The protective role of lung surfactant proteins SP-A, SP-D and MBL in the host defense against both allergic and invasive aspergillosis was identified and established by a series of in vitro and in vivo studies. Therapeutic administration of SP-D and MBL proteins in a murine model of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis rescued mice from death. In mice mimicking human allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, SP-A and SP-D suppressed IgE levels, eosinophilia, pulmonary cellular infiltration and cause a marked shift from a pathogenic Th2 to a protective Th1 cytokine profile. SP-A and SP-D knock-out mice studies made significant contributions in understanding the mechanisms by which SP-A and SP-D modulate the host defense response in patients suffering from pulmonary allergies and infections. The results suggested that individuals with any structural or functional defects in these innate immune molecules due to genetic variations might be susceptible to aspergillosis. SNPs in SP-A2 and MBL genes showed significant associations with patients of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in an Indian population. The patients carrying either one or both of GCT and AGG alleles of SP-A2 and patients with A allele at position 1011 of MBL had markedly higher eosinophilia, total IgE antibodies and lower FEV1 (the clinical markers of ABPA). Our results show that collectins play an important role in Aspergillus mediated allergies and infections.
The high prevalence and species diversity of NTM suggests the need for immediate and accurate characterization of NTM for proper treatment and management of patients.
Trypanosoma cruzi is the protozoan parasite that causes American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease). Chagas' disease is endemic in Latin America. The infection is usually seen in poor people who live in rural areas in substandard housing, where they are bitten by infected reduviid bugs. Transmission also can occur by blood transfusion. Infected individuals who immigrate to the United States might donate blood if they are asymptomatic and unaware of their infection. This study evaluated the usefulness of a questionnaire for identifying T. cruzi-infected individuals among prospective blood donors who met all American Association of Blood Banks, Food and Drug Administration, and State of California criteria for donor eligibility. Seventy-two of 3492 otherwise eligible donors were disqualified because of their answers on the questionnaire. Forty-five of these 72 agreed to be tested serologically, and 2 were positive for T. cruzi antibodies. One of six autologous blood donors tested also was positive for T. cruzi antibodies. We conclude that the questionnaire selected a subgroup of Latin Americans at high risk for T. cruzi infection. The deferral of these high-risk individuals clearly reduced the risk of transmission of T. cruzi by transfusion, without intolerably decreasing the supply of donated blood.
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