Transmission of tuberculosis between men and pet birds: a case report

The present report describes a case of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in an African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) kept as a pet bird. Diagnosis was confirmed by microbiologic and pathologic results, and indicated a human–avian transmission. Clinical signs included sublingual nodules resulting in anorexia and signs of osteolysis in the long bones. Proliferation consisted of several nodules with small greenish-caseous foci in cross-section and revealed a severe granulomatous inflammation without intralesional acid-fast rods. M. tuberculosis was cultured from a pooled sample of sublingual and liver nodules, and was confirmed via polymerase chain reaction. Transmission between men and parrot was proved by spoligotyping pattern analysis. The absence of facial skin lesions and acid-fast rods within the tubercles is contrary to previous publications of tuberculosis in birds. This disease in a common pet bird species is of zoonotic importance, and those parrots with close contact to owners suffering from tuberculosis may serve as a potential reservoir for human infection.     

Nucleated erythrocytes in maternal blood: quantity and quality of fetal cells in enriched populations

The discovery of nucleated erythrocytes in maternal circulationprovides a potential source for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.We have evaluated the use of a three-stage procedure to determinethe number of cells that are of fetal rather than maternal origin.First, monoclonal antibodies specific for CD45 and CD14 wereused in conjunction with a magnetic (MACS) column to depleteunwanted leukocytes from maternal blood. This was followed bya positive MACS enrichment for nucleated erythrocytes, usingan anti-CD71 (transferrin receptor) monoclonal antibody. Todiscriminate between fetal nucleated erythrocytes and thoseof maternal origin, enriched fractions were simultaneously stainedwith an anti-fetal haemoglobin (HbF) antibody and hybridizedwith probes specific for X and Y chromosomes. Samples were thensubjected to blind analysis along with negative control samplesfrom non-pregnant volunteers. Using this dual analysis, we wereable to determine that less than one nucleated erythrocyte perml of maternal blood was of fetal origin. Small numbers of thesefetal cells were found in 87.5% of pregnancies, ranging from6 to 35 weeks gestational age. Comparison of HbF and X/Y probedata also suggests that the fetal cells are less suitable forfluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) analysis than similarpreparations from other sources. cell separation methods/fluorescence in-situ hybridization/hereditary diseases/polymerase chain reaction/pregnancy     

Sensitivity of T cells to anti-CD3-stimulated suicide is independent of functional phenotype.

We have examined mixed populations and cloned murine CD4+ T cell lines for their sensitivity to anti-CD3-stimulated suicide. The sensitivity of CD4+ clones to anti-CD3-stimulated suicide is independent of their interleukin-2/interleukin-4 or interferon-gamma secretion profile or their lytic efficiency in anti-CD3 redirected lytic assays.     

Patterns of cytokine production by mycobacterium-reactive human T-cell clones.

To gain insight into the functional capacity of human T cells in the immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, we evaluated the spectrum of cytokines produced by mycobacterium-reactive human T-cell clones. Nine of 11 T-cell clones bearing alpha beta or gamma delta T-cell receptors produced both Th1 and Th2 cytokines, a pattern resembling that of murine Th0 clones. The most frequent pattern was secretion of gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), and interleukin-10 (IL-10), in combination with IL-2, IL-5, or both. Two clones produced only Th1 cytokines, and none produced exclusively Th2 cytokines. Although IL-4 was not detected in cell culture supernatants, IL-4 mRNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification in two of six clones. There were no differences between the cytokine profiles of alpha beta and gamma delta T cells. A striking finding was the markedly elevated concentrations of TNF in clone supernatants, independent of the other cytokines produced. Supernatants from mycobacterium-stimulated T-cell clones, in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, induced aggregation of bone-marrow-derived macrophages, and this effect was abrogated by antibodies to TNF. The addition of recombinant TNF to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor markedly enhanced macrophage aggregation, indicating that TNF produced by T cells may be an important costimulus for the granulomatous host response to mycobacteria. The cytokines produced by T cells may exert immunoregulatory and immunopathologic effects and thus mediate some of the clinical manifestations of tuberculosis.     

Rats show only a weak preference for the artificial sweetener aspartame

The preference of adult female rats for aspartame (L-asparty L-phenylalamine methyl ester) was measured using 24 hr/day and 30 min/day two bottle preference tests. At aspartame concentrations that humans find sweet (0.0125% to 0.05%) the rats failed to prefer aspartame to water. At higher concentrations (0.1% to 1.0%) half (n = 11) of the rats tested displayed mild (64%) to moderate (83%) aspartame preferences. The other half of the rats were indifferent or avoided the aspartame. Even at the most preferred concentration (1.0%) the rats' aspartame preference was much less than their preference for saccharin or sucrose, and they showed little increase in total fluid intake when given the aspartame solution. The results indicate that aspartame is not very palatable to rats, and suggest that it has little or no sweet, i.e., sucrose-like, taste to rats as it does to humans.     

An antigen processing polymorphism revealed by HLA-B8-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes which does not correlate with TAP gene polymorphism

In previous studies of antigen presentation through HLA-B27, we identified a healthy person whose lymphoblastoid cells do not present three B27-restricted viral epitopes to specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), despite adequate cell surface expression of HLA-B2702 of normal sequence. Similar findings were observed in all members of his family sharing the HLA-A3-B2702 haplotype. The original donor, NW, carries HLA-B8 on his other class I haplotype, which his daughter, HW, has inherited. We now report a failure to present an HLA-B8-restricted epitope from influenza nucleoprotein following viral infection of NW cells, although exogenous added peptide is still presented normally. However, cells from HW, which do not carry the A3-B2702 haplotype, present the expected epitope after viral infection. Another B8-restricted epitope, from human immunodeficiency virus-gag, is presented equally well by both cell lines when infected with gag-vaccinia. This antigen processing phenotype does not correlate with any of the known human TAP-1 and TAP-2 polymorphisms.     

Electron microscopy of the canine corneal basement membranes

The purpose of this study was to characterize the surface topographical features of the epithelial and endothelial (Descemet's) basement membranes of the canine cornea. Corneas were obtained from young, healthy dogs (<2 years old) with no history or evidence of previous ocular disease. The epithelium and endothelium was carefully removed preserving the anterior and posterior basement membranes. The specimens were examined by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The epithelial and endothelial basement membrane surface topography is an intricate meshwork of pores and fibers measuring in the nanometer size range. The features of the endothelial basement membrane overall are smaller in size than the epithelial basement membrane. These surface topographical features may incite changes in epithelial and endothelial cell behavior.     

How can the evaluation of genetic tests be enhanced? Lessons learned from the ACCE framework and evaluating genetic tests in the United Kingdom.

Advances in genetic technology are increasing the availability of genetic tests, not only for rare single gene disorders, but also for common diseases such as breast and colo-rectal cancer. Before there can be widespread uptake of these tests, they must be evaluated to confirm the benefits of their use. But how should genetic tests be evaluated, given the speed at which new tests are emerging? One highly influential approach is the analytic validity, clinical validity, clinical utility and ethical, legal and social issues (ACCE) framework, which has provided a benchmark for the evaluation of genetic tests. The approach has been adopted and adapted by the United Kingdom Genetic Testing Network, with the help of the Public Health Genetics Unit in Cambridge, to evaluate new genetic tests for use in the National Health Service. We discuss a number of conceptual, methodological, and practical issues concerning the evaluation of genetic tests, based on lessons learned from applying the ACCE framework and from the UK experience, and make a number of recommendations to further strengthen the evaluation of genetic tests.