Aptamer Conjugated Indium Phosphide Quantum Dots with a Zinc Sulphide Shell as Photoluminescent Labels for .

is a remarkable microorganism known for its diversity of habitat and its multi-drug resistance, resulting in hard-to-treat infections. Thus, a sensitive method for the identification and detection of is vital. However, current methods used for the detection of pathogens have not improved in the past decades and suffer from long process times and low detection limits.

Cadmium-Free Quantum Dots as Fluorescent Labels for Exosomes.

Quantum dots are attractive alternatives to organic fluorophores for the purposes of fluorescent labeling and the detection of biomarkers. They can also be made to specifically target a protein of interest by conjugating biomolecules, such as antibodies. However, the majority of the fluorescent labeling using quantum dots is done using toxic materials such as cadmium or lead due to the well-established synthetic processes for these quantum dots.

In vitro induction of nitric oxide synthase in astrocytes and microglia by Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

In stage II human african trypanosomiasis (HAT), which is characterized by central nervous system (CNS) involvement, neurones and oligodendrocytes might be targets of dysimmune processes. Nitric oxide (NO) production by peripheral macrophages is documented in HAT. We studied the production of NO by murine astrocytes and microglia cocultured with Trypanosoma brucei (T.

Intrafamilial clustering and 4-year follow-up of asymptomatic human T-cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I) infection in Benin (West Africa).

Background: Few data exist concerning familial human T-cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I) carrier states and transmission in African countries. Two previous surveys performed in Benin in 1989 and 1990 using a three-level cluster sampling method allowed us to identify HTLV-I positive subjects. The evolution of HTLV-I within the families of these subjects is described over a 4-year period, 1991-1995.

Detection and characterization of autoantibodies directed against neurofilament proteins in human African trypanosomiasis.

In serum and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) with central nervous system involvement, we detected autoantibodies directed to some proteins from these tissues. The characterization of antigenic proteins by Western blotting showed that the antibodies recognized the 200-kD and 160-kD proteins of neurofilament (NF). Serum anti-NF antibodies were more frequent in HAT patients than in control subjects (86% versus 24%; P < 10[-9]) and they belonged predominantly to the IgM class (anti-NF IgM = 86% versus anti-NF IgG = 4%; P < 10[-9]) in the patients with stage II (central nervous system involvement) HAT.

[Prevalence of serum markers of hepatitis B and C in blood donors and pregnant women in Algeria].

Serologic markers of hepatitis B (AgHBs, anti-HBc) and hepatitis C (anti-HCV) are investigated in 1,112 apparently healthy blood donors and 715 pregnant women in Algeria. Data of this study have shown a low prevalence of HCV and confirm that this country belongs to the middle endemic area for HBV. Indeed the anti-HCV were detected in 0.

[The detection of anti-galactocerebroside autoantibodies in human African trypanosomiasis].

The pathogenesis of the central nervous system (CNS) damage in human african trypanosomiasis (HAT) is unknown. In view of an immunological mechanism, as in another trypanosomiasis, Chagas' disease, the causative agent of which is Trypanosoma cruzi, we have searched autoantibodies directed against glycosphingolipids of CNS. Detection and characterization of autoantibodies were performed by ELISA and detection after thin-layer chromatography of glycolipids with sera of an experimental model of HAT in sheep and sera of patients suffering of HAT from Côte d'Ivoire and Congo.