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M Kant

Publications and source records attributed to M Kant.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Genotypic analysis of sequential genital herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) isolates of patients with recurrent HSV-1 associated genital herpes.

Clinical recurrences of Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-associated genital herpes are thought to be caused by reactivation of latent endogenous HSV-1. However, the possibility of reinfection with exogenous HSV-1 cannot be excluded. This study aimed to determine the incidence of genital HSV-1 superinfection in patients by investigating the genotype of sequential HSV-1 isolates obtained from the same anatomical site of patients with clinical recurrences of genital HSV-1 recurrent genital herpes. Sequential genital HSV-1 isolates were genotyped by PCR amplification of the hypervariable regions located within the HSV-1 genes US1 and US12. Whereas the sequential HSV-1 isolates in 11 of the 13 patients studied had the same genotypes, the sequential isolates of 2 patients showed a different genotype. The data suggest that HSV-1-induced recurrent genital herpes can be associated with genital reinfection with an exogenous HSV-1 strain.

Adult↗

The importance of different components of normal human serum and lysozyme in the rapid immobilisation of purified Treponema pallidum, Nichols strain.

OBJECTIVES: To study the role of different components in normal human serum and the role of lysozyme in rapid immobilisation of Percoll purified T pallidum (Nichols). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The immobilisation of Percoll purified T pallidum was studied after pre-incubations with different serum fractions (Fr) of normal human serum (Fr 1, containing IgM; Fr 2, containing IgG and a low level of haemolytic complement, and Fr 1 (abs), depleted of IgG). A guinea-pig serum pool was used as a complement source in the immobilisation experiments. The influence was studied of removal of lysozyme from guinea-pig serum on the immobilisation reactions. Further experiments were performed, using a fluorescence technique, to detect C3b depositions on fixed treponemes and treponemes in suspension. RESULTS: Rapid immobilisation of Percoll-purified treponemes by the NHS serum fractions occurred only after preincubation with Fr 1 and Fr 2 simultaneously. This was largely dependent on the presence of a small amount of haemolytic C in Fr 2. Removal of lysozyme reduced this rapid rate of immobilisation. In fluorescence experiments it was demonstrated that C3b deposition on fixed (that is damaged) treponemes occurred upon their incubation with Fr 2 or the combination of Fr 1 and 2. However, on treponemes in suspension C3b deposition occurred only after incubation with the combination of Fr 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: The rapid immobilisation of Percoll purified treponemes by serum fractions from normal human serum requires antibodies of the IgM and IgG class, together with complement and lysozyme. Omission of one of these reactants slows immobilisation. Our experiments suggest that the reactants act in sequence: the loss of integrity of the outer membrane by an attack by IgM and C offers the opportunity for lysozyme to hydrolyse the peptidoglycan layer surrounding the cytoplasmic membrane of the treponemes, which then is accessible for attack by antibodies and C.

Animals↗

The influence of different sera on the in vitro immobilisation of Percoll purified Treponema pallidum, Nichols strain.

OBJECTIVES: Investigation of sera, especially rabbit serum, in preventing in vitro immobilisation of Percoll purified T. pallidum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The immobilisation of Percoll purified T. pallidum (Nichols) was studied after pre-incubations with basal reduced medium (BRM), heat-inactivated serum of seven different species of animals, heat-inactivated normal human serum (NHS) and rabbit sera containing a different level of antitreponemal antibodies. Also increasing percentages of heat-inactivated normal rabbit serum (NRS) were studied. RESULTS: The rapid immobilisation of purified treponemes by NHS is delayed by pre-incubation with NRS in a dose-dependent manner. The treponemes from 5-day infections were immobilised significantly more slowly than treponemes from 7- and 8-day infections. Compared with NRS, pre-incubations with a high-titred, low-titred and "autologous" serum resulted in significantly more rapid immobilisation of the treponemes. With most other animal sera resistance to immobilisation was slight compared with that produced by NRS. Immunofluorescent studies revealed that the treponemes were covered with a layer of the human third complement factor (C3b), within an hour of incubation. With two sequential pre-incubations, a delay of the immobilisation was only noted in those test mixtures in which NRS had been present in both preincubations. CONCLUSION: Rabbit serum delays the rapid in vitro immobilisation of Percoll purified treponemes by normal human serum. There was no evidence that this was caused by preventing access of antibodies (in vivo as well as in vitro) to, or preventing the activation of complement on, the treponemal surface. The evidence points to a mechanism in the fluid phase, suggesting participation of a third factor in the immobilisation process, for instance an enzyme, which can be partially inhibited by rabbit serum component(s).

Animals↗

The inaccessibility of the outer membrane of adherent Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain) to anti-treponemal antibodies, a possible role of serum proteins.

Fresh and aged adherent T pallidum were used to study the accessibility of their outer membrane to antibodies by means of an indirect immunofluorescent technique. The integrity of the outer membrane was demonstrated by the non-reactivity with a monoclonal antibody directed against the axial filaments. Using the sera from patients with sero-positive primary and secondary syphilis no binding of IgG and IgM antibodies was observed. However, IgG and IgM antibody fractions isolated from the sera of patients with secondary syphilis, gave with the fresh fibroblast-adhering treponemes a mean of 14.5% IgG- and of 43.2% IgM positive treponemes. These means were 32.1% and 87.3% respectively for aged treponemes. Lower percentages were observed when fibronectin adhering treponemes were used. This demonstrates the inability of the outer membrane to bind antibodies in a majority of the fresh treponemes. This is partly lost on in vitro aging. Absence of IgG- and IgM fluorescence was also observed when sequential incubations with the antibody fractions and control sera were used. This was accompanied by the deposition of the third complement factor (C3) around the treponemes. Incubations of IgG- or IgM pre-coated adherent treponemes with heat-inactivated control sera or a C3 deficient serum did not result in the deposition of C3, and partially restored the detection of human antibodies. The most likely explanation for the absence of fluorescence is that antibodies become buried in an extra-cellular layer of serum proteins. The deposition of C3 from control sera alone most probably points to the classical pathway of complement activation and suggests that antibodies of rabbit origin constitute a part of the extracellular layer of treponemes.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Rapid in vitro immobilisation of purified Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain), and protection by extraction fluids from rabbit testes.

The use of Percoll-purified treponemes in an assay similar to the Treponema pallidum Immobilisation test demonstrated that immobilisation of purified treponemes by seronegative normal human serum proceeded at a much higher rate than that of unpurified treponemes. This suggests that the removal of the testicular extract makes the treponemes more vulnerable to this action. A preincubation of the purified treponemes with the testicular extract from infected or uninfected testes delayed their rate of immobilisation to that demonstrated by the unpurified treponemes. This showed that substances produced during the infection are probably not responsible for the delay in immobilisation. Discrimination between the classical and the alternative pathway of complement activation, studied by the ethylene glycol-bis (beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) method, showed that the classical pathway was responsible for the rapid immobilisation of the purified treponemes. However, the slow immobilisation in the EGTA-serum samples suggested a minor role of the alternative pathway in the immobilisation of the purified treponemes. Since the testicular extracts exerted an anti-complement activity, it needs to be investigated whether the protection offered to the purified treponemes by the testicular extracts is based on their deteriorating effect on the classical complement pathway or is due to a re-establishment of the protective cover around the treponemes.

Animals↗

Neuropathic plantar ulceration.

Management of 111 trophic plantar ulcers existing in 100 patients of leprosy have been reviewed. Male preponderance with 4th and 5th decade of life predilection was observed. Most of the patients were of lepromatous type. Ulcers were grouped into superficial and deep. They were treated by various methods viz. plaster cast alone and in combination with curettage, posterior tibial neurovascular decompression and metatarsectomy. It was observed that ulcers heal faster if conservative plaster cast treatment is clubbed with surgical treatment of the ulcer. Indications of various surgical methods is defined. Role of proper footwear in the management of plantar ulcers has been emphasized.

Casts, Surgical↗

Squamous cell carcinoma developing in trophic ulcers in leprosy--a case report.

Malignant transformation of trophic ulcer in leprosy, though not very uncommon, is ill reported in the literature. Not more than a dozen cases have been reported so far. A case of "Squamous Cell Carcinoma" developing in trophic ulcer in leprosy is presented. The histopathology has been discussed.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗