Human heat shock protein (hsp) 70 and bacterial protein groEL promote leakage of calcein from liposomes induced by human serum albumin signal peptide, by S. aureus alpha toxin or by diphtheria toxin. Hsp 70 and groEL, as well as two mycobacterial homologues hsp 71 and hsp 65, induce ion conducting pores across planar lipid bilayers at low or neutral pH. It is concluded that hsp induce pores in ...

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections represent a major primary cause of human respiratory diseases, exacerbate other respiratory disorders, and are associated with extrapulmonary pathologies. Cytadherence is a critical step in mycoplasma colonization, aided by a network of mycoplasma adhesins and cytadherence accessory proteins which mediate binding to host cell receptors. Furthermore, the respirat...

Bacterial and viral triggers are suspected agents in the initial etiology of autoimmune diseases. There are some studies on the etiology of autoimmune disorders which have focused on streptococcal infection and a possible relation with microbial heat shock proteins (hsp) which show significant homology with human heat shock proteins. In addition, some serotypes of streptococci cross-react ...

Since little is known about Tc cells in the human immune response to intracellular parasites, we have studied the role of Tc cells in response to M. bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Donors whose PBMC responded to BCG, purified protein derivative (PPD), and the recombinant 65-kD heat shock protein (HSP) of BCG generated BCG/PPD-specific CD4+ effector T lymphocytes that lysed PPD as well as ...

Atypical Mycobacterium granulomatous skin infections are often accured by Mycobacterium marinum, M. ulcerans, M. fortuitum, and M. avium colonies. Skin infections probably originate from an environmental source such as contacting with aquatic animals, fish farming and swimming in the pools, and inoculate into skin through skin wounds, scratches, trauma, and surgery. The lesions appear as purple...

We report that M. tuberculosis organisms, but neither PHA nor allogeneic stimulator cells, preferentially activate gamma/delta+ cells within E rosette-purified peripheral blood T cells. gamma/delta+ T cells from purified protein derivative (PPD)-nonimmune healthy donors were enriched by depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ cells; double-negative (DN) cells contained 65-92% gamma/delta+ T cells. Limiting ...

bacterial and viral triggers are suspected agents in the initial etiology of autoimmune diseases. there are some studies on the etiology of autoimmune disorders which have focused on streptococcal infection and a possible relation with microbial heat shock proteins (hsp) which show significant homology with human heat shock proteins. in addition, some serotypes of streptococci cross-react with ...

OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of an intra-articular presentation of stress (heat shock) proteins (hsp) on joint inflammation. METHODS Wistar rats were sensitised with a suspension of heat killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis in oil in the scruff of the neck and challenged intra-articularly with stress protein or M tuberculosis preparations. Inflammation was assessed by joint swelling and, usin...

Studies had been attempted to define the mycobacterial antigens by standard biochemical and immunological techniques. One particular antigen, a 65-kilodalton (KDa) protein, is present in a wide range of mycobacterial species and has been most intensively studied. It is designated as 65K antigen or the cell wall protein a (CWP-a) antigen, since it appears to co-purify with cell walls. The 65K an...