重组钩端螺旋体外膜蛋白酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)检测方法的建立

目的建立以重组外膜蛋白为基础的钩端螺旋体抗体间接ELISA检测方法。方法以基因重组技术获取重组钩端螺旋体外膜蛋白LipL32,以该蛋白为抗原,特异的钩体抗血清进行ELISA方阵滴定、交叉性试验、阻断试验,并对北京地区的70份犬血清使用建立的ELISA方法以及德国Virion公司的全菌体钩端螺旋体ELISA试剂盒进行相互验证。结果方阵滴定试验确立以100ng/孔为抗原包被浓度,1∶160为血清稀释度。交叉性试验具有广泛性、阻断试验标明该方法特异性强、灵敏度高。两种方法数据经χ2检验,两者检出率之间差异不显著。结论重组LipL32蛋白具有结合活性。初步建立了以重组LipL32蛋白为抗原的钩端螺旋体抗体间接ELISA检测方法。     

单核细胞增生李斯特菌单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

以单核细胞增生李斯特菌细胞碎片免疫BALB/c小鼠,间接ELISA法成功筛选获得2株稳定分泌抗LM的单克隆杂交瘤细胞株4A7、4H11.抗体效价为1∶160 000以及1∶20 000,亚型为IgG1、IgG2a,Dot-ELISA结果表明4A7和4H11单克隆抗体具有很好的属特异性,Western blot分析表明4A7、4H11抗体分别与单核细胞增生李斯特菌62 kDa以及32 kDa外膜蛋白抗原表位结合,胶体金免疫电镜实验进一步确证以上抗体可有效识别单核细胞增生李斯特菌细胞表面抗原.     

群特异性蓝舌病病毒单克隆抗体的制备和鉴定

目的：制备群特异性抗蓝舌病病毒（BTV）单克隆抗体,并对其特性进行鉴定,为建立检测BTV抗原及抗体的ELISA方法奠定基础。方法：用纯化的BTV颗粒为免疫抗原免疫BALB/c鼠,以大肠杆菌表达的VP7蛋白作为筛选抗原,用间接ELISA法筛选杂交瘤细胞株;选取抗体效价最高的一株制备BTV单克隆抗体,以该抗体为捕获抗体与8种不同血清型BTV进行ELISA反应,结果与细胞病变反应进行比对;以该抗体为竞争抗体,与12种不同血清型绵羊BTV抗血清进行竞争ELISA反应,并将结果与参比c-ELISA试剂盒结果进行比对。结果：筛选出5株稳定分泌BTV单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,并选其中一株（3E2）制备了高纯度的单克隆抗体;该单抗用于检测不同血清型BTV,与细胞病变反应结果完全相符;用于检测不同血清型绵羊BTV抗血清,其结果与参比c-ELISA试剂盒符合率为100%,与鹿流行性出血热病毒抗原和抗体均无交叉反应。结论：制备的BTV单克隆抗体具有良好的群特异性,可用于检测不同血清型BTV抗原及BTV抗体。     

波摩那型钩端螺旋体外膜蛋白LipL32基因片段的克隆表达

目的　构建L3 2_pGEX_5x_2重组质粒 ,诱导表达重组钩端螺旋体外膜脂蛋白LipL3 2。方法　PCR获取编码LipL3 2的基因片段 ,构建重组克隆载体和表达载体 ,转化受体菌 ,诱导表达重组LipL3 2蛋白。将重组LipL3 2蛋白和钩体抗血清进行Western_blot。结果　扩增出约 750bp的LipL3 2成熟蛋白基因 ,LipL3 2基因插入pGEX_5x_2表达载体 ,表达产物谷胱甘肽S_转移酶 (GST ,2 6× 10 3)与LipL3 2蛋白的融合蛋白的相对分子质量约为 53× 10 3 ,与预期大小一致。Western_blot显示重组LipL3 2蛋白能与钩体抗血清特异结合。结论　LipL3 2蛋白能在大肠埃希菌中表达 ,重组LipL3 2蛋白具有免疫反应性     

抗人B7-H1单克隆抗体的制备和鉴定

目的:采用杂交瘤技术制备抗人B7-H1单克隆抗体,并对其进行鉴定。方法:经抗原免疫的小鼠脾细胞与小鼠骨髓瘤细胞以常规方法融合;用间接ELISA法筛选分泌抗体的杂交瘤细胞株;阳性克隆用有限稀释法获得稳定分泌抗人B7-H1单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株;扩增杂交瘤细胞注射进小鼠腹腔后制备腹水;纯化腹水中的单克隆抗体并对其亚型进行鉴定;用间接ELISA法测抗体效价;将肺癌组织制成石蜡切片,用抗人B7-H1抗体进行免疫组化染色。结果:获得1株稳定分泌抗人B7-H1单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,所分泌的单抗类型为IgG1;抗体效价为1×108,纯化后的抗体含量为6.76g/L;免疫组化实验中,单抗可与肺癌组织表面的B7-H1蛋白特异地结合。结论:制备了人B7-H1单克隆抗体,为B7-H1检测试剂盒的研制奠定了基础。     

抗HIV-p24单克隆抗体细胞株的建立及初步应用

拟建立抗HIV-P24蛋白的单克隆抗体细胞株及双抗体夹心法,用于检测艾滋病人血清中的P24抗原。用纯化的基因工程表达的HIV-P24蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠。取免疫小鼠的脾细胞和小鼠骨髓瘤Sp2/0的细胞融合,有限稀释法克隆细胞,ELISA筛选特异性抗体。结果克隆筛选出12株细胞,初步建立了检测HIV-P24抗原的双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附试验。本方法为监控艾滋病病毒感染的窗口期和艾滋病病人临床治疗效果提供了检测手段。     

问号钩端螺旋体疫苗候选基因LB061的抗原性和保守性研究

目的 克隆表达和鉴定问号钩端螺旋体黄疸出血群赖型赖株中疫苗候选基因LB061,研究LB061的免疫原性和在不同血清型钩端螺旋体菌中的保守性。方法 生物信息学软件分析预测LB061的特征。构建原核表达质粒pQE31-LB061,经IPTG诱导后用SDS-PAGE及Western印迹法鉴定表达情况。用表达的重组蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠,Western印迹法检测其抗原性和在不同血清型钩端螺旋体中的保守性。Western印迹法检测钩端螺旋体全菌兔抗血清中的LB061抗体。结果 生物信息学预测结果显示,LB061含有DUF839家族结构域。成功克隆了重组质粒pQE31-LB061,表达的重组蛋白能刺激BALB/c小鼠产生抗体(效价为1∶32000),并能与相应抗体反应,具有良好的抗原性。在16株不同血清型的钩端螺旋体中均可检测到LB061蛋白的表达,并在钩端螺旋体赖株全菌兔抗血清中检测到其抗体。结论 LB061蛋白可以作为外膜蛋白刺激宿主免疫系统产生抗体,具有良好的抗原性和保守性。本研究为其作为疫苗候选基因的研究奠定了基础。     

抗麻痹性贝毒素GTX2,3单克隆抗体的制备及特性分析

制备抗麻痹性贝毒GTX2,3单克隆抗体。利用醛化法将GTX2,3与载体牛血清白蛋白(BSA)偶联,制备完全抗原。免疫小鼠,取小鼠脾细胞与Sp2/0细胞融合。GTX2,3与钥孔血蓝蛋白(KLH)偶联作为检测抗原,用间接ELISA法筛选阳性克隆株。将筛选的阳性细胞株制备腹水。获得三株稳定分泌抗GTX2,3单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株F4、F10、G9。间接ELISA法检测F10细胞株腹水抗体效价为1.4×10^-5。半抗原GTX2,3与载体蛋白偶联后,作为免疫原,可制备高滴度的抗GTX2,3抗血清和单克隆抗体。该抗体对于藻毒素具有高特异性和高亲和力,可用于污染海产品的麻痹性贝毒的检测。     

番茄花叶病毒单克隆抗体的制备及检测应用

用番茄花叶病毒(ToMV)免疫的BAL B/c鼠脾细胞与SP2/0鼠骨髓瘤细胞融合,经筛选克隆,获得4株能稳定传代并分泌抗ToMV单克隆抗体(Mab)的杂交瘤细胞,其中2株能同时检测ToMV和烟草花叶病毒(TMV),各单克隆抗体腹水ELLSA效价在1∶32 000～1∶1 024 000之间。经TASELISA测定,4株单克隆抗体检测病汁液的稀释度均能达到1∶2 000倍以上。4株单克隆抗体与其他病毒无交叉反应。Westernblot分析表明,其中两株与ToMV176kD的外壳蛋白亚基有特异反应,而另两株无反应,推测它们是针对构象决定簇的抗体。     

抗GPC3 C端抗体辅助杀伤肝癌细胞HepG2的活性检测及抗原表位鉴定

目的：检测制备的7株抗磷脂酰肌醇蛋白聚糖3（GPC3）蛋白C端单克隆抗体是否具有辅助杀伤肝癌细胞的活性,并研究其识别的抗原表位。方法：用细胞增殖法检测制备的抗体是否具有抗体依赖细胞介导的细胞毒性（ADCC）活性;用生物信息软件分析GPC3蛋白C端（359～580残基）的结构及抗原特征,并据此将其分为4个截短片段,将克隆的各基因片段分别连接到原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1中,进行蛋白表达和纯化,用间接ELISA和Western印迹分析GPC3C端单克隆抗体的表位识别情况。结果与结论：制备的7株单克隆抗体对肝癌细胞HepG2均具有不同程度的辅助杀伤作用,其中5号单克隆抗体的辅助杀伤效果最好;表达并纯化了GPC3C端4个截短片段的重组蛋白;间接ELISA和Western印迹检测结果表明,7株抗体均特异性结合GPC3蛋白的473～525残基区段。     

Epitope mapping of pathogenic Leptospira LipL32

Aims:  To identify LipL32 epitopes and to evaluate their capability to recognize specific antibodies using ELISA.
Methods and Results:  Epitope mapping by means of a library of overlapping peptide fragments prepared by simultaneous and parallel solid phase peptide synthesis on derivatized cellulose membranes (SPOT synthesis) was carried out. Eighty-seven overlapping decapentapeptides corresponding to the complete sequence of LipL32 were synthesized. According to spot-image intensities, the most reactive sequences were localized in regions 151–177 (sequence AAKAKPVQKLDDDDDGDDTYKEERHNK) and 181–204 (sequence LTRIKIPNPPKSFDDLKNIDTKKL). Two peptides (P1 and P2) corresponding to these sequences were synthesized, and their reactivity evaluated using ELISA test.
Conclusions:  Epitope identification and analysis suggested the existence of two antigenic regions within LipL32. These LipL32 reactive regions were highly conserved among antigenically variants of Leptospira spp. isolates. Peptides containing these regions (P1 and P2) showed a good capability for anti-leptospiral antibody recognition.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This finding could have potential relevance not only for serodiagnosis but also as a starting point for the characterization of targets for vaccine design.     

Calcium Binds to LipL32, a Lipoprotein from Pathogenic Leptospira, and Modulates Fibronectin Binding

Tubulointerstitial nephritis is a cardinal renal manifestation of leptospirosis. LipL32, a major lipoprotein and a virulence factor, locates on the outer membrane of the pathogen Leptospira. It evades immune response by recognizing and adhering to extracellular matrix components of the host cell. The crystal structure of Ca²⁺-bound LipL32 was determined at 2.3 Å resolution. LipL32 has a novel polyD sequence of seven aspartates that forms a continuous acidic surface patch for Ca²⁺ binding. A significant conformational change was observed for the Ca²⁺-bound form of LipL32. Calcium binding to LipL32 was determined by isothermal titration calorimetry. The binding of fibronectin to LipL32 was observed by Stains-all CD and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay experiments. The interaction between LipL32 and fibronectin might be associated with Ca²⁺ binding. Based on the crystal structure of Ca²⁺-bound LipL32 and the Stains-all results, fibronectin probably binds near the polyD region on LipL32. Ca²⁺ binding to LipL32 might be important for Leptospira to interact with the extracellular matrix of the host cell.     

Increased Immunogenicity to LipL32 of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptospira interrogans</Emphasis> when Expressed as a Fusion Protein with the Cholera Toxin B Subunit

Leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonosis in the world. The development of a recombinant leptospira vaccine remains a challenge. In this study, we cloned the Leptospira interrogans open reading frame (ORF) coding the external membrane protein LipL32, an immunodominant antigen found in all pathogenic leptospira, downstream of the highly immunogenic cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) ORF. Expression and assembly of the CTB-LipL32 fusion protein into oligomeric structures of pentameric size were observed in soluble fractions by Western blot analysis. The CTB-LipL32 protein demonstrated strong affinity for monosialotetrahexosylgaglioside (GM1-ganglioside) in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), suggesting that the antigenic sites for binding and proper folding of the pentameric CTB structure were conserved. Furthermore, antisera against LipL32 also recognized the CTB-LipL32 fusion protein, suggesting that LipL32 also conserved its antigenic sites, a fact confirmed by an ELISA assay showing soluble CTB-LipL32 recognition by sera from convalescent patients. In addition, soluble CTB-LipL32 generated higher specific titers in mice immunized without external adjuvant than co-administration of CTB with LipL32. The data presented here provide support for CTB-LipL32 as a promising antigen for use in the control and study of leptospirosis.     

Evaluation of different ways of presenting LipL32 to the immune system with the aim of developing a recombinant vaccine against leptospirosis

Leptospirosis, caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, is a direct zoonosis with wide geographical distribution. The implications in terms of public health and the economical losses caused by leptospirosis justify the use of a vaccine against Leptospira in human or animal populations at risk. In this study, we used the external membrane protein LipL32 as a model antigen, as it is highly immunogenic. The LipL32 coding sequence was cloned into several expression vectors: (i) pTarget, to create a DNA vaccine; (ii) pUS973, pUS974, and pUS977 for expression in BCG (rBCG); and (iii) pAE, to express the recombinant protein in Escherichia coli, for a subunit vaccine. Mice were immunized with the various constructs, and the immune response was evaluated. The highest humoral immune response was elicited by the subunit vaccine (rLipL32). However, with rBCG, the titer was still rising at the end of the experiment. The serum of vaccinated animals was able to recognize LipL32 on the membrane of the Leptospira, detected by indirect immunofluorescence. A monoclonal antibody anti-LipL32 was shown to inhibit the growth of Leptospira in vitro, indicating potential protection induced by the LipL32 antigen.     

Serological Analysis by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Using Recombinant Antigen LipL32 for the Diagnosis of Swine Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an important global zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. species. Swine leptospirosis has a major economic impact because pigs are sources of animal protein and by-products. The signs of swine leptospirosis are abortion, stillbirth, birth of weak or ill piglets, appearing 14–60 days after infection. The reference method for diagnosis of leptospirosis is the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), in which serum samples are reacted with live antigen suspensions of leptospiral serovars. However, MAT is laborious and time consuming as a diagnostic procedure when dealing with a large number of samples; therefore, efforts are being made to develop novel, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tests for leptospirosis. In this study, a recombinant LipL32 based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (rLipL32/ELISA) was evaluated as a screening test for the detection of pathogenic leptospiral-specific antibodies. A total of 86 swine serum samples tested by MAT were used to develop rLipL32/ELISA. Compared to positive and negative sera tested by MAT, rLipL32/ELISA showed 100 % sensitivity, 85.1 % specificity, and 91.86 % accuracy. No positive reaction for other bacterial diseases (enzootic pneumonia and brucellosis) was observed. The rLipL32/ELISA reported in this study is a specific, sensitive, and convenient test for the detection of antibodies against swine leptospiral infection and can be used as a rapid screening test in epidemiological surveys.     

Post-translational Modification of LipL32 during Leptospira interrogans Infection

Background

Leptospirosis, a re-emerging disease of global importance caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp., is considered the world''s most widespread zoonotic disease. Rats serve as asymptomatic carriers of pathogenic Leptospira and are critical for disease spread. In such reservoir hosts, leptospires colonize the kidney, are shed in the urine, persist in fresh water and gain access to a new mammalian host through breaches in the skin.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Previous studies have provided evidence for post-translational modification (PTM) of leptospiral proteins. In the current study, we used proteomic analyses to determine the presence of PTMs on the highly abundant leptospiral protein, LipL32, from rat urine-isolated L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni compared to in vitro-grown organisms. We observed either acetylation or tri-methylation of lysine residues within multiple LipL32 peptides, including peptides corresponding to regions of LipL32 previously identified as epitopes. Intriguingly, the PTMs were unique to the LipL32 peptides originating from in vivo relative to in vitro grown leptospires. The identity of each modified lysine residue was confirmed by fragmentation pattern analysis of the peptide mass spectra. A synthetic peptide containing an identified tri-methylated lysine, which corresponds to a previously identified LipL32 epitope, demonstrated significantly reduced immunoreactivity with serum collected from leptospirosis patients compared to the peptide version lacking the tri-methylation. Further, a subset of the identified PTMs are in close proximity to the established calcium-binding and putative collagen-binding sites that have been identified within LipL32.

Conclusions/Significance

The exclusive detection of PTMs on lysine residues within LipL32 from in vivo-isolated L. interrogans implies that infection-generated modification of leptospiral proteins may have a biologically relevant function during the course of infection. Although definitive determination of the role of these PTMs must await further investigations, the reduced immune recognition of a modified LipL32 epitope suggests the intriguing possibility that LipL32 modification represents a novel mechanism of immune evasion within Leptospira.     

Crystal Structure of LipL32, the Most Abundant Surface Protein of Pathogenic Leptospira spp.

Spirochetes of the genus Leptospira cause leptospirosis in humans and animals worldwide. Proteins exposed on the bacterial cell surface are implicated in the pathogenesis of leptospirosis. However, the biological role of the majority of these proteins is unknown; this is principally due to the lack of genetic systems for investigating Leptospira and the absence of any structural information on leptospiral antigens. To address this, we have determined the 2.0-Å-resolution structure of the lipoprotein LipL32, the most abundant outer-membrane and surface protein present exclusively in pathogenic Leptospira species. The extracellular domain of LipL32 revealed a compact, globular, “jelly-roll” fold from which projected an unusual extended β-hairpin that served as a principal mediator of the observed crystallographic dimer. Two acid-rich patches were also identified as potential binding sites for positively charged ligands, such as laminin, to which LipL32 has a propensity to bind. Although LipL32 shared no significant sequence identity to any known protein, it possessed structural homology to the adhesins that bind components of the extracellular matrix, suggesting that LipL32 functions in an analogous manner. Moreover, the structure provides a framework for understanding the immunological role of this major surface lipoprotein.     

Purification and proteomic analysis of outer membrane vesicles from a clinical isolate of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni

The severe pulmonary form of leptospirosis (SPFL) is an especially serious and rapid disease process characterized by alveolar hemorrhage and acute respiratory failure. The outer membrane of Leptospira facilitates direct interactions with the environs and likely contains important constituents involved during infection, transmission, survival, and adaptation to environmental conditions, including putative vaccinogen and diagnostic candidates. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) were purified by incubation in low-pH citrate buffer, treatment in a French press, and centrifugation over a continuous sucrose gradient. OMVs characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) contained the previously described outer membrane proteins OmpL1, Qlp42, LipL32, LipL41, LipL36 and Loa22. In addition, unknown, hypothetical and putative outer membrane proteins were identified. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry and fraction collection (LC-MS+) measured the intact mass profile of the major outer membrane protein, LipL32, and the putative lipoprotein Qlp42. In contrast to a predicted molecularmass of 27,653.5 Da for LipL32 after cleavage of its signal peptide, intact mass proteomics measured the mass as ranging from 28,468 to 28,583 Da, consistent with lipidation of LipL32. In contrast to a predicted molecular mass of 39.8 kDa for Qlp42, the actual mass was measured as 24,811 and 26,461 Da consistent with a 30 kDa doublet observed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gels and processing of the N-terminus of the mature protein. These studies indicate that purified OMVs are highly compatible with proteomics technologies including 2-DE and intact mass proteomics using LC-MS+ that facilitates definition of actual molecular masses of intact outer membrane proteins, and heterogeneity associated with them.     

Serological evidence of leptospiral infection in pig populations in different districts in Japan

Serum samples were collected from 938 pigs of 24 farms in Hokkaido, Kagoshima, and Okinawa prefectures in Japan in 2001-2005. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the detection of antibodies to LipL32 antigen which is common to Leptospira interrogans. Samples positive in ELISA were then investigated by microscopic agglutination test for the identification of causal leptospires. Antibodies specific to leptospires of serovars Copenhageni, Bratislava, Australis and Javanica were detected in serum samples of pigs from each of the three districts. In addition, antibodies to leptospires of serovars Autumnalis and Tarassovi were predominantly detected in those from Kagoshima. The present study, thus, revealed that leptospires belonging to different serovars prevail in the pig population in Japan. In addition, it is the first detection of antibodies to leptospires belonging to serovars Javanica and Tarassovi in pigs in Japan.