A novel ELISA test for laboratory diagnosis of Blastocystis spp. in human stool specimens.

Detection of Blastocystis is routinely performed by microscopy, culture, and formyl-ether (ethyl acetate) concentration technique (FECT). Yet, these methods require special skilled personnel, are time consuming, and often involve processing that may cause misdiagnosis. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the usefulness of a newly introduced ELISA test for the detection of Blastocystis antigens in stool samples (CoproELISA(TM) Blastocystis, Savyon Diagnostics) as a proper alternative to currently used methods, especially microscopy.

Differential effect of insulin treatment on decreased levels of beta-defensins and Toll-like receptors in diabetic rats.

Many infections are associated with diabetes, as the ability of the body to fight pathogens is impaired. Recently, altered levels of defensins and polymorphism in Toll-like receptors (TLRs), two crucial components of the innate immune system, have been associated with diabetes. To study the functionality of the innate immune system during diabetes, we measured the expression levels of rat beta-defensin 1 (rBD-1), rBD-2, rTLR2, and rTLR4 in the kidney, lung, liver, and brain of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with and without insulin treatment.

Differential expression of rat beta-defensins.

The innate immunity, utilizes a battery of broad-spectrum antibacterial cationic polypeptides (3-5 kDa) named alpha- and beta-defensins. Several beta-defensins have been isolated and shown to play a role in the defense of various tissues. Herein, we report the expression pattern of two rat beta-defensins, rBD-1 and rBD-2, in liver, kidney, lung, spleen, and brain using RT-PCR.