Lymphocyte response to tetanus toxin T-cell epitopes: effects of tetanus vaccination and concurrent malaria prophylaxis

Synthesized T-cell epitopes of tetanus toxin are universally immunogenic and serve to enhance immune response when they are used as vaccine carriers of B-cell epitopes. The immunogenicity of the P2, P30, and P2P30 T-cell epitopes of tetanus toxin and whole tetanus toxoid (TT) was evaluated by in vitro proliferation assay of lymphocytes from men with no history of tetanus vaccination who were enrolled in a malaria prophylaxis trial. The enhancement of immune response by tetanus vaccination (Td) and possible antagonism by the antimalarial drugs, was measured by pre- and post-Td comparisons within and between immunized prophylaxis groups (primaquine, chloroquine, placebo) and a nonimmunized control group. Constructs demonstrated low immunogenicity relative to TT in all groups. Relative to both control and its own baseline, the immunized primaquine prophylaxis group was distinct in demonstrating significantly increased proliferation against all three subunits and at both high (30 microg ml(-1)) and low (3 microg ml(-1)) concentrations. Immunization elicited significantly increased proliferation responses by placebo and chloroquine prophylaxis groups against only the P2P30 construct. Despite these significant post-Td changes, a low concentration of TT 0.1 microg ml(-1)) stimulated proliferation 7-10 times over that induced by the greatest concentration of the constructs

Synthesis, characterization, and surface properties of phenylalanine‐glycerol ether surfactants

A novel homologous series of 1-N-L-phenylalanine-glycerol ether surfactants was synthesized in satisfactory yields via reaction of epichlorohydrin with aliphatic alcohols with alkyl chains of 10-15 carbon atoms. Structural assignment of the new compounds was made on the basis of elemental analysis and spectroscopic data. Critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γCMC), surfactant concentration required to reduce the surface tension of the solvent by 20 mN/m (pC20), and the interfacial area occupied by the surfactant molecules (Amin) were determined from aqueous surface tension measurements using the Wilhelmy plate technique.This work is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Greece (EPEAEK Iraklitos).Peer reviewe