Probiotic microorganisms can stimulate an immune response and increase the efficiency of vaccines. For example, Bacillus toyonensis is a nonpathogenic, Gram-positive bacterium that has been used as a probiotic in animal supplementation. It induces immunomodulatory effects and increases the vaccine response in several species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cytokine microenvironment is crucial in generating and polarizing the immune response. A means of monitoring this environment would be of great value for better understanding Toxocara canis immune modulation. The aim of this study was to analyze the dynamics of cytokine transcription ex vivo, during early (24-48 hours) and late (15-30 days) times post-infection, in the mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen and intestinal mucosa of Balb/c mice experimentally infected with T.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInvasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a major cause of meningitis and septicaemia worldwide. Changes in serogroup predominance contribute to the unpredictable nature of the disease, with significant health impact. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological profile of IMD in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná, three states in southern Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHaemonchus contortus is one of the most important gastrointestinal nematodes infecting sheep, being a production-limiting factor in sheep herds. Biological control has been used for many years either in combination with traditional parasiticides or as an alternative treatment itself. Bacillus thuringiensis can be a promising tool for an integrate control of H.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations for maintaining physical distance, restricted mobility measures, as well as fear of mass transmission by going to health centers have significantly contributed to the general vaccination coverage, which by and large is decreasing worldwide; thus, favoring the potential re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases. In this study, we have used the existing data on vaccination coverage during the pre-pandemic (2019) as well as the pandemic (2020) period to evaluate the impact of coronavirus outbreaks during the vaccination drive in Brazil. Furthermore, we have accumulated data since 2015 among the different regions of the country to acquire more consistent information.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Develop a Cell Surface Display system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, based on the construction of an expression cassette for pYES2 plasmid.
Results: The construction of an expression cassette containing the α-factor signal peptide and the C-terminal portion of the α-agglutinin protein was made and its sequence inserted into a plasmid named pYES2/gDαAgglutinin. The construction allows surface display of bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) glycoprotein D (gD) on S.
The Bovine herpes virus type 5 glycoprotein D (gD) is essential for viral penetration into host permissive cells. The Herpes virus gD glycoprotein has been used for bovine immunization, being efficient in reduction of viral replication, shedding and clinical signs, however sterilizing immunity is still not achieved. Recombinant subunit vaccines are, in general, poorly immunogenic requiring additional adjuvant components.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeglected tropical diseases, including zoonoses such as leptospirosis, have a major impact on rural and poor urban communities, particularly in developing countries. This has led to major investment in antipoverty vaccines that focus on diseases that influence public health and thereby productivity. While the true, global, impact of leptospirosis is unknown due to the lack of adequate laboratory diagnosis, the WHO estimates that incidence has doubled over the last 15 years to over 1 million cases that require hospitalization every year.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Saccharomyces boulardii may improve the immune response by enhancing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, T-cell proliferation and dendritic cell activation. The immunomodulator effect of this probiotic has never been tested with DNA vaccines, which frequently induce low antibody titers. This study evaluated the capacity of Saccharomyces boulardii to improve the humoral and cellular immune responses using DNA vaccines coding for the leptospiral protein fragments LigAni and LigBrep.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and immunoassays are widely used for pathogen detection. However, novel technology platforms with highly selective antibodies are essential to improve detection sensitivity, specificity and performance. In this study, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Internalin A (InlA) and p30 were generated and used on paramagnetic beads of varying diameters for concentration, as well as on fiber-optic sensor for detection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF