Marta Amaral | Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel) (original) (raw)
Papers by Marta Amaral
Biological Research, 2011
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, Jan 11, 2016
Leptospirosis is a global zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. In this study, we charact... more Leptospirosis is a global zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. In this study, we characterized two Leptospira kirschneri serogroup Pomona serovar Mozdok isolates, one obtained from a dog and the other from a patient with severe leptospirosis, 4 years later. Histopathological analysis showed that both isolates caused severe tissue damage when used to infect hamsters. While L. kirschneri serogroup Pomona serovar Mozdok is endemic in animals in Europe, there is only one report in the literature of human leptospirosis. Although strains belonging to L. kirschneri serogroup Pomona have been identified in cases of human leptospirosis in Europe, serovar Mozdok has not yet been implicated. The 4-year interval between isolations and the fact that this is the first report of serovar Mozdok as the causative agent of human leptospirosis in the southern hemisphere, demonstrates its epidemiological importance to public health. Moreover, the presence of serovar Mozdok in Brazil has the pot...
Folha Med, Apr 1, 1994
Base de dados : LILACS. Pesquisa : 154167 [Identificador único]. Referências encontradas : 1 [ref... more Base de dados : LILACS. Pesquisa : 154167 [Identificador único]. Referências encontradas : 1 [refinar]. Mostrando: 1 .. 1 no formato [Detalhado]. página 1 de 1, 1 / 1, LILACS, seleciona. para imprimir. Fotocópia. experimental, Documentos relacionados. Id: 154167. ...
Revista Tecer, Dec 4, 2012
Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2015
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of theLeptospira genus. Vacc... more Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of theLeptospira genus. Vaccination with bacterins has severe limitations. Here, we evaluated the N-terminal region of the leptospiral immunoglobulin-like B protein (LigBrep) as a vaccine candidate against leptospirosis using immunisation strategies based on DNA prime-protein boost, DNA vaccine, and subunit vaccine. Upon challenge with a virulent strain ofLeptospira interrogans, the prime-boost and DNA vaccine approaches induced significant protection in hamsters, as well as a specific IgG antibody response and sterilising immunity. Although vaccination with recombinant fragment of LigBrep also produced a strong antibody response, it was not immunoprotective. These results highlight the potential of LigBrep as a candidate antigen for an effective vaccine against leptospirosis and emphasise the use of the DNA prime-protein boost as an important strategy for vaccine development.
Vaccine, 2007
The bacillus Calmette--Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain is considered a... more The bacillus Calmette--Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain is considered a promising candidate as a vector system for delivery of foreign antigens to the immune system. The gene coding for the Leptospira interrogans external membrane protein LipL32, a highly immunogenic antigen found in all pathogenic leptospira, was cloned into several mycobacterial vectors for expression in BCG. Hamsters immunized with recombinant BCG (rBCG) expressing LipL32 were protected against mortality (P<or=0.05) upon challenge with a lethal inoculum of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni. Autopsy examination did not reveal macroscopic or histological evidence of disease in rBCG immunized hamsters that survived lethal challenge. The data presented here further enhance the status of LipL32 as a promising candidate antigen for use in the control of leptospirosis, when presented to the immune system by an appropriate delivery system.
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2015
The equine oviduct is considered as a reproductive organ with essential functions for early repro... more The equine oviduct is considered as a reproductive organ with essential functions for early reproductive events. There is extensive literature on the pathology of the equine endometrium relating to reduced fertility, but in only few studies, the influence of alterations of the equine oviduct has been examined. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of inflammatory lesions in the oviduct and its association with endometrial inflammation and ovarian activity in mares. One hundred fifty Criollo mares were selected from a population of horses sent to slaughter at an abattoir. Internal reproductive tracts were recovered within 10 minutes after slaughter, and uterine and oviducts samples were collected, processed, stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and analyzed. From the total mares examined, 69.3% were considered cyclic, 18.7% in anestrus, and 12% in the transitional phase. No significant (P > .05) correlations coefficients were observed among the degree of inflammatory cells in oviduct and in endometrium from cyclic and noncyclic mares. Most studied mares had some degree of lymphocytic infiltration in the oviduct mucosa (64%). The incidence of neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltration in oviducts occurred in 8% and 4% of the mares studied, respectively. Cyclicity did not influence the neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltration (P > .05). The incidence of oviduct inflammation in Criollo mares is more frequent than previously reported in other breeds; however, the neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltration is rare. Endometrial infiltration is not an oviduct infiltration cause and is possible to observe oviduct inflammation without endometrial inflammation.
The objective of this work was to study the frequency of fungi and bacteria in uterine cultures a... more The objective of this work was to study the frequency of fungi and bacteria in uterine cultures and its association with inflammatory lesions in the endometrium. Samples were collected from two populations: abattoir (mares without known history of fertility N= 481 samples); barren mares (mares open after at least one breeding season N= 103 samples). Two swabs were collected for microbiological investigation: one for bacteria and the other for fungus. From abattoir material, swabs were introduced into the uterine cavity after sterilization of the uterine serosa by means of a heated spatula blade. In the barren mares, samples were collected with swabs in a gloved protected hand through the vagina and cervix. Samples were collected for histology, in abattoir material by opening uterine cavity with scissors and with a Yeoman biopsy punch from live barren mares. The samples were fixed in Bouin solution for 24 h and processed and stained with HE, PAS and Gomori-silver. Swabs were placed i...
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2015
Cattle are commonly infected with pathogenic leptospires, and similarly to rodents, they excrete ... more Cattle are commonly infected with pathogenic leptospires, and similarly to rodents, they excrete the bacteria in their urine and can transmit the pathogen from animal to animal or animal to human. Thus, surveillance and monitoring systems for detection of new Leptospira serovars are important for the control of leptospirosis. Here, we report the isolation of a spirochete from a stillborn bovine foetus and its characterization by immunological and molecular techniques. A variable number tandem repeat profile using seven discriminatory primers identified the spirochete as belonging to species Leptospira interrogans serogroup Australis serovar Muenchen. A phenotypic analysis using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against leptospiral membrane-associated proteins confirmed the expression of important virulence and pathogenicity factors (LipL32 and LigBrep). Out of 120 reference sera tested, 22 positive (36.66%) and 9 negative (15%) also reacted with the new isolate. Furthermore, the serovar Muenchen isolate was virulent in hamster model. The animal inoculated developed acute lethal infection characterized by hepatic, pulmonary and renal lesions. Local isolates exhibited unique characteristics that differed from those of reference strains; therefore, isolation of leptospires is useful in the surveillance of local pathogenic serovars. In conclusion, the data obtained from this study can contribute to the epidemiological understanding and control of leptospirosis in southern Brazil.
Revista portuguesa de pneumologia
Cytomegalovirus is capable of causing disease in immunocompromised patients. In people infected b... more Cytomegalovirus is capable of causing disease in immunocompromised patients. In people infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) it becomes an important agent when there is advanced immunosupression. Its role as a pulmonary pathogen in these patients has been questioned. In the case of pneumocystosis the presence of Cytomegalovirus doesn't seem to worsen prognosis, except in cases where corticosteroids are used. Authors present two cases of patients with HIV infection and advanced immunosupression who were admitted in the intensive care unit for respiratory failure. In both Pneumocystis jirovecii was isolated from.
Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 1999
... Cindy L Carmack, 1 Marta Amaral-Melendez, 2 Edwin Boudreaux, 1 Phillip J. Brantley, 3,4 Glenn... more ... Cindy L Carmack, 1 Marta Amaral-Melendez, 2 Edwin Boudreaux, 1 Phillip J. Brantley, 3,4 Glenn N. Jones, 3 B. Don Franks, 2 and G. Tipton McKnight 3 ... IDepartment of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803. ...
Ciência Animal Brasileira, 2010
Ciência Animal Brasileira, Vol. 11, No 2 (2010). ...
Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia (English Edition), 2008
... 9. Steininger C, Puchhammer-Stockl E, Popow-Kraupp T. Cytomegalovirus disease in the era of h... more ... 9. Steininger C, Puchhammer-Stockl E, Popow-Kraupp T. Cytomegalovirus disease in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy ... NO DOENTE VIH A PROPóSITO DE DOIS CASOS CLíNICOS Sofia Lourenço, Marta Amaral, Raquel Almeida, Paulo Marcelino, Susan Marum, M ...
BioMed Research International, 2014
Leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (Lig) proteins are of great interest due to their ability to act ... more Leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (Lig) proteins are of great interest due to their ability to act as mediators of pathogenesis, serodiagnostic antigens, and immunogens. Purified recombinant LigA protein is the most promising subunit vaccine candidate against leptospirosis reported to date, however, as purified proteins are weak immunogens the use of a potent adjuvant is essential for the success of LigA as a subunit vaccine. In the present study, we compared xanthan pv. pruni (strain 106), aluminium hydroxide (alhydrogel), and CpG ODN as adjuvants in a LigA subunit vaccine preparation. Xanthan gum is a high molecular weight extracellular polysaccharide produced by fermentation of Xanthomonas spp., a plant-pathogenic bacterium genus. Preparations containing xanthan induced a strong antibody response comparable to that observed when alhydrogel was used. Upon challenge with a virulent strain of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni, significant protection (Fisher test, P < 0.05) was observed in 100%, 100%, and 67% of hamsters immunized with rLigANI-xanthan, LigA-CpG-xanthan, and rLigANI-alhydrogel, respectively. Furthermore, xanthan did not cause cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in vitro. The use of xanthan as an adjuvant is a novel alternative for enhancing the immunogenicity of vaccines against leptospirosis and possibly against other pathogens.
Texto & Contexto - Enfermagem, 2012
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2014
The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of anthocyanins (ANT) on oxidative... more The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of anthocyanins (ANT) on oxidative and inflammatory parameters, as well as ion pump activities, in the pons of rats experimentally demyelinated with ethidium bromide (EB). Rats were divided in six groups: control, ANT 30 mg/kg, ANT 100 mg/kg, EB (0.1%), EB plus ANT 30 mg/kg and EB plus ANT 100 mg/kg. The EB cistern pons injection occurred on the first day. On day 7, there was a peak in the demyelination. During the 7 days, the animals were treated once per day with vehicle or ANT. It was observed that demyelination reduced Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities and increased 4-hydroxynonenal, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and NO2plus NO3 levels. In addition, a depletion of glutathione reduced level/nonprotein thiol content and a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity were also seen. The dose of 100 mg/kg showed a better dose-response to the protective effects. The demyelination did not affect the neuronal viability but did increase the inflammatory infiltrate (myeloperoxidase activity) followed by an elevation in interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ levels. ANT promoted a reduction in cellular infiltration and proinflammatory mediators. Furthermore, ANT restored the levels of IL-10. Luxol fast blue staining confirmed the loss of myelin in the EB group and the protective effect of ANT 100 mg/kg. In conclusion, this study was the first to show that ANT are able to restore ion pump activities and protect cellular components against the inflammatory and oxidative damages induced by demyelination.
Vaccine, 2007
The bacillus Calmette--Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain is considered a... more The bacillus Calmette--Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain is considered a promising candidate as a vector system for delivery of foreign antigens to the immune system. The gene coding for the Leptospira interrogans external membrane protein LipL32, a highly immunogenic antigen found in all pathogenic leptospira, was cloned into several mycobacterial vectors for expression in BCG. Hamsters immunized with recombinant BCG (rBCG) expressing LipL32 were protected against mortality (P<or=0.05) upon challenge with a lethal inoculum of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni. Autopsy examination did not reveal macroscopic or histological evidence of disease in rBCG immunized hamsters that survived lethal challenge. The data presented here further enhance the status of LipL32 as a promising candidate antigen for use in the control of leptospirosis, when presented to the immune system by an appropriate delivery system.
Biological Research, 2011
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, Jan 11, 2016
Leptospirosis is a global zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. In this study, we charact... more Leptospirosis is a global zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. In this study, we characterized two Leptospira kirschneri serogroup Pomona serovar Mozdok isolates, one obtained from a dog and the other from a patient with severe leptospirosis, 4 years later. Histopathological analysis showed that both isolates caused severe tissue damage when used to infect hamsters. While L. kirschneri serogroup Pomona serovar Mozdok is endemic in animals in Europe, there is only one report in the literature of human leptospirosis. Although strains belonging to L. kirschneri serogroup Pomona have been identified in cases of human leptospirosis in Europe, serovar Mozdok has not yet been implicated. The 4-year interval between isolations and the fact that this is the first report of serovar Mozdok as the causative agent of human leptospirosis in the southern hemisphere, demonstrates its epidemiological importance to public health. Moreover, the presence of serovar Mozdok in Brazil has the pot...
Folha Med, Apr 1, 1994
Base de dados : LILACS. Pesquisa : 154167 [Identificador único]. Referências encontradas : 1 [ref... more Base de dados : LILACS. Pesquisa : 154167 [Identificador único]. Referências encontradas : 1 [refinar]. Mostrando: 1 .. 1 no formato [Detalhado]. página 1 de 1, 1 / 1, LILACS, seleciona. para imprimir. Fotocópia. experimental, Documentos relacionados. Id: 154167. ...
Revista Tecer, Dec 4, 2012
Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2015
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of theLeptospira genus. Vacc... more Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of theLeptospira genus. Vaccination with bacterins has severe limitations. Here, we evaluated the N-terminal region of the leptospiral immunoglobulin-like B protein (LigBrep) as a vaccine candidate against leptospirosis using immunisation strategies based on DNA prime-protein boost, DNA vaccine, and subunit vaccine. Upon challenge with a virulent strain ofLeptospira interrogans, the prime-boost and DNA vaccine approaches induced significant protection in hamsters, as well as a specific IgG antibody response and sterilising immunity. Although vaccination with recombinant fragment of LigBrep also produced a strong antibody response, it was not immunoprotective. These results highlight the potential of LigBrep as a candidate antigen for an effective vaccine against leptospirosis and emphasise the use of the DNA prime-protein boost as an important strategy for vaccine development.
Vaccine, 2007
The bacillus Calmette--Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain is considered a... more The bacillus Calmette--Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain is considered a promising candidate as a vector system for delivery of foreign antigens to the immune system. The gene coding for the Leptospira interrogans external membrane protein LipL32, a highly immunogenic antigen found in all pathogenic leptospira, was cloned into several mycobacterial vectors for expression in BCG. Hamsters immunized with recombinant BCG (rBCG) expressing LipL32 were protected against mortality (P<or=0.05) upon challenge with a lethal inoculum of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni. Autopsy examination did not reveal macroscopic or histological evidence of disease in rBCG immunized hamsters that survived lethal challenge. The data presented here further enhance the status of LipL32 as a promising candidate antigen for use in the control of leptospirosis, when presented to the immune system by an appropriate delivery system.
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2015
The equine oviduct is considered as a reproductive organ with essential functions for early repro... more The equine oviduct is considered as a reproductive organ with essential functions for early reproductive events. There is extensive literature on the pathology of the equine endometrium relating to reduced fertility, but in only few studies, the influence of alterations of the equine oviduct has been examined. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of inflammatory lesions in the oviduct and its association with endometrial inflammation and ovarian activity in mares. One hundred fifty Criollo mares were selected from a population of horses sent to slaughter at an abattoir. Internal reproductive tracts were recovered within 10 minutes after slaughter, and uterine and oviducts samples were collected, processed, stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and analyzed. From the total mares examined, 69.3% were considered cyclic, 18.7% in anestrus, and 12% in the transitional phase. No significant (P > .05) correlations coefficients were observed among the degree of inflammatory cells in oviduct and in endometrium from cyclic and noncyclic mares. Most studied mares had some degree of lymphocytic infiltration in the oviduct mucosa (64%). The incidence of neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltration in oviducts occurred in 8% and 4% of the mares studied, respectively. Cyclicity did not influence the neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltration (P > .05). The incidence of oviduct inflammation in Criollo mares is more frequent than previously reported in other breeds; however, the neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltration is rare. Endometrial infiltration is not an oviduct infiltration cause and is possible to observe oviduct inflammation without endometrial inflammation.
The objective of this work was to study the frequency of fungi and bacteria in uterine cultures a... more The objective of this work was to study the frequency of fungi and bacteria in uterine cultures and its association with inflammatory lesions in the endometrium. Samples were collected from two populations: abattoir (mares without known history of fertility N= 481 samples); barren mares (mares open after at least one breeding season N= 103 samples). Two swabs were collected for microbiological investigation: one for bacteria and the other for fungus. From abattoir material, swabs were introduced into the uterine cavity after sterilization of the uterine serosa by means of a heated spatula blade. In the barren mares, samples were collected with swabs in a gloved protected hand through the vagina and cervix. Samples were collected for histology, in abattoir material by opening uterine cavity with scissors and with a Yeoman biopsy punch from live barren mares. The samples were fixed in Bouin solution for 24 h and processed and stained with HE, PAS and Gomori-silver. Swabs were placed i...
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2015
Cattle are commonly infected with pathogenic leptospires, and similarly to rodents, they excrete ... more Cattle are commonly infected with pathogenic leptospires, and similarly to rodents, they excrete the bacteria in their urine and can transmit the pathogen from animal to animal or animal to human. Thus, surveillance and monitoring systems for detection of new Leptospira serovars are important for the control of leptospirosis. Here, we report the isolation of a spirochete from a stillborn bovine foetus and its characterization by immunological and molecular techniques. A variable number tandem repeat profile using seven discriminatory primers identified the spirochete as belonging to species Leptospira interrogans serogroup Australis serovar Muenchen. A phenotypic analysis using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against leptospiral membrane-associated proteins confirmed the expression of important virulence and pathogenicity factors (LipL32 and LigBrep). Out of 120 reference sera tested, 22 positive (36.66%) and 9 negative (15%) also reacted with the new isolate. Furthermore, the serovar Muenchen isolate was virulent in hamster model. The animal inoculated developed acute lethal infection characterized by hepatic, pulmonary and renal lesions. Local isolates exhibited unique characteristics that differed from those of reference strains; therefore, isolation of leptospires is useful in the surveillance of local pathogenic serovars. In conclusion, the data obtained from this study can contribute to the epidemiological understanding and control of leptospirosis in southern Brazil.
Revista portuguesa de pneumologia
Cytomegalovirus is capable of causing disease in immunocompromised patients. In people infected b... more Cytomegalovirus is capable of causing disease in immunocompromised patients. In people infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) it becomes an important agent when there is advanced immunosupression. Its role as a pulmonary pathogen in these patients has been questioned. In the case of pneumocystosis the presence of Cytomegalovirus doesn't seem to worsen prognosis, except in cases where corticosteroids are used. Authors present two cases of patients with HIV infection and advanced immunosupression who were admitted in the intensive care unit for respiratory failure. In both Pneumocystis jirovecii was isolated from.
Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 1999
... Cindy L Carmack, 1 Marta Amaral-Melendez, 2 Edwin Boudreaux, 1 Phillip J. Brantley, 3,4 Glenn... more ... Cindy L Carmack, 1 Marta Amaral-Melendez, 2 Edwin Boudreaux, 1 Phillip J. Brantley, 3,4 Glenn N. Jones, 3 B. Don Franks, 2 and G. Tipton McKnight 3 ... IDepartment of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803. ...
Ciência Animal Brasileira, 2010
Ciência Animal Brasileira, Vol. 11, No 2 (2010). ...
Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia (English Edition), 2008
... 9. Steininger C, Puchhammer-Stockl E, Popow-Kraupp T. Cytomegalovirus disease in the era of h... more ... 9. Steininger C, Puchhammer-Stockl E, Popow-Kraupp T. Cytomegalovirus disease in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy ... NO DOENTE VIH A PROPóSITO DE DOIS CASOS CLíNICOS Sofia Lourenço, Marta Amaral, Raquel Almeida, Paulo Marcelino, Susan Marum, M ...
BioMed Research International, 2014
Leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (Lig) proteins are of great interest due to their ability to act ... more Leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (Lig) proteins are of great interest due to their ability to act as mediators of pathogenesis, serodiagnostic antigens, and immunogens. Purified recombinant LigA protein is the most promising subunit vaccine candidate against leptospirosis reported to date, however, as purified proteins are weak immunogens the use of a potent adjuvant is essential for the success of LigA as a subunit vaccine. In the present study, we compared xanthan pv. pruni (strain 106), aluminium hydroxide (alhydrogel), and CpG ODN as adjuvants in a LigA subunit vaccine preparation. Xanthan gum is a high molecular weight extracellular polysaccharide produced by fermentation of Xanthomonas spp., a plant-pathogenic bacterium genus. Preparations containing xanthan induced a strong antibody response comparable to that observed when alhydrogel was used. Upon challenge with a virulent strain of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni, significant protection (Fisher test, P < 0.05) was observed in 100%, 100%, and 67% of hamsters immunized with rLigANI-xanthan, LigA-CpG-xanthan, and rLigANI-alhydrogel, respectively. Furthermore, xanthan did not cause cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in vitro. The use of xanthan as an adjuvant is a novel alternative for enhancing the immunogenicity of vaccines against leptospirosis and possibly against other pathogens.
Texto & Contexto - Enfermagem, 2012
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2014
The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of anthocyanins (ANT) on oxidative... more The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of anthocyanins (ANT) on oxidative and inflammatory parameters, as well as ion pump activities, in the pons of rats experimentally demyelinated with ethidium bromide (EB). Rats were divided in six groups: control, ANT 30 mg/kg, ANT 100 mg/kg, EB (0.1%), EB plus ANT 30 mg/kg and EB plus ANT 100 mg/kg. The EB cistern pons injection occurred on the first day. On day 7, there was a peak in the demyelination. During the 7 days, the animals were treated once per day with vehicle or ANT. It was observed that demyelination reduced Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities and increased 4-hydroxynonenal, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and NO2plus NO3 levels. In addition, a depletion of glutathione reduced level/nonprotein thiol content and a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity were also seen. The dose of 100 mg/kg showed a better dose-response to the protective effects. The demyelination did not affect the neuronal viability but did increase the inflammatory infiltrate (myeloperoxidase activity) followed by an elevation in interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ levels. ANT promoted a reduction in cellular infiltration and proinflammatory mediators. Furthermore, ANT restored the levels of IL-10. Luxol fast blue staining confirmed the loss of myelin in the EB group and the protective effect of ANT 100 mg/kg. In conclusion, this study was the first to show that ANT are able to restore ion pump activities and protect cellular components against the inflammatory and oxidative damages induced by demyelination.
Vaccine, 2007
The bacillus Calmette--Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain is considered a... more The bacillus Calmette--Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain is considered a promising candidate as a vector system for delivery of foreign antigens to the immune system. The gene coding for the Leptospira interrogans external membrane protein LipL32, a highly immunogenic antigen found in all pathogenic leptospira, was cloned into several mycobacterial vectors for expression in BCG. Hamsters immunized with recombinant BCG (rBCG) expressing LipL32 were protected against mortality (P<or=0.05) upon challenge with a lethal inoculum of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni. Autopsy examination did not reveal macroscopic or histological evidence of disease in rBCG immunized hamsters that survived lethal challenge. The data presented here further enhance the status of LipL32 as a promising candidate antigen for use in the control of leptospirosis, when presented to the immune system by an appropriate delivery system.