Spirochete bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex cause Lyme borreliosis. The three pathogenic subspecies garinii, afzelii, and stricto differ in their disease profiles susceptibility to complement lysis. We investigated whether resistance Borreliae could be due acquisition main soluble inhibitors alternative pathway, factor H H-like protein 1. When exposed nonimmune EDTA-plasma, serum-resistant B. afzelii strains bound H/factor 1 surfaces. Assays with radiolabeled proteins...

The northern biotype of Echinococcus granulosus occurs in North America and Eurasia life-cycles involving cervids. Previously, cervid isolates E. from have been characterized using molecular genetic techniques as the G8 genotype. In this study, 5 were collected 4 reindeer 1 moose north-eastern Finland. DNA sequences within regions mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) NADH dehydrogenase (NI)I) genes internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) fragment ribosomal analysed. nucleotide identical...

To cause infections microbes need to evade host defense systems, one of these being the evolutionarily old and important arm innate immunity, alternative pathway complement. It can attack all kinds targets is tightly controlled in plasma on cells by complement regulator factor H (FH). FH binds simultaneously cell surface structures such as heparin or glycosaminoglycans via domain 20 main opsonin C3b 19. Many pathogenic protect themselves from recruiting FH. We analyzed how why different bind...

ABSTRACT The most characteristic features of the Lyme disease pathogens, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) group, are their ability to invade tissues and circumvent immune defenses host for extended periods time, despite elevated levels borrelia-specific antibodies in serum other body fluids. Our aim present study was determine whether B. is able interfere with complement (C) at level C3 by accelerating C3b inactivation thus inhibit amplification C cascade. Strains belonging different...

Abstract Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes can circumvent the vertebrate host’s immune system for long periods of time. B. sensu stricto and afzelii, but not garinii, bind complement inhibitor factor H to protect themselves against complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis killing. We found that binding resistance are due inducible expression a wide repertoire outer surface protein E (OspE) lipoproteins variably called OspE, p21, ErpA, ErpP. Individual strains carry multiple plasmid-encoded OspE...

ABSTRACT The human facultative pathogenic yeast Candida albicans causes mucocutaneous infections and is the major cause of opportunistic fungal in immunocompromised patients. C. activates both alternative classical pathway complement system. aim this study was to assay whether binds regulators order control activation at its surface. We observed binding two central regulators, factor H FHL-1, from normal serum by adsorption assays, immunostaining, fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS)...

ABSTRACT Candida albicans , an important pathogenic yeast, activates all three pathways of the complement system. To understand how this yeast evades effects activated system, we have analyzed binding classical pathway inhibitor C4b-binding protein (C4BP) by C. . Purified native as well recombinant C4BP bound dose dependently to and hyphal forms, shown multiple methods, such confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, absorption from human serum, direct...

ABSTRACT Relapsing fever is a rapidly progressive and severe septic disease caused by certain Borrelia spirochetes. The divided into two forms, i.e., epidemic relapsing fever, recurrentis transmitted lice, the endemic form, several species, such as B. duttonii , soft-bodied ticks. spirochetes enter bloodstream vector bite live persistently in plasma even after development of specific antibodies. This leads to relapses high mortality clearly indicates that organisms utilize effective immune...

Abstract Background The occurrence of invasive fungal infection (IFIs) in a pediatric hematology/oncology unit after renovation the ventilation system, and initiating routine azole antifungal prophylaxis was monitored. In addition, value serial screening for Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) diagnosing aspergillosis assessed. Procedure A total 98 consecutive high‐risk patients were prospectively surveyed signs IFI weekly monitored serum GM. data not made available to treating physicians....

We report the first foodborne outbreak caused by Cryptosporidium parvum in Finland. The occurred among personnel of Public Works Department Helsinki, who had eaten same canteen. 72 persons fell ill with diarrhoea, none was hospitalised. Four faecal samples obtained from 12 were positive for an antigen identification assay and microscopy. vehicle infection could not be identified certainty but a salad mixture suspected.

Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes that cause Lyme borreliosis survive for a long time in human serum because they successfully evade the complement system, an important arm of innate immunity. The outer surface protein E (OspE) B. is needed this it recruits regulator factor H (FH) onto bacterial to complement-mediated cell lysis. To understand process at molecular level, we used structural approach. First, solved solution structure OspE by NMR, revealing fold has not been seen before proteins...

While most of the spontaneous mutations in viral genome have no functional, diagnostic, or clinical consequences, some have. In February 2021, we noticed Southern Finland coronavirus disease 2019 cases where two commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses failed to recognize used N gene target but recognized other severe acute respiratory syndrome 2. Complete sequence analysis strains revealed several that were not found at time public databases. A short 3 bp deletion and three...

ABSTRACT Trichomonas vaginalis is a globally common sexually transmitted human parasite. Many strains of T. from around the world have been described to be resistant current drug choice, metronidazole. However, only few cases metronidazole resistance reported Europe. The cause prolonged infections which are difficult treat. infection also increases risk for immunodeficiency virus transmission. We present practical method determining 5-nitroimidazoles. suggested was developed by MICs and...

Serum resistance, an important virulence determinant of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato strains belonging to the afzelii and B. stricto genotypes, is related binding complement inhibitor factor H spirochete surface protein outer E (OspE) its homologues. In this study, we show that C-terminal short consensus repeats 18-20 both human mouse bind OspE. Analogously, H-related 1, a distinct plasma with three repeat domains homologous those in H, bound Deleting 15-aa residues (region V) from C...

The filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus is the causative agent of river blindness. adult worms produce microfilariae (mf), which are responsible for disease pathogenesis; mf activate complement system, but activation stops before formation terminal complexes. Because arrest activation, this study analyzed binding main alternative pathway regulator, factor H (fH), to mf. bound fH after incubation in nonimmune human serum or with purified radiolabeled fH. In presence I, mf-bound promoted...

Abstract The Lyme disease‐pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi binds the complement inhibitor factor H (FH) to its outer surface protein E‐ (OspE) and BbA68‐families of lipoproteins. In earlier studies, only serum‐resistant strains genospecies B. sensu stricto or afzelii , but not serum‐sensitive garinii strains, have been shown bind FH. Since often causes neuroborreliosis in man, we readdressed interactions with 50/97 strain did express FH‐binding proteins. By transforming an OspE‐encoding gene...

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the main protein component of high density lipoprotein (HDL), is well recognized for its antiatherogenic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties. Here, we report a novel role apoA-I as host defense molecule that contributes to complement-mediated killing an important gastrointestinal pathogen, Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica. We specifically show C-terminal domain effector site providing bactericidal activity. Although presence...

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen causing more than tenth of all septicemia cases and often superficial deep infections in various tissues. One the immune evasion strategies S. to secrete proteins that bind central complement opsonin C3b. these, extracellular binding protein (Ecb), known interfere directly with functions Because C3b also target physiological plasma regulator, factor H (FH), we studied effect Ecb on regulatory FH. We show enhances acquisition FH from serum onto...

Background Despite the global distribution of intestinal protozoan Dientamoeba fragilis, its clinical picture remains unclear. This results from underdiagnosis: microscopic screening methods either lack sensitivity (wet preparation) or fail to reveal (formalin-fixed sample). Aim In a retrospective study setting, we characterised dientamoebiasis and compared it with giardiasis. addition, evaluated an improved approach formalin-fixed samples for suitability in diagnostics. Methods comprised...

Staphyloccus aureus is a major human pathogen leading frequently to sepsis and soft tissue infections with abscesses. Multiple virulence factors including several immune modulating molecules contribute its survival in the host. When S. invades body, one of first line defenses complement system, which opsonizes bacteria C3b attract neutrophils by release chemotactic peptides. Neutrophils express Complement receptor-1 [CR1, CD35) that interacts C3b-opsonized particles thereby plays an...

Complement is an important part of innate immunity. The alternative pathway complement activated when the main opsonin, C3b coats non-protected surfaces leading to opsonisation, phagocytosis and cell lysis. tightly controlled prevent autoactivation towards host cells. regulator factor H (FH), a soluble glycoprotein that terminates activation in multiple ways. FH recognizes via domains 19–20 (FH19-20). All microbes including Borrelia burgdorferi, causative agent Lyme borreliosis, must evade...

Loa loa is a filarial nematode that infects humans. The adults live in subcutaneous tissues and produce microfilariae for several weeks the blood circulation order to be transmitted another person via meals of dipterian vector. As continuous contact with plasma, it obvious they evade complement system. We studied markers activation signs regulation on vivo. were isolated from anticoagulated samples loa-infected Caucasian patient. C1q some mannose-binding lectin but only limited amount C3b or...