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PubMed1988

Isolation and characterization of recombinant Escherichia coli clones secreting a 24-kilodalton antigen of Treponema pallidum.

Escherichia coli clones containing Treponema pallidum DNA in the pUC8 vector and secreting a 24-kilodalton antigen of T. pallidum have been isolated. Both syphilitic human and syphilis-immune rabbit sera reacted with the recombinant p24 antigen, indicating that an equivalent protein in T. pallidum is capable of eliciting antibody responses during natural infections. The p24 antigen of T. pallidum was identified by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting with monospecific anti-p24 serum. We tentatively concluded that this cloned antigen is a secreted protein or a labile or minor component of T. pallidum because (i) p24 was secreted by the recombinant E. coli cells; (ii) recombinant p24 in E. coli cells was processed into several smaller species with molecular masses ranging from 12 to 20 kilodaltons, which correlate well with the masses of secreted antigens described by others; and (iii) p24 protein appeared to be highly antigenic during natural infections, but only a very small amount of this antigen was associated with or retained by the purified organisms. The possible role of the p24 protein in determining the growth characteristics of T. pallidum is suggested by the ability of recombinant p24 to induce growth changes in E. coli cells. All E. coli colonies expressing the p24 polypeptide exhibited a flat and rough colony morphology and a filamentous growth pattern that were different from those of other E. coli cells. The DNA sequence coding for the p24 polypeptide is located on a 1.7-kilobase-pair BamHI fragment of the T. pallidum genomic DNA and is absent in the nonpathogenic Treponema phagedenis DNA. However, any possible relationship between the p24 antigen and the virulence of T. pallidum remains to be determined. In preliminary studies, rabbits immunized with the purified p24 were not protected from the infection with live T. pallidum organisms.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1987

Cloning structural genes for Treponema pallidum immunogens and characterisation of recombinant treponemal surface protein, P2 (P2 star).

A genomic library consisting of partially digested 10 to 20 kilobase pair fragments of Treponema pallidum deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was constructed using bacteriophage lambda EMBL-3 as the vector. Positive clones expressing T pallidum antigens were detected with sera from experimentally infected rabbits. Treponemal proteins ranging in molecular weight from 37,000 daltons to 120,000 daltons were identified by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting of phage lysate proteins. One recombinant phage was examined further and contained an insert encoding a prominent treponemal 37,000 dalton protein. The recombinant protein was not recognised by antiserum directed against a fibronectin binding treponemal adhesion that contained the same electrophoretic mobility. Neither did antibody to the recombinant 37,000 dalton protein react with any treponemal proteins purified by fibronectin affinity chromatography. The recombinant protein in Escherichia coli lysates was labelled P2 (P2 star) to differentiate it from the comigrating adhesin protein called P2. Native P2 protein was present on T pallidum surfaces as shown by radioimmunoprecipitation assays with extrinsically labelled organisms. A cross reactive molecule like P2 was not synthesised by the avirulent spirochaete, T phagedenis biotype Reiter, which indicated that P2 is a protein specific to virulent T pallidum organisms. Finally, only sera of patients with primary syphilis possessed appreciable concentrations of antibody to recombinant P2 protein.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1982

Comparison of the morphology, antigenicity, and pathology of Nichols and Birmingham isolates of Treponema pallidum.

A strain of Treponema pallidum isolated from a homosexually acquired penile chancre in Birmingham in 1979 was serially passaged in rabbits and compared with the Nichols strain. The two strains appeared identical morphologically, and no gross differences were detected on antigenic analysis by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis. The Birmingham strain was, however, considerably less virulent for rabbits; the number of organisms required for equivalent time of development and severity of skin lesions was 10-fold to 100-fold greater for the Birmingham than for the Nichols strain. The pathology of testicular infection was broadly similar for both strains.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Differences in prevalence of selected bacterial species in primary endodontic infections from two distinct geographic locations.

OBJECTIVE: This study intended to compare the prevalence of 7 putative endodontic pathogens in samples of primary endodontic infections taken from patients of 2 distant geographic locations. STUDY DESIGN: Samples from infected root canals associated with asymptomatic periradicular lesions or from pus aspirated from acute periradicular abscesses were collected from patients in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Seoul, South Korea. South Korean samples were frozen and delivered to Brazil, where all steps in the molecular analysis were performed. DNA was extracted and a species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect 7 target bacterial species. RESULTS: The most prevalent species detected in Brazilian samples were Porphyromonas endodontalis (79% of the cases) , Treponema denticola (79%), and Dialister pneumosintes (76%). The most prevalent species found in South Korean samples were Fusobacterium nucleatum (38% of the cases) , Tannerella forsythia (26%), and Treponema maltophilum (24%). Overall, P endodontalis, D pneumosintes, Filifactor alocis, T denticola, and T forsythia were significantly more detected in Brazilian samples than in South Korean samples ( P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicated that the prevalence of some species in infections of endodontic origin may significantly differ from one geographic location to another.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Molecular analysis of the fetal IgM response to Treponema pallidum antigens: implications for improved serodiagnosis of congenital syphilis.

Western blot analysis of the fetal IgM response to Treponema pallidum antigens was examined among 39 pairs of maternal/infant sera; this included 12 mothers and infants with active syphilis (group I), 9 mothers with active syphilis and their infants with uncertain infection (group II), and 18 mothers treated for syphilis before delivery and their asymptomatic infants (group III). A fetal IgM response to T. pallidum antigens with apparent molecular masses of 72, 47, 45, 42, 37, 17, and 15 kDa was observed among sera of infants with congenital syphilis. Fractionation of sera into IgM and IgG components by high performance liquid chromatography confirmed that fetal IgM antibodies in every case were directed specifically against a 47-kDa antigen. Two asymptomatic infants from group II also showed serum IgM reactivities with the 47-kDa antigen, thereby appearing to confirm in utero infection. The combined data suggest that fetal serum IgM reactivity with the 47-kDa antigen of T. pallidum can be used as an important molecular marker for the diagnosis of congenital syphilis.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed2002

Some relationships between spirochaete infections and digital dermatitis in four UK dairy herds.

Digital dermatitis, presenting as a focal necrotic dermatitis on the skin of cows' feet adjacent to the interdigital space, has been associated with dermal infection by spirochaetes. Lesions cause severe, transient lameness. An enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was used to measure IgG(2) antibody titres against three different spirochaetes: USA bovine Treponema isolates 1-9185MED and 2-1498, and a UK strain of Borrelia burgdorferi B31. Logistic models were used to describe lesion prevalence in terms of the antibody titres, herd and milking status, year, lactation number, and yield. The antibody titres and milking status (P<0.001) dominated the logistic fits, with the other variables adding little. Generalised linear models were used to describe the antibody titres in terms of the presence or absence of lesions, herd, year, lactation number, and yield. The presence or absence of lesions had the most significant effect for all three antibodies (P<0.001). Neither the herd effects nor the effects due to lactation number or yield showed consistent patterns.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2006

Possible reasons for an increase in the proportion of genital ulcers due to herpes simplex virus from a cohort of female bar workers in Tanzania.

OBJECTIVES: To determine trends in the prevalence and aetiological distribution of genital ulcer syndrome (GUS) in a cohort of female bar workers and to assess factors associated with these trends. METHODS: An open cohort of 600 women at high risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) was offered screening and treatment for STI at 3-month intervals. The prevalence of GUS and associated aetiological agents (Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Treponema pallidum and Haemophilus ducreyi) were monitored over 27 months through clinical examination, dry lesion swabbing and multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The effects of HIV status and other factors on the prevalence trends of STI were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 753 women were recruited into the cohort over 10 examination rounds. At recruitment, the seroprevalence was 67% for HIV and 89% for HSV type 2 (HSV-2). During follow-up, 57% of ulcers had unknown aetiology, 37% were due to genital herpes and 6% to bacterial aetiologies, which disappeared completely in later rounds. The absolute prevalence of genital herpes remained stable at around 2%. The proportion of GUS caused by HSV increased from 22% to 58%, whereas bacterial causes declined. These trends were observed in both HIV-negative and HIV-positive women. CONCLUSIONS: The changes observed in the frequency and proportional distribution of GUS aetiologies suggest that regular STI screening and treatment over an extended period can effectively reduce bacterial STI and should therefore be sustained. However, in populations with a high prevalence of HSV-2, there remains a considerable burden of genital herpes, which soon becomes the predominant cause of GUS. Given the observed associations between genital herpes and HIV transmission, high priority should be given to the evaluation of potential interventions to control HSV-2 either through a vaccine or through episodic or suppressive antiviral therapy and primary prevention.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Lyme disease. A neuro-ophthalmologic view.

Lyme borreliosis is a spirochetal infection with a potential to produce a clinical disease in the human host with protean manifestations as diverse as the spectrum of disease caused by Treponema pallidum. Neuro-ophthalmologic manifestations of Lyme borreliosis are emphasized in this short review. A brief historical chronicle of Lyme disease is offered. Potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of Lyme disease with an emphasis on false negative serology and currently available diagnostic modalities are presented. Therapeutic options for Lyme borreliosis are briefly reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Comorbidity of STDs.

A 16-year-old African-American female presented with a 4-week history of intermittent fever, night sweats, and bilateral upper quadrant abdominal pain, bifrontal headache, left eye pain, pruritic rash on arms and chest, 7-kg weight loss, and 2-week history of pain with defecation and urination coincident with the development of perineal ulcers. Her past medical history is unremarkable. Chest x-ray showed bilateral interstitial nodular densities. The laboratory tests that returned positive were herpes simplex culture of the genital ulcer, rapid plasma reagin (1:32), microhemagglutination-Treponema pallidum test, and HIV ELISA and Western blot tests. Open lung biopsy was positive for Histoplasma capsulatum. Syphilis, herpes simplex type II, and HIV infection were all transmitted sexually from a single (and first) sexual encounter a year before admission.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of infectious diseases and drug abuse among Bangladeshi workers.

Individuals seeking jobs abroad need health fitness certificates before entering into those countries. Medical screening of 43,213 Bangladeshi job seekers (M/F: 42,290/923) was carried out in our reference center during the period August, 1994 to May, 1996. Albeit male predominance, they represented middle and lower middle socio-economic class of the population from all over the country. All were young adults (age: 27.05+/-3.56 years; mean+/-SD) applying for job visas to different Asian countries. Physical examination and laboratory investigations including markers for several infectious diseases and drugs of abuse were carried out as required by countries recruiting the workers. Serological tests revealed that 1,884 (4.4%) of individuals were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), 737 (1.7%) for Treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) and only 83 (0.2%) for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV). However, we could not confirm any case of infection with HIV. Chest X-ray suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 162 (0.4%) and on blood film, malarial parasites could be observed only in 4 cases. Their urine analysis revealed the presence of opiates or cannabinoids in 471 (1.1%) individuals. HBsAg-positive cases (p = 0.003) and abuse of opiates (p = 0.024) or cannabinoids (p = 0.002) were significantly higher among males. TPHA reactivity and chest X-ray suggestive of tuberculosis were found to be higher among opiates (p = 0.002 and 0.027) and cannabinoids (p = 0.000 for both) abused as well as with increasing age (p = 0.000). These results may represent a cross-sectional view of the prevalence of different infectious diseases and abuse of drugs among the young adult population of Bangladesh.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Seroprevalence of four sexually transmitted diseases in a semi-urban population of Gabon.

Using the cluster-sampling method, the authors estimated the seroprevalence of 4 sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among the sexually active general population in a city of 30,000 inhabitants in the east of Gabon. The seroprevalences were 2% for HIV-1, 13.8% for hepatitis B, 8.6% for Treponema pallidum and 59.6% for Chlamydia trachomatis. The seroprevalences of hepatitis B and chlamydia were stable over time and similar to those registered in other countries of central Africa. On the other hand, the seroprevalence of T. pallidum is notably low in comparison with these countries and seems to be decreasing. The seroprevalence of HIV-1 is also low but has doubled in 8 years in the city. Immigrant women from west Africa were a high-risk group for STDs but more generally, cohabiting was a risk factor for women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Intrauterine death and infections during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate whether microbial infections are involved in the etiology of intrauterine death. METHODS: One hundred four cases of stillbirth of unknown etiology and 96 age- and parity-matched referents with live births were analyzed with respect to microbial infection by cultures from the placenta, endocervix and internal organs of the fetuses, external sites of the babies and fetuses, and by serology for bacteria, viruses and Toxoplasma gondii. RESULTS: In 17 cases in whom no other infectious agent was diagnosed, Escherichia coli was isolated from the placenta and one or more internal fetal organs. Tests for Treponema pallidum and Toxoplasma gondii were more frequently positive in cases than in referents (O.R. 8.3 and 3.9, respectively). There was no increased risk for intrauterine death in women with human immunodeficiency virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus or rubella virus. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that infections remain an important cause of intrauterine death in Zimbabwe.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Adoptive transfer of immunity against Treponema of Fribourg-Blanc (TFB) in the hamster: role of T lymphocytes (author's transl)].

This adoptive transfer was studied in an inbred strain of syrian hamsters. Spleen and lymph node lymphocytes, from TFB-infected hamsters, were injected to isogeneic recipients. Anti-TFB immunity was studied in the recipients either by looking for the apparition of cutaneous lesions after superinfection by TFB, or by counting of Listeria monocytogenes remaining in the liver and in the spleen 48 h after a mixture of TFB and L. monocytogenes had been inoculated. The first method indicated that a complete inhibition of cutaneous lesions was obtained only with hyperimmunized donors. Our results also indicate that anti-TFB immunity was not medicated by B lymphocytes but by sensitized T lymphocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Ocular manifestations of syphilis.

Since the mid-1970s, the number of new cases of infectious syphilis has begun to increase. Ocular manifestations of secondary and late syphilis occur. The optometric role in the management of infectious syphilis is one of detection, consultation with internists and neurologists for systemic treatment, topical treatment of anterior uveitis, and monitoring for recurrence of disease. This report describes an elderly patient presenting with recurrent, bilateral iritis and optic atrophy as initial clinical manifestations of syphilitic infection.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Mucopolysaccharide material resulting from the interaction of Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain) with cultured mammalian cells.

During incubation of Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain) with cultured mammlian cells derived from normal rabbit testes (NRT), an amorphous material accumulated at the surface of the cultured cells. This material was randomly distributed on all tissue cells within the culture chambers. The amount of amorphous material was dependent on the treponemal inocula. With 3 x 10(8) organisms per ml, this material was readily apparent within 2 days; with 4 x 10(7) organisms per ml, this material was detectable within 4 to 5 days; with lower inocula, the accumulation of amorphous material was far less apparent. Deposition of this surface-associated material required attachment of treponemes to the cultured cells, and the amount deposited was related to the number of treponemes attached per cell. This amorphous material was not detected when NRT cells were incubated with preparations of T. pallidum that were heat or air inactivated. In addition, the accumulaton of amorphous material was not due to a soluble component from host testicular tissue or to a soluble component developing during treponemal infection. This was demonstrated by the inability of membrane filtered preparations of T. pallidum to induce the deposition of amorphous material at the surface of the cultured cells. The nature of this material appeared to be acidic mucopolysaccharide as indicated by its metachromatic staining properties, its stainability with ruthenium red, and its partial degradation by bovine and streptomyces hyaluronidase. This amorphous material that accumulated in vitro at the surface of cultured cells may be similar to the mucoid material that accumulates in vivo during syphilitic infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Incidence of HTLV-I in high-risk population in Delhi.

Human infection due to HTLV-I occurs by transmission of infected T-cells via sexual intercourse, blood transfusion or breastfeeding. The present investigation was carried out to find the incidence of HTLV-I in high risk population and its relationship with syphilis and HIV infection. The study group comprised 124 antenatal cases, 9 patients attending Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinics and 144 blood donors. Passive particle agglutination test was performed on all the test sera for anti HTLV-I antibodies. VDRL and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests were carried out on sera from antenatal and STD cases. Sera from blood donors were tested for HIV antibodies by ELISA and confirmed by Western Blot. Anti HTLV-I antibodies were found in 10.6% of the cases studied. There was no association between the presence of anti HTLV-I antibodies and syphilis in expectant mothers and STD cases. However, significant association was found between the former and HIV infection in blood donors.

Adult↗