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Microscopy-based Assays for High-throughput Screening of Host Factors Involved in Brucella Infection of Hela Cells
Published on: August 5, 2016
Cell response to a salt-extractable and sonicated Brucella melitensis 16M antigen in human brucellosis
M C Moreno-Lafont1, A López-Merino, R López-Santiago
1Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Colonia Santo Tomás, México D.F., México.
Insights
This study investigated immune responses in brucellosis. T cell ratios (CD4+/CD8+) declined with disease severity, while cell-mediated immunity increased, indicating a worsening infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Brucellosis is a significant zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species.
- Understanding the host immune response is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Previous studies have explored various immunological markers in brucellosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare immunological responses in individuals with varying stages of brucellosis.
- To evaluate lymphocyte proliferation and T cell subsets in response to Brucella antigens.
- To correlate immune cell activity with disease progression.
Main Methods:
- Leukocytes were obtained from healthy controls, vaccinated individuals, and patients with acute or chronic brucellosis.
- In vitro lymphocyte proliferation tests were performed using salt-extractable antigen and sonicated Brucella melitensis 16M.
- Quantification of T cell subsets (CD4+/CD8+) and cell-mediated immunity assays (concanavalin A stimulation) were conducted.
Main Results:
- A decrease in the CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio was observed as brucellosis severity increased.
- Cell-mediated immunity, measured by mononuclear cell activity upon concanavalin A stimulation, showed increased activity with disease progression.
- Immunological responses varied between healthy controls, vaccinated individuals, and patients with different disease stages.
Conclusions:
- The CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio serves as a potential indicator of brucellosis severity.
- Increased cell-mediated immunity correlates with the progression of brucellosis.
- These findings contribute to a better understanding of the host-pathogen interactions in brucellosis.
Abstract:
We compared the immunological responses of leukocytes taken from healthy negative controls, laboratory workers immunized with the phenol-insoluble French vaccine against brucellosis, patients acutely ill with brucellosis, and patients chronically infected with Brucella melitensis. A salt-extractable antigen (protein-rich but with traces of lipopolysaccharide) and a sonicated suspension from B. melitensis 16M were used as antigens for in vitro lymphocyte proliferation test. Quantitation of T cells showed that the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells decreased as the condition of the patient deteriorated. An assay to quantitate the cell-mediated immunity showed that the activities of mononuclear cells stimulated with concanavalin A increased as the disease progressed as well.
