Influence of consumption of probiotics on presence of enterobacteria in the oral cavity

Clinical benefits of probiotics have been clearly reported in different gastrointestinal disorders, many of them caused by enterobacteria. The oral cavity is a port of entry and can be an important reservoir of these microorganisms. This work evaluated whether consumption of probiotics was able to influence the presence of enterobacteria in the oral cavity and the specific secretory response against these microorganisms. Saliva samples of healthy individuals were collected and plated in MacConkey agar. Carriers of Gram-negative, rod-shaped microorganisms in the oral cavity were selected and instructed to use the probiotic Yakult LB for 20 days. Saliva was then collected and enterobacteria species were identified using the API 20 E system and by ELISA using anti-enterobacteria IgA. The results showed reduction in the prevalence of enterobacteria, but no significant changes in enterobacterial counts (log CFU/mL; p = 0.3457). The species most frequently isolated were Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella oxytoca, both before and after probiotic consumption. No significant changes were observed in anti-enterobacteria IgA levels. In conclusion, probiotic consumption had some influence on enterobacterial presence in the oral cavity, but did not affect enterobacterial counts or the specific immune secretory response against them.

Expressão dos receptores FC de imunoglobulina A em fagócitos do sangue de pacientes com bacteremia / Expression of immunoglobulin a FC receptors on blood phagocytes of patients with gram-negative bacteremia

Expressão aumentada do receptor Fc de IgA (CD89) e da cadeia g associada, avaliadas respectivamente por citometria de fluxo e por “immunobloting”, foram encontradas em fagócitos do sangue de pacientes com bacteremia por germes gram-negativos, em comparação com controles e pacientes com bacteremia por gram-positivos. A Mr do CD89 avaliada por SDS-PAGE estava diminuída, com núcleo protéico de 32kDa, sugerindo alteração de glicosilação. O aumento da expressão do CD89 correlacionou-se com aumento dos níveis séricos de IL-6. A cadeia g estava fosforilada nos neutrófilos, sugerindo participação do CD89 na sepsis por gram-negativos.

The expression and function of FcaRI (CD89) were analyzed on blood monocytes and neutrophils of patients with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteremia. Eighteen patients with gram-positive bacteremia, sixteen patients with gram-negative bacteremia and twenty healthy individuals were studied. CD89 expression were analyzed by flow cytometry using specific stained antibodies. Analysis of the surface iodinated CD89 molecules by SDS-PAGE and of the CD89 g-associated chain by immunoblotting also were performed. A marked increase in expression of the a and g subunits of the FcaRI were found on both types of cells in patients with gram-negative bacteremia, but not in patients with gram-positive bacteremia. This increase was independent of serum IgA levels. FcaRI Mr was lower on cells from gram negative patients than on cells from controls (50-65 kDa vs 55-75 kDa) despite of similar 32 kDa backbone, indicating altered glycosylation. Increased levels of FcaRI on blood phagocytes correlated with enhanced serum IL-6 levels, but not with IFN-g or TNF-a levels. The CD89 g-associated chain was phosphorylated on neutrophils, suggesting an engagement of CD89 during gram negative sepsis.

Receptores FC en cepas de staphylococcus / Fc receptors in strains of staphylococcus

El aumento en la prevalencia de cepas de staphylococcus coagulasa negativas (SNC) en infecciones sistémicas está asociado con factores de riesgo, como el grado de inmunosupresión debido a cáncer, transplantes, SIDA, u otras condiciones como el uso de catéteres intravenosos y prótesis. Por esa razón, una reacción de coagulasa negativa en un aislamiento clínico de estafilococus no puede ser garantía de inocuidad, lo que hace necesario otras pruebas de escrutinio. La presencia de receptores Fc para inmunoglobulinas en la superficie de staphylococcus es un factor de virulencia importante. Estos receptores pueden demostrarse mediante hemaglutinación usando una combinación apropiada de anticuerpos y antígenos, como un anti A y eritrocitos del grupo A. Las bacterias son sensibilizadas con esos anticuerpos, los cuales se pegan por su extremo Fc a los receptores localizados en la superficie de la bacteria. Estas bacterias sensibilizadas se incuban con los eritrocitos grupo A y se lee la actividad hemaglutinante. Usando esa prueba se evaluaron 100 cepas de staphylococcus aisladas de muestras clínicas (hemocultivos y abscesos) y de personas sanas. Se encontró una diferencia estadística entre la presencia de receptores Fc y el origen de las cepas, la mayoría (91 por ciento) de las cepas que provenían de casos clínicos mostraron receptores Fc, 25 (45 por ciento) de estas cepas fueron SCN y 21 (84 por ciento) de ellos mostraron receptores Fc. Estos datos sugieren que la evaluación de receptores Fc podría servir como prueba de tamizaje para juzgar la posible virulencia de las cepas coagulasa negativas de staphylococcus

Receptores para C3 y para Fc de IgG del sector granulocitico en patologia humana / Receptors for C3 and IgG Fc receptors of the granulocytic sector in human pathologies

Los neutrófilos y sus progenitores medulares tienen receptores para C3 y para Fc de IgG. Con el objeto de estudiar las modificaciones de la expersión de estos receptores en patología se estudiaron: a) sangre de 31 y médula ósea de 9 individuos normales; b) blastos de 29 pacientes de leucemia mieloblástica aguda; c) médula ósea de 8 pacientes con infecciones bacterianas severas. Se trabajó con técnica de rosetas de Saccharomyces-C3 glóbulos rojos de carnero sensibilizados con IgG. Los resultados demuestran que: a) los receptores aparecen gradual y progresivamente en las etapas de diferenciación granulocítica; el receptor de C3 se evidencia en promielocitos y el de Fc en mielocitos; el porcentaje de neutrófilos de médula ósea que expresan estos receptores es inferior al de neutrófilos de la sangre; b) en leucemia mielobástica aguda, a pesar de los signos morfológicos de inmadurez, los blastos expresan frecuentemente receptores que normalmente aparecen en estadios más diferenciados, mostrando otra evidencia de asincronismo núcleocitoplasmático; se observa buena concordancia entre la expresión de receptores y la clasificación FAB; c) en infecciones bacterianas severas aparece desviación izquierda de la expresión de los receptores en la línea de diferenciación de la progenie granulocítica

Correlation of in vitro Fc receptor assay with in vivo mouse foot pad method.

Resistant strains of M. leprae have been reported to the various antileprosy drugs. There is currently no accepted test to identify the susceptibility pattern of M. leprae to the drugs in a short period. The only accepted test is the mouse foot method which takes a long period to yield results. The Fc receptor assay using the ability of viable M. leprae to alter the membrane of the macrophage is well established. It takes only ten days and is inexpensive. In 6 cases of leprosy patients the susceptibility pattern was worked out both with the in vitro Fc receptor assay and the vivo in mouse foot method The results correlated very well leading to the fact that the assay system is reliable. Hence it can be used not only to study the status of a patient, but also to shortlist the number of compounds to be tested on the mouse foot pad as anti-leprosy drug candidates.