Variation in Salmonella core lipopolysaccharide as detected by the monoclonal antibody M105

L.P. MANSFIELD, E. BILLETT, E. OLSEN AND S.J. FORSYTHE. 1996. The lipopolysaccharide antigenicity of 22 Salmonella strains (representing nine serogroups) and four non-salmonellae Enterobacteriaceae to the Salmonella genus specific monoclonal antibody M105 was analysed. The monoclonal antibody M105 reacted with all 22 Salmonella strains. Probing SDS-PAGE separated LPS molecules with MAb M105 revealed that the antibody reacted with the core region of all Salmonella serovars. However, no reaction was obtained to the long-chain LPS of serovars O ( Salm. adelaide and Salm. ealing ), C₁ ( Salm. infantis, Salm. livingstone and Salm. virchow ) or Salm. arizonae . It is plausible that the presence of a second core antigenic type results in the lack of reaction between long-chain LPS and the Salmonella genus specific monoclonal antibody M105.     

转化相关蛋白p86的鉴定

以转化细胞Rat3-3免疫大鼠,获得单克隆抗体E5(MeAb E5)。其对应抗原耐热,是分子量为86kD的蛋白质(P86)。它在c-Ha-ras癌基因转化的细胞上均有较高的阳性表达,而在其相应的非转化细胞上含量甚微。以人工合成的反义c-Ha-ras寡聚核苷酸As-Ⅱ处理Rat3-3细胞,该细胞生长受抑(44.2％),,此对p86的表达亦降低(39.1％)。P86在五种人胃癌细胞系中均有较高表达,在原发胃癌及其转移灶中阳性率达82.6％。p86不仅是一种与C-Ha-ras转化相关的蛋白,而且为胃癌相关抗原。     

Cyclin E expression and early cervical neoplasia in ThinPrep specimens. A feasibility study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cyclin E expression as a possible marker for early cervical neoplasia using ThinPrep gynecologic specimens from premenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: Archived ThinPrep liquid-based cervical/endocervical specimens (Cytyc Corporation, Boxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) diagnosed as human papillomavirus infection (HPV) (20), atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) (48) and within normal limits (WNL)/benign cellular changes (BCC) (21) were resampled in duplicate, fixed in 95% ethanol, subjected to immunocytochemical staining with the cyclin E antibody (clone 13A3, Novocastra Laboratories Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.) and HPV antibody (clone K1H8, Dako Corporation, Carpinteria, California, U.S.A.) and the expression scored by two pathologists and correlated with the cytologic diagnosis. A case was scored as positive if it contained > 10 abnormal squamous cells with nuclear immunocytochemical staining. RESULTS: The cylin E antibody assay was positive in 20 (100%) cases cytologically diagnosed as HPV. These cases were also anti-HPV antibody positive. Four cases (19%) cytologically diagnosed as WNL/BCC were cyclin E positive. Of these, two were anti-HPV antibody positive. Thirty-four (73%) cases cytologically diagnosed as ASCUS were positive for the cyclin E assay and for anti-HPV antibody staining. CONCLUSION: Cyclin E expression correlates strongly with morphologic features of HPV in ThinPrep specimens and may serve as a surrogate marker for HPV infection and early cervical preneoplastic lesions.     

结核杆菌可溶性细胞壁抗原与重组38Kd蛋白用于结核病血清学诊断的价值

目的探讨结核杆菌CW抗原和rTPA38蛋白用于结核病血清学诊断的价值。方法以CW和rTPA38蛋白为抗原,LAM为对照,用DICFA检测血清中的抗结核抗体。结果191例肺结核病人血清,用CW、rTPA38和LAM检测的敏感性分别为78．0％、65．5％和72．3％,特异性分别为95．9％、98．4％和95．9％。统计分析显示CW和rTPA38检测肺结核病人血清抗结核抗体的敏感性差异有非常显著性（χ^2=16．230,P〈0．01）。两者检测健康人和非结核组病人血清的特异性差异有显著性（χ^2=3．972,P〈0．05）。检测痰涂片阳性血清86例,发现CW和rTPA38与痰阳的一致率分别为84．9％和69．8％,CW抗原与痰涂片的阳性反应明显高于rTPA38。结论CW抗原有较好的敏感性和特异性,且与痰涂片有较高的符合率,有助于结核病的血清学诊断。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a progesterone-dependent cat endometrial secretory protein complementary deoxyribonucleic acid

In the cat, a group of low molecular weight secretory proteins have previously been shown to appear in the endometrium after progesterone (P) administration to an estrogen (E2)-primed animal. Using a polyclonal antibody to these progesterone-dependent proteins (PDP) we have isolated a recombinant cDNA clone corresponding to the mRNA for PDP from a cDNA library prepared using poly(A+) RNA from the endometrium of P-treated E2-primed cats. Comparison of Western blots using the polyclonal antibody and epitope selected antibody demonstrated that the multiple molecular weight and isoelectric forms of the PDP are immunologically related and potentially products of the same gene. Northern analysis revealed that the mRNA for the PDP in the endometrium of P-treated E2-primed cats was 1.8 kilobases in length. Using slot blot analysis, we found that the PDP mRNA levels were low in the endometrium of ovariectomized animals and undetectable in E2-treated animals. With 1 day of P treatment the PDP mRNA levels were readily detectable and they peaked after 5 to 7 days of P treatment. No PDP mRNA was detectable in myometrium, oviduct, or ovary. Sequence analysis revealed that PDP had significant homology to human, rat, and mouse cathepsin L at the nucleotide (80%, 74%, and 73%, respectively) and amino acid (68%, 65%, and 63%, respectively) level. We suggest that PDP via its collagenolytic and elastolytic activities as a cathepsin L is responsible for preparing the endometrium for blastocyst implantation.     

SARS冠状病毒结构蛋白在血清学诊断中潜在应用价值的比较

为了确定特异的SARS抗体检测抗原,比较了SARS冠状病毒(SARS-CoV)主要结构蛋白与SARS患者血清的反应性。从SARS死亡患者的肺组织提取的总RNA为模板,用RT-PCR技术分别扩增S、N、M和E4种结构蛋白基因,对3种S截短突变体和N、M、E的重组蛋白在大肠杆菌中进行表达。以表达的蛋白为抗原,应用Western blot跟踪检测11例SARS患者血清54份。结果显示：SARS—CoV的重组N蛋白和s蛋白有很强的抗原性,s蛋白的3个区段的抗原性强弱存在差异,S3抗原性强于S1和s2;在患病第1周、2周、3周及3周以上,N蛋白和s3蛋白抗体检出率分别为40％、65。2％、100％、100％和40％、61％、76.2％、100％;提示SARS-CoV重组N蛋白和S3蛋白在SARS的血清学诊断中有一定的应用价值。     

应用纯化的重组Epstein-Barr病毒早期抗原建立检测鼻咽癌病人血清IgA/EA抗体的ELISA方法

利用凝胶和离子交换柱(Mono Q)两次层析,将大肠杆菌表达的EB病毒早期抗原P138片段多肽纯化。以此P138为抗原,增加鼠抗人IgA单克隆抗体以扩大IgA的反应,建立了三步ELISA法。用本法检查了100例鼻咽癌病人和63例正常人血清中抗EB病毒IgA/EA抗体,病人血清的阳性检出率为86％,正常人有3例阳性(4.7％)。此结果表明,三步ELISA法较常用的间接ELISA法(阳性检出率为71％)敏感。     

Mycoplasma penetrans infections and seroconversion in patients with AIDS: identification of major mycoplasmal antigens targeted by host antibody response

We examined Mycoplasma penetrans-specific antibodies in sera of five male homosexual AIDS patients from whom M. penetrans was isolated during the disease process. No consistent immune reaction pattern could be recognized in Western blot using whole cell proteins. Serum samples obtained prior to M. penetrans isolation reacted with a number of M. penetrans proteins, most likely due to non-specific cross-reactions. Further analysis revealed that patients produced prominent antibody reaction to lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) of M. penetrans at the time of mycoplasma isolation, which could not be observed for serum samples obtained prior to M. penetrans isolation. The positive antibody reaction was mainly directed against two major LAMPs of M. penetrans with molecular mass of 35 and 38 kDa and produced a distinctive pattern of positive immunoreaction bands. Our observation suggested that, comparing with whole mycoplasmal proteins, LAMPs were more specific target antigens in serological assays for M. penetrans infection.     

Exploiting reaction intermediates of the ATPase reaction to elucidate the mechanism of transport by P-glycoprotein (ABCB1)

The transport cycle of ABC transporters in general and P-glycoprotein in particular has been extensively studied, but the molecular mechanism remains controversial. We identify stable reaction intermediates in the progression of the P-glycoprotein-mediated ATPase reaction equivalent to the enzyme-substrate (E.S, P-glycoprotein.ATP) and enzyme-product (E.P, P-glycoprotein.ADP.P(i)) reaction intermediates. These have been characterized using the photoaffinity analog 8-azido-[alpha-32P]ATP as well as under equilibrium conditions using [alpha-32P]ATP, in which a cross-linking step is not involved. Similar results were obtained when 8-azido-[alpha-32P]ATP or [alpha-32P]ATP was used. The reaction intermediates were characterized based on their kinetic properties and the nature (triphosphate/diphosphate) of the trapped nucleotide. Using this defined framework and the Walker B E556Q/E1201Q mutant that traps nucleotide in the absence of vanadate or beryllium fluoride, the high to low affinity switch in the transport substrate binding site can be attributed to the formation of the E.S reaction intermediate of the ATPase reaction. Importantly, the posthydrolysis E.P state continues to have low affinity for substrate, suggesting that conformational changes that form the E.S complex are coupled to the conformational change at the transport substrate site to do mechanical work. Thus, the formation of E.S reaction intermediate during a single turnover of the catalytic cycle appears to provide the initial power stroke for movement of drug substrate from inner leaflet to outer leaflet of lipid bilayer. This novel approach applies transition state theory to elucidate the mechanism of P-glycoprotein and other ABC transporters and has wider applications in testing cause-effect hypotheses in coupled systems.     

Measles Virus Antibody in Cerebrospinal Fluids from Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

A strong measles-specific gel precipitation reaction was found in the cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F.) of two patients with multiple sclerosis (M.S.) (total of 15 tested). The serum and C.S.F. specimens from these two patients were tested for measles antibody by six assay methods. The results were compared with those obtained from serum and C.S.F. specimens of a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (S.S.P.E.). The gel precipitation line produced by the C.S.F. from the M.S. patients was identical with one of the three lines produced by the C.S.F. from the S.S.P.E. patient. The main antigenic component responsible for measles antibody appearing in the C.S.F. of the S.S.P.E. patient and the M.S. patients was also electrophoretically similar, and the corresponding antibody was associated with IgG. The serum/C.S.F. antibody titre ratios with the various assay methods used suggest that the C.S.F. antibodies are mainly to other than envelope components of measles virus. No complement-fixing antibody against 27 other viruses or Mycoplasma pneumoniae was found in the C.S.F. of the two M.S. patients.     

The mouse–canine chimeric anti-dog podoplanin antibody P38B exerts antitumor activity in mouse xenograft models

Podoplanin (PDPN) is a type I transmembrane heavily glycosylated sialoglycoprotein that is expressed in normal tissues such as pulmonary type I alveolar cells, renal podocytes, and lymphatic endothelial cells. PDPN overexpression in cancerous tissue is associated with hematogenous metastasis through interactions with the C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2). Previously, we have reported the development of a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb), PMab-38 (IgG₁, kappa) against dog PDPN (dPDPN). PMab-38 was found to strongly react with canine squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and melanomas; however, it showed no reaction with lymphatic endothelial cells. Recently, we have developed and produced the mouse–canine mAb of subclass B, P38B that showed antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity against Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)/dPDPN cells. In the present study, we investigated the antitumor activity using mouse xenograft model. To induce ADCC activity by P38B, canine mononuclear cells were injected surrounding the tumors in a xenograft model. It was demonstrated that P38B exerted antitumor activity against the mouse xenograft model using CHO/dPDPN. These results suggest that P38B is useful for antibody therapy against dPDPN-expressing canine SCCs and melanomas.     

犬CTLA-4胞外区的分子克隆、表达和对犬细小病毒VP2的免疫佐剂作用

[目的]探索犬细胞毒性T细胞相关抗原-4(cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4,CTLA-4)胞外区作为免疫佐剂的可行性.[方法]根据已发表序列设计引物,用RT-PCR扩增CTLA-4胞外区编码序列,用PCR扩增犬细小病毒(canine parvovirus,CPV)VP2蛋白主要抗原表位基因片段VP2S,将VP2S克隆入含和不含CTLA-4胞外区基因片段的原核表达质粒pQE-31;用获得的重组质粒pQE-CTLA-4-VP2S和pQE-VP2S转化大肠杆菌,并进行诱导表达;用相同剂量的重组蛋白VP2S和CTLA-4-VP2S免疫小鼠.用间接ELISA和血凝抑制试验比较两个免疫组的抗体水平.[结果]经过30次循环PCR扩增后,琼脂糖凝胶电泳显示预期大小的扩增产物;序列测定结果显示,克隆的毕格犬CTLA-4胞外区与已发表序列的核苷酸同源性为99.2%,氨基酸序列同源性为98.4%,结合B7分子的六肽基序(MYPPPY)无变化:VP2S与已发表CPV VP2的核苷酸序列同源性为99%,氨基酸序列同源性为98.6%:经IPTG诱导后,两种重组大肠杆菌表达预期的29kDa VP2S和42kDaCTLA-4-VP2S重组蛋白,两者均能被CPV抗血清识别;间接ELISA和血凝抑制试验结果显示,CTLA-4-VP2S免疫组的抗体产生时间为初免后第2周,抗体高峰期为初免后第4周,而VP2S免疫组的抗体产生时间为初免后第4周,抗体高峰期为初免后第5周,两个试验组高峰期ELISA抗体效价和血凝抑制抗体效价分别相差100倍和10倍.[结论]犬CTLA-4胞外区可作为分子佐剂促进CPV VP2蛋白抗体的产生.     

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection on dairy cattle in farms from southern Romania

Neospora caninum, a coccidian parasite closely related to Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the major causes of abortion in cattle worldwide. Conventional serological techniques, such as the indirect fluorescent antibody test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), are routinely used in adult animals and aborted fetuses for the detection of anti- N. caninum antibodies. In Romania, infection with N. caninum in cattle has been reported recently, but only in limited areas from the north and central parts of the country. Therefore, the aim of this study was to obtain additional seroepidemiological data on infection with N. caninum on dairy farms from the south of Romania. A total of 258 blood samples was analyzed from 230 dairy cows and 28 calves from 9 dairy farms in southern Romania; the presence of specific IgG antibodies against N. caninum was determined using an indirect ELISA test. The average seroprevalence was 40.3%, but the within-herd prevalence ranged between 11.5 and 80.0%; the seroprevalence in dairy cows was 41.7%, while in calves it was 28.6%. Of the positive samples, 74.0% (77/104) had a high positive reaction (S/P ratio more than 1.0), while 26.0% (27/104) had a low positive reaction (S/P ratio between 0.5 and 1.0). This study indicates that N. caninum infection is widespread in the south of Romania, which could explain the causes of abortions registered in some herds in the studied area. However, a serological screening across the country is planned in order to assess the actual national prevalence of N. caninum infection, followed by implementation of a prevention and control program.     

GnRH agonist Lupron (leuprolide acetate) pre-treatments prevent ovulation in response to gonadotropin stimulation in the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

In many species, controlling the ovary prior to induction of ovulation improves the success of ovarian response and artificial insemination (AI). We assessed the impact of suppression of estrus with the GnRH agonist, Lupron, on ovarian sensitivity to equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the clouded leopard. Seven female clouded leopards were given two injections of Lupron (3.75 mg IM) 23 d apart, followed 44 d later by eCG and hCG. Daily fecal samples were collected from 60 d before Lupron to 60 d after hCG. Fecal metabolites of estrogen (E) and progesterone (P) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Lupron decreased (P < 0.05) the number of E peaks during Lupron treatment compared to pre-Lupron. All females had baseline E and six of seven (86%) had nadir P on day of eCG. Exogenous gonadotropins induced E elevations in all females. However, mean E in the gonadotropin-provoked estrus was decreased (P < 0.05) compared to pre-Lupron estrous periods. Only one of seven (14%) females ovulated after eCG/hCG. In conclusion, estrous cycle control with Lupron resulted in predictable ovarian suppression prior to gonadotropin stimulation but altered ovarian sensitivity by an as yet unknown mechanism so that ovulation was inhibited, even when using a proven exogenous gonadotropin protocol.     

Suitability of yeast- and Escherichia coli-expressed hepatitis B virus core antigen derivatives for detection of anti-HBc antibodies in human sera

Antibody to hepatitis B virus core antigen (anti-HBc) is one of the most important serological markers during hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The quality of the hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg; diagnostic antigen) is crucial to the accuracy of anti-HBc detection. In an attempt to explore the suitability of recombinant HBcAg (rHBcAg) for diagnostic purposes, HBcAg was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris) and evaluated for the detection of anti-HBc. The expression level of the recombinant protein satisfied the criteria for large-scale biologic production. P. pastoris- and E. coli-derived rHBcAg were purified with gel filtration followed by sucrose gradient (reagents A and C) or with a monoclonal anti-HBc antibody binding (reagents B and D) and were utilized to detect anti-HBc in competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format. The ELISA using P. pastoris-derived rHBcAg had a higher specificity and sensitivity than that using E.coli-derived rHBcAg to detect the anti-HBc standard panel. Serum specimens were collected from HBV-infected patients and healthy individuals (voluntary blood donors). Anti-HBc was detected in those specimens using P. pastoris- and E. coli-derived rHBcAg. The positive rate of anti-HBc detection in HBV-infected patients' sera was 100% with reagents A and B, 96.4% with reagent C, and 93.6% with reagent D. The negative rate in healthy control sera was 100% with reagents A and B, 97.0% with reagent C, and 99.7% with reagent D. These data indicate that P. pastoris-derived rHBcAg is superior to E.coli-derived rHBcAg for the detection of anti-HBc using the diagnostic ELISA.     

Rapid procedure for detecting enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in food.

A sensitive, specific procedure was developed for detecting Escherichia coli O157:H7 in food in less than 20 h. The procedure involves enrichment of 25 g of food in 225 ml of a selective enrichment medium for 16 to 18 h at 37 degrees C with agitation (150 rpm). The enrichment culture is applied to a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a polyclonal antibody specific for E. coli O157 antigen as the capture antibody and a monoclonal antibody specific for enterohemorrhagic E. coli of serotypes O157:H7 and O26:H11 as the detection antibody. The ELISA can be completed within 3 h. The sensitivity of the procedure, determined by using E. coli O157:H7-inoculated ground beef and dairy products, including different varieties of cheese, was 0.2 to 0.9 cell per g of food. A survey of retail fresh ground beef and farm raw milk samples with this procedure revealed that 3 (2.8%) of 107 ground beef samples and 11 (10%) of 115 raw milk samples were positive for E. coli O157:H7. Most-probable-number determinations revealed E. coli O157:H7 populations of 0.4 to 1.5 cells per g in the three ground beef samples. In addition to being highly specific, sensitive, and rapid, this procedure is easy to perform and is amenable to use by laboratories performing routine microbiological testing.     

Rapid procedure for detecting enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in food.

A sensitive, specific procedure was developed for detecting Escherichia coli O157:H7 in food in less than 20 h. The procedure involves enrichment of 25 g of food in 225 ml of a selective enrichment medium for 16 to 18 h at 37 degrees C with agitation (150 rpm). The enrichment culture is applied to a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a polyclonal antibody specific for E. coli O157 antigen as the capture antibody and a monoclonal antibody specific for enterohemorrhagic E. coli of serotypes O157:H7 and O26:H11 as the detection antibody. The ELISA can be completed within 3 h. The sensitivity of the procedure, determined by using E. coli O157:H7-inoculated ground beef and dairy products, including different varieties of cheese, was 0.2 to 0.9 cell per g of food. A survey of retail fresh ground beef and farm raw milk samples with this procedure revealed that 3 (2.8%) of 107 ground beef samples and 11 (10%) of 115 raw milk samples were positive for E. coli O157:H7. Most-probable-number determinations revealed E. coli O157:H7 populations of 0.4 to 1.5 cells per g in the three ground beef samples. In addition to being highly specific, sensitive, and rapid, this procedure is easy to perform and is amenable to use by laboratories performing routine microbiological testing.     

Phosphorylation and subcellular distribution of connexin43 in normal and stressed cells

We have developed polyclonal antibodies (SA226P) to a peptide of the human connexin43 (Cx43) protein between amino acids 271 and 288 containing phosphorylated S279 and S282. Antibodies specific for the phosphorylated form of the peptide were isolated by double immunoaffinity chromatography and were characterised using proteins of the cell line WB-F344, known to contain large amounts of Cx43. SA226P recognises specifically the slowest migrating Cx43 band in immunoblots of proteins isolated from untreated cells. In immunofluorescence experiments SA226P scarcely stains the plasma membrane in untreated cells in contrast to a commercial antibody recognising all isoforms of the Cx43 protein. EGF or stress treatment of the cells results in a rapid increase in the phosphorylated forms of Cx43 as revealed by immunoblotting. Immunofluorescence experiments reveal that both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated Cx43 could be found at the plasma membrane. Whether phosphorylation of S279/S282 takes place before or after incorporation of Cx43 into the membranes is so far unknown. More interestingly, confocal microscopy using our antibodies and a commercial antibody recognising all isoforms of Cx43 shows the coexistence of differentially phosphorylated forms of the protein at the plasma membrane. Our results indicate that MAP kinases erk1/2 are mainly responsible for this phosphorylation, as already published. Nevertheless, treatment of the cells with anisomycin, known to activate stress kinase p38 but not erk1/2, also results in a weak but reproducible Cx43 phosphorylation.