Obstructive infertility: changes in the histology of different regions of the epididymis and morphology of spermatozoa

In the present study, the effects of prolonged obstruction in different regions of the human epididymis on its histology and on the spermatozoa retained at the site of obstruction were assessed. Men who were confirmed of having obstruction of the epididymis underwent vasoepididymostomy (VEA) for surgical correction of the obstruction. At the time of surgery, fluid from the epididymal tubule above the site of obstruction was aspirated and examined for sperm profile. Epididymal tissue, collected at the site of obstruction, was processed for assessment of histological changes and also used to identify the site of obstruction. Prolonged obstruction of the epididymis has caused degeneration of the epididymal epithelium, gradual decrease in the diameter of the tubule and tubular lumen and increase in the intertubular connective tissue. Sperm aspirated from the caput epididymal fluid showed sluggish pattern of motility only in one out of the six subjects, whereas spermatozoa collected from the cauda epididymal fluid showed rapid linear progressive motility in one of three subjects. A major percentage of spermatozoa in the aspirated fluid showed various types of morphological abnormalities, irrespective of the site of obstruction. These results are discussed in relation to the role of the epididymis in investing spermatozoa with motility and fertilizing capacity.

Semen quality and sperm functional parameters in fertile Indian men

The reports of a decline in the reproductive health of men worldwide prompted the present study to be undertaken so that baseline semen parameters could be established in Indian men. Semen profile and sperm function parameters were evaluated in 368 Indian men of proven fertility, settled in Delhi. The results of the study were compared with available published information from Indian men. The mean sperm concentration and semen volumes were 68.22 +/- 15.14 x 10(6) ml(-1) and 3.20 +/- 0.94 ml, respectively. Rapid, linear progressive motility and sluggish linear motility were 40.95 +/- 9.15% and 24.95 +/- 7.01%, respectively. A comparison of the results of the present study with earlier published data did not support the contention of a decrease in the semen quality in Indian men.

Yersinia pestis F1 antigen: a correlation between antibody titres and subclass distribution with differential avidity in different inbred mouse strains

The F1 antigen of Yersinia pestis has been identified as one of the protective antigens. The present study aims to generate anti-F1 antibodies in mice of different genetic background and to compare antibody profile, isotype distribution and avidity measurement in sera to observe the pattern of immune response as a strategy to develop F1-based immunogen for plague. The study indicated that, although all the immunological parameters were identical, the avidity of the antibodies was considerably different with various strains of mice. Thus, this study may have an implication while developing F1-based vaccine for plague and avidity measurement definitely has a role for antibody function.

Comparing modified and plain peptide linked enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) and type-2 (HIV-2) antibodies

Serological diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) based on detection of HIV antibodies is one of the easiest, cheapest and simplest assay. Synthetic peptides corresponding to immunodominant regions of envelope glycoprotein (gp41, V3 loop for HIV-1 and gp36 for HIV-2) were used in the present study, to detect the anti-HIV antibodies in sera of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), Tuberculosis (TB), Anti-Natal Care (ANC) patients. About 550 serum samples were tested using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. The human sera positive for antibody to HIV-1 and HIV-2, reacted to different degrees with these peptides when used as a plain peptide with or without CGG motif/biotin motif at the amino terminus. The selected sequences are of Indian strain with 'C' serotype. The results showed a 100% sensitivity and specificity for V3 loop peptide and 98% sensitivity and specificity for gp41 peptide containing CGG moiety while the plain peptides showed similar sensitivities but low specificity's, i.e. 98% for V3 loop peptide and 42% for gp41 peptide when reacted with HIV-1 positive sera. The presence of biotin at the amino terminus did not provide any beneficial effect in increasing the sensitivity although the specificity was enhanced for both the peptide sequences, i.e. gp41 and V3 loop peptide. Furthermore, the gp36 peptide containing CGG moiety detected the HIV-2 sera with 100% sensitivity and 98% specificity while the sensitivity and specificity of gp36 plain peptide was reduced to 98 and 90%. Thus the study overall highlighted the importance of synthetic peptides containing CGG moiety as a capture antigen in detecting both HIV-1 & 2 sera using an indigenously built ELISA system which is simple, cheap, sensitive and cost effective for rural areas.

Modulation of the humoral response to repeat and non-repeat sequences of the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium vivax using novel adjuvant and delivery systems

In the use of sub-unit vaccines, it is important to identify the protective epitopes and to generate the optimal immune response by using appropriate immuno-modulatory adjuvants and/or delivery systems. The main aim of the present study was to generate an MHC-non-restricted immune response against one promising vaccine candidate, the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of Plasmodium vivax. Four synthetic peptides were chosen: three repeat-region sequences (AA, DA and ANG) and a putative T-cell epitope extended from a conserved region (region II) containing a hepatocyte-binding region (HBP). The humoral response against each peptide was studied in outbred mice and three strains of inbred mice (with different genetic backgrounds). Delivery of each peptide in microspheres or inclusion of a bio-active casein-fragment analogue as adjuvant with alum/liposome delivery considerably enhanced the humoral response against the peptide (when compared with the response to the peptide delivered in alum alone). The maximal immune response was observed when the peptide was delivered in microspheres, with no booster doses required; the antibodies raised against peptide delivered with adjuvant or in modulatory delivery vehicles had two-to five-fold lower binding affinities. The predominant IgG isotypes elicited using microspheres or adjuvant with alum/liposome delivery were IgG(2a)/IgG(2b) and/or IgG(1). Importantly, conjugation of HBP to the B-cell repeat peptides increased the titres of peptide-specific antibodies, especially of antibodies against the supposedly cryptic HBP. Delivery of a mix of all four peptides in microspheres elicited an intense immune response in outbred mice, indicating that such a delivery system efficiently presents the peptides to the immune effector cells. That antibodies in the anti-peptide sera bound strongly to air-dried sporozoites of P. vivax was confirmed by immunofluorescence. The present results, based on the use of individual peptides or a conjugate or cocktail of the peptides, highlight the utility of the casein-fragment analogue as an adjuvant, when used with alum/liposome delivery, and also demonstrate the potential of microspheres as a single-shot delivery system for sub-unit peptides.

New age adjuvants and delivery systems for subunit vaccines

The dramatic advancements in the field of vaccinology has led to the formulation of chemically well defined vaccines composed of synthetic peptides and recombinant proteins derived from the immunologically dominant regions of the pathogens. Though these subunit vaccines are safer compared to the traditional vaccines they are known to be poorly immunogenic. This necessitates the use of adjuvants to enhance the immunogenicity of these vaccine formulations. The most common adjuvant for human use is alum. Research in the past has focused on the development of systemic immunity using conventional immunization protocols. In the present are, the emphasis is on the development and formulation of alternative adjuvants and delivery systems in generating systemic as well as mucosal immunity. This review mainly focuses on a variety of adjuvants (particulate as well as non-particulate) used with protective antigens of HIV, malaria, plague, leprosy using modified delivery vehicles. The experience of our laboratory and other researchers in this field clearly proves that these new age adjuvants and delivery systems undoubtedly generate enhanced immune response-both humoral and cell mediated. The choice of antigens, the nature of adjuvant used and the mode of delivery employed have a profound effect on the type of immune response generated. Besides the quantity, the quality of the antibodies generated also play a vital role in protection against these diseases. Some of the adjuvants and delivery systems used promoted high titre and affinity antibodies, which were shown to be cytophilic in nature, an important criteria in providing protection to the host. Thus the studies on these adjuvants/delivery systems with respect to various infectious diseases indicate their active role in efficient modulation of immune response along with safety and permissibility.

Seizures in progressive supranuclear palsy

Among 62 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) seen over a 9-year period, we encountered seven who had seizure phenomena. We suggest that PSP patients have seizures more frequently than has been appreciated.