ABSTRACT
Information technology has become an important driver to facilitate higher education developments in the context of new medical sciences. A new “virtual-real combination” experimental teaching model was designed and created through integrating information technology with experimental teaching by Experimental Teaching Center of Basic Medical Sciences and Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University and was applied in Human Parasitology teaching, which achieved satisfactory teaching effectiveness. This new model showed effective to deepen the understanding of the basic human parasitology knowledge, improve the operative skills, and cultivate the moral literacy and comprehensive capability among medical students. This report presents the teaching protocols and implementation, teaching effectiveness and evaluation, and experiences of comprehensive schistosome experiments.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the immune mechanism of negative results of immune tests of schistosomiasis japonica pa?tients. Methods Totally 142 schistosomiasis patients(positive stool examinations)of Poyang Lake region were tested by ELI?SA method,and the ROC curve was applied to determine the high and low response of the patients. The levels of cellular immu?nity and cytokines of high and low responders were compared. Results Totally eight schistosomiasis patients were found as low responders. Besides SWAP?IgA(t= -1.588,P > 0.1),the levels of isotype antibodies were significantly lower in the low re?sponders compared with those in the high responders(t = -14.517 to -2.866,all P 0.05)compared with those in the high responders. The differences of IFN?γ and IL?10 between the high and low responders were both not significant(t= -2.426 to 0.216,all P >0.05). Conclusions There is a significant difference between the high and low responders only in the levels of isotype antibod?ies. One of the reasons of low response in the immune tests is the much lower antibody level after the antigen?antibody compound is completely formulated.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression characteristics of miR-155 and miR-146a in mice with schistosomiasis and praziquantel(PZQ)treatment. Methods Totally 40 BABL/c mice were divided into 4 groups:a normal group,a 6W infect-ed group that were infected cutaneously with 10 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae for 6 weeks,a 12W infected group that were in-fected cutaneously with 10 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae for 12 weeks,and a praziquantel treated group that were infected cuta-neously with 10 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae and intragastrically administered with PZQ(300 mg/kg/day)for 1 day in 6 weeks post-infection and continuing surviving 6 weeks. The animals were sacrificed in 6 weeks and 12 weeks post-infection respectively. The left front lobe of each liver was stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE)to detect pathological lesions. The levels of mRNA ex-pressions of miR-155,miR-146a and pro-inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6)in the liver tissue were determined by using quantitative real-time PCR. Results The levels of mRNA expressions of miR-155,miR-146a and pro-inflammatory cyto-kines(TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6)in the 6W infected mice were significantly higher than those of the normal mice and of the 12W in-fected mice. Compared with the 12W infected mice,the inflammation response of liver egg granuloma in the PZQ-treated mice was ameliorated. Furthermore,there was a marked increase in the levels of mRNA expressions of miR-155,miR-146a and three pro-in-flammatory cytokines in the PZQ-treated mice compared to the 12W infected mice. Conclusion miR-155 and miR-146a may play a role in schistosomiasis liver inflammation response and the inflammation regulation of praziquantel treatment.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the immune response of IL-10 to Schistosoma japonicum infection in the early infectioin model and SEA immunization model of the IGTP~(-/-) and IRG-47~(-/-) mice.Methods In the early infection model,the IGTP knock out (IGTP~(-/-)) mice,IRG-47 knock out (IRG-47~(-/-)) mice and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 300 S.japonicum cercariae via the pinna and sacrificed on day 7 post-infection.Each mouse pinna section was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) to detect the pathological lesions,and the culture supernatant of pinna was used to test the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines by indirect ELISA.In the SEA immunization model,IGTP~(-/-) IRG-47~(-/-) and WT mice were immunized with SEA twice and sacrificed in 3 weeks after the initial immunization.SEA-specific IgG antibody in sera was detected by indirect ELISA;the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines were tested in culture supernatant of splenocytes by indirect ELISA;the proportions of CD4~+ T cells,CD8~+ T cells,B cells,Th1 and Th2 cells in the spleen were assayed by FACS.Results Although no obvious differences on the pathology of pinna were observed among the three mouse groups,the level of IL-10 in the culture supernatant of pinna of IRG-47~(-/-) mice was lower than that of IGTP~(-/-) mice in 7 days after the exposure.Following SEA immunization,the level of SEA-specific IgG antibody in sera of IGTP~(-/-) mice was lower than that in WT mice,the level of IL-10 in the culture supernatant of splenocytes of IRG-47~(-/-) mice was higher than that of IGTP~(-/-) and WT mice with the stimulation of SEA.However,the proportion of Th2 cells in the spleen of IRG47~(-/-) mice was the lowest among the three mouse groups.Conclusions SEA is the stimulus of IRG-47 deficiency mice to defend Schistosoma japanicum infection and promote the host to produce a protective response,and IL-10 may play an important role in immune regulation in this process.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the PCR-based evaluation of prednisolone-induced relapse of asymptomatic Toxoplasma gondii infection and the therapeutic efficacy of azithromycin.Methods A total of 36 of female ICR mice,about 20 g,were randomly divided into 6 groups:contrast group (C),prednisolone group (P),infection group(I),infection plus prednisolone group (IP),infection plus azithromycin group(IA),infection plus prednisolone and azithromycin group (IPA).The infection group (I),infection plus prednisolone group(IP),infection plus azithromycin group(IA),infection plus prednisolone and azithromycin group (IPA)were challenged at week 0 with 10 cysts of Toxoplasma gondii Prugniaud strain per injection intraperitoneally.The prcdnisolone group (P),infection plus prednisolone group (IP) infection plus prednisolone and azithromycin group (IPA)were injectied with prednisolone 1 mg into hind medial subcutaneous every day from the 6th week to 7th week.The infection plus azithromycin group(IA),infection plus prednisolone and azithromycin group (IPA) were injectied with azithromycin 250 mg/kg intraperitoneally every day from the 6th week to 7th week.The serum samples were collected and DNAs extracted at week 0,1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 for amplification of Toxoplasma gondii of specific B1 gene by PCR.All the mice were sacrificed 7 weeks after the challenge to calculate the number of cysts in brain tissues.Results Compared with the primer of AF146527 gene,the primer of B1 gene was more sensitive and specific.The method of PCR could amplify the productions of specific B1 gene Toxoplasma gondii 5 weeks before the challenge,while it could not amplified 5 weeks after the challenge.All the mice of the IP group were dead 2 weeks after the injection of prednisolone (week 7),and the only two mice of the IPA group were dead at the same time (P <0.05),respectively.Compared with the I group,IA group and IPZ group,the number of cysts in brain tissues of the IP group significantly increased (P <0.01).Conclusions B1 as target gene is more suitable for diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection by PCR.Prednisolone could induce the relapse of asymptomatic Toxoplasma gondii infection of mice and the mice are finally dead.Azithromycin is effective but it can not completely cure the Toxoplasma gondii infection.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effects of IL-12p35 small interference RNA on immune functions of Dendritic cells in rats.Methods:DCs were generated by culturing bone marrow progenitor cells of rats with GM-CSF, IL-4 and LPS in vitro. The IL-12p35 siRNA was synthesized and transfected into DCs. The expressions of CD80 and MHCⅡwere examined by flow cytometry. Reverse transcriptase PCR analysis was used to detect IL-12p35 mRNA transcription and ELISA was used to detect IL-12 and IL-10 protein levels, respectively. The antigen presenting by DCs was evaluated by mixed lymphocyte responses.Results:IL-12p35 siRNA silenced DCs expressed lower IL-12, higher IL-10,and exhibited weak activity in stimulating the proliferation of allogenic T cells, but no changes on CD80 and MHCⅡexpressions.Conclusion:IL-12p35 siRNA interference exerts no effects on maturation of DC, but negative effect on immume function of DCs.
ABSTRACT
Objective The changes of cytokine expression on a genomic scale in CD4 + cell of mice c hronically infected with Schistosoma japonicum and their roles in the pathog enesis of schistosomiasis were studied. Methods CD4 + cells were isolated from sp le ens of mice 13 wk infected with Schistosoma japonicum. We used the cDNA micr oarr ay technique to explore the cytokine gene expression profile of CD4 + cells f ro m normal and chronic infected mice. Three-color flow cytometry was performed to study intracellular protein levels of IFN-?、IL-4 of CD4 + cell. Results In the CD4 + cell of chronically infected mice, IL-4 was remarkably increase d at both transcription and protein expression levels (P
ABSTRACT
The authors,in this paper,has briefly looked back the developmental history of human parasitology,which,as an independent discipline,was established in late 19th century and early 20th century.In the process,it underwent an early height of development,then met with setback and relative decline.Since 70s-80s of last century,the introduction and application of new theory of modern biology,especially advanced biotechniques to parasitology has led to a striking development in many fields of the discipline,leading to deeper understanding of parasite-host interplay as well as providing new ideals and tools for disease control.The authors also stressed that nowadays the discipline is still relatively isolated from the mainstream of modern biologic research and is still neglected by scientific community and medical education in the world,though it still is one of the major problems in public health,particularly in developing world including China.To argue the currently neglected situation of parasitology,especially in medical education,the authors emphasized the continuing requirements for the discipline and reflected on the developmental strategy of parasitology to meet the coming challenges and opportunities for further development.