Search results for "Parasitic infections"
showing 7 items of 7 documents
Differential Expression of the Aspergillus fumigatus pksP Gene Detected In Vitro and In Vivo with Green Fluorescent Protein
2001
ABSTRACT Aspergillus fumigatus is an important pathogen of immunocompromised hosts, causing pneumonia and invasive disseminated disease with high mortality. To be able to analyze the expression of putative virulence-associated genes of A. fumigatus , the use of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) as a reporter was established. Two 5′ sequences, containing the putative promoters of the pyrG gene, encoding orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase, and the pksP gene, encoding a polyketide synthase involved in both pigment biosynthesis and virulence of A. fumigatus , were fused with the egfp gene. The P pksP - egfp construct was integrated via homologous recombination into the genomic pks…
The Cell Wall-Associated Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase of Candida albicans Is Also a Fibronectin and Laminin Binding Protein
1998
ABSTRACT By immunoelectron microscopy with a polyclonal antibody against the cytosolic glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) from Candida albicans (anti-GAPDH PAb), the protein was clearly detected at the outer surface of the cell wall, particularly on blastoconidia, as well as in the cytoplasm. Intact blastoconidia were able to adhere to fibronectin and laminin immobilized on microtiter plates, and this adhesion was markedly reduced by both the anti-GAPDH PAb and soluble GAPDH from Saccharomyces cerevisiae . In addition, semiquantitative flow cytometry analysis with the anti-GAPDH PAb showed a decrease in antibody binding to cells in the presence of soluble fib…
Interaction of Human Phagocytes with Pigmentless Aspergillus Conidia
2000
ABSTRACT A defect in the pksP gene of Aspergillus fumigatus is associated with the loss of conidial pigmentation, a profound change of the conidial surface structure, and reduced virulence. The structural change of the conidial surface structure was not observed in similar A. nidulans wA mutants. Our data indicate that the pigment of both species is important for scavenging reactive oxygen species and for protection of conidia against oxidative damage.
Killed Candida albicans yeasts and hyphae inhibit gamma interferon release by murine natural killer cells.
2006
ABSTRACT Killed yeasts and hyphae of Candida albicans inhibit gamma interferon secretion by highly purified murine NK cells in response to the Toll-like receptor ligands lipopolysaccharide and zymosan. This effect, which is also observed in the presence of NK-activating cytokines (interleukin-2 [IL-2], IL-12, and IL-15), may represent a novel mechanism of immune evasion that contributes to the virulence of C. albicans .
Italian multicentre study found infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases in children adopted from Africa and recommends prompt medical screening
2018
AIM This study evaluated the prevalence of infectious diseases and immunisation status of children adopted from Africa. METHODS We studied 762 African children referred to 11 Italian paediatric centres in 2009-2015. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected and analysed. RESULTS The median age of the children (60.3% males) was 3 years and 6 months, 52.6% came from Ethiopia and 50.1% had at least one infectious disease. Parasitic infections accounted for the majority of the infectious diseases (409 of 715), and the most common were Giardia lamblia (n = 239), Toxocara canis (n = 65) and skin infections (n = 205), notably Tinea capitis/corporis (n = 134) and Molluscum contagi…
Use of a Genetically Engineered Strain To Evaluate the Pathogenic Potential of Yeast Cell and Filamentous Forms duringCandida albicansSystemic Infect…
2007
ABSTRACTThe pathogenesis ofCandida albicanssystemic infection is complex and results from the balance between its intrinsic virulence attributes and the host immune responses. Morphogenetic transitions between yeast cell and filamentous forms are considered one of the main virulence attributes inC. albicans. We have examined the pathogenesis of a genetically engineeredC. albicansstrain in which morphogenetic conversions can be externally manipulated in immunodeficient mice; these included B-cell deficient, nude (T cell deficient), SCID (lacking both functional T and B cells), and DBA/2N (C5 deficient with impaired neutrophil activity) mice. We also tested mice severely immunosuppressed by c…
Plasmodium falciparumMalaria: Reduction of Endothelial Cell Apoptosis In Vitro
2005
ABSTRACTOrgan failure inPlasmodium falciparummalaria is associated with neutrophil activation and endothelial damage. This study investigates whether neutrophil-induced endothelial damage involves apoptosis and whether it can be prevented by neutralization of neutrophil secretory products. Endothelial cells from human umbilical veins were coincubated with neutrophils from healthy donors and with sera from eight patients withP. falciparummalaria, three patients withP. vivaxmalaria, and three healthy controls. Endothelial apoptosis was demonstrated by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and annexin V staining. The rate of apoptosis of cells was …