The pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus is resistant to mannose-binding lectin

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an important component of innate immunity because it promotes bacterial clearance and neutralization of human influenza A viruses. Since a majority of humans have no neutralizing antibody against the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza (pandemic 2009) virus, innate immunity may be crucial and MBL susceptibility may therefore influence viral pathogenesis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We examined MBL susceptibility of influenza A viruses and observed that the pandemic 2009 virus was resistant to MBL, whereas all seasonal influenza A viruses tested were susceptible. The mortality of mice infected with a seasonal H1N1 influenza virus was evidently enhanced on transient blockage of MBL activity by simultaneous inoculation of mannan, whereas mannan inoculation had no effect on mice infected with a pandemic 2009 virus. This indicates that MBL protects mice against infection with the seasonal virus but not against that with the pandemic 2009 virus.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results indicate that the pandemic 2009 virus is not susceptible to MBL, an important component of innate immunity.</p

A Case Study of Human Otomyiasis Caused by Parasarcophaga similis (Meade, 1876) (Diptera : Sarcophagidae) Found in Hiroshima, Japan

A rare human case of auditory meatus infestation with dipterous larvae found in a 74-year-old male residing in Hiroshima City, Japan is reported. On August 7, 2001, the patient consulted a local physician, complaining of auditory discomfort and aural discharge from his left ear, and acute otitis media was suspected. Otological examination revealed three dipterous larvae in the patient\u27s left external auditory meatus. The removed larvae measured about 9.5 mm in length and 2.0 mm in maximum diameter with 12 visible segments on the body surface. By insectological observation, the specimens were identified as the 3rd instar larva of Parasarcophaga similis (Meade, 1876), belonging to the family Sarcophagidae, based on morphological characteristics of the cephalopharyngeal sclerite and anterior and posterior spiracles. To the best of our knowledge, the present report is the 3rd case of human otomyiasis caused by P. similis in Japan. The details and some bibliographical data are reported