Immunogenic and antigenic heterogeneity of Blastocystis sp. subtype 3 from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals

Blastocystis sp. subtype 3 (ST3) has been implicated previously to be phenotypically heterogeneous between isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic persons in previous studies. The aim of this study is to identify the immunogenic and antigenic heterogeneity among three different isolates of Blastocystis sp. ST3 isolated from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. Immunogenic and antigenic profile of ST3 isolates was assessed through splenocyte proliferation, cytokine assessment and antibody measurements. The total IgG antibody responses in mice immunised with symptomatic (0.736±0.033) and asymptomatic (0.426±0.025) of ST3 Blastocystis sp. were significantly higher compared to the controls respectively. High secretions of IgG antibody mixture of IgG1/IgG2a antibodies were detected in sera of mice immunised with symptomatic and asymptomatic solubilised Blastocystis sp. Antigen (Blastocystis-Ag). Predominant IgG1 production was detected higher in mice injected with Blastocystis sp. ST 3 from asymptomatic individuals (0.148±0.016) (P<0.05) whereas predominant IgG2a production was detected higher in mice injected with the same subtype but from the symptomatic individuals (0.355±0.021). This data was supported by the production of significantly higher Th1 (IFNγ and IL-2) response (393.56±49.21) and (628.89±31.06) respectively in symptomatic isolates compared to Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) response (93±7.85) and (103.22±11.33) in asymptomatic isolates after in-vitro stimulations. Splenocyte stimulation index (SI) was detected higher in symptomatic Blastocystis-Ag group. This study is the first to demonstrate antigenic and immunogenic heterogeneity among ST3 symptomatic and asymptomatic Blastocystis-Ag with symptomatic isolates being highly immunogenic and antigenic. No significant variations among the three isolates of asymptomatic and symptomatic groups. The study supports the suggestion from previous study that surface variations between symptomatic and asymptomatic isolates as well their distinct phenotypic variation despite being the same subtype may have caused the differences in the distinct immune responses.

Leiomyosarcoma of uterus--a case report

Leiomyosarcoma of uterus is a very rare malignant mesenchymal tumour of uterus. It may arise from the uterine myometrium de novo or may be transformed from a pre-existing benign leiomyoma. A 55-year-old female presenting with 20-22 weeks size of uterus and bleeding per vagina was clinically diagnosed as a case of leiomyoma uteri and cervical polyp, was subjected to abdominal hysterectomy. The tumour mass was later confirmed histologically as leiomyosarcoma of uterus presumed to be transformed from pre-existing leiomyoma uteri.

Paraganglioma in the nasopharynx

A 50-year old male presented with swollen right eyelids, bleeding per nostrils and a vague left post-auricular swelling for 4 months. Posterior rhinoscopy revealed one pinkish polypoidal mass in the posterior nare and roof of nasopharynx. FNAC from the post-auricular swelling suggested metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma. Incisional biopsy was done form the nasopharynx and histopathological examination proved it to be a malignant paraganglioma. The case is reported for its rarity.

Genetic polymorphisms of red cell enzymes in tribes of Andhra Pradesh, India

The genetic heterogeneity of some common red cell enzyme markers among four endogamous tribal populations namely Konda Dora, Kotia, Bod Mali and Manzai Mali was investigated by starch/polyacrylamide/cellulose acetate gel electrophoresis. ACP, ESD, PGM1, G6PD, AK1, ADA, 6PGD enzymes and haemoglobin exhibited a polymorphism. PGM2, LDH, MDH, SOD, GOT, CA1, CA2 and GPI were monomorphic. A slow variant of SOD similar to that found in SOD 2-1 heterozygote was observed with a frequency of 1.31% among Kotia tribe. Most populations of the present study were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the majority of the genetic markers examined. The results are discussed in the light of available data on other Andhra populations.

Genetic serum protein markers in eight south Indian caste and tribal populations

A total of n = 769 unrelated male and female individuals from eight endogamous caste (Brahmin, Kapu, Yadava, Relli) and tribal (Bagatha, Kotia, Manne Dora, Konda Dora) populations living in various districts of Andhra Pradesh (India) have been typed for haptoglobin (HP) types and transferrin (TF), group specific component (GC) and alpha 1-antitrypsin (PI) subtypes. The genetic heterogeneity among these population groups is considerable. This can be explained by lacking or at least only minimal gene flow among these caste and tribal groups, by which differences in their genetic profiles caused by locally acting genetic differentiation factors such as drift could be preserved.