Construction and Functional Evaluation of rtxC and rtxA/C Mutants of O139 Vibrio cholerae

Abstract

e175 was employed to measure the levels of cytokines in the plasma. IL-18 level in the plasma of malarial mice were found to be significantly elevated and positively correlated with the percentage degree of parasitaemia. Inhibition and neutralization of IL-18 production caused significant decrease in the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1 and IL-6. In contrast, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly increased. Treatment with rIL-18 on the other hand caused significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines plasma levels, whereas the antiinflammatory cytokine level was significantly reduced. Results proved the involvement of IL-18 in malaria infection. Its positive modulatory effects on the release of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines during the infection may suggest its crucial role(s) in the pathogenesis of the infection. Results also suggest the IL-18 potential as an immunotherapeutic target in malaria therapy.