ABSTRACT
Objective To characterize the immunogenicity and the induction of cross-reactive responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) of a proteoliposome (PL) from Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) with and without alum hydroxide (AL) as adjuvant (PLBCG-AL and PLBCG, respectively) in BALB/c mice. Methods BALB/c mice were inoculated with phosphate buffer solution, BCG, PLBCG and PLBCG-AL. The humoral immunogenicity was determined by ELISA [immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG1 and IgG2a] and the cellular immunogenicity was evaluated in vivo by delayed type hypersensitivity. The humoral cross-reactive response against M. tuberculosis was determined by Western blot. Results Sera from animals immunized with PLBCG-AL and PLBCG showed significant increase in specific total IgG and IgG1 antibodies and the presence of cross-reactive antibodies against M. tuberculosis antigens, which were more intense with the use of alum as adjuvant. Mice immunized with PLBCG and PLBCG-AL also showed a specific cellular response in vivo. Conclusions The cellular and humoral immunogenicity of PLBCG and the capacity to induce cross-reactive responses against M. tuberculosis is in agreement with the protective capacity previously demonstrated by this vaccine candidate and supports the continuation of its evaluation in further stages.
ABSTRACT
Background: Dengue is the most important human viral disease transmitted by arthropod vectors. The availability of random peptide libraries (RPL) displayed on phage has provided a powerful tool for selecting sequences that mimic epitopes from microorganisms that are useful for diagnostic and vaccine development purposes. In this paper, we describe peptides that resemble the antigenic structure of B-cell epitopes of dengue virus identified from a phage-peptide library using human sera containing polyclonal antibodies against dengue virus. Materials and Methods: Eighteen phage clones were isolated from the phage-display peptide library, J404, by affinity selection using human antisera against dengue virus type 3. These clones were tested for reactivity by ELISA with a panel of hyperimmune ascitic fluids (HAFs) containing antibodies either against all four dengue serotypes, West Nile virus (WNV) or Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) with control ascitic fluid (NAF) used as a negative control. Results: Eight clones were recognized by HAFs against the four dengue serotypes, of which four significantly inhibited binding of anti-dengue antibodies to the virus. Two peptides with similar sequences to regions of NS3 and NS4B non-structural dengue virus proteins were identified. Conclusion: Our results suggest that these peptides could be used for the development of diagnostic tools for the detection of dengue virus infection and for a potential vaccine against this pathogen.
ABSTRACT
Avaliar o efeito terapêutico das punçöes do estroma anterior corneal em pacientes com ceretopatia bolhosa (CB). Métodos: Vinte e cinco pacientes com CB sintomáticos, com baixa visäo, com e sem indicaçäo de transplante de córnea, foram avaliados antes, uma, 4 e 12 semanas após punçöes estromais anteriores realizadas com agulha #25 á lâmpada de fenda. Em cada visita, os pacientes foram questionados sobre a dor, fotofobia, sensaçäo de corpo estranho, além de serem subetidos a exame oftalmológico completo, estesiometria e paquimetria. Resultados: As comparaçöes realizadas entre os valores antes e após o procedimento referentes a dor (p<0,001), fotofobia (p=0,0198), sensaçäo de corpo estranho (CE)(p<0,001), insônia (p=0,0015) e estesiometria (p=0,00654) apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes quanto á diminuiçäo desses sintomas e da sensibilidade corneal. A paquimetria média näo apresentou diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre as avaliaçöes antes e após as punçöes estromais (p=0,873). Näo foram observadas alteraçöes importantes nas vascularizaçäo corneal após o procedimento. Conclusäo: As punçöes do estroma anterior da córnea representam uma modalidade efetiva, simples e de baixo custo para o tratamento dos pacientes com CB sintomáticos.