24 research outputs found
Schistosoma mansoni heat shock protein 70 elicits an early humoral immune response in S. mansoni infected baboons
A study was undertaken to search for DNA recombinant Schistosoma mansoni proteins responsible for eliciting an antibody response from the host at a very early phase after infection. A S. mansoni adult worm cDNA expression library was screened using pooled sera from baboons with four weeks of infection. Based on their specific reactivity with the S. mansoni infected sera and no reactivity when tested against the pre-infection sera from the same baboons, four clones were selected for further studies. Sequence analysis revealed that they were homologous to the S. mansoni heat shock protein 70 (hsp70). The insert sizes of the four selected clones varied from 1150 to 2006 bp. The preliminary characterization for antibody reactivity against a panel of baboon sera showed that the longest clone was the most reactive, eight out of eight acute and three out of four chronic sera reacting positively to this clone. The shortest clone was the least reactive. Our results suggest that the S. mansoni hsp70 elicits an early and strong antibody response in baboons and that antibodies to this protein can be detected in chronically infected animals. Therefore S. mansoni hsp70 may be a valid target for immunodiagnosis. However further studies are needed to identify the portion of the hsp70 that best fits the requirements for a valuable diagnostic antigen
Prognostic value of serum albumin combined with serum C-reactive protein levels in older hospitalized patients: continuing importance of serum albumin
Mycobacterium tuberculosis IMPDH in Complexes with Substrates, Products and Antitubercular Compounds
Evaluation and social capital: a theory-driven and participatory approach
Basing on the concept of social capital, the article analyzes the links between public policies evaluation processes, knowledge production, and social betterment in complex and multi-actors systems