ABSTRACT
Objetivou-se analisar as internações por condições sensíveis à atenção primária (ICSAP) específicas em mulheres e os fatores que determinam ou influenciam a ocorrência dessas internações (fatores socioeconômicos, sociodemográficos e controle de saúde) por meio de um inquérito de morbidade hospitalar realizado com amostra de 429 mulheres internadas em hospitais conveniados ao Sistema Único de Saúde. O percentual de ICSAP foi 49,42% (n = 212), com destaque para as internações específicas do sexo feminino 19,35% (n = 83). Associaram ao risco de internar por CSAP: idade superior a 60 anos, baixa escolaridade, internação prévia, realização de controle regular de saúde, falta de vínculo com a Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) e ser gestante. As causas evidentes foram as condições relacionadas à gravidez, ao parto e ao puerpério e às inflamações nos órgãos pélvicos femininos. Os resultados sugerem falhas no atendimento ambulatorial que deveria ser oportuno e resolutivo no contexto da saúde da mulher.
The scope of this paper was to analyze female-specific sensitive hospitalization occurring in primary care conditions and factors that determine or affect the occurrence of such hospitalizations (social, economic and demographic factors; health control). Analysis was performed by surveys on hospital morbidity with a sample of 429 females attended in Unified Health System (SUS) contracted hospitals. The sensitive hospitalizations percentage in primary care reached 49.42% (n = 212), highlighting female-specific hospitalization at 19.35% (n = 83). Hospitalization risks comprised elderly people over sixty, low schooling, previous hospitalizations, normal health control, lack of association with the Family Health Strategy and pregnancy. Evident causes were related to conditions of pregnancy, childbirth, post-partum and inflammations of the female pelvic organs. Results suggested flaws in outpatient attendance that should be adequate and provide solutions in women’s health.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Bacterial Proteins/immunology , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine/adverse effects , Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine/immunology , Haemophilus Vaccines/adverse effects , Haemophilus Vaccines/immunology , Immunoglobulin D/immunology , Lipoproteins/immunology , Pneumococcal Vaccines/adverse effects , Pneumococcal Vaccines/immunology , Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated/adverse effects , Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated/immunology , Antibodies, Bacterial/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine/administration & dosage , Haemophilus Vaccines/administration & dosage , Immunization Schedule , Netherlands , Pneumococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage , Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated/administration & dosage , Vaccination , Vaccines, Combined/administration & dosage , Vaccines, Combined/adverse effects , Vaccines, Combined/immunology , Vaccines, ConjugateABSTRACT
The rationale of this study was to use several immunological assays to investigate the reactivity of immunoglobulin binding protein (IBP) to immunoglobulins from various avian and mammalian species. The IBP studied were Staphylococcal protein A (SpA), Streptococcal protein G (SpG), Peptostreptococcal protein L (SpL) and recombinant protein LA (SpLA). The various immunological techniques used were double immunodiffusion (Ouchterlony technique) that tested positive high protein reactivities, direct and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) that tested moderate and low positive protein binding capacities, respectively. In addition to sandwich ELISAs, immunoblot analyses and Ig-purification by SpA-affinity chromatography, which were sensitive tests and helpful in the screening and confirmatory tests were also used. The Ouchterlony technique showed that compared to the other proteins, SpLA had the highest range of reactivity with animal sera and purified immunoglobulins while SpL was least reactive. With the direct ELISA, SpL reacted with the raccoon sera, rabbit IgG and with IgY from bantam hens and pigeons. While with the direct ELISA, SpA reacted with sera from skunk, coyote, raccoon, mule, donkey and human. The sandwich ELISA revealed high reactivity of both SpG and SpLA with mammalian sera titres ranging from 1:32 (raccoon serum) to 1:1024 (mule and donkey sera).These results suggest that IBP can be used for the detection of immunoglobulin using various immunological assays and this is important for the diagnosis of infectious diseases in animal and bird populations studied and in the purification of immunoglobulins.
El fundamento de este estudio radica en el uso de varios ensayos inmunológicos para investigar la reactividad de la proteína de unión de la inmunoglobulina (IBP) frente a las inmunoglobulinas de varias especies aviarias y mamíferas. Las proteínas IBP estudiadas fueron la proteína estafilocócica A (SpA), la proteína estreptocócica G (SpG), la proteína peptoestreptocócica L (SpL), y la proteína recombinante LA (SpLA). Las varias técnicas inmunológicas usadas fueron: la inmunodifusión doble (técnica de Ouchterlony) para examinar las reactividades positivas de la proteína alta; el ensayo por inmunoabsorción ligado a enzimas(ELISA), de tipo directo y competitivo, para examinar la capacidad de realizar uniones positivas de proteína moderada y baja, respectivamente, además del ensayo ELISA 'Sándwich', los análisis inmunoblot, yla purificación de IgG, mediante cromatografía de afinidad, los cuales fueron pruebas sensibles y útiles en el tamizaje y las pruebas de confirmación. La técnica de Ouchterlony mostró que - en comparación con otras proteínas - la SpLA tenía el grado más alto de reactividad con los sueros animales y las inmunoglobulinas purificadas, mientras que la SpL fue la menos reactiva. Con el ELISA directo, la SpL reaccionó con los sueros de mapache, la IgG de conejo, así como con la IgY de palomas y gallinas de Bantam, en tanto con el ELISA directo, la SpA reaccionó con sueros de mofeta, coyote, mapache, mula, asno y seres humanos. ELISA "sándwich" reveló una alta reactividad tanto de SpG como de SpLA, con títulos séricos mamíferos que iban desde 1:32 (suero de mapache) hasta 1:1024 (sueros de mula y de asno). Estos resultados sugieren que la proteína de unión IBP puede usarse en la detección de la inmunoglobulina usando varios ensayos inmunológicos, lo cual es importante para el diagnóstico de enfermedades infecciosas en las poblaciones animales y aviarias bajo estudio, así como para la purificación de inmunoglobulinas.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Bacterial Proteins/immunology , Birds/immunology , Immunoglobulins/biosynthesis , Chromatography, Affinity , Immunoenzyme Techniques/methods , Mammals/immunology , Recombinant Proteins/immunology , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Communicable Diseases/diagnosisABSTRACT
Specific IgE to gliadin was proposed as a marker for wheat dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis, while Tri a 14 was found to induce IgE response in baker's asthma. We evaluated whether these components could be used for discriminating phenotypes of wheat allergy. Twenty-nine patients who were wheat-induced anaphylaxis and/or urticaria (n=21, group I) and baker's asthma (n=8, group II) were enrolled. The prevalence of serum specific IgE to Tri a 14 was higher in group II (25%) than in group I (4.8%), while the serum specific IgE to gliadin was significantly higher in group I (70%) than in group II (12.5%). The cutoff value for predicting the baker's asthma using the ratio of serum specific IgE to Tri a 14 to gliadin was 742.8 optical densityx1,000/(kU/L) with high sensitivity and specificity. These findings suggest that Tri a 14/gliadin may be a potential marker for predicting baker's asthma.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Anaphylaxis/immunology , Antigens, Plant/immunology , Asthma/blood , Biomarkers/blood , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Gliadin/immunology , Immunoglobulin E/blood , Phenotype , Triticum/immunology , Urticaria/immunology , Wheat Hypersensitivity/diagnosisABSTRACT
When grown in the presence of exogenous collagen I, Mycobacterium bovis BCG was shown to form clumps. Scanning electron microscopy examination of these clumps revealed the presence of collagen fibres cross-linking the bacilli. Since collagen is a major constituent of the eukaryotic extracellular matrices, we assayed BCG cytoadherence in the presence of exogenous collagen I. Collagen increased the interaction of the bacilli with A549 type II pneumocytes or U937 macrophages, suggesting that BCG is able to recruit collagen to facilitate its attachment to host cells. Using an affinity chromatography approach, we have isolated a BCG collagen-binding protein corresponding to the previously described mycobacterial laminin-binding histone-like protein (LBP/Hlp), a highly conserved protein associated with the mycobacterial cell wall. Moreover, Mycobacterium leprae LBP/Hlp, a well-characterized adhesin, was also able to bind collagen I. Finally, using recombinant fragments of M. leprae LBP/Hlp, we mapped the collagen-binding activity within the C-terminal domain of the adhesin. Since this protein was already shown to be involved in the recognition of laminin and heparan sulphate-containing proteoglycans, the present observations reinforce the adhesive activities of LBP/Hlp, which can be therefore considered as a multifaceted mycobacterial adhesin, playing an important role in both leprosy and tuberculosis pathogenesis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Bacterial Adhesion , Collagen Type I/pharmacology , Mycobacterium bovis/metabolism , Mycobacterium leprae/metabolism , Bacterial Adhesion/immunology , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Carrier Proteins/metabolism , Collagen Type I/metabolism , Histones/metabolism , Mycobacterium bovis/immunology , Mycobacterium leprae/immunologyABSTRACT
In Brazil, syphilis is still a great problem of public health. Serological test is essential for syphilis diagnosis and the current trend is the use of recombinant antigen in the treponemal tests, due to its confirmed higher sensibility and specificity. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the profile of anti-Tp47 antibodies in patients with positive serology for syphilis. One hundred positive sera samples were analyzed by Western Blot (WB) technique, using the recombinant antigen (rTp47). Ten of them did not present antibodies against the fraction rTp47, the results were confirmed by WB using native T. pallidum antigen. All ten samples had antibodies against the fractions Tp17 and Tp15 and presented low reactivity in VDRL, negative results or title below than 1:4. Considering that VDRL is used for therapeutic monitoring due to seroreversion of nontreponemal antibodies in response to the treatment, and that some studies reported loss of treponemal antibodies after treatment, we could speculate if these ten samples are cases of serological memory from patients previously treated for syphilis. In addition, although several features state the Tp47 fraction as one of the major antigenic components, based on our results we point out to the importance of including other antigenic proteins such as Tp17 and Tp15 in addition to Tp47 in tests for serological screening of syphilis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Carrier Proteins , Lipoproteins , Syphilis/diagnosis , Treponema pallidum/immunology , beta-Lactamases/analysis , Blotting, Western , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Lipoproteins/immunology , Recombinant Proteins , Recombinant Proteins/immunology , Syphilis Serodiagnosis/methods , beta-Lactamases/immunologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Infection with group A Streptococcus (GAS) may result in a number of human diseases ranging from the relatively benign pharyngitis to the potentially life-threatening invasive diseases and post-infectious sequelae. We have previously defined a minimal B-cell epitope from the conserved region of the M-protein. Here we report on the immunogenicity, opsonic potential of the resulting sera and the level of protection induced by this peptide in comparison to a pepsin extract of the M protein. METHODS: Inbred mice were immunized with peptides derived from the M protein. Sera were collected from the immunized mice and its opsonic potential determined for M1 and M6 GAS strains. Mice were then intranasally challenged with a virulent M1 GAS strain to determine the protective efficacy of the peptides. RESULTS: The peptides induced significant antibody responses when delivered subcutaneously and immunized mice demonstrated significantly enhanced survival compared to control groups following challenge. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The data obtained in the present study indicated that the chimeric peptide J8 from the conserved region of the M protein could form the basis for an anti-streptococcal vaccine in future.
Subject(s)
Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/immunology , Bacterial Vaccines/immunology , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , Streptococcal Infections/prevention & controlABSTRACT
After collecting calcareous corpuscles from plerocercoid of Spirometra mansoni (sparganum), we evaluated the antigenic values of calcareous corpuscles binding proteins obtained from the cyst fluid of Taenia solium metacestodes. Immunoblot analysis revealed that cysticercosis patient sera strongly recognized 10 and 95 kDa calcareous corpuscles binding proteins. This result demonstrated that calcareous corpuscles are bound with major secretory antigenic proteins, which is possibly involved in the secretory pathways of the 10 and 95 kDa proteins presenting in the cyst fluid of T. solium metacestodes.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Antigens, Helminth/analysis , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Cysticercosis/diagnosis , Helminth Proteins/immunology , Immunoblotting/methods , Molecular Weight , Serologic Tests , Sparganum , Taenia solium/chemistryABSTRACT
Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) were generated following immunization of BALB/c mice with protective antigen (PA) of B. anthracis. Five clones reactive to this protein were stabilized and preserved. These MoAbs could detect nanogram levels of PA when tested in ELISA. In Western blotting, they reacted with all PA preparations tested and no cross-reactivity was observed with lethal factor, edema factor of B. anthracis and with other organisms. These MoAbs could detect PA from 22 confirmed clinical isolates of B. anthracis on Western blotting and hold promise for direct detection of PA in clinical samples for diagnosing anthrax.
Subject(s)
Animals , Anthrax/immunology , Antibodies, Monoclonal/biosynthesis , Antibody Specificity/immunology , Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Bacillus anthracis/immunology , Bacterial Toxins , Blotting, Western , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Cross Reactions/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Sensitivity and Specificity , Viper Venoms/immunologyABSTRACT
Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is known to inhibit osteoclastogenesis by acting as a soluble decoy receptor for the receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL). We report the presence of OPG on the membrane of osteoclasts and the possibility of the direct action of OPG on them. Highly pure osteoclast precursors were isolated from mouse long bones and induced to differentiate into mature osteoclasts by M-CSF and soluble RANKL (sRANKL). The presence of OPG on the membrane of these cells was confirmed by western blotting and immunostaining. Furthermore, sRANKL was found to be bound to the OPG on the osteoclast precursors. These results suggest that OPG might have a new role during the differentiation of osteoclasts beyond its role as a soluble decoy receptor. The mechanism of the existence of OPG on osteoclast precursors remains to be found.
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Bone and Bones/cytology , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Cell Differentiation/drug effects , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Glycoproteins/drug effects , Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/pharmacology , Membrane Glycoproteins/immunology , Mice, Inbred ICR , Osteoclasts/drug effects , Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/drug effects , Stem Cells/drug effectsABSTRACT
To investigate the mechanism of pregnancy termination following immuno-neutralization of riboflavin carrier protein (RCP) and to use acceptable adjuvants, we actively immunized female rats with reduced and carboxymethylated RCP (RCM-RCP) using various adjuvants (during primary immunization) such as sodium phthalylated lipopolysaccharide (SPLPS), purified S. typhi outer membrane proteins (porins) and a combination of them. Rats (5-14 per group) were immunized with alugel adsorbed RCM-RCP (100 microg/dose) either alone or with SPLPS or porins or SPLPS+porins. Control animals received RCM-RCP emulsified with Fruend's completelincomplete adjuvants (FCA/FIA). All animals received five boosters at intervals of 21 days. The lowest (4 X 10(-3)) and the highest (> 70 X 10(-3)) anti-RCM-RCP antibody titers were observed in alugel adsorbed-RCM-RCP group and control groups, respectively. Immunized animals showed reduced fertility following 3rd, 4th and 5th boosters. Reduction in fertility was 30-60% in alugel adsorbed RCM-RCP group, 90-100% in FCA-RCM-RCP group and 80-90% in SPLPS+porins group. Fertility reduction was not strictly correlatable with the serum antibody titers. RCP-specific IgG could be localized in the uterine endometrial glands and luminal epithelial cells in the immunized animals. Animals in the FCA/FIA group showed abnormal implantation/resorption sites and their histological sections showed degenerated embryos. But, day 5 preimplantation embryos were normal. These results show that (a) SPLPS+porins can be used as adjuvants in place of FCA/FIA for active immunization against RCM-RCP and (b) early termination of pregnancy in the immunized animals is due largely to the failure of normal embryo implantation.
Subject(s)
Abortifacient Agents/pharmacology , Abortion, Veterinary/chemically induced , Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology , Animals , Azo Compounds/diagnosis , Blastocyst , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Endometrium/pathology , Female , Fetal Death/chemically induced , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism , Male , Membrane Transport Proteins , Methylation , Peptide Fragments/immunology , Porins/metabolism , Pregnancy , Pregnancy, Animal/blood , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Riboflavin/metabolism , Trypan Blue , VaccinationABSTRACT
Active immunization with chicken egg white thiamin carrier protein (TCP) was performed to assess the functional importance of the vitamin carrier during gestation in rats. Towards this, fertile female rats were immunized with heterologous TCP and when the circulatory titres of anti-TCP IgG were high, these animals were mated with fertile male rats. Progression of pregnancy was monitored by measuring circulatory progesterone levels. A sudden fall in the steroid hormonal levels around day 8 post coitus was observed. Histological examination of the uterine tissue sections on day 7 revealed that active immunization with TCP affected the blastocyst viability resulting in unsuccessful implantation and hence pregnancy termination.
Subject(s)
Animals , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Chickens , Egg Proteins/immunology , Embryo Implantation , Female , Fetal Death/immunology , Male , Pregnancy , Rats , Rats, Wistar , ThiamineABSTRACT
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to chicken thiamin carrier protein (TCP) have been produced by hybridoma technology to identify the crucial epitopes involved in bioneutralization of the vitamin carrier. The monoclonality of these mAbs (A4C4, F3H6, H8H3, C8C1 and G7H10) was sought to be confirmed by sub-class isotyping; they all belong to IgG1, k type. The epitopes recognized by all the five mAbs are conserved in TCP from the chicken to the rat as assessed by liquid phase RIA and immunoprecipitation of 125I-labelled proteins from pregnant rat serum. Among these mAbs. passive immunization of pregnant rats with the mAb C8C1 only on three consecutive days (day 10, 11 and 12) resulted in embryonic resorption. These results demonstrate the importance of epitopic structure specified by the mAb C8C1 on TCP during pregnancy in rats.
Subject(s)
Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Egg Proteins/immunology , Female , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Pregnancy , Pregnancy, Animal/immunology , Rats , ThiamineABSTRACT
Vaccines in schistosomiasis using homologous antigens have been studied extensively in experimentally infected mammalian hosts. Vaccines using heterologous antigens have received comparatively less attention. This review summarizes recent work on a heterologous 12 kDa Fasciola hepatica antigenic polypeptide which cross reacts with Schistosoma mansoni. A cDNA has been cloned and sequenced, and the predicted amino acid sequence of the recombinant protein has been shown to have significant (44) identity with a 14 kDa S. mansoni fatty acid binding protein. Thus in the parasitic trematodes fatty acid binding proteins may be potential vaccine candidates. The F. hepatica recombinant protein has been overexpressed and purified and denoted rFh15. Preliminary rFh15 migrates more slowly (i.e. may be slightly larger) than nFh12 on SDS-PAGE and has a predicted pI of 6.01 vs. observed pI of 5.45. Mice infected with F. hepatica develop antibodies to nFh12 by 2 weeks of infection vs. 6 weeks of infection to rFh15; on the other hand, mice with schistosomiasis mansoni develop antibodies to both nFh12 and rFh15 by 6 weeks of infection. Both the F. hepatica and S. mansoni cross-reactive antigens may be cross-protective antigens with the protection inducing capability against both species.
Subject(s)
Animals , Fatty Acids/immunology , Antigens, Helminth/immunology , Antigens, Heterophile/immunology , Fasciola hepatica , /immunology , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Schistosoma mansoni , Amino Acid Sequence , Antigens, Helminth/isolation & purification , Antigens, Heterophile/isolation & purification , Fascioliasis/immunology , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , Rabbits , Schistosomiasis mansoni , Vaccines, Synthetic/immunologyABSTRACT
Molecular cloning of components of protective antigenic preparations have suggested that related parasite fatty acid binding proteins could form the basis of the well documented protective, immune cross reactivity between the parasitic trematode worms Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma mansoni. We have now confirmed the cross protective potential of parasite fatty acid binding proteins and suggest that it may be possible to produce a single vaccine that would be effective against at least two parasites, F. hepatica and S. mansoni of veterinary and human importance respectively.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Mice , Rabbits , Antigens, Helminth/immunology , Fasciola hepatica , Fascioliasis/prevention & control , Schistosoma mansoni , Schistosomiasis mansoni , Vaccination , Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology , Fatty Acids/immunology , /immunology , Carrier Proteins/immunologyABSTRACT
Rabbit antibodies to native riboflavin carrier protein (RCP), are to a large extent directed towards conformational epitopes and antibodies to disulphide bond reduced carboxymethylated RCP (RCM-RCP) are towards sequential epitopes. The major cyanogen bromide (CNBr) fragments and tryptic fragments of RCM-RCP interact with both antiserum to RCM-RCP and RCP. Passive immunization of pregnant mice with antibodies to RCM-RCP results in bioneutralization, leading to termination of pregnancy. Recently, a major tryptic fragment of RCM-RCP (24 +/- 2 kd) which could assume conformation at the antibody combining site of native RCP, obtained following mild trypsinization has been identified [Natraj et al. J. Biosci, 15 (1990) 341]. Rabbit antibodies to RCM-RCP treated with trypsin generated antibodies of low titer which interacted with RCM-RCP as well as RCP. The interaction of this antibody with RCP was of high affinity and could be displaced with RCP. The bioneutralizing ability of the antibody was demonstrated by its ability to cause termination of pregnancy in mice.
Subject(s)
Abortifacient Agents/pharmacology , Animals , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Chickens , Epitopes/immunology , Female , Immune Sera/pharmacology , Membrane Transport Proteins , Mice , Peptide Fragments/immunology , Pregnancy , Rabbits/immunology , Riboflavin/metabolism , TrypsinABSTRACT
Immunoneutralization of the maternal riboflavin carrier protein in the pregnant rat with antibodies to chicken egg vitamin carrier has earlier been shown to terminate their pregnancies. In order to understand the nature of the epitopic conformations capable of eliciting antibodies bioneutralizing the endogenous riboflavin carrier protein in the pregnant rat, we compared pregnancy progression in the fertile rodents following active immunization with either the native, SDS-denatured, reduced-carboxymethylated or SDS-treated reduced carboxymethylated avian egg white riboflavin carrier protein. The data revealed that despite the total antibody titers being higher in the animals immunized with the native protein, the antibodies elicited against the denatured avian vitamin carrier exhibited relatively better potencies to bioneutralize the endogenous maternal protein as evidenced by higher rates of early fetal resorption.