Repetitive proteins from the flagellar cytoskeleton of African trypanosomes are diagnostically useful antigens

Trypanosome infection of mammalian hosts leads, within days, to a strong early response against a small, distinct number of parasite proteins. One of these proteins is the variable surface glycoprotein (VSG). Most of the others are apparently non-variable, intracellular trypanosome proteins. Two of these antigens I2 and I17 are now characterized at the molecular level. Both exhibit a highly repetitive amino acid sequence organization, but they show no sequence similarity either to each other or to any other proteins known to date. Preliminary serological analyses indicate that both allow the early, sensitive and specific detection of infections with different species of trypanosomatids, making them interesting candidates for the development of diagnostic tools for trypanosomiasis detectio

Repetitive proteins from the flagellar cytoskeleton of African trypanosomes are diagnostically useful antigens

Trypanosome infection of mammalian hosts leads, within days, to a strong early response against a small, distinct number of parasite proteins. One of these proteins is the variable surface glycoprotein (VSG). Most of the others are apparently non-variable, intracellular trypanosome proteins. Two of these antigens I2 and I17 are now characterized at the molecular level. Both exhibit a highly repetitive amino acid sequence organization, but they show no sequence similarity either to each other or to any other proteins known to date. Preliminary serological analyses indicate that both allow the early, sensitive and specific detection of infections with different species of trypanosomatids, making them interesting candidates for the development of diagnostic tools for trypanosomiasis detection

Cytoskeleton-associated antigens from African trypanosomes are recognized by self-reactive antibodies of uninfected mice

Serum from uninfected mice of different strains, as well as from germ-free animals, contains antibodies which react specifically with at least two trypanosomal proteins, I/6 and MARP1. These antibody populations are highly specific for the respective proteins, are of similar affinity as hyperimmune antibodies, and consist of IgM as well as IgG isotypes. Hyperimmune antibody raised against the cross-reacting trypanosomal protein I/6 detects a 60 kDa protein in mouse 3T6 cells, which is a component of the fibroblast cytoskeleto

Information Security in Nonprofits: A First Glance at the State of Security in Two Illinois Regions

Information security is a hot button topic across all industries and new reports of security incidents and data breaches is a near daily occurrence. Much is known about recent trends and shortcomings in information security in the public and private sectors, but relatively little research examines the state of information security in nonprofit organizations. The underlying missions of nonprofit organizations, composition of their workforce, and their reliance on grants and donations for revenue generation streams set nonprofits apart from private business. These facts warrant an examination of information security of nonprofit organizations separate from private or commercial groups. This paper examines the state of information security in nonprofit organizations with results obtained by surveying volunteers or employees at nonprofit groups in two areas of Illinois. A qualitative discussion using observations gained from direct analysis of the security status of three organizations as part of student service learning projects is presented as well

Identification and characterization of two repetitive non-variable antigens from African trypanosomes which are recognized early during infection

The present paper describes two repetitive proteins representing common antigens of African trypanosomes which are non-variant and which are recognized early in infection by the host immune system. These antigens were identified by their ability to immunoreact with bovine serum taken during the early phase of a cyclic trypanosomal infection. Screening of a cDNA library from T. b. gambiense with such early infection serum identified a protein which contains a repetitive motif consisting of 68 amino acid repeat units (GM6). Immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy revealed that GM6 is located on fibres which connect the microtubules of the membrane skeleton with the flagellum. A second repetitive antigen detected by this serum is MARP1 (microtubule-associated repetitive protein 1), a protein previously characterized in this laboratory as a high-molecular weight component of the membrane skeleton, which consists of more than 50 tandemly repeated, near-identical 38 amino acid repeat units. Beta-galactosidase fusion products of both proteins demonstrated a strong immunoreactivity with sera from T. b. brucei and T. congolense-infected cattle. The result from this preliminary immunological evaluation indicates a high immunodiagnostic sensititivy (90%) of the two recombinant antigens which make them interesting candidates for immunodiagnosis of trypanosomiasis in cattl

Identification and characterization of two repetitive non-variable antigens from African trypanosomes which are recognized early during infection

The present paper describes two repetitive proteins representing common antigens of African trypanosomes which are non-variant and which are recognized early in infection by the host immune system. These antigens were identified by their ability to immunoreact with bovine serum taken during the early phase of a cyclic trypanosomal infection. Screening of a cDNA library from T. b. gambiense with such early infection serum identified a protein which contains a repetitive motif consisting of 68 amino acid repeat units (GM6). Immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy revealed that GM6 is located on fibres which connect the microtubules of the membrane skeleton with the flagellum. A second repetitive antigen detected by this serum is MARP1 (microtubule-associated repetitive protein 1), a protein previously characterized in this laboratory as a high-molecular weight component of the membrane skeleton, which consists of more than 50 tandemly repeated, near-identical 38 amino acid repeat units. Beta-galactosidase fusion products of both proteins demonstrated a strong immunoreactivity with sera from T. b. brucei and T. congolense-infected cattle. The result from this preliminary immunological evaluation indicates a high immunodiagnostic sensititivy (90%) of the two recombinant antigens which make them interesting candidates for immunodiagnosis of trypanosomiasis in cattle

Cytokine gene polymorphisms and atopic disease in two European cohorts. (ECRHS-Basel and SAPALDIA)

BACKGROUND: Atopy and allergic phenotypes are biologically characterized by an imbalanced T helper cell response skewed towards a type 2 (TH2) immune response associated with elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Polymorphisms in cytokine genes might modulate regulation of the TH1/TH2 balance. We thus aimed at reproducing our previous findings from a European study population on the association of various cytokine polymorphisms with self-reported hay fever as well as increased total and specific IgE levels in two comparable study populations. METHODS: Two prospective Caucasian cohorts were used. In the Basel center of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS, n = 418) ten distinct cytokine polymorphisms of putative functional relevance were genotyped. In the Swiss cohort Study on Air Pollution And Lung Disease In Adults (SAPALDIA, n = 6003) two cytokine polymorphisms were genotyped. The associations of these polymorphisms with atopy were estimated by covariance and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We confirmed IL4, IL10, IL6 and IL18 as candidate genes for atopic health outcomes. In the large, well-characterized SAPALDIA cohort the IL6(-174G>C) and IL18(-137G>C) polymorphisms were associated with circulating total IgE concentrations in subjects with hay fever. The IL18(-137G>C) polymorphism was also associated with the prevalence of hay fever. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive characterization of genetic variation in extended cytokine candidate gene regions is now needed. Large study networks must follow to investigate the association of risk patterns defined by genetic predisposing and environmental risk factors with specific atopic phenotypes

Depression and cardiovascular disease are not linked by high blood pressure: findings from the SAPALDIA cohort

Depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are main contributors to the global disease burden and are linked. Pathophysiological pathways through increased blood pressure (BP) are a common focus in studies aiming to explain the relationship. However, studies to date have not differentiated between the predictive effect of depression on the course of BP versus hypertension diagnosis. Hence, we aimed to elucidate this relationship by incorporating these novel aspects in the context of a cohort study. We included initially normotensive participants (n = 3214) from the second (2001-2003), third (2009-2011), and fourth (2016-2018) waves of the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA). We defined depression based on physician diagnosis, depression treatment and/or SF-36 Mental Health score < 50. The prospective association between depression and BP change was quantified using multivariable censored regression models, and logistic regression for the association between depression and incident hypertension diagnosis. All models used clustered robust standard errors to account for repeat measurements. The age-related increase in systolic BP was slightly lower among people with depression at baseline (beta = - 2.08 mmHg/10 years, 95% CI - 4.09 to - 0.07) compared to non-depressed. A similar trend was observed with diastolic BP (beta = - 0.88 mmHg/10 years, 95% CI - 2.15 to 0.39), albeit weaker and not statistically significant. Depression predicted the incidence of hypertension diagnosis (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.60). Our findings do not support the hypothesis that depression leads to CVD by increasing BP. Future research on the role of depression in the pathway to hypertension and CVD is warranted in larger cohorts, taking into account healthcare utilization as well as medication for depression and hypertension

Perceived built environment, health-related quality of life and health care utilization

Previous research has shown that the built environment plays a crucial role for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and health care utilization. But, there is limited evidence on the independence of this association from lifestyle and social environment. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate these associations, independent of the social environment, physical activity and body mass index (BMI). We used data from the third follow-up of the Swiss study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart diseases In Adults (SAPALDIA), a population based cohort with associated biobank. Covariate adjusted multiple quantile and polytomous logistic regressions were performed to test associations of variables describing the perceived built environment with HRQoL and health care utilization. Higher HRQoL and less health care utilization were associated with less reported transportation noise annoyance. Higher HRQoL was also associated with greater satisfaction with the living environment and more perceived access to greenspaces. These results were independent of the social environment (living alone and social engagement) and lifestyle (physical activity level and BMI). This study provides further evidence that the built environment should be designed to integrate living and green spaces but separate living and traffic spaces in order to improve health and wellbeing and potentially save health care costs