Prevention of perinatal hepatitis B transmission in Haimen City,China: Results of a community public health initiative

In regions where hepatitis B virus (HBV) is endemic, perinatal transmission is common. Infected newborns have a 90% chance of developing chronic HBV infection, and 1 in 4 will die prematurely from HBV-related liver disease. In 2010, the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Haimen City CDC launched the Gateway to Care campaign in Haimen City, China to improve awareness, prevention, and control of HBV infection citywide. The campaign included efforts to prevent perinatal HBV transmission by screening all pregnant women for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), following those who tested positive, and administering immunoprophylaxis to their newborns at birth. Of 5407 pregnant women screened, 185 were confirmed HBsAg-positive and followed until delivery. At age one, 175 babies were available for follow up testing. Of those, 137 tested negative for HBsAg and positive for antibodies to HBsAg, indicating protection. An additional 34 HBsAg-negative babies also tested negative for antibodies to HBsAg or had indeterminate test results, were considered to have had inadequate immune responses to the vaccine, and were given a booster dose. A higher prevalence of nonresponse to HBV vaccine was observed among babies born to hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive mothers and mothers with high HBV DNA titers. The remaining 4 babies tested positive for HBsAg and negative for antibodies, indicative of active HBV infection. The mothers of all 4 had viral loads ≥8 × 10⁶ copies/ml in the third trimester. Although inadequate response or nonresponse to HBV vaccine was more common among babies born to HBeAg-positive and/or high viral load mothers, these risk factors did not completely predict nonresponsiveness. All babies born to HBV-infected mothers should be tested upon completion of the vaccine series to ascertain adequate protection. Some babies of HBeAg-positive mothers with high viral load may still become HBV infected despite timely immunoprophylaxis with HBV vaccine and HBIG.     

CD4+ T-cells, γδ T-cells and B-cells are associated with lack of vaccine protection in Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection

Vaccination is one of the strategies used to control the spread of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection in livestock. Gudair^® is a widely-used vaccine in sheep and goats and is the only vaccine approved for use in sheep in Australia and New Zealand. This vaccine reduces mortality due to MAP-infection by up to 90% but some sheep remain infectious by shedding MAP in faeces, despite vaccination. In this study, using an experimental infection model in sheep, our aim was to assess differences in immune parameters between vaccinated MAP-exposed sheep in which the vaccine was effective compared to those in which it failed to protect against infection. We assessed immune parameters such as MAP-specific IFNγ, IL-10 and lymphocyte proliferative responses and serum antibody levels. At the end of the trial, 72% of non-vaccinated sheep and 24% of vaccinated sheep were infected, as defined by the detection of viable MAP in intestinal tissues when the trial was terminated at 49 weeks post exposure. There were significant differences in the proliferation of CD4⁺, B and γδ T-cells over time in vaccinated sheep in which the vaccine failed to protect against infection compared to the non-infected vaccinated sheep. There were no significant differences in the IFNγ response or serum antibody levels between the vaccinated infected and vaccinated non-infected sheep. These results emphasise the importance of specific lymphocyte subsets in protecting against MAP-infection, especially in vaccinated sheep, and that immune parameters other than the commonly used IFNγ and antibody tests are required when assessing vaccine efficacy.     

白细胞介素-17在子代孤独症谱系障碍中的相关研究进展北大核心CSCD

白细胞介素-17(IL-17)在机体免疫应答以及炎症性反应中起着十分重要的作用。研究发现高水平的IL-17与多种自身免疫性疾病、急慢性神经退行性疾病和精神疾病的发病有关。孤独症谱系障碍(ASD)是一组儿童时期较为常见的神经发育障碍性疾病, 近期的临床及实验研究将妊娠期母体免疫激活(MIA)与子代患ASD风险联系起来。研究发现, IL-17水平在MIA诱导的子代ASD中明显升高, 是MIA导致子代小鼠神经发育异常的关键因素。现通过阐述IL-17与子代ASD间的最新研究进展, 为ASD的预防和治疗提供新的思路。     

CRISPR系统与哺乳动物免疫系统的比较及其功能的研究进展

原核生物防御噬菌体入侵的机制与哺乳类免疫防御机制有很多相似之处,尤其是特异性免疫机制,原核生物的特异性免疫系统即成簇规律间隔短回文重复序列（ clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, CRISPR）与哺乳类特异性免疫系统在很多环节体现了相似的规律。通过比较,能够加深对CRISPR的免疫功能的认识。近年发现,除了发挥特异性免疫功能,CRISPR系统还参与了许多细菌生长代谢过程的调控机制,调控基因表达的能力更是受到广泛的关注。 CRISPR系统功能的复杂程度远远超出免疫防御的范畴,值得深入研究。     

Immunomodulatory effect of ghrelin in the intestinal mucosa

The gastrointestinal tract is the largest endocrine organ in the body and it produces a wide array of hormones and neuropeptides. Ghrelin, a 28‐amino acid hormone produced mainly by the X/A‐like endocrine cells in the gastric mucosa, has widespread tissue distribution and diverse physiological functions such as hormonal, orexigenic, metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological and immunological activities. Recent research has implicated ghrelin in gastrointestinal pathological conditions and immune system regulation, but its contribution is controversial. Although ghrelin levels are elevated in clinical active inflammatory bowel diseases, confirmation of its exact role using experimental models remains unclear. This review discusses the conflicting effects of ghrelin on intestinal inflammation, through the different possible immune and intracellular mechanisms and highlights new findings.     

The antibody response to influenza vaccination is not impaired in type 2 diabetics

BackgroundDiabetics are considered to be at high risk for complications from influenza infection and type 2 diabetes is a significant comorbidity of obesity. Obesity is an independent risk factor for complications from infection with influenza. Annual vaccination is considered the best strategy for protecting against influenza infection and it's complications. Our previous study reported intact antibody responses 30 days post vaccination in an obese population. This study was designed to determine the antibody response to influenza vaccination in type 2 diabetics.MethodsSubjects enrolled were 18 or older without immunosuppressive diseases or taking immunosuppressive medications. A pre-vaccination blood draw was taken at time of enrollment, the subjects received the influenza vaccine and returned 28–32 days later for a post-vaccination blood draw. Height and weight were also obtained at the first visit and BMI was calculated. Antibody levels to the vaccine were determined by both ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assays.ResultsAs reported in our previous work, obesity positively correlates with the influenza antibody response (p = 0.02), while age was negatively correlated with antibody response (p < 0.001). In both year 1 and year 2 of our study there was no significant difference in the percentage of the type 2 diabetic subjects classified as seroprotected or a responder to the influenza vaccine compared to the non-diabetic subjects.ConclusionsThese data are important because they demonstrate that diabetics, considered a high risk group during influenza season, are able to mount an antibody response to influenza vaccination that may protect them from influenza infection.     

纳米银对免疫系统影响的研究进展

纳米银(silver nanoparticles,Ag NPs)作为一种广谱性抗菌材料,在工业和医药等领域得到广泛应用。然而,在生产和使用的过程中,纳米银暴露引发的潜在毒性问题不容忽视。纳米银易在免疫组织器官中蓄积,且可通过免疫刺激和免疫抑制双重效应影响机体免疫功能。笔者从纳米银在免疫组织器官的分布、纳米银对非特异性免疫及特异性免疫的影响及其机制等方面综述了纳米银对免疫系统影响的研究进展,为进一步进行纳米银的毒理学评价及安全使用提供参考依据。     

家蝇抗菌肽的免疫诱导及抗菌活性研究

目的 诱导家蝇产生抗菌活性肽,鉴定其抗菌活性.方法 家蝇经针刺损伤感染大肠埃希菌,免疫诱导24h后制成组织匀浆,经低温盐析、超速离心、Sephadex G50层析、RP-HPLC等技术分离纯化抗菌肽.K-B法和稀释法测定抗菌活性.结果 家蝇体内含有抗菌活性成分,家蝇经损伤免疫诱导后分泌抗菌肽的量明显增加,经分离纯化得到了一个色谱纯的抗菌活性肽.该抗菌肽对标准菌株大肠埃希菌(ATCC 25922)、铜绿假单胞菌(ATCC 27853)和金黄色葡萄球菌(ATCC 25923)均有抗菌活性,其MIC分别为2.4 μmol/L、3.6 μmol/L和4.8 μmol/L.结论 免疫诱导可促进家蝇抗菌肽的分泌,分泌的抗菌肽有广谱抗菌活性,对革兰阴性菌和革兰阳性菌均有抑制作用.     

Chfr基因在急性白血病骨髓细胞中表达的研究

为了探讨急性白血病（AL）患者骨髓细胞中有丝分裂早期检查点Chfr基因的表达及其意义，对46例初诊未治疗的AL患者骨髓单个核细胞，用RT—PCR和免疫组织化学的方法检测Chfr基因mRNA及蛋白的表达，并与正常人骨髓单个核细胞进行对照。结果表明：免疫组织化学和RT—PCR分析显示。28例急性髓细胞白血病（AML）中的15例，18例急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）中的13例骨髓单个核细胞Chfr基因mRNA和蛋白的表达与正常对照相比显著下降，同时Chfr基因表达异常病例染色体检查存在核型异常。结论：急性白血病骨髓细胞有丝分裂检查点Chfr基因表达受损，可能在白血病发病中具有重要作用。