Shrimps survive white spot syndrome virus challenge following treatment with Vibrio bacterin.

Taking an innovative approach, a vaccination study using five bacterial strains viz. Vibrio campbelli (B60), V. alginolyticus (B73), V. parahaemolyticus-like (B79), V. parahaemolyticus (R8) and V. harveyi (RG203) was conducted in Penaeus monodon against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection, considered as one of the serious pathogens of shrimps. Oral challenge with shrimps infected with WSSV showed a relative percentage survival of 5 and 47% in the P. monodon juveniles vaccinated with V. parahaemolyticus and V. harveyi, respectively. Results showed that there is a possibility of specifically immunising the shrimps against WSSV using bacterin prepared out of Vibrio harveyi isolates taken from shrimps infected with WSSV. Also, there was a level of protection attained by the shrimps due to immunisation with Vibrio strains.

Immune recovery in HIV with Mycobacterium W.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with decreased immunity. There is depletion of CD4 cells. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of mycobacterium w on CD4 cell count in HIV + ve patients. A total of fifty patients were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups: (A) Mycobacterium w alone (n=17) (B) mycobacterium w plus two antiretroviral agents (n=16) (C) Mycobacterium w plus HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy; (n=17). Mycobacterium w was administered intradermally at the dose of 0.1 ml in both deltoid region (first dose). The subsequent four doses of mycobacterium w were 0.1 intradermal in the deltoid region of one arm at monthly intervals. CD4 cell count in all the HIV + ve patients was measured at baseline and after five months period. CD4 counts was increased by 108.96%, compared to baseline, in the patients receiving both mycobacterium w and HAART, suggesting a synergistic action. However, significant increase (80.22% compared to baseline)was also seen in patients receiving mycobacterium w along, suggesting that myobacterium w was an effective immune response enhancer. Mycobacterium w was well tolerated by all patients.

Salmonella. typhi OMPs induced immunomodulation in peritoneal macrophages.

The immunomodulatory properties of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) from S. typhi Ty2 were studied in mouse model at 72 hr and 20 days post-infection. Inspite of reduction in the number of macrophages and their protein content observed in the immunized group vis-à-vis infected group, OMPs activated macrophages showed significant upregulation of NO. At 20 days post infection, the level remained almost the same suggesting the prolonged cytotoxic and cytostatic activity due to the long lasting effects of OMPs activated macrophages. Higher activity of SOD in these aged cells pointed out towards the protective efficacy of OMPs to keep the macrophages themselves away from the noxious effects of O2-. Lower level of acid phosphatase in the macrophages from immunized mice group indicated the involvement of oxygen dependent rather than oxygen independent killing process. The enhanced uptake of organisms and their killing could be related to the production of oxygen and nitrogen radicals in the OMPs immunized group.

Passive immunization of piglets against enterotoxigenic colibacillosis by vaccinating dams with K88ac pili bearing bacterins.

Day-old-piglets were passively immunized by vaccinating the pregnant sows with K88ac enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) vaccine. High level of ETEC specific antibodies was excreted in colostrum (3733.33 +/- 1152.13) and maintained a detectable level (100.00 +/- 0.00) up to 21 day post partum (DPP). The IgG was the predominant immunoglobulin followed by IgA and IgM. Piglets born of vaccinated dam (group A) and unvaccinated dam (group B) were challenged in 7 day of age. Clinical and faecal scores were significantly (P < 0.01) low in group A than that of group B. Piglets of group A developed mild diarrhoea (33.33%), while all the control piglets developed profuse diarrhoea and 3 of these died before 14 day of challenge infection.

Anti-leprosy vaccines--field trials and future prospects.

Development of a vaccine for prevention of leprosy is today one of the major challenges for bio-medical sciences. Two vaccines containing (i) M. leprae + BCG and (ii) ICRC, a cultivable mycobacterium, have reached advanced stage with reference to human trials. This article describes comparative features of two vaccines and mechanism of their action. Future possibilities with reference to anti-leprosy vaccine are also discussed.