There is a serious dearth of scientific research in Pakistan. Thus, it was heartening to know that a team of Pakistani doctors have been working on a very interesting problem.
A PhD research work was conducted on Effect of Smooth and Rough Strain Brucella abortus Lipopolysaccharides on Immune Stimulation of Bovines by Dr Raheela Akhtar and her research team at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. Brucella LPS is unique in terms of 10,000 times less toxicity than Ecoli LPS (Goldstein et al., 1992) and more immunomodulatory and antigenic properties. The study revealed the fascinating effect of rough Brucella lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on stimulation of bovine cultured macrophages and peripheral neutrophils as compared to the smooth
This research also provided an impetus for immunologists working on idea of combined vaccine that the use of combined Brucella LPS as a adjuvant in vaccine may be the wastage of time and money as it has no dramatic effect as compare to rough Brucella LPS which can be a good vaccine candidate in future Brucella vaccine. While smooth Brucella LPS has most poor capability of stimulation.
This research could be very useful for people working in the same field and hopefully this research and its implications will be employed usefully here.
DR RAHEELA AKHTAR
Michigan, USA