CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) stimulate the immune system and are under evaluation as treatments and vaccine adjuvants for infectious diseases, cancer, and immune system disorders. Although they have shown promising results in numerous clinical trials, the ultimate use of CpG ODN-based therapeutics may hinge on improved pharmacokinetics and reduced systemic side-effects. CpG ODN efficacy and ...

Polymicrobial Gram-negative pericarditis is a rare entity in the immune-competent patient, and purulent pericarditis due to bacteria complicated by tamponade is a life-threatening condition with high mortality rates. A prompt diagnosis and treatment is, as in this case, lifesaving and facilitated by echocardiography but is not the case in rural areas in common. Change in the infectious aetiolog...

Ocular toxoplasmosis is the most common cause of posterior uveitis in the United States and worldwide. It commonly follows a relapsing course with the potential for multiple adverse visual sequelae and, rarely, blindness. Both immune-competent and immune-suppressed populations can develop severe relapsing disease. There is considerable debate regarding the initial treatment of ocular toxoplasmo...

We present a case of primary disseminated herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) cutaneous disease in a 22-year-old male. We discuss the immune response to HSV-2 infection as well as the extragenital manifestations of HSV-2 observed in immune-competent and immune-suppressed persons.

PURPOSE To determine the effect of triple drug immune suppression on RPE xenograft survival in the fetal pig after transplantation into the albino rabbit subretinal space. METHODS Primary RPE microaggregates (approximately 40,000 RPE cells) were injected into the subretinal space of 24 albino rabbits, with half the rabbits maintained on triple systemic immune suppression. RPE survival was est...