Somatic Antigens of Streptococcus Group E: II. Separation and a Partial Physicochemical Characterization1

Antigenic extracts of Streptococcus group E (SGE) were subjected to fractional ethanol precipitation, block (preparative) electrophoresis, and gel filtration for the purpose of separating the type antigen from the group antigen. Ethanol precipitation was ineffective in separating the substances. Block electrophoresis yielded serologically pure group antigen and a mixture of type and group antigen. Serologically pure type antigen was obtained by gel filtration. In some cases, pure group antigen was also recovered; in others, it was contaminated with type antigen. Gel filtration column effluents of antigenic extracts of SGE serotypes, I, II, III, IV, V and "untypable" isolates, collected from the region in which type antigen was eluted, were studied by paper chromatography and infrared spectrophotometry in an effort to develop a nonserological means of detecting type antigen. Hydrolysates of type antigens or suspect type antigens of serotypes I through V contained l-rhamnose, d-glucose, and several unidentified substances. d-Galactose also was present in hydrolysates of serotypes III and V. Untypable isolates and negative controls contained traces of d-glucose only. The data suggested that serotypes I through V contained a type antigen and that the untypable isolates were devoid of type antigen. Infrared absorbance spectra seemed to support the paper chromatography data.     

Serological Relationships of Type I Antigens of Group B Streptococci

Some of the complex antigenic relationships of type I group B streptococci from various clinical sources were defined by means of immunodiffusion, absorption, and precipitin tests. Three predominant types are described: Ia, Ib, and Ii. Methods for preparing antisera for differentiating type I strains are presented.     

Cell Synchrony Techniques. I. A Comparison of Methods

Abstract Selected cell synchrony techniques, as applied to asynchronous populations of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, have been compared. Aliquots from the same culture of exponentially growing cells were synchronized using mitotic selection, mitotic selection and hydroxyurea block, centrifugal elutriation, or an EPICS V cell sorter. Sorting of cells was achieved after staining cells with Hoechst 33258. After synchronization by the various methods the relative distribution of cells in G₁ S, or G₂+ M phases of the cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry. Fractions of synchronized cells obtained from each method were replated and allowed to progress through a second cell cycle. Mitotic selection gave rise to relatively pure and unperturbed early G₁ phase cells. While cell synchrony rapidly dispersed with time, cells progressed through the cell cycle in 12 hr. Sorting with the EPICS V on the modal G₁ peak yielded a relatively pure but heterogeneous G₁ population (i.e. early to late G₁). Again, synchrony dispersed with time, but cell-cycle progression required 14 hr. With centrifugal elutriation, several different cell populations synchronized throughout the cell cycle could be rapidly obtained with a purity comparable to mitotic selection and cell sorting. It was concluded that, either alone or in combination with blocking agents such as hydroxyurea, elutriation and mitotic selection were both excellent methods for synchronizing CHO cells. Cell sorting exhibited limitations in sample size and time required for synchronizing CHO cells. Its major advantage would be its ability to isolate cell populations unique with respect to selected cellular parameters.     

Streptococcal Sialidase I. Isolation and Properties of Sialidase Produced by Group K Streptococcus

A survey has been made of the activity of a wide variety of standard strains of streptococci against bovine submaxillary mucin. Strain 6646 (group K) and strain D 168A "X" (group M) completely broke down and strain H 60R (group F) incompletely broke down bound sialic acid of bovine submaxillary mucin added to the growth medium. Among these strains, strain 6646 (group K) produced sialidase in the cell and in the culture fluid. An appropriate amount of glucose in the culture medium stimulated growth and the production of enzyme, but an excess of glucose in the culture medium caused abundant growth without production of the enzyme. The streptococcal sialidase was precipitated from the culture fluid by ammonium sulfate at 50% saturation, and further purification was achieved by diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography. Ca(++) and Co(++) stimulated the sialidase activity, and Mn(++), Zn(++), and ethylenediaminetetraacetate inhibited it. With acetate buffer, the optimal pH lay between 5 and 6. Sialic acid was detected in the reaction product of the streptococcal sialidase and bovine submaxillary mucin.     

Autophagy vs. Group A Streptococcus

We have identified several mammalian protein components of the autophagy pathway. By using them as powerful tools to examine the functional significance of this degradation pathway, we recently showed that autophagy efficiently kills a pathogenic bacterium, Group A Streptococcus, after it invades host cells. However, the autophagosomes induced by these bacteria have features distinct from those of the canonical pathway.     

Autophagy vs. Group A Streptococcus

We have identified several mammalian protein components of the autophagy pathway. By using them as powerful tools to examine the functional significance of this degradation pathway, we recently showed that autophagy efficiently kills a pathogenic bacterium, Group A Streptococcus, after it invades host cells. However, the autophagosomes induced by these bacteria have features distinct from those of the canonical pathway.     

四种提取芸芥基因组DNA方法的比较

以芸芥为材料 ,分别用CTAB法、SDS法、尿素法、NaOH法四种方法对芸芥基因组DNA进行了提取 ;并用紫外光分光光度计法、琼脂糖电泳法和RAPD分析法对所提取的DNA进行检测 ,将它们在DNA的产量、质量和耗时、耗费等方面的优缺点进行比较 ,以便在实际工作中根据不同的试验条件选取最合适的提取方法。通过四种方法的比较 ,研究认为尿素法是芸芥基因组DNA的最佳提取方法。     

Isolation of Antigens of Pasteurella pestis I. Lipopolysaccharide-Protein Complex and R and S Antigens.

Larrabee, Allan R. (Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.), John D. Marshall, and Dan Crozier. Isolation of antigens of Pasteurella pestis. I. Lipopolysaccharide-protein complex and R and S antigens. J. Bacteriol. 90:116-119. 1965.-Pasteurella pestis contains at least 18 different antigens, 2 of which will protect experimental animals from challenge infection. A specific polysaccharide isolated and described as a hapten was isolated as a complete antigen. Two additional antigens were isolated from P. pestis. The preparation of antisera directed against these three antigens and the content of protein, lipid, and carbohydrate of each preparation were studied. None of the preparations will protect mice from challenge infection with virulent P. pestis. A basis for naming the new antigens which does not conflict with previously published designations is presented.     

Mutants of Group D1Salmonella Carrying the Somatic Antigen of Group A Organisms: Isolation and Serological Characterization

O antigen mutants were obtained from Salmonella durban, a group D(1) organism, by treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Serological studies demonstrated that the mutants lost the O-9 antigen factor of the parent organism but acquired the O-2 factor specific to group A Salmonella. Lipopolysaccharides of the mutant strains contained paratose which determines the specificity of O-2 factor. Tyvelose, present in the wild-type lipopolysaccharide, was not found in the mutants. H antigens and other biological characteristics of the mutant strains were the same as those of the wild-type organism. The present finding implies that group A Salmonella species might be derived from group D(1) organisms.     

Effects of enterocin E1A on the ultrastructure of Streptococcus faecium.

Streptococcus faecium 158 cells were examined by electron microscopy at sequential intervals after addition of enterocin E1A, a bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus faecium E1. After addition of enterocin E1A, the nuclear material began to concentrate into distinct areas at the center of the bacteria. In a later stage, extensive condensation of the nuclear filaments left a small cluster of dense granules within a cytoplasmic vacuole, and 10-20% of the cells underwent a complete lysis.     

Comparison of Streptococcal R Antigens

At least four distinct nonspecific protein R antigens were found in streptococci of groups A, B, and C by immunodiffusion in agar gel with anti-R sera.     

GII.26型诺如病毒的组织血型抗原结合特征

诺如病毒(Noroviruses,NoVs)是引起全球急性胃肠炎的常见病原.组织血型抗原(Histo-blood groups antigens,HBGAs)是NoVs黏附因子(受体),能促进病毒感染宿主细胞.NoVs主要衣壳蛋白突出(Protruding,P)区是与HBGAs结合的关键结构域.本研究构建了非流行毒株GII.26型NoVsP区的原核表达重组质粒,以谷胱甘肽巯基转移酶(Glutathione s-transferase,GST)亲和层析纯化P蛋白,人鼻病毒的3C蛋白酶去掉GST标签,通过酶联免疫吸附实验探索P蛋白与HBGAs相互作用的特点,借助同源结构模拟以及结构重叠分析其与相应糖分子之间可能存在的对接位点.结果 表明,P蛋白可与包括A型、B型、AB型、O型和非分泌型的215种唾液中的大部分发生结合,但只与19种寡糖中的H双糖结合;模拟的GII.26P单体的空间构象与GII.17类似,可通过糖结合位点的5个氨基酸与H双糖特异性结合.本研究阐明了GII.26 P蛋白与HBGAs的结合特征及潜在分子机制,为进一步揭示GII.26 NoVs可能的流行趋势及研发潜在抗病毒药物奠定一定的基础.     

Extraction of Tissue Antigens for Functional Assays

Many of the antigen targets of adaptive immune response, recognized by B and T cells, have not been defined ¹. This is particularly true in autoimmune diseases and cancer². Our aim is to investigate the antigens recognized by human T cells in the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes ^1,3,4,5. To analyze human T-cell responses against tissue where the antigens recognized by T cells are not identified we developed a method to extract protein antigens from human tissue in a format that is compatible with functional assays ⁶. Previously, T-cell responses to unpurified tissue extracts could not be measured because the extraction methods yield a lysate that contained detergents that were toxic to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Here we describe a protocol for extracting proteins from human tissues in a format that is not toxic to human T cells. The tissue is homogenized in a mixture of butan-1-ol, acetonitrile and water (BAW). The protein concentration in the tissue extract is measured and a known mass of protein is aliquoted into tubes. After extraction, the organic solvents are removed by lyophilization. Lyophilized tissue extracts can be stored until required. For use in assays of immune function, a suspension of immune cells, in appropriate culture media, can be added directly to the lyophilized extract. Cytokine production and proliferation by PBMC, in response to extracts prepared using this method, were readily measured. Hence, our method allows the rapid preparation of human tissue lysates that can be used as a source of antigens in the analysis of T-cell responses. We suggest that this method will facilitate the analysis of adaptive immune responses to tissues in transplantation, cancer and autoimmunity.     

Antigens of Brucella abortus I. Chemical and Immunoelectrophoretic Characterization

Extracts of Brucella abortus 2308S, prepared either by aqueous extraction of sonically ruptured cells or by phenol-water extraction of whole cells, were subjected to various fractionation procedures and then analyzed to determine their immunoelectrophoretic patterns and chemical properties. Fraction A, prepared from sonic extracts, contained at least nine precipitable components when analyzed by immunoelectrophoresis. Of these, five components gave reactions of nonidentity with each other and, hence, represented separate antigens having unrelated determinant groups. Antigenic component IX, found in both the phenol and sonic extracts, did not form a precipitin line in the presence of serum that had been adsorbed with whole cells and was therefore tentatively identified as a "surface" antigen. From several lines of evidence, component IX was thought to be a lipopolysaccharide similar to the AP substance described by Miles and Pirie and shown by them to carry the "abortus" and "melitensis" determinant groups.     

组织血型抗原:轮状病毒可能的潜在受体

轮状病毒(RVs)是引起婴幼儿及动物非细菌性胃肠炎的重要病原体.研究发现,人类组织血型抗原(HBGAs)可能是RVs的结合受体.HBGAs具有丰富的多态性,包含ABO、分泌型及Lewis抗原.研究表明,不同P型的RVs与HBGAs的结合具有型特异性,而且不同人群对各型RVs易感性存在差异.因此,研究RVs与HBGAs的相互作用对于阐明RV感染的致病机理及RV疫苗的设计具有重要意义.