Context Sperm immobilization factor (SIF) isolated from Staphylococcus aureus has been implicated earlier in the laboratory in infertility due to its negative impact on sperm function. Moreover, SIF was found to bind not only to human and mouse spermatozoa but also to several bacteria. Among the array of bacteria, we selected Shigella flexneri to investigate if it shares antigenic determinants with spermatozoa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn an age of cutting-edge sequencing methods and worldwide endeavors such as The Human Microbiome Project and MetaHIT, the human microbiome stands as a complex and diverse community of microorganisms. A central theme in current scientific inquiry revolves around reinstating a balanced microbial composition, referred to as "eubiosis," as a targeted approach for treating vast array of diseases. Vaginal Microbiota Transplantation (VMT), inspired by the success of fecal microbiota transplantation, emerges as an innovative therapy addressing vaginal dysbacteriosis by transferring the complete microbiota from a healthy donor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContext: Gynecological disorders represent a complex set of malignancies that result from a diverse array of molecular changes affecting the lives of over a million women worldwide. Ovarian, Endometrial, and Cervical cancers, Endometriosis, PCOS are the most prevalent ones that pose a grave threat to women's health. Proteomics has emerged as an invaluable tool for developing novel biomarkers, screening methods, and targeted therapeutic agents for gynecological disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study aims to investigate the antigenic cross reactivity between the receptor from Proteus mirabilis and spermatozoa against a common sperm immobilization factor, SIF, by calorimetric and competitive inhibition studies, and the immunogenicity of this receptor to evoke the formation of antisperm antibodies and their subsequent role in fertility outcome. The sperm binding receptor from Proteus mirabilis (PM-SBR) was extracted from ultrasonicated cell debris by treating it for 12 h at 37°C with 1 M NaCl. After being purified by gel permeation chromatography, its molecular weight as determined by SDS-PAGE was observed to be ≈ 47 kDa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Claudin-4, a tight junction associated protein expressed in epithelial cells, is purported as a highly specific and sensitive marker for epithelial malignancies. Our aim was to assess the sensitivity, specificity and real-time utility of claudin-4 immunocytochemistry (ICC) in the diagnostic work-up of suspected malignant effusions.
Methods: Claudin-4 (3E2C1 clone) ICC was performed prospectively in effusion cell blocks where other ICC markers were being performed as part of reporting over 3 months.