The Mystery of Immunity

2020 ◽  
pp. 162-165
Author(s):  
Gavin Weightman
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Scientific Investigation ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Micro Organisms

This chapter assesses the mystery of immunity. Today, Edward Jenner is often referred to as the 'father of immunology'. But really, Jenner had no more claim to that title than Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, or the Greek women inoculating in Constantinople, or Daniel Sutton. None of them knew anything of the micro-organisms that Louis Pasteur and his contemporaries called 'germs'. It took well over a century after the deaths of Sutton and Jenner for an accumulation of scientific investigation to gain some understanding of what had been going on medically when the inoculators and vaccinators sought to bring smallpox under control. And it was a long time after the identification of 'germs', and the detective work that isolated the elements in them that caused specific infections, that it was understood that inoculation and vaccination worked because they triggered an immune response in the patient.

The Basics of Infectious Diseases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinz-Josef Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Asymptomatic Infection ◽  
Host Tissue ◽  
The Body ◽  
Symptomatic Disease ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Underlying Diseases

Infectious Diseases result from exposure and contact between a host (human being) and an (uninvited) guest (micro-organism). Given the fact that billions of micro-organisms are in and around us at any time, overall, infectious diseases are comparatively rare; of the millions of different microbial species, only about 300 are known to cause human diseases. Besides exposure and contact, factors on the side of the host (genetic background, environment, underlying diseases and their therapy) and on the side of the micro-organisms (pathogenicity / virulence factors) are necessary to result in an infectious disease. “Colonization” means that a micro-organism can attach on skin or mucous membrane for some time or even indefinitely but does not invade host tissue and does not cause any symptoms. Colonizers may even induce an immune response. “Infection” is defined as a micro-organism invading through skin or mucous membranes the tissue of a host, leading to no disease (“asymptomatic infection”); or symptomatic disease. It is followed by health, disability, or death. Following the infection, microorganisms may persist in the body for a long time or even for life without causing any symptoms, which is called “latent infection”. Infectious diseases may not only be due to pathogenicity factors of a micro-organism, but may also result from (i.) direct destruction of host tissues (e.g., from viral replication); (ii.) the acute host (immune-) response; and from late immune responses resulting in immune-mediated “post-infectious diseases”. Some infections may cause an immune response that is directed against host-tissue, resulting in an “autoimmune-disease”. Given the increasing number of microbes, the increasing number of exposures, and the increasing number and fraction of susceptible/predisposed humans, it is obvious that infectious diseases will increase in the future. Vaccines and vaccination may help solve this problem.

Recombinant mannan-binding lectin (MBL) for therapy

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 763-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Jensenius ◽  
P.H. Jensen ◽  
K. McGuire ◽  
J.L. Larsen ◽  
S. Thiel
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Human Cell Line ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Genetically Determined ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Mannan Binding Lectin ◽  
Binding Lectin ◽  
Increased Susceptibility

Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a plasma protein involved in the innate immune response. It binds to a number of micro-organisms and promotes killing of these through complement activation either directly or through opsonization. Clinical evidence indicates that in a variety of situations genetically determined low MBL levels are associated with increased susceptibility to infections. Infusions of plasma-derived MBL into MBL-deficient individuals was found to be safe in preliminary trials, but we considered that sufficient production and product safety could only be achieved through synthesis of recombinant MBL. A transfected human cell line produces MBL showing the same biological activity as plasma-derived MBL, and an essentially identical profile on MS. The production has been scaled up and clinical trials will start this year.

Dietary supplementation with polysaccharides from Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Pozao intervenes in immune response via regulating peripheral immunity and intestinal barrier function in cyclophosphamide-induced mice

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 5992-6006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Han ◽  
Bingyao Bai ◽  
Qian Zhou ◽  
Jiahui Niu ◽  
Jing Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Regional Characteristics ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Ziziphus Jujuba

Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Pozao has been consumed as a traditional fruit with regional characteristics in China for a long time; however, fewer studies on polysaccharides from Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Pozao (JP) have been documented.

scholarly journals Evaluation of different immunization protocols with P. brasiliensis antigens in Guinea pigs

1992 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-249
Author(s):  
Amélia Kamegasawa ◽  
Maria Tereza Rezkallah Iwasso ◽  
Rosa Viero ◽  
Marcello Franco
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Migration Inhibition ◽  
Freund’S Complete Adjuvant ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Freund's Complete Adjuvant ◽  
Particulate Antigen ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Macrophage Migration Inhibition

The objective of the present study was to develop an efficient and reproducible protocol of immunization of guinea pigs with P. brasiliensis antigens as an animal model for future studies of protective immunity mechanisms. We tested three different antigens (particulate, soluble and combined) and six protocols in the presence and absence of Freund's complete adjuvant and with different numbers of immunizing doses and variable lenght of time between the last immunizing dose and challenge. The efficacy of the immunizing protocol was evaluated by measuring the humoral and cellular anti-P. brasiliensis immune response of the animals, using immuno-diffusion, skin test and macrophage migration inhibition test. It was observed that: 1. Three immunizing doses of the antigens induced a more marked response than two doses; 2. The highest immune response was obtained with the use of Freund's complete adjuvant; 3. Animals challenged a long time (week 6) after the last immunizing dose showed good anti-P. brasiliensis immune response; 4. The particulate antigen induced the lowest immune response. The soluble and the combined antigens were equally efficient in raising good humoral and cellular anti-P. brasiliensis immune response

scholarly journals Neural Control of Immunity in Hypertension: Council on Hypertension Mid Career Award for Research Excellence, 2019

Hypertension ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 622-628
Author(s):  
Daniela Carnevale
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Neural Control ◽  
Neural Signals ◽  
The Past ◽  
Target Organs ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Brain

The nervous system and the immune system share the common ability to exert gatekeeper roles at the interfaces between internal and external environment. Although interaction between these 2 evolutionarily highly conserved systems has been recognized for long time, the investigation into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying their crosstalk has been tackled only in recent decades. Recent work of the past years elucidated how the autonomic nervous system controls the splenic immunity recruited by hypertensive challenges. This review will focus on the neural mechanisms regulating the immune response and the role of this neuroimmune crosstalk in hypertension. In this context, the review highlights the components of the brain-spleen axis with a focus on the neuroimmune interface established in the spleen, where neural signals shape the immune response recruited to target organs of high blood pressure.

Suppression of the Immune Response Micro-Organisms.

1990 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 543-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. REIMANN ◽  
M. H. CLAESSON ◽  
N. QVIRIN
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Micro Organisms

scholarly journals Can immunosuppressed mice control oral infection by the opportunistic pathogen Encephalitozoon intestinalis?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Lucia da Costa Moura ◽  
Anuska Marcelino Alvares-Saraiva ◽  
Elizabeth Cristina Pérez ◽  
José Guilherme Xavier ◽  
Diva Denelle Spadacci-Morena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Intestinal Mucosa ◽  
Adaptive Immune Response ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Oral Route ◽  
Mesenteric Lymph Nodes ◽  
Encephalitozoon Intestinalis ◽  
Th1 And Th2 Cytokines ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Immunosuppressed Mice

AbstractIntestinal mucosa (IM), or the outer surface of the intestine, serves at the primary site for the interaction of various pathogens that cause infection via the oral route. Thus, IM is crucial for developing an efficient adaptive immune response against pathogenic micro-organisms, thereby preventing their colonization and subsequent infection. In the present study, we investigated the immune response to Encephalitozoon intestinalis-caused infection in the IM and gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in C57BL/6 female mice. To mimic an immunosuppressive condition, the mice were treated with cyclophosphamide (Cy). Histopathology revealed lymphoplasmacytic enteritis at 7 and 14 days-post-infection (dpi) in all infected groups; however, inflammation diminished at 21 and 28 dpi. Cy treatment also led to a higher number of E. intestinalis spores and lesions, which reduced at 28 dpi. In addition, flow cytometry analysis demonstrated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to be predominant immune cells, with a significant increase in both Th1 and Th2 cytokines at 7 and 14 dpi, as demonstrated by histopathology. In conclusion, Cy treatment reduced GALT (Peyer’s plaques and mesenteric lymph nodes) and peritoneum populations but increased the T-cell population in the intestinal mucosa and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which were able to eliminate this opportunistic fungus and reduced the infection.

scholarly journals Petroglyphs of Kangjiashimenzi (Xinjiang, PRC): Once Again about the Chronology and Semantics of the Site

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 9-22
Author(s):  
Sergey A. Komissarov ◽  
Dmitry V. Cheremisin ◽  
Aleksndr I. Solovyev
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Main Part ◽  
Rock Art ◽  
Scientific Investigation ◽  
Mystery Plays ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Middle Bronze Age

The article discusses a unique monument of rock-art on the territory of Xinjiang – namely the petroglyphs of Kangjiashimenzi (Hutubi County). The person who began scientific investigation of this site in 1987 was Professor Wang Binghua. From that time, the issues of Hutubi petroglyphs became among the most popular topics in Chinese archaeological literature but only in a few publications in other countries and only one – in Russia. This article aims to fill this gap. The Kangjiashimenzi rock-art panel comprises 292 images of different size composed as a whole ensemble depicted using a counter-relief technique, with some grinding after. The images were given in quite stylized (dancing) poses. The male figures are often presented with an erect phallus. The picture also includes several coitus scenes. We supposed this ensemble in general served as a pictorial reflection of ancient mystery-plays connected with genus or tribal worships and with sacred wedding rituals. The main part of the petroglyphs dates to the Middle Bronze Age (circa first half of II millennium BC). On the territory of Xinjiang this period was presented by Xiaohe Culture. Within these rock-art engravings, two groups of petroglyphs, most likely, with later dates can be distinguished though they were very precisely incorporated into the ensemble. Images of ‘tigers’ one could connect with activity of nomad tribes of Saka (circa first half of I millennium BC), and antithetical figures of two horses – with some other nomad tribe of Yuezhi (circa II century BC). In any case, the monument with rock engravings has been created and used over quite a long time. It is very probable that Kangjiashimenzi was a functioning sanctuary, at least for the whole region.

scholarly journals A multiplex serological assay for the characterization of IgG immune response to SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne Brochot ◽  
Vianney Souplet ◽  
Pauline Follet ◽  
Pauline Ponthieu ◽  
Christophe Olivier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Viral Epitope ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Versatile Tool ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Combined Detection

Background: In the fight against SARS-COV-2, the development of serological assays based on different antigenic domains represent a versatile tool to get a comprehensive picture of the immune response or differentiate infection from vaccination beyond simple diagnosis. Objectives: Here we use a combination of the Nucleoprotein (NP), the Spike 1 (S1) and Spike 2 (S2) subunits, and the receptor binding domain (RBD) and N-terminal domain (NTD) of the Spike antigens from the Syrius-CoViDiag multiplex IgG assay, to follow the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection over a long time period and depending on disease severity. Results: Using a panel of 209 sera collected from 61 patients up to eight months after infection, we observed that most patients develop an immune response against multiple viral epitope, but anti-S2 antibodies seemed to last longer. For all the tested IgGs, we have found higher titers for hospitalized patients than for non-hospitalized ones. Moreover the combination of the five different IgG titers increased the correlation to the neutralizing antibody titers than if considered individually. Conclusion: Multiplex immunoassays have the potential to improve diagnostic performances, especially for ancient infection or mild form of the disease presenting weaker antibody titers. Also the combined detection of anti-NP and anti-Spike-derived domains can be useful to differentiate vaccination from viral infection and accurately assess the antibody potential to neutralize the virus.

Diffusion of swimming model micro-organisms in a semi-dilute suspension

2007 ◽  
Vol 588 ◽  
pp. 437-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
TAKUJI ISHIKAWA ◽  
T. J. PEDLEY
Keyword(s):  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Biased Random Walk ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Upward Velocity ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Diffusive Behaviour

The diffusive behaviour of swimming micro-organisms should be clarified in order to obtain a better continuum model for cell suspensions. In this paper, a swimming micro-organism is modelled as a squirming sphere with prescribed tangential surface velocity, in which the centre of mass of the sphere may be displaced from the geometric centre (bottom-heaviness). Effects of inertia and Brownian motion are neglected, because real micro-organisms swim at very low Reynolds numbers but are too large for Brownian effects to be important. The three-dimensional movement of 64 or 27 identical squirmers in a fluid otherwise at rest, contained in a cube with periodic boundary conditions, is dynamically computed, for random initial positions and orientations. The computation utilizes a database of pairwise interactions that has been constructed by the boundary element method. In the case of (non-bottom-heavy) squirmers, both the translational and the orientational spreading of squirmers is correctly described as a diffusive process over a sufficiently long time scale, even though all the movements of the squirmers were deterministically calculated. Scaling of the results on the assumption that the squirmer trajectories are unbiased random walks is shown to capture some but not all of the main features of the results. In the case of (bottom-heavy) squirmers, the diffusive behaviour in squirmers' orientations can be described by a biased random walk model, but only when the effect of hydrodynamic interaction dominates that of the bottom-heaviness. The spreading of bottom-heavy squirmers in the horizontal directions show diffusive behaviour, and that in the vertical direction also does when the average upward velocity is subtracted. The rotational diffusivity in this case, at a volume fractionc=0.1, is shown to be at least as large as that previously measured in very dilute populations of swimming algal cells (Chlamydomonas nivalis).

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