The phylogenetically conserved nature of heat shock proteins (Hsp) has led to the proposition that they may provide a link between infection and the inflammatory component to vascular disease. Hypertension is associated with atherosclerosis. Here, we measured circulating heat shock protein and heat shock protein antibody levels in association with borderline hypertension. Seventy-two men with b...

Here we report in a human, a renal transplant patient, the first disseminated infection with Nocardia cerradoensis, isolated after a brain biopsy. Species identification was based on 16S rRNA, gyrB, and hsp65 gene analyses. Antibiotic treatment was successful by combining carbapenems and aminoglycosides and then switching to oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Israeli Mycobacterium marinum isolates from humans and fish were compared by direct sequencing of the 16S rRNA and hsp65 genes, restriction mapping, and amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. Significant molecular differences separated all clinical isolates from the piscine isolates, ruling out the local aquaculture industry as the source of human infections.

The 60 kDa heat shock protein family, Hsp60, constitutes an abundant and highly conserved class of molecules that are highly expressed in chronic-inflammatory and autoimmune processes. Experimental autoimmune uveitis [EAU] is a T cell mediated intraocular inflammatory disease that resembles human uveitis. Mycobacterial and homologous Hsp60 peptides induces uveitis in rats, however their partici...

OBJECTIVES Various genetic variants of inhibitory immune signals have been suspected as feasible causes of Kawasaki disease (KD). We investigated the associative role of programmed death-1 (PD-1) gene in the pathogenesis of KD by injecting bacilli Calmette Guérin (BCG) to PD-1 gene knockout (PD-1KO) mice. METHODS In order to induce KD-like clinical manifestations in young PD-1KO mice, intrade...

We describe a previously healthy patient with chronic otitis media complicated with cerebellar abscess caused by Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvens. The organism was identified based on conventional biochemical identification methods, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the hsp65 gene, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The patient was treated successfully with debridements and prolon...

Recently, the need to distinguish between members of the Mycobacterium abscessus group has gained increasing attention. Here, we introduced a novel peptide nucleic acid (PNA) real-time PCR method targeting the hsp65 gene in order to distinguish between four subspecies within the M. abscessus group (M. abscessus and 3 types of M. massiliense).