Similar antibody concentrations in Filipino infants at age 9 months, after 1 or 3 doses of an adjuvanted, 11-valent pneumoccoccal diphtheria/tetanus-Conjugated Vaccine: a randomized controlled trial

In Filipino infants, 1 dose of an adjuvanted, 11-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (serotypes 1, 4, 5, 7F, 9V, 19F, and 23F conjugated to tetanus protein; and serotypes 3, 6B, 14, and 18C conjugated to diphtheria toxoid) administered alone at age 18 weeks (11PncTD1) elicited similar antibody concentrations at age 9 months as those elicited by 3 doses (11PncTD3) administered concomitantly with national program vaccines, at ages 6, 10, and 14 weeks. Geometric mean antibody concentrations ranged from 0.36 mug/mL ( for serotype 18C) to 5.81 mug/mL (for serotype 4), for the 11PncTD1 vaccine, and from 0.32 mug/mL (for serotype 18C) to 5.01 mug/mL (for serotype 19F), for the 11PncTD3 vaccine. The proportion of infants with threshold antibody concentrations greater than or equal to0.35 mug/mL was also similar (ranges, 55.6%-100% for the 11PncTD1 vaccine and 42.9%-100% for the 11PncTD3 vaccine). The functional activity of antibodies expressed as opsonophagocytic activity titers was similar in the 11PncTD1 and 11PncTD3 groups. This finding is an important one for countries with financial constraints and high pneumococcal disease burden.

Cross-reactivity of GroEL antibodies with human heat shock protein 60 and quantification of pathogens in atherosclerosis

Background/aims: Chronic infections such as those caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae and periodontopathic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis have been associated with atherosclerosis, possibly due to cross-reactivity of the immune response to bacterial GroEL with human heat shock protein (hHSP) 60. Methods: We examined the cross-reactivity of anti-GroEL and anti-P. gingivalis antibodies with hHSP60 in atherosclerosis patients and quantified a panel of six pathogens in atheromas. Results: After absorption of plasma samples with hHSP60, there were variable reductions in the levels of anti-GroEL and anti-P. gingivalis antibodies, suggesting that these antibodies cross-reacted with hHSP60. All of the artery specimens were positive for P. gingivalis. Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, C. pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and Haemophilus influenzae were found in 84%, 48%, 28%, 4%, and 4% of arteries, respectively. The prevalence of the three periodontopathic microorganisms, P. gingivalis, F. nucleatum and T. forsythia, was significantly higher than that of the remaining three microorganisms. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that in some patients, cross-reactivity of the immune response to bacterial HSPs including those of periodontal pathogens, with arterial endothelial cells expressing hHSP60 may be a possible mechanism for the association between atherosclerosis and periodontal infection.

Enrichment, isolation and characterisation of ruminal bacteria that degrade non-protein amino acids from the tropical legume Acacia angustissima

Acacia angustissima has been proposed as a protein supplement in countries where low quality forages predominate. A number of non-protein amino acids have been identified in the leaves of A. angustissima and these have been linked to toxicity in ruminants. The non-protein amino acid 4-n-acetyl-2,4-diaminobutyric acid (ADAB) has been shown to be the major amino acid in the leaves of A. angustissima. The current study aimed to identify micro-organisms from the rumen environment capable of degrading ADAB by using a defined rumen-simulating media with an amino acid extract from A. angustissima. A mixed enrichment culture was obtained that exhibited substantial ADAB-degrading ability. Attempts to isolate an ADAB-degrading micro-organism were carried out, however no isolates were able to degrade ADAB in pure culture. This enrichment culture was also able to degrade the non-protein amino acids diaminobutyric acid (DABA) and diaminopropionic acid (DAPA) which have structural similarities to ADAB. Two isolates were obtained which could degrade DAPA. One isolate is a novel Grain-positive rod (strain LPLR3) which belongs to the Firmicutes and is not closely related to any previously isolated bacterium. The other isolate is strain LPSR1 which belongs to the Gammaproteobacteria and is closely related (99.93% similar) to Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. ozaenae. The studies demonstrate that the rumen is a potential rich source of undiscovered micro-organisms which have novel capacities to degrade plant secondary compounds. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interfaces between cardiovascular and kidney disease among Aboriginal Australians

Rates of kidney disease among several indigenous groups have been shown to be substantially higher than corresponding non-indigenous groups. This excess has been clearly shown among Aboriginal Australians with respect to both end-stage kidney disease and early kidney disease. Rates of cardiovascular disease among Aboriginal Australians are also very high, as are rates of diabetes, smoking, and possibly overweight and obesity. These factors have been traditionally linked with cardiovascular and renal disease as part of a broader metabolic syndrome. However, the links and interfaces between cardiovascular and kidney disease in this environment extend beyond these traditional factors. The factors associated with atherosclerosis have expanded in recent years to include markers of inflammation, some infection, antioxidants, and other non-traditional risk factors. Given the high rates of acute infection and poor living conditions endured by many indigenous people, one might expect these non-traditional risk factors to be highly prevalent. In this review, we explore the relationships between markers of inflammation, some serological markers of infection, and other selected markers and both cardiovascular and renal disease. In doing so, we demonstrate links between kidney and cardiovascular disease at a number of levels, beyond the traditional cardiovascular/renal risk factors. Many of these factors are beyond the control of the individual or even community; addressing these issues a broader focus and biopsychosocial model. (C) 2005 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.

Detection and discrimination of herpes simplex viruses, Haemophilus ducreyi, Treponema pallidum, and Calymmatobacterium (Klebsiella) granulomatis from genital ulcers

Background. Genital ulcer disease (GUD) is commonly caused by pathogens for which suitable therapies exist, but clinical and laboratory diagnoses may be problematic. This collaborative project was undertaken to address the need for a rapid, economical, and sensitive approach to the detection and diagnosis of GUD using noninvasive techniques to sample genital ulcers. Methods. The genital ulcer disease multiplex polymerase chain reaction (GUMP) was developed as an inhouse nucleic acid amplification technique targeting serious causes of GUD, namely, herpes simplex viruses (HSVs), Haemophilus ducreyi, Treponema pallidum, and Klebsiella species. In addition, the GUMP assay included an endogenous internal control. Amplification products from GUMP were detected by enzyme linked amplicon hybridization assay (ELAHA). Results. GUMP-ELAHA was sensitive and specific in detecting a target microbe in 34.3% of specimens, including 1 detection of HSV-1, three detections of HSV-2, and 18 detections of T. pallidum. No H. ducreyi has been detected in Australia since 1998, and none was detected here. No Calymmatobacterium ( Klebsiella) granulomatis was detected in the study, but there were 3 detections during ongoing diagnostic use of GUMP-ELAHA in 2004 and 2005. The presence of C. granulomatis was confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and nucleotide sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for phylogenetic analysis. Conclusions. GUMP-ELAHA permitted comprehensive detection of common and rare causes of GUD and incorporated noninvasive sampling techniques. Data obtained by using GUMP-ELAHA will aid specific treatment of GUD and better define the prevalence of each microbe among at-risk populations with a view to the eradication of chancroid and donovanosis in Australia.