Stress-induced immunomodulation: implications for infectious diseases?

Possibilities to Modulate the Immune Response during Infections

Immunomodulating drugs are important tools in the treatment of infectious diseases, especially hepatitis. The authors present different classes of immunomodulators that are currently in use. After the era of antibiotherapy and of augmentation of host defense through immunizations, the time has come for immunomodulation substances to be reevaluated. Becausemultidrug antibiotic resistance has tur...

Acquired immunity to infectious diseases in fish: implications for the interpretation of fish disease surveys

Fish disease surveys form a part of many biological monitoring programmes in European marine waters. Prevalence patterns of infectious diseases within wild fish populations are strongly influenced by the acquisition of immunity in individual fish. Hence, the interpretation of observed prevalence patterns requires understanding of the role of acquired immunity and immunomodulation in disease pop...

Nitric Oxide Functions; an Emphasis on its Diversity in Infectious Diseases

Nitric oxide is a short-lived mediator, which can be induced in a variety of cell types and produces many physiologic and metabolic changes in target cells. It is important in many biological functions and generated from L-arginine by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase. Nitric oxide conveys a variety of messages between cells, including signals for vasorelaxation, neurotransmission and cytotoxici...

Immunomodulation--an idea from the past looks more promising than ever.

Vulnerability of Prepubertal Mice Testis to Iron Induced Oxidative Dysfunctions In Vivo and Functional Implications

Background The present study describes the susceptibility of prepubertal testis of mice to prooxidant induced oxidative impairments both under in vitro and in vivo exposure conditions. MaterialsAndMethods Following in vitro exposure to iron (5,10 and 25 M), oxidative response measured in terms of lipid peroxidation and hydroperoxide levels in testis of pre pubertal mice (4 wk) was more robust c...