal mast cells. Similarly, both Abs blocked MLN and Peyer's Patch's patch cytokine gene expression and elevations in MLN T cell derived IL-4 protein secretion However, in the same experiments, administration of either anti-B7-1 and anti-B7-2 mAbs alone had little effect on these parameters. T cell and B cell activation was also blocked by the combination of anti-B7.2 and a B7-1 specific mutant Y100F CTLAIg construct. These results suggest that, to the extent that anti-B7-1 and anti-B7-2 mAbs block B7 interactions, either B7-1 or B7-2 ligand interactions can provide the required costimulatory signals that lead to T cell effector function during the type 2 in vivo immune response.

Response of the immune system to invading alien proteins is considered as an example of a highly successful defense mechanism of a complex system against an, effectively, information attack. Specific components of this mechanism are described and subjected to mathematical modeling. The entire mechanism is viewed as a closed-loop, nonlinear, negative feedback circuit. Generic conditions resulting in two distinctive outcomes of such an attack, lethality and full recovery are established. The control law, inevitably resulting in the full recovery outcome is described. A chronology of a recent information attack on the international computer network community is presented, and the resemblance between the particular stages of the attacks on the computer network and the immune system is emphasized. It is concluded that the control law established for the immune defenses could be fruitful in application to computer defenses.

This item represents a case in PACER, the U.S. Government's website for federal case data. If you wish to see the entire case, please consult PACER directly.

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 9 . Abstract The emerging roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and pulmonary epithelial cells in regulating the immune response against microbial invasion has attracted increasing attention in recent years, however, the immunoregulatory roles of miRNAs in the pulmonary epithelial cells in response to mycobacterial infection has not been fully demonstrated. In this study, we show that miR-124 expression is induced upon Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection in A549 alveolar epithelial cells and murine lungs. miR-124 is able to modulate Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in A459 cells. In this regard, multiple components, including TLR6, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), TNFR-associated factor 6 and tumor necrosis factor-α of the TLR signaling cascade are directly regulated by miR-124 in response to BCG stimulation. In addition, miR-124 expression was induced upon MyD88 overexpression and/or BCG stimulation, while silencing MyD88 expression by small interfering RNA dramatically down-regulated miR-124 transcription in A549 cells. These results indicate an underlying negative feedback mechanism between miR-124 and MyD88 in alveolar epithelial cells to prevent an excessive inflammatory response during mycobacterial infection. These observations suggest that miR-124 is a potential target for preventive and therapeutic intervention against the pulmonary tuberculosis, an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

This article is from PLoS ONE , volume 8 . Abstract Antibodies against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) and Escherichia coli outer membrane porin C (anti-OmpC) are known to be detectable in the serum of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) but display a very poor sensitivity for the disease especially in forms with isolated colonic involvement. In this study we aimed at evaluating performances of these markers in supernatant of cultured colonic biopsies.Patients with colonic CD (n =  67), ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 35) and control individuals (n = 37) were prospectively recruited for colonoscopy pinch biopsies and blood sampling. Serum and supernatant of culture tissues were analyzed for ASCA and anti-OmpC. Direct immunofluorescence was also performed on colonic tissues for total IgA detection.We detected for the first time ASCA IgA/IgG and anti-OmpC IgA in cultured colonic tissue supernatants. For both markers, sensitivities for diagnosing CD were better in supernatants (ASCA: 53.7%, anti-OmpC: 28.4%) than in serum (ASCA: 31.3%, anti-OmpC: 22.4%). Combination of results from a panel of these tests gave the greatest sensitivity ever described for CD diagnosis in colonic forms (70.2%).In this study, we described, for the first time, ASCA in supernatant of colonic tissue cultures. This assaying approach in CD diagnosis should be taken into consideration in the future especially in CD forms with isolated colonic involvement.