The Relationship Between Quality of Life,Psychological Wellbeing,Satisfaction with Life and Acculturation of Immigrants in Greece

Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry - Few studies have examined the quality of life of immigrants in Greece and its relations to acculturation. This study explored the quality of life, psychological...     

Naturally-Acquired Immune Response against Plasmodium vivax Rhoptry-Associated Membrane Antigen

Rhoptry-associated membrane antigen (RAMA) is an abundant glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that is embedded within the lipid bilayer and is implicated in parasite invasion. Antibody responses against rhoptry proteins are produced by individuals living in a malaria-endemic area, suggesting the immunogenicity of Plasmodium vivax RAMA (PvRAMA) for induction of immune responses during P. vivax infection. To determine whether PvRAMA contributes to the acquisition of immunity to malaria and could be a rational candidate for a vaccine, the presence of memory T cells and the stability of the antibody response against PvRAMA were evaluated in P. vivax-exposed individuals. The immunogenicity of PvRAMA for the induction of T cell responses was evaluated by in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). High levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-10 cytokines were detected in the culture supernatant of PBMCs, and the CD4⁺ T cells predominantly produced IL-10 cytokine. The levels of total anti-PvRAMA immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody were significantly elevated, and these antibodies persisted over the 12 months of the study. Interestingly, IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 were the major antibody subtypes in the response to PvRAMA. The frequency of IgG3 in specific to PvRAMA antigen maintained over 12 months. These data could explain the immunogenicity of PvRAMA antigen in induction of both cell-mediated and antibody-mediated immunity in natural P. vivax infection, in which IFN-γ helps antibody class switching toward the IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 isotypes and IL-10 supports PvRAMA-specific antibody production.     

Inhibition of egg development and implantation in rats after post-coital administration of the progesterone antagonist RU 486

RU 486 was administered to rats on Day 1 or Days 1 + 2 of pregnancy. Endometrial sensitivity (i.e. decidualization in response to oil instillation) was delayed by 2.5 mg/kg injected s.c. on Day 1, and almost half of the animals also exhibited a delay in implantation of 1-2 days. Higher doses (5 or 10 mg/kg) administered on Days 1 + 2 reduced the number of implantations to zero in all animals. Apparently normal morulae were found up to the evening of Day 4 in the oviduct and/or the uterus of most animals. However, on the morning of Day 5, ova were detected in only 25% of the animals and all were in the uterus: none was at the blastocyst stage and they appeared to be degenerated or compacted morulae. Egg survival and rate of egg recovery from the uterus was not improved by early ovariectomy, showing that this antiprogestagen acts on these events independently of the presence of circulating oestrogens.     

Important disease conditions of newly cultured species in intensive freshwater farms in Greece: first incidence of nodavirus infection in Acipenser sp

We describe here the main pathological conditions of freshwater fish recently introduced for intensive rearing (open ponds and recirculating freshwater systems) in Greece. Sturgeon were susceptible to skeletal abnormalities of the spine (scoliosis and lordosis) of unknown aetiology. Horizontal transmission of nodavirus from infected sea bass to sturgeon was detected for the first time. This caused serious pathology and clinical signs, such as lethargy and imbalance, leading to secondary infections with Aeromonas hydrophila and Trichodina sp. and chronic, but steady, mortality. Sea bass were very susceptible to nodavirus infection, monogenean infections and gas bubble disease. Mullet reared under recirculated and open-flow conditions were very sensitive to Chilodonella sp. infection, whereas catfish were susceptible to infection with Ichthyophthirius sp. leading to secondary infections with A. hydrophila, Saprolegnia sp. and Myxobacteria spp. Tilapia were very susceptible to gas bubble disease and A. hydrophila. This bacterium was associated with management manipulations for all species and fully responsive to corrective hygiene methods.     

Characterization of inhibitory anti-Duffy binding protein II immunity: approach to Plasmodium vivax vaccine development in Thailand

Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein region II (DBPII) is an important vaccine candidate for antibody-mediated immunity against vivax malaria. A significant challenge for vaccine development of DBPII is its highly polymorphic nature that alters sensitivity to neutralizing antibody responses. Here, we aim to characterize naturally-acquired neutralizing antibodies against DBPII in individual Thai residents to give insight into P. vivax vaccine development in Thailand. Anti-DBPII IgG significantly increased in acute vivax infections compared to uninfected residents and naive controls. Antibody titers and functional anti-DBPII inhibition varied widely and there was no association between titer and inhibition activity. Most high titer plasmas had only a moderate to no functional inhibitory effect on DBP binding to erythrocytes, indicating the protective immunity against DBPII binding is strain specific. Only 5 of 54 samples were highly inhibitory against DBP erythrocyte-binding function. Previously identified target epitopes of inhibitory anti-DBPPII IgG (H1, H2 and H3) were localized to the dimer interface that forms the DARC binding pocket. Amino acid polymorphisms (monomorphic or dimorphic) in H1 and H3 protective epitopes change sensitivity of immune inhibition by alteration of neutralizing antibody recognition. The present study indicates Thai variant H1.T1 (R308S), H3.T1 (D384G) and H3.T3 (K386N) are the most important variants for a DBPII candidate vaccine needed to protect P. vivax in Thai residents.     

The Global One Health Paradigm: Challenges and Opportunities for Tackling Infectious Diseases at the Human,Animal, and Environment Interface in Low-Resource Settings

Zoonotic infectious diseases have been an important concern to humankind for more than 10,000 years. Today, approximately 75% of newly emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are zoonoses that result from various anthropogenic, genetic, ecologic, socioeconomic, and climatic factors. These interrelated driving forces make it difficult to predict and to prevent zoonotic EIDs. Although significant improvements in environmental and medical surveillance, clinical diagnostic methods, and medical practices have been achieved in the recent years, zoonotic EIDs remain a major global concern, and such threats are expanding, especially in less developed regions. The current Ebola epidemic in West Africa is an extreme stark reminder of the role animal reservoirs play in public health and reinforces the urgent need for globally operationalizing a One Health approach. The complex nature of zoonotic diseases and the limited resources in developing countries are a reminder that the need for implementation of Global One Health in low-resource settings is crucial. The Veterinary Public Health and Biotechnology (VPH-Biotec) Global Consortium launched the International Congress on Pathogens at the Human-Animal Interface (ICOPHAI) in order to address important challenges and needs for capacity building. The inaugural ICOPHAI (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011) and the second congress (Porto de Galinhas, Brazil, 2013) were unique opportunities to share and discuss issues related to zoonotic infectious diseases worldwide. In addition to strong scientific reports in eight thematic areas that necessitate One Health implementation, the congress identified four key capacity-building needs: (1) development of adequate science-based risk management policies, (2) skilled-personnel capacity building, (3) accredited veterinary and public health diagnostic laboratories with a shared database, and (4) improved use of existing natural resources and implementation. The aim of this review is to highlight advances in key zoonotic disease areas and the One Health capacity needs.     

Comparative Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Salmonella spp. in Pig Farms and Slaughterhouses in Two Provinces in Northern Thailand

Salmonella spp. are an important group of bacterial zoonotic pathogens which can cause acute food-borne diseases in humans. Pork products are the main source of salmonellosis, but the origins and transmission routes of the disease have not been clearly determined. The purpose of this study was to characterize Salmonella spp. isolated in pig production lines both from pig farms and from slaughterhouses in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces in northern Thailand. The study focuses on the association among serotypes, antimicrobial resistance patterns and Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns to investigate possible sources of infection and to provide information which could help strengthen salmonellosis control programs in the region. A total of 86 strains of Salmonella comprising five majority serotypes were identified. Antibiotic resistance to tetracycline was found to be the most prevalent (82.56%) followed by ampicillin (81.40%) and streptomycin (63.95%). Seven clusters and 28 fingerprint-patterns generated by PFGE were identified among strains recovered from various locations and at different times, providing information on associations among the strains as well as evidence of the existence of persistent strains in some areas. Study results suggest that Salmonella control programs should be implemented at slaughterhouse production lines, including surveillance to insure good hygiene practices, in addition to regular monitoring of large populations of farm animals.