To construct a novel vaccine candidate against bovine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), FanC, the major subunit of K99 fimbriae adhesion, was inserted into secretion plasmid pYA3560 containing a β-lactamase secretion system. This was then transformed into Δasd Δcrp Salmonella (S.) Typhimurium and designated as JOL950. Secretion of recombinant fanC fimbrial antigens was confirmed by immunoblot analysis. Groups of mice were inoculated with single or double doses of JOL950. Another group was used as a negative control. Compared to control mice, all immunized mice had significantly higher levels (p < 0.05) of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G, and secretory IgA against FanC. The IgG2a and IgG1 titer assays revealed that immunization highly induced IgG2a compared to that of IgG1, indicating that T helper-1- related cell-mediated immune responses may be elicited by JOL950. The results show that both systemic and mucosal immunities against selected fimbrial antigens of bovine ETEC expressed by a live attenuated S. Typhimurium strain are prominently produced in mice immunized with JOL950 via an oral route.
Animals ; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli* ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Mice* ; Plasmids ; Salmonella*

Innate immune cells survey antigenic materials beneath our body surfaces and provide a front-line response to internal and external danger signals. Dendritic cells (DCs), a subset of innate immune cells, are critical sentinels that perform multiple roles in immune responses, from acting as principal modulators to priming an adaptive immune response through antigen-specific signaling. In the gut, DCs meet exogenous, non-harmful food antigens as well as vast commensal microbes under steady-state conditions. In other instances, they must combat pathogenic microbes to prevent infections. In this review, we focus on the function of intestinal DCs in maintaining intestinal immune homeostasis. Specifically, we describe how intestinal DCs affect IgA production from B cells and influence the generation of unique subsets of T cell.
Adaptive Immunity ; B-Lymphocytes ; Dendritic Cells* ; Homeostasis ; Immune System* ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Although secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) is a very important substance in the defence mechanism of respiratory and nasal mucosa, research on its expression in the olfactory mucosa and differences according to development is limited. Therefore, we planned to uncover the sites of sIgA expression in the olfactory mucosa as well as changes in its expression depending on the developmental progress of mice. Our results showed the expression of sIgA in the mucus layer, the Bowman's gland, some of the blood cells and secretory ducts of the olfactory mucosa, and these findings were relatively consistent from gestational day 15 through to the adult stage. The different findings between the gestational day 15 specimens and others include a positive reaction in the Bowman's gland for gestational day 15 specimens. Therefore, we would like to predict with caution that the Immunologic regulation of mice should be completed at least after the 15th gestational day.
Adult ; Animals ; Blood Cells ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory* ; Mice* ; Mucus ; Nasal Mucosa ; Olfactory Mucosa*

In the present study, quids from La Cueva de los Muertos Chiquitos (CMC) were subjected to ELISA tests for 2 protozoan parasites, Toxoplasma gondii (n=45) and Trypanosoma cruzi (n=43). The people who occupied CMC, the Loma San Gabriel, lived throughout much of present-day Durango and Zacatecas in Mexico. The known pathoecology of these people puts them into at-risk categories for the transmission of T. gondii and T. cruzi. Human antibodies created in response to these 2 parasites can be detected in modern saliva using ELISA kits intended for use with human serum. For these reasons, quids were reconstituted and subjected to ELISA testing. All test wells yielded negative results. These results could be a factor of improper methods because there is no precedence for this work in the existing literature. The results could equally be a simple matter of parasite absence among those people who occupied CMC. A final consideration is the taphonomy of human antibodies and whether or not ELISA is a sufficient method for recovering antibodies from archaeological contexts. An additional ELISA test targeting secretory IgA (sIgA) was conducted to further examine the failure to detect parasite-induced antibodies from quids. Herein, the methods used for quid preparation and ELISA procedures are described so that they can be further developed by future researchers. The results are discussed in light of the potential future of quid analysis.
Antibodies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Loma ; Methods ; Mexico ; Parasites ; Saliva ; Toxoplasma ; Trypanosoma cruzi

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of a Qigong program on various parameters of unstimulated saliva, including volume, pH and secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) level.

METHODSTwice a day from the beginning of Fall 2005, twenty-three healthy volunteers aged 22-24 did special Qigong exercises and massage of acupuncture points which stimulated the energy cycle and increased body water energy. The unstimulated saliva volume and pH were recorded every week in Spring (April, May, June) 2005 before the volunteers started to learn and exercise Qigong, and after Qigong intervention in Spring (April, May, June) 2006. During the period of study, saliva was collected in the same location and on similar dates at the Dental Faculty of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The S-IgA levels of the last samples of the last week of Spring 2005 and 2006 were measured.

RESULTSThe unstimulated saliva volume after Qigong exercises (2.94 + or - 0.20 mL/5min) was significantly higher as compared to the pre-Qigong phase (1.65 + or -0.102 mL/5min, P<0.05). The S-IgA level was 105.45 + or - 9.41 mg/mL before doing Qigong exercises, and 156.23 + or - 88.56 mg/mL after doing Qigong exercises, and a statistically significant difference was seen between the two measurements (P=0.005). The change in pH was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSThe application of Qigong is beneficial for increasing salivary volume and other parameters. Moreover, the results suggest that Qigong may be a useful medication for patients with salivary hyposecretion. Further research is recommended in examining the long-term effects of Qigong on improving salivary volume and other parameters in individuals with salivary hyposecretion.

Breathing Exercises ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; analysis ; Male ; Saliva ; immunology ; secretion ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many studies report changes in the expressions of nasal secretory proteins which play important roles in the evaluation of sinonasal mucosal status. The biomarkers in nasal secretions provide valuable information on pathophysiological status of the rhinosinusitis. We have monitored the level and ratio of nasal secretion markers, especially secretory IgA (sIgA) and lactoferrin as markers of sinonasal submucosal glands to evaluate mucosal status for chronic sinonasal diseases and allergic rhinitis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Samples were obtained with the filter paper absorption method from 20 normal healthy controls (Group I), 20 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (Group II), 20 patients with allergic rhinitis (Group III), 20 normalized persons of chronic rhinosinusitis patients treated with antibiotics, previously (Group IV). We estimated concentrations of sIgA and lactoferrin determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The concentration of sIgA and lactoferrin in nasal secretion showed a significant difference between the control group and other groups (p<0.05). The sIgA/lactoferrin ratio was more highly significant in the normal group and normalized in chronic rhinosinusitis patients treated with antibiotics (Group IV) than other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, sIgA and lactoferrin are useful secretion markers and the levels of sIgA, lactoferrin and sIgA/lactoferrin ratios in nasal secretions seem to be very useful parameters for monitoring and assessing the conditions of the sinonasal mucosal diseases.
Absorption ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biomarkers ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Lactoferrin ; Rhinitis

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between immunochemical level of salivary and caries in children aged 4-6 years old.

METHODSTwo groups were assorted as patients with caries and without caries. Every group included 45 people. Measurements of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA)were performed by using radio-immunoassay and single agar diffusion assay. The levels of lysozyme (LZ), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were studied with colorimetry and turbidimentry.

RESULTSThe levels of LDH, SigA, ALP, LZ had significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The level of LDH between patients and peoples without caries had little difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of caries is associated with age, and it may have association with immunochemical levels of salivary.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Child ; Dental Caries ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Male ; Saliva

Recent immunological investigations have demonstrated that the patients with psoriasis have various humoral and cellular immune abnormalities, such as increased serum IgG, IgE and secretory IgA, anti-IgC factor in psoriatic lesions, in peripheral blood lymphocytes and in serum, rhumatoid-like factors in IgA and IgG classes of immunoglobulins, antinuclear antibodies (ANA; reacting with the basal cell nuclei of uninvolved skin., anti-stratum corneum antibody and complements in psoriatic scales, immuoglobulin and complement bearing polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the Muro microabscess. These abnormal findings are enough to suggest an autoimmune mechanism in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Several investigators have also reported the results of T cell enumeration in the peripheral blood in psoriatic patients. However, the results are not in general agreement,. Thee present study was undertaken to clarify any abnormality in the proportion of T cells in the peripheral blood in psoriatic patients. Forty-one patients with active psoriasis registered at the Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital entered this study from May, 1979 through April, 1980. Twelve healthy medical and paramedical personel the comprised the control group. Active and total T cells were enumerated by the method of E-rosetting technique, and the results were as follows. 1, in normal controls, the active and total T celIs identified as E rosetteforming cells accounted for 61.6+7.4% and 68.1+8.9% of the total lymphocyte population, respectively. 2. In patients with psoriasis, significant decrease of active T cells (54. 2,+11.0%,p<0.005) and total T cells (62.2+11.2%, p<0.05) was observed. More profound reduction of T cells was noted in patients with wide spread psoriasis than those with limited extent.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Cell Nucleus ; Complement System Proteins ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Lymphocytes ; Psoriasis* ; Research Personnel ; Seoul ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Weights and Measures

We investigated whether maternal antibodies (mAbs) elicited by dams immunized with recombinant vaccine candidates against avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) can passively confer protective immunity to chicks. In the present study, pBP244 plasmids carrying selected antigens of APEC were transformed into Salmonella Typhimurium JOL912, which was used as a vaccine candidate against APEC. The hens were immunized with the vaccine candidates using prime or booster doses. The levels of IgG and sIgA specific to the selected antigens increased significantly following prime immunization. To evaluate the persistence of passively transferred mAbs, the levels of IgY and IgA were determined in egg yolks and whites, respectively. The eggs from the immunized group showed consistently increased levels of IgY and IgA until week 16 post-laying (PL) and week 8 PL, respectively, relative to the control group. The presence of mAbs was observed in chicks that hatched from the hens, and titers of plasma IgY were consistently raised in those from the immunized hens by day 14 post-hatching. Further, chicks from the immunized hens were protected from challenge with a virulent APEC strain, whereas those from non-immunized hens showed acute mortality.
Antibodies* ; Egg Yolk ; Eggs ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Immunization ; Immunization, Passive ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mortality ; Ovum ; Plasma ; Plasmids ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Salmonella*

OBJECTIVETo develop an anti-caries DNA vaccine-loaded Salmonella typhimurium (St) ghost and enhance the efficacy of immune responses induced by anti-caries DNA vaccine via mucosal route.

METHODSBoth pREP4 and PhiX gene E expression plasmids were transformed into StJ357 and then induced with isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The bacterial ghosts (BG) were collected after wash and loaded with anti-caries DNA vaccine pGJGLU/VAX. Mice were divided into four groups and immunized through the nasal route with pGJGLU/VAX-loaded BG (Group Ghost+pGJGLU/VAX), pVAX1-loaded BG (Group Ghost+pVAX1), pGJGLU/VAX-Bupivacaine complex (Group pGJGLU/VAX) and pVAX1-Bupivacaine complex (Group pVAX1), respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate the immune responses.

RESULTSELISA results showed that group Ghost+pGJGLU/VAX had significantly higher level of specific anti-GLU SIgA antibody [(0.367 ± 0.086) A/µg] compared with group Ghost+pVAX1 [(0.122 ± 0.077) A/µg], Group pGJGLU/VAX[(0.068 ± 0.068) A/µg] or Group pVAX1[(0.089 ± 0.089) A/µg] (P = 0.028, 0.012 or 0.030, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSSt ghost was developed successfully, which enhanced the efficacy of immune responses induced by anti-caries DNA vaccine pGJGLU/VAX via the nasal route.

Animals ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Bacterial Vaccines ; Dental Caries ; prevention & control ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Mice ; Plasmids ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Vaccines, DNA