1,721,017 research outputs found
[The use of BCG as immunoadjuvant in combination with antitumor drugs in a virus induced leukemia. II].
No full textT helper 2 antagonists restore antifungal T helper immunity in mice with T cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation
No full textFunctional defect of natural immune system in an apparent immunocompetent patient with pulmonary cryptococcosis: Case Report.
No full textWe report a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in a 21-year-old Italian female smoker with no apparent immune disorder. In this study we demonstrated that: (i) patient's neutrophils and monocytes manifested a significant reduction of killing activity against Cryptococcus neoformans as well as Candida albicans; (ii) the suppression was more pronounced in monocytes than in neutrophils; (iii) neutrophils and monocytes showed a significant impairment of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and nitric oxide production. These results suggest that the apparent immunocompetent host with pulmonary cryptococcosis could have specific defects in natural immune system mechanisms
Immunosuppressive effect of cyclosporin A on resistance to systemic infection with Candida albicans
No full textWe studied the influence of cyclosporin-A (Cy-A) on resistance of mice to systemic infection with Candida albicans. Cy-A clearly inhibited resistance to C. albicans. The effect was dose-dependent and time and route of administration of the drug were important. This immunodepressive effect was due, at least in part, to an impairment of polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL) candidacidal activity, as demonstrated in vitro by a reduction of phagocytic and cytotoxic activity and in vivo by protection when PMNL from untreated mice were transferred into cyclophosphamide-treated hosts challenged with C. albicans. The decreased activity of PMNL could be partly restored by adoptive transfer of normal T-lymphocytes into Cy-A-treated mice, as well as by exposure of PMNL to gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) in vitro
Mucosal and systemic T helper cell function after intragastric colonization of adult mice with Candida albicans.
No full textIn 85% of adult DBA/2 mice inoculated intragastrically with Candida albicans, significant numbers of yeast cells were recovered from the gastrointestinal tract for up to 4 weeks, with the animals eventually clearing infection in the absence of systemic disease despite the occurrence of localized, self-limiting foci of mucosal involvement in their stomachs. Two major findings in colonized mice were defective production of IgA, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5 by Peyer's patches lymphocytes and increased numbers of interferon-gamma-producing T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and spleens. Relatively low levels of circulating antibodies of T helper type 2 (Th2)-dependent isotypes were also found in colonized mice, which exhibited strong footpad responses and increased resistance to systemic reinfection. Unlike systemic challenge, gastrointestinal colonization of adult immunocompetent DBA/2 mice with C. albicans appears to be an effective stimulus for the systemic development of protective Th1 responses
[Further study of immunopotentiation in experimental antiblastic therapy by inactivated yeasts and glucan].
No full textEARLY REGULATION OF IFN-GAMMA PRODUCTION IN POLARIZED T-HELPER CELL RESPONSES IN CANDIDA-ALBICANS INFECTION
No full textAntiviral furanosesquiterpenes from Commiphora erythraea
No full textThe crude methanolic extract obtained from C. erythraea resin was chromatographed on silica gel with solvent of increasing polarity. The extract and fractions were evaluated for cytotoxicity and antiviral activity [parainfluenza type 3 virus (PIV3)] by plaque forming units (PFU) reduction assay using HEp-2 cells (human larynx epidermoid carcinoma cell line). From the active fraction, five compounds were isolated and tested. Only two of these showed anti-PIV3 activity with a selectivity index (SI) of 66.6 and 17.5, respectively. Both the compounds are furanosesquiterpenoids
Evaluation of Lumipulse® G SARS-CoV-2 antigen assay automated test for detecting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (NP) in nasopharyngeal swabs for community and population screening
Full text linkOBJECTIVES: To compare the Lumipulse SARS-CoV-2 antigen test with the gold standard real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to evaluate its role in screening programs.METHODS: Lumipulse SARS-CoV-2 antigen assay was compared with the gold standard RT-PCR test in a selected cohort of 226 subjects with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection, and its accuracy was evaluated. Subsequently, the test was administered to a real-life screening cohort of 1738 cases. ROC analysis was performed to explore test features and cutoffs. All tests were performed in the regional reference laboratory in Umbria, Italy.RESULTS: A 42.0% positive result at RT-PCR was observed in the selected cohort. The Lumipulse system showed 92.6% sensitivity (95% CI 85.4-97.0%) and 90.8% specificity (95% CI 84.5-95.2%) at 1.24 pg/mL optimal cutoff. In the screening cohort, characterized by 5.2% prevalence of infection, Lumipulse assay showed 100% sensitivity (95% CI 96.0-100.0%) and 94.8% specificity (95% CI 93.6-95.8%) at 1.645 pg/mL optimal cutoff; the AUC was 97.4%, NPV was 100% (95% CI 99.8-100.0%) and PPV was 51.1% (95% CI 43.5-58.7%).CONCLUSIONS: The Lumipulse SARS-CoV-2 antigen assay can be safely employed in the screening strategies in small and large communities and in the general population
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