• Syphilis is caused by infection with Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum ( T. pallidum ). (medscape.com)
  • T. pallidum is a motile, spiral-shaped bacterium that has eluded in vitro cultivation. (medscape.com)
  • Similar to Gram-negative bacteria, T. pallidum has an outer membrane (OM), a thin peptidoglycan cell wall and an inner membrane. (medscape.com)
  • However, in contrast to most Gram-negative bacteria, the T. pallidum OM lacks lipopolysaccharide and is more susceptible to disruption by mild physical and chemical treatments. (medscape.com)
  • Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T. pallidum) causes syphilis via sexual exposure or via vertical transmission during pregnancy. (nih.gov)
  • Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum, with human beings as the only host. (medscape.com)
  • Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum . (stemcelldaily.com)
  • Therefore, a positive VDRL test needs to be confirmed by a treponemal test, which is specific for T. pallidum . (stemcelldaily.com)
  • Examples of treponemal tests are fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) test. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • During the first years of its infestation in an immunologically naive population, syphilis appears to have assumed particularly horrific clinical manifestations. (medscape.com)
  • Interestingly, the TprK sequence varies during infection in the rabbit model of syphilis, possibly in response to immune pressure. (medscape.com)
  • Syphilis is a chronic, systemic infection that is usually transmitted by contact with the active lesions of a sexual partner (acquired syphilis) or passed from an infected pregnant woman to her fetus (congenital syphilis). (medscape.com)
  • Screening for syphilis infection in pregnancy: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reaffirmation recommendation statement. (medscape.com)
  • Screening for syphilis infection: recommendation statement. (medscape.com)
  • The VDRL test does not directly look for the syphilis bacteria, but rather for the presence of antibodies that indicate a past or current infection. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • A quantitative test can help monitor the course of infection and treatment response. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • AB - We previously proposed that one benefit of early polyclonal antibody secretion after bacterial infection might be the formation of antibodies protective against infection by a second pathogen. (nih.gov)
  • Neurosyphilis, quite directly, is defined as a CSF WBC count of 20 cells/µL or greater or a reactive CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test result. (medscape.com)
  • The Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test (VDRL) is one of the screening tests for syphilis. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • The Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test is a type of non-treponemal test that detects antibodies produced against antigens released by damaged host cells in patients suffering from syphilis. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • The primary and secondary stages are the most infectious. (medscape.com)
  • Untreated adult syphilis can progress through four overlapping stages based on clinical findings. (medscape.com)
  • PMID- 3894221 TI - Differential expression of HLA class II antigens on human fetal and adult lymphocytes and macrophages. (nih.gov)
  • AB - A panel of monoclonal antibodies to monomorphic determinants of the MHC class II subregion locus products: DP, DR and DQ, was used to investigate the expression of these antigens on early lymphocytes and macrophages from human fetal liver (13 20 weeks), placenta (16 weeks and term) and cord blood, in relation to the class II phenotype of cells from adult tonsil and peripheral blood. (nih.gov)
  • The VDRL test is a simple and rapid test that can be done in a laboratory or at a point-of-care setting. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • However, the VDRL test is not specific for syphilis and can give false-positive or false-negative results in some cases. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • Therefore, a positive VDRL test must be confirmed by another test that is more specific for syphilis, such as the treponemal antibody test (TPA). (stemcelldaily.com)
  • The VDRL test is useful for screening people who are at risk of syphilis, such as those who have symptoms of syphilis, have had sexual contact with someone who has syphilis, are pregnant, have HIV, or engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • The VDRL test does not directly identify the bacterium, but rather the immune response to it. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • The VDRL test uses an antigen (referred to as VDRL antigen) containing cardiolipin , lecithin , and cholesterol . (stemcelldaily.com)
  • The VDRL test can be performed on either blood or CSF samples. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • The VDRL test can be performed qualitatively or quantitatively. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • The VDRL test is one of the screening tests for syphilis, but it is not specific for syphilis. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • Antigens are substances that trigger an immune response in your body. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • These data suggest that class II antigens are expressed in the sequence DP, DR, DQ on developing lymphocytes. (nih.gov)
  • Identification of the etiologic agent in 1905 ultimately led to the development of diagnostic tests and antibiotics for treatment, initially facilitating the control of syphilis and, in some countries, its virtual elimination. (medscape.com)
  • The basic histopathologic finding is endarteritis (i.e., inflammation of the inner layer of an artery), which may be due to the host response to treponemal components such as lipoproteins. (medscape.com)
  • It is a blood test that detects antibodies that your body produces in response to antigens released by cells damaged by the syphilis bacteria. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • The test can also be used to monitor the response to treatment and to detect possible reinfection or relapse. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • AB - The faster degradation of antigen by macrophages in Biozzi low (L) responder mice, compared to Biozzi high (H) responder mice, is thought to be responsible for their lower antibody response. (nih.gov)
  • These are lipids that are similar to those found in the cell membranes of humans and bacteria. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • The intent in writing the guidelines was to address eas of special emphasis include corrections, adoles appropriate issues such as the relevance of the health cents, managed care, STD/HIV interaction, syphilis problem, the magnitude of the problem, the nature of elimination, and other high-risk populations. (cdc.gov)
  • [ 7 ] The resurgence of syphilis is a major concern to global public health, particularly due to the epidemiologic and biologic synergy of syphilis and HIV. (medscape.com)
  • Blood samples need to be heat-inactivated at 56°C for 30 minutes to remove non-specific inhibitors (such as complement) that may interfere with the test. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • In non-rejector combinations, liver allografts possess remarkable properties of tolerance induction and antigen-specific immunosuppression, leading to a state of donor-specific unresponsiveness in which grafts of other organs are also accepted. (nih.gov)
  • [ 8 ] The rapid spread of syphilis during the Age of Discovery (15-19th centuries) was associated with conflict (i.e., military campaigns), commerce and urbanization. (medscape.com)
  • Fetal liver sections and cell suspensions showed differential expression of class II antigens. (nih.gov)
  • With many STDs, such as syphilis, on a downward trend, now is the time to employ new strategies and new ways of looking at STD control. (cdc.gov)
  • Flocculation indicates a positive test result, meaning that the sample contains lipoidal antibodies. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • No flocculation indicates a negative test result, meaning that the sample does not contain lipoidal antibodies. (stemcelldaily.com)
  • A qualitative test gives a simple positive or negative result, while a quantitative test measures the antibody titre (the highest dilution of the sample that still gives a positive result). (stemcelldaily.com)