Expression and purification of the recombinant diphtheria fusion toxin DT388IL3 for phase I clinical trials

A genetically engineered fusion toxin targeted to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts was designed with the first 388 amino acid residues of diphtheria toxin with an H-M linker fused to human interleukin-3. The cDNA was subcloned in the pRK bacterial expression plasmid and used to transform BLR (DE3) Escherichia coli. A single transformed colony was grown in Superbroth with ampicillin; bacteria were centrifuged at an OD(650) of 1.3; master cell bank aliquots of bacteria in 30% glycerol/Superbroth were frozen and stored at -80 degrees C. Master cell bank bacteria were diluted 1500-fold into Superbroth and recombinant protein was induced with 1 mM IPTG at an OD(650) of 0.6. After two additional hours of fermentation, inclusion bodies were isolated, washed, and denatured in guanidine hydrochloride and dithioerythritol. Recombinant protein was refolded by diluted 100-fold in cold buffer with arginine and oxidized glutathione. After dialysis, purified protein was obtained after anion-exchange, size exclusion on FPLC, and polymyxin B affinity chromatography. The final material was filter sterilized, aseptically vialed, and stored at -80 degrees C. Seventy-five 3-L bacterial culture preparations were made and pooled for the AT-1 batch (568 mL) and twenty-four 3-L bacterial culture preparations were made and pooled for the AT-2 batch (169 mL). The final product was characterized by Coomassie Plus protein assay, Coomassie-stained SDS-PAGE, limulus amebocyte lysate endotoxin assay, human AML TF/H-ras cell cytotoxicity assay, sterility, tandem mass spectroscopy, IL3 receptor binding affinity, ADP ribosylation activity, inhibition of normal human CFU-GM, disulfide bond analysis, immunoblots, peptide mapping, stability, HPLC TSK3000, N-terminal sequencing, E. coli DNA contamination, C57BL/6 mouse toxicity, cynomolgus monkey toxicity, and immunohistochemistry. Yields were 25.7+/-5.6 mg/L bacterial culture of denatured fusion toxin. After refolding and chromatography, final yields were 20+/-11% or 5 mg/L. Vialed product was sterile. Batches were in 0.25 M sodium chloride/5 mM Tris, pH 8, and had protein concentrations of 1.8-1.9 mg/mL. Purity by SDS-PAGE was 99+/-1%. Aggregates by HPLC were <1 %. Potency revealed a 48 h IC(50) of 6-8 pM on TF/H-ras cells. Endotoxin levels were 1 eu/mg. The remaining chemical and biologic assays confirmed the purity, composition, and functional activities of the molecule. The LD(10) in mice was 250 microg/kg/day every other day for six doses. The MTD in monkeys was 60 microg/kg/day every other day for six doses. Drug did not react with tested frozen human tissue sections by immunohistochemistry. There was no evidence of loss of solubility, proteolysis aggregation, or loss of potency over 6 months at -80 and -20 degrees C. Further, the drug was stable at 4 and 25 degrees C in the plastic syringe and administration tubing for 24 h and at 37 degrees C in human serum for 24 h. The synthesis of this protein drug should be useful for production for clinical phase I/II clinical trials and may be suitable for other diphtheria fusion toxins indicated for clinical development.     

Characterization of diphtheria fusion proteins targeted to the human interleukin-3 receptor

Diphtheria fusion proteins are chimeric proteins consisting of the catalytic and translocation domains of diphtheria toxin (DT(388)) linked through an amide bond to one of a variety of peptide ligands. The ligand targets the molecule to cells and the toxin enters the cell, inactivates protein synthesis and induces cell death. Diphtheria fusion proteins directed to human myeloid leukemic blasts are a novel class of therapeutics for patients with chemotherapy refractory myeloid leukemia. Because of the presence of interleukin-3 (IL3) receptors on myeloid leukemic progenitors and its absence from mature myeloid cells, we synthesized four bacterial expression vectors encoding DT(388) fused to human IL3. Different molecules were engineered to assess the effects of modifications on yield, purity and potency of product. The constructs differed in the size of the linker peptide between the DT(388) and IL3 domains and in the presence or absence of an oligohistidine tag on the N- or C-terminus. Escherichia coli were transformed and recombinant protein induced and purified from inclusion bodies. Similar final yields of 3-6 mg of purified protein per liter of bacterial culture were obtained with each of the four molecules. Purity ranged from 70 to 90% after partial purification by anion-exchange, size-exclusion chromatography and/or nickel affinity chromatography. Proteins were soluble and stable at 4 degrees C and -80 degrees C in phosphate-buffered saline at 0.03-0.5 mg/ml. The fusion proteins showed predicted molecular weights by SDS-PAGE, HPLC and tandem mass spectrometry and had full ADP-ribosylating activities. Each was immunoreactive with antibodies to DT(388) and IL3. Each of the fusion proteins with the exception of the one with an N-terminal oligohistidine tag showed full IL3 receptor binding affinity (K:(d) = 3 nM) and potent and selective cytotoxicity to IL3 receptor positive human myeloid leukemia cell lines (IC(50) = 5-10 pM). In contrast, the N-terminal histidine-tagged fusion protein bound IL3 receptor with a 10-fold lower affinity and was 10-fold less cytotoxic to IL3 receptor positive blasts. Thus, we report a series of novel, biologically active DT(388)IL3 fusion proteins for potential therapy of patients with receptor positive myeloid leukemias.     

High-level expression of a proteolytically sensitive diphtheria toxin fragment in Escherichia coli.

ABM508 is a recombinant fusion protein consisting of the N-terminal 485 amino acids of diphtheria toxin joined to alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. When expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the tox promoter and signal sequence, ABM508 is severely degraded. When overexpressed from a thermoinducible lambda pR promoter fusion, ABM508 is largely insoluble. We compared the expression of ABM508 (501 amino acids) to a full-length mutant form of the toxin (CRM197; 535 amino acids) and found that CRM197 showed minimal proteolysis. Thus, the removal of the C-terminal 50 amino acids of the toxin destabilizes the protein, making it a target for proteases. Proteolysis of ABM508 could be reduced by removal of the tox signal sequence (thereby directing the protein to the cytoplasm) and growth in lon and htpR mutant strains of E. coli. We also showed that the solubility of tox gene products expressed in E. coli was directly related to the growth temperature of the culture. Thus, a fragment A fusion protein (223 amino acids), ABM508, and CRM197 were found in soluble extracts when expressed at 30 degrees C but could not be released by the same procedures after growth at 42 degrees C. On the basis of these observations, we fused the coding sequences for mature ABM508 to the trc promoter (inducible at 30 degrees C by isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside) and expressed this construct in a lon htpR strain of E. coli. This plasmid made 10 mg of soluble tox protein per liter of culture (7.7% of the total cell protein) or 14 times more than our previous maximal level. Extracts from lon htpR cells harboring this plasmid had high levels of ADP-ribosyltransferase activity, and although proteolysis still occurred, the major tox product corresponded to full-length ABM508.     

GMP production and characterization of the bivalent anti-human T cell immunotoxin, A-dmDT390-bisFv(UCHT1) for phase I/II clinical trials

The bivalent anti-T cell immunotoxin, A-dmDT390-bisFv(UCHT1), was developed for treatment of T-cell leukemia, autoimmune diseases and tolerance induction for transplantation. To obtain clinical grade bivalent anti-T cell immunotoxin for phase I/II clinical trials, a single batch of 120 L bioreactor culture was performed using the Pichia pastoris mutEF2JC307-8(2) strain expressing the bivalent anti-T cell immunotoxin. After 162 h induction of the culture by methanol, the culture medium was harvested by a 0.1 microm hollow-fiber microfiltration step. The recombinant protein was purified by a 3-step purification procedure (Butyl 650 M capturing step, borate anion exchange step and final Poros anion exchange step). The final material was filter sterilized, aseptically vialed, and stored at -80 degrees C. Expression level was 207 mg/L of culture supernatant and the final production yield was 69.6% or 144.2mg/L of culture supernatant. The final product was characterized by multiple assays. Vialed product was sterile. The drug concentration was 0.8 mg/mL in 150 mM NaCl, 5% glycerol, 1mM EDTA, and 5mM Tris (pH 8.0). Purity by SDS-PAGE was 98%. Aggregates by Superdex 200 HPLC were <1%. Potency revealed a 20 h IC(50) of 17f M on Jurkat cells. Endotoxin level was 0.02 U/mg. Chemical and biologic assays confirmed the purity, composition, and functional activities of the molecule. The drug did not react with tested frozen human tissue sections except for T cells. LD(10) in mice was between 500 and 75 0microg/kg. There was no evidence of loss of solubility, proteolysis, aggregation, or loss of potency over 1.5 year at -80 degrees C. The scalable synthesis of this protein drug should be useful for production for phase I/II clinical trials and can be applicable for other diphtheria toxin fusion drugs for clinical development.     

Human dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase: purification and characterization of a recombinant protein

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is the most abundant sulfated steroid transformed in human tissues and serves as a precursor for steroid hormones. Recombinant human dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase (DHEA-ST) expressed in glutathione sulfotransferase fusion form in E. coli was purified using glutathione sepharose 4B affinity adsorption chromatography, a Factor Xa cleavage step, and Q-sepharose fast flow column chromatography. The homogeneous preparation had an activity toward dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) of 150+/-40 nmol/min per mg of protein under the assay conditions at an overall yield of 38.4%. The recombinant human DHEA-ST was shown to have a subunit mass of 34 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, while having a molecular mass of 67.2 kDa by Superose-12 gel filtration. Our results indicate that the active recombinant enzyme expressed in E. coli is a homodimer.Biochemical properties for purified DHEA-ST were studied using DHEA as a substrate. The optimum pH ranged from pH 7 to 8, and the optimum temperature 40-45 degrees C. Ninety percent of basal DHEA-ST activity remained even after the enzyme was treated at 45 degrees C for 15 min. The 50% inactivation concentration of NaCl for DHEA-ST activity was determined to be around 500 mM. The K(m) value for DHEA was 1.9+/-0.3 microM and V(max)=190+/-18 nmol/min per mg of protein at 37 degrees C, pH 7.5.     

Diphtheria toxin-related alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone fusion toxin. Internal in-frame deletion from Thr387 to His485 results in the formation of a highly potent fusion toxin which is resistant to proteolytic degradation.

We have previously reported the genetic construction and properties of a fusion protein which was composed of the enzymatically active and membrane translocation domains of the diphtheria toxin and the receptor-specific ligand alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) (Murphy, J.R., Bishai, W., Borowski, M., Miyanohara, A., Boyd, J., and Nagle, S. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 8258-8262). While this fusion toxin was found to be selectively toxic for MSH receptor-bearing cells in vitro, it was subject to profound proteolytic degradation in recombinant Escherichia coli making purification difficult. We now report that the deletion of diphtheria toxin fragment B sequences between Thr387 and His485 results in a protease-resistant form of the fusion toxin, DAB389-alpha-MSH. We show that DAB389-alpha-MSH is expressed in high yield in recombinant Escherichia coli, that it is readily purified from crude bacterial lysates by immunoaffinity and high performance liquid chromatography, and its cytotoxic activity toward both human and murine malignant melanoma cell lines is mediated through the MSH receptor.     

Recombinant Production, Isotope Labeling and Purification of ENOD40B: A Plant Peptide Hormone

The plant peptide hormone ENOD40B was produced in a protein production strain of Escherichia coli harboring an induction controller plasmid (Rosetta(DE3)pLysS) as a His6-tagged ubiquitin fusion protein. The fusion protein product was denatured and refolded as part of the isolation procedure and purified by immobilized metal ion chromatography. The peptide hormone was released from its fusion partner by adding yeast ubiquitin hydrolase (YUH) and subsequently purified by reversed phase chromatography. The purity of the resulting peptide fragment was assayed by MALDITOF mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. The final yields of the target peptide were 7.0 mg per liter of LB medium and 3.4 mg per liter of minimal medium.     

Entry of diphtheria toxin-protein A chimeras into cells

Fusion proteins consisting of diphtheria toxin and a duplicated Fc-binding domain of protein A were made in vitro after amplification of the DNA template by the polymerase chain reaction. The fusion proteins bound avidly to Vero cells coated with antibodies. A fusion protein containing full-length diphtheria toxin was toxic at lower concentrations than diphtheria toxin alone, apparently due to more efficient binding. The enzymatic part of the fusion protein was translocated across the surface membrane upon exposure to low pH. Like authentic diphtheria toxin, the fusion protein formed cation selective channels at low pH. Excess amounts of unlabeled diphtheria toxin inhibited formation of pronase-protected fragments derived from radiolabeled fusion protein. Furthermore, conditions that down-regulate the diphtheria toxin receptors reduced the sensitivity of the cells to the fusion protein, supporting the notion that authentic diphtheria toxin receptors are required. At temperatures below 18 degrees C the toxicity of the fusion protein was strongly reduced, whereas there was no temperature block for authentic diphtheria toxin. Brefeldin A protected Vero cells against the fusion protein but not against diphtheria toxin. The results indicate that the diphtheria toxin receptor is required for efficient toxin translocation even under conditions where the toxin is bound by an alternate binding moiety, and they suggest that the intracellular routing of the fusion protein is different from that of diphtheria toxin.     

Expression of mature pokeweed antiviral protein with or without C-terminal extrapeptide in Escherichia coli as a fusion with maltose-binding protein.

Genomic clones encoding the mature pokeweed antiviral protein with or without C-terminal extrapeptide (PAPMC and PAPM), which have been reported to be highly toxic to E. coli cells, were inserted into the expression vector pMAL-p2. The recombinant PAPs (rPAPMC and rPAPM) were successfully expressed in E. coli at 25 degrees C, being exported to the periplasm as soluble fusions with maltose-binding protein (MBP). The rPAPs were cleaved from MBP by treatment with factor Xa and subsequently purified with final yields of 4.0 mg/liter (rPAPMC) and 5.5 mg/liter (rPAPM). rPAPM was resistant to protease digestion, but the C-terminal extrapeptide appeared to be susceptible and was partially digested by some protease in E. coli. Both rPAPMC and rPAPM were as active as the native PAPM from pokeweed leaves in depurinating rat liver and E. coli ribosomes, while the activities of rPAPMC on both ribosomes were decreased at least 60-fold by fusion with MBP.     

Thermal stability of different forms of diphtheria toxin

Diphtheria toxin and its enzymatically active A fragment have been examined by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal stability was measured for different forms of these molecules, including tryptically nicked and intact, nucleotide-bound and free, cysteine alkylated, and cysteine oxidized and reduced. Three ranges of denaturation temperature have been observed among the different forms of diphtheria toxin studied, and there is a correlation of the thermal stability of these different forms with their biological activity. At the concentrations used for measurement, all forms of the 62,000-Da diphtheria toxin are irreversibly denatured by heating to 100 degrees C, while free A chain is reversibly denatured. In vivo and in vitro activities of the samples were measured before and after heating, and all were found to retain significant degrees of activity after heating.     

Expression and purification of a trivalent pertussis toxin-diphtheria toxin-tetanus toxin fusion protein in Escherichia coli

Pertussis toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, and tetanus toxoid are key components of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccines. The efficacy of the vaccines is well documented, however, the vaccines are expensive partly because the antigens are derived from three different bacteria. In this study, a fusion protein (PDT) composed of the immunoprotective S1 fragment of pertussis toxin, the full-length non-toxic diphtheria toxin, and fragment C of tetanus toxin was constructed via genetic means. The correct fusion was verified by restriction endonuclease analysis and Western immunoblotting. Escherichia coli carrying the recombinant plasmid (pCoPDT) produced a 161kDa protein that was recognized by antibodies specific to the three toxins. The expression of the PDT protein was inducible by isopropyl-beta-d-thio-galactoside but the total amount of protein produced was relatively low. Attempts to improve the protein yield by expression in an E. coli strain (Rosetta-gami 2) that could alleviate rare-codon usage bias and by supplementation of the growth media with amino acids deemed to be a limiting factor in translation were not successful. The PDT protein remained in the insoluble fraction when the recombinant E. coli was grown at 37 degrees C but the protein became soluble when the bacteria were grown at 22 degrees C. The PDT protein was isolated via affinity chromatography on a NiCAM column. The protein was associated with five other proteins via disulfide bonds and non-covalent interactions. Following treatment with beta-mercaptoethanol, the PDT fusion was purified to homogeneity by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a yield of 45 microg/L of culture. Antisera generated against the purified PDT protein recognized the native toxins indicating that some, if not all, of the native epitopes were conserved.     

提高免疫毒素DT386-GMCSF在E.coli中表达量的研究

以人粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（GM-CSF）受体（GM-CSFR）为靶向的白喉毒素（DT）与GM-CSF免疫毒素DT386-GMCSF为急性髓系白血病提供了一种新的替代治疗途径,但该蛋白在E.coli中的表达量很低,难以进行工业化生产。为探索造成其低表达的关键影响因素,对DT386-GMCSF中的GM-CSF进行了C端的截短表达,发现GM-CSF中L114编码序列可明显影响融合蛋白的表达量。在此基础上,构建了一系列突变体,发现保留1-123位氨基酸且将L114L115V116突变为G114V115T116的突变体DF123GVT的表达量高于DT386-GMCSF,且对来源于高表达GM-CSF受体的HL60细胞的肿瘤单细胞具有相似的细胞毒作用。DF123GVT突变体的获得为GM-CSFR靶向的免疫毒素的开发应用打下了基础。     

Expression of human parathyroid hormone-(1-84) in Escherichia coli as a factor X-cleavable fusion protein

Recombinant human parathyroid hormone (hPTH)-(1-84) was obtained from Escherichia coli using a cleavable fusion protein strategy. The fusion protein contains residues 1-138 of human growth hormone as the amino-terminal region and residues 1-84 of hPTH as the carboxyl-terminal region. A 7-residue linker containing the recognition/cleavage sequence of the site-specific blood coagulation protease activated factor X (factor Xa) joins the two regions. Intact hPTH-(1-84) is released from this fusion protein by cleavage in vitro with factor Xa. The fusion protein was produced at a high level and formed inclusion bodies which allowed it to be easily purified by low speed centrifugation, with a yield of approximately 50 mg/liter of culture. After factor Xa cleavage and high performance liquid chromatography purification, highly purified hPTH was obtained, with a final yield of 1.5-3 mg/liter. Physical and biological characterization of the purified hormone demonstrated that it was intact and active hPTH-(1-84).     

Study of conditions of production of roquefortine and other metabolites of Penicillin roqueforti.

Experiments to determine optimum yields of roquefortine, isofumigaclavine A, and PR toxin, metabolites from Penicillum roqueforti Thom, were performed. Four strains, isolated from blue cheese, and five liquid media were evaluated, although not all permutations were studied. Sucrose (15%)-yeast extract (2%) was the medium chosen for time-course studies at 25 and 15 degrees C using one favorable strain. At 25 degrees C, maximum estimated yields of roquefortine were about 100 mg/liter in the mycelium by 16 days, and no subsequent degradation of this alkaloid was observed. On the other hand, production of PR toxin in the medium peaked at 770 mg/liter at 21 days. At 15 degrees C, yields of roquefortine and PR toxin after 49 days were 60 to 70% of the maximum yields obtained at 25 degrees C. However, about three times more isofumigaclavine A (up to 11 mg/liter) was formed in the mycelium at 15 degrees C than at 25 degrees C. All four strains of P. roqueforti procedure both roquefortine and PR toxin on the sucrose-yeast extract medium at 25 degrees C; isofumigaclavine A was detected in all but one strain grown on this medium.     

Evidence that diphtheria toxin and modeccin enter the cytosol from different vesicular compartments

Inhibition of protein synthesis in Vero cells was measured at different periods of time after treatment with diphtheria toxin and the related plant toxin modeccin. Diphtheria toxin acted much more rapidly than modeccin. Cells were protected against both toxins with antiserum as well as with agents like NH4Cl, procaine, and the ionophores monensin, FCCP, and CCCP, which increase the pH of intracellular vesicles. Antiserum, which is supposed to inactivate toxin only at the cell surface, protected only when it was added within a short period of time after modeccin. Compounds that increase the pH of intracellular vesicles, protected even when added after 2 h, indicating that modeccin remains inside vesicles for a considerable period of time before it enters the cytosol. After addition of diphtheria toxin to the cells, compounds that increase the pH of intracellular vesicles protected only approximately to the same extent as antitoxin. This indicates that after endocytosis diphtheria toxin rapidly enters the cytosol. At 20 degrees C, the cells were more strongly protected against modeccin than against diphtheria toxin. The residual toxic effect of diphtheria toxin at 20 degrees C could be blocked with NH4Cl whereas this was not the case with modeccin. This indicates that at 20 degrees C the uptake of diphtheria toxin occurs by the normal route, whereas the uptake of modeccin occurs by a less efficient route than that dominating at 37 degrees C. The results indicate that after endocytosis diphtheria toxin rapidly enters the cytosol from early endosomes with low pH (receptosomes). Modeccin enters the cytosol much more slowly, possibly after fusion of the endocytic vesicles with another compartment.     

Production and purification of refolded recombinant human IL-7 from inclusion bodies

A recombinant form of human rhIL-7 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli HMS174 (DE3) pLysS under the control of a T7 promoter. The resulting insoluble inclusion bodies were separated from cellular debris by cross-flow filtration and solubilized by homogenization with 6 M guanidine HCl. Attempts at refolding rhIL-7 from solubilized inclusion bodies without prior purification of monomeric, denatured rhIL-7 were not successful. Denatured, monomeric rhIL-7 was therefore initially purified by size-exclusion chromatography using Prep-Grade Pharmacia Superdex 200. Correctly folded rhIL-7 monomer was generated by statically refolding the denatured protein at a final protein concentration of 80-100 microg/ml in 100 mM Tris, 2mM EDTA, 500 mM L-arginine, pH 9.0, buffer with 0.55 g/l oxidized glutathione at 2-8 degrees C for at least 48 h. The refolded rhIL-7 was subsequently purified by low-pressure liquid chromatography, using a combination of hydrophobic interaction, cation-exchange, and size-exclusion chromatography. The purified final product was >95% pure by SDS-PAGE stained with Coomassie brilliant blue, high-pressure size-exclusion chromatography (SEC-HPLC), and reverse-phase HPLC. The endotoxin level was <0.05 EU/mg. The final purified product was biologically active in a validated IL-7 dependent pre-B-cell bioassay. In anticipation of human clinical trials, this material is currently being evaluated for safety and efficacy in non-human primate toxicology studies.     

Expression of functional scorpion neurotoxin Lqq-V in E.coli

We report the results on the expression in Escherichia coli of a functional neurotoxin LqqV from the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus. The gene for LqqV was synthesized using recursive PCR and expressed as a poly-histidine-tagged fusion protein in thioredoxin mutant E. coli strain [AD494(DE3)pLysS], thus permitting disulfide-bond formation. When cultured at 37 degrees C, about 50% of the expressed protein is contained as a monomer in the soluble fraction of the E. coli extract. The fusion protein from the soluble fraction was purified and the His-tag was cleaved by thrombin, resulting in a yield of about 1.5 mg/liter. The globular structure of the purified protein was confirmed by NMR and CD spectroscopy. Patch-clamp measurements using native sodium channels in guinea pig ventricular myocytes reveal (1) a slowing of inactivation and (2) a decrease in peak current upon application of toxin, thus confirming the alpha-toxin activity of the purified recombinant protein.     

Design and expression of a diphtheria toxin hybrid protein and human interleukin-2 gene in Escherichia coli]

Recombinant fusion proteins consist of the N-terminal 488 or 513 amino acids of diphtheria toxin joined to human interleukin 2. Initially those fusion proteins were expressed in E. coli under the control of the tox promotor. Western blot analyses showed that E. coli strains bearing the hybrid genes produce 68 kDa or 72 kDa fusion proteins that retain the immunological determinants of both the diphtheria toxin component and the interleukin 2 component. The fusion protein with mol. mass 72 kDa was partially purified by affinity chromatography. The expression of the fusion proteins under the control of the strong promotors was increased (100-fold for tac- promotor) compared to that under the control of the tox promotor. DT-IL2 might be a useful cytotoxic agent in the treatment of diseases involving IL2 receptor-positive cells, such as allograft rejection, graft-versus-host disease, multiple sclerosis et al.     

Impact of growth conditions on resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae to chloramines.

The resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae to inorganic monochloramine (1.5 mg/liter; 3:1 Cl2:N ratio, pH 8.0) was examined in relation to growth phase, temperature of growth, and growth under decreased nutrient conditions. Growth phase did not impact resistance to chloramines. Mid-exponential and stationary-phase cells, grown in a yeast extract-based medium, had CT99 values and standard deviations of 4.8 +/- 0.1 and 4.6 +/- 0.2 mg.min/liter, respectively. Growth temperature did not alter chloramine resistance at short contact times. CT99 values of cells grown at 15 and 23 degrees C were 4.5 +/- 0.2 and 4.6 +/- 0.2 mg.min/liter, respectively. However, at longer contact times, CT99.99 values of cells grown at 15 and 23 degrees C were 14 and 8 mg.min/liter, respectively, suggesting a small resistant subpopulation for cells grown at the lower temperature. Growth under decreased nutrient conditions resulted in a concomitant increase in resistance to chloramines. When K. pneumoniae was grown in undiluted Ristroph medium and Ristroph medium diluted by 1:100 and 1:1,000, the CT99 values were 4.6 +/- 0.2, 9.6 +/- 0.4, and 24 +/- 7.0 mg.min/liter, respectively. These results indicate that nutrient availability has a greater impact than growth phase or growth temperature in promoting the resistance of K. pneumoniae to inorganic monochloramine.     

Impact of growth conditions on resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae to chloramines.

The resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae to inorganic monochloramine (1.5 mg/liter; 3:1 Cl2:N ratio, pH 8.0) was examined in relation to growth phase, temperature of growth, and growth under decreased nutrient conditions. Growth phase did not impact resistance to chloramines. Mid-exponential and stationary-phase cells, grown in a yeast extract-based medium, had CT99 values and standard deviations of 4.8 +/- 0.1 and 4.6 +/- 0.2 mg.min/liter, respectively. Growth temperature did not alter chloramine resistance at short contact times. CT99 values of cells grown at 15 and 23 degrees C were 4.5 +/- 0.2 and 4.6 +/- 0.2 mg.min/liter, respectively. However, at longer contact times, CT99.99 values of cells grown at 15 and 23 degrees C were 14 and 8 mg.min/liter, respectively, suggesting a small resistant subpopulation for cells grown at the lower temperature. Growth under decreased nutrient conditions resulted in a concomitant increase in resistance to chloramines. When K. pneumoniae was grown in undiluted Ristroph medium and Ristroph medium diluted by 1:100 and 1:1,000, the CT99 values were 4.6 +/- 0.2, 9.6 +/- 0.4, and 24 +/- 7.0 mg.min/liter, respectively. These results indicate that nutrient availability has a greater impact than growth phase or growth temperature in promoting the resistance of K. pneumoniae to inorganic monochloramine.