Displaying publications 241 - 260 of 288 in total

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  1. Fulltext Human Papillomavirus 16 E6 Antibodies in Individuals without Diagnosed Cancer: A Pooled Analysis
    Lang Kuhs KA, Anantharaman D, Waterboer T, Johansson M, Brennan P, Michel A, et al.
    Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2015 Apr;24(4):683-9.
    PMID: 25623733 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-1217
    BACKGROUND: The increasing incidence of oropharyngeal cancer in many developed countries has been attributed to human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) infections. Recently, HPV16 E6 serology has been identified as a promising early marker for oropharyngeal cancer. Therefore, characterization of HPV16 E6 seropositivity among individuals without cancer is warranted.

    METHODS: A total of 4,666 controls were pooled from several studies of cancer and HPV seropositivity, all tested within the same laboratory. HPV16 E6 seropositive controls were classified as having (i) moderate [mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) ≥ 484 and <1,000] or (ii) high seroreactivity (MFI ≥ 1,000). Associations of moderate and high HPV16 E6 seroreactivity with (i) demographic risk factors; and seropositivity for (ii) other HPV16 proteins (E1, E2, E4, E7, and L1), and (iii) E6 proteins from non-HPV16 types (HPV6, 11, 18, 31, 33, 45, and 52) were evaluated.

    RESULTS: Thirty-two (0.7%) HPV16 E6 seropositive controls were identified; 17 (0.4%) with moderate and 15 (0.3%) with high seroreactivity. High HPV16 E6 seroreactivity was associated with former smoking [odds ratio (OR), 5.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-51.8], and seropositivity against HPV16 L1 (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.3-15.4); E2 (OR, 7.7; 95% CI, 1.4-29.1); multiple HPV16 proteins (OR, 25.3; 95% CI, 2.6-119.6 for three HPV16 proteins beside E6) and HPV33 E6 (OR, 17.7; 95% CI, 1.9-81.8). No associations were observed with moderate HPV16 E6 seroreactivity.

    CONCLUSIONS: High HPV16 E6 seroreactivity is rare among individuals without diagnosed cancer and was not explained by demographic factors.

    IMPACT: Some HPV16 E6 seropositive individuals without diagnosed HPV-driven cancer, especially those with seropositivity against other HPV16 proteins, may harbor a biologically relevant HPV16 infection.

    Matched MeSH terms: Repressor Proteins/immunology*
  2. Screening for nasopharyngeal carcinoma with an ELISA using the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen, EBNA 1: a complementary test to the IgA/VCA immunofluorescence assay
    Cheng HM, Foong YT, Mathew A, Sam CK, Dillner J, Prasad U
    J Virol Methods, 1993 Apr;42(1):45-51.
    PMID: 7686558
    An ELISA using the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA 1) was found to detect selectively specific IgA in sera from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The antigen, p107, was a 20-amino acid synthetic peptide, representing a major epitope of EBNA 1.267/294 (90.8%) of NPC patients had IgA antibodies to p107 but in normal individuals, only 41/577 (7.1%) had IgA/p107. In sera from patients with other cancers, 11/77 (14.3%) had IgA/p107 reactivity. 124 IgA/VCA positive and 86 IgA/VCA negative NPC sera were also tested for IgA/p107 binding in ELISA. The majority of IgA/VCA positive sera (117) also contained IgA/p107 antibodies. Of interest was the detection of 74/86 IgA/p107 reactive sera in the IgA/VCA negative group. The results suggest that the IgA/p107 ELISA could become a useful, complementary screening assay to the IgA/VCA immunofluorescence test for detection of NPC.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA-Binding Proteins/immunology
  3. Production of the matrix protein of Nipah virus in Escherichia coli: virus-like particles and possible application for diagnosis
    Subramanian SK, Tey BT, Hamid M, Tan WS
    J Virol Methods, 2009 Dec;162(1-2):179-83.
    PMID: 19666056 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2009.07.034
    The broad species tropism of Nipah virus (NiV) coupled with its high pathogenicity demand a rapid search for a new biomarker candidate for diagnosis. The matrix (M) protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using a Ni-NTA affinity column chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The recombinant M protein with the molecular mass (Mr) of about 43 kDa was detected by anti-NiV serum and anti-myc antibody. About 50% of the M protein was found to be soluble and localized in cytoplasm when the cells were grown at 30 degrees C. Electron microscopic analysis showed that the purified M protein assembled into spherical particles of different sizes with diameters ranging from 20 to 50 nm. The purified M protein showed significant reactivity with the swine sera collected during the NiV outbreak, demonstrating its potential as a diagnostic reagent.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Proteins/immunology
  4. Fulltext Identification and validation of a novel panel of Plasmodium knowlesi biomarkers of serological exposure
    Herman LS, Fornace K, Phelan J, Grigg MJ, Anstey NM, William T, et al.
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2018 Jun;12(6):e0006457.
    PMID: 29902183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006457
    BACKGROUND: Plasmodium knowlesi is the most common cause of malaria in Malaysian Borneo, with reporting limited to clinical cases presenting to health facilities and scarce data on the true extent of transmission. Serological estimations of transmission have been used with other malaria species to garner information about epidemiological patterns. However, there are a distinct lack of suitable serosurveillance tools for this neglected disease.

    METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using in silico tools, we designed and expressed four novel P. knowlesi protein products to address the distinct lack of suitable serosurveillance tools: PkSERA3 antigens 1 and 2, PkSSP2/TRAP and PkTSERA2 antigen 1. Antibody prevalence to these antigens was determined by ELISA for three time-points post-treatment from a hospital-based clinical treatment trial in Sabah, East Malaysia (n = 97 individuals; 241 total samples for all time points). Higher responses were observed for the PkSERA3 antigen 2 (67%, 65/97) across all time-points (day 0: 36.9% 34/92; day 7: 63.8% 46/72; day 28: 58.4% 45/77) with significant differences between the clinical cases and controls (n = 55, mean plus 3 SD) (day 0 p<0.0001; day 7 p<0.0001; day 28 p<0.0001). Using boosted regression trees, we developed models to classify P. knowlesi exposure (cross-validated AUC 88.9%; IQR 86.1-91.3%) and identified the most predictive antibody responses.

    CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The PkSERA3 antigen 2 had the highest relative variable importance in all models. Further validation of these antigens is underway to determine the specificity of these tools in the context of multi-species infections at the population level.

    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Proteins/immunology
  5. Fulltext Influenza virus NS1- C/EBPβ gene regulatory complex inhibits RIG-I transcription
    Kumari R, Guo Z, Kumar A, Wiens M, Gangappa S, Katz JM, et al.
    Antiviral Res, 2020 Apr;176:104747.
    PMID: 32092305 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104747
    Influenza virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) counteracts host antiviral innate immune responses by inhibiting Retinoic acid inducible gene-I (RIG-I) activation. However, whether NS1 also specifically regulates RIG-I transcription is unknown. Here, we identify a CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein beta (C/EBPβ) binding site in the RIG-I promoter as a repressor element, and show that NS1 promotes C/EBPβ phosphorylation and its recruitment to the RIG-I promoter as a C/EBPβ/NS1 complex. C/EBPβ overexpression and siRNA knockdown in human lung epithelial cells resulted in suppression and activation of RIG-I expression respectively, implying a negative regulatory role of C/EBPβ. Further, C/EBPβ phosphorylation, its interaction with NS1 and occupancy at the RIG-I promoter was associated with RIG-I transcriptional inhibition. These findings provide an important insight into the molecular mechanism by which influenza NS1 commandeers RIG-I transcriptional regulation and suppresses host antiviral responses.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viral Nonstructural Proteins/immunology*
  6. Genetic polymorphisms in the Toll-like receptor signalling pathway in Helicobacter pylori infection and related gastric cancer
    Castaño-Rodríguez N, Kaakoush NO, Pardo AL, Goh KL, Fock KM, Mitchell HM
    Hum Immunol, 2014 Aug;75(8):808-15.
    PMID: 24929142 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2014.06.001
    Gastric cancer (GC) is a progressive process initiated by Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation. Initial recognition of H. pylori involves Toll-like receptors (TLRs), central molecules in the host inflammatory response. Here, we investigated the association between novel polymorphisms in genes involved in the TLR signalling pathway, including TLR2, TLR4, LBP, MD-2, CD14 and TIRAP, and risk of H. pylori infection and related GC.
    Matched MeSH terms: Acute-Phase Proteins/immunology; Carrier Proteins/immunology
  7. Antigenic proteins of Helicobacter pylori of potential diagnostic value
    Khalilpour A, Santhanam A, Wei LC, Saadatnia G, Velusamy N, Osman S, et al.
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(3):1635-42.
    PMID: 23679248
    Helicobacter pylori antigen was prepared from an isolate from a patient with a duodenal ulcer. Serum samples were obtained from culture-positive H. pylori infected patients with duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers and gastritis (n=30). As controls, three kinds of sera without detectable H. pylori IgG antibodies were used: 30 from healthy individuals without history of gastric disorders, 30 from patients who were seen in the endoscopy clinic but were H. pylori culture negative and 30 from people with other diseases. OFF-GEL electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE and Western blots of individual serum samples were used to identify protein bands with good sensitivity and specificity when probed with the above sera and HRP-conjugated anti-human IgG. Four H. pylori protein bands showed good (≥ 70%) sensitivity and high specificity (98-100%) towards anti-Helicobacter IgG antibody in culture- positive patients sera and control sera, respectively. The identities of the antigenic proteins were elucidated by mass spectrometry. The relative molecular weights and the identities of the proteins, based on MALDI TOF/ TOF, were as follows: CagI (25 kDa), urease G accessory protein (25 kDa), UreB (63 kDa) and proline/pyrroline- 5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (118 KDa). These identified proteins, singly and/or in combinations, may be useful for diagnosis of H. pylori infection in patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/immunology; Carrier Proteins/immunology
  8. Fulltext Identification and real-time expression analysis of selected Toxoplasma gondii in-vivo induced antigens recognized by IgG and IgM in sera of acute toxoplasmosis patients
    Amerizadeh A, Khoo BY, Teh AY, Golkar M, Abdul Karim IZ, Osman S, et al.
    BMC Infect Dis, 2013;13:287.
    PMID: 23800344 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-287
    Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular zoonotic parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa which infects a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. In this study in-vivo induced antigens of this parasite was investigated using in-vivo induced antigen technology (IVIAT) and pooled sera from patients with serological evidence of acute infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Proteins/immunology
  9. Entamoeba histolytica antigenic protein detected in pus aspirates from patients with amoebic liver abscess
    Othman N, Mohamed Z, Yahya MM, Leow VM, Lim BH, Noordin R
    Exp Parasitol, 2013 Aug;134(4):504-10.
    PMID: 23680184 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2013.05.001
    Entamoeba histolytica is a causative agent of amoebic liver abscess (ALA) and is endemic in many underdeveloped countries. We investigated antigenic E. histolytica proteins in liver abscess aspirates using proteomics approach. Pus samples were first tested by real-time PCR to confirm the presence of E. histolytica DNA and the corresponding serum samples tested for E. histolytica-specific IgG by a commercial ELISA. Proteins were extracted from three and one pool(s) of pus samples from ALA and PLA (pyogenic liver abscess) patients respectively, followed by analysis using isoelectric focussing, SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Unpurified pooled serum samples from infected hamsters and pooled human amoebic-specific IgG were used as primary antibodies. The antigenic protein band was excised from the gel, digested and analysed by MALDI-TOF/TOF and LC-MS/MS. The results using both primary antibodies showed an antigenic protein band of ∼14kDa. Based on the mass spectrum analysis, putative tyrosine kinase is the most probable identification of the antigenic band.
    Matched MeSH terms: Protozoan Proteins/immunology
  10. Molecular cloning, characterization and gene expression of an antioxidant enzyme catalase (MrCat) from Macrobrachium rosenbergii
    Arockiaraj J, Easwvaran S, Vanaraja P, Singh A, Othman RY, Bhassu S
    Fish Shellfish Immunol, 2012 May;32(5):670-82.
    PMID: 22293093 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2012.01.013
    In this study, we reported a full length of catalase gene (designated as MrCat), identified from the transcriptome database of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The complete gene sequence of the MrCat is 2504 base pairs in length, and encodes 516 amino acids. The MrCat protein contains three domains such as catalase 1 (catalase proximal heme-ligand signature) at 350-358, catalase 2 (catalase proximal active site signature) at 60-76 and catalase 3 (catalase family profile) at 20-499. The mRNA expressions of MrCat in healthy and the infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) challenged M. rosenbergii were examined using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The MrCat is highly expressed in digestive tract and all the other tissues (walking leg, gills, muscle, hemocyte, hepatopancreas, pleopods, brain and eye stalk) of M. rosenbergii taken for analysis. The expression is strongly up-regulated in digestive tract after IHHNV challenge. To understand its biological activity, the recombinant MrCat gene was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant MrCat existed in high thermal stability and broad spectrum of pH, which showed over 95% enzyme activity between pH 5 and 10.5, and was stable from 40 °C to 70 °C, and exhibited 85-100% enzyme activity from 30 °C to 40 °C.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Proteins/immunology
  11. Expression of rice thaumatin-like protein gene in transgenic banana plants enhances resistance to fusarium wilt
    Mahdavi F, Sariah M, Maziah M
    Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2012 Feb;166(4):1008-19.
    PMID: 22183565 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-011-9489-3
    The possibility of controlling Fusarium wilt--caused by Fusarium oxysporum sp. cubensec (race 4)--was investigated by genetic engineering of banana plants for constitutive expression of rice thaumatin-like protein (tlp) gene. Transgene was introduced to cauliflower-like bodies' cluster, induced from meristemic parts of male inflorescences, using particle bombardment with plasmid carrying a rice tlp gene driving by the CaMV 35S promoter. Hygromycin B was used as the selection reagent. The presence and integration of rice tlp gene in genomic DNA confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analyses. RT-PCR revealed the expression of transgene in leaf and root tissues in transformants. Bioassay of transgenic banana plants challenged with Fusarium wilt pathogen showed that expression of TLP enhanced resistance to F. oxysporum sp. cubensec (race 4) compared to control plants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Proteins/immunology*
  12. Nitric oxide production by a murine macrophage cell line (RAW264.7 cells) stimulated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans surface-associated material
    Sosroseno W, Bird PS, Seymour GJ
    Anaerobe, 2011 Oct;17(5):246-51.
    PMID: 21736946 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2011.06.006
    Nitric oxide (NO) may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and, hence, the aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans surface-associated material (SAM) stimulates inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and NO production by the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7. Cells were stimulated with untreated or heat-treated A. actinomycetemcomitans SAM and with or without pre-treatment with L-N(6)-(1-Iminoethyl)-lysine (L-NIL) (an iNOS inhibitor), polymyxin B, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and Interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, genistein [a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor], bisindolylmaleimide [a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor], bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) [a phospholipase A(2) (PLA2) inhibitor] or wortmannin [phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) inhibitor]. The iNOS activity and nitrite production in the cell cultures were determined. Untreated but not heat-treated A. actinomycetemcomitans SAM-stimulated both iNOS activity and nitrite production in RAW264.7 cells. L-NIL, IL-4, IL-10, genistein, bisindolylmaleimide, or BPB, suppressed but IFN-γ enhanced both iNOS activity and nitrite production by A. actinomycetemcomitans SAM-stimulated cells. Wortmannin and polymyxin B failed to alter both iNOS activity or nitrite production by A. actinomycetemcomitans SAM treated cells. Therefore, the present study suggests that a heat-sensitive protein constituent(s) of A. actinomycetemcomitans SAM stimulates both iNOS activity and nitrite production by RAW264.7 cells in a cytokine, PTK, PKC, and PLA(2) but not PI-3K-dependent fashion.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/immunology*
  13. Construction and characterization of an auxotrophic ctxA mutant of O139 Vibrio cholerae
    Chan M, Cheong TG, Kurunathan S, Chandrika M, Ledon T, Fando R, et al.
    Microb Pathog, 2010 Nov;49(5):211-6.
    PMID: 20558271 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2010.06.001
    Cholera caused by the O139 serogroup still remains a public health concern in certain regions of the world and the existing O1 vaccines do not cross-protect cholera caused by this serogroup. An aminolevulinic acid (ALA) auxotroph vaccine candidate against the O139 serogroup, designated as VCUSM2, was recently developed. It was found to be immunogenic in animal model studies but showed mild reactogenic effects due to the presence of two intact copies of Vibrio cholerae toxin (CTX) genetic element. In the present study we have modified the ctx operon by systematic allelic replacement methodology to produce a mutant strain, designated as VCUSM14. This strain has two copies of chromosomally integrated and mutated ctxA gene, encoding immunogenic but not toxic cholera toxin A subunit (CT-A). The amino acids arginine and glutamic acid at position 7th and 112th, respectively, in CT-A of VCUSM14 were substituted with lysine (R7K) and glutamine (E112Q), respectively. Two copies of the ace and zot genes present in the ctx operon were also deleted. Cholera toxin-ELISA using GM1 ganglioside showed that the both wild type CT and mutated CT were recognized by anti-CT polyclonal antibodies. VCUSM14 produced comparatively less amount of antigenic cholera toxin when compared to the VCUSM2 and Bengal wild type strain. VCUSM14 did not elicit fluid accumulation when inoculated into rabbit ileal loops at doses of 10(6) and 10(8) CFU. The colonization efficiency of VCUSM14 was one log lower than the parent strain, VCUSM2, which can be attributed to the ALA auxotrophy and less invasive properties of VCUSM14. VCUSM14, thus a non-reactogenic auxotrophic vaccine candidate against infection by O139 V. cholerae.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mutant Proteins/immunology
  14. Efficacy of an inactivated recombinant vaccine encoding a fimbrial protein of Pasteurella multocida B:2 against hemorrhagic septicemia in goats
    Mohd Yasin IS, Mohd Yusoff S, Mohd ZS, Abd Wahid Mohd E
    Trop Anim Health Prod, 2011 Jan;43(1):179-87.
    PMID: 20697957 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-010-9672-5
    This study was carried out to determine the antibody responses and protective capacity of an inactivated recombinant vaccine expressing the fimbrial protein of Pasteurella multocida B:2 following intranasal vaccination against hemorrhagic septicemia in goats. Goats were vaccinated intranasal with 10(6) CFU/mL of the recombinant vaccine (vaccinated group) and 10(6) CFU/mL of pET32/LIC vector without fimbrial protein (control group). All three groups were kept separated before all goats in the three groups were challenged with 10(9) CFU/mL of live pathogenic P. multocida B:2. During the course of study, both serum and lung lavage fluid were collected to evaluate the antibody levels via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It was found that goats immunized with the inactivated recombinant vaccine developed a strong and significantly (p 
    Matched MeSH terms: Fimbriae Proteins/immunology*
  15. DNA vaccine encoding avian influenza virus H5 and Esat-6 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis improved antibody responses against AIV in chickens
    Oveissi S, Omar AR, Yusoff K, Jahanshiri F, Hassan SS
    Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 2010 Dec;33(6):491-503.
    PMID: 19781778 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2009.08.004
    The H5 gene of avian influenza virus (AIV) strain A/chicken/Malaysia/5744/2004(H5N1) was cloned into pcDNA3.1 vector, and Esat-6 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was fused into downstream of the H5 gene as a genetic adjuvant for DNA vaccine candidates. The antibody level against AIV was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Sera obtained from specific-pathogen-free chickens immunized with pcDNA3.1/H5 and pcDNA3.1/H5/Esat-6 demonstrated antibody responses as early as 2 weeks after the first immunization. Furthermore, the overall HI antibody titer in chickens immunized with pcDNA3.1/H5/Esat-6 was higher compared to the chickens immunized with pcDNA3.1/H5 (p<0.05). The results suggested that Esat-6 gene of M. tuberculosis is a potential genetic adjuvant for the development of effective H5 DNA vaccine in chickens.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/immunology
  16. Quantification of Epstein-Barr virus DNA load, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, transforming growth factor-beta1 and stem cell factor in plasma of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
    Tan EL, Selvaratnam G, Kananathan R, Sam CK
    BMC Cancer, 2006;6:227.
    PMID: 16995954
    Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common epithelial neoplasm among the Chinese populations in Southern China and South East Asia. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is known to be an important etiologic agent of NPC and the viral gene products are frequently detected in NPC tissues along with elevated antibody titres to the viral proteins (VCA and EA) in a majority of patients. Elevated plasma EBV DNA load is regarded as an important marker for the presence of the disease and for the monitoring of disease progression. However, other serum/plasma parameters such as the levels of certain interleukins and growth factors have also been implicated in NPC. The objectives of the present study are, 1) to investigate the correlations between plasma EBV DNA load and the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, TGF-beta1 and SCF (steel factor) and 2) to relate these parameters to the stages of NPC and the effect of treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Capsid Proteins/immunology
  17. Recombinant nipah virus vaccines protect pigs against challenge
    Weingartl HM, Berhane Y, Caswell JL, Loosmore S, Audonnet JC, Roth JA, et al.
    J Virol, 2006 Aug;80(16):7929-38.
    PMID: 16873250
    Nipah virus (NiV), of the family Paramyxoviridae, was isolated in 1999 in Malaysia from a human fatality in an outbreak of severe human encephalitis, when human infections were linked to transmission of the virus from pigs. Consequently, a swine vaccine able to abolish virus shedding is of veterinary and human health interest. Canarypox virus-based vaccine vectors carrying the gene for NiV glycoprotein (ALVAC-G) or the fusion protein (ALVAC-F) were used to intramuscularly immunize four pigs per group, either with 10(8) PFU each or in combination. Pigs were boosted 14 days postvaccination and challenged with 2.5 x 10(5) PFU of NiV two weeks later. The combined ALVAC-F/G vaccine induced the highest levels of neutralization antibodies (2,560); despite the low neutralizing antibody levels in the F vaccinees (160), all vaccinated animals appeared to be protected against challenge. Virus was not isolated from the tissues of any of the vaccinated pigs postchallenge, and a real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay detected only small amounts of viral RNA in several samples. In challenge control pigs, virus was isolated from a number of tissues (10(4.4) PFU/g) or detected by real-time RT-PCR. Vaccination of the ALVAC-F/G vaccinees appeared to stimulate both type 1 and type 2 cytokine responses. Histopathological findings indicated that there was no enhancement of lesions in the vaccinees. No virus shedding was detected in vaccinated animals, in contrast to challenge control pigs, from which virus was isolated from the throat and nose (10(2.9) PFU/ml). Based on the data presented, the combined ALVAC-F/G vaccine appears to be a very promising vaccine candidate for swine.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viral Fusion Proteins/immunology
  18. Fulltext A clinical and immunohistochemical study of gastrointestinal stromal tumours
    Khoo JJ, Gunn A
    Malays J Pathol, 2005 Jun;27(1):9-16.
    PMID: 16676687
    AIM: To study the clinical features, histology and immunohistochemical properties of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs); and establish any parameters that can help prognosticate the malignant potential.
    METHODS: Twenty-six patients with GISTs who were seen in Sultanah Aminah Hospital Johor, Malaysia from 1999 to 2003 were selected for study. Patient, clinical characteristics and outcome based on surgical records were analysed. Tumour variables (tumour size, cellularity, mitotic count, necrosis and haemorrhage) were compared between very low to low risk groups and intermediate to high risk groups. The immunohistochemical properties of GISTs were also studied.
    RESULTS: Patients with GISTs presented mainly with pain, palpable mass or gastrointestinal tract bleeding. The tumours were seen in stomach (50%) followed by small intestine (38.5%) and rectum (11.5%). In the period of study, six patients had metastasis, mainly in the liver or peritoneum. Immunoreactivity for CD117, CD34, vimentin, S100, neuron specific enolase, alpha-smooth-muscle-actin and desmin were observed in 100%, 76.9%, 61.5%, 46.1%, 80.8%, 11.5% and 0% of tumours respectively. The behaviour of GISTs was largely dependent on tumour size and number of mitosis. Necrosis and haemorrhage were seen in tumours with high risk potential.
    Matched MeSH terms: S100 Proteins/immunology
  19. Fulltext Suppression of cell division-associated genes by Helicobacter pylori attenuates proliferation of RAW264.7 monocytic macrophage cells
    Tan GM, Looi CY, Fernandez KC, Vadivelu J, Loke MF, Wong WF
    Sci Rep, 2015;5:11046.
    PMID: 26078204 DOI: 10.1038/srep11046
    Helicobacter pylori at multiplicity of infection (MOI ≥ 50) have been shown to cause apoptosis in RAW264.7 monocytic macrophage cells. Because chronic gastric infection by H. pylori results in the persistence of macrophages in the host's gut, it is likely that H. pylori is present at low to moderate, rather than high numbers in the infected host. At present, the effect of low-MOI H. pylori infection on macrophage has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the genome-wide transcriptional regulation of H. pylori-infected RAW264.7 cells at MOI 1, 5 and 10 in the absence of cellular apoptosis. Microarray data revealed up- and down-regulation of 1341 and 1591 genes, respectively. The expression of genes encoding for DNA replication and cell cycle-associated molecules, including Aurora-B kinase (AurkB) were down-regulated. Immunoblot analysis verified the decreased expression of AurkB and downstream phosphorylation of Cdk1 caused by H. pylori infection. Consistently, we observed that H. pylori infection inhibited cell proliferation and progression through the G1/S and G2/M checkpoints. In summary, we suggest that H. pylori disrupts expression of cell cycle-associated genes, thereby impeding proliferation of RAW264.7 cells, and such disruption may be an immunoevasive strategy utilized by H. pylori.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cell Cycle Proteins/immunology
  20. Fulltext Asthma, Airway Symptoms and Rhinitis in Office Workers in Malaysia: Associations with House Dust Mite (HDM) Allergy, Cat Allergy and Levels of House Dust Mite Allergens in Office Dust
    Lim FL, Hashim Z, Than LT, Md Said S, Hisham Hashim J, Norbäck D
    PLoS One, 2015;10(4):e0124905.
    PMID: 25923543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124905
    A prevalence study was conducted among office workers in Malaysia (N= 695). The aim of this study was to examine associations between asthma, airway symptoms, rhinitis and house dust mites (HDM) and cat allergy and HDM levels in office dust. Medical data was collected by a questionnaire. Skin prick tests were performed for HDM allergens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae) and cat allergen Felis domesticus. Indoor temperature and relative air humidity (RH) were measured in the offices and vacuumed dust samples were analyzed for HDM allergens. The prevalence of D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae and cat allergy were 50.3%, 49.0% and 25.5% respectively. Totally 9.6% had doctor-diagnosed asthma, 15.5% had current wheeze and 53.0% had current rhinitis. The Der p 1 (from D. pteronyssinus) and Der f 1 (from D. farinae) allergens levels in dust were 556 ng/g and 658 ng/g respectively. Statistical analysis was conducted by multilevel logistic regression, adjusting for age, gender, current smoking, HDM or cat allergy, home dampness and recent indoor painting at home. Office workers with HDM allergy had more wheeze (p= 0.035), any airway symptoms (p= 0.032), doctor-diagnosed asthma (p= 0.005), current asthma (p= 0.007), current rhinitis (p= 0.021) and rhinoconjuctivitis (p< 0.001). Cat allergy was associated with wheeze (p= 0.021), wheeze when not having a cold (p= 0.033), any airway symptoms (p= 0.034), doctor-diagnosed asthma (p= 0.010), current asthma (p= 0.020) and nasal allergy medication (p= 0.042). Der f 1 level in dust was associated with daytime breathlessness (p= 0.033) especially among those with HDM allergy. Der f 1 levels were correlated with indoor temperature (p< 0.001) and inversely correlated with RH (p< 0.001). In conclusion, HDM and cat allergies were common and independently associated with asthma, airway symptoms and rhinitis. Der f 1 allergen can be a risk factor for daytime breathlessness.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arthropod Proteins/immunology
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