The development of the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) for schistosomiasis and its epidemiological applications

The use of immunodiagnostic techniques for studying epidemiological aspects of schistosomiasis have been of limited value in the past owing to the type of techniques adopted and the vide cross reactivity exhibited by antigens used in the tests. In this study a relatively new technique, the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used. After the development of a standardised procedure it was applied to a wide range of S. mansoni infections representative of different epidemiological situations. A number of modifications in the basic enzyme assay technique were introduced and their merits discussed. Those which proved to be of value were a) the use of ultracentrifuged antigens, b) the development of a method for the determination of the optimum value for the reference serum endpoint, c) the use of serum eluted from filter paper blood spots, d) the use of precoated antigen plates prepared by air or vacuum drying and e) the development of quality control procedures. In evaluating the diagnostic performance in human schistosomiasis ELISA was compared with conventional immunodiagnostic techniques such as skin tests, complement fixation tests (CFT), indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IEAT) and a recently developed radioimmunoassay (RIA)incorporating a species specific egg antigen. Sera from E. Africa and the West Indies were used to assess the test in relation to important diagnostic criteria. The ELISA using soluble egg antigen exhibited higher levels of sensitivity and specificity compared to skin teats, CIT and IPAT with sera from schistosome endemic and controls from non-endemic areas. Unlike the RIA however cross reactions occurred with heterologous schistosome infections and the test did not show the same degree of association with intensity of infection and responsiveness to chemotherapy. In two large control programmes, in the Gezira region of the Sudan where S. amsoni is hyperendemic, and St. Lucia where prevalence is low, an evaluation of the diagnostic reliability of the test and the relevance of antibody measurements was made in two widely different epidemiological situations. The relative merits of a serological as compared with a conventional parasitological approach in epidemiology were examined with particular emphasis on the use of serodiagnosis for measuring incidence rates and as a primary screen for the selective removal of uninfected individuals in a prevalence survey and prior to chemotherapy

Studies on the transfer of immunity from mother to offspring in mice infected with Trichinella spiralis (nematoda)

Summary available: p. xix-xxii

Studies on some Immunological Aspects of Brugian and Bancroftian Filariasis

The possibility of developing a satisfactory serological test applicable to seroepidemiological studies of brugian and bancroftian filariasis was investigated. The cat-Brugla uahungi model was used. The relative sensitivities of the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), counter- immunoclectrophoresis (CISP) and ensyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using crude or purified somatic, and metabolic antigens of various developmental stages of six different human and animal filarioids, for the detection of antibodies in sera were compared. Homologous antigens were always better than heterologous antigens in sensitivity. Metabolic antigens seemed to be more species-specific. A rise in antibody level was observed after chemotherapy. IFAT using B. pahanrj and Wuchereria bancroiti infective larvae as antigens were the most sensitive tests for feline (89% positivity), and human brugian (96%) and bancroftian (100%) filariasis respectively. In ELISA, fractions 1 and 2 of the partially purified antigen of B. nahangi adults seemed to be more specific for bancroftian and brugian filariasis respectively than the crude antigen. ELISA and IFAT were found useful in the seroepidemiological studies of human filariasis in New Guinea, Trinidad, the Seychelles Islands and Egypt. ELISA and CIEP wore used to detect circulating worm antigen in sera and urine, using rabbit antisera to B. pahangi antigen. Studies with phosphoglucomutese.. isoenzymes of B. pahangi adult worms suggested that these isoenzymes could be the source of specific antigen for serological tests. The histopathology of the lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, infected lymph nodes and lymphatics of B. pahangi-infected cats was studied. A higher percentage of glomeruli in kidneys from 71 infected cats showed histological lesions when compared to the uninfected controls. Fluorescence studies demonstrated the presence of IgG» worm antigens and complement deposits in the glomeruli of kidneys from infected cats. 40% of infected cats had proteinuria by Albustix test. The presence of circulating immune complexes in sera from infected cats and humans with brugian and bancroftian filariasis was studied by C1q- and conglutinin-binding assays

Microbiology for Allied Health Students

This open textbook is a remix of Openstax Microbiology, CC-BY 4.0, and created through an Affordable Learning Georgia Round Six Textbook Transformation Grant. The textbook has the following supplemental materials within this repository: This is a collection of instructional materials for the following open textbook and lab manual: Microbiology for Allied Health Students Lab Manual Microbiology for Allied Health Students Instructional Materials Authors\u27 Description: Microbiology for Allied Health Students is designed to cover the scope and sequence requirements for the single semester Microbiology course for non-majors and allied health students. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health. The pedagogical features of Microbiology for Allied Health Students make the material interesting and accessible to students while maintaining the career-application focus and scientific rigor inherent in the subject matter. The scope and sequence of Microbiology for Allied Health Students has been developed and vetted with input from numerous instructors at institutions across the U.S. It is designed to meet the needs of most microbiology courses allied health students. With these objectives in mind, the content of this textbook has been arranged in a logical progression from fundamental to more advanced concepts. The opening chapters present an overview of the discipline, with individual chapters focusing on cellular biology as well as each of the different types of microorganisms and the various means by which we can control and combat microbial growth. The focus turns to microbial pathogenicity, emphasizing how interactions between microbes and the human immune system contribute to human health and disease. The last several chapters of the text provide a survey of medical microbiology, presenting the characteristics of microbial diseases organized by body system. Accessible files with optical character recognition (OCR) and auto-tagging provided by the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation.https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/biology-textbooks/1015/thumbnail.jp

Status of Biomedical Research and Related Technology for Tropical Diseases

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) examining the "status of biomedical research and technologies for controlling tropical diseases" (p. iii)