Regulatory T Cells Contribute to Resistance against Lyme Arthritis.

The symptoms of Lyme disease are caused by inflammation induced by species of the complex. The various presentations of Lyme disease in the population suggest that differences exist in the intensity and regulation of the host response to the spirochete. Previous work has described correlations between the presence of regulatory T cells and recovery from Lyme arthritis.

Arthritis is inhibited in Borrelia-primed and infected interleukin-17A-deficient mice after administration of anti-gamma-interferon, anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha and anti-interleukin-6 antibodies.

The role that cytokines play in the induction of Lyme arthritis is gradually being delineated. We showed previously that severe arthritis developed in a T-cell-driven murine model, even in mice lacking interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and administered anti-gamma-interferon (IFN-γ) antibody. Increased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), two pro-inflammatory cytokines, were detected in cultures of popliteal lymph node cells obtained from these mice.

Borrelia-primed and -infected mice deficient of interleukin-17 develop arthritis after neutralization of gamma-interferon.

The immune mechanisms responsible for development of Lyme arthritis are partially understood with interleukin-17 (IL-17) and gamma-interferon (IFN-γ) playing a generally accepted role. Elevated levels of IL-17 and/or IFN-γ have been reported in samples from human Lyme arthritis patients and experimental mice. In addition, IL-17 and IFN-γ have been implicated in the onset of arthritis in Borrelia-primed and -infected C57BL/6 mice.

Clinical laboratory assessments for Mycoplasma genitalium in a high-prevalence sexually-transmitted infection community reveal epidemiologic dichotomies with Trichomonas vaginalis.

Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging agent of sexually-transmitted infection and is responsible for clinically-significant genital tract disease in both females and males. Similar to scenarios recently experienced with the urogenital flagellate Trichomonas vaginalis, an evolving molecular diagnostic reference standard based on transcription-mediated amplification allows for accurate detection of the organism, plus additional insight into disease epidemiology. Areas covered.

CD4+ cell-derived interleukin-17 in a model of dysregulated, Borrelia-induced arthritis.

Lyme borreliosis, which is caused in the United States by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, may manifest as different arrays of signs, symptoms and severities between infected individuals. Recent studies have indicated that particularly severe forms of Lyme borreliosis in humans are associated with an increased Th17 response. Here, we hypothesized that a murine model combining the dysregulated immune response of an environment lacking interleukin-10 (IL-10) with a robust T-cell-driven inflammatory response would reflect arthritis associated with the production of IL-17 by CD4+ cells.

Arthritis is developed in Borrelia-primed and -infected mice deficient of interleukin-17.

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) has been shown to participate in the development of Lyme arthritis in experimental mice. For example, neutralization of IL-17 with antibodies inhibits induction of arthritis in Borrelia-primed and -infected C57BL/6 wild-type mice. We hypothesized that mice lacking IL-17 would fail to develop Borrelia-induced arthritis.

Clinical Laboratory Assessment of Mycoplasma genitalium Transcription-Mediated Amplification Using Primary Female Urogenital Specimens.

Following analysis of primary cervix, vagina, and first-void female urine specimens for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis via commercial transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), residual material was subjected to Mycoplasma genitalium research-use-only TMA. Representation within a 2,478-specimen retrospective study set was established by comparison to a 6-month audit of clinical C. trachomatis TMA (12,999 specimens) on the basis of the C.

Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium from male primary urine specimens: an epidemiologic dichotomy with Trichomonas vaginalis.

A total of 2750 male urines subjected to a transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)-based Mycoplasma genitalium assay yielded 188 positive results (6.84%). This rate was similar to Chlamydia trachomatis (6.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) inhibits Borrelia burgdorferi-induced IL-17 production and attenuates IL-17-mediated Lyme arthritis.

Previous studies have shown that cells and cytokines associated with interleukin-17 (IL-17)-driven inflammation are involved in the arthritic response to Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Here, we report that IL-17 is a contributing factor in the development of Lyme arthritis and show that its production and histopathological effects are regulated by interleukin-10 (IL-10). Spleen cells obtained from B.

Insights into trichomoniasis as a result of highly sensitive molecular diagnostics screening in a high-prevalence sexually transmitted infection community.

We briefly examine the clinical significance and pathogenesis of Trichomonas vaginalis and provide a comprehensive summary of non-molecular and molecular diagnostics for the organism. Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) identifies more cases of trichomoniasis than other detection modalities. In our high-prevalence sexually transmitted infection community, TMA has allowed us to investigate female and male trichomoniasis epidemiology.

Retrospective assessment of transcription-mediated amplification-based screening for Trichomonas vaginalis in male sexually transmitted infection clinic patients.

Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) enhances detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis from rectal and pharyngeal sources. The utility of TMA for detection of Trichomonas vaginalis has recently been described. We report on the performance of TMA for detection of sexually transmitted infection (STI) agents from extraurogenital sources, with a focus on T.

Assessment of screening practices in a subacute clinical setting following introduction of Trichomonas vaginalis nucleic acid amplification testing.

Objective: Trichomonas vaginalis analyte-specific reagent is a highly sensitive assay for T vaginalis detection. We report how this diagnostic innovation influenced the sexually transmitted infection ordering practice patterns of 20 subacute-care clinicians.

Methods: T vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and/or Chlamydia trachomatis screening data were audited on female swab submissions when only wet mount testing was available for detection of T vaginalis (2004-2007) and when T vaginalis detection options included analyte-specific reagent and wet mount (2008-2010).

Screening of male patients for Trichomonas vaginalis with transcription-mediated amplification in a community with a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infection.

Trichomonas vaginalis infection in males has been largely uncharacterized. Past reports indicated increased susceptibility to other sexually transmitted infection (STI) agents such as human immunodeficiency virus and Neisseria gonorrhoeae with concurrent T. vaginalis infection.

Hamster and murine models of severe destructive Lyme arthritis.

Arthritis is a frequent complication of infection in humans with Borrelia burgdorferi. Weeks to months following the onset of Lyme borreliosis, a histopathological reaction characteristic of synovitis including bone, joint, muscle, or tendon pain may occur. A subpopulation of patients may progress to a chronic, debilitating arthritis months to years after infection which has been classified as severe destructive Lyme arthritis.

Interleukin-35 enhances Lyme arthritis in Borrelia-vaccinated and -infected mice.

Interleukin-35 (IL-35) has been reported to inhibit the production of interleukin-17 (IL-17) as a means of preventing arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. We previously showed that treatment of Borrelia-vaccinated and -infected mice with anti-IL-17 antibody at the time of infection prevented the development of arthritis. The anti-IL-17 antibody-treated mice lacked the extensive tissue damage, such as bone and cartilage erosion, that occurred in the tibiotarsal joints of untreated Borrelia-vaccinated and -infected control mice.

Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 surrogate organisms to evaluate beef carcass intervention treatment efficacy.

We compared the survival of potential pathogen surrogates-meat-hygiene indicators (non-Escherichia coli coliforms), biotype I E. coli, and lactic acid bacteria starter cultures-with survival of an E. coli O157:H7 (ECO157:H7) inoculum in beef carcass intervention trials.

Trichomonas vaginalis transcription-mediated amplification-based analyte-specific reagent and alternative target testing of primary clinical vaginal saline suspensions.

Following wet mount analysis, 255 vaginal saline suspensions were aliquoted to lysis medium for transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)-based Trichomonas vaginalis analyte-specific reagent testing (ASR) (Gen-Probe, San Diego, CA). Specimens with visible T. vaginalis were then refrigerated, with additional aliquoting at later intervals.

Significant differences between the Borrelia-infection and Borrelia-vaccination and -infection models of Lyme arthritis in C3H/HeN mice.

The immunological events leading to the development of Lyme arthritis in humans are partially understood. Much of this information has been gained by studying the course of infection of naïve or vaccinated mice with Borrelia burgdorferi. However, the Borrelia-vaccination and -infection model has not been described using the organismal parameters commonly used in the widely accepted Borrelia-infection model.

One-year duration of immunity induced by vaccination with a canine Lyme disease bacterin.

Laboratory-reared beagles were vaccinated with a placebo or a bacterin comprised of Borrelia burgdorferi S-1-10 and ospA-negative/ospB-negative B. burgdorferi 50772 and challenged after 1 year with B. burgdorferi-infected Ixodes scapularis ticks.

Cost-effective modification of a commercial PCR assay for detection of methicillin-resistant or -susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in positive blood cultures.

Real-time detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) in cases of clinical bacteremia may promote appropriate antimicrobial therapy and infection control. Expense inherent to molecular diagnostics may prevent laboratories from utilizing real-time PCR for this purpose.

Efficacy of bilateral bronchoalveolar lavage for diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common nosocomial infection causing significant morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy of bilateral versus unilateral bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for the detection of the causative bacterial agents of VAP. We retrospectively studied the quantitative bacterial cultures of 399 BAL sample pairs collected from 287 mechanically ventilated patients over a 5-year period at a U.

Human Lyme disease vaccines: past and future concerns.

The development of a vaccine for Lyme disease was intensely pursued in the 1990s. However, citing a lack of demand, the first human Lyme disease vaccine was withdrawn from the market less than 5 years after its approval. The public's concerns about the vaccine's safety also likely contributed to the withdrawal of the vaccine.

Cost-effective frozen master mix modification of a commercial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus PCR assay.

The expense inherent to molecular diagnostics may be an overriding concern for a variety of clinical laboratories in the development of PCR-based methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) active surveillance programs. BD GeneOhm MRSA assay master mix was reconstituted, aliquoted into SmartCycler tubes in 25-microl volumes, and frozen at -70 degrees C. One hundred percent of archival nasal swab lysates yielded the expected PCR results when incubated in master mix frozen for 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks.

Bacterin that induces anti-OspA and anti-OspC borreliacidal antibodies provides a high level of protection against canine Lyme disease.

Groups of 15 laboratory-bred beagles were vaccinated and boosted with either a placebo or adjuvanted bivalent bacterin comprised of a traditional Borrelia burgdorferi strain and a unique ospA- and ospB-negative B. burgdorferi strain that expressed high levels of OspC and then challenged with B. burgdorferi-infected Ixodes scapularis ticks.