The study of cell-mediated immune response in recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

The aim of this work was to examine in vitro the ability of cells from patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) to cell-mediated immune response. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and whole blood cells (WBC) of 37 RVVC patients in acute infection and 14 in remission were examined for the ability to proliferation and cytokines production (IFN, TNF, IL-6). As a control, a group of 25 healthy women were examined. The cells were stimulated with Candida antigen (HKCA), LPS and PHA. To indicate the level of cytokines, the following cell-lines were used: A549 for IFN, WEHI 164 for TNF and 7TD1 for IL-6. The proliferation/death of cells was determined by colorimetric test using MTT. Distinct suppression of cell-mediated immune response (CMI) was shown in all patients comparing to the control. Greatest suppression was found in the acute phase of the disease. The ability of cells to proliferate and produce IFN increases only in remission. The data seem to suggest that in this phase of disease, the ability of cell-mediated immune response is restored. It was also indicated that IFN may take part in protection against Candida infection.

The role of easily released substances (ERS) from bacteria in physiologic solution in natural immunity. VI. Induction of opsonins for different genera of bacteria by ERS from Staph. aureus oxford.

ERS obtained from Staph. aureus by mild extraction with physiologic saline solution possess activity of inducing nonspecific opsonins which react with homologous bacteria and with related Gram-negative bacteria. ERS from Staph. aureus weakly stimulated precipitins and antibodies active in passive hemagglutination and induced a marked rise in agglutinin titers especially for the homologous strain and Gram-negative S. typhimurium bacilli. N-acetyl-D-glucosamine absorbed the opsonizing factor for various bacteria with heterologous activity.

Studies on phagocytosis of mucoid and nonmucoid variants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. I. Induction of homologous immunity by nonmucoid strains of P. aeruginosa.

Monovalent immune sera against somatic antigens (anti-O) have been shown to potentiate phagocytosis exclusively of nonmucoid homologous immunotypes. To obtain polyvalent immunity for all nonmucoid immunotypes of P. aeruginosa, all immunotypes of these bacteria have to be used for immunization.

Studies on phagocytosis of mucoid and nonmucoid variants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. II. Induction of heterologous immunity by mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa.

The studies were performed to determine the level of phagocytosis and intracellular killing of mucoid P. aeruginosa strains in normal and monovalent immune sera against: mucoid (anti-OM) and nonmucoid (anti-O) variants and slime extracts (anti-M) of 15 P. aeruginosa strains belonging to 7 immunotypes of Fisher's scheme. Extracellular P. aeruginosa slime was observed to inhibit the process of phagocytosis and intracellular killing of these bacteria. On the other hand, antibodies directed against the extracellular slime neutralized the inhibitory effect of the slime on phagocytosis. Slime of strains of different somatic antigen displayed serological affinity. This was due to cross reactions in phagocytic and agglutination test of mucoid strains in immune sera containing anti-slime antibodies. Strains of the same somatic antigen produced antigenically differentiated slime.

Studies on phagocytosis of mucoid and nonmucoid variants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. III. Polyvalent serum against three mucoid immunotypes potentiates phagocytosis of all (7) mucoid immunotypes.

Polyvalent serum against mucoid variants of immunotypes 1, 3 and 5, according to Fisher's scheme, was shown to stimulate immune response in phagocytic test of all mucoid immunotypes.

Evaluation of polyvalent anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in phagocytic reaction.

In order to obtain immune reaction for all known Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotypes (7 according to Fisher), mucoid and nonmucoid variants, rabbits were immunized with polyvalent vaccine consisting of 3 mucoid (1, 3, 5) and 4 nonmucoid (2, 4, 6, 7) immunotypes. The serum of immunized animals induced an increase in normal rabbit granulocyte phagocytosis level as well as intracellular killing of all Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotypes, both mucoid and nonmucoid variants. The serum was also observed to have high agglutinin titer (1:1024-1:8192) for all the bacteria. While the cross affinity of the mucoid antigens in polyvalent vaccine it was possible to reduce by 4 the number of the mucoid antigens used for immunization.

Impaired bactericidal activity of cord sera against Salmonella strains.

Weaker bactericidal activity of cord sera against Salmonella bacilli was shown in comparison with maternal venous sera. No correlation was found between the bactericidal activity and the levels of complement, immunoglobulins and lysozyme in cord sera. Worthy of notice is detected in these researches specificity of bactericidal action of cord sera.

Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of mucoid and nonmucoid variants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by polymorphonuclear leukocytes: effect of specific immune sera.

Nonmucoid variants (NM) of 6 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were better phagocytized and intracellulary killed by rabbit peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) than their mucoid variants (M). The ratios of ingested and killed bacteria of both variants significantly increased in the presence of immune serum with antibodies against slime and somatic antigen (anti-OM) in the phagocytic mixture. Immune sera prepared for slime layer only enhanced the both activities of PMNs against M variant. The anti-O sera significantly increased the phagocytosis and killing of NM variants belonging to the same serogroup of O antigen as the strain used for the preparation of immune serum.

Opsonic activity of sera in children with hematological malignancies treated with Sandoglobulin.

Twenty seven children with hematological malignancies were treated with Sandoglobulin for life threatening infections due to severe granulocytopenia. We have studied the opsonic activity of sera in patients before and 7,14 and 21 days after the infusion of Sandoglobulin. Before the therapy a decrease of serum opsonic activity at the stage of ingestion and intracellular killing of bacteria has been shown. It was due to a deficiency of opsonizing factors. After treatment with Sandoglobulin the significant improvement of the opsonic activity of tested sera was found, but only at the stage of the ingestion of bacteria. The optimal interrelationship between opsonizing capacity of sera at the ingestion and intracellular killing phase was observed in the group of children treated with the relatively low Sandoglobulin dose (0.3-0.6 g/kg). In patients with the longest infection duration, who received the high Sandoglobulin doses (> 0.6 g/kg), the largest percentage of sera containing immune complexes was detected. These data demonstrate that high doses of globulins should be administered with certain care.

Studies on phagocytosis in leukemia II. Phagocytic and bactericidal activities of leukocytes and separated granulocytes of the peripheral blood in acute leukemia.

Phagocytic and intracellular killing activities for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains were studies in the 64 cases of acute leukemia. Leukocyte preparations i. e. concentrated white cells in the same proportions as in the patient's peripheral blood (27 cases) and separated granulocytes (35 cases) were used; the control groups consisted of 40 healthy subjects, each. In both methods, a similar defect in the ingesting and intracellular killing capacities could be demonstrated. However, the impairment of phagocytosis was greater in separated granulocytes, and intracellular killing activity, in the leukocyte preparations. The bactericidal activity of phagocytes showed a greater defect than that of phagocytosis. Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of S. aureus strain proceeded less efficiently as compared with E. coli. During the treatment of leukemia an improvement in the phagocytic parameters could be seen in comparison with pretreatment values. Cytostatics did however, exert an adverse effect on the bactericidal activity of granulocytes, when examinations were made on days of their administration.

[Serologic diagnosis of infections caused by Borrelia burgdorferi]. / Serologiczna diagnostyka zakazen wywolanych przez Borrelia burgdorferi.

This investigation was aimed at selection of optimal serological test for diagnosis of borreliosis occurring at our territory. In our investigations, and indirect immunofluorescence test (IF) was used in which antigen consisted of an American strain of Borrelia burgdorferi B31 and immunoenzymatic test (IE) with an antigen prepared from an European strain. Hundred sixty eight sera were tested, including 138 sera received from patients with suspection of borreliosis or directed for testing because of suspected tick bite. Thirty sera from healthy blood donors served as a control. In 30 out of 138 patients with suspected borreliosis presence of specific antibodies in IF or IE test was detected. In control group positive results were obtained in 4 persons. From our study comparing two tests occurs that more suitable for serodiagnosis of borreliosis on our territory is determination employing as an antigen the European strain of Borrelia burgdorferi.

[Susceptibility to roxithromycin of gram-positive cocci isolated from patients with lowered immunity]. / Wrazliwosc na roksytromcyne gram-dodatnich ziarenkowców izolowanych od chorych z obnizona odpornoscia.

The study involved 412 strains of Gram-positive cocci isolated from throat, sputum, urine and stool of patients prepared for bone marrow transplantation at Department of Hematology. Determination of drug susceptibility was performed by disc diffusion method applying discs with roxithromycin, erythromycin, lincomycin, clindamycin and augmentin. Among strains of S. aureus, S. epidermidis and Micrococcus susceptible strains comprised respectively 48, 48 and 45%; among group A, B, C and G streptococci respectively 92 and 52%. Among 108 strains of group D Streptococci only 24% were susceptible to roxithromycin. Comparison of susceptibility of tested strains to roxithromycin and other antibiotics revealed similar susceptibility of staphylococci and streptococci to roxithromycin and erythromycin, while among staphylococci higher percentage of strains and among streptococci lower percentage was susceptible to lincomycin than to roxithromycin.

[Susceptibility in vitro to certain quinolines of gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive cocci causing urinary tract infections]. / Wrazliwosc in vitro na niektóre chinolony Gram-ujemnych paleczek i Gram-dodatnich ziarenkowców powodujacych zakazenia ukladu moczowego.

Susceptibility to norfloxacin, ofloxacin, pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid of 848 bacterial strains isolated from urine of patients treated in 1989-1992 in Wroclaw hospitals was investigated. The study, performed by the disc diffusion methods, concerned 568 Enterobacteriaceae strains, 147 Gram-negative non-fermenting bacteria and 133 strains of staphylococci. Highest percentage (90-100%) of susceptibility to all used antimicrobial agents was detected among Escherichia, Proteus, Morganella and Citrobacter. Less frequent susceptibility (30-70%) was observed among Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Serratia. Among strains of P. aeruginosa susceptible to norfloxacin and ofloxacin were, respectively, 61.4 and 22.2% isolates. Over 95% of strains of P. aeruginosa were resistant to nalidixic acid. Among other non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria, over 50% were resistant to norfloxacin and ofloxacin. Both S. aureus and S. epidermidis were susceptible to ofloxacin and norfloxacin in 81-93% of tested strains. They were 2-3 times less frequently susceptible to pipemidic and nalidixic acid.

[Detection of IgA antibodies as important markers of acute primary infection with Toxoplasma gondii]. / Wykrycie przeciwcial klasy IgA waznym markerem ostrego zakazenia pierwotniakiem Toxoplasma gondii.

The diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection is currently based on immunological tests, but tests for IgM and IgG antibodies alone are often insufficient to estimate the risk of active disease, especially during pregnancy and in immunodeficient patients. Classically the study of anti-toxoplasma immunity involves titration of IgG antibodies, which reflect immunity to the parasite, and IgM antibodies which of present, reveal acute infection. However, technical advances have shown the limitations of these tests as tests for IgM can be positive because of residual specific IgM or even in subjects free of acute infection due to the existence of natural interfering IgM. In addition, IgM can be absent in children with congenital toxoplasmosis or subjects with secondary reactivation. The purpose of our study was to evaluated of IgA antibodies to T. gondii in serum samples which were positive in screening test. Our results confirm the diagnostic value of testing for anti-toxoplasma IgA antibodies. These antibodies are absent in uninfected subjects and are detected rapidly after primary infection. The determination of IgA complements IgM determination for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.

[Rotavirus diarrhea in children hospitalized in Wroclaw clinics]. / Rotawirusy w biegunkach u dzieci hospitalizowanych w Klinikach Wroclawia.

Studies have been performed in 250 children aged 0 to 3 years suffering from diarrhoea. Rotaviruses have been founded in 25% of cases, most frequently in children aged 0 to 3 months (29.6%), and 6 to 12 months (21.8%). Frequency of rotavirus infections was highest during February. In 26% of subjects studied the coexisting infection with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains or Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni has been observed. The Rotazyme II test is more sensitive than the Rotalex and Rota-kit tests.

[The dependence of serum opsonic activity on fibronectin and alpha- 1 acid glycoprotein levels in children with burns]. / Zaleznosc aktywnosci opsonizacyjnej surowicy od stezenia fibronektyny i alpha-1 kwasnej glikoproteiny u dzieci z choroba oparzeniowa.

The concentration of acute phase proteins following burn is known to increase in serum rapidly, while that of fibronectin often decreases. Fibronectin (Fn) has been demonstrated to serve as an opsonin involved in the ingestion phase in phagocytic process. On the other hand, some acute phase proteins such as alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AG) may inhibit phagocytic activity. In our study, the phagocytic activity of normal granulocytes was decreased by those sera in which a high level of AG was accompanied by a fall in the Fn Level. Attempts to detect a possible link between the acute phase response and fibronectin led as to study whether fibronectin and AG may interact antagonistically on the phagocytic activity of neutrophils. For this reason we calculated the Fn/Ag coefficient. We showed that an Fn/Ag coefficient in normal sera equals more than 0.20. The higher the coefficient, the better the opsonic activity of sera. We propose here that an Fn/AG coefficient may be a useful risk factor for infections in burned patients.