Phenotypic consequences of LYS4 gene disruption in Candida albicans.

A BLAST search of the Candida Genome Database with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae LYS4 sequence known to encode homoaconitase (HA) revealed ORFs 19.3846 and 19.11327.

The seroepidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae type b prior to introduction of an immunization programme in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is now recognized as an important pathogen in Asia. To evaluate disease susceptibility, and as a marker of Hib transmission before routine immunization was introduced in Kathmandu, 71 participants aged 7 months-77 years were recruited and 15 cord blood samples were collected for analysis of anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate antibody levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Only 20% of children under 5 years old had levels considered protective (>0.

Prevalence and genetic analysis of phenotypically Vi- negative Salmonella typhi isolates in children from Kathmandu, Nepal.

The Vi capsular polysaccharide (ViPS) protects Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Typhi (S.Typhi) in vivo by multiple mechanisms. Recent microbiological reports from typhoid endemic countries suggest that acapsulate S.

Chorea and developmental regression associated with human herpes virus-6 encephalitis.

We report a 14-month old child with multiple episodes of febrile status epilepticus, followed by chorea and developmental regression, caused by human herpes virus-6 encephalitis. Chorea has been described as a complication of relapsing herpes simplex virus I infection, but not as a manifestation of human herpes virus-6 infection. It is uncertain whether the chorea was an autoimmune phenomenon or a direct effect of the virus.

High-throughput bacterial SNP typing identifies distinct clusters of Salmonella Typhi causing typhoid in Nepalese children.

Background: Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) causes typhoid fever, which remains an important public health issue in many developing countries. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is an area of high incidence and the pediatric population appears to be at high risk of exposure and infection.

Appearance of peripheral blood plasma cells and memory B cells in a primary and secondary immune response in humans.

In humans, the kinetics of the appearance of memory B cells and plasma cells during primary immunization are not well defined. In this study, we assessed the primary B-cell response of rabies-antigen naive volunteers during a 3-dose course of rabies vaccine compared with the B-cell response to a booster dose of rabies vaccine given to previously immunized volunteers. After a single dose of vaccine, in the naive group plasma and memory B cells appeared later (peak at day 10) than in the primed group (peak at day 7) and were at lower frequency.

Kinetics of the natural, humoral immune response to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Typhoid fever is a major public health problem in developing countries, conservatively estimated to occur in 17 million cases and be responsible for 200,000 deaths annually. We investigated the acquisition of natural immunity to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi in a region where typhoid is endemic by testing sera from an age-stratified sample of 210 healthy participants in Kathmandu, Nepal, for bactericidal activity toward S. Typhi and for anti-Vi capsular polysaccharide antibodies.

Biliary cirrhosis in a child with inherited interleukin-12 deficiency.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a key cytokine in the defense against intracellular bacteria notably Mycobacteria and Salmonella species. We report a case of disseminated mycobacterial infection, following BCG vaccination, in a child who later developed tuberculosis. Functional tests and a novel diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, revealed a loss-of-function deletion in the IL12 gene.

Comparison of the prevalence of tuberculosis infection in BCG vaccinated versus nonvaccinated school age children.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of tuberculosis infection in BCG vaccinated versus non-vaccinated school age children in a tuberculosis endemic region.

Design: Cross-sectional, case control, school based survey.

Setting: Government lower primary school in Palakkad District, Kerala.