Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Modabber

Publications and source records attributed to F Modabber.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Lack of immunoglobulin M suppression by immunoglobulin G antibody in thymectomized, irradiated, and bone marrow-reconstituted mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii.

Thymectomized, irradiated, bone marrow-reconstituted (T-deprived) mie infected with an avirulent strain of Toxoplasma gondii produced antibody titers comparable to those produced in intact syngeneic mice. Both immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies were produced in T-deprived animals; however, the IgM antibody remained constant in the presence of increasing amounts of IgG. In the intact animals, IgM became undetectable by day 50 postinfection as expected. Feedback inhibition of IgM by IgG seems to be dependent upon T-cells in Toxoplasma-infected mice.

Animals↗

Characterization of T and B antigen-binding cells for beta-galactosidase. II. T antigen-binding cells.

The results reported in this paper suggest that the specific Z-binding cells of the normal mouse include a large portion of T lymphocytes. Depletion of T cells with anti-theta serum and cortisone indicates that the majority of the ZBC of the thymus, which occur at frequencies of about 150/10(6), are indeed T cells. Similar treatment of spleen cells suggests that approximately half the binding cells in that organ are contributed by the T lymphocyte population. T-and B-enriched populations obtained from the spleen by using differential adherence to nylon wool contained equal numbers of ZBC and bound equivalent amounts of the antigen. Hence, there appears to be a high frequency of T lymphocytes that can be shown to bind beta-galactosidase specifically in both the thymus and spleen of normal mice.

Animals↗

The effect of cyclophosphamide on the recovery from a local chlamydial infection. Guinea-pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC).

The immune mechanism involved in the recovery from and resistance to guinea-pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC) was studied. Guinea-pigs were injected with a dose of cyclophosphamide (CY) (300 mg/kg wt) that inhibits antibody synthesis. Such treatment was shown to produce a cellular depletion in the B-cell area without producing an appreciable change in the T-cell area of the spleen and lymph nodes. CY treatment markedly delayed the appearance of secretory immunoglobulin A antibody to GPIC in the tears, and other classes of antibodies to GPIC and sheep erythrocyte in the serum. Furthermore, recovery from infection was impaired and a subsequent injection of CY prolonged the duration of infection. The results indicate that B cells may play an important role in the control of this infection.

Animals↗

Characterization of T and B antigen-binding cells for beta-galactosidase. I. beta-galactosidase-binding cells in the thymus and spleen of normal mice.

The results reported in this paper demonstrate that the enumeration of cells binding beta-galactosidase (Z) as an antigen, revealed by subsequent substrate hydrolysis, is an excellent method for the detection and study of antigen-binding cells (ZBC). The binding found is specific and is restricted to a small number of lymphocytes that bind a large number of Z molecules via surface receptors. Such ZBC were found at mean frequencies of 150 per 10(6) in the thymus and 200 to 300 per 10(6) in the spleen. The binding cells of both organs were heterogenous with individual ZBC binding from 10(5) to 10(6) molecules of enzyme as determined by substrate hydrolysis, although this might well be an overestimate of the number of actual receptors. The profiles for the frequency of ZBC binding different numbers of molecules were nearly identical for thymus and spleen, in contrast to descriptions of the binding of many other antigens. Receptors responsible for Z binding appear to be superficially located on the cell since they are trypsin-sensitive to a large extent and are not increased by fixation.

Animals↗

Antigen-binding cells in normal mouse thymus.

The thymus of a normal adult mouse contains lymphocytic cells with a large number of antigen-binding receptors. Binding of the antigen by these cells is specific and can be inhibited by cross-reactive materials. It is possible that the interaction of thymocytes with antibody-forming precursor cells, required in the primary immune response to certain antigens, is mediated by these specific antigen-binding cells of the thymus.

Animals↗

Antigen binding to cells: determination by enzymic fluorogenic group hydrolysis.

A sensitive method for detecting cells containing antibody to beta-galactosidase has been devised. The enzyme attached to the cells containing antibody can hydrolyze a fluorogenic substrate and yield fluorescent products which are measured microphotofluorometrically. This method of detecting a few molecules of antibody is applicable to other enzyme antigen systems.

Animals↗

Safety and immunogenicity of a killed Leishmania (L.) amazonensis vaccine against cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia: a randomized controlled trial.

The safety and immunogenicity of an intramuscular (i.m.) and intradermal (ID) formulation of autoclaved Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis vaccine was evaluated in 296 volunteers in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in Colombia. There were 4 vaccination groups: i.m. vaccine, i.m. placebo, ID vaccine, and ID placebo. The ID formulations were mixed with BCG as adjuvant at the time of injection. For each group, 3 vaccinations were given with a 20-day interval between injections, and adverse events were monitored at 20 min, and at 2, 7 and 21 days after each injection. BCG-induced adverse reactions resulted in cancellation of the third vaccine administration in the ID groups. Antibody titres did not differ significantly between the groups. Montenegro skin-test conversion was achieved by 86.4% and 90% of the i.m. vaccine group and by 25% and 5% of the i.m. placebo group 80 days and 1 year after vaccination, respectively. A significant increase in mean Leishmania-antigen lymphocyte proliferation indexes was observed after i.m. vaccine immunization, but not after i.m. placebo immunization, 80 days and 1 year after vaccination. Significant levels of IFN gamma but not IL-10 were observed 1 year after vaccination in the i.m. vaccine group compared to the i.m. placebo group. The good safety profile and evidence of Th1 immune reactions due to i.m. vaccination in this phase-I/II study suggest that a population-based phase-III efficacy trial of the i.m. vaccine should be initiated.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Alum-precipitated autoclaved Leishmania major plus bacille Calmette-Guérrin, a candidate vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis: safety, skin-delayed type hypersensitivity response and dose finding in healthy volunteers.

In a previous efficacy study, autoclaved Leishmania major (ALM) + bacille Calmette-Guérrin (BCG) vaccine was shown to be safe, but not superior to BCG alone, in protecting against visceral leishmaniasis. From June 1999 to June 2000, we studied the safety and immunogenicity of different doses of alum-precipitated ALM + BCG vaccine mixture administered intradermally to evaluate whether the addition of alum improved the immunogenicity of ALM. Twenty-four healthy adult volunteers were recruited and sequentially allocated to receive either 10 microg, 100 microg, 200 microg, or 400 microg of leishmanial protein in the alum-precipitated ALM + BCG vaccine mixture. Side effects were minimal for all doses and confined to the site of injection. All volunteers in the 10 microg, 100 microg, and 400 microg groups had a leishmanin skin test (LST) reaction of > or = 5 mm by day 42 and this response was maintained when tested after 90 d. Only 1 volunteer out of 5 in the 200 microg group had a LST reaction of > or = 5 mm by day 42 and the reasons for the different LST responses in this group are unclear. This is the first time that an alum adjuvant with ALM has been in used in humans and the vaccine mixture was safe and induced a strong delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in the study volunteers. On the basis of this study we suggest that 100 1 microg of leishmanial protein in the vaccine mixture is a suitable dose for future efficacy studies, as it induced the strongest DTH reaction following vaccination.

Adult↗

Non-ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis in Honduras fails to respond to topical paromomycin.

A double-'blind', placebo-controlled trial of topical therapy with 15% paromomycin (aminosidine) and 10% urea in white paraffin was carried out on 53 patients with non-ulcerating cutaneous leishmaniasis in Honduras. Although the treatment was not effective, several unexpected findings emerged from the trial. Leishmania mexicana was found to be the cause of many of the skin lesions in one of the 2 study sites. These lesions were clinically indistinguishable from those caused by L. chagasi, the aetiologic agent previously found for this form of leishmaniasis. This is the first documented report of L. mexicana in Honduras.

Administration, Topical↗

Phase 1 study of an inactivated vaccine against American tegumentary leishmaniasis in normal volunteers in Brazil.

A Phase 1 double-blind placebo-controlled study was performed to evaluate a vaccine against American tegumentary leishmaniasis in 61 healthy male volunteers. Side effects and the immune response to the vaccine were evaluated, with 1- and 2- dose schemes, with intervals of 7 or 21 days, each dose containing 1440 mg of protein N antigen of a single strain of Leishmania amazonensis (PH8) diluted in merthiolated saline (1:10,000). Merthiolated saline and an inert substance were used as placebos. No significant clinical alterations were found following the respective injections in the vaccinated individuals as compared to the placebos, except for local pain, which was associated significantly with injection of the vaccine. The laboratory alterations we observed bore no association with the clinical findings and were unimportant. We observed no differences between the groups with regard to seroconversion of the Montenegro skin test. However, the group that received a single dose of the vaccine and the one that received two doses with a 21-day interval displayed cutaneous induration significantly larger than in the control group, with 100%, 100%, and 66% conversion in the skin test, respectively. We concluded that the vaccine does not present any major side effect that would contraindicate its use in healthy individuals.

Adult↗