子宫颈感染孢子丝菌1例

目的探讨双相真菌申克孢子丝菌(复合体)子宫颈感染的临床特点,为进一步提高实验室及临床诊断水平提供资料。方法分析1例申克孢子丝菌(复合体)子宫颈感染临床表现与实验室诊断过程,检索近年来国内外主要文献进行复习。结果患者阴道分泌物镜检见成团的革兰染色阳性、圆形、卵圆形孢子,较球菌大,较酵母样真菌孢子小。37℃血平皿培养,形成边缘不齐、表面有褶皱、干燥、有韧性不易挑取的白色菌落;革兰氏染色镜下见染色阳性酵母样芽生孢子。25℃SDA培养,形成中心有白色褶皱,周围绒毛样的丝状真菌菌落形态,直接涂片镜检见大量有隔菌丝、孢子。上述特征符合申克孢子丝菌。国内外文献检索,申克孢子丝菌感染多为皮肤局限性、肺炎、骨关节等病例,偶有累及局部淋巴结的病例,仅少数艾滋病等免疫力极度低下患者为全身播散性感染。结论申克孢子丝菌所致子宫颈感染罕见,掌握其在人体内与不同条件下培养菌落的特征有助于及时诊断。     

乳房链球菌GapC蛋白的表达及其B细胞抗原表位的预测与鉴定

乳房链球菌Streptococcus uberis的GapC蛋白是一种位于该菌表面的具有甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶活性的蛋白,其参与细胞活动,表现出多种生物学活性,此外还具有良好的抗原性。文中旨在对乳房链球菌GapC蛋白可能的B细胞抗原表位进行预测,分析和验证候选表位肽的免疫原性。利用S. uberis分离株RF5-1克隆gapC基因,构建重组表达质粒pET-28a-GapC,诱导表达GapC重组蛋白,并以纯化蛋白免疫家兔,获得抗GapC多抗。利用生物信息学软件预测并分析GapCB细胞抗原表位的三维结构和空间位置及对GapC蛋白及表位的同源性比较。结果表明,表达纯化了44kDa的GapC蛋白具有良好的反应性。利用表位预测软件筛选并合成针对S.uberisGapC蛋白的6个线性和3个构象优势B细胞表位多肽,三维结构的分析显示,筛选的多肽具有良好的抗原表位形成条件。以纯化的S.uberis GapC蛋白免疫家兔制备多抗,通过间接ELISA对抗原表位进行鉴定。ELISA检测结果显示,9条抗原表位肽均可不同程度地与抗GapC多抗反应,其中表位266AANDSYGYTEDPIVSSD282与多抗反应...     

申克孢子丝菌菌丝相至酵母相转化的实验研究

目的观察申克孢子丝菌菌丝相向酵母相转化的形态学变化并初步研究连续传代后菌株转化为酵母相的百分率。方法将95株申克孢子丝菌临床株于脑心浸液琼脂培养基上连续传代至酵母相,利用显微镜及血细胞计数板计数菌丝和孢子比例并记录显微镜下形态。结果 95株申克孢子丝菌中,经1次传代即成功转化有23株,经2次传代有14株,经3次传代有10株,经4次传代有6株,4次传代后总计55.8%实验菌株转化为酵母相。结论部分申克孢子丝菌由菌丝相向酵母相转化需经过连续多次传代,连续传代增加了菌丝相至酵母相的转化率。     

三种隐孢子虫钙依赖蛋白激酶的生物信息学分析

对三种隐孢子虫(C.parvum Iowa II、C.hominis TU502和C.muris RN66)钙依赖蛋白激酶(Calcium-dependent protein kinases,CDPKs)进行生物信息学分析,探索该蛋白的结构并预测其功能,为其基因功能的研究提供一定的理论基础。通过隐孢子虫基因组数据库收集数据,获得三种隐孢子虫CDPKs蛋白的序列信息,通过生物信息学软件进行分析,预测该蛋白的理化性质、翻译后修饰位点、功能域、亚细胞定位、二级结构、亲/疏水性、抗原表位等。隐孢子虫CDPKs的蛋白性质不稳定,理论分子量从59.76 k Da到76.63 k Da,p I值为5.33~6.09,CDPKs不具有跨膜区和信号肽,不是跨膜分泌性蛋白,都具有蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点、酪氨酸激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点、酪氨酸激酶磷酸化位点、c AMP和c GMP依赖蛋白激酶磷酸化位点、N-端糖基化位点、N-端肉豆蔻酰化位点和EF-hand钙结合域,二级结构主要以α螺旋和无规卷曲为主;CDPKs主要存在虫体细胞内,均有20多个潜在的抗原表位。在隐孢子虫中,CDPKs蛋白不仅可单独发挥作用,而且还能通过相互结合发挥其生物学效应;同时,CDPKs有望成为候选疫苗及潜在药物靶点。     

申克孢子丝菌酵母相和菌丝相cDNA消减文库的构建

目的 筛选与申克孢子丝菌酵母相与菌丝相双相转换相关的差异表达基因,为探讨其双相转换的分子的机制奠定基础.方法 应用抑制性消减杂交技术,构建高特异性的申克孢子丝菌菌丝相（mycelium,M）和酵母相（yeast,Y）的正反cDNA消减文库,并对其差异表达的基因进行生物信息学分析.结果 M＋Y文库获得751条表达序列标签,平均长度为690.98 bp,经拼接后获得101条非冗余序列.Y＋M文库获得875条表达序列标签,平均长度为575.9 bp,拼接获得249条非冗余序列.经BLASTN比对,这些差异表达基因中,某些结构基因和功能不明的细胞分子类基因可能与双相转换有关.结论 成功构建了高特异性的申克孢子丝菌菌丝相和酵母相的正反cDNA 消减文库,为进一步筛选申克孢子丝菌的双相转换基因奠定了基础.     

申克氏孢子丝菌实验研究

孢子丝菌病(Sporotrichosis)国内外已多有报告,对其致病菌—申克氏孢子丝菌(Sporothrix schenckii)似乎早有定论。但从真菌学方面研究,在国外日渐增多。我们也注意到所检出的菌株中,有的与从国外引进的典型菌株对照,不大一样。为了进一步探明,我们作了如下试验与菌种鉴定。今将试验结果及初步分析报告如下。试验菌种:按我们门诊条件,无选择的抽样10例。经真菌学培养,证实其致病菌—申克氏孢子丝菌,经病理组织学检查及 PAS染色找出“组织型”者为确诊病例。其致病菌作为本文试验菌株,如表1。对照菌株:     

伊曲康唑联合特比萘芬治疗孢子丝菌病疗效及其对病原真菌体外抗菌活性研究

目的 初步探讨伊曲康唑和特比萘芬联合治疗孢子丝菌病的疗效,评价两药体外联合对申克孢子丝菌菌丝相和酵母相的抗菌活性.方法 口服伊曲康唑200mg/d和特比萘芬250mg/d治疗孢子丝菌病;体外联合药敏试验采用棋盘微量稀释法,计算分数抑菌浓度(FIC)指数判定两药相互作用具有协同、拮抗或无关作用.结果 伊曲康唑和特比萘芬联...     

山苍子油体外抗申克孢子丝菌的实验研究

目的探讨山苍子油对申克孢子丝菌的体外抗菌活性及其作用机理。方法纸片扩散法定性检测山苍子油对申克孢子丝菌的体外抗菌活性,CLSI-M27-A微量液基稀释法定量检测其对14株临床分离申克孢子丝菌(包括固定型和淋巴管型各7株)的最小抑菌浓度(MIC),以氟康唑作为质控药物。电镜观察山苍子油作用前后申克孢子丝菌超微结构的改变。结果纸片扩散法1周后可见清晰的抑菌环,山苍子油对皮肤固定型株和皮肤淋巴管型株的MIC范围均为156.25～1250μg/ml,差异无显著性(P>0.05)。电镜观察显示山苍子油作用24h后申克孢子丝菌的菌丝干枯、断裂,孢子壁疏松、碎裂;胞膜及胞壁结构模糊,胞浆皱缩,细胞器及细胞核结构模糊。结论山苍子油对临床分离的皮肤型孢子丝菌有较强的抗菌活性,且其对固定型株和淋巴管型株的抗菌活性无显著性差异。电镜结果提示山苍子油可能通过破坏菌胞膜,影响其通透性,进而扰乱细胞正常代谢而起到抗菌作用。     

结核分枝杆菌Rv0081基因编码蛋白的生物信息学分析

运用生物信息学分析软件预测结核分枝杆菌（Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mtb）Rv0081蛋白的生物学特征及筛选潜在的优势抗原表位。 从NCBI数据库获取Mtb Rv0081蛋白的氨基酸序列，利用生物信息学分析软件ProtParam、ProtScale及TMPRED分析Rv0081蛋白的理化性质及亲疏水性；TMHMM、SignalP-5.0 Server预测蛋白的跨膜区及信号肽；NetNGlyc-1.0 Server、NetPhos 3.1 Server分别预测蛋白的糖基化位点及磷酸化位点；STRING预测能与Rv0081相互作用的蛋白；分别运用SOPMA、SWISS-MODEL预测蛋白的二、三级结构；综合运用softberry、WoLF PSORT预测蛋白的亚细胞定位；运用DNAStar预测蛋白的B细胞抗原表位；综合运用SYFPEITHI、NetCTL 1.2 Server、Net MHC pan 4.1 server预测蛋白的CTL细胞抗原表位；综合运用SYFPEITHI、Net MHCII pan 4.0 server预测蛋白的Th细胞抗原表位。 结果表明，Rv0081蛋白由114个氨基酸组成，相对分子质量为12 356.32，亚细胞定位于细胞质中，为稳定的疏水性蛋白，无跨膜区和信号肽，含有1个糖基化位点及9个磷酸化位点；二级结构主要由α-螺旋和无规则卷曲构成，结构较松散；与hycE、hycP、Rv0088、Rv0083、hycD、hycQ、Rv0082、devR、Rv0080及Rv0079蛋白存在相互作用关系；综合分析各软件预测结果筛选出6个优势B细胞抗原表位、6个优势CTL细胞抗原表位及7个优势Th细胞抗原表位。Mtb Rv0081蛋白具有较多潜在的候选B、T细胞抗原表位，可作为研发新型结核疫苗的候选抗原。     

人乳头瘤病毒L1基因与丹毒丝菌SpaA-N优势抗原表位序列的嵌合重组质粒构建及活性鉴定

为确定丹毒丝菌表面保护性抗原A的N-末端(SpaA-N)优势抗原表位,研发新型表位DNA嵌合疫苗,利用生物信息学软件对丹毒丝菌SpaA-N的优势B细胞抗原表位进行预测,以重叠PCR将优势表位插入人乳头瘤病毒16型的主要衣壳蛋白( HPV-16 LI) HI环结构的编码序列中,构建获得重组嵌合质粒pcDNA3-HPV-LI -△spaA.该重组质粒经体内、外瞬时特染后,RT-PCR均扩增获得了1 500 bp左右的目的片段.免疫印迹试验显示,体外转染嵌合质粒的细胞总蛋白能够与GST-SpaA-N重组蛋白免疫血清在56 kD处产生特异性结合.ELISA分析显示嵌合质粒可在小鼠体内产生差异显著的特异性抗体(P＜0.01),抗体滴度为1:1 000.此外,pcDNA3-HPV-L1-△spaA制备的抗血清至少可在1∶10稀释度条件下,介导外源补体对半数以上的菌体进行杀伤.该研究表明,获得的SpaA-N表位DNA嵌合疫苗具有免疫活性,为研发安全有效的丹毒丝菌新型DNA疫苗提供了一个新思路.     

Evidences for a stage-specific juvenile hormone binding protein in the hemolymph of the silkworm,Bombyx mori L.: Identification and characterization by photoaffinity labeling and immunological analyses

Two molecular forms of juvenile hormone binding proteins were identified in the larval hemolymph of Bombyx mori by photoaffinity labeling. One form having an Mr of 33 kDa was present constantly in the hemolymph of the third to the fifth instar larvae while the other form having an Mr of 35 kDa was detected in the hemolymph until in the early fifth instar larvae but not in the prewandering larvae and prepupae. A 33 kDa binding protein was purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, gel filtration, and native PAGE. Antiserum against 33 kDa binding protein cross-reacted with 35 kDa binding protein on Western blots, suggesting that these binding proteins shared the same epitopes. From the results of saturation binding assays, it was inferred that 33 and 35 kDa binding proteins had a similar binding affinity for JH 1. It was revealed that one of these binding proteins, 35 kDa binding protein, was produced in the fat body in a stage-specific manner: fat body of the early fifth instar larvae synthesized both 33 and 35 kDa binding proteins while that of prewandering larvae synthesized only 33 kDa binding protein. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Changes in chorion proteins induced by the exudate released from the egg cortex at the time of fertilization in the teleost, Oryzias latipes

The chorion of unfertilized medaka Oryzias latipes eggs consists of two major proteins (77–73 and 49 kDa) and a minor 150 kDa protein. Upon fertilization, these major chorion proteins are polymerized to insoluble high molecular weight proteins via the temporary formation of several new proteins (132, 114, 62 and 61 kDa). Increasing chorion toughness is closely related to the formation of high molecular weight proteins and the increasing insolubility of the chorion proteins. The changes in chorion proteins and hardening could be induced in vitro in isolated chorions by an egg exudate, which includes cortical alveolar contents. The effects of temperature and pH on the egg exudate-induced changes in chorion proteins were examined in the present study. The major proteins could be digested by proteolytic enzymes. The 49 kDa protein was PAS-positive. Analysis with polyclonal antibodies against the major proteins demonstrated that the temporarily formed 62 and 61 kDa proteins were derived from the 77–73 kDa protein and that higher molecular weight proteins, newly formed in the process of chorion hardening, contained the same epitopes as did the 77–73 and 49 kDa proteins. The results suggest that the changes in chorion proteins of the medaka egg at the time of fertilization can be induced by an enzyme(s) released from the egg cortex into the perivitelline space.     

Mechanism of cytoskeletal regulation (I): functional differences correlate with antigenic dissimilarity in human brain and erythrocyte spectrin

Human erythrocyte and brain spectrin (fodrin, calspectin) have been compared quantitatively with respect to the extent and sites of antigenic and functional similarity. Brain spectrin cross-reacts strongly with approx. 1% of the epitopes in erythrocyte spectrin, but weakly with at least 50%. The distribution of shared determinants is not uniform. Brain spectrin is most deficient in epitopes characteristic of the 80 kDa and 52 kDa domains of the alpha-subunit (alpha-I and alpha-III) and of terminal portions of the 28 kDa and 74 kDa domains of the beta-subunit (beta-I and beta-IV). The functions associated with these domains also differ between the two proteins. Brain spectrin does not undergo extensive polymerization and binds calmodulin at a different site. The unique ability of erythrocyte spectrin to oligomerize beyond the tetramer reflects its role in the membrane skeleton. Non-erythroid spectrins probably function as specific linkers between membrane receptors and the filamentous cytoskeleton. In this sense, they may act as regulated transducers of information flow between the membrane and the cytoplasmic matrix.     

Biochemical characterization of two ram cauda epididymal maturation-dependent sperm glycoproteins

Rabbit polyclonal antibodies were raised against ram cauda epididymal sperm proteins solubilized by N-octyl-beta-D-glucopy-ranoside (anti-CESP) and against proteins of the fluid obtained from the cauda epididymidis (anti-CEF). The anti-CESP polyclonal antibody reacted with several bands from 17 to 111 kDa with different regionalization throughout the epididymis. The strongest epitopes at 17 kDa and 23 kDa were restricted to the cauda epididymidis. The anti-CEF polyclonal antibody reacted mainly with a 17-kDa and a 23-kDa compound in the cauda sperm extract. These cauda epididymal 17- and 23-kDa proteins disappeared after orchidectomy, but they reappeared in the same regions after testosterone supplementation, indicating that they were secreted by the epithelium. The fluid and membrane 17- and 23-kDa antigens had a low isoelectric point and were glycosylated. The fluid 17- and 23-kDa proteins had hydrophobic properties: they were highly enriched in the Triton X-114 detergent phase and could be extracted from the cauda epididymal fluid by a chloroform-methanol mixture. These proteins were further purified, and their N-terminal sequences did not match any protein in current databases. A polyclonal antibody against the fluid 17-kDa protein recognized the protein in the cauda epididymal sperm extract and immunolocalized it on the sperm flagellum membrane and at the luminal border of all cells in the cauda epididymal epithelium. These results indicated that secreted glycoproteins with hydrophobic properties could be directly integrated in a specific domain of the sperm plasma membrane.     

Functional dissection of an intrinsically disordered protein: Understanding the roles of different domains of Knr4 protein in protein�Cprotein interactions

Knr4, recently characterized as an intrinsically disordered Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein, participates in cell wall formation and cell cycle regulation. It is constituted of a functional central globular core flanked by a poorly structured N‐terminal and large natively unfolded C‐terminal domains. Up to now, about 30 different proteins have been reported to physically interact with Knr4. Here, we used an in vivo two‐hybrid system approach and an in vitro surface plasmon resonance (BIAcore) technique to compare the interaction level of different Knr4 deletion variants with given protein partners. We demonstrate the indispensability of the N‐terminal domain of Knr4 for the interactions. On the other hand, presence of the unstructured C‐terminal domain has a negative effect on the interaction strength. In protein interactions networks, the most highly connected proteins or “hubs” are significantly enriched in unstructured regions, and among them the transient hub proteins contain the largest and most highly flexible regions. The results presented here of our analysis of Knr4 protein suggest that these large disordered regions are not always involved in promoting the protein–protein interactions of hub proteins, but in some cases, might rather inhibit them. We propose that this type of regions could prevent unspecific protein interactions, or ensure the correct timing of occurrence of transient interactions, which may be of crucial importance for different signaling and regulation processes.     

Resolution of the structure of the allergenic and antifungal banana fruit thaumatin-like protein at 1.7-A

The structure of a thaumatin-like protein from banana (Musa acuminata) fruit, an allergen with antifungal properties, was solved at 1.7-A-resolution, by X-ray crystallography. Though the banana protein exhibits a very similar overall fold as thaumatin it markedly differs from the sweet-tasting protein by the presence of a surface exposed electronegative cleft. Due to the presence of this electronegative cleft, the banana thaumatin-like protein (Ban-TLP) acquires a strong (local) electronegative character that eventually explains the observed antifungal activity. Our structural analysis also revealed the presence of conserved residues of exposed epitopic determinants that are presumably responsible for the allergenic properties of banana fruit towards susceptible individuals, and provided evidence that the Ban-TLP shares some structurally highly conserved IgE-binding epitopes with thaumatin-like proteins from fruits or pollen from other plants. In addition, some overlap was detected between the predicted IgE-binding epitopes of the Ban-TLP and IgE-binding epitopes previously identified in the mountain cedar Jun a 3 TLP aeroallergen. The presence of these common epitopes offers a molecular basis for the cross-reactivity between aeroallergens and fruit allergens.     

Molecular Analysis of the Gal/GalNAc Adhesin of Entamoeba histolytica1

Attachment of Entamoeba histolytica to colonic epithelium and a variety of other target cells is mediated by a galactosc/N-acetyl D-galactosamine (Gal/GalNAc) inhibitable adhesin. Seven monoclonal antibodies specific for nonoverlapping epitopes of the 170 kDa subunit have been shown to have distinct effects on adherence. Four of these monoclonal antibodies inhibit or have no effect on amebic adherence while two others enhance amebic adherence. The epitopes recognized by these seven monoclonal antibodies have been mapped to the extracellular cysteine rich region of the 170 kDa subunit. The conformational nature of the epitopes was examined by testing monoclonal antibody reactivity with isolated regions of the 170 kDa subunit expressed as fusion proteins in E. coli and also with denatured native adhesin. These analyses suggested that three of monoclonal antibodies recognized conformational epitopes while the remaining four recognized linear epitopes. The mapping of these monoclonal antibodies have identified functionally important regions of the Gal/GalNAc adhesin and have also shown that recombinant Gal/GalNAc adhesin, when expressed in E. coli, retained at least some of its native conformation.     

The isolation and purification of surface specific proteins of somatic and reproductive protoplasts of lily and rapeseed

The plasma membrane surface proteins of intact somatic (leaf) and reproductive (pollen, generative cell or sperm cell) protoplasts of lily ( Lilium longiflorum ) and rapeseed ( Brassica napus cv. Midas) were compared after probing with N-hydroxysuccinimido- (NHS) or sulfo-NHS-biotin. The plasma membranes of intact protoplasts are impermeable to these biotin probes, which bind covalently to the free amino groups of surface proteins. Enzyme-labelled streptavidin was used to detect membrane proteins after separation by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. In lily, six proteins specific to the surface membrane of leaf protoplasts were identified varying from 25–64 kDa, three proteins to pollen protoplasts in the range 35–64 kDa and two proteins to generative cell protoplasts, 63 and 67 kDa. In rapeseed leaf protoplasts, seven proteins in the range 22–69 kDa were detected, while in the sperm enriched fraction five proteins were present in the same kDa range. The proteins identified as membrane specific for generative cell protoplasts of lily have been isolated and were used as antigens for monoclonal antibody production. Preliminary results indicate the successful production of antibodies to surface antigens. These antibodies will be used to localise surface specific epitopes which are likely to be involved in cell-cell recognition at fertilization.     

The functional roles of the unstructured N- and C-terminal regions in αB-crystallin and other mammalian small heat-shock proteins

Small heat-shock proteins (sHsps), such as αB-crystallin, are one of the major classes of molecular chaperone proteins. In vivo, under conditions of cellular stress, sHsps are the principal defence proteins that prevent large-scale protein aggregation. Progress in determining the structure of sHsps has been significant recently, particularly in relation to the conserved, central and β-sheet structured α-crystallin domain (ACD). However, an understanding of the structure and functional roles of the N- and C-terminal flanking regions has proved elusive mainly because of their unstructured and dynamic nature. In this paper, we propose functional roles for both flanking regions, based around three properties: (i) they act in a localised crowding manner to regulate interactions with target proteins during chaperone action, (ii) they protect the ACD from deleterious amyloid fibril formation and (iii) the flexibility of these regions, particularly at the extreme C-terminus in mammalian sHsps, provides solubility for sHsps under chaperone and non-chaperone conditions. In the eye lens, these properties are highly relevant as the crystallin proteins, in particular the two sHsps αA- and αB-crystallin, are present at very high concentrations.     

Immunochemical homology between elasmobranch scale and tooth extracellular matrix proteins in Cephaloscyllium ventriosum

Studies were designed to test the hypothesis that homologous proteins are expressed in elasmobranch scale, tooth enameloid, and mammalian enamel. Using indirect immunohistochemistry and high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with immunoblotting, mouse enamel proteins were compared with placoid scale and enameloid proteins from the swell shark, Cephaloscyllium ventriosum. Swiss Webster mouse molar teeth show a characteristic enamel protein pattern consisting of two anionic enamel proteins of 72 kDa (pI 5.8) and 46 kDa (pI 5.5) and several more basic and lower-molecular-weight enamel polypeptides. Both anionic and basic classes of enamel proteins cross-reacted with either antiamelogenin or antienamelin antibodies. Placoid scale and tooth enameloid contained two anionic proteins identified as 58 kDa (pI 5.7) and 46 kDa (pI 5.5), which cross-reacted with either antimouse amelogenin or antihuman enamelin IgG antibodies. A minor antigenically related protein of 43 kDa (pI 6.2) was detected. Immunochemical staining showed localization within placoid scale, swell shark inner enamel epithelia, enameloid, and mouse inner enamel epithelia and enamel. We interpret these results to suggest that both placoid scale and enameloid proteins share epitopes and that these epitopes are also shared with mammalian enamel proteins. Based on molecular weights, isoelectric pH values, and amino acid compositions, placoid scale and enameloid ECM proteins do not contain amelogenin proteins. We suggest that enamelinlike proteins are highly conserved during vertebrate evolution and that these relatively anionic macromolecules may serve a primary function in the initiation of calcium hydroxyapatite formation during enameloid biomineralization.