A5017842803- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis
- Synthesis and Biological Evaluation
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Carbohydrate Chemistry and Synthesis
- Renal Diseases and Glomerulopathies
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
Tufts University
2018-2023
Broad Institute
2016
New England Disabled Sports
2016
Harvard University
1977-2015
Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center
2011-2013
Boston University
2006-2011
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
2008-2009
Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
2007-2009
Biology of Infection
2009
Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro
2008
In presenting a unifying concept for chronic inflammation and lymphoid organogenesis, we suggest that lymphotoxin's (LT, LT-alpha, TNF-beta) crucial role in these processes is pivotal similar. Chronic inflammatory lesions developed the kidney pancreas at sites of transgene expression rat insulin promoter-LT (RIP-LT) mice resembled lymph nodes with regard to cellular composition (T cells, B plasma antigen-presenting cells), delineated T cell areas, primary secondary follicles, characteristic...
Abstract Key Ags of Mycobacterium tuberculosis initially identified in the context host responses healthy purified protein derivative-positive donors and infected C57BL/6 mice were prioritized for development a subunit vaccine against tuberculosis. Our lead construct, Mtb72F, codes 72-kDa polyprotein genetically linked tandem linear order Mtb32C-Mtb39-Mtb32N. Immunization with Mtb72F DNA resulted generation IFN-γ directed first two components strong CD8+ T cell response exclusively Mtb32C....
We previously reported that seeds of Artocarpus integrifolia (jackfruit) contain a lectin, which we call jacalin, is both potent T cell mitogen and an apparently cell-independent activator human B cells for the secretion immunoglobulins. During above experiments noted massive precipitation in cultures stimulated with greater than or equal to 100 micrograms lectin. In this paper, show precipitate formed after interaction jacalin serum protein added culture medium. More importantly,...
CD271 + bone marrow stem cells may provide a protective intracellular niche for dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis .
Vaccination of BALB/c mice with Leishmania major promastigote culture filtrate proteins plus Corynebacterium parvum confers resistance to infection L. major. To define immunogenic components this protein mixture, we used sera from vaccinated screen an amastigote cDNA expression library. One the immunoreactive clones thus obtained encoded a novel molecular mass 22.1 kDa. The predicted amino acid sequence clone exhibited significant homology eukaryotic thiol-specific-antioxidant (TSA)...
ABSTRACT Leishmaniasis affects approximately 2 million people each year throughout the world. This high incidence is due in part to lack of an efficacious vaccine. We present evidence that recombinant leishmanial antigens LmSTI1 and TSA, which we identified characterized previously, induce excellent protection both murine nonhuman primate (rhesus monkey) models human cutaneous leishmaniasis. The remarkable induced by TSA animal model evolutionarily close humans qualifies this antigen...
We have used expression screening of a genomic Mycobacterium tuberculosis library with (TB) patient sera to identify novel genes that may be diagnostically or in the development TB vaccine. Using this strategy, we cloned gene, termed mtb39a, encodes 39-kDa protein. Molecular characterization revealed mtb39a is member family three highly related are conserved among strains M. and bovis BCG but not other mycobacterial species tested. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated presence Mtb39A lysate...
We have evaluated the ability of Leishmania protein LeIF to influence Th1/Th2 cytokine responses and generation LeIF-specific T cell clones in absence adjuvant. characterized major-infected uninfected BALB/c mice. These mice develop a strong Th2 response during infection with L. major. When lymph node cells from infected were stimulated vitro LeIF, only IFN-gamma (and no detectable IL-4) was found culture supernatant. In addition, down-regulated Ag-specific IL-4 production by Subsequently,...
Abstract DNA- and protein- based vaccines against cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major were evaluated using a challenge model that more closely reproduces the pathology immunity associated with sand fly-transmitted infection. C57BL/6 mice vaccinated s.c. mixture of plasmid DNAs encoding Ags LACK, LmSTI1, TSA (AgDNA), or autoclaved L. promastigotes (ALM) plus rIL-12, challenged by inoculation 100 metacyclic in ear dermis. When at 2 wk postvaccination, receiving AgDNA ALM/rIL-12...
ABSTRACT Development of an effective vaccine against Leishmania infection is a priority tropical disease research. We have recently demonstrated protection major in the murine and nonhuman primate models with individual or combinations purified leishmanial recombinant antigens delivered as plasmid DNA constructs formulated interleukin-12 (IL-12) adjuvant. In present study, we immunized BALB/c mice polyprotein comprising tandem fusion thiol-specific antioxidant, L. stress-inducible protein 1...
The diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis remains difficult in rural areas where the disease is endemic, and serologic methods still need assessment, as they are not very sensitive for detection asymptomatic infectious dogs. Here we present data on development enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based antibodies against recombinant leishmanial antigens (namely, K26 [rK26] rK39 from Leishmania infantum rA2 protein donovani) comparison to ELISAs employing crude soluble antigen (CSA)....
Abstract A lectin activity that selectively induces different functions of human lymphocytes has been described in a PBS crude extract obtained from the seeds Artocarpus integrifolia (jackfruit). Both unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and purified T are strongly stimulated to proliferate by this extract, whereas B not. However, induced potent polyclonal activation measured reverse hemolytic plaque assay using multivalent anti-human Fab antibody.
In order to identify antigens that may be used in the serodiagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB), we screened a Mycobacterium genomic expression library with pool sera from patients diagnosed pulmonary TB. The lacked reactivity recombinant form M. 38-kDa antigen (r38kDa), and goal was might complement r38kDa serodiagnostic assay. Utilizing this strategy, identified gene, previously designated lhp , which encodes 100-amino-acid protein referred as culture filtrate 10 (CFP-10). gene is located...
Abstract Infection of C57BL/6 mice with Mycobacterium tuberculosis results in the development a progressive disease during first 2 wk after challenge. Thereafter, is controlled by emergence protective T cells. We have used this infection model conjunction direct cell expression cloning to identify Ags involved early control disease. A M. tuberculosis-specific CD4 line derived from at 3 postchallenge was directly screen an genomic library. This resulted identification clone comprising two...
ABSTRACT We have recently shown that a cocktail containing two leishmanial recombinant antigens (LmSTI1 and TSA) interleukin-12 (IL-12) as an adjuvant induces solid protection in both murine nonhuman primate model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, because IL-12 is difficult to prepare, expensive, does not the stability required for vaccine product, we investigated possibility using DNA alternative means inducing protective immunity. Here, present evidence TSA LmSTI1 delivered plasmid...
BALB/c mice are highly susceptible to infection with the protozoan parasite Leishmania major. This susceptibility has been attributed, in part, expansion of parasite-specific CD4+ Th2 cells that antagonize Th1 responses and promote humoral immunity. In present study, we have utilized sera from L. major-infected screen an major amastigote cDNA expression library. One clones detected encodes a novel Ag designated as stress-inducible 1 (LmSTI1). LmSTI1 contains six copies tetratricopeptide...
Abstract The development of an effective vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a research area intense interest. Mounting evidence suggests that protective immunity to M. relies on both MHC class II-restricted CD4+ T cells and I-restricted CD8+ cells. By purifying polypeptides present in the culture filtrate evaluating these molecules for their ability stimulate PBMC from purified protein derivative-positive healthy individuals, we previously identified low-m.w. immunoreactive cell...
During tuberculosis (TB), some Mycobacterium bacilli persist in the presence of an active immunity and antibiotics that are used to treat disease. Herein, by using Cornell model TB persistence, we further explored our recent finding suggested M. can escape therapy residing bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cells. We initially showed rapidly disseminates mouse BM after aerosol exposure maintained a stable burden for at least 220 days. In contrast, lungs, peaked 28 days subsequently declined...
The incidence of opportunistic non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections has increased considerably in the past decades causing an array infections, including respiratory and soft-tissue infections. NTM are ubiquitous can be found numerous environments, households water plants. However, have not been reported to associated with healthy human oral microbiome. Since cavity upper track main ports entry microorganisms into body, elucidating diversity prevalence will assist assessment...
ABSTRACT Hamsters infected with Leishmania donovani develop a disease similar to human kala-azar. They present hypergammaglobulinemia, and their T cells do not respond parasite antigens. This unresponsiveness has been primarily ascribed defects in antigen-presenting (APCs), because these are unable stimulate proliferation of parasite-specific from immunized animals. In this study, we show that APCs (adherent spleen cells) L. -infected hamsters produce high levels the inhibitory cytokine...
Polypeptide Ags present in the culture filtrate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were purified and evaluated for their ability to stimulate PBMC from protein derivative (PPD)-positive healthy donors. One such Ag, which elicited strong proliferation IFN-gamma production, was further characterized. The N-terminal amino acid sequence this polypeptide determined used design oligonucleotides screening a recombinant M. genomic DNA library. gene (Mtb 8.4) corresponding identified cloned, sequenced,...