Roumanian Archives Of Microbiology And Immunology[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Curdlan derivatives able to enhance cytostatic drugs activity on tumor cells.
Bădulescu MM, Apetrei NS, Lupu AR … +6 more , Cremer L, Szegli G, Moscovici M, Mocanu G, Mihai D, Călugăru A
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20583473
The chemotherapy success to kill cancer cells depends on its ability to stop cell division. The faster the cells are dividing, the more likely it is that chemotherapy will kill the cells, causing the tumor to shrink. Tak...
The chemotherapy success to kill cancer cells depends on its ability to stop cell division. The faster the cells are dividing, the more likely it is that chemotherapy will kill the cells, causing the tumor to shrink. Taking into account the severe side effects of chemotherapy, drugs producers also focus on natural products obtained either from medicinal plants, or from microorganisms. The complex polysaccharides named beta-glucans are active compounds with immune activity. beta-glucan polymers belong to a class of drugs with effects on the immune system, such as: anti-tumoral, anti-infectious, protection against fungi, bacteria and viruses infections. The correct selection of beta-glucans is essential to identify compounds with favorable clinical effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the capacity of six Curdlan (beta-glucan) derivatives to up-regulate the Doxorubicin, Actinomycin D and Cyclophophamide cytostatic drug activity on tumor cells (murine B16 melanoma and human HEp-2 laryngeal carcinoma cell lines). Our results demonstrated that Palm SP derivative, as well as SP and Palm CM/SP derivatives were able to potentiate Doxorubicin action or Actinomycin D effect on B16 tumor cells. SP derivative significantly enhanced cytostatic activity of Cyclophosphamide on B16 cells. All the investigated Curdlan derivatives (SP, Palm CM/SP, CM/SP, Palm CM, Palm SP and CM) were able to inhibit HEp-2 tumor cell growth, by up-regulating Doxorubicin and Actinomycin D cytostatic activity.
K-ras expression--marker of dysplasia and cancer.
Bleotu C, Pleşa A, Botezatu A … +6 more , Goia C, Drăguţel R, Socolov D, Corniţescu F, Teleman S, Anton G
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20583472
Molecular and epidemiological data indicated that the presence of HPV virus is not sufficient to induce transformation, suggesting the implication of other several cellular factors. Constitutive activation of the Ras sig...
Molecular and epidemiological data indicated that the presence of HPV virus is not sufficient to induce transformation, suggesting the implication of other several cellular factors. Constitutive activation of the Ras signaling pathway is an important component of malignant progression for a number of different cancers. In this context, the objectives of our study were: the quantitative assessment of the K-ras gene expression changes in the development of the HPV positive cervical cancers. We observed that the K-ras mRNA expression levels did not gradually increase with the severity of injury. The mRNA expression in the ASCUS increased 2.02 times as compared with the control group, while in LSIL group only 1.76 times. However ras expression was increased in the HSIL/cancer group by 2.27 times when was reported to the control group. The presence of low risk HPV infection (IrHPV) does not lead to increased ras expression, remaining at baseline, but K-ras expression was increased in the presence of high risk HPV infection (hrHPV). In addition, we noted that in hrHPV single infections ras expression is increased (0.96 +/- 0.48) comparing with hrHPV co-infections. Our findings indicate that high expression of ras among hrHPV infection can be a marker of cervical cancer development.
P16INK4A--A possible marker in HPV persistence screening.
Bleotu C, Botezatu A, Goia CD … +6 more , Socolov D, Corniţescu F, Teleman S, Huică I, Iancu I, Anton G
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361540
UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of p161NK4a expression levels with the cytological group of cervical carcinogenesis (NILM, ASCUS, LSIL, HSIL, cancer groups), in order to establish its...
UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of p161NK4a expression levels with the cytological group of cervical carcinogenesis (NILM, ASCUS, LSIL, HSIL, cancer groups), in order to establish its value as potential diagnostic marker. METHODS: The smears obtained from 50 women with/without suggestive HPV infection pathology were subjected to cytological investigations. The viral testing was based on the detection of HPV DNA using the INNOLIPA kit, while the semiquantitative expression levels of p16INK4a were estimated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: p16INK4a expression level was correlated with the cytological degree of cervical lesions. In LSIL patients, p16INK4a values were 1.36 times greater than in NILM subjects (p = 0.07). In HSIL/cancer patients, p16INK4a values were 2.38 times greater than in NILM patients (p = 0.002). We also noticed significant differences between ASCUS: HSIL group (p = 0.02) and LSIL: HSIL (p = 0.07) group. The p16INK4a expression level was dependent of HPV genotype, p16INK4a mRNA presence being correlated with the presence of hrHPV in low and high risk lesions.
The relationship between HPV16 and HPV18 viral load and cervical lesions progression.
Botezatu A, Socolov D, Goia CD … +4 more , Iancu IV, Ungureanu C, Huică I, Anton G
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361539
UNLABELLED: Cervical cancer remains one of the most important mortality causes worldwide. It is already known that high risk HPV (HR-HPV) has the main role in the development of pre- or cancerous lesions. Despite the fac...
UNLABELLED: Cervical cancer remains one of the most important mortality causes worldwide. It is already known that high risk HPV (HR-HPV) has the main role in the development of pre- or cancerous lesions. Despite the fact that many studies focused on the HR-HPV viral loads as possible biomarkers, the viral load quantification utility for all HR-HPV genotypes is still a controversy. The purpose of our study was to determine if HPV16 and 18 viral load values might be a potential marker for HPV infection clearance versus of pre- and cancerous lesions development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 80 women who tested positive for HPV16 and 18 were selected from a cohort of 250 patients. The samples, consisting in cervical smears, were collected in transport media ESwab (Copan). The patient's average age was 36.26 years. HPV DNA detection, genotyping and viral load determination were performed twice for each patient (within one year follow-up). RESULTS: HPV 16 viral load was significantly higher in normal cytology samples and in HGSIL patients than in ASCUS/LGSIL (p value < 0.0312). HPV 18 viral load was also significantly higher in HGSIL cases than in ASCUS/LGSIL (p = 0,038). Independently of cervical cytology, HPV 18 viral load was lower (7.93 x 10(4) copies/microL) than HPV 16 viral load (5 x 10(13)) copies/microL). CONCLUSIONS: For HPV types 16 or 18 positive patients with LGSIL cytology the viral load might have predictive value. Our study suggested that patients with elevated viral loads are at disease risk progression and should be carefully evaluated.
The prevalence of some bacterial markers in female patients undergoing an initial infertility evaluation in north-east Romania.
Mareş M, Socolov D, Doroftei B … +2 more , Botezatu A, Goia CD
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361538
SCOPE: Genital infections represent one of the most important causes of infertility, affecting: fallopian tubes, endometrial mucosa, sperm parameters. The aim of this study is to evaluate the involvement of four sexually...
SCOPE: Genital infections represent one of the most important causes of infertility, affecting: fallopian tubes, endometrial mucosa, sperm parameters. The aim of this study is to evaluate the involvement of four sexually transmitted infections (STD) in the achievement of infertility and to establish the prevalence of each infectious agent in our patients. METHODS: We analyzed the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) antigen, Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Mycoplasma hominis (MH) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) in the endocervical secretions and Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies IgA, IgG, IgM in the serum of 125 infertile women as well as in 30 pregnant women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, as a control group. RESULTS. In infertile women, the prevalence rate of the four bacterial markers was: CT antigen 1/125 (0.80%), CT IgG antibodies 19/125 (15.20%), MH 6/125 (4.80%), UU 51/125 (40.80%) and NG 1/125 (0.8%). From the control group, none was positive for CT antigen, but 1/30 (3.33% of patients) was positive for CT IgA while the prevalence rate for MH and UU were 16.66% and 43.33% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We couldn't prove any association between genital MH/UU and infertility as the prevalence was higher in the control group than in the cases, but the correlation of the CT infection with the infertility was clearly shown. However, it is necessary to perform routine tests to screen for CT, NG, UU and MH among infertile patients. The positivity for CT IgG is a marker better correlated with fallopian tube obstruction than the CT antigen.
Genetic characterization of Erwinia amylovora strains by random amplified polymorphic DNA fragments (RAPD).
Măruţescu L, Manole F, Sesan T
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361537
Erwinia amylovora is the causative agent of fire blight, a destructive disease of rosaceous plants subjected to strict quarantine regulations worldwide. Previous studies showed that the population of E. amylovora in Roma...
Erwinia amylovora is the causative agent of fire blight, a destructive disease of rosaceous plants subjected to strict quarantine regulations worldwide. Previous studies showed that the population of E. amylovora in Romania is homogenous in its biochemical and serological characteristics, despite the different strains' geographical and host origin. The aim of the present study was to establish and test a typing method to quantify genetic diversity among the Romanian strains of this plant pathogen. Fourteen strains isolated from different hosts and geographical locations in Romania were examined by random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD) fragment analysis with two ten-base primers. This molecular method has not revealed any polymorphism, producing the same amplification patterns for all tested strains. Clustering of strains in the resulting dendrogram was not correlated with host, or region of isolation. The RAPD technique did not allow the detection of genetic markers in E. amylovora strains isolated in Romania and proved not to be discriminating among strains of this pathogen. The results presented in this study suggest that the population of E. amylovora in Romania is homogenous.
Phenotypic and genetic virulence and antibiotic resistance markers in Escherichia coli strains isolated from hospital surfaces.
Mitache M, Lazăr V, Bleotu C … +2 more , Cernat R, Chifiriuc MC
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361536
The aim of this study was the phenotypic and genotypic analysis of the antibiotic resistance and virulence markers in enterobacterial strains isolated from the hospital environment. In this purpose, 100 enterobacterial s...
The aim of this study was the phenotypic and genotypic analysis of the antibiotic resistance and virulence markers in enterobacterial strains isolated from the hospital environment. In this purpose, 100 enterobacterial strains isolated from hospital surfaces were investigated for their susceptibility patterns, for the ability to colonize the cellular (HeLa) and inert substrate and for the production of soluble, enzymatic factors. The bacterial strains were also investigated for the presence of resistance and virulence genes (aggR, aggA, EaggEC, EAST1, hlyA). The enterobacterial strains isolated from the hospital surfaces exhibited high levels resistance rates to beta-lactams, including 3'd generation cephalosporins, teteracyclines, sulphametoxazole and nalidixic acid. The PCR analysis demonstrated the presence of TEM1, tetA, tetB, tetC, dfrA12, sulI and sulII in a low percentage of the resistant strains. The majority of the tested strains exhibited ability to colonize the inert and cellular substrate and also the ability to produce a series of soluble enzymes implicated in enteric and extra-intestinal pathogenesis (pore forming enzymes, proteases, mucinases, iron chelating agents). The presence of beta-haemolysis on sheep blood agar was well correlated with the presence of hlyA gene, while the aggregative adherence pattern with the presence of aggA, aggR and EAST/1 genes, in different combinations. Our results are demonstrating that the E. coli strains isolated from the hospital environment harbor phenotypic and genetic virulence markers, thus contributing to the development of resistance and virulence genes reservoirs with potential implication for the human health in the hospital environment.
Comparative methods for genotyping hepatitis C virus isolates from Romania.
Oprişan G, Szmal C, Dinu S … +26 more , Oprişoreanu AM, Thiers V, Panait M, Oţelea D, Mavromara P, HCV Collaborative Team of the CEEX 158 Project, Ruţă S, Sultana C, Alexiu I, Manolescu L, Anton G, Grancea C, Neagu A, Sencovici C, Calistru PJ, Târdei G, Moţoc A, Lazăr S, Ionescu C, Ceauşu E, Cristea C, Voiculescu G, Brehar-Cioflec D, Popovici D, Chicin G, Claici C
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361535
Accurate genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has clinical implications for treatment orientation and epidemiological impact in tracing the contamination sources. The aim of the study was to compare a genotyping assay b...
Accurate genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has clinical implications for treatment orientation and epidemiological impact in tracing the contamination sources. The aim of the study was to compare a genotyping assay by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in the HCV 5'untranslated region (5'UTR) with sequencing in the 5'untranslated and NS5B regions. One hundred and three samples, collected between 2004 and 2006 from chronically infected patients with HCV, were tested with the 5'UTR and NS5B protocols. Of the total number of the samples tested by the 5'UTR-RFLP assay (n=103) the HCV subtype could be inferred by this method for 92 samples, by 5'UTR sequencing for 16 samples out of 23 tested (n=23) and by using the NS5B sequencing for all the samples tested (n=34). Our results showed that the HCV genotype distribution in Romania is: 1b--86.4%, 1a--10.7% and 4a--2.9%. In conclusion, RFLP screening in the 5'UTR is a convenient method for HCV genotyping and discrimination between 1b and non-1b genotypes but has a poor resolving power for subtyping and evaluation of the transmission routes. Sequencing in NS5B region is more adapted than RFLP and sequencing in 5'UTR for subtyping and epidemiological investigation.
Correlation between vaccine coverage against polio and circulation and genetic evolution of the poliovirus strains isolated in Romania in the framework of the global polio eradication strategy.
Băicuş A, Persu A, Popescu M … +6 more , Penciu A, Stavri S, Soare A, Grecu N, Szmal C, Oprişan G
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361534
Until 2008 in Romania poliomyelitis has been controlled by predominantly using trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (TOPV). The alternative vaccination schedule (formalin inactivated poliovirus vaccine IPV/OPV) has been imp...
Until 2008 in Romania poliomyelitis has been controlled by predominantly using trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (TOPV). The alternative vaccination schedule (formalin inactivated poliovirus vaccine IPV/OPV) has been implemented starting September 2008 and at the begining of 2009 was decided only vaccination with IPV. Between 1995-2006 the risk of the vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) decreased with an average of less than 2 VAPP cases/year and no VAPP case between 2007 - September 2009. Begining with 2007 the number of the poliovirus strains isolated was less. All 9 poliovirus strains (PV) isolated between 2007-2009 and investigated by RT-PCR-RFLP in VP1-2A and VP3-VP1 coding regions showed Sabin-like profiles, and only one strain poliovirus type 3 showed Sabin 2-like profile by RFLP in 3D coding ARN polymerase region. The study about the seroprevalence of antibodies against poliovirus types in serum samples from the acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), facial paralysis (FP) cases showed that the seroprevalence of antibodies against types 1 and 2 Sabin strains was higher (>90%) than for type 3 Sabin strains (average 85%). It was confirmed the necessity of maintaining a proper vaccine coverage in population, after the switch in the vaccination strategy in Romania until all threats of poliovirus are eliminated globally.
The effects of cold atmospheric plasma jets on B16 and COLO320 tumoral cells.
Lupu AR, Georgescu N, Călugăru A … +3 more , Cremer L, Szegli G, Kerek F
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361533
Cold atmospheric plasma treatment acts at the cellular level to remove diseased tissue without inflammation and damage, to suppress infections and to modulate the viability (apoptosis/necrosis) of tumoral cells. It is al...
Cold atmospheric plasma treatment acts at the cellular level to remove diseased tissue without inflammation and damage, to suppress infections and to modulate the viability (apoptosis/necrosis) of tumoral cells. It is also known that, a major cause of anti-tumor chemotherapy failure is the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumors. This study reveals the effect of high voltage pulsed, repetitive cold atmospheric plasma jets which are chemically activated with oxygen, on B16 tumoral cells (murine melanoma cell line) and COLO320DM multidrug resistant cells (human colon cancer cell line). The tests have been performed on human colon cancer cell line COLO320DM and murine melanoma cell line B16-F10. These cell lines have been treated with cold helium or helium-oxygen generated plasma jets and the consequent apoptosis has been analyzed by means of flow cytometric method. A treatment time-dependent apoptosis has been observed only in the case of 816-F10 cells interacting with helium-oxygen plasma and no apoptosis has been identified when the cells were treated only with helium plasma jets. These results indicate the need of oxygen for the chemical activation of plasma. The COLO320DM cells (that over-express the MDR efflux pumps) have been exposed to helium-oxygen plasmas only, or in a combination with vegetal extract MCS D161 as MDR efflux pumps inhibitor. For the secondly mentioned case the results have showed an increased apoptosis rate compared to the plasma treatment alone. The obtained data represent a starting point for the study of a possible combined treatment (atmospheric pressure cold plasmas and a MDR efflux pumps inhibitor applied with chemotherapy).
Serum markers in skin melanoma--preliminary study.
Dumitraşcu G, Constantin C, Manda G … +4 more , Hristescu S, Mărgaritescu I, Chiriţă D, Neagu M
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361532
Skin melanoma presents the strongest metastatic capacity and the highest mortality rate of all types of skin cancer, being one of the most aggressive forms of human cancer. Although melanoma represents only 4% of skin ca...
Skin melanoma presents the strongest metastatic capacity and the highest mortality rate of all types of skin cancer, being one of the most aggressive forms of human cancer. Although melanoma represents only 4% of skin cancers, it accounts for 80% of skin cancer deaths. The aim of this study was the investigation of two specific serum markers for melanoma: S100B and melanoma inhibitory activity in relation to disease development. The longitudinal study was performed on 51 patients diagnosed with skin melanoma and 72 healthy volunteers. For serum S100B and MIA measurement standard ELISA was used. The serum concentration of S100B was found significantly different from normal values only in patients in stage IV, in contrast to MIA, where significant differences occurred as early as stage II. The dynamics of the studied serum markers was in accordance with the skin melanoma evolution, especially for serum MIA. Only both increased S100B and MIA serum levels can indicate the disease evolution towards advanced stages and appearance of the metastatic processes.
Recognition and modulation of Dectin-1 and TLR-2 receptors by curdlan derivatives and purified natural extracts.
Călugăru A, Cremer L, Lupu AR … +7 more , Bădulescu MM, Apetrei NS, Moscovici M, Mocanu G, Mihai D, Kerek F, Szegli G
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361531
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and Dectin-1, as members of Pattern Recognition Receptors play an essential role in innate immune response against bacteria and fungi respectively, contributing to pathogens recognition, phagoc...
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and Dectin-1, as members of Pattern Recognition Receptors play an essential role in innate immune response against bacteria and fungi respectively, contributing to pathogens recognition, phagocytosis, etc. Dectin-1 and TLR-2/TLR-6 can interact for intracellular signal transduction. Dectin-1 is expressed at low levels on macrophages and at high levels on dendritic cells. Dectin-1 and TLRs are synergistic in mediating cytokines production, such as IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). In the present paper we studied the expression of Dectin-1 (beta-Glucan Receptor C-type lectin receptor class V) and TLR-2 on human normal monocytes cells and also the role of different Curdlan derivatives and highly purified natural extracts, especially their capacity to recognize these receptors and their Dectin-1 agonist/antagonist properties. Our results demonstrated that Curdlan derivatives containing sulfopropyl or palmythoil/carboximethyl/sulfopropyl groups and natural extracts could be potent immunomodulators with many potential applications (possible antagonists of Dectin-1, blockers of Dectin-1 cooperation with TLR-2).
Susceptibility to antibiotics of Bacillus anthracis strains isolated in Romania.
Caplan DM, Ivana S, Caplan ME
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361530
A number of 21 B. anthracis strains isolated from 16 pustules, 2 blood cultures and 3 cerebrospinal fluids during 2000-2004 were studied for their susceptibility to antibiotics. The antibiosusceptibility testing was perf...
A number of 21 B. anthracis strains isolated from 16 pustules, 2 blood cultures and 3 cerebrospinal fluids during 2000-2004 were studied for their susceptibility to antibiotics. The antibiosusceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method, on Mueller-Hinton agar medium. Two of the studied strains exhibited resistance to penicillins, considered until not long ago as antimicrobial agents of choice for the treatment of anthrax infection. The penicillin resistance explained the difficulties encountered during the treatment of these two cases as well as the fatal evolution in one of them. Both penicillin-resistant strains were subsequently tested, by using "in agar" antibiotic dilution method, in order to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the respective strains to penicillin G by the help of a serial antibiotic dilution from 16 microg/ml to 0.0075 microg/ml. The MIC values were 0.5 microg/ml and 4 microg/ml respectively, whereas in case of the standard B. anthracis 34F2 Sterne strain was < 0.015 microg/ml. All the 21 B. anthracis tested strains exhibited resistance to the IIIrd generation cephalosporins, as well as to TMP/STX, but were sensitive to tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones, these sensitivity aspects coming into agreement with the literature data. The strains proved to be also susceptible as follows: 13 strains to macrolides, 15 to rifampicin, 16 to chloramphenicol and all 21 to gentamycin; the last antibiotic can be used in association with fluoroquinolones in the treatment of B. anthracis infections. Fluoroquinolones (i.e. ciprofloxacin) become drugs of choice for the treatment of B. anthracis infections if early administered (within the first 24 hrs), in advance of the germ invasion into the lymph system and septicemia, preventing in this way the bacterial multiplication and production of edemathogenic and lethal toxins.
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis associated to phage typing improves the discrimination of epidemiologically unrelated Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium isolates.
Palade AM, Usein CR, Ceciu S … +3 more , Ciontea S, Tatu-Chiţoiu D, Damian M
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361529
A combination of phage typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of Xbal- and Blnl-digested chromosomal DNA has been used to study 18 epidemiologically unrelated human Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium iso...
A combination of phage typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of Xbal- and Blnl-digested chromosomal DNA has been used to study 18 epidemiologically unrelated human Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates, which were collected during 2007 within a single Romanian county. Phage typing could assign only four of the isolates to three definitive phage types (DT41, DT86, and DT116), the rest being untypable by this classical method. PFGE analysis of the double enzyme-digested DNA, performed in an attempt to further discriminate the strains, allowed the typing of all the studied isolates. Xbal-digested genomic DNA segregated the isolates into 7 X-types and Blnl restriction differentiated them into 8 B-types. Our PFGE results documented the circulation of a rather homogeneous population of S. Typhimurium strains within the same county. As in the case of other human pathogens, epidemiological conclusions might be more accurate if based on both phenotypic and genotypic methods, therefore molecular typing should be added within the national laboratory-based surveillance of Salmonella infections.
Aspergillus fumigatus meningitis in immunosuppressed patients; diagnosis, management, prevention and control.
Preotescu L, Popa GL, Motoi M … +2 more , Streinu-Cercel A, Popa MI
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361528
Aspergillosis is a fungal disease that may be expressed by a diversity of clinical syndromes being produced by several of more than 170 Aspergillus species. The "Matei Balş" National Institute for Infectious Diseases has...
Aspergillosis is a fungal disease that may be expressed by a diversity of clinical syndromes being produced by several of more than 170 Aspergillus species. The "Matei Balş" National Institute for Infectious Diseases has a long experience in diagnostic procedures and treatment of the immunosuppressed patients. Irrespective of the place of their residence, most patients with HIV infection and AIDS were investigated in the Institute in the last two decades. The first case of double central nervous infection (Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Aspergillus fumigatus) in a HIV positive patient is discussed.
Laboratory diagnosis of infectious diarrhoea syndrome; a three years study in two hospitals of infectious diseases.
Damian M, Tatu-Chiţoiu D, Usein CR … +19 more , Oprişan G, Palade AM, Dinu S, Szmal C, Ciontea SA, Ceciu S, Condei M, Persu A, Baicuş A, Pop M, Neagoe I, Steriu D, Codreanu R, Graur M, Cretu MC, Cilievici S, Nica M, Ecovoiu A, Gavrili L
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361527
Infectious diarrhoea is a syndrome caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms which represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. The wide diversity of etiological agents im...
Infectious diarrhoea is a syndrome caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms which represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. The wide diversity of etiological agents impairs the surveillance and the diagnosis and affects the correct treatment applied to reduce the long-term complications. Besides well known enteric pathogens such as Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia, a high number of emergent and re-emergent aetiologies are now recognised to be at the origin of diarrhoea. The lack of a correct diagnostic algorithm and adequate methods of analyses leads to under-evaluation and incertitude in an important number of clinical cases. Our study was designed as a complex analysis of the stool specimens collected from the patients, in the purpose to improve the laboratory diagnostic and to enhance the number of confirmed cases of infectious diarrhoea. A number of 756 samples from inpatients with diarrhoea were tested targeting pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria, viruses and parasites by classical and molecular methods. We documented that, in case of non-Salmonella, non-Shigella, non-Yersinia diarrhoea, the quality of diagnostic was improved by increasing the percentage of positive specimens to 22.49% compared to 11.12% when only bacteria, 5.56% when only viruses and 4.10% when only parasites were investigated. The laboratory data are of great value in evaluating the diarrhoea syndrome offering the documentation for an accurate epidemiological response and an adequate treatment.
Genetic heterogeneity of group b streptococci isolated from Romanian pregnant women.
Codruţa-Romaniţa U, Mariana-Silvia C, Vasilica U … +3 more , Maria G, Anca P, Monica S
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361526
Although testing for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage is mandatory during pregnancy, the laboratory data regarding the characteristics of GBS circulating strains among Romanian female population are scarce. This stud...
Although testing for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage is mandatory during pregnancy, the laboratory data regarding the characteristics of GBS circulating strains among Romanian female population are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity of 39 GBS isolates originating from the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women. All the isolates were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, and vancomycin, whereas 18% of them were resistant to either erythromycin or erythromycin and clindamycin. Serotyping based on capsular polysaccharide antigens revealed eleven isolates of type III (28%), seven of type II (18%), six of type la (15%), six of type Ib (15%), six of type IV (15%), and three of type V (8%), respectively. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of the Smal macrorestriction DNA fragments yielded 39 PFGE distinct profiles for the studied isolates. Computer-assisted cluster analysis of the band profiles, using unweighted-pair group method and Dice similarity coefficient, showed that at a minimum of 80% similarity, the GBS isolates gathered into 25 pulsotypes, irrespective of their serotype. Our results provided information about the genomic heterogeneity of GBS isolates circulating in our area, supporting the benefit of using PFGE as an adjunct to conventional typing methods for future epidemiological studies.
Evaluation of the efficacy of a specific hyperimmune serum in experimental influenza infection in mice.
Marinescu B, Coman C, Iancu AD … +4 more , Stavaru C, Lupulescu E, Onu A, Radu DL
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361525
Serotherapy still remains a way of treatment in some diseases, and it could be consider superior to any other mode of action because the protecting substances of the body are the products of the organism itself. The aim...
Serotherapy still remains a way of treatment in some diseases, and it could be consider superior to any other mode of action because the protecting substances of the body are the products of the organism itself. The aim of the study was to establish an "in vivo" method for testing the efficacy of therapeutic serum. Hyperimmune serum for influenza A/PR8/34 viral strain, was prepared in sheep, and tested for inhibition of haemagglutination and microneutralisation. Seroprotection was evaluated in mice one day after being challenged with a lethal dose of the same virus. Our study shows that protection occurred in all mice treated with undiluted hyperimmune serum one day post infection (no clinical signs, faster recovery of the body weight after the first three days of the infection, all mice survived).
PI3K/Akt signaling in peripheral T lymphocytes from systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
Beşliu AN, Pistol G, Marica CM … +7 more , Bănică LM, Chiţonu C, Ionescu R, Tănăseanu C, Tamsulea I, Matache C, Stefănescu M
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361524
PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway plays an important role in cellular proliferation and growth signaling. It was demonstrated that murine models presenting activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in lymphocytes develop f...
PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway plays an important role in cellular proliferation and growth signaling. It was demonstrated that murine models presenting activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in lymphocytes develop features of systemic autoimmunity, linking this pathway to autoimmune diseases. Therefore, the goal of our study was to analyze this signaling axis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), the prototype of systemic autoimmune diseases, focusing on Akt and p70S6k, two components of this pathway. Our results demonstrated that both expression and phosphorylation levels of Akt are more increased in SLE than in healthy donors (HDs) CD4+ T cells suggesting an up-regulation of PI3K and mTOR activities. This result was also suggested when p70S6k, one of mTOR substrate, was evaluated. Indeed, in SLE CD4+ T cells an enhancement of p70S6k activity, in direct correlation with its expression level, was found. Since p27kip1, an inhibitor of cell cycle progression, is one of the Akt substrates, we analyzed its expression level in relationship with cell cycle progression and apoptosis. The results demonstrated that p27kip1 expression level was significantly decreased in SLE than in HDs CD4+ T cells. In SLE p27kip1 level was inversely correlated with the percentage of peripheral lymphocytes in apoptosis and in S phase of the cell cycle. Therefore, the increased activity of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and, as a result, the drop of p27kip1 levels observed in CD4+ T cells isolated from SLE patients might explain the accumulation of SLE lymphocytes in S and G2/M cell cycle phases where they undergo apoptosis.
The modulation of reactive oxygen species production from human polymorphonuclear cells by curdlan derivatives as dectin-1 agonists/antagonists.
Bădulescu MM, Lupu AR, Cremer L … +5 more , Călugăru A, Apetrei NS, Moscovici M, Mocanu G, Szegli G
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol · 2009 · PMID 20361523
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are well known to be cytotoxic and have been implicated in the etiology of a wide array of human diseases including diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and also influence central ce...
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are well known to be cytotoxic and have been implicated in the etiology of a wide array of human diseases including diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and also influence central cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, senescence etc. If in these pathological or degenerative conditions characterized by free radicals excess, reactive species are not eliminated, they can maintain destructive processes, already initiated at different cellular levels. Understanding the role of ROS as key mediators in signaling cascades may provide various opportunities for pharmacological intervention. Toll-like receptors and C-type lectin receptor class V--Dectin-1, as members of Pattern Recognition Receptors play an essential role in innate immune response against bacteria and fungi respectively, contributing to pathogens recognition, phagocytosis, ROS production and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. Using a high performance chemiluminometric method, we studied the action of six Curdlan derivatives on the ROS production and release by activated human polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors. Our results demonstrated that Curdlan derivatives containing sulfopropyl groups did not activate human PMNs to release ROS. These compounds blocked Dectin-1 and were able to inhibit co-operation between Dectin-1 and TLR-2. Curdlan derivatives containing palmithoyl, carboxi-methyl and sulfopropyl groups increased ROS release by human PMNs activated at TLR-2 level. Taking into account the fact that Dectin-1 can actively collaborate with TLR-2 to modulate the subsequent adaptive immune response, we can presume that Curdlan derivatives containing sulfopropyl group or palmithoyl/carboxi-methyl/sulfopropyl groups, as possible Dectin-1 antagonists/agonists, could influence TLR-2 signaling.
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