Comparison of droplet spread in standard and laminar flow operating theatres: SPRAY study group.

BACKGROUND: Reducing COVID-19 transmission relies on controlling droplet and aerosol spread. Fluorescein staining reveals microscopic droplets. AIM: To compare the droplet spread in non-laminar and laminar air flow operating theatres. METHODS: A 'cough-generator' was fixed to a theatre trolley at 45°. Fluorescein-stained 'secretions' were projected on to a series of calibrated targets. These were photographed under UV light and 'source detection' software measured droplet splatter size and distance. FINDINGS: The smallest droplet detected was ∼120 µm and the largest ∼24,000 µm. An average of 25,862 spots was detected in the non-laminar theatre, compared with 11,430 in the laminar theatre (56% reduction). The laminar air flow mainly affected the smaller droplets (<1000 µm). The surface area covered with droplets was: 6% at 50 cm, 1% at 2 m, and 0.5% at 3 m in the non-laminar air flow; and 3%, 0.5%, and 0.2% in the laminar air flow, respectively. CONCLUSION: Accurate mapping of droplet spread in clinical environments is possible using fluorescein staining and image analysis. The laminar air flow affected the smaller droplets but had limited effect on larger droplets in our 'aerosol-generating procedure' cough model. Our results indicate that the laminar air flow theatre requires similar post-surgery cleaning to the non-laminar, and staff should consider full personal protective equipment for medium- and high-risk patients.

[Observational study of QuantiFERON® management for ocular tuberculosis diagnosis: Analysis of 244 consecutive tests]. / Étude observationnelle de l'usage du QuantiFERON® pour le diagnostic de tuberculose oculaire, basée sur 244 tests consécutifs.

INTRODUCTION: Ocular tuberculosis (TB) diagnosisremains difficult and quantiferon (QFT) contribution needs still yet to be specified, despite its generalization in France. The purpose of this observational study is to assess in which ocular inflammation (OI) presentation QFT is prescribed and to evaluate the added value of new QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) test for diagnosis ocular TB diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Monocentric, observational study, carried out in an ophthalmology department over a period of 5 months. Inclusion criteria were defined as an existence of an OI for which a QFT-Plus test was part of the etiological investigations. Of the 316 consecutive files, 72 were excluded (indeterminate test, prescription before anti-TNFα or immunosuppressant initiation, missing data, wrong indication) and 244 were selected and divided into two groups: group one (anterior uveitis/episcleritis, n=129) and group two (intermediate/posterior uveitis/optic neuritis/ocular myositis, n=115). All positive QFT patients underwent an etiological investigation including thoracic imaging. RESULTS: Forty-five patients, aged 52±12 years, had positive QFT (18.5%), including 18 patients for group 1 and 27 for group 2. Living in TB-endemic area, TB exposure and chest imaging abnormalities were identified in 70%, 27% and 22% of cases, respectively. OI was chronic in 36% of cases (group one, 4/18; group two, 12/27). None of the 18 patients, in group 1, received anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) or experienced a relapse during one-year follow-up. Four QFT+ patients, from group 2 (15%) had another associated disease explaining their uveitis. Among the 23 other patients without identified etiology, 13 had at least one relevant ophthalmological signs predictive of TB uveitis (posterior synechiae, retinal vasculitis and/or choroidal granuloma) (59%). Eleven patients received a 6-month ATT trial. Radiological abnormalities and granulomas at angiography were significantly more frequent among treated patients (p=0.03 and 0.001, respectively). A full OI recovery was observed for 8 patients (73%), considered ex-post as ocular TB. Nine patients in group 2 received rifampicin/isoniazid dual therapy for 3 months, but no conclusion could be drawn as to the benefit of such prescription on OI. QFT rate comparison, according to CD4 stimulation by ESAT-6/CFP-10 peptides or by CD4/CD8 co-stimulation, was comparable and found only 4 cases of discrepancy (1.6%). None of these 4 cases had ocular TB diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Positive QFT frequency among patients consulting for posterior OI remains high. In this study, radiological abnormalities and granulomas at angiography seemed to be more closely related to clinician decision for starting ATT trial in QFT+ patients, which was effective in 73% of cases. QFT-Plus does not seem more relevant than QFT-TB in exploring an OI. Prospective studies are necessary to codify QFT management in the etiological assessment of OI and clearly define ATT trial indications as well as their modalities.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as a risk factor for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.

AIMS: Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of infectious nosocomial diarrhea among adults in developed countries. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common chronic liver disease and it is associated with bacterial infections. Our goal was to assess whether NAFLD considered a risk factor for C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients admitted with CDAD at Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poria, Israel during a period of four years. Data on demographic characteristics, clinical signs, underlying conditions, presence of fatty liver based on computed tomography/ultrasonography imaging and several risk factors for CDI were collected. The control group included patients with diarrhea who were negative for CDT and had been hospitalized during the same period. The controls were matched for age (±5 years) and gender. RESULTS: Totally, 115/164 patients with CDAD met the inclusion criteria. The control group was consisted of 115 hospitalized patients with non-CDAD. The mean age of all the participants (230) was 69.57 ± 18 years. NAFLD was found in 76/115 (66%) patients with CDAD vs. 35/115 (30.4%) in the control group, P < 0.001. Moreover, we found significant associations between CDAD group and metabolic syndrome, prior use of antibiotic in the last 3 months, NAFLD and high serum levels of C-reactive protein. Multivariate analysis showed that NAFLD, odds ratio 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.2-1.95, P = 0.05 was significantly associated with CDAD. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study showed that NAFLD is a risk factor for CDAD. Moreover, metabolic syndrome and high serum levels of C-reactive protein were significantly associated with the risk of CDAD.

A new strain of Acinetobacter baumannii and characterization of its ghost as a candidate vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Human infection by Acinetobacter baumannii has been increased due to its resistance against most of the antibiotics. Therefore, the present study aimed to design a candidate vaccine against A. baumannii infection. METHODS: The protein and DNA contents of A. baumannii Ali190 were extracted using different critical concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate leading to the ghost of A. baumannii Ali190. Transmission and scanning electron microscope showed that it retained the 3D structure of its cell membrane. The ghost injected to rats via different routes of administrations including oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous with adjuvant, and intramuscular with adjuvant. RESULTS: ß-Lactamase OXA-51 gene, is a predominant gene in all Acinetobacter strains, the gene was partially sequenced. The DNA sequence of OXA-51 gene showed 98% homology with A. baumannii isolate 6077/12 and also showed less homology percentage with other strains of Acinetobacter. A new strain of Acinetobacter has been deposited in Gene Bank under accession number MG062776. All routes of ghost administration showed full protection against live bacteria except oral administration showed 67% protection. On the other hand, all non-vaccinated rats did not survive after infection with live bacteria. SDS-gel electrophoresis of protein patterns of both A. baumannii and its ghost showed common protein bands with molecular weights 70, 60, and 23 kDa which were detected using western immunoblotting after raising the primary antibodies against A. baumannii ghost. The levels of INF-γ were significantly increased in all vaccinated groups, particularly in subcutaneous and subcutaneous with adjuvant compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: With the exception of oral administration, all vaccinated rats via different routes of ABG administration showed full protection (100%) against live A. baumannii. However, 100% mortality rate was observed in non-vaccinated rats. Therefore, ABG could be useful as a candidate vaccine against A. baumannii infection.

Unexpected stray attractors in confined leader-follower dynamics driven by cone-of-vision interactions.

Experiments with groups of fish inside a circular tank have provided valuable insights into the nature of leadership in social groups. Sophisticated mathematical models were constructed with a view to recovering observed schooling and leadership behavior in such experiments. Here, and with the help of variations on a promising class of such models, we explore a dual set of social concerns, namely the likelihood of permanent evasion from a cohesive group by a controlled individual in confinement. Our minimal model reduces to a leader-follower configuration, with cone-of-vision driven interactions inside a circular domain. We show that the resulting dynamical system sustains a rich supply of non-aligned, straying "follower" states, the dynamics on which displays (chaotic) intermittency between boundary following behavior and infrequent long flights. We map these states in configuration space and explore transitions between them. We demonstrate robustness of observed behavior by considering model variations, as well as alternate leader control trajectory. While it is too early to draw the implications of leader-follower dynamics to collective behavior, we do confirm that a model stray fish relates to a self-organized school bouncing back and forth along the diameter very much like a follower responds to a point leader in our model. We further draw the implications of our results to the study of dynamical systems with discontinuities, robotics, and the study of human behavior in the face of normative control and confinement.

Basic clinical features do not predict dopamine transporter binding in idiopathic REM behavior disorder.

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is strongly associated with development of Parkinson's Disease and other α-synuclein-related disorders. Dopamine transporter (DAT) binding deficit predicts conversion to α-synuclein-related disorders in individuals with RBD. In turn, identifying which individuals with RBD have the highest likelihood of having abnormal DAT binding would be useful. The objective of this analysis was to examine if there are basic clinical predictors of DAT deficit in RBD. Participants referred for inclusion in the RBD cohort of the Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative were included. Assessments at the screening visit including DAT SPECT imaging, physical examination, cognitive function screen, and questionnaire-based non-motor assessment. The group with DAT binding deficit (n = 49) was compared to those without (n = 26). There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical features between the two groups. When recruiting RBD cohorts enriched for high risk of neurodegenerative disorders, our data support the need for objective biomarker assessments.

Widespread use of herbal medicines by people living with human immunodeficiency virus and contamination of herbal medicines with antiretrovirals in Nigeria.

Herbal medication use amongst people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) is widespread and understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of herbal medicine use amongst PLWH and possible contamination with antiretrovirals (ARVs). Countrywide collection of herbal samples sold by street vendors in Nigeria for the following indications: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome, fever and general weakness. Samples were screened using a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry method for the presence of the following ARVs: efavirenz, nevirapine, lopinavir, darunavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, emtricitabine, tenofovir and lamivudine. A survey was conducted among 742 PLWH attending four HIV clinics in Nigeria. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS statistics version 22.0 (IBM Corp., 2013, Armond, NY). Of the 138 herbal medicines sampled, three (2%) contained detectable levels of tenofovir, emtricitabine and/or lamivudine. Additionally, of the 742 PLWH surveyed, 310 (41.8%) reported herbal medicine use. Among the users, 191 (61.6%) started taking herbals after commencing HIV therapy while herbal medicine use preceded ARVs treatment in 119 (38.4%) PLWH. We found herbal use to be widespread among PLWH in Nigeria, with increasing use after commencing ARV. Three herbal preparations were also found to contain detectable levels of ARVs. This is a concern and should be studied widely across the region and countries where herbal medicine use is prevalent and poorly regulated.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and 30-day all-cause mortality in adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common and serious form of chronic liver disease. Risk factors of NAFLD include obesity and type 2 diabetes which are associated with infections. AIM: We aimed to determine the association of NAFLD with 30-day all-cause mortality in adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study on hospitalized patients with CAP that was conducted during a period of 4 years. We included patients aged ≥18 years with CAP who underwent abdominal ultrasonography. We compared between patients with and without NAFLD in term of age, gender, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, CURB-65, pneumonia severity index (PSI), liver enzymes, C-reactive protein (CRP) and 30-day all-cause mortality. We used fibrosis score to distinguish between patients with NAFLD who have advanced fibrosis (F3-F4) and do not have (F0-F2). RESULTS: A total of 561 patients were included in this study. The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 200/561 (35.6%). Significant differences were found between the groups with and without NAFLD in term of BMI, CURB-65, ALT, GGT and CRP. The 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 9.8% (55/561). Among the NAFLD group 34/200 (17%) subjects died vs. 21/361 (5.82%) among patients without NAFLD, P < 0.001. Multi-variate logistic regression analysis after adjusting for other multiple covariates showed that NAFLD with fibrosis score 0-2 [odds ratio (OR) 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.51, P = 0.04], NAFLD with fibrosis score> 2 (1.52; 1.25-1.70, P = 0.03) were associated with 30-day all-cause mortality among patients with CAP. CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD was associated with 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with CAP. This association was more significant in patients with advanced hepatic fibrosis.

Clay-Nanoarchitectures as Photocatalysts by In Situ Assembly of ZnO Nanoparticles and Clay Minerals.

ZnO-clay nanoarchitectures have been prepared by In Situ generation of ZnO nanoparticles from zinc acetylacetonate in isopropanol under reflux in the presence of organoclays. Two layered clays, a commercial Wyoming montmorillonite and a smectite from Gafsa (Tunisia), and a fibrous clay, sepiolite from Vallecas-Vicalvaro (Spain), modified with cetyltrimethylammonium ions were the organoclay substrates for assembling the formed nanoparticles. After a convenient thermal treatment, the organic matter is eliminated and the ZnO/clay nanoarchitectures consolidated. XRD, FE-SEM and TEM, among other characterization techniques confirmed the presence of the ZnO in wurtzite phase assembled to the clays in the final porous ZnO/clay nanoarchitectures. The activity as photocatalysts of the resulting materials was evaluated using ibuprofen as a model drug in view to explore the usefulness of these ZnO/clay nanoarchitectures in the removal of emergent pollutants in water.

Sepiolite nanoplatform for the simultaneous assembly of magnetite and zinc oxide nanoparticles as photocatalyst for improving removal of organic pollutants.

Novel ternary ZnO/Fe3O4-sepiolite nanostructured materials were developed in a two-step procedure based on the incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles on a substrate composed by magnetite nanoparticles previously assembled to the sepiolite fibrous silicate (Fe3O4-sepiolite). The structural and morphological characterization shows that both, ZnO and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, were homogeneously dispersed on the surface of sepiolite. Therefore, the resulting material is characterized as a multifunctional nanoplatform simultaneously providing magnetic and photoactive properties. ZnO/Fe3O4-sepiolite materials exhibit superparamagnetic properties at room temperature, which is one of the sought properties in view to facilitate their recovery from the reaction medium after application as heterogeneous catalysts. ZnO/Fe3O4-sepiolite materials were tested as photocatalysts using methylene blue dye in water as model of a pollutant molecule, showing full decolorization after 2h of UV irradiation. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of this nanoplataform may be maintained after reuse in several consecutive cycles of treatment. Remarkably, the ZnO/magnetite-sepiolite nanostructured material displays a similar activity as ZnO/sepiolite materials, but shows the additional advantage of easier recovery by means of a magnet which facilitates its reuse.

Two-stage kinetics of field-induced aggregation of medium-sized magnetic nanoparticles.

The present paper is focused on the theoretical and experimental study of the kinetics of field-induced aggregation of magnetic nanoparticles of a size range of 20-100 nm. Our results demonstrate that (a) in polydisperse suspensions, the largest particles could play a role of the centers of nucleation for smaller particles during the earliest heterogeneous nucleation stage; (b) an intermediate stage of the aggregate growth (due to diffusion and migration of individual nanoparticles towards the aggregates) is weakly influenced by the magnetic field strength, at least at high supersaturation;

Intact interferon-γ response against Coxiella burnetii by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic Q fever.

OBJECTIVES: Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii, an intracellular bacterium that infects phagocytes. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the C. burnetii-induced IFN-γ response is defective in chronic Q fever patients. METHODS: IFN-γ was measured in supernatants of C. burnetii-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 17 chronic Q fever patients and 17 healthy individuals. To assess IFN-γ responses, expression profiles of IFN-γ-induced genes in C. burnetii-stimulated PBMCs were studied in six patients and four healthy individuals. Neopterin was measured in PBMC supernatants (of eight patients and four healthy individuals) and in sera (of 21 patients and 11 healthy individuals). In a genetic association study, polymorphisms in genes involved in the Th1-cytokine response were analysed in a cohort of 139 chronic Q fever patients and a cohort of 220 control individuals with previous exposition to C. burnetii. RESULTS: IFN-γ production by C. burnetii-stimulated PBMCs from chronic Q fever patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls. Many IFN-γ response genes were strongly upregulated in PBMCs of patients. Neopterin levels were significantly higher in PBMC supernatants and sera of patients. The IL12B polymorphisms rs3212227 and rs2853694 were associated with chronic Q fever. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-γ production, as well as the response to IFN-γ, is intact in chronic Q fever patients, and even higher than in healthy individuals. Polymorphisms in the IL-12p40 gene are associated with chronic Q fever. Thus, a deficiency in IFN-γ responses does not explain the failure to clear the infection. The genetic data suggest, however, that the IL-12/IFN-γ pathway does play a role.

Steady and transient states in low-energy swarms: Stability and first-passage times.

We investigate a class of agent-based models of self-propelled particles (SPP) that interact according to a Morse potential in the presence of friction, a class which was able to reproduce many of the intriguing patterns of collective motion observed in nature. Specifically, we compare two closely related SPP models in the literature that differ by their prescription of particle drag and self-propulsion. Writing both models in terms of nondimensional parameters allows us to show that the dynamics in the highly viscous regime is independent of the precise forms of drag and propulsion. In contrast to what is indicated in the literature both models yield the same low-energy self-organized states: the coherent flock and the rigid rotation states which are highly ordered in both the coordinate and the velocity spaces and a velocity-disordered droplet state where particles are confined to rings which pass through the lattice points of the underlying Lagrange configuration. In contrast to the first two states which are stable, the third state is found to be a long-lived transient. In the regime studied, relaxing to one of the ordered steady states is inevitable, but how and when the transition occurs and what is the probability of ending in one state rather than the other are functions of the model parameters. Two types of transitions are characterized and first passage times are computed. Eventually, the evolution of the order parameter is explored in the framework of a Langevin-type equation, and the possible metastability of the random droplet state is discussed.

Longitudinal changes in cognition in early Parkinson's disease patients with REM sleep behavior disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive decline is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), and identifying patients at highest risk for it is essential. We aimed to examine the effect of possible REM sleep behavior disorder (pRBD) on rate of cognitive decline in early PD, for both global cognition and in specific cognitive domains. METHODS: Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) is a multi-site, international study of PD patients untreated at enrollment. pRBD was assessed with the REM sleep behavior disorder questionnaire (RBDSQ). Global cognition was assessed at baseline and annually using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a cognitive battery. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the relationship between pRBD (RBDSQ≥6) and rate of change in cognitive variables. Age, sex, years of education, and baseline motor and cognitive scores were included as covariates. RESULTS: The baseline sample consisted of 423 individuals with PD, mean age 61.7 years and 65.5% male. Data was available on 389, 366, and 196 participants at 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year follow-up respectively. Possible RBD occurred in 108 (25.5%) at baseline. In multivariate analyses, baseline RBD was associated with greater annual rate of decline in MoCA score (ß = -0.34, 95%CI -0.54, -0.13, p < 0.001), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (ß = -0.69, 95%CI -1.3, -0.09, p = 0.024), and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, delayed free recall (ß = -0.21, 95%CI -0.41, -0.013, p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Possible RBD is common in early PD and predicts future cognitive decline, particularly in attention and memory domains.

Wide-Field Lensing Mass Maps from Dark Energy Survey Science Verification Data.

We present a mass map reconstructed from weak gravitational lensing shear measurements over 139 deg2 from the Dark Energy Survey science verification data. The mass map probes both luminous and dark matter, thus providing a tool for studying cosmology. We find good agreement between the mass map and the distribution of massive galaxy clusters identified using a red-sequence cluster finder. Potential candidates for superclusters and voids are identified using these maps. We measure the cross-correlation between the mass map and a magnitude-limited foreground galaxy sample and find a detection at the 6.8σ level with 20 arc min smoothing. These measurements are consistent with simulated galaxy catalogs based on N-body simulations from a cold dark matter model with a cosmological constant. This suggests low systematics uncertainties in the map. We summarize our key findings in this Letter; the detailed methodology and tests for systematics are presented in a companion paper.

Role of Probiotics in health improvement, infection control and disease treatment and management.

Research which concerns the usefulness of Probiotics show increasing interest based on the rise of their publications, products and the awareness of the public of their benefits. There is increasing interest concerning Probiotics from the public, researchers, governmental organizations (such as the WHO/FAO) and medicinal and food companies. Probiotics means "let good microbes work for you in different fields get their benefits and take a rest". Such work will include, food digestion, production of useful products to destroy the bad microbes, complement the functions of the missed digestive enzymes (due to missed or defective genes), and to maintain the digestive system's pH, and so on. Probiotics will augment the efficiency of our biological fermentors, the digestive system. Many authors have described the history and the progress of Probiotics and their different applications. In this review, we will focus mainly on three points, health improvement, infection control and disease management, which could be eliminated by the use of different types of direct uses of Probiotics or by the use of foods containing Probiotics.

Molecular characterization of piebaldism in a Tunisian family.

OBJECTIVE: The present study is aimed at performing the molecular characterization of a Tunisian family with piebaldism. METHODS: As the proband and her mother showed a severe phenotype, we first chose to screen exons 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17 and 18 of the KIT proto-oncogene by direct sequencing. RESULTS: Direct sequencing analysis showed a C to T substitution at 1939 in exon 13 (c.1939C>T) in heterozygous state in the patient and her mother. The mutation was not found in their unaffected family members or normal controls. CONCLUSION: Our results provide additional support that mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the KIT gene are responsible for the severe form of piebaldism.

Pharmacogenetics of pregnancy-induced changes in efavirenz pharmacokinetics.

Pregnancy-induced physiological changes alter many drugs' pharmacokinetics. We investigated pregnancy-induced changes in efavirenz pharmacokinetics in 25 pregnant and 19 different postpartum women stratified from 211 HIV-positive women in whom a preliminary pharmacogenetic study had been undertaken. Despite significant changes in CL/F during pregnancy (42.6% increase; P = 0.023), median (range) Cmin was 1,000 ng/mL (429-5,190) with no significant change in Cmax (P = 0.072). However, when stratified for CYP2B6 516G>T (rs3745274) genotype, efavirenz AUC0-24 , Cmax and Cmin were 50.6% (P = 0.0013), 17.2% (P = 0.14), and 61.6% (P = 0.0027) lower during pregnancy (n = 8) compared with postpartum (n = 6) in 516G homozygotes, with values of 25,900 ng.h/mL (21,700-32,600), 2,640 ng/mL (1,260-3,490), and 592 ng/mL (429-917), respectively, and CL/F was 100% higher (P = 0.0013). No changes were apparent in CYP2B6 516 heterozygotes (14 pregnant vs. 7 postpartum). The clinical implications of these findings warrant further investigation.

Plackett-Burman randomization method for Bacterial Ghosts preparation form E. coli JM109.

Plackett-Burman randomization method is a conventional tool for variables randomization aiming at optimization. Bacterial Ghosts (BGs) preparation has been recently established using methods other than the E lysis gene. The protocol has been based mainly on using critical concentrations from chemical compounds able to convert viable cells to BGs. The Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Growth Concentration (MGC) were the main guide for the BGs preparation. In this study, Escherichia coli JM109 DEC has been used to produce the BGs following the original protocol. The study contained a detail protocol for BGs preparation that could be used as a guide.

Evaluation the surface antigen of the Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028 ghosts prepared by "SLRP".

Recently, bacterial ghosts (BGs) were prepared using a protocol based on critical chemical concentrations. It has been given the name "sponge like" (SL) protocol and used in its reduced form "sponge like reduced protocol" (SLRP). While specific antibody for Salmonella is available on the market under the commercial names (of some kits) such as Febrile Antigen Kit (N.S. BIO-TEC), we used the described Kit to investigate the validity of the SLRP. In this study, using SLRP we succeeded to prepare STGs with correct surface antigens could interact with their specific antibodies. Additionally the study has included oral vaccination with STGs with challenge test. The rats serums have been evaluated against both of the O and H antigens. The antigen-antibody interaction (agglutination) results of both the SLRP and the animal experiments prove that we have correct STGs able to immunize the rats against viable Salmonella. STGs could be used as vaccine and as adjuvant and in the antibodies and in the diagnostic kits production. This study is an additional step for the establishment of correct BGs for immunological purposes.