RNA polymerase heterogeneity in Streptomyces aureofaciens: characterization by antibody-linked polymerase assay

The ability of Escherichia coli with different receptor specificities to interact with meconium was studied. E. coli strains expressing P-fimbriae, specific for Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta-containing receptors, were agglutinated by meconium at high titres. This reaction was inhibited by globotetraosylceramide. The attachment of P-fimbriated E. coli to human colonic epithelial cells of the HT-29 cell line was inhibited by meconium. Some type 1 fimbriated strains were agglutinated by meconium, but the agglutination was rarely blocked by methyl alpha-D-mannoside. The attachment by type 1 fimbriated strains to HT-29 cells was reduced by meconium only in some cases. These results suggest that meconium interacts with the P-fimbriae of E. coli, in a way that may influence bacterial colonization of the neonatal intestine.     

Autolysins are direct involved in the bactericidal effect caused by penicillin in wild type and in tolerant pneumococci

The two pneumococcal autolytic enzymes (an N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase and an endo-beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase) are directly involved in the penicillin-induced killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The activity of these lytic enzymes was efficiently controlled in tolerant mutants under physiological conditions.     

Virulence factors (aerobactin and mucoid phenotype) in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli blood culture isolates

Abstract We examined the presence of two virulence factors in 241 blood isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae from patients hospitalized during 1989 and 1990 in 7 French hospitals, and 125 blood isolates of Escherichia coli from one hospital. Aerobactin was scored phenotypically and genotypically with an intragenic DNA probe of 2 kb. The mucoid phenotype was assessed by culture on trypticase soy agar and by genotypic analysis (intragenic DNA probe of 235 bp). Only 6% K. pneumoniae isolates were aerobactin-positive with no significant variation according to geographical location while 20% of K. pneumoniae isolates displayed the mucoid phenotype, with a significant variation according to hospital. Aerobactin was always associated with the mucoid phenotype. The frequency of aerobactin production but not mucoid phenotype (14%) was higher among E. coli isolates (48%). They harbored two types of large plasmids. Intraperitoneal injection into mice of 10³ cfu of K. pneumoniae producing both virulence factors demonstrated that capsular serotype K2 was the more virulent K23 and K28.     

Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 encodes a protein highly similar to the human glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65)

Abstract A 2.5-kb Sca I fragment of the type 3 pneumococcal strain 406 DNA containing a 1425-nucleotide open reading frame ( gadA ) and encoding a 475-amino acid protein ( M _rmr 54427) was characterised. The gene gadA was expressed in Salmonella typhimurium . Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Southern blotting analysis of DNAs prepared from several pneumococcal serotypes showed that only those clinical isolates belonging to serotype 3 harbour the gadA gene. Sequence comparison of GadA with proteins included in the data banks revealed the highest similarity with human glutamate decarboxylase (GAD₆₅) (59% similarity, 28% identity). Auto-antibodies to GAD₆₅ have been associated with the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Interestingly, several epitopes of GAD₆₅ that have been identified as immunodominant are particularly well conserved in the pneumococcal GadA.     

Isolation of Ciliatine (2-Aminoethylphosphonic Acid) from the Bile of the Bovine

To elucidate the formation mechanism of N,N′-dialkylpyrazine cation radical during browning reaction of sugars with amino compounds, main products in an early stage of the reaction were determined quantitatively by TLC and GLC. It was shown that the Schiff base, two-carbon fragmental product of sugar, the free radical and deoxyosone were successively produced prior to the browning. Polarographical measurements indicated that the radical formation was induced by the production of some reducing substances in the reaction mixture. These results suggest that the free radical was formed by the reduction of N,N′-dialkylpyrazinium; a compound, which demonstrated to have a strong activity to browning, might be formed by condensation of two-carbon enaminol followed by oxidation.     

The circulatory small non-coding RNA landscape in community-acquired pneumonia on intensive care unit admission

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of sepsis. Despite several clinical trials targeting components of the inflammatory response, no specific treatment other than antimicrobial therapy has been approved. This argued for a deeper understanding of sepsis immunopathology, in particular factors that can modulate the host response. Small non-coding RNA, for example, micro (mi)RNA, have been established as important modifiers of cellular phenotypes. Notably, miRNAs are not exclusive to the intracellular milieu but have also been detected extracellular in the circulation with functional consequences. Here, we sought to determine shifts in circulatory small RNA levels of critically ill patients with CAP-associated sepsis and to determine the influence of clinical severity and causal pathogens on small RNA levels. Blood plasma was collected from 13 critically ill patients with sepsis caused by CAP on intensive care unit admission and from 5 non-infectious control participants. Plasma small RNA-sequencing identified significantly altered levels of primarily mature miRNAs in CAP relative to controls. Pathways analysis of high or low abundance miRNA identified various over-represented cellular biological pathways. Analysis of small RNA levels against common clinical severity and inflammatory parameters indices showed direct and indirect correlations. Additionally, variance of plasma small RNA levels in CAP patients may be explained, at least in part, by differences in causal pathogens. Small nuclear RNA levels were specifically altered in CAP due to Influenza infection in contrast to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Pathway analysis of plasma miRNA signatures unique to Influenza or Streptococcus pneumoniae infections showed enrichment for specific proteoglycan, cell cycle, and immunometabolic pathways.     

一种简单的高产2,3-丁二醇发酵生产方法

利用一株克雷伯氏菌(Klebsiellasp.LN145)在以葡萄糖和磷酸氢二铵为主要成分的培养基中发酵生产2,3-丁二醇。在补料发酵培养过程中,通过补糖,2,3-丁二醇和3-羟基丁酮的最大产量分别达到了84.0 g/L和10.5 g/L,二醇的摩尔转化率达到理论水平的91%,转化速率达到1.8 g/(L.h)。     

5型肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖结合疫苗的不同糖蛋白比与免疫原性的关系

实验中比较了以不同糖蛋白比结合的5型肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖结合疫苗的免疫原性。以氨还原法制备的不同糖蛋白比的5型多糖结合疫苗分别经腹腔注射NIH小鼠,共免疫3次,间隔2周。末次免疫2周后采血分离血清,以间接ELISA测定血清抗体,t检验统计分析数据。结果显示,生理盐水组(R组)无免疫原性;5型荚膜多糖组(H组)免疫原性低,无免疫加强效应;结合疫苗M组、N组第1、2针有免疫加强效应,第2、3针无免疫加强效应,而F组和Q组的两针次间均有明显的免疫加强效应。说明5型肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖结合疫苗的糖与蛋白比较高时能获得较好的免疫原性。