muramidase and Cholera

Patients with acute watery diarrhea caused by Vibrio cholerae O1 or enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) were analyzed for innate immune factors produced by the epithelium during the disease process. Duodenal biopsies were obtained from study participants at the acute (day 2) and convalescent (day 21) stages of disease. Levels of α-defensin (HD-5 and -6), β-defensin (hBD-1-4), and cathelicidin (LL-37) mRNAs were determined by real-time qRT-PCR. hBD-2, HD-5, LL-37 peptides were analyzed in duodenal epithelium by immunomorphometry. Concentration of hBD-2 in stool was determined by ELISA. Specimens from healthy controls were also analyzed. hBD-2 mRNA levels were significantly increased at acute stage of diarrhea; hBD-2 peptide was detected in fecal specimens but barely in duodenal epithelium at acute stage. Immunomorphometry analysis showed that Paneth cells contain significantly higher amounts of HD-5 pre/propeptide at convalescence (P<0.01) and in healthy controls (P<0.001) compared to acute stage, LL-37 peptide levels also decreased at acute stage while mRNA levels remained unchanged. mRNA expression levels of the other antimicrobial peptides remained unchanged with higher levels of α-defensins than β-defensins. V. cholerae induced an innate immune response at the acute stage of disease characterized by increased expression of hBD-2, and continued expression of hBD-1, HD-5-6, and LL-37.

Topics: Adult; Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Cholera; Convalescence; Diarrhea; Duodenum; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Female; Goats; Horses; Humans; Male; Mice; Middle Aged; Muramidase; RNA, Bacterial; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Vibrio cholerae O1; Young Adult

As a result of study of the vibriolytic activity of the serum during the immunity formation in the vaccinated animals in comparison with the specific antibodies titres and nonspecific immunity factors (complement and lysozyme) there was revealed a dependence of the reaction on the vaccine dose and the immunization method; there was also found a relationship between the vibriolytic activity and the serological indices in the sera of volunteers. On the basis of study a conclusion was drawn that the vibriolytic activity of the serum could serve as an index of antibacterial immunity in cholera.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Blood Bactericidal Activity; Cholera; Cholera Vaccines; Complement System Proteins; Guinea Pigs; Muramidase; Rabbits; Vaccination

Topics: Carrier State; Cholera; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase