Immune Reactivity of Synthetic Peptides Originated from Hypervariable Region 1 of Hepatitis C Synthetic Consensuses with Egyptian Sera Infected with Hepatitis C Virus Type 4

We have studied the immune reactivity of hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) against HCV immune positive and negative sera. Two published HVR1 consensus nucleotide sequences (Italian and Chinese) were synthesized, and with both of them, a splicing by overlap extension polymerase chain reaction, cloning and sequencing were performed. From the corresponding amino acid sequences, 3 Italian and 1 Chinese HVR1 peptides were selected for synthesis. The 4 peptides (MB1-MB4; GenBank No.: HQ846888-HQ846891) were used to screen 47 and 31 HCV (type 4) immune positive and negative sera, respectively, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The 3 Italian HVR1 peptides (MB1, MB2, MB3) showed reactivities of 83, 68 and 76.6%, respectively, while the Chinese HVR1 peptide (MB4) showed a reactivity of 80.8%. Our results supported that the HVR1 is an attractive target for a peptide-based vaccine as it contains neutralizing epitopes, and all of the HCV patients' sera used in this study have anti-HVR1 antibodies. Interestingly, the amino acid sequence of peptide MB1 has a close sequence similarity with the published mimotope R9, and it shows a high ELISA reactivity. So, MB1 could be tested in combination with other HCV-related peptides as a supplemental assay for HCV diagnosis.

Cytokine secretion profile associated with periportal fibrosis in S. mansoni-infected Egyptian patients

Periportal fibrosis (PPF) is a major pathological consequence of S. mansoni infection. Ultrasonography is a well-established tool for diagnosis and grading of schistosomiasis-related pathology. This work is performed to study the effect of schistosomiasis mansoni infection on the cytokine secretion profile in S. mansoni-infected patients at various grades of fibrosis, as determined by ultrasonography using Cairo Working Group classification. The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL5, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha were measured in the absence of in vitro antigen stimulation and after stimulation with worm and egg antigens. Simple intestinal (INT) patients are characterized by strong proliferation to worm antigen and high levels of IL-10 and TNF-alpha compared to patients at various grades of infection. GradeII (GdII)-infected patients are characterized by higher IL-5 production than are patients with other clinical forms of the disease. Sharp reduction of almost all cytokines in response to both worm and egg antigens was detected in GdIII-infected patients. These results stressed the role of both IL-10 and TNF-alpha in the early stages of hepatic fibrosis, while IL-5 could be employed as a potential predictive marker for advanced stages. In conclusion, PPF is associated with cytokine production profiles that vary with the magnitude of the fibrosis.

Circulating adhesion molecules in patients with different clinical forms of S. mansoni infection

Elucidating the mechanisms that regulate the severity of schistosomiasis has been a major research objective over the past several years. In this study, morbidity of S. mansoni infection was assessed using an ultrasonographic staging system of periportal fibrosis of the liver. Sera of S. mansoni infected patients with different clinical forms of the disease were assayed for the presence of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), soluble endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (sE-selectin), leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (sL-selectin) and granule membrane protein-140 (P-selectin). Association between serum levels of adhesion molecules and ultrasonographic data was evaluated. Fifty-one subjects with pure hepatic schistosomiasis having ultrasonographic assessment of periportal fibrosis (PPF) were grouped according to the thickness of their portal tracts: simple intestinal =<3mm, grade I=3-5mm, grade II=>5-7mm and grade III=>7mm. Greater diameter of portal vein and larger spleen size were associated with increasing the thickness of portal tract. All groups had elevated levels of slCAM-1 compared with normal controls. Patients in grade III had significantly higher levels of serum slCAM-1 than those in other grades of infection. The sE- and sL-selectin were comparable in the sera of all patient groups. sP-selectin was significantly elevated in the sera of grade II patients compared with other patients of various clinical groups. Positive correlation was recorded between slCAM-1 level and degree of PPF, but not with other adhesion molecules. These data suggested that, the main criteria of diagnosis of S. mansoni infection using ultrasonography include periportal fibrosis, hypertrophy of left hepatic lobe, widening of the portal veins and splenomegaly. slCAM-1 may participate in the pathology associated with schistosomiasis infection. It could be employed as a potential morbidity marker in schistosomiasis mansoni infection.