Protective immunity induced in mice by F8.1 and F8.2 antigens purified from Schistosoma mansoni eggs

Adult Brugia malayi mitochondrial and nuclear fractions impart Th1-associated sizeable protection against infective larval challenges in Mastomys coucha

Protective immunity to the subperiodic human filariid,Brugia malayi, was explored in the rodent host,Mastomys couchaafter vaccination with subcellular fractions derived from the adult stage of the parasite. The highest level of protection was conferred in animals vaccinated with the ‘mitochondria rich’ (MT) fraction, in which microfilaraemia and worm burden were markedly reduced by 67.2 and 65.9%, respectively, followed by the ‘nucleus rich’ (NR) fraction, showing reductions of 62 and 52.3%, respectively, over the non-immunized control group. Mastomys vaccinated with MT and NR, displayed a significant increase in the level of antigen-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG). The levels of IgG2a, IgG2b and IgM antibody isotypes were remarkably elevated in both the MT and NR immunized groups, while IgG1 and IgG3 levels were low. Apart from antibodies, both these fractions also led to marked antigen-specific lymphoproliferationin vitro, along with enhanced release of nitric oxide by peritoneal macrophages. There was an increased population of CD4+ and CD8a+T-cells in MT immunized animals, as measured by flow cytometry, accompanied by elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines; interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the culture supernatants of the activated splenocytes. The results suggest that both NR and MT contain proinflammatory molecules which evoke a protective Th1 type of immune response.

The immunology of Propionibacterium acnes and acne

The majority of recent publications on the immunology of Propionibacterium acnes relate to the potential use of the bacterium as an adjuvant or its use in rodent models of human inflammatory disease. These studies have increased the understanding of the potential effects of Propionibacterium acnes on cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Research into the immunology of acne and the role that Propionibacterium acnes plays in inflammatory acne has been limited, with efforts being focussed on the problems of Propionibacterium acnes resistance to antibiotics. Recent studies have indicated that inflammatory acne is a T cell-mediated disease, but whether Propionibacterium acnes is the initial stimulus for either the specific or non-specific recruitment of T cells in acne lesions is still a matter for conjecture.