The monitoring of T-cell responses is complicated by the scarcity of antigen-specific T cells and the NSC 19893 relative inefficiency of virus-specific T cells to produce effector cytokines. CD154 is a marker of activation expressed on T cells induced through their T-cell receptor. We analysed CD4 T-cell responses in 72 patients with chronic or resolved HCV infection (23 treatment naive, 49 treatment experienced, including 16 who had achieved a sustained response). In an additional prospective protocol, 20 of the chronically infected patients were analysed before
and after 8-12 weeks of combination therapy with peg-interferon-alpha and ribavirin. T-cell responses were measured by detecting the expression of CD154 and Th1 cytokines after stimulation with recombinant HCV proteins LB-100 and were correlated with pretreatment status and outcome of therapy. Broader T-cell responses were observed in treatment naive than in experienced patients, while the outcome of a preceding therapy regimen did not influence T-cell responses. In the prospective cohort, an on-treatment increase in CD154+ cytokine- T-cell activity was associated with response to treatment, while a decrease was observed in nonresponders. Stronger antigen-independent activity of CD154+ cytokine+ T cells was observed in responders than in nonresponders. Our data
indicate that CD154 as a marker of activation of CD4 T cells is a suitable tool for the analysis of T-cell responses in patients with HCV infection.”
“Objectives: In order to clarify the transmission cycle and genetic identity of Borrelia spirochetes in the non-endemic country of Taiwan, the causative agents responsible for human borreliosis were isolated from skin biopsies of patients and their genetic identities were determined.
Methods: Serum samples and skin biopsy specimens were collected from 95 patients: 85 with suspected Lyme disease and 10 controls. Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi was verified
by Western immunoblot analysis and isolation of the Borrelia spirochetes from skin biopsy specimens. The genetic identities of these isolated spirochetes were determined by analyzing the gene sequences amplified by polymerase chain reaction assay based on the 5S (rrf)-23S (rrl) intergenic spacer amplicon gene of B. burgdorferi sensu lato.
Results: Serological evidence of B. burgdorferi infection was confirmed Tozasertib inhibitor by elevated IgG and IgM antibodies against the major protein antigens of B. burgdorferi. Borrelia spirochetes were isolated from the skin biopsies of two patients. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these detected spirochetes were genetically affiliated to the genospecies Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia afzelii, with a high sequence homology within the genospecies of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (98.7-100%) and B. afzelii (100%), respectively.
Conclusions: This study provides convincing evidence of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto and B.