ISSN 2756-3375
Research Article
African Journal of Immunology Research Vol. 2 (2) pp. 091-096, February, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Data Exchange of internet resources on immunological interest
*Atal E. Mittal, Shyamal V. Raj and Jagjivan R. Kumar
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
Email: [email protected]
Accepted 17 January, 2015
Abstract
Human genome project produce vast quantities of data with new sequences being added to Deoxy ribonucleic acid (DNA) databases on an average of once a minute. It is expected that over 1,000 genome will be sequenced within the next 5 to 10 years. Internet access has turned into an important part of any biological study. The extensive range of information available on the internet can save individual researcher time and energy. Detailed genomic map, abstracts, research paper and many large public databases are reachable in real time through internet. Internet is a highly useful information source as well as electronic highway to accomplish up to date knowledge in the field of research. Although multitude of data is available, research community may face insurmountable obstacle while searching information about his research work. This article is platform to assist the immunologist or biologist to get information at glance.
Key words: Databases, Internet, Immunology, web resources, data mining.
Shyamal V. Raj and Jagjivan R. Kumar, *Atal E. Mittal
Page: 91 - 96
Research Article
African Journal of Immunology Research Vol. 2 (2) pp. 086-090, February, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Classification of the CagM's position in cytomembrane of
Helicobacter pylori
*Huang J. Quing, Sudono E. Heng and Guan Den-yih
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 3 January, 2015
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori infect nearly half of the world’s population and are associated with a spectrum of gastric maladies. The cytotoxin-associated gene pathogenicity island (cag PAI) encoding a type IV secretion system (T4SS) has been implicated in a series of host responses during infection. The cag PAI contains about 28 - 30 open-reading frames, for most of which the exact function is not well characterized or totally unknown and a delivered effector, CagA that becomes tyrosine phosphorylated upon delivery into host cells and initiates the changes in cell signaling. Here, we cloned one such cag PAI protein, CagM, which is encoded by the gene HP0537 from H. pylori strain 26695 and expressed the gene in Escherichia coli M15. 6xHis-tagged CagM protein was purified with one-step Ni-NTA affinity column chromatography. The IgG antibody against CagM was produced by immuning rabbit and purified by protein A sepharose chromatography, finally, we showed that CagM protein localized to the bacterial inner and outer membrane and the conclusion was consistent to some bioinformatics result.
Key words: Helicobacter pylori, CagM, type IV secretion system, expression, fractionation.
Sudono E. Heng and Guan Den-yih, *Huang J. Quing
Page: 86 - 90
Research Article
Full Length Research Paper
Nicotine decreased articulation of fibronectin in infant lung parenchyma
*Ruhollah Ali Jobrani, Mohammed Farahani and Rudi E. Yonan
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Payame Noor University, Iran.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 23 December, 2014
Abstract
Smoking during pregnancy may impair pulmonary function in infants and children. Nicotine is one of the chemical substances with high level of toxicity. It crosses the placenta and accumulates in the developing organs of fetus. Previous investigations indicated that maternal nicotine exposure induces abnormal collagen IV expression and causes defects in bronchopulmonary development. In this study, the effect of maternal nicotine exposure on fibronectin expression in the lungs of newborn mice has been evaluated. Female Balb/C mice were mated and positivity in vaginal plug was designated as day 0 of pregnancy. Pregnant mice were divided into 2 experimental and 2 control groups. The experimental group 1 received 3 mg/kg intra peritoneal (IP) nicotine from day 7 of gestation to the last day of pregnancy. Also, the same amount of nicotine was injected into experimental group 2 during the same gestational days as well as day 14 after birth (lactation). However, control groups received the same volume of normal saline during the same periods. At the end of exposure times, all of newborns were anesthetized and their lungs removed for Immunohistochemical method and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Our finding indicated that fibronectin mRNA expression in the lung of newborn during gestation and lactation period was decreased by 0.7-and 1-fold, respectively compared with control groups. Fibronectin immunoreactivity intensity was not similar in the different parts of the lungs including alveoli, bronchiole and small vessels, having a significant decrease in immunoreactivity of the experimental groups in contrast with the control groups. These data also indicate that maternal nicotine exposure may induce abnormal fibronectin expression which may cause defects in lung function during life time.
Key words: Fibronectin, lung, mouse, nicotine.
Mohammed Farahani and Rudi E. Yonan, *Ruhollah Ali Jobrani
Page: 81 - 85
Research Article
African Journal of Immunology Research Vol. 2 (1) pp. 076-080, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Metallo-β-lactamases producers among carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains secluded from diabetic foot ulcers
Abdel Pasha Gamal
Department of Tropical Medicine, Internal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Email: [email protected]
Accepted 17 December, 2014
Abstract
The aim of this work was to detect the prevalence of metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) producers among carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from diabetic foot ulcers. Out of 290 samples of diabetic foot ulcers, 99 strains of A. baumannii (33%) were isolated and identified by conventional culture methods. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolated A. baumanni strains was done by disc diffusion method. For A. baumanni strains that was resistant to imipenem and meropenem, MBL production was screened by potentiated disc test and confirmed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction for blaIMP and blaVIM genes. Out of 99 strains of A. baumannii, 26 (26%) were found resistant to imipenem and/or meropenem. Of these 26 carpabenem resistant A. baumannii strains 9 (34.61%) were positive for MBL by potentiated disc test, and 6 strains (23.07%) were positive for blaVIM or blaIMP by multiplex PCR; where blaVIM gene was detected in 4 strains (15.38%) and blaIMP was detected in 2 strains (7.69%). The antimicrobial susceptibility profile for the isolated A. baumanni strains showed that the highest sensitivity was to meropenem (74.4%), imepenem (76.55%), amikacin (65%) and the lowest sensitivity was to ceftazidime (11%) and ciprofloxacin (12%). Rapid dissemination of carbapenem-resistant isolates in diabetic foot ulcers is worrisome and calls for judicious use of antibiotics. bla VIM and blaIMP genes have a role in carbapenem-resistant in the community. More studies are needed to differentiate MBL from non-metalloenzymes producers.
Key words: Diabetic foot, A. baumanni, metallo-β-lactamases.
Abdel Pasha Gamal
Page: 76 - 80
Research Article
African Journal of Immunology Research Vol. 2 (1) pp. 071-075, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Vaginal colonization and resistance profile of group B Streptococcus among pregnant women in Yaoundé Gynecology, Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital in Cameroon
*Paul E. Ahidjo, Sadou E. Yang, Ephraim Achidi*, Bello Musonge and Luc Inoni
Department of Microbiology, Virology, Immunology, Parasitology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical
Science, Université des Montagnes, Bangangté, Cameroon.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 10 December, 2014
Abstract
In order to obtain reliable data on vaginal carriage of Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant women and to formulate a prevention program of neonatal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease, we carried out a prospective cross sectional study for 6 months. The general objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of vaginal carriage and the resistance profile of GBS. The study involved 142 pregnant women presenting for antenatal care in Yaoundé Gynecology-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH). Participants were interviewed using a standard structure questionnaire. Low vaginal swabs were collected and cultured on specific media. A presumptive identification of isolates was made using standard bacteriological methods. Confirmative identification of Group B Streptococcus was done and antimicrobial sensitivity testing was performed. Among the 142 pregnant women GBS colonization was confirmed in 11 (7.7%). The rate of carriage was 3.8% in the first trimester, 7% in the second trimester and 11.1% in the third trimester. The predominant germ was Candida albicans with a frequency of 45.2% among the germs found in monomicrobial culture and Gardnerella vaginalis (77.8%) among the germs in polymicrobial culture, followed by Candida spp (11.8%), S. agalactiae (8.6%) and Escherichia coli (4.3%). The result of antimicrobial sensitivity testing showed that all the GBS strains were sensitive to major antibiotics drugs tested. The highest rates of resistance were found with gentamycin (100%) and Cefuroxim (81.8%). The vaginal carriage of GBS among pregnant women is still high. Thus, well-planned, prospective studies will be necessary to fully appreciate the magnitude of the problem of GBS in our hospitals.
Key words: Group B Streptococcus, neonatal infections, antibiotic, low vaginal swabs.
Sadou E. Yang, Ephraim Achidi*, Paul E. Ahidjo, Bello Musonge and Luc Inoni
Page: 71 - 75
Research Article
African Journal of Immunology Research Vol. 2 (1) pp. 062-070, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Substance composition and immunological activities of polysaccharides isolated from the malian medicinal plant Syzygium guineense
Edvard I. Nansen
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Email: [email protected]
Accepted 02 December, 2014
Abstract
In Mali and other West African countries, the leaves of the tree Syzygium guineense are utilized in the traditional medicine against various ailments such as wound healing, ulcers, diarrhoea, rheumatism and infections. The immune modulating activity may in part be conferred by pectic polysaccharides, which is a major constituent of the plant cell wall. Previous studies on pectic polysaccharides from the leaves of Malian medicinal trees have shown that they posses several immunological activities. In the present study, we have isolated and characterised two immunologically active polysaccharide fractions from the leaves of S. guineense. One of the fractions contained an arabinogalactan type II polysaccharide, called Sg50A1, while the other polysaccharide fraction was a mixture of oligosaccharides of the pectic type, called Sg50A2. Both polysaccharides had high complement fixing ability, as well as the ability to stimulate nitric oxide release from macrophages, up-regulation of CD86 on dendritic cells, and proliferation of B cells. Sg50A1 and Sg50A2 also stimulated the secretion of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines from both B cells and dendritic cells. Collectively, these results indicate that the presence of arabinogalactan structures within the polysaccharides is important for immunological activity and that plant-derived polysaccharides may be able to influence inflammatory processes.
Key words: Pectic polysaccharides, arabinogalactan, Syzygium guineense, immunomodulation.
Edvard I. Nansen
Page: 62 - 70