Bf Nowak

Safety and immunogenicity of a quadrivalent human papillomavirus (types 6, 11, 16, and 18) vaccine in HIV-infected children 7 to 12 years old.

Background:Quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (QHPV) is >95% effective in preventing infection with vaccine-type human papillomavirus. The safety and immunogenicity of QHPV are unknown in HIV-infected children. Methods:HIV-infected children (N = 126)-age >7 to <12 years, with a CD4% ≥15-and on stable antiretroviral therapy if CD4% was <25-were blindly assigned to receive a dose of QHPV or placebo (3:1 ratio) at 0, 8, and 24 weeks. Adverse events were evaluated after each dose. Serum antibody against QHPV antigens was measured by a competitive Luminex immunoassay 1 month after the third QHPV dose. Results:The safety profile of QHPV was similar in the 2 study arms and to that previously reported for QHPV recipients. QHPV did not alter the CD4% or plasma HIV RNA. Seroconversion to all 4 antigens occurred in >96% of QHPV recipients and in no placebo recipients. Geometric mean titer was >27 to 262 times greater than the seropositivity cutoff value, depending on the antigen, but was 30%-50% lower against types 6 and 18 than those of age-similar historical controls. Conclusions:QHPV was safe and immunogenic in this cohort of HIV-infected children. Efficacy trials are warranted.

Identification and characterization of a novel intraepithelial lymphoid tissue in the gills of Atlantic salmon

In addition to being the respiratory organ in fish, the gills form a barrier against the external milieu. Innate and adaptive immune system components have been detected in the gills, but lymphoid cell accumulations similar to that seen in the mammalian mucosa have not been described. The present investigations revealed cell accumulations on the caudal edge of interbranchial septum at the base of the gill filaments in the Atlantic salmon. Cytokeratin immunohistochemical staining and identification of a basal membrane and desmosome cell junctions by electron microscopy showed that the cell accumulation was located intraepithelially. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II+ cells were detected by immunohistochemistry, and laser capture micro‐dissection and subsequent RT‐PCR analysis revealed expression of T‐cell receptor transcripts in the investigated tissue, suggesting the presence of T cells. The intraepithelial tissue reported here may be a suitable location for immune surveillance of gill infections, as well as a target site for new vaccine approaches and investigations of epithelial immunity. This is the first description of a lymphocyte cell aggregation within a teleostian gill epithelium network, illustrating a phylogenetically early form of leukocyte accumulations in a respiratory organ.

Administration of Live Varicella Vaccine to HIV-Infected Children with Current or Past Significant Depression of CD4+ T Cells

BACKGROUND Varicella can be a severe illness in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children. The licensed, live attenuated varicella vaccine is safe and immunogenic in HIV-infected children with minimal symptoms and good preservation of CD4(+) T cells (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immunologic category 1). METHODS To study the safety and immunogenicity of this vaccine in varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-naive, HIV-infected children with moderate symptoms and/or more pronounced past or current decreases in CD4(+) T cell counts, such children (age, 1-8 years) received 2 doses of vaccine 3 months apart. The children were observed in a structured fashion for adverse events. Blood was tested for VZV antibody and VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) at baseline, 8 weeks after each dose, and annually for 3 years. Subjects who had no evidence of immunity 1 year after vaccination received a third dose and were retested. RESULTS The vaccine was well tolerated; there were no vaccine-related, serious adverse events. Regardless of immunologic category, at least 79% of HIV-infected vaccine recipients developed VZV-specific antibody and/or CMI 2 months after 2 doses of vaccine, and 83% were responders 1 year after vaccination. CONCLUSIONS HIV-infected children with a CD4(+) T cell percentage of > or =15% and a CD4(+) T cell count of > or =200 cells/ microL are likely to benefit from receiving varicella vaccine.

Shedding of Live Vaccine Virus, Comparative Safety, and Influenza-Specific Antibody Responses after Administration of Live Attenuated and Inactivated Trivalent Influenza Vaccines to HIV-Infected Children

HIV-infected children (N=243), >or=5 to <18 years old, receiving stable antiretroviral therapy, were stratified by immunologic status and randomly assigned to receive intranasal live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) or intramuscular trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV). The safety profile after LAIV or TIV closely resembled the previously reported tolerability to these vaccines in children without HIV infection. Post-vaccination hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody responses and shedding of LAIV virus were also similar, regardless of immunological stratum, to antibody responses and shedding previously reported for children without HIV infection. LAIV should be further evaluated for a role in immunizing HIV-infected children.

Histological changes in gills induced by residues of endosulfan

Abstract Respiratory diffusion distance was used to quantify structural changes in gills of catfish exposed to an organochlorine insecticide endosulfan under laboratory conditions. Oedema with lifting of lamellar epithelium and hyperplasia of lamellar epithelium were observed in gills of all catfish containing residues of endosulfan. Both these changes resulted in a statistically significant increase of respiratory diffusion distance. The mean respiratory diffusion distance of catfish collected in the cotton growing area was larger than in two control populations, but this difference was not statistically significant. However, the beta probability of accepting a false null hypothesis of no effect was very large and the effect size index indicated a high degree of departure from the null hypothesis of no difference in the respiratory diffusion distance between fish from different populations.

Neoparamoeba perurans is a cosmopolitan aetiological agent of amoebic gill disease

Previously we described a new member of the Neoparamoeba genus, N. perurans, and showed that it is an agent of amoebic gill disease (AGD) of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar cultured in southeast Tasmania, Australia. Given the broad distribution of cases of AGD, we were interested in extending our studies to epizootics in farmed fish from other sites around the world. Oligonucleotide probes that hybridise with the 18S rRNA of N. perurans, N. branchiphila or N. pemaquidensis were used to examine archival samples of AGD in Tasmania as well as samples obtained from 4 host fish species cultured across 6 countries. In archival samples, N. perurans was the only detectable amoeba, confirming that it has been the predominant aetiological agent of AGD in Tasmania since epizootics were first reported. N. perurans was also the exclusive agent of AGD in 4 host species across 6 countries. Together, these data show that N. perurans is a cosmopolitan agent of AGD and, therefore, of significance to the global mariculture industry.

Cloning and expression analysis of three striped trumpeter (Latris lineata) pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8, in response to infection by the ectoparasitic, Chondracanthus goldsmidi.

This study reports the cloning and sequencing of three striped trumpeter (Latris lineata Forster) pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-8, as well as their differential expression in response to an infection by the ectoparasite Chondracanthus goldsmidi. The striped trumpeter TNF-alpha transcript consisted of 1093 bp, including a 759 bp ORF which translated into a 253 aa transmembrane peptide. The sequence contained a TACE cut site, that would produce a 167 aa soluble peptide containing the TNF ligand family signature. The IL-1beta sequence consisted of 963 bp, including a 774 bp ORF which translated into a 258 aa protein. The protein lacked both a signal peptide and an ICE cleavage site, but did contain the IL-1 family signature. The sequence for the chemokine IL-8 contained 906 bp, with an ORF of 297 bp, which translated into a 99 aa protein. The protein lacked an ELR motif as is common with many teleost IL-8 sequences. The differential expression of the three cytokine genes in parasitized fish was investigated via quantitative real-time PCR. A significant up-regulation of all three pro-inflammatory cytokines was found in the gills, which were the site of parasite attachment. Examination of head kidney cells revealed a significant up-regulation of TNF-alpha, but not IL-1beta or IL-8. Conversely, the spleen cells showed significant up-regulation of both IL-1beta and IL-8, but not TNF-alpha. These findings allow for more detailed investigations of the striped trumpeter immune response.

Effects of ammonia on juvenile silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)

Abstract Continued development of commercial pond culture of silver perch ( Bidyanus bidyanus ) depends on determining concentrations of water quality variables that limit production. The effect of ammonia on the short-term growth of juvenile silver perch was evaluated in a 39-day experiment. Survival was not significantly affected by exposures up to 0.36 mg l −1 un-ionised ammonia–nitrogen (UAN), the highest concentration tested in this study. Growth was reduced at 0.36 mg l −1 UAN. The EC 5 (the concentration at which growth is reduced by 5%) was estimated to be 0.06 mg l −1 UAN. Some changes in gill histopathology were observed in fish exposed to ammonia.

Effectiveness of commercial freshwater bathing as a treatment against amoebic gill disease in Atlantic salmon

Abstract Amoebic gill disease (AGD) is the most serious health problem in Atlantic salmon culture in Tasmania, Australia. This disease is caused by an amoeboid protozoan, Paramoeba pemaquidensis and has resulted in seacage mortalities as high as 50%. Current treatment involves fish being bathed in freshwater for periods of 2–3 h. The aim of this project was to determine the effectiveness of commercial freshwater bathing. Gill samples were collected from Atlantic salmon before and after routine freshwater bathing. Each fish was weighed, measured (fork length), gross AGD score determined, gill smears stained with “Diff Quick” and trypan blue and gill arches examined using routine histology. Freshwater bathing significantly reduced the prevalence of characteristic mucoid patches on the gills, presence of paramoebae on gill smears and the number of paramoebae per lesion in histological sections (P

Copper speciation and toxicity in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania: an investigation using a copper ion selective electrode

Growth inhibition bioassays using Nitzschia closterium were used to determine the relationship between the reduction in the growth rate and the concentration of free copper ion (Cufree) as measured with a copper Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE). At a salinity of 20, no toxicity was found for Cufree=10−11.79 M while, for Cufree=10−8.20 M, the growth rate was reduced to <8% of the control. Copper was found to be less toxic at S=30 and the growth rate was reduced to 40% of the control at Cufree=10−8.50 M. These results are comparable to other estimates of the toxicity of copper to marine organisms. Macquarie Harbour is a large semi-enclosed bay that is heavily polluted with copper and measurements of Cufree, using an ISE, ranged from 10−11.27 to 10−12.04 M even though total copper concentrations were as high as 390 nM. In line with these low concentrations of Cufree, Macquarie Harbour waters (S=20) were not found to be toxic to N. closterium. A reduction in growth rate was observed in some Macquarie Harbour waters at S=30 but this was attributed to some factor other than copper toxicity. These results are in direct contrast with ASV measurements, which predicted high toxicity for all water samples. More than 99.9% of the total copper was bound to ligands that were probably based on the high concentrations of humics entering the harbour and we propose that at least some of the copper was associated with colloids containing humic matter and iron and manganese (hydr)oxides.