Virulence evolution in response to anti-infection resistance: toxic food plants can select for virulent parasites of monarch butterflies

Host resistance to parasites can come in two main forms: hosts may either reduce the probability of parasite infection (anti-infection resistance) or reduce parasite growth after infection has occurred (anti-growth resistance). Both resistance mechanisms are often imperfect, meaning that they do not fully prevent or clear infections. Theoretical work has suggested that imperfect anti-growth resistance can select for higher parasite virulence by favouring faster-growing and more virulent parasites that overcome this resistance. In contrast, imperfect anti-infection resistance is thought not to select for increased parasite virulence, because it is assumed that it reduces the number of hosts that become infected, but not the fitness of parasites in successfully infected hosts. Here, we develop a theoretical model to show that anti-infection resistance can in fact select for higher virulence when such resistance reduces the effective parasite dose that enters a host. Our model is based on a monarch butterfly-parasite system in which larval food plants confer resistance to the monarch host. We carried out an experiment and showed that this environmental resistance is most likely a form of anti-infection resistance, through which toxic food plants reduce the effective dose of parasites that initiates an infection. We used these results to build a mathematical model to investigate the evolutionary consequences of food plant-induced resistance. Our model shows that when the effective infectious dose is reduced, parasites can compensate by evolving a higher per-parasite growth rate, and consequently a higher intrinsic virulence. Our results are relevant to many insect host-parasite systems, in which larval food plants often confer imperfect anti-infection resistance. Our results also suggest that - for parasites where the infectious dose affects the within-host dynamics - vaccines that reduce the effective infectious dose can select for increased parasite virulence.     

Investigation of protein induction in tumour vascular targeted strategies by MALDI MSI

Characterising the protein signatures in tumours following vascular-targeted therapy will help determine both treatment response and resistance mechanisms. Here, mass spectrometry imaging and MS/MS with and without ion mobility separation have been used for this purpose in a mouse fibrosarcoma model following treatment with the tubulin-binding tumour vascular disrupting agent, combretastatin A-4-phosphate (CA-4-P). Characterisation of peptides after in situ tissue tryptic digestion was carried out using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation-Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation-Ion Mobility Separation-Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI IMS-MSI) to observe the spatial distribution of peptides. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation-Ion Mobility Separation-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-IMS-MS/MS) of peaks was performed to elucidate any pharmacological responses and potential biomarkers. By taking tumour samples at a number of time points after treatment gross changes in the tissue were indicated by changes in the signal levels of certain peptides. These were identified as arising from haemoglobin and indicated the disruption of the tumour vasculature. It was hoped that the use of PCA-DA would reveal more subtle changes taking place in the tumour samples however these are masked by the dominance of the changes in the haemoglobin signals.     

羊骨胶原肽对青春期大鼠催乳素和促黄体生成素分泌脉冲的影响

目的研究羊骨胶原肽(sheep bone collagen peptide,SBCP)对类固醇诱导的去卵巢大鼠催乳素(pro-lactin,PRL)和促黄体生成素(luteinizing hormone,LH)分泌脉冲的影响。方法 6周龄子宫颈未开口的青春期SD大鼠实施双侧卵巢摘除手术,康复1周或3周后以类固醇替代方法诱导PRL和LH脉冲,处理组同时按1000 mg/(kg.d)的剂量以SBCP灌胃,通过颈导管采集血样,利用放射免疫技术测定各组大鼠外周血中的LH和PRL浓度。结果对于术后康复1周的大鼠,SBCP对LH脉冲振幅起到增强作用,而对PRL脉冲没有影响;对于术后康复3周的大鼠,SBCP对LH和PRL脉冲振幅均表现为降低作用,但卵巢摘除后立即给予SBCP可减弱这种降低作用。结论雌激素和孕激素替代注射的同时,补充羊骨胶原肽,不仅仍可诱导LH和PRL脉冲的产生,还可预防由于卵巢摘除带来的骨代谢紊乱,免疫力低下等不良影响,因而是对现有类固醇替代方法的改良。     

鱼山镇1岁以上人群不同年龄组乙肝表面抗原携带率与乙肝疫苗接种关系的调查

研究鱼山镇乙肝疫苗接种率不同人群的乙肝病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)携带率的差异。将该镇所有户籍登记在册人员按出生日期分成3组,再按随机抽样法对每个年龄组抽取一定数量的人组成样本,调查乙肝疫苗接种史;对每位参加者采集静脉血5ml,无菌分离血清,使用固相放射免疫试剂和酶联免疫试剂检测乙肝病毒表面抗原和抗乙肝病毒表面抗原抗体(HBsAb,抗-HBs)。小年龄组、中年龄组、大年龄组乙肝疫苗接种率依次为80.00%、50.46%、25.36%,差异具有统计学意义(χ2=262.24,P<0.005);小年龄组、中年龄组、大年龄组HBsAg携带率依次为2.07%、11.93%、17.87%,差异具有统计学意义(χ2=77.48,P<0.005);小年龄组、中年龄组、大年龄组HBsAb依次为43.38%、24.77%、10.95%,差异具有统计学意义(χ2=107.28,P<0.005)。乙肝疫苗接种率在小年龄组、中年龄组、大年龄组依次降低,HBsAg携带率依次增高,HBsAb阳性率依次降低。因此,接种乙肝疫苗对人群有较好的保护作用,人群乙肝疫苗接种率越高,HBsAb阳性率越高,HBsAg携带率越低。     

Recombinant plant-expressed tumour-associated MUC1 peptide is immunogenic and capable of breaking tolerance in MUC1.Tg mice

The human epithelial mucin MUC1 is a heavily glycosylated transmembrane protein that is overexpressed and aberrantly glycosylated on over 90% of human breast cancers. The altered glycosylation of MUC1 reveals an immunodominant peptide along its tandem repeat (TR) that has been used as a target for tumour immunotherapy. In this study, we used the MUC1 TR peptide as a test antigen to determine whether a plant-expressed human tumour-associated antigen can be successfully expressed in a plant system and whether it will be able to break self-antigen tolerance in a MUC1-tolerant mouse model. We report the expression of MUC1 TR peptide fused to the mucosal-targeting Escherichia coli enterotoxin B subunit (LTB-MUC1) in a plant host. Utilizing a rapid viral replicon transient expression system, we obtained high yields of LTB-MUC1. Importantly, the LTB-MUC1 fusion protein displayed post-translational modifications that affected its antigenicity. Glycan analysis revealed that LTB-MUC1 was glycosylated and a MUC1-specific monoclonal antibody detected only the glycosylated forms. A thorough saccharide analysis revealed that the glycans are tri-arabinans linked to hydroxyprolines within the MUC1 tandem repeat sequence. We immunized MUC1-tolerant mice (MUC1.Tg) with transiently expressed LTB-MUC1, and observed production of anti-MUC1 serum antibodies, indicating breach of tolerance. The results indicate that a plant-derived human tumour-associated antigen is equivalent to the human antigen in the context of immune recognition.     

Expression of an immunogenic Ebola immune complex in Nicotiana benthamiana

Filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg viruses) cause severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever in humans and non‐human primates. The US Centers for Disease Control identifies Ebola and Marburg viruses as ‘category A’ pathogens (defined as posing a risk to national security as bioterrorism agents), which has lead to a search for vaccines that could prevent the disease. Because the use of such vaccines would be in the service of public health, the cost of production is an important component of their development. The use of plant biotechnology is one possible way to cost‐effectively produce subunit vaccines. In this work, a geminiviral replicon system was used to produce an Ebola immune complex (EIC) in Nicotiana benthamiana. Ebola glycoprotein (GP1) was fused at the C‐terminus of the heavy chain of humanized 6D8 IgG monoclonal antibody, which specifically binds to a linear epitope on GP1. Co‐expression of the GP1‐heavy chain fusion and the 6D8 light chain using a geminiviral vector in leaves of N. benthamiana produced assembled immunoglobulin, which was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and protein G affinity chromatography. Immune complex formation was confirmed by assays to show that the recombinant protein bound the complement factor C1q. Size measurements of purified recombinant protein by dynamic light scattering and size‐exclusion chromatography also indicated complex formation. Subcutaneous immunization of BALB/C mice with purified EIC resulted in anti‐Ebola virus antibody production at levels comparable to those obtained with a GP1 virus‐like particle. These results show excellent potential for a plant‐expressed EIC as a human vaccine.     

Characterization and functional activity of murine monoclonal antibodies specific for α1,6-glucan chain of Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide

Background: The outer core region of H. pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contains α1,6‐glucan previously shown to contribute to colonizing efficiency of a mouse stomach. The aim of the present study was to generate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for α1,6‐glucan and characterize their binding properties and functional activity. Materials and Methods: BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with 10⁸ formalin‐fixed H. pylori O:3 0826::Kan cells 3× over 56 days to achieve significant titer. Anti‐α1,6‐glucan‐producing hybridomas were screened by indirect ELISA using purified H. pylori O:3 0826::Kan LPS. One clone, 1C4F9, was selected for further characterization. The specificities of mAbs were determined by indirect and inhibition ELISA using structurally defined H. pylori LPS and synthetic oligosaccharides, and whole‐cell indirect ELISA (WCE) of clinical isolates. They were further characterized by indirect immunofluorescent (IF) microscopy and their functional activity in vitro determined by serum bactericidal assays against wild‐type and mutant strains of H. pylori. Results: The generated anti‐α1,6‐glucan IgM, 1C4F9, has demonstrated an excellent specificity for the glucan chain containing 5 to 6 α1,6‐linked glucose residues and showed surface accessibility by IF microscopy with H. pylori cells adherent to gastric adenocarcinoma cells monolayers. Of 38 isolates from Chile, 17 strains reacted with antiglucan mAbs in WCE (OD₄₅₀ ≥ 0.2). Bactericidal activity was observed against selective wild‐type and mutant H. pylori strains exhibiting OD₄₅₀ values of ≥0.45 in WCE. Conclusions: Anti‐α1,6‐glucan mAbs could have potential application in typing and surveillance of H. pylori isolates as well as offer insights into structural requirements for the development of LPS‐based vaccine against H. pylori infections.     

Identification and engineering of the cytochalasin gene cluster from Aspergillus clavatus NRRL 1

Cytochalasins are a group of fungal secondary metabolites with diverse structures and bioactivities, including cytochalasin E produced by Aspergillus clavatus, which is a potent anti-angiogenic agent. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the cytochalasin gene cluster from A. clavatus NRRL 1. As a producer of cytochalasin E and K, the genome of A. clavatus was analyzed and the ∼30 kb ccs gene cluster was identified based on the presence of a polyketide synthase–nonribosomal peptide synthetases (PKS–NRPS) and a putative Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase (BVMO). Deletion of the central PKS–NRPS gene, ccsA, abolished the production of cytochalasin E and K, confirming the association between the natural products and the gene cluster. Based on bioinformatic analysis, a putative biosynthetic pathway is proposed. Furthermore, overexpression of the pathway specific regulator ccsR elevated the titer of cytochalasin E from 25 mg/L to 175 mg/L. Our results not only shed light on the biosynthesis of cytochalasins, but also provided genetic tools for increasing and engineering the production.     

A defensin‐like antimicrobial peptide from the venoms of spider,Ornithoctonus hainana

The defensin‐like antimicrobial peptides have been characterized from various other arthropods including insects, scorpions, and ticks. But no natural spider defensin‐like antimicrobial peptides have ever been isolated from spiders, except couple of cDNA and DNA sequences of five spider species revealed by previous genomic study. In this work, a defensin‐like antimicrobial peptide named Oh‐defensin was purified and characterized from the venoms of the spider, Ornithoctonus hainana. Oh‐defensin is composed of 52 amino acid (aa) residues including six Cys residues that possibly form three disulfide bridges. Its aa sequence is MLCKLSMFGAVLGV PACAIDCLPMGKTGGSCEGGVCGCRKLTFKILWDKKFG. By BLAST search, Oh‐defensin showed significant sequence similarity to other arthropod antimicrobial peptides of the defensin family. Oh‐defensin exerted potent antimicrobial activities against tested microorganisms including Gram‐positive bacteria, Gram‐negative bacteria, and fungi. The cDNA encoding Oh‐defensin precursor was also cloned from the cDNA library of O. hainana. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.