The potential of viruses as appropriate vectors for the development of new therapeutic strategies, as well as for the design of molecular (DNA, RNA, and/or protein) vaccines via substitution of nucleotide sequences, has been proven. Among the most appropriate DNA and/or RNA fragments, members belonging to families (particularly adeno-associated virus, AAV) and have frequently been suggested for this purpose. In previous studies, the vaccine avipoxvirus strains FK (fowl) and Dessau (pigeon) have been proven able to infect mammalian cells (as well as avian cells), and to replicate productively in a small number of them; thus, we may be able to adapt them using incubation, and in these conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActivated NK cells in appropriate conditions are known to express stem cell antigen 1 (Sca-1/Ly-6A/E). To investigate its production, NK cells isolated from mouse spleens were incubated ex vivo in the presence of different combinations of cytokines (IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, and IFNγ). Expression of Sca-1 was found to be considerably higher in NK cells incubated in the presence of IL-18, IL-15, and IL-12 than in those treated with IL-15 and IL-18 only.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMonoclon Antib Immunodiagn Immunother
April 2019
Natural killer (NK) cells can discriminate between normal and cancer cells and are known to directly recognize and kill malignant cells or induce apoptosis. Thus, activation of NK cells is considered as a promising strategy for cancer treatment. However, clinical application has been somewhat limited because of difficulties in the preparation of sufficient number of highly cytotoxic/activated NK cells .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a leading cause of anovulatory infertility. In recent times, autoimmune processes are supposed to play a role in a number of conditions with unexplained etiology. This includes some cases of human infertility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAkush Ginekol (Sofiia)
March 2014
Genome disbalances are related to the different types of infertility and they play a role in the treatment of human infertility. Comparative genome hybridization (CGH) combined with microchips is a modern high resolution technique for all human chromosomes investigations. We analysed the genome disbalances in 16 blood samples of men with an idiopathic oligoastenozoospermia or azoospermia using CGH and microchips for the whole human genome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of the present investigation was to establish the frequency of sperm antibodies in patients with etiologically unexplained infertility, and to compare the demonstrated frequencies with the results from y control group of y healthy blood donors, as well as with the results of other investigators. The gelatin agglutination test of Kibrick and the tray agglutination test of Friberg were applied to test 244 sera from infertile patients and 50 sera from healthy blood donors at the Laboratory of Immunology of Reproduction, Department of Biology, Medical University of Sofia. For the infertile patients, relevant sperm antibody titers were demonstrated in 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAkush Ginekol (Sofiia)
April 2000
The aim of the present investigation was to establish the sperm antibody incidence among patients included in a program for assisted reproduction by the means of the classical and new methods for sperm antibody detection; to analyze the correlation between the results demonstrated by the different techniques; to evaluate the obtained data in the context of the application of new assisted reproduction technologies (ART). In the Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology, Department of Biology, Medical University of Sofia, 73 sera from patients (35 couples and 3 men) with primary and secondary infertility, aged 23-46 years, grouped according to the diagnosis and included in the program for assisted reproduction "Technobioassistance" were tested. Our results demonstrated the highest incidence of sperm antibodies amongst patients with primary unexplained infertility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe object of the present study was to study if there are differences in the presence of CD4-like molecules on human ejaculated spermatozoa in fertile donors and infertile patients (with globozoospermia). Indirect and absorption enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescence were applied. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay data showed that monoclonal anti-human CD4-antibody recognizes an epitope common to the human spermatozoa with normal morphology and round-headed spermatozoa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEpstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cell lines that produce human antisperm antibodies were established using peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from infertile women with sperm immobilizing antibodies in their sera. We obtained three stable cell populations (designated B1, B2, D5) of transformed PBLs originating from three different patients. They produced IgM sperm-reacting antibodies directed against the tail of live, methanol-fixed and NaIO4-treated human spermatozoa.
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