Immunological Tuberculosis

In experimental typhoid disease in mice treated with colimycin, the addition of pentoxyl prevents immunological disorders and stimulates an immunological reaction [294]. This compound potentiates the action of sulphonamides in mice infected with type II pneumococcus [295]. In combination with streptomycin, pentoxyl is beneficial in the treatment of experimental tuberculosis in guinea-pigs [296]. However, a single pharmacological report, relative to effects on the central nervous system, was unfavourable [297]. 

Despite extensive efforts, many infectious diseases, including AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, still lack effective and safe vaccines. Many noninfectious diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and allergy, also lack safe and effective vaccines. One reason for this lack is the absence of precise protective immune mechanism and immunological correlates of protection. These challenges can only be addressed with continuous productive research. Better rational vaccine design methods can only be developed after fundamental protective immunity mechanisms are better understood. 

This country s earliest experience with biologies dates back to the infectious scourges of the late 1800s and early 1900s when epidemics of typhoid, yellow fever, smallpox, diphtheria, and tuberculosis were being battled by new advances in immunology. The discovery and development of vaccines and antitoxins led to the creation of a... 

The unique immunological and bacteriological properties of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have stimulated a great deal of research into the chemical composition of the cell and its associated substances. The initial impetus to these extensive investigations was given by Koch, who prepared various bacillary extracts and showed that these were able to stimulate specific reactions in infected animals. 

A detailed structural study should provide invaluable information concerning the nature of the biologically active groupings of these polysaccharides prior to 1945 no such structural investigations had been carried out. It is probable that the many polysaccharide fractions isolated are constituent parts of one or more main polysaccharide complexes, which have fundamental roles in the immunological behavior of M, tuberculosis. An immense field of work is open to carbohydrate chemists. 

Since tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, emphysema, fibrocystic disease, intrinsic asthma, and hilar sarcoidosis are often associated with a dominant elevation of IgA (see Fig. 10 2), this has no specific value. Pneumocystis pneumonia in infants can elevate IgM (K7) (Fig. 10 6). Of course recurrent respiratory infection is a common mode of presentation of frank immune deficiencies (H32), and we find these in some 4% of patients with such histories. Reaginic states have already been considered under IgE globulin, and immunoglobulin deficiencies among atopic children support the hypothesis that atopic subjects may have a poor immunological dictionary (K2). Direct IgE assay of fluid from nasal polyps can also point to an allergic origin (D6). Parotid saliva normally contains only detectable IgA (see Table 1) (mixed saliva... 

Daniel TM, Boom WH, Ellner JJ. Immunology of tuberculosis. In Reich-man LB, Hershfield ES, eds. Tuberculosis A Comprehensive International Approach, 2d ed. New York, Marcel Dekker, 2000 157-185. 

Alexandra, I.S., Dorina, B., Gabriela, I.D., 2012. Immunologic diagnosis of neurotuberculosis. In Cardona, P.-J. (Ed.), Understanding Tuberculosis - Global Experiences and Innovative Approaches to the Diagnosis. InTech, Rijeka, Croatia, pp. 151—175. Available from http //dx.doi.org/10.5772/30523. 

White, R. G., L. Bernstock, R. G. S. Johns, and E. Lederer The influence of components of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacteria upon antibody production to ovalbumin. Immunology 1, 54 (1958). 

Tuberculin skin test An immunological test for tuberculosis in which a purified protein derivative from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis is injected subcutaneously, resulting in an induration if there was previous exposure to the bacterium. 

Adjuvant a mixture of oils, emulsifiers, killed bacteria and other components, which serves to intensify unspecifically the immune response. The A., which is not (supposed to be) itself antigenic, is injected several times intramuscularly or subcutaneously into an animal to produce the maximal yield of antibodies. Freund s incomplete A., an emulsion of paraffin oils, protects the antigen from rapid degradation. Freund s complete A. contains in addition killed mycobacteria or tuberculosis bacteria. Both are used widely in experimental immunology. In vaccines, the A. is usually aluminium hydroxide or calcium phosphate gel. 

It is generally accepted that the incidence of infection among diabetics is increased. Tuberculosis of the lungs, pyelonephritis, and carbuncles frequently occur. In fact, it is advisable to examine the urine for the presence of sugar in patients with repeated occurrence of carbuncles. In spite of researchers attempts to explain the increased susceptibility of diabetics to infection, a conclusive answer to that problem is not yet available. It seems that the participation of immunological factors can be excluded. Some workers have suggested that the exudative cellular reaction is impaired in patients with poorly controlled diabetes. A number of different factors have been invoked to explain the relatively high incidence of pyelonephritis... 

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