Phagosome maturation of the professional phagocytes after ingestion of microbial pathogens, characterized by phagosomal acidification and phagosome/lysosome fusion, is a critical step in the killing and degradation of the internalized Idasanutlin pathogens and thus plays a key role in innate immunity against microbial infection [23-25]. We first measured phasosomal pH in infant macrophages and observed a substantially delayed and reduced phagosomal acidification in infant macrophages compared with adult macrophages after ingestion of either S. aureus or S. typhimurium. Consistent with

the defective phagosomal acidification, infant macrophages also exhibited severely impaired phagolysosome fusion in response

to both gram-positive and click here gram-negative bacterial challenges, as revealed by the impaired colocalization of either S. aureus-FITC or E. coli-FITC with LysoTraker red-labeled lysosomes in infant macrophages compared with adult macrophages. These data indicate that infant macrophages exhibit a defect in phagosome maturation into the late lysosomal stage. Collectively, our results reveal the deficiency of infant mice in their innate phagocyte-associated antimicrobial functions in response to bacterial infection, which is characterized by diminished PMN in vitro chemotaxis and in PRKD3 vivo recruitment into the infections site, and impaired macrophage phagosome maturation and bactericidal activity. These defective innate immunity-mediated antimicrobial responses render infant mice more susceptible to microbial

sepsis. Two- and eight-week-old infant and adult C57BL/6 mice were purchased from Harlan (Oxon, U.K.) and maintained in the University Biological Services Unit, University College Cork / National University of Ireland. Mice were housed in barrier cages under controlled environmental conditions (12/12 h of light/dark cycle, 55% ± 5% humidity, 23°C) and had free access to standard laboratory chow and water. Animals were fasted 12 h before experiments and allowed water ad libitum. All animal procedures were carried out in the University Biological Services Unit under a license from the Department of Health (Republic of Ireland). All animal studies were conducted with ethical approval granted from the University College Cork Ethics Committee. Gram-positive S. aureus and gram-negative S. typhimurium were obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA, USA) and the National University of Ireland Culture Collection, respectively. Bacteria were cultured at 37°C in trypticase soy broth (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), harvested at the mid-logarithmic growth phase, washed twice, and resuspended in PBS for in vitro and in vivo use.

Although mStx2-His vaccination did not confer sufficient protection to mice to withstand challenge with 1000-fold MLD Stx2-His, vaccination did completely protect mice from challenge with 100-fold MLD, leading us to conclude that there was sufficient evidence for mStx2-His as a vaccine antigen. In this study, we could not use EHEC-derived Stx2 to challenge the mice because this would have required a large amount of toxin. Although we confirmed the in vitro neutralization effect of anti-mStx2-His

sera against EHEC-derived Stx2, we have yet to confirm the in vivo neutralization effect of the antisera against a large amount of EHEC-derived Stx2. In summary, we succeeded in overexpressing wild-type and mStx2-His

to be employed as a vaccine antigen to protect mice from Shiga toxemia. The method described in this study is Vemurafenib cost effective and suitable for large-scale preparation of toxoid vaccine. This work was supported, in part, by grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and Health and Labour Sciences Research Grants for Research on global health issues from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan. The authors declare no conflicts of interest or financial support. Additional supporting information may be found in the online version of this article. “
“In order to ensure an ample supply learn more of quality candidate tuberculosis (TB) subunit vaccines for clinical trials, it is imperative to develop new immunostimulatory adjuvants. High Mobility Box Group 1 (HMGB1), a member of the alarmin group of immunostimulatory proteins, is released by antigen-presenting cells under various conditions Florfenicol and has been shown to induce T helper type 1 cytokines. We report that HMGB1 is effective as an adjuvant to enhance the protective efficacy and cellular immune response of TB subunit vaccines and that it is not dependent on the interaction between HMGB1

and receptor for advanced glycation end products, a major receptor for HMGB1. In the mouse model of TB, HMGB1 protein, when formulated with dioctadecylammonium bromide and 6000 MW early secretory antigenic target (ESAT-6), was protective as a subunit vaccine but did not protect as molecular adjuvant in an ESAT-6-based DNA formulation. We then evaluated the immunoprophylactic and protective potential of a fusion protein of HMGB1 and ESAT-6. The HMGB1–ESAT-6 fusion protein induced strong antigen-specific T helper type 1 cytokines at 30 days post-immunization. The fusion protein vaccine enhanced activated and effector memory CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses in the lungs and spleens of mice at 80 days post vaccination. Vaccination with the HMGB1–ESAT-6 fusion protein also resulted in elevated numbers of poly-functional CD4 T cells co-expressing interleukin-2, interferon-γ and tumour necrosis factor-α.

To understand the type of cell death induced by RAPA M0, M1 and M2 macrophages were assessed using DNA staining and annexin V/PI staining. Consistent with apoptotic cell death, RAPA selectively increased annexin V-positive cells (P < 0·01, n = 6) and cells with hypodiploid DNA content in M2 and M0 macrophages (P < 0·01, n = 6) (Fig. 2). The presence SRT1720 mouse of RAPA induced modifications of macrophage phenotype depending on the type of polarization (Fig. 3). In M1, RAPA significantly reduced the

expression of CD25, TLR2, CD127, CD64, CD14, CD163, CD36, CD206 and CD209, but increased CCR7, CD86 and CD32 expression. In M2, RAPA significantly reduced the expression of CD86, CD32, CD36, CD206, CXCR4 and CD209. As for phenotype, the cytokine/chemokine secretion was also modified by RAPA depending on polarization (Table 1). During M1 polarization CXCL11, CCL19, IL-10, VEGF and CCL18 were down-regulated while IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β were

up-regulated. On the other hand, RAPA reduced CCL18, CC13 and SCGF-β during M2 polarization. In view of the in vitro effect of RAPA, we examined the chemokine/cytokine release by PBMC after LPS stimulation and the efficiency to polarize macrophages to M1 or M2 in patients who were treated with RAPA (0·1 mg/kg/day) as monotherapy. Twelve patients who received RAPA before islet transplant were analysed prospectively. During RAPA treatment circulating inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen increased significantly (Fig. 4a). The LPS-stimulated

PBMC release of M1-related factors such as CXCL9, CXCL10, IFN-γ, G-CSF and IL-1ra was strongly up-regulated MLN2238 molecular weight after 14 days of RAPA monotherapy (Table 2). Moreover, a milder, Grape seed extract even if significant, increase was also observed for CCL11, CCL27, GM-CSF, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, hepatocyte growth factor, IL-2, IL-4, IL-9, IL-13, IL-15, IL-18 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor, while CCL4 appeared down-regulated. The efficiency to polarize to M1 or M2 was evaluated in nine of 12 patients (Fig. 4b). At baseline, 3951 cells/ml blood (2303–5318) and 2868 cells/ml blood (1686–5692) were obtained by in vitro M1 and M2 polarization, respectively (P = ns; M1/M2 ratio 1·41 ± 0·49). After 21 days of RAPA monotherapy 7795 cells/ml blood (2107–18 864) and 3247 cells/ml blood (1762–7431) were obtained by in vitro M1 and M2 polarization, respectively (P = 0·01; M1/M2 ratio 1·79 ± 0·84). Mounting evidence indicates that mTOR-mediated signalling regulates both adaptive and innate immune cell development and functions.[12, 38, 39] In this study we described the effect of mTOR inhibition by RAPA on the plasticity of mononuclear phagocytes. In vitro, RAPA induced apoptotic cell death during M0/M2 but not M1 macrophage polarization. Previously a role for RAPA on survival of non-proliferating cells that can be derived from monocytes was suggested for osteoclasts[40, 41] and dendritic cells.

85 Besides haematological malignancies, neutropenia and lung or liver transplantation, risk factors for IA include multiple organ dysfunctions, immunocompromised state in severe sepsis, prolonged high-dose systemic steroid therapy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver cirrhosis, immunosuppressive therapy for systemic disease, malnutrition and selleckchem prolonged ICU stay.84 Clinical symptoms are largely unspecific, particularly in

patients with early infection. Fever, dry cough, dysp-noea, pleuritic pain or haemoptysis may be observed. Diagnostic modalities include computerised tomography (CT) scanning, fungal antigen detection from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid or serum, and microbiological or histopathological evidence of pulmonary aspergillosis. Detection of new nodular infiltrates on high-resolution or multislice CT images can raise

Roxadustat solubility dmso the suspicion of IA in predisposed patients. However, the halo around suspicious nodules observed in some neutropenic patients with IA is absent or non-specific in patients with normal neutrophil function. Testing for galactomannan (GM), an Aspergillus cell wall component, is established as a diagnostic tool in neutropenic patients with relatively high rates of sensitivity and specificity, in particular when serial tests are performed.86 However in patients with intact neutrophil function, GM sensitivity is much lower: Aspergillus spp. may persist in lung tissue while circulating fungal elements are eliminated by phagocytic cells. Detection of GM in BAL fluid has been shown to be to be a more useful option in ICU patients with sensitivity and specificity exceeding 80% in a small patient population.87 However, the feasibility of serial GM testing

from BAL fluid is limited by the cumbersome procedure required for sampling. According Methisazone to recent therapeutic guidelines of the IDSA,88 therapy of IA primarily involves voriconazole as the agent of choice, as it was shown to achieve superior survival rates in contrast to amphotericin B in a randomised comparative trial.89 Liposomal amphotericin B is considered as an alternative in some patients. Use of echinocandins in primary therapy of IA is not supported by adequate evidence to date. However, this class of agents can be used for salvage treatment.88 Mould-active antifungal prophylaxis is generally not warranted in the ICU population because of the low incidence rates of invasive hyphomycetes infections. AG has served as a member of advisory boards and received honoraria from Astellas, MSD and Pfizer. MK participated in the advisory board of MSD, Pfizer, Gilead and Essex. “
“Disseminated infections caused by members of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) occur regularly in immunocompromised patients. Here, we present the first human case caused by FFSC-member Fusarium andiyazi.

The model reveals early inflammation-associated changes in the ventricle wall that can be determined by cardiac magnet

Idasanutlin datasheet resonance imaging (CMRI) and hence permits the evaluation of the central processes in the transition from autoimmune myocarditis to DCM. Furthermore, dissection of the Th-cell cytokine contribution to myocarditis and subsequent DCM revealed that IFN-γ signaling is critical for the development of myocarditis, whereas the concerted action of both IL-17A and IFN-γ is required for progression to DCM. Myhca614–629 peptide-specific T-cell hybridomas were generated using effector Th cells from mice suffering from peptide-induced EAM (Supporting Information Fig. 1A and B). Following sequence

identification of TCR variable regions (Supporting Information Fig. 1C) and cloning into TCR cassette vectors, linearized constructs were microinjected into fertilized oocytes to produce transgenic offsprings. Since the two TCR transgenic founder lines displayed almost identical transgenic TCR expression patterns, LY2109761 chemical structure all further analyses were continued with line 1 (designated as C.CB6-Tg(Tcra,Tcrb)562Biat, short TCR-M). Flow cytometric analysis revealed that TCR-M mice exhibit a strongly shifted CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio in secondary lymphoid organs (spleen and lymph nodes) and an increase of thymic CD4 single positive (SP) T cells with a strong reduction in double-positive (DP) thymocytes (Fig. 1A). Eighty to more than 95% of the peripheral CD4+ T cells and almost all thymic CD4 SP T cells expressed the transgenic TCR Vβ8 and Vα2 chains (Fig. 1B). To assess immune responsiveness of peripheral TCR-M T cells, splenocytes

Branched chain aminotransferase were stimulated with different concentrations of myhca614–629 peptide and proliferation of CD4+ T cells was assessed. As shown in Fig. 1C, a concentration of 10 ng/mL (5 × 10−9 M) myhca614–629 peptide was sufficient to induce proliferation of TCR-M T cells. Furthermore, CD4+ TCR-M T cells responded to DCs loaded with cardiac myosin protein with vigorous proliferation (data not shown), suggesting that high avidity myhca614–629-specific T cells had seeded the periphery and that CD4+ TCR-M T cells had not been exposed to negative selection during their maturation in the thymus. Indeed, RT-PCR analysis from thymic tissue confirmed the selective lack of cardiac myosin alpha expression in BALB/c mice (Supporting Information Fig. 2), a finding that has been recently described for humans and transgenic NOD mice that express the human MHC class II molecule DQ8 [25]. The absence of central tolerance and the presence of high avidity myhca614–629-specific T cells in TCR-M mice precipitated spontaneous autoimmune myocarditis with first leukocyte infiltrations being detectable in hearts of TCR-M mice at 2 weeks of age (Fig. 2A).

Rabbit polyclonal antisera specific for mouse CXCR3 and CXCL10 were provided by Dr. Thomas Lane, the generation of which has previously been described [44]. These reagents have been shown to be specific for mCXCR3 and mCXCL10 and do not cross-react with a panel of other human and murine recombinant cytokines [27, 29, 44]. They have been shown to block CD4+ T-cell infiltration in vivo [27, Sirolimus order 29, 44]. Experimental groups of mice were injected i.p. with 0.5 mL anti-mCXCR3 or anti-mCXCL10 every third day from d 0 to d 15 post-T-cell transfer. NRS from the same preinoculated

rabbits was used as a control. Antigen-specific cytokine production was determined in spleen and dLN cells and mononuclear cells isolated C59 wnt supplier by Percoll density centrifugation from the pooled SCs of mice perfused with PBS, following culture for 24 h in 96-well filtration plates (Millipore), with or without 50 μg/mL MOG35–55. Antibodies from eBioscience were anti-IL-17 (TC11–18H10), biotinylated anti-IL-17 (TC11–8H4), IFN-γ (AN18), and biotinylated anti-IFN-γ (R4–6A2). Streptavidin–alkaline phosphatase (Southern Biotech) and an alkaline phosphatase substrate kit (Vector Laboratories) were used to identify trapped cytokine. Spots were counted using the CTL ImmunoSpot Analyzer (Cellular Technology) with ImmunoSpot software, and the number of spots in the medium

only wells subtracted. RNA was harvested from whole SC using the Trizol (Invitrogen)/chloroform method followed by RT into cDNA using the High-Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit (Applied Biosystems). Primers and probes were designed using Beacon Designer

and synthesized by Integrated DNA Technologies. Samples were analyzed on an iCycler PCR machine (Bio-Rad Laboratories). Data were normalized to the endogenous control β-actin and expressed as fold increase over SCs from naïve mice. Splenocytes, mononuclear cells isolated by Percoll Interleukin-2 receptor density centrifugation from the pooled SCs of mice perfused with PBS, or polarized dLN cells following culture were activated (2 × 106 cells/mL) with PMA (50 ng/mL; Sigma) and ionomycin (2 μg/mL; Sigma), in the presence of brefeldin A (5 μg/mL), for 6 h at 37°C. Cells were washed and blocked with Fc block (clone 2.4G2; 50 μg/mL) before extracellular staining with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies for CD3, CD4, CD45.1, and CD45.2 (eBioscience). Cells were then fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde, permeabilized with saponin (Sigma), and stained intracellularly with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies for IL-17 or IFN-γ (eBioscience). Flow cytometric analysis was performed using a FACSCanto II flow cytometer (Becton–Dickinson) and analyzed with FloJo software (Tree Star, Inc.), with gating set on isotype controls.

Patients www.selleckchem.com/products/c646.html with other connective tissue disorders were excluded from the analysis as the numbers were insignificant. Results: The

mean estimated glomerular filtration rate of vasculitis and LN patients improved from 28.8 to 51.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 62.42 to 65.53 mL/min/1.73 m2 respectively. The mean urine protein/creatinine ratio of vasculitis and LN improved from 273 to 79.5 and 406 to 70 respectively. No patients died in either groups. Only one vasculitic and two LN patients required maintenance dialysis. Three LN patients underwent renal transplantation. Conclusion: Compared to the published studies our results show better patient and renal survival. Long-term follow up is needed before firm conclusions can be made. 221 INDICATIONS AND DIAGNOSES OF KIDNEY BIOPSIES AT A SINGLE INSTITUTION 2008–2013 A LECAMWASAM, MA ROBERTS, D LEE, H LIEW, L MCMAHON Box Hill Hospital, Australia Aim: To evaluate the distribution of clinical indications and histological diagnoses of renal biopsies. A secondary aim was to examine the clinical outcomes from the most common diagnoses. Background: A retrospective audit of all renal biopsies

performed at Eastern Health Paclitaxel between January 2008 and October 2013 was performed. Methods: Reports of all renal biopsies and clinical data during the study period were obtained from the electronic health records at Eastern Health. Results: Of 197 biopsies performed, 170 were native kidneys and 27 transplant kidneys. The main indications for native kidney biopsy were reduced kidney function (44%), proteinuria (37%) and haematuria BCKDHA (11%). The main indications for transplant kidneys were protocol biopsy (n = 15) and suspected rejection (n = 12). In 60 patients with combined haematuria and proteinuria, IgA nephropathy was the predominant pathology (n = 26, 43%), followed by pauci-immune glomerulonephritis (n = 13, 22%). In

17 patients considered to have nephrotic syndrome, membranous nephropathy (n = 8) was the dominant lesion. The mean eGFR of 16 IgA nephropathy patients with complete follow up data, at biopsy, 6 months, and at most recent follow-up (median 2.8 years) was 51.6, 53.9 and 51.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 respectively. The corresponding mean proteinuria was 3.3, 1.2 and 0.5 g/day respectively. The corresponding systolic blood pressure measurements improved from a mean of 130 at biopsy to 120 and 112 mm/Hg at 6 months and most recent follow-up respectively. Three quarters of patients received an antagonist of the renin-angiotensin system. Conclusions: Reduced kidney function was the most frequent indication and IgA nephropathy the most common histological diagnosis in this kidney biopsy audit. Patients with IgA with follow-up data had a good short term prognosis. 222 TOWARDS A NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE NETWORK FOR CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD) WE HOY1, HG HEALY1,2,3, D WAUGH3,4, M JOSE5, H KULKARNI6, I KATZ7, C NELSON3,8, K PANARETTO9, R WALKER10 1CKD.

Developing B cells in the bone marrow express CD25 during the pre-B-cell stage [8, 9] but the function of CD25 on these immature B cells is largely unknown as they do not proliferate in response to IL-2 SCH772984 mw [9]. CD25+ B cells in the periphery are today believed to be activated B cells; however, most of these studies are performed in vitro [10] and very little is known about the expression of CD25

on B cells after activation in vivo. The CD25+ B-cell population consists of about 1% of the whole B-cell population in a naïve mouse spleen and previous studies have revealed considerable phenotypical difference between the CD25+ B cells in bone marrow and those present in secondary lymphoid organs [2]. While CD25+ B cells isolated from bone marrow displayed an immature phenotype, CD25+ B cells isolated from secondary lymphoid organs display a more mature and activated phenotype when compared with RXDX-106 CD25− B cells characterized by higher expression

of surface IgA and IgG as well as a higher expression of the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 [2]. In addition, we have shown that human circulating CD25+ B cells display different phenotypic and functional properties when compared with the CD25− B cells. CD25+ B cells performed significantly better as antigen-presenting cells in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and B cell–specific blocking of the CD25 expression led to abrogation of the

MLR. CD25+ B cells also expressed significantly higher levels of surface immunoglobulin but lacked the ability to secrete them [3]. Overall, the human CD25+ B cells display a more mature phenotype and seem belong to the Thiamet G memory B-cell population [4]. The aim of this study has been to analyse the functional properties of CD25+ B cells in mice with respect to immunoglobulin and cytokine production, antigen presentation, migration and homing. Our results clearly show that CD25+ B cells are highly differentiated and might belong to the memory B-cell subset. Mouse strains.  Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) and C57BL/6 female mice were used. C57Bl/6 mice were used only in the mixed lymphocyte reaction experiments. Permission from the local animal research ethics committee, in accordance with national animal welfare legislation, was obtained for all the mice experiments. B-cell isolation.  Spleens were passed through a 70-μm nylon mesh (BD Bioscience, Erembodegem, Belgium) into a Petri dish containing 10 ml phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Cell suspension was centrifuged; the pellet resuspended in NH4Cl solution (0,83%, pH 7.29) and kept on ice for 7 min to lyse erythrocytes, followed by two washing steps in cold PBS. The cells were counted and incubated with optimal concentration of Fc-block (2.4G2; BD Bioscience) for 8 min at room temperature to avoid unspecific binding via Fc-receptor interaction.

Assays with antigen in the absence of sera served as negative controls. Immunoglobulin titres are expressed click here as OD units, with a value obtained for 1 : 100 diluted serum samples. The proteolytic activity of Cwp84 was quantified with azocasein (Sigma); 50 μg of protease was added to 500 μL of a 5 mg mL−1 azocasein solution in 25 mM Tris (pH 7.5). After 16 h of incubation,

intact azocasein was removed by 3% trichloroacetic acid precipitation, and the amount of released dye was measured spectrophotometrically at 336 nm. The neutralizing activity of the specific anti-Cwp84 hamster sera was tested by monitoring Cwp84-mediated degradation of azocasein. Various amounts of sera were added to the protease, resulting in 1 : 50 dilutions, and after 30 min of incubation at 37 °C, an MK 2206 azocasein mixture was added and assays were performed as described above. To assess the specificity of the neutralizing activity of immunized hamster sera, and to exclude the possibility of a steric hindrance effect, negative control experiments were performed with preimmune hamster sera, using the same dilutions. Statistical

analyses were performed to compare the antibody level (OD405 nm values) directed to Cwp84 in the hamster sera sample of the control group to the Cwp84 immunized group. It shows that antibody levels were not normally distributed. Therefore, we used the Mann–Whitney U-test for nonparametric data to test the null hypothesis that there was no difference between the immunized group and the control group. Analyses were performed using the stata 8.0 (Statacorp, College Station, TX). Statistical significance was set at P=0.05. All P-values were two-sided. The survival of animals following infection was analysed using Kaplan–Meier estimates. Survival rates across groups were compared using log-rank tests. P-values of <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Statistical analyses were performed using stata 8.0 (Statacorp). Three groups of hamsters were immunized by 100 μg of the protease Cwp84 by several routes of immunization: rectally, intragastrically and subcutaneously. Then clindamycin

was administered SB-3CT to animals and, 5 days later, hamsters were challenged by C. difficile spores. Each hamster was sampled under anaesthesia directly by heart puncture. Cwp84-specific IgG, IgA and IgM were quantified by ELISA and the capacity of serum antibodies to neutralize Cwp84 activity in vitro was measured. Serum antibodies against Cwp84 were measured before immunization and 15 days after the second boost. The response was variable within groups (Fig. 1). The poorest response was seen with the intragastric route; the mean OD405 nm was 0.5 and there was no significant difference before and after immunization (P=0.13). Hamsters receiving the protease by the subcutaneous route exhibited a relatively strong response, with a mean of OD405 nm of 1.

are usually ineffective. The objective of this study was to obtain in vitro susceptibility profile of 76 clinical isolates of Malassezia species against 16 antifungal drugs used Nutlin-3 datasheet for topical or systemic treatment. Isolates were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were obtained by a modified microdilution method based on the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute reference document M27-A3. The modifications allowed a good growth of all tested species. High in vitro antifungal activity of most tested drugs was observed,

especially triazole derivatives, except for fluconazole which presented the highest MICs and widest range of concentrations. Ketoconazole

and itraconazole demonstrated a great activity. Higher MICs values were obtained with Malassezia furfur indicating a low susceptibility to most of the selleck products antifungal agents tested. Malassezia sympodialis and Malassezia pachydermatis were found to be more-susceptible species than M. furfur, Malassezia globosa, Malassezia slooffiae and Malassezia restricta. Topical substances were also active but provide higher MICs than the compounds for systemic use. The differences observed in the antifungals activity and interspecies variability demonstrated the importance to studying the susceptibility profile of each species to obtain reliable information for defining an effective treatment regimen. “
“Aspergillus fumigatus is an intracellular opportunistic fungus causing invasive pulmonary mycosis, characterised by hyphal invasion and destruction of pulmonary tissue. Th1 many cytokines could enhance fungicidal activity. The effects from the combination of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-2 are rarely known in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis infection. To assess the cleaning of A. fumigatus

infection in the pulmonary tissues by IL-12 and IL-2, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was detected in the sera using ELISA, quantification of IFN-γ mRNA using real-time RT-PCR and lung Colony-forming unit was assayed by cultivation. Morphology was analysed by histopathological examination. Our results showed that IL-12 and/or IL-2 could enhance the IFN-γ expression in the pulmonary tissue, reduce the colony load in the pulmonary tissue and increase the survival rate of mouse. The combination of IL-12 and IL-2 could assist in increasing the IFN-γ expression in the pulmonary tissue, but neither reduce colony load in the pulmonary tissue nor increase the survival rate of mouse significantly. It was demonstrated that IL-12 and IL-2 were strong immunomodulatory cytokines as a prerequisite for protecting the host from infectious agents. “
“Infections are a major threat for patients with haematological malignancies after intensive myelosuppressive chemotherapy. The severity and extent of neutropenia are considered a major risk factor for infections in these patients.