DNA vaccination using schistosoma mansoni fimbrin gene on naive and infected praziquantel-treated mice

DNA immunization represents a promising vaccine strategy that has been reasonably successful, and will likely play a greater role in vaccine research development against Schistosoma mansoni [S. mansoni]. S. mansoni fimbrin [Smfim] gene which encodes a putative actin bundling tegumental and immunogenic protein has been cloned into the eukaiyotic expression vector pcDNAI/Amp and used for intra-muscular DNA vaccination of Swiss albino mice. Two experimental models were used to study its role on protection against S. mansoni infection in naive mice [model 1] and to explore its effect on infected praziquantel [PZQ]-treated mice [model 2] using different immunological, parasitological and histopathological parameters. In the first model, Smfim-vaccinated mice showed high anti-Smfim IgG titer and acquired a significant protection [43.2%; p< 0.01] with reduction of ova count in both hepatic and intestinal tissues [59.2% and 5 1.1% respectively, p< 0.01], significant reduction of granuloma count [24.1%; p< 0.01] and granuloma diameter [18.3%

Repeat analysis program in radiology departments in Mazandaran province-Iran. Impact on population radiation dose

The rejected films in radiography may be responsible for an unnecessary increase in the radiation dose to the population. The effective dose to population is a very important factor in estimation of stochastic risk in radiology. The main goal of this study was to determine the effective dose to members of the public due to rejected films in diagnostic radiology departments in the Northern Province Mazandaran- of Iran. A repeat analysis program was set in all radiology departments in Mazandaran province [population = 2976219 person] to determine the total number and type of rejected films. All repeat and discarded films were collected and separated into types according to the etiology leading to their being discarded. Considering technical data about various radiological procedures and using the standard dosimetry tables, the annual effective dose per caput as well as annual gonadal dose per caput due to image retake was estimated. The total number of rejected radiographs in one year period was 73857 [overall reject rate tilde 11.15%] which led to 34.91 micro Sv and 37.17 micro Gy as annual average effective dose to a member of the public and annual average gonadal dose per caput respectively. The main reason of retaking the images was improper exposure factors. The reject rate was in the middle range of similar values in other studies; whereas in the present study the main reason for rejection was improper exposure factors [67.11%], the main reason for radiography repeat film was different in various countries. Comparing to the estimated 2.4 mSv from natural background radiation, the average annual effective dose and annual average gonadal dose per caput due to repeat/retake films are negligible. However, reducing the reject films is economically rewarding. Further national studies are suggested

Study of the susceptibility of Biomphalaria alexandrina collected from five different localities in Egypt to infection with local strain of Schistosoma mansoni

Biomphalaria Alexandrina snails were collected from five different localities, and their progenies through successive generations, were compared with respect to their susceptibility to infection with the local strain of Schistosoma mansoni. There was difference in the susceptibility between snails from different localities and this susceptibility increased through the successive generations. Progenies from negative parents were less susceptible and the resistance increased through negative generation whereas those from positive parents were more susceptible and the susceptibility increased through the positive generations. Results from studying the inheritance of susceptibility among progenies, produced individually from the same snail demonstrated some snails with great diversity of genetic pattern of susceptibility among progenies. Some snails presented with progenies testing 0% susceptibility and others with progenies testing 100% susceptibility. These snails could be the beginning of true breeding refractory or susceptible stocks. Field snails and their progenies have been reared individually to reproduce only with self-fertilization. Several morphologidal differences in pigmentation have appeared which would be useful in the genetic studies on B. Alexandrina

Electrophoretic analysis of acid phosphatase in Biomphalaria alexandrina and its relation to susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni infection

Enzyme electrophoresis of extracts prepared from snails collected from five different localities in Egypt and their progenies through the successive generations, were stained for acid phosphatase [ACP], exhibited mainly three electrophoresis patterns. The first which presented with three bands [R[f] 33+/1, 27 +/- and 23+/1], the second with two bands [R[f]33+/1 and 23+/1] and the third with one band [R[f] 23+/1]. In order to examine the relation of ACP henotypes with susceptibility or refractory characters to Schistosoma mansoni infection in B. alexandrina, the percentage of these phenotypes were calculated and compared among susceptible and non-susceptible snails. There was no correlation between ACP henotypes and the susceptibility of snails from different populations, and the percentage of the pattern two of ACP [exapressign resistance to schistosome infection] was approximately the same in susceptible and non-susceptible snails. Polymorphism of ACP patterns observed in the field snails and their first generation began to decrease through generations in both susceptible and non-susceptible snails and the one-banded pattern became predominant