The use of cyclophosphamide as an enhancer of the vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease

The immunization of biungulate animals with killed foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) requires periodic vaccinations due to a low vaccine immunogenicity. Therefore, FMDV antigens need to be combined with adjuvants such as aluminum hydroxide, saponin or oil emulsions. Animal handling for periodic inoculations, and the repeated doses of vaccines that have to be administered increase the commercialization costs. Moreover, the use of adjuvants may induce adverse effects.In the present work we show that it is possible to increase the life span of neutralizing antibodies in serum when a single dose of cyclophosphamide (Cy) is administered four days before vaccination with aluminum hydroxidesaponin FMDV vaccine.     

Induction of heart alterations by immunization with subcellular fractions from Crithidia fasciculata

Immunization of mice with subcellular fractions of C. fasciculata led to myocarditis and electrocardiographic alterations similar to those induced by immunization with T. cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, suggesting the presence of similar cardiotoxic antigens in both trypanosomatid flagellates.     

Selectivity of alterations in skeletal fibers in chronic Chagas' disease of the mouse

Summary In mice chronically infected withTrypanosoma cruzi, the masseter muscle (rich in type II fibers) was devoid of inflammatory infiltrates and parasites. In contrast, other muscles, composed of type I and II fibers, showed a decrease of type I fibers, parasites and lesions, suggesting that inT. cruzi infection type I muscle fibers are selectively damaged.     

Deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in the heart mitochondria after acute and exhaustive exercise

Resumen Las mitocondrias del corazón de ratas sometidas a natación forzada muestran filamentos considerados morfológicamente como de ADN y captan timidina tritiada. Sobre la base de estas observaciones se sugiere que las mitocondrias miocárdicas con capaces de una activa síntesis de ADN como respuesta a requirimientos funcionales agudos.     

Induction of heart alterations by immunization with subcellular fractions fromCrithidia fasciculata

Summary Immunization of mice with subcellular fractions ofC. fasciculata led to myocarditis and electrocardiographic alterations similar to those induced by immunization withT. cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, suggesting the presence of similar cardiotoxic antigens in both trypanosomatid flagellates.     

Effect of acriflavin on the mitochondria of the rat

Resumen La administración de acriflavina provoca la aparición de un elevado número de mitocondrias con filamentos de ADN en el hígado, riñón y miocardio de la rata. Sobre la base de este hecho se sugiere que la acriflavina inhibe la reproducción del ADN mitocondrial, haciéndolo visible a nivel ultraestructural.     

Presence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in the sera of mice with experimental autoimmune myocarditis.

The existence of antigens shared in common by T. cruzi and heart muscle cells is suggested by the presence of antibodies binding to the parasite surface in the serum of mice with autoimmune myocarditis induced by immunization with syngenic heart antigens.     

Protective and immunostimulating activity of a low dose of cyclophosphamide in the experimental infection of mice with foot-and-mouth disease virus

Administration to mice of a low, non-immunosuppressive dose of cyclophosphamide 4 days before infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus decreases viral replication, enhances the immune response against the virus and prevents pancreatic damage.