Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing Reduces the Incidence of Bloodstream Infections in Adults Undergoing Inpatient Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) occur in 20% to 45% of inpatient autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients. Daily bathing with the antiseptic chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) has been shown to reduce the incidence of BSIs in critically ill patients, although very few studies include HCT patients or have evaluated the impact of compliance on effectiveness. We conducted a prospective cohort study with historical controls to assess the impact of CHG bathing on the rate of BSIs and gut microbiota composition among adults undergoing inpatient HCT at the Duke University Medical Center.

Impact of Ammonium on Syntrophic Organohalide-Respiring and Fermenting Microbial Communities.

Syntrophic interactions between organohalide-respiring and fermentative microorganisms are critical for effective bioremediation of halogenated compounds. This work investigated the effect of ammonium concentration (up to 4 g liter(-1) NH4 (+)-N) on trichloroethene-reducing Dehalococcoides mccartyi and Geobacteraceae in microbial communities fed lactate and methanol. We found that production of ethene by D.

Rapid and long-term disappearance of CD4+ T lymphocyte responses specific for Anaplasma marginale major surface protein-2 (MSP2) in MSP2 vaccinates following challenge with live A. marginale.

In humans and ruminants infected with Anaplasma, the major surface protein 2 (MSP2) is immunodominant. Numerous CD4(+) T cell epitopes in the hypervariable and conserved regions of MSP2 contribute to this immunodominance. Antigenic variation in MSP2 occurs throughout acute and persistent infection, and sequentially emerging variants are thought to be controlled by variant-specific Ab.

Enhancement of antigen acquisition by dendritic cells and MHC class II-restricted epitope presentation to CD4+ T cells using VP22 DNA vaccine vectors that promote intercellular spreading following initial transfection.

Induction of immune responses against microbial antigens using DNA is an attractive strategy to mimic the immunity induced by live vaccines. Although DNA vaccines are efficacious in murine models, the requirement for multiple immunizations using high doses in outbred animals and humans has hindered deployment. This requirement is, in part, a result of poor vaccine spreading and suboptimal DC transfection efficiency.

CD4+ T lymphocytes from Anaplasma marginale major surface protein 2 (MSP2) vaccinees recognize naturally processed epitopes conserved in MSP3.

Major surface protein 2 (MSP2) and MSP3 of the persistent bovine ehrlichial pathogen Anaplasma marginale are immunodominant proteins that undergo antigenic variation. The recently completed sequence of MSP3 revealed blocks of amino acids in the N and C termini that are conserved with MSP2. This study tested the hypothesis that CD4+ T cells specific for MSP2 recognize naturally processed epitopes conserved in MSP3.