IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF EXPERIMENTAL SYPHILIS

一种人类梅毒的动物模型已经被开发出来，在那里近亲繁殖的叙利亚人 感染梅毒螺旋体的仓鼠会出现类似“硬”的病变 在接种部位(腹股沟区域)最终痊愈的“下巴”， 然后，动物会发展成与人类粘膜病变相对应的口腔溃疡 二期梅毒。拟议的研究将检查潜在的 急、慢性免疫抑制的细胞机制 梅毒感染。特异性B淋巴细胞、T淋巴细胞和巨噬细胞 将评估仓鼠在不同阶段的细胞功能 感染。将就以下问题作出结论： 免疫抑制(即B、T或巨噬细胞是否受到影响)， 免疫抑制的性质(即，它是被动的还是主动的)以及 免疫抑制的原因(S)(特异性密螺旋体的发展 抑制性T细胞或抗独特型抗体和/或非嗜细胞性或 非调理抗体)。对特定细胞的阐明 二期梅毒和三期梅毒发生的机制 可能最终使研究人员能够通过以下方式纠正这些不足 免疫治疗手段。

An animal model of human syphilis has been developed, where inbred Syrian hamsters infected with Treponema pallidum develop lesions like "hard chancre" at the site of inoculation (inguinal area) which eventually heal, then animals develop oral ulcers corresponding to mucosal lesions of human secondary syphilis. The proposed research will examine the underlying cellular mechanisms of immunosuppression associated with acute and chronic syphilitic infection. Specific B lymphocyte, T lymphocyte and macrophage cell functions will be assessed in hamsters at various stages of infection. Conclusions will be made concerning the level of immunosuppression (i.e., whether B, T, or macrophage cells are affected), the nature of immunosuppression (i.e., whether it is passive or active) and the cause(s) of immunosuppression (development of treponema specific suppressor T cells or antiidiotypic antibodies and/or non-cytophilic or non-opsonizing antibodies). Elucidation of the specific cellular mechanisms involved in the development of secondary and tertiary syphilis may ultimately enable researchers to correct the deficiencies by immunotherapeutic means.