cortical spreading depression (csd) are associated with dramatic failure of brain ion homeostasis, efflux of excitatory amino acids from nerve cells, increased energy metabolism and changes in cerebral blood flow. there is strong clinical and experimental evidence to suggest that csd is involved in the mechanism of migraine, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury. therefore,...

Neuroborreliosis (NB) is a chronic infectious disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by a tick-borne spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. In addition to direct effects of the causative infectious agent, additional immunity-mediated mechanisms are thought to play a role in the CNS pathology of NB. In order to further understand the involvement of humoral immune mechanisms in NB, we diss...

Sporothrix schenckii is the etiological agent of sporotrichosis, an endemic subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America. Cell wall (CW) proteins located on the cell surface are inducers of cellular and humoral immune responses, potential candidates for diagnosis purposes and to generate vaccines to prevent fungal infections. This mini-review emphasizes the potential use of S. schenckii CW proteins as...

BACKGROUND Oral administration of BCG was the route initially used by Calmette and Guérin, but was replaced by intradermal administration in virtually all countries after the Lubeck accident. However, Brazil continued to administer oral BCG Moreau RDJ, which was maintained until the mid-1970s when it was substituted by the intradermal route. Although BCG vaccination has been used in humans sinc...

The immune system of animals and man is extremely complex. This report will discuss the effect metals has on one segment of the immune system; that is, humoral immunity. Humoral immunity is essentially the production of antibody in response to an antigen. The B-lymphocyte is the primary cell responsible for producing antibody. However, this cell is regulated by T-lymphocytes and macrophages. Ma...

We have previously reported the production of hepatitis C virus-like particles (HCV-LP) using a recombinant baculovirus containing the cDNA of the HCV structural proteins (core, E1, and E2). These particles resemble the putative HCV virions and are capable of inducing strong and broad humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. Here we present evidence on the immunogenicity of HCV-LP and the...

Innate immune responses are mediated by the activation of various signaling processes. Here, we describe our current knowledge on Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signaling in the Drosophila immune response. First, we briefly introduce the main effectors involved in the humoral and cellular responses, such as anti-bacterial peptides and hemocytes. Sec...

yr HERE IS INCREASING EVIDENCE that the thymus has a central role in the development of the immune system.1’2 Surgical removal of the thymus in newborn mice and rats results in wasting, lymphocytopenia, and impaired immune responses.”2 Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that similar effects were also produced in hamsters subjected to neonatal thymectomy.3’4 The existence of a hum...

yr HERE IS INCREASING EVIDENCE that the thymus has a central role in the development of the immune system.1’2 Surgical removal of the thymus in newborn mice and rats results in wasting, lymphocytopenia, and impaired immune responses.”2 Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that similar effects were also produced in hamsters subjected to neonatal thymectomy.3’4 The existence of a hum...