Immunological properties of a DNA plasmid encoding a chimeric protein of herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein B and glycoprotein D.

A DNA plasmid containing a chimeric sequence encoding both herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein B (gB) and glycoprotein D (gD) external domains (pcgDB) was used to immunize BALB/c mice against genital HSV-2 infection. To determine the efficacy of this vaccine, groups of mice immunized with the pcgDB plasmid were compared with animals immunized with plasmids corresponding to the individual proteins (pcgBt or pcgDt), administered separately or in combination (pcgBt + pcgDt). We studied the response of the different mouse groups to viral challenge by analyzing clinical disease (vaginitis), serum antibody levels, as well as lymphoproliferative responses and cytokine production by spleen cells. Increased IFN-gamma levels correlated with prolonged survival in mice immunized with the plasmid pcgDB, relative to mice immunized with plasmids coding for the individual proteins alone or in combination. Our results show that immunization with the plasmid encoding the chimeric protein is advantageous over separate proteins. These findings may have important implications for the development of multivalent DNA vaccines against HSV and other complex pathogens.

[Agrobacterium radiobacter bacteremia. Study of 2 cases and review of the literature]. / Bacteriemia por Agrobacterium radiobacter. Estudio de 2 casos y revisión de la literatura.

BACKGROUND: Agrobacteria are small gramnegative bacilli which produce tumors in different vegetal species and occasionally are human pathogens. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out and the contribution of 2 cases of bacteremia by Agrobacterium radiobacter reported. RESULTS: Both patients developed uncomplicated bacteremia easily controlled by antimicrobian treatment without requiring removal of the intravascular device in one. CONCLUSIONS: Agrobacterium is a rare cause of bacteremic infection in immunosuppressed patients with intravenous catheters. Although the isolations are sensitive to different antibiotics some strains present resistance to cefalosporines, aminoglycosides and cloramphenicol. The mortality of these infections is slight.

[Infectious endocarditis in patients with liver cirrhosis]. / Endocarditis infecciosa en pacientes con cirrosis hepática.

To evaluate the clinical and microbiological features of infective endocarditis in patients with cirrhosis we compared 18 episodes of endocarditis in these patients with a control group of patients without liver disease. In 61% of patients with cirrhosis the origin of infection was unknown. Four patients developed endocarditis as a consequence of bladder catheterizations and two after hepatic biopsy. None of the four with previously known valvular heart disease had received antibiotic prophylaxis during these procedures. As compared with the control group, the patients with cirrhosis had more infections by enterococci (38.8% vs 11%; p less than 0.007) and non-viridans streptococci (38.8% vs 7.4%; p less than 0.001) and significantly less infections by viridans streptococci (11% vs 42.5%; p less than 0.01). The mortality rate associated with endocarditis was 38.8% and 22% in patients with and without cirrhosis, respectively (less than 0.1; NS). Infective endocarditis in patients with cirrhosis is often a complication of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures and has distinctive microbiological features.

[Endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus in drug addicts and non-addicts: the same microbe in 2 diseases]. / Endocarditis por Staphylococcus aureus en adictos y no adictos: un mismo microbio para dos enfermedades distintas.

46 Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis episodes diagnosed with strict criteria in non drug addict patients, and 25 episodes in drug addict patients have been comparatively analyzed. Infection was found in the left side of the heart in 87% of the non addict patients and in 16% of the addicts. On the contrary, 84% of the addicts had endocarditis of the tricuspid and pulmonary valves while only 13% of the non addicts had right heart involvement. The right side endocarditis in the non addicts was always due to intracardiac catheters. 54% of the endocarditis episodes in the non addicts were fatal. Only two addicts, both when had left side endocarditis, died. Mortality was conditioned by infection of the left side of the heart as well as by the existence of heart failure. No significant differences were found between the evolution of patients treated with only one agent or of those treated with a beta-lactam antibiotic plus gentamicin. The emergency valve replacement significantly improved the prognosis of patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis.