Biomarkers on patient T cells diagnose active tuberculosis and monitor treatment response

BACKGROUND. The identification and treatment of individuals with tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health priority. Accurate diagnosis of pulmonary active TB (ATB) disease remains challenging and relies on extensive medical evaluation and detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in the patient’s sputum. Further, the response to treatment is monitored by sputum culture conversion, which takes several weeks for results. Here, we sought to identify blood-based host biomarkers associated with ATB and hypothesized that immune activation markers on Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells would be associated with Mtb load in vivo and could thus provide a gauge of Mtb infection.METHODS. Using polychromatic flow cytometry, we evaluated the expression of immune activation markers on Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells from individuals with asymptomatic latent Mtb infection (LTBI) and ATB as well as from ATB patients undergoing anti-TB treatment.RESULTS. Frequencies of Mtb-specific IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells that expressed immune activation markers CD38 and HLA-DR as well as intracellular proliferation marker Ki-67 were substantially higher in subjects with ATB compared with those with LTBI. These markers accurately classified ATB and LTBI status, with cutoff values of 18%, 60%, and 5% for CD38⁺IFN-γ⁺, HLA-DR⁺IFN-γ⁺, and Ki-67⁺IFN-γ⁺, respectively, with 100% specificity and greater than 96% sensitivity. These markers also distinguished individuals with untreated ATB from those who had successfully completed anti-TB treatment and correlated with decreasing mycobacterial loads during treatment.CONCLUSION. We have identified host blood-based biomarkers on Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells that discriminate between ATB and LTBI and provide a set of tools for monitoring treatment response and cure.TRIAL REGISTRATION. Registration is not required for observational studies.FUNDING. This study was funded by Emory University, the NIH, and the Yerkes National Primate Center.     

Prime-boost vaccine strategy against viral infections: Mechanisms and benefits

The essential goal of vaccination is to generate potent and long-term protection against diseases. Among different vaccine modalities, prime-boost vaccine strategies could enhance cellular and also humoral immunity in several animal models. These strategies have been applied for the development of vaccines against important infectious diseases such as HIV, SIV, HCV, HSV, and HBV indicating promising results even in clinical trials. Several factors including selection of antigen, type of vector, delivery route, dose, adjuvant, boosting regimen, the order of vector injection, and the intervals between different vaccinations influence the outcome of prime-boost immunization approaches. The reported data suggest that the prime-boost strategy as a combination of vaccines (i.e., heterologous prime-boost) may be better than a single vaccine for protection against infectious diseases. Indeed, in many cases, heterologous prime-boost can be more immunogenic than homologous prime-boost strategy. This review discusses the recent advances in prime-boost immunization strategies as well as their benefits and mechanisms of action.     

3种霍乱弧菌检测方法在外环境标本中的应用研究

目的：通过改进霍乱弧菌检测的技术手段，提高外环境标本中霍乱弧菌的检出率。方法：将常规分离鉴定法、PCR检测法和胶体金免疫层析试验法同时用于检测霍乱流行期间的外环境标本，并对其现场应用结果进行比较分析。结果：3种方法检测80份外环境标本霍乱弧菌的结果显示：它们均未出现假阳性，3种方法各有优势，且结果相互符合性好，但也存在各自弱点。结论：只用单一种方法来检测外环境标本霍乱弧菌存在明显不足。建议在外环境霍乱监测中选用胶体金法进行初筛，再用常规法和PCR法检测。最大限度减少漏检的可能性。     

多次发病的传染性单核细胞增多症

传染性单核细胞增多症为EB(Epstein-Barr)病毒引起的一种急性或亚急性全身性免疫异常疾病。一次患病后,可获得持久免疫力,多次发病罕见。本文报告了一例传染性单核细胞增多症,9年内3次发病,结合文献资料复习,就本病的诊断、治疗、临床分型、复发问题以及与肿瘤的关系进行了讨论。     

传染病流行的社会因素及社会控制策略刍议

传染病与社会文化因素的关系密切。应重视社会因素对传染病的发生发展影响，从社会根源上探究其发病原理，包括经济因素、科学技术、文化、人口、卫生服务和其它社会因素。人类要有与传染病长期斗争的思想准备，并制定包括大卫生观和技术合作等相应的社会策略。     

SARS家庭聚集型病例8例报告分析

SARS是由变异冠状病毒引起的新型烈性传染病，具有在家庭和医院内聚集发病的特点。其影像学表现对于临床诊断和随诊观察具有重要价值。本文报告了分属3个家庭的8个病例发病早期(1周)影像学表现(包括胸部平片和CT)和部分临床表现资料，讨论并分析SARS早期影像学表现的若干特点及与临床表现之间的关系。     

Establishment and characterization of a chronic infectious mononucleosislike syndrome in common marmosets

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was inoculated into two species of marmosets. Successful infection was established in the majority of the animals of one species, Callithrix jacchus, as evidenced by the development of high, persistent levels of antibody against virus-specific capsid and early nonstructural proteins. Antibodies also were produced against the major membrane antigen and, in some animals, against EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) 2 but not against EBNA 1. This is the antibody profile normally noted in individuals with chronic infectious mononucleosis (IM). EBV-induced lymphoproliferation was not seen, and EBV-specific proteins were not detected in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of infected animals. Hence, EBV infection in C. jacchus apparently does not generally include extensive B-cell involvement. However, the marmosets clearly are useful as a model for EBV primary infection and also possibly for chronic IM.     

Usefulness of fibrin glue in oncologic plastic surgery

Summary Human fibrin glue (Tissucol) is a plasma-derived compound endowed with adhesive and hemostatic properties and possessing a specific local anti-infection function mediated through activation of nonspecific immunity elements. The aim of this study is to show that in patients who have undergone prolonged reconstructive plastic surgery following cancer resection, Tissucol decreases infectious complications as compared to a control group. Between June 1985 and February 1988, 51 subjects were treated with fibrin glue during reconstruction operations. Analysis of the results showed that Tissucol produced a statistically significant reduction both of immediate complications, such as inflammation and partial separation of the surgical wound, and of delayed complications, such as scar hypertrophy and cutaneous fistulae. In conclusion, patients treated with Tissucol showed a better quality of surgical wound, a more rapid postoperative functional recovery and consequently a decrease in the duration of hospitalization.