Aim: To evaluate nasopharyngeal aspirate cultures for screening otopathogen carriage in the adenoid in children 2-7 years of age.
Methods: Thirty-seven children, 2-7 years of age, scheduled for adenoidectomy were enrolled into this prospective study at Rockhampton, Australia. Adenoid biopsy and nasopharyngeal aspirate bacteriology were assessed by conventional culture.
Objectives: Regulatory T lymphocytes (T) have been linked to survival of commensal bacteria at mucosal sites, but their presence and role in chronic otitis media (COM) and their response to otopathogens has not been evaluated previously. We investigated the association between T lymphocytes and otopathogens in COM prone and non-COM prone children.
Methods: Forty children, 2-7 years of age, scheduled for adenoidectomy were enrolled into COM (n = 20) or non-COM (n = 20) groups.
Objective To perform a state-of-the-art review of the literature from January 2012 through May 2015 on studies that advanced our knowledge of the innate and adaptive immunology related to otitis media. This review also proposes future directions for research in this area. Data Sources PubMed database of the National Library of Medicine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHum Vaccin Immunother
December 2015
Respiratory infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a major clinical problem globally, particularly for patients with chronic pulmonary disorders, such as those with cystic fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis (nCFB) and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, critically ill and immunocompromised patients are also at significant risk of P. aeruginosa infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStreptococcus pneumoniae and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) often share a common niche within the nasopharynx, both associated with infections such as bronchitis and otitis media. This study investigated how the association between NTHi and S. pneumoniae and the host affects their propensity to form biofilms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt has been widely reported that quorum-sensing incapable strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are less virulent than wild type strains. However, quorum sensing mutants of P. aeruginosa have been shown to develop other spontaneous mutations under prolonged culture conditions, and one of the phenotypes of P.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevious studies using rodent respiratory infection models of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) infection have established the 26-kDa outer membrane protein of the bacterium, OMP26, as a potential vaccine antigen for NTHi. This study undertook a comprehensive immunological identification of OMP26 T- and B-cell epitopes. A series of OMP26 peptides were constructed and regions of the OMP26 antigen involved in recognition by lymphocyte receptors and induction of acquired immune responses were identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPseudomonas aeruginosa is an important prognostic determinant in cystic fibrosis (CF). Little is known however, about P. aeruginosa induced local mucosal and systemic immune responses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Otorhinolaryngol
January 2012
The dynamic interactions of the major respiratory microbial pathogens are complex. An understanding of the impact on naturally acquired immune responses to respiratory polymicrobial commensal bacteria is slowly evolving. Maintaining a micro-floral balance and the host's ability to respond to imbalances associated with disease is critical.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe potential of empty bacterial cell envelopes (ghosts) as a delivery system for mucosal immunization was assessed in a rat model and different routes of immunization were evaluated. Animals were mucosally immunized targeting either gut only or gut and lung mucosal sites with Escherichia coli ghosts harbouring the nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) antigen Omp26. Omp26 was expressed as either a part of an S-layer fusion or as a soluble protein in the periplasm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated the effect of attending pre-school on mucosal immunity. Children 3.5 to 5 years of age who attended pre-school were observed for a 10 month period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA key characteristic of airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the persistent presence of bacteria in the lower airways. The most commonly isolated bacteria in the lower respiratory tract of COPD patients are nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae, with growing evidence of the significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in severe COPD disease. This review focuses on the antibiotic resistant mechanisms associated with the gram-negative bacteria H.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMoraxella catarrhalis is a significant cause of respiratory tract infection against which a vaccine is sought. Several outer membrane proteins are currently under investigation as potential vaccine antigens, including the porin M35. We have previously shown that the third external loop of M35 was immunodominant over the remainder of the protein for antibody produced in mice against the refolded recombinant protein.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSingapore was the location of the 3rd Global Vaccine Congress on 4-6 October 2009, and it provided a suitable place for sharing a range of developments, concepts and challenges associated with vaccines. One of the major goals of this meeting was to present a broad and balanced program of research, development, production, clinical testing and delivery of vaccines to people living in different parts of the world. This report contains an overview of recent developments in the vaccine field against a range of infections and disease situations that were presented during the meeting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunity against mucosal pathogens-Editor: Michael Vajdy This book highlights the importance of the close interactions of the mucosal immune system with the systemic immune system and the breadth of pathogens and the diversity of pathogenesis associated with infections at mucosal surfaces. The pathogens detailed in the book epitomize the challenges that confront mucosal immunologists and infectious disease researchers. The reader will gain significant insights into these challenges and approaches that researchers attempting to understand mucosal immunology and host-bacterial interactions take to develop effective therapeutic and prophylactic approaches to infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOtitis media (OM) is a highly prevalent paediatric disease with both bacterial and viral triggers of infection. This study has investigated how combinations of bacteria associated with nasal colonisation and the occurrence and absence of viral infection (Sendai virus) induce OM in a mouse nasal colonisation model. The respiratory virus significantly contributed to bacterial OM for all bacterial combinations (p<0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of nosocomal and community acquired chronic infections in subjects with compromised respiratory function. The microbe is environmentally ubiquitious and has a high level of innate antimicrobial resistance. This has led researchers to investigate vaccine and immunotherapeutic approaches to prevent and treat P.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNontypeable Haemophilus influenzae is a significant pathogen in children, causing otitis media, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, and occasionally invasive infections. H. influenzae type b conjugate vaccines have no effect on infections caused by nontypeable strains because nontypeable strains are nonencapsulated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMoraxella catarrhalis is a gram-negative respiratory pathogen that is an important causative agent for otitis media and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We have previously predicted the outer membrane protein M35 to be a general porin, and in the current study, we have investigated the function of M35 and its importance for survival of M. catarrhalis in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOral delivery of agents such as vaccines offers a number of significant advantages over parenteral routes, yet only a small number of oral vaccines are routinely available today. The small intestine contains lymphoid aggregates that are overlaid by M cells. These aggregates are part of the gut-associated lymphoid tissues and are important for determining host responses to particulate antigenic material within the small intestine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOnly a small number of oral vaccines are available for routine immunizations despite a significant research effort and a number of obvious advantages over parenteral vaccination. The major roadblock in the development of oral vaccines has been mostly attributed to a lack of ability to specifically target antigen to the mucosal immune system of the gastrointestinal tract. This commentary examines the accessing of M cells through receptor interaction on the apical surface of the cell in order to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of oral immunization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to evaluate the Bio-Quant Direct ELISA assays for amphetamine and methamphetamine in the routine presumptive screening of biological fluids. Standard concentration curves of the target analytes were assayed to assess sensitivity, and known concentrations of common amphetamine-type substances (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, phentermine), designer analogues (MDA, MDMA, MDEA, MBDB, PMA, 4-MTA, 2CB), and putrefactive amines (phenylethylamine, putrescine, tryptamine, tyramine) were analyzed to determine cross-reactivity. Results of the standard curve studies show the capacity of both Direct ELISA kits to confidently detect down to 3 ng/mL interday (PBS matrix; CVs 6.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of more advanced and effective vaccines is of great interest in modern medicine. These new-generation vaccines, based on recombinant proteins or DNA, are often less reactogenic and immunogenic than traditional vaccines. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of new and improved adjuvants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF