The Contribution of Serum Sialic Acid Binding Immunoglobulin-Like Lectin 1(sSIGLEC-1) as an IFN I Signature Biomarker in the Progression of Atherosclerosis in Egyptian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Patients

Clinical symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), such as atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases, are caused by inflammatory cytokines and endothelial cell damage. The serum sialic acid binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 1 (sSIGLEC-1) is thought to be an alternative biomarker of IFN signature and may have a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to measure the levels of sSIGLEC-1 in the serum of SLE patients in comparison to a control group and examine the associations between sSIGLEC-1, SLEDAI, lipid profile, oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) to investigate whether sSIGLEC-1 participates in the development of atherosclerosis. sSIGLEC-1 levels were tested in 53 patients and 20 volunteers using ELISA kit. Duplex measurements were performed on all subjects to measure CIMT. SLE patients had significantly higher values of sSIGLEC-1 (P < 0.0001), total cholesterol (P = 0.029), triglycerides (P = 0.001), low density lipoprotein (P = 0.032), oxLDL (P = 0.001), right CIMT (P = 0.0099) and a significantly lower value of high-density lipoprotein (P = 0.04) when compared to controls. sSIGLEC-1 had significant positive correlations with right CIMT (r = 0.5, P < 0.0002) and oxLDL (r = 0.67, P < 0.0001) in all SLE patients. When compared to non-dyslipidemic patients, the dyslipidemic group exhibited significantly higher levels of all previous parameters except HDL and left CIMT. Circulating form of SIGLEC-1 accelerates atherosclerosis and provides a simple way to predict the occurrence of atherosclerosis in SLE patients.

Bee venom as an alternative for antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus infections

The misuse of antibiotics has led to antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, making it even harder to combat and eliminate their infections. Staphylococcus aureus causes various adverse infections and diseases, including skin abscesses, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and joint infections. In this study, we aimed to test the cytotoxic and antibacterial effects of bee venom-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (BV-loaded CS-NPs) in comparison to gamma-irradiated BV and native BV from Apis mellifera. The physiochemical characterizations of our treatments were determined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), zeta-potential, release rate, and Encapsulation Efficiency (EE). Our study was conducted on both levels, in-vitro and in-vivo. For the in-vitro study, a bacterial model of Staphylococcus aureus with an ATCC number of 6538 was grown in tryptic soy agar (TSA) medium, and the inhibition zones of our drug candidates were measured with the appropriate statistical analysis performed. For the in-vivo study, levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Creatinine, Urea, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were analyzed. BV-loaded CS-NPs showed relatively better results than the other alternatives, which are native BV and gamma-irradiated BV. The results showed that the antibacterial effect of BV-loaded CS-NPs was greater than the alternatives. Furthermore, its cytotoxic effect was far less than the native and irradiated bee venom. These outcomes ensure that loading BV on CS-NPs makes it a promising drug candidate for an antibiotic alternative with minimal cytotoxicity and enhanced antibacterial activity.

The immunomodulatory activity of secnidazole-nitazoxanide in a murine cryptosporidiosis model

Introduction. Cryptosporidium parvum causes intestinal parasitic infections affecting both immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals.Gap statement. Given the absence of effective treatments for cryptosporidiosis, especially in immunodeficient patients, the present study was designed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of secnidazole (SEC) and its combination with nitazoxanide (NTZ) in comparison to single NTZ treatment in relation to the immune status of a murine model of C. parvum infection.Methodology. The infected groups were administered NTZ, SEC or NTZ-SEC for three or five successive doses. At days 10 and 12 post-infection (p.i.), the mice were sacrificed, and the efficacy of the applied drugs was evaluated by comparing the histopathological alterations in ileum and measuring the T helper Th1 (interferon gamma; IFN-γ), Th2 [interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10] and Th17 (IL-17) cytokine profiles in serum.Results. The NTZ-SEC combination recorded the maximal reduction of C. parvum oocyst shedding, endogenous stages count and intestinal histopathology, regardless of the immune status of the infected mice. The efficacy of NTZ-SEC was dependent on the period of administration, as the 5 day-based treatment protocol was also more effective than the 3 day-based one in terms of immunocompetence and immunosuppression. The present treatment schedule induced an immunomodulatory effect from SEC that developed a protective immune response against C. parvum infection with reduced production of serum IL-17, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10.Conclusions. Application of NTZ-SEC combined therapy may be useful in treatment of C. parvum, especially in cases involving immunosuppression.

Encapsulation of Low Metronidazole Dose in Poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) Nanoparticles Improves Giardia intestinalis Treatment

Background

The present study was designed to investigate the antigiardial efficacy of low metronidazole dose loaded-D.L-lactide-co-glycolide (LMD-PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) and to compare it with the standard high dose of metronidazole either free (HMD) or loaded on PLGA (HMD-PLGA).

Materials and Methods

PLGA NPs were prepared by single emulsification method, metronidazole (MTZ) was loaded in low and high doses. The nanoparticles were evaluated in vivo for mice model. The Giardia intestinalis infected mice were treated by LMD and HMD either free or PLGA NPs loaded, the parasitic load and ployclonal antigiardial serum antibodies (IgG and IgA) were recorded. Histopathological studies on intestinal and liver sections were applied.

Results

MTZ-PLGA NPs was successfully prepared with 81.68% encapsulation efficiency and with an average particle size of approximately 228.00 ± 43.19 nm and -32.28 ± 0.07 mV Zeta potential. Experimentally, it was observed that Giardia intestinalis infected animals administered with LMD-PLGA had completely eliminated cyst shedding and trophozoite count compared with Giardia-infected mice. Further, it was found that animals belonging to LMD-PLGA group had significantly reduced levels of antigiardial IgA (0.99 ± 0.05) antibodies in serum compared with Giardia-infected. Histopathologyically, also animals belonging to LMD-PLGA treated group had intact mucosal epithelium lining, and normal villi with no detection of G. intestinalis trophozoites. In addition to the less toxic effect on the liver tissue compared to free HMD, HMD-PLGA and infected-untreated groups using Ishak grading system.

Conclusion

Our study showed that PLGA nanoparticles could be atrial delivery systems for antigiardial drugs to improve their therapeutic efficacy and minimize their side effects that results from frequent dosing.

Efficacy and safety of arachidonic acid for treatment of Schistosoma mansoni-infected children in Menoufiya, Egypt

Arachidonic acid (ARA), an omega-6 fatty acid, kills juvenile and adult schistosomes in vitro and displays highly significant and safe therapeutic effects in mice and hamsters infected with Schistosoma mansoni or S. haematobium. This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of ARA in treatment of school-age children infected with S. mansoni. In total, 66 S. mansoni-infected schoolchildren (20-23 children/study arm) received a single dose of 40 mg/kg praziquantel (PZQ), ARA (10 mg/kg per day for 15 days), or PZQ combined with ARA. The children were examined before and after treatment for worm egg counts in stool and blood biochemical and immunological parameters. ARA proved to be as efficacious as PZQ in treatment of schoolchildren with low infection intensity (78% and 85% cure rates, respectively). For moderate-intensity infection, the ARA and PZQ combination led to 100% cure rate. Biochemical, hematological, and immunological parameters were either unchanged or ameliorated after ARA therapy.

Evaluation of Schistosoma haematobium 27-29 kDa antigen for immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis haematobium

The study demonstrated the immunodiagnostic potential of differrent Egyptian human Schistosoma haematobium antigens. ELISA was used to measure the levels of total immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgG4 antibodies (Abs) against S. haematobium adult worm antigens (Ags) (SAWA), excretory/secretory Ags (E/S) and cysteine proteinase Ag (27-29 kDa) for diagnosis of schistosomiasis. SDS-PAGE profiles of S. haematobium Ags showed several bands for SAWA, E/S and 27-29 kDa Ags which are characteristic of infections with Schistosoma spp. Purified protein fraction showed a single homogenous band of 27-29 kDa. For summarizing the potency of S. haematobium Ags, sensitivety rate, negative predictive value and diagnostic efficacy were calculated between data of 40 human patients in ELISA. SAWA Ag recorded 85.0 %, 77%, 90.0% with total IgG & 90.0 %, 83% and 93.3% with IgG4 isotype, respectively. While, E/S recorded 87.5%, 80%, 92.0% with total IgG and 92.5%, 87%, 95.0% with IgG4 isotype, respectively. Purified 27-29 kDa Ag presents the higher significant (P<0.01) results recording 90.0%, 83%, 93.3% with total IgG and 97.5%, 95%, 98.3% with IgG4 isotype, respectively. The results proved that combining the detection of IgG4 isotype using the 27-29 kDa Ag in sera of schistosomiasis haematobium patients in ELISA test could represent an effective immunodiagnostic tool for detecting infection in low worm burden population. This test could be useful in sero-epidemiolocal studies in low endemic areas and in diagnosis of infection in travelers to schistosomiasis endemic areas.

Evaluation of the diagnostic potential of different immunological techniques using polyclonal antibodies against Fasciola gigantica excretory/secretory antigens in sheep

The early detection of Fasciola antigens (Ags) in serum or stool could be more valuable in diagnosis as early treatment would be applied before irreparable damage occurs. In this study, fresh adult Fasciola gigantica (F. gigantica) worms were cultivated for 16 hrs. Excretory/secretory (E/S) Ags were extracted from the culturemedium and used to raise rabbit antibodies (Abs) to Fasciola. The purified Abs were then used in sandwich ELISA (S-ELISA) to detect Fasciola Ags in serum and stool samples from a total of 152 sheep, and sandwich-Dot-ELISA (S-D-ELISA) for the serum samples. Gross inspection of liver for flukes or other parasites was performed and results of parasitological stool examination were recorded. Accordingly, sheep were divided into healthy control group (25 sheep), Fasciola positive group (97 sheep) and other helminthic infection groups (30 sheep). S-ELISA for serum samples showed 91.9% sensitivity and 89% specificity. Fasciola Ags, detected in serum of sheep by S-D-ELISA, showed 97.2% sensitivity and 95% specificity and coproantigens detected by S-ELISA, showed 95.8% sensitivity and 92.7% specificity. Although, the specificity of stool examination was higher than that recorded for serum, the sensitivity of ELISA techniques to diagnose Fasciola Ags was higher than that recorded for parasitological examination. It is concluded that, S-D-ELISA has better sensitivity and specificity than S-ELISA for both stool and serum, and may prove useful for field applications.

Effect of mouse strain on humoral responses to Schistosoma mansoni irradiated cercariae vaccine

In murine schistosomiasis, the highest level of resistance to cercarial challenge is obtained by vaccination with radiation-attenuated (RA) cercariae. To identify candidate vaccine antigens relevant to the vaccine model, we examined by ELISA and Western blot parasite antigens recognized by antibodies from mice vaccinated with Schistosoma mansoni RA cercariae. To optimize recognition, several factors that may influence protection level in this model were assessed; specifically, we examined the effect of (i) single versus double vaccinations with RA cercariae, and (ii) the genetic background of mouse strains, high-responder versus moderate responder. We found that the number of vaccinations alters antibody specificity and modifies relative antibody titers against particular tegumental antigens. RA cercariae vaccine appeared to be immunogenic against supernatant 2 (Sup.2) and surface membrane pellet (SMP) tegumental target antigens in different mouse strains. However, the immunogenicity against Sup.2 was higher than that against SMP, moreover, general increase in antibody response with boosts. Also, the present study aims to provide information on the molecules recognized by RA cercariae vaccine sera derived from different inbred mice, several bands in Sup.2 immunoblots were recognized with variations in the number and pattern of bands observed. In conclusion, RA vaccine is effective vaccine against schistosomiasis.