CHARACTERIZATION OF CHRONIC, ASYMPTOMATIC INTESTINAL SHEDDING OF SHIGELLA

这些研究旨在利用特异性克隆的毒力基因 志贺氏菌的DNA探针或它们的序列信息， 聚合酶链反应检测粪便中的志贺氏菌。我们早期 研究表明，DNA探针非常灵敏、快速和有效 在检测志贺氏菌在腹泻病患者的粪便中， 秘鲁。在最近利用聚合酶链反应分析的研究中， 健康（即无症状）非人灵长类动物及其 健康的人类看护者，我们发现慢性，低 水平（即低于细菌检测）无症状携带 志贺氏菌我们的具体目标是确定（1）如果这些志贺氏菌 具有完全的毒力潜力，（2）志贺氏菌的确切状态 驻留在这些载体中（例如，在粘膜上皮细胞内， colon？），(3)携带者对志贺氏菌的免疫状态，以及（4）如果 这种慢性低电平载流子状态负责维持 志贺氏菌在美国的地方性，现在有超过25,000例 每一年。

These studies are directed at utilizing specific cloned virulence gene regions of Shigella as DNA probes or their sequence information in polymerase chain reaction assays to detect Shigella in stools. Our early studies showed that DNA probes were very sensitive, quick, and effective in detecting Shigella in the stool of diarrheal disease patients in Peru. In more recent studies utilizing polymerase chain reaction analysis of stools of healthy (i.e. asymptomatic) nonhuman primates and their healthy human caretakers, we have found a high rate of chronic, low level( i.e. below bacteriologic detection) asymptomatic carriage of Shigella. Our specific objectives are to determine (1) if these Shigella have full virulence potential,(2) the exact state in which Shigella are residing in these carriers( e.g. inside mucosal epithelial cells in the colon?), (3) the immune status of the carrier to Shigella, and (4) if this chronic low level carrier state is responsible for maintaining Shigella endemicity in the U.S. where there are now over 25,000 cases per year.