Correlation between PFGE Groups and mrp/epf/sly Genotypes of Human Streptococcus suis Serotype 2 in Northern Thailand.

Streptococcus suis infection is a severe zoonotic disease commonly found in Northern Thailand where people often consume raw pork and/or pig's blood. The most frequent clinical presentations are meningitis, sepsis, and endocarditis with higher rate of mortality and hearing loss sequelae. To clarify the correlation between pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) groups and mrp/epf/sly genotypes of S.

Comparative in silico analysis of two vaccine candidates for group A streptococcus predicts that they both may have similar safety profiles.

Concerns of immune cross-reactivity, between epitopes of the group A streptococcal (GAS) M-proteins and host proteins have hindered the progress of an effective GAS vaccine. An ideal M-protein based subunit vaccine should not elicit heart tissue cross-reactive antibody responses and should not activate M-protein specific CD4+ T-cells. In the current study we used a bioinformatic and immunoinformatic approach to assess the safety of J8 and J14, chimeric vaccine constructs containing a GAS derived M-protein epitope embedded in flanking GCN4 region.

Bactericidal activity of M protein conserved region antibodies against group A streptococcal isolates from the Northern Thai population.

Background: Most group A streptococcal (GAS) vaccine strategies have focused on the surface M protein, a major virulence factor of GAS. The amino-terminus of the M protein elicits antibodies, that are both opsonic and protective, but which are type specific. J14, a chimeric peptide that contains 14 amino acids from the M protein conserved C-region at the carboxy-terminus, offers the possibility of a vaccine which will elicit protective opsonic antibodies against multiple different GAS strains.

M protein typing of Thai group A streptococcal isolates by PCR-Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Background: Group A streptococcal (GAS) infections can lead to the development of severe post-infectious sequelae, such as rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). RF and RHD are a major health concern in developing countries, and in indigenous populations of developed nations. The majority of GAS isolates are M protein-nontypeable (MNT) by standard serotyping.

Chinese herbal recipe versus diclofenac in symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN70292892].

Background: Duhuo Jisheng Wan (DJW) is perhaps the best known and most widely used Chinese herbal recipe for arthralgia, but the clinical study to verify its efficacy is lacking. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of DJW versus diclofenac in symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

Methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, controlled trial.

Protection against group A streptococcus by immunization with J8-diphtheria toxoid: contribution of J8- and diphtheria toxoid-specific antibodies to protection.

A conformationally constrained, minimally conserved peptide from the M protein of group A streptococcus (GAS) has been defined. It consists of 12 amino acids from the C-repeat region within a non-M protein helix-forming sequence and is referred to as "J8." Here, we investigate the immunogenicity of a J8-diphtheria toxoid (DT) conjugate adjuvanted with the human-compatible adjuvants, SBAS2 and alum, and demonstrate that it is capable of inducing opsonic antibodies and can protect outbred mice from virulent challenge.

Identification of bacteria in acute endodontic infections and their antimicrobial susceptibility.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to identify the bacterial composition of the microbiota from acute endodontic abscesses/cellulitis and their antimicrobial susceptibilities.

Study Design: Purulence from 17 patients with acute endodontic abscesses/cellulitis was obtained by needle aspiration and processed under anaerobic conditions. Bacteria were isolated and identified by biochemical or molecular methods.