Sensitivities of DNA extraction methods and PCR methods for Giardia duodenalis were evaluated. A combination of the most sensitive methods, i.e., FTA filter paper and a PCR protocol using RH11/RH4 and GiarF/GiarR primers, showed no significant differences compared to immunofluorescence assay in terms of their sensitivities and specificities.

The year 2004 marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of cytochrome P450. Minor J. (Jud) Coon has been a leader in this field for the last 35 years. This review summarizes his contributions to P450 research by discussing six of his most significant publications; not surprisingly, these papers serve as landmarks for the major directions followed in P450 research.

SYNOPSIS The indirect fluorescent antibody technique has been used to titrate patients' antibody against Toxoplasma gondii. Rigorous tests of the immunological validity of the method were made. The reactions of the gamma globulin of human immune serum with Toxoplasma gondii and fluorescent rabbit anti-human gamma globulin were thus shown to be specific. Thereafter the technique could be used wi...

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a ubiquitous,obilgate intrace;;ular protozoan"Toxoplasma gondii".the present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in Kerman province of Iran.Atotal of 690 bllod samples,collected from patients in Kerman hospitals were serologically tested by indirect fluorescent antibody technique(IFA) for Toxoplasma antibadies.46.9 percen...

Sm14 is a 14-kDa vaccine candidate antigen from Schistosoma mansoni that seems to be involved in cytoplasmic trafficking of fatty acids. Although schistosomes have a high requirement for lipids, they are not able to synthesize fatty acids and sterols de novo. Thus, they must acquire host lipids. In order to determine whether Sm14 is present in different stages of the life cycle of the parasite,...

OBJECTIVE To study the presence and levels of GAD65 antibodies (GADA), IA-2 antibodies (IA-2-A), and islet cell antibodies (ICA) during the first years after clinical onset of type 1 diabetes in relation to age at diagnosis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Type 1 diabetic patients (n = 194) <40 years of age were consecutively recruited at the time of diagnosis by the Belgian Diabetes Registry and...

AIMS To investigate the serological cross reaction between legionella and campylobacter using the rapid microagglutination test (RMAT). METHODS Serum samples from 49 patients with campylobacter infection were tested for legionella antibodies using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and the RMAT. Serum samples that had positive RMAT titres were retested in the presence of a campylob...

BACKGROUND The use of recombinant viral vectors expressing T. gondii antigens is a safe and efficient approach to induce immune responses against the parasite, as well as a valuable tool for vaccine development. We have previously prolonged the survival time of mice challenged with the RH strain of T. gondii by immunizing the mice with a eukaryotic vector expressing the protein ROP18 of T. gond...

In order to evaluate the relative sensitivity of the detection of antibodies against various antigenic proteins of Ehrlichia chaffeensis for the diagnosis of the emerging infectious disease human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis, Western immunoblotting was performed with 27 serum samples from convalescent patients with antibodies, as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Among 22 patien...