Acute Toxoplasma gondii infection in early pregnancy carries the risk of transmitting the infection to the fetus with serious sequelae. However, serological testing for IgG/IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies may fail to differentiate between a recent and past infection. Two hundred and twenty-four Kuwaiti women in their first trimester were screened for IgG/IgM antibodies by the Vitek Immuno Diagno...

The reference method for immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity determination includes reagent-consuming serum titration. Aiming at better IgG avidity diagnostics, we applied a logistic model for the reproduction of antibody titration curves. This method was tested with well-characterized serum panels for cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, rubella virus, parvovirus B19, and Toxoplasma gondii. This ap...

Human CMV establishes lifelong persistence after primary infection. Chronic CMV infection is associated with intermittent viral reactivation inducing high frequencies of CD4+ T lymphocytes with potent antiviral and helper properties. Primary CMV infection is characterized by an intense viral replication lasting for several months. The impact of this prolonged exposure to high Ag loads on the fu...

conclusion we concluded that cmv is the most common cause of intrauterine infection in infants aged less than 6 months as compared to the healthy ones. we prefer, at least in our country, to consider seropositive (cmv-igm) infants suspected of intrauterine infection (less than 6 months) as congenital form. to arrest the natural progression of congenital cmv, we recommend prolonged course of ora...

The objective of this work was to develop an antibody-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity assay to discriminate between acute and latent phases of Toxoplasma gondii infection by using recombinant antigens. One hundred twenty-one serum samples from women who developed IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma during pregnancy were used. The IgG avidities of antibodies directed against epitopes carri...

HLA-E-restricted T cell receptor alphabeta+ CD8+ cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) exist as monoclonal expansions in the peripheral blood of some individuals. Here, we show that they recognize, with high avidity, peptides derived from the UL40 protein of different human cytomegalovirus (CMV) strains. Recognition results in the induction of cytotoxicity, IFN-gamma production and cell proliferation....

The role of antibody avidity in allergy is poorly understood and there is no existing literature describing antibody avidity in food allergy. The main aim of this study was to investigate IgE and IgG avidity to a total peanut protein extract (TPPE) and purified Ara h 2 in a group of well-characterized peanut allergic individuals. Forty peanut allergic patients underwent a double-blind placebo-c...

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity, affecting ~0.5 to 1% of infants born each year. Primary maternal infection during early pregnancy is the greatest risk factor for severe neonatal morbidity/mortality. The current recommendation from national organizations advises against routine screening of pregnant women for primary infection. Recent advancements in di...

In this study, we analysed IgG avidity to p 15.5 kD, p 17 kD and p 47 kD antigens by a new avidity assay termed avidity western blot. The determination was performed in two groups. Group I consisted of 27 patients with primary and secondary syphilis and group II comprised 10 subjects with latent syphilis. We found that low avidity antibodies were directed against the p 17 kD and p 47 kD antigen...

During the mass measles/rubella vaccination campaign in 2003 in Iran, many pregnant women were vaccinated mistakenly or became pregnant within 1 month of vaccination. To distinguish pregnant women who were affected by rubella vaccine as primary infection from those who had rubella reinfection from the vaccine, serum samples were collected 1-3 months after the campaign from 812 pregnant women. I...