ß-glucan mitigates ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation by preventing oxidative stress and CD8+ T cell infiltration.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is a severe respiratory condition characterized by airway inflammation, remodeling, and oxidative stress. ß-Glucan (BG) is a polysaccharide found in fungal cell walls with powerful immunomodulatory properties. This study examined and clarified the mechanisms behind BG's ameliorativeactivitiesin an allergic asthma animal model. METHOD: BG was extracted from Chaga mushroom and characterized using FT-IR, UV-visible, zeta potential, and 1H NMR analysis. The mice were divided into five groups, including control, untreated asthmatic, dexamethasone (Dexa)-treated (1 mg/kg), and BG (30 and 100 mg/kg)-treated groups. RESULTS: BG treatment reduced nasal scratching behavior, airway-infiltrating inflammatory cells, and serum levels of IgE significantly. Additionally, BG attenuated oxidative stress biomarkers by lowering malonaldehyde (MDA) concentrations and increasing the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT). Immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analyses have confirmed the suppressive effect of BG on the percentage of airway-infiltrating cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSION: The findings revealed the role of CD8+ T cells in the pathogenesis of asthma and the role of BG as a potential therapeutic agent for asthma management through the suppression of airway inflammation and oxidative stress.

Echinochrome exhibits anti-asthmatic activity through the suppression of airway inflammation, oxidative stress, and histopathological alterations in ovalbumin-induced asthma in BALB/c mice.

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disease with marked infiltrating inflammatory cells and reduced respiratory performance. Echinochrome (Ech) is a dark-red pigment isolated from the sea urchin spines, shells, and ova. It has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, but whether it can be used in asthma treatment has yet to be investigated. In this research, we aimed to study the inhibitory actions of Ech on allergic asthma symptoms in mice. Mice were divided into 4 groups (n = 8 for each): control, ovalbumin-challenged, and Ech-treated (0.1 and 1 mg/kg). At the end of the experiment, nasal scratching, lung oxidative stress, airway inflammation, and remodeling were assessed. In ovalbumin-challenged BALB/C mice, treatment with Ech significantly decreased nasal scratching, lung oxidative stress, inflammatory cell infiltration, mucus hyperproduction and hyperplasia of goblet cells, IgE levels, and inflammatory cytokines. It also inhibited NF-κB phosphorylation. This is the first study to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of Ech against allergic asthma in mice. According to our findings, we imply that Ech may be utilized as a treatment for allergic asthma.

In vitro effect of curcumin on Schistosoma species viability, tegument ultrastructure and egg hatchability.

Schistosomiasis remains a severe problem of public health in developing countries. The development of resistance to praziquantel (PZQ) has justified the search for new alternative chemotherapies with new formulations, more effective, and without adverse effects. Curcumin (CUR), the major phenolic compound present in rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), has been traditionally used against various diseases including parasitic infections. Here, the antischistosomal activity of CUR (50-500 µM), evaluated in parallel against S. mansoni and S. haematobium adult worms, appeared significant (P < 0.05 to < 0.0001) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Two h incubation with CUR (500 µM) caused 100% irreversible killing of both schistosomal species. CUR (250 µM) caused the death of S. haematobium and S. mansoni worms after 2 h and 4 h, respectively. As CUR concentration decreases (50 µM), all coupled adult worms were separated into individual male and female but the worms remained viable up to 4 h. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that S. haematobium are more sensitive than S. mansoni to CUR schistosomicidal effects. In support, CUR was found to affect the antigenicity of surface membrane molecules of S. haematobium, but not S. mansoni. Of importance, CUR significantly (P < 0.05 to < 0.0001) affected S. mansoni eggs hatchability and viability, a ground for its use in chemotherapy of schistosomiasis mansoni and japonicum because of its increased bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract. The data together emphasize that CUR is a promising potential schistosomicidal drug.

SCHISTOSOMA-SPECIFIC 26 KDA PROTEIN FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC SCHISTOSOMIASIS.

One of the world wide major public health problems is the schistosomiasis that is caused by Schistosoma (S.) heamatobium. It is also one of the main concerns for the public health community in Egypt. There are several immunodiagnostic methods used for that diagnosis of such disease, but some are more sensitive and specific than others. The purified 26 kDa Schistosoma-specific protein (PSPA-26) detection in serum samples is found out to be more valuable in diagnosis; it also helps in the early diagnosis which will lead to the early treatment before the irreversible damage takes place. PSPA-26 was purified from whole worms by DEAE-Sephadex G-75 ion exchange chromatography and then was injected into rabbits to produce specific polyclonal antibodies (anti-PSPA-26 pAb) which were then used as a primary capture in the indirect ELISA technique to reveal its reactivity using infected human sera. The anti-PSPA-26 was then labeled with horse-radish peroxidase (HRP) and used as a secondary capture. Sandwich ELISA was done for serum samples of human and hamsters infected with S. heamatobium. The results revealed a sensitivity of 85% for human and 80% for hamster's samples, and a specificity of 95% for human and 91.1% for hamsters samples by comparing them with those infected with other parasites and control samples. Data obtained concluded that PSPA-26 antigen can be used as a diagnostic marker for S. haematobium infection using the sandwich ELISA which is cost effective and applicable technique.

SANDWICH-ELISA DEVELOPMENT FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF TOXOPLASMA GONDI.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most world-wide spread zoonosis representing a very serious clinical and veterinary problem. Although rare, congenital toxoplasmosis can cause severe ne- urological or ocular disease (leading to blindness) as well as cardiac and cerebral anomalies. Prenatal care must include education about prevention of toxoplasmosis. Thus, a standardized and approachable diagnostic tool for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis is still needed. Serological tests are the most widely used biological tools for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis worldwide. Sandwich-ELISA is a solid phase diagnostic method for detection of antigen or antibody that is used widely for diagnosis of protozoan and metazoan diseases of human and animals. In the present study, T. gondii SAG2 antigen was early detected in patient sera using Ssndwich-ELISA, PAb was prepared from anti-rabbit sera and used for coating and as conjugate in Sandwich-ELISA technique. 46 patients out of 50 were positive to Toxoplsama spp. with sensitivity and specificity 92% and 90%, respectively. The PPV was 90.2% and NPV was 83.3%. Finally, the result of our study showed that the Sandwich-ELISA designed in our study is easy to perform, not expensive, safe, and simple with good sensitivity and specificity.

DOT-ELISA AS A FIELD TEST FOR HYDATID DIAGNOSIS.

Cystic hydatid disease (Hydatidosis) is one of the most important parasitic zoonoses and remains a public health and economic problem all over the world. Cyst fluid was obtained from hepatic and pulmonary cysts for demonstration of protoscolices and hooklets. Therefore, a standardized and approachable diagnostic tool for the serodiagnosis of CE is still needed. Dot-ELISA is a solid phase diagnostic method for detection of antigen or antibody that is used widely for diagnosis of protozoan and metazoan diseases of human and animals. In the present study, E. granulosus protoscolex antigen was early detected in patient sera using Dot-ELISA, PAb was prepared from anti-rabbit sera and used for coating and as conjugate in Dot-ELISA technique. 48 patients out of 50 were positive to E. spp. with sensitivity and specificity 96% and 94%, respectively. The PPV was 94% and NPV was 90%. Finally, the present results showed that the Dot-ELISA was easy to perform, not expensive, safe, and with good sensitivity and specificity.