An immunologically cryptic epitope of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein facilitates liver cell recognition and induces protective antibodies that block liver cell invasion.

Circumsporozoite, a predominant surface protein, is involved in invasion of liver cells by Plasmodium sporozoites, which leads to malaria. We have previously reported that the amino terminus region (amino acids 27-117) of P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein plays a critical role in the invasion of liver cells by the parasite.

Psychiatric issues in the management of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Introduction: Psychiatric issues present a challenge in the treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Both baseline psychiatric disorders and development of psychiatric complications related to anti-tuberculosis drugs and psychosocial factors require aggressive management.

Setting: A community-based non-governmental health organization in Lima, Peru.

Induction in humans of CD8+ and CD4+ T cell and antibody responses by sequential immunization with malaria DNA and recombinant protein.

Vaccine-induced protection against diseases like malaria, AIDS, and cancer may require induction of Ag-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell and Ab responses in the same individual. In humans, a recombinant Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) candidate vaccine, RTS,S/adjuvant system number 2A (AS02A), induces T cells and Abs, but no measurable CD8(+) T cells by CTL or short-term (ex vivo) IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays, and partial short-term protection. P.

Discovery of gene function by expression profiling of the malaria parasite life cycle.

The completion of the genome sequence for Plasmodium falciparum, the species responsible for most malaria human deaths, has the potential to reveal hundreds of new drug targets and proteins involved in pathogenesis. However, only approximately 35% of the genes code for proteins with an identifiable function. The absence of routine genetic tools for studying Plasmodium parasites suggests that this number is unlikely to change quickly if conventional serial methods are used to characterize encoded proteins.

[GB virus C: lack of association with transaminases levels, CD4 and HIV viral load in aids patients].

Objective: To study the prevalence of GBV-C-RNA in sera of HIV-infected patients and determine whether differences in immunological condition and hepatic disease exist between GBV-C positive and negative patients.

Methods: The presence of GBV-C-RNA was determined in sera of 222 HIV-positive patients by semi-automated RT-PCR. A comparison of GBV-C-RNA positive and negative patients was made by studying a series of clinical and analytical parameters.

PfSPATR, a Plasmodium falciparum protein containing an altered thrombospondin type I repeat domain is expressed at several stages of the parasite life cycle and is the target of inhibitory antibodies.

The annotated sequence of chromosome 2 of Plasmodium falciparum was examined for genes encoding proteins that may be of interest for vaccine development. We describe here the characterization of a protein with an altered thrombospondin Type I repeat domain (PfSPATR) that is expressed in the sporozoite, asexual, and sexual erythrocytic stages of the parasite life cycle. Immunoelectron microscopy indicated that this protein was expressed on the surface of the sporozoites and around the rhoptries in the asexual erythrocytic stage.

State space neural network. Properties and application.

In this paper, a specific neural network based model for the identification of non-linear systems is proposed. This neural network structure is able to identify a state space non-linear model of the plant. The use of the state space representation presents several advantages that must be taken into account.

Plasmodium vivax promiscuous T-helper epitopes defined and evaluated as linear peptide chimera immunogens.

Clinical trials of malaria vaccines have confirmed that parasite-derived T-cell epitopes are required to elicit consistent and long-lasting immune responses. We report here the identification and functional characterization of six T-cell epitopes that are present in the merozoite surface protein-1 of Plasmodium vivax (PvMSP-1) and bind promiscuously to four different HLA-DRB1* alleles. Each of these peptides induced lymphoproliferative responses in cells from individuals with previous P.

Protection of humans against malaria by immunization with radiation-attenuated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites.

During 1989-1999, 11 volunteers were immunized by the bites of 1001-2927 irradiated mosquitoes harboring infectious sporozoites of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) strain NF54 or clone 3D7/NF54. Ten volunteers were first challenged by the bites of Pf-infected mosquitoes 2-9 weeks after the last immunization, and all were protected. A volunteer challenged 10 weeks after the last immunization was not protected.

Binding and invasion of liver cells by Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites. Essential involvement of the amino terminus of circumsporozoite protein.

Plasmodium sporozoites display circumsporozoite (CS) protein on their surface, which is involved in the attachment of sporozoites to liver cells. CS protein is a member of the thrombospondin type I repeat (TSR) domain family and possess a single copy of TSR domain toward its carboxyl terminus. We show by a direct measurement the correlation between the binding activity of various segments of the CS protein and their ability to inhibit the invasion of liver cells by the sporozoites.

Two-step chromatographic purification of recombinant Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein from Escherichia coli.

The Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite (PfCS) protein (aa 19-405) has been cloned and expressed in E. coli. The protein was purified in a two-step process that was rapid and reproducible.

High-pressure bladder: an underlying factor mediating renal damage in the absence of reflux?

Objective: To assess urodynamic studies of children with nonrefluxing pyelonephritis, investigate the possible connection between renal damage (as approximately 40% of children with febrile urinary tract infections and no evidence of vesico-ureteric reflux have irreversible renal cortical scarring) and lower urinary tract dysfunction, to test the hypothesis that bladders with high storage and voiding pressures may be the cause of renal damage in these patients.

Patients And Methods: The clinical records and urodynamic studies of 52 children (46 girls and six boys, mean age 6.6 years) with febrile urinary infections, no evidence of reflux and photopenic areas on renal scintigraphy were evaluated retrospectively.

Comparison of rizatriptan 10 mg vs. zolmitriptan 2.5 mg in the acute treatment of migraine. Rizatriptan-Zolmitriptan Study Group.

The efficacy and tolerability of rizatriptan (MAXALT) and zolmitriptan (ZOMIG) were compared in a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, stratified (on prior use of rizatriptan and/or zolmitriptan), placebo-controlled, single attack study in 766 patients. Rizatriptan tended to provide freedom from pain sooner than zolmitriptan (hazard ratio 1.26, P = 0.

Interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C patients who have not responded to interferon monotherapy.

Background: The role of combination therapy is poorly defined in chronic hepatitis C patients who are non-responders to interferon.

Aim: To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerance of interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients who do not respond to interferon monotherapy.

Methods: A total of 127 non-responder patients with chronic hepatitis C received 3 mU t.

Long-term re-treatment with interferon and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C who are non-responders to interferon alone: a preliminary study.

We evaluated the efficacy and tolerance of ribavirin and IFN-alpha combination therapy over 12 months in 28 patients who were non-responders to IFN-alpha alone. Of 24 patients who have finished the therapy, 6 (25%) obtained a complete response (normal ALT and negative HCV RNA) at the end of treatment and maintained a sustained response 27% (5/18).

Renal histology in ureteropelvic junction obstruction: are histological changes a consequence of hyperfiltration?

Purpose: There are few reports of pathological kidney findings in ureteropelvic junction obstruction in pediatric patients. The role of hyperfiltration in the genesis and progression of these changes has been a matter of debate. We determine whether segmental sclerosis is evidence of hyperfiltration and renal damage in children who underwent surgery for ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Immunogenicity of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein multiple antigen peptide vaccine formulated with different adjuvants.

Only low antibody levels were obtained from vaccinating human volunteers with single-chain peptide from the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP). This resulted in modest protection against sporozoite challenge. In addition, HLA restriction limits the probability of synthesis of a vaccine effective for a diverse population.

[The efficacy of interferon alfa treatment in chronic hepatitis C in relation to the serum concentration of RNA-HCV and the viral genotype].

Background: To determinate the viral variables (viremia and genotype) and patients variables (route and years of infection, histology, etc) related with response to the treatment with alpha intefferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Subjects And Methods: We have studied 50 patients with chronic hepatitis C that received an intefferon treatment during a year. In all them it was accomplished a hepatic biopsy before of the beginning of treatment and it was studied the viral load by quantitative PCR (Monitor, Roche) at the beginning of treatment, at four weeks and at the end of treatment.

Development of two monoclonal antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface protein 2 and mapping of B-cell epitopes.

The Plasmodium yoelii sporozoite surface protein 2 (PySSP2) is the target of protective cellular immunity. Cytotoxic T cells specific for the Plasmodium falciparum analog PfSSP2, also known as thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP), are induced in human volunteers immunized with irradiated sporozoites. PfSSP2 is an important candidate antigen for a multicomponent malaria vaccine.

Protection against malaria by Plasmodium yoelii sporozoite surface protein 2 linear peptide induction of CD4+ T cell- and IFN-gamma-dependent elimination of infected hepatocytes.

Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface protein 2 (SSP2), also known as TRAP, is included in experimental human malaria vaccines because Plasmodium yoelii SSP2 is the target of protective CD8+ CTL that eliminate P. yoelii-infected hepatocytes in mice. We now report that immunization with a synthetic branched-chain peptide including four copies of a PySSP2 sequence, NPNEPS, and two tetanus toxin T helper epitopes in the adjuvant TiterMax, or with an 18 amino acid peptide (NPNEPS)3 in the adjuvant protects A/J, but not BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice.

Identification and characterization of the protective hepatocyte erythrocyte protein 17 kDa gene of Plasmodium yoelii, homolog of Plasmodium falciparum exported protein 1.

We recently reported the discovery of a 17-kDa Plasmodium yoelii protein expressed in infected hepatocytes and erythrocytes, P. yoelii hepatocyte erythrocyte protein 17 (PyHEP17), and have demonstrated that this protein is a target of protective antibodies and T cells. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the gene encoding this protein and reveal that it is composed of two exons.

[Measurement of total serum IgE by enzyme immunoassay with three commercial reagents].

We measured total serum IgE in 14 patients with allergic diseases and 16 healthy subjects, using three commercial ELISA kits. The correlation of results among the three kits was analyzed using Passing and Bablock regression parameters. Results show that measurements of the different kits do not coincide.

Dietary fish oil and cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase activity in rat liver and kidney.

Lauric acid hydroxylation and aminopyrine N-demethylation were studied in kidney and liver microsomes from rats treated with fish oil. Different doses of fish oil containing 20% eicosapentaenoic acid and 10% docosahexaenoic acid were provided daily to the rats for seven days. In all the groups studied, the lauric acid metabolism was higher in kidney microsomes and the aminopyrine metabolism in the liver microsomes.