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Biomedical subjects

O Parkash

Publications and source records attributed to O Parkash.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of recombinant serine-rich 45-kDa antigen (ML0411) for detection of antibodies in leprosy patients.

The potential of the recombinant serine-rich 45-kDa antigen (ML0411) of Mycobacterium leprae to aid in detecting M. leprae-specific serum antibodies was assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in leprosy patients and controls comprising of tuberculosis patients, other unrelated skin-diseased patients and healthy individuals from India. All 18 multibacillary (MB) and 18/38 (47.4%) of the paucibacillary (PB) leprosy patients were found positive. None of the controls was positive, yielding complete (0/49) specificity in the series tested here. On the other hand, an anti-phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-I) antibody-detecting assay yielded detectable responses in 94.4% (17/18) of MB and 36.8% (14/38) of PB leprosy patients. Only two of 49 (4.1%) controls were positive, giving a specificity of 95.9%. Further, there was a good concordance (agreement of 83.8%; chi(2) = 40.3, P < 0.001; kappa = 0.63) between the two assays. Thus, the 45-kDa-based assay was slightly better than anti-PGL-I antibody-detecting assay. Interestingly, when combining the results of both the assays together for all leprosy patients (MB + PB), the combined sensitivity was significantly higher than that of the anti-PGL-I antibody-detecting ELISA alone (73.2% versus 55.4%; P < 0.05), but not (P > 0.05) compared with the 45-kDa antigen-based assay alone. Similarly, in case of PB patients, using both assays in combination, the sensitivity was significantly higher compared with anti-PGL-I antibody-detecting assay alone (60.5% versus 36.8%; P < 0.05). While adopting the combinatorial approach, the specificity remained invariably high (>95%). In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that the M. leprae 45-kDa protein is a potent B-cell antigen and may be a useful serodiagnostic reagent.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Levels of IgG subclasses in active and inactive cases in the disease spectrum of leprosy.

The present study was carried out to establish the role of IgG subclasses in leprosy. IgG subclasses to Mycobacterium leprae sonicated antigens (MLSA) and phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) were determined in 124 patients with active leprosy across the disease spectrum and in 76 cases with inactive disease after completion of chemotherapy. IgG2 antibodies were found to be the predominant subclass across the disease spectrum. Lepromatous patients showed elevated levels of IgGI. IgG3 antibody levels were higher in lepromatous than that in tuberculoid patients. Patients with erythema nodosum leprosum showed a significant fall in IgG3 antibody to MLSA. While chemotherapy induced a reduction in IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 to PGL-I in almost all types of leprous patients, for MLSA the reduction was noticed for these subclasses only in lepromatous patients. IgG4 responses to these antigens were low through out the disease spectrum and did not alter with chemotherapy.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

A study on performance of two serological assays for diagnosis of leprosy patients.

We compared 2 serological tests for the diagnosis of leprosy to test their performances. The tests include the serum antibody competition test (SACT) for the detection of antibodies to Mycobacterium leprae-specific epitope on 35 KDa protein molecule, and M. leprae gelatin particle agglutination assay (MLPA), for the detection of antiphenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1) antibodies. In both the assays a higher serological positivity was seen amongst multibacillary (MB) patients than those in paucibacillary (PB) patients. Taking all leprosy patients together, the sensitivity of SACT (59.7%) was observed to be statistically comparable to that of MLPA (66.9%). However, SACT proved to be more specific (97.7%) than MLPA (75.0%). The agreement between these 2 assays was observed to be moderate.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Membrane attack complex in thickened cutaneous sensory nerves of leprosy patients.

Membrane attack complex (MAC) is a terminal end product produced as a result of complement activation. The deposition of MAC, in tissues, is known to have a local tissue damaging effect in several clinical conditions. Therefore, an attempt was made to demonstrate MAC in peripheral nerve biopsies, collected from leprosy patients. Interestingly, we could demonstrate deposition of MAC in involved cutaneous sensory nerves from most of the lepromatous leprosy patients. Contrary to this, majority of nerve biopsies from tuberculoid leprosy patients did not stain for MAC. Though MAC positive sections showed reactivity for S-protein, our observations support the possibility that MAC, either acting directly or indirectly, may be implicated in nerve damage, at least, in lepromatous leprosy patients.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

The role of antiperipheral nerve antibodies in nerve damage in leprosy.

The objective of this study was to determine the role of antineural antibodies in leprosy. Indirect ELISA using antigen prepared from normal human peripheral nerves was carried out on the sera from 100 leprosy patients and 18 normal controls. In total, 9% of the patients had demonstrable levels of IgG antineural antibodies and 11% had demonstrable levels of IgM antibodies. There was no correlation with the type of leprosy, bacteriological index, treatment taken, the presence of a reactional state, the presence of enlarged nerves or active neuritis.

Adult↗

A study on viability of mycobacteria after treating them with complement system.

The effect of complement system on viability of mycobacteria (Mycobacterium vaccae and Mycobacterium bovis-BCG, as models) was studied by using 3H-uracil uptake method. The results showed no killing effect on these mycobacteria. Pretreatment of these mycobacteria with antimycobacterial antibodies also did not result in making them susceptible to complement. These observations were confirmed electronmicroscopically where no ultrastructural changes indicative of cell destruction were seen after treatment with complement in the presence and absence of antibody.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Survival of Mycobacterium leprae in mononuclear phagocytes: a possible role of complement system.

Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, is an obligate intracellular pathogen that is ingested primarily by the host mononuclear cells. Upon ingestion, it is able to reside and multiply within these microbicidal cells. The reason for survival of these organisms in such cells is supposed to be their failure in induction of oxidation burst. In the present communication, we have proposed that most probably complement mediated entry of M. leprae into the monocytes does not result in induction of oxidative burst in the monocytes. As a result thereof these organisms are not killed rather they might grow in such phagocytes.

Complement Activation↗

Activation of the human complement system by phenolic glycolipid 1 of Mycobacterium leprae.

The activation of the complement system by phenolic glycolipid 1 (PGL) from Mycobacterium leprae was studied. It was found that PGL consumed haemolytic complement through both the classical and the alternative pathways. This was further studied at the level of C3. Although the activation was independent of anti-PGL antibodies present in normal human serum, the addition of antibody augmented the activation of complement by PGL. The uptake of C3 through the classical pathway was enhanced predominantly by IgM antibody whereas, IgG antibody against PGL was responsible for the augmentation of the alternative pathway activation. Furthermore, it was found that both the disaccharide and trisaccharide components of PGL were able to activate the complement system.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Terminal complement complex in plasma of leprosy patients.

A study was carried out to find out the difference in the levels of circulating terminal complement complex between healthy volunteers and the untreated leprosy patients by using double antibody sandwich ELISA. In addition, the levels of terminal complement complex in lepromatous patients with and without reaction were also compared. None of the group showed any significant difference in the levels of circulating terminal complement complex. These findings suggest that complement may not play a direct role in tissue damage in leprosy.

Complement Activation↗

Isolation and analysis of circulating immune complexes in leprosy.

Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were isolated by two antigen nonspecific methods from 60 leprosy patients belonging to borderline tuberculoid (BT) and lepromatous (LL) types with and without reactions. CIC were elevated in both BT and LL reactions. CIC from BT in reaction (BTR) were found to consist largely of IgG and C3, whereas, C-reactive protein could be found in CIC from LL reactions (LR). In addition, IgM and rheumatoid factor were demonstrated in the complexes of LR patients who had mainly arthritis. Antimycobacterial antibody was seen in the complexes of two-thirds of LR patients who had predominantly skin manifestations as part of their reaction. The relevance of these findings to the clinical manifestations of different types of reactions is discussed.

Animals↗

Multiple primary malignancies. A statistical study based on autopsy data from 1943-1972.

Autopsy data from 1943 to 1972 has been analysed for the study of multiple primary malignancies (MPM). It is shown that association between different primaries takes place at random and that there are no favourable combinations. It is further concluded that tumors do not produce either immunity or enhanced susceptibility to any subsequent malignancies of the same or any other organ. The importance of such studies is pointed out.

Adult↗