Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are unique immune system cells that contribute to the maintenance of humoral (i.e. antibody) immune responses. These cells are located in the follicles of secondary lymphoid tissues (e.g. lymph nodes and spleen), where they trap and retain antigens in the form of highly immunogenic immune complexes (ICs). FDC-ICs are composed of antigen plus specific antibody a...

We have analysed the influence of size, intracellular localisation, and sorting of various human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-derived Gag and Env polypeptides containing well defined H2(d)-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes on the induction of a humoral and cellular immune response after DNA vaccination. Thus, expression vectors were generated based on RNA- and codon-opti...

We determined cellular and humoral immune responses to Borrelia burgdorferi lysate and to recombinant flagellin (FlaB), OspC, and OspA in acute- and convalescent-phase samples from 39 culture-positive patients with erythema migrans and in 20 healthy control subjects. During the acute illness, a median of 4 days after the onset of erythema migrans, 51% of the patients had proliferative cellular ...

The immune system comprises complex cellular and humoral systems, which are forming an interactive network to recognize and eradicate invading pathogens. Foreign molecules present on viruses, bacteria and parasites, but not on host cells, are discriminated from self through pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Upon entry of the pathogen into the body immediate non-specific immune responses a...

Whereas the SLAMF-associated protein (SAP) is involved in differentiation of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and antibody responses, the precise requirements of SLAMF receptors in humoral immune responses are incompletely understood. By analyzing mice with targeted disruptions of the Slamf1, Slamf5, and Slamf6 genes, we found that both T-dependent and T-independent antibody responses were twofo...

BACKGROUND An effective HIV vaccine will likely require induction of both mucosal and systemic cellular and humoral immune responses. We investigated whether intramuscular (IM) delivery of electroporated plasmid DNA vaccine and simultaneous protein vaccinations by intranasal (IN) and IM routes could be combined to induce mucosal and systemic cellular and humoral immune responses to a model HIV-...

propoxure (ppx) is a well-known carbamate insecticide, which has been used for several decades in the world and iran in agriculture and public health programs. however, there is no clear investigation toward its immunotoxicity as yet. in this study, we examined the effects of subchronic i.p. exposure of ppx on humoral (pfc & ha) and cellular (dth) responses, and also monitored t-cell subtypes u...

The prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is approximately 3% around the world. This virus causes chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The effectiveness of interferon-α and ribavirin therapy is about 50% and is associated with significant toxicity and cost. Hence, generating new vaccines or drugs is an obligation. However, there is no vaccine available for clinical u...

Vaccines that activate humoral and cell-mediated immune responses are urgently needed for many infectious agents, including the flaviviruses dengue and West Nile (WN) virus. Vaccine development would be greatly facilitated by a new approach, in which nanoscale modules (Ag, adjuvant, and carrier) are assembled into units that are optimized for stimulating immune responses to a specific pathogen....