Brucella abortus strain RB51 is a stable, rough, attenuated mutant widely used as a live vaccine for bovine brucellosis. Our ultimate goal is to develop strain RB51 as a preferential vector for the delivery of protective antigens of other intracellular pathogens to which the induction of a strong Th1 type of immune response is needed for effective protection. As a first step in that direction, ...

The phylogenetically conserved nature of heat shock proteins (Hsp) has led to the proposition that they may provide a link between infection and the inflammatory component to vascular disease. Hypertension is associated with atherosclerosis. Here, we measured circulating heat shock protein and heat shock protein antibody levels in association with borderline hypertension. Seventy-two men with b...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequently encountered arrhythmia after cardiac surgery, but its underlying mechanisms are still unclear. We hypothesize that autoimmune and inflammatory responses against heat shock protein 65 (HSP65) may be involved and hence examined the relationship between HSP65 autoantibodies and occurrence of postoperative AF. METHODS AND RESULTS A prospective s...

Background—Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequently encountered arrhythmia after cardiac surgery, but its underlying mechanisms are still unclear. We hypothesize that autoimmune and inflammatory responses against heat shock protein 65 (HSP65) may be involved and hence examined the relationship between HSP65 autoantibodies and occurrence of postoperative AF. Methods and Results—A prospective stu...

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to determine the role of cellular and humoral immune responses to heat shock protein 65 (HSP65) in murine atherosclerosis. BACKGROUND Inflammatory processes appear to influence the progression of atherosclerosis. Immunization with HSP65 was previously shown to induce arteriosclerosis in rabbits and to enhance fatty-streak formation in mice. However, it has n...

In order to assess a new strategy of DNA vaccine for a more complete understanding of its action in immune response, it is important to determine the in vivo biodistribution fate and antigen expression. In previous studies, our group focused on the prophylactic and therapeutic use of a plasmid DNA encoding the Mycobacterium leprae 65-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp65) and achieved an efficient immu...

We described a prophylactic and therapeutic effect of a DNA vaccine encoding the Mycobacterium leprae 65-kDa heat shock protein (DNA-hsp65) in experimental murine tuberculosis. However, high homology of the vaccine to the corresponding mammalian hsp60, together with the CpG motifs in the plasmidial vector, could trigger or exacerbate an autoimmune disease. In the present study, we evaluate the ...

Atherosclerosis bears many similarities to inflammatory/autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS).1,2 Compelling data from experimental models show that such diseases may be treated by vaccination. Will it be possible to attack atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with the same approach? Several studies have shown positive effects of immunization with antigenic...

The incidence of overt diabetes was completely prevented by a single intradermal inoculation of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) into Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice as young as 6-7 weeks. Partial prevention was also observed in cases when 65 kD heat-shock protein (hsp65) with Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) was injected, and no prevention was observed by 38 kD with FIA immunization. Histologi...

Previous studies showed that mice with pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) and those protected from the disease by preimmunization with mycobacterial 65-kDa heat shock protein (hsp65), possess raised immune responses to hsp65. Thus, a paradox exists whereby T cells from both arthritic and hsp65-protected animals proliferate vigorously in response to the same Ag. Here we demonstrate that T cells fr...