The ability of membrane potential dyes and calcafluor white to distinguish between viable and non-viable bacteria

Various dyes were assessed for their ability to discriminate between viable and non-viable bacteria. Two methods of killing were employed: by heat treatment or by gramicidin treatment. Staining was carried out in two ways; by staining directly in the medium or by washing cells prior to staining in buffer. Carbocyanine and rhodamine 123 dyes only exhibited small changes in fluorescence between viable and non-viable populations of bacteria. Both oxonol dye (bis 1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid trimethine oxonol) and calcafluor white proved much more useful.     

Use of the direct epifluorescent filter technique for the enumeration of yeasts

The ability of the direct epifluorescent filter technique (DEFT) to enumerate the viable numbers of various species of yeasts was evaluated. A DEFT count could be made in less than 10 min and the DEFT counts of non-heat-treated samples agreed well with plate counts. The DEFT was unsuitable for the enumeration of yeasts in heat-treated samples because non-viable cells fluoresced orange. A double staining technique using Janus Green B and acridine orange was developed to overcome this problem. The modified DEFT enabled viable and non-viable yeasts to be differentiated in heat-treated samples of pure cultures and improved the relationship between the DEFT count and plate count. The method proved to be of little value, however, for use with beverage products because of unreliable staining patterns.     

Use of the direct epifluorescent filter technique for the enumeration of yeasts

The ability of the direct epifluorescent filter technique (DEFT) to enumerate the viable numbers of various species of yeasts was evaluated. A DEFT count could be made in less than 10 min and the DEFT counts of non-heat-treated samples agreed well with plate counts. The DEFT was unsuitable for the enumeration of yeasts in heat-treated samples because non-viable cells fluoresced orange. A double staining technique using Janus Green B and acridine orange was developed to overcome this problem. The modified DEFT enabled viable and non-viable yeasts to be differentiated in heat-treated samples of pure cultures and improved the relationship between the DEFT count and plate count. The method proved to be of little value, however, for use with beverage products because of unreliable staining patterns.     

Comparative biochemical and immunocytochemical studies reveal differences in the effects of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin on polarized CaCo-2 cells versus Vero cells.

Since most in vitro studies exploring the action of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) utilize either Vero or CaCo-2 cells, the current study directly compared the CPE responsiveness of those two cell lines. When CPE-treated in suspension, both CaCo-2 and Vero cells formed SDS-resistant, CPE-containing complexes of approximately 135, approximately 155, and approximately 200 kDa. However, confluent Transwell cultures of either cell line CPE-treated for 20 min formed only the approximately 155-kDa complex. Since those Transwell cultures also exhibited significant (86)Rb release, approximately 155-kDa complex formation is sufficient for CPE-induced cytotoxicity. Several differences in CPE responsiveness between the two cell lines were also detected. (i) CaCo-2 cells were more sensitive when CPE-treated on their basal surface, whereas Vero cells were more sensitive when CPE-treated on their apical surface; those sensitivity differences correlated with CPE binding the apical versus basolateral surfaces of these two cell lines. (ii) CPE-treated Vero cells released (86)Rb into both Transwell chambers, whereas CaCo-2 cells released (86)Rb only into the CPE-containing Transwell chamber. (iii) Vero cells express the tight junction (TJ) protein occludin but (unlike CaCo-2 cells) cannot form TJs. The ability of TJs to affect CPE responsiveness is supported by the similar effects of CPE on Transwell cultures of CaCo-2 cells and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, another polarized cell forming TJs. Confluent CaCo-2 Transwell cultures CPE-treated for >1 h formed the approximately 200-kDa CPE complex (which also contains occludin), exhibited morphologic damage, and had occludin removed from their TJs. Collectively, these results identify CPE as a bifunctional toxin that, in confluent polarized cells, first exerts a cytotoxic effect mediated by the approximately 155-kDa complex. Resultant damage then provides CPE access to TJs, leading to approximately 200-kDa complex formation, internalization of some TJ proteins, and TJ damage that may increase paracellular permeability and thereby contribute to the diarrhea of CPE-induced gastrointestinal disease.     

Silica gel-encapsulated AtzA biocatalyst for atrazine biodegradation

Encapsulation of recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing a biocatalyst has the potential to produce stable, long-lasting enzyme activity that can be used for numerous applications. The current study describes the use of this technology with recombinant E. coli cells expressing the atrazine-dechlorinating enzyme AtzA in a silica/polymer porous gel. This novel recombinant enzyme-based method utilizes both adsorption and degradation to remove atrazine from water. A combination of silica nanoparticles (Ludox TM40), alkoxides, and an organic polymer was used to synthesize a porous gel. Gel curing temperatures of 23 or 45 °C were used either to maintain cell viability or to render the cells non-viable, respectively. The enzymatic activity of the encapsulated viable and non-viable cells was high and extremely stable over the time period analyzed. At room temperature, the encapsulated non-viable cells maintained a specific activity between (0.44 ± 0.06) μmol/g/min and (0.66 ± 0.12) μmol/g/min for up to 4 months, comparing well with free, viable cell-specific activities (0.61 ± 0.04 μmol/g/min). Gels cured at 45 °C had excellent structural rigidity and contained few viable cells, making these gels potentially compatible with water treatment facility applications. When encapsulated, non-viable cells were assayed at 4 °C, the activity increased threefold over free cells, potentially due to differences in lipid membranes as shown by FTIR spectroscopy and electron microscopy.     

SARS—CoV感染Vero E6细胞诱导细胞凋亡

为了确定SARS冠状病毒(SARS—CoV)感染Vero E6是否引起细胞凋亡,我们利用细胞DNA琼脂糖电泳,感染细胞的间接荧光染色和Hoechst 33258细胞核染色,以及流式细胞仪分析等方法证明了SARS-CoV感染的Veto E6具有典型的凋亡细胞学和生物化学特征。实验证明具有细胞凋亡特征的所有细胞均为处于感染晚期的细胞。表现明显细胞病变(CPE)的细胞大多已经出现核质凝缩或形成凋亡小体进入细胞凋亡的过程。可以断定SARS-CoV感染Vero E6细胞诱发了细胞凋亡。     

细胞壁缺陷结核分支杆菌致细胞病变作用的观察

目的：探讨细胞壁缺陷结核分支杆菌的致细胞病变作用。方法：用利福平诱导结核分支杆菌形成稳定L型后感染Vero细胞,直接在显微镜下和抗酸染色观察细胞病变情况以及结核分支杆菌同宿主细胞的关系。结果：Vero细胞受结核分支杆菌L型感染72h后形成空泡、变圆、脱落和裂解,结核分支杆菌稳定L型细胞粘附或侵入细胞内。结论：细胞壁缺陷结核分支杆菌仍然能够引起Vero细胞发生病变但致细胞病变的作用较其亲代细菌型明显减弱,L型能够粘附于宿主细胞表面或进入宿主细胞内生长繁殖,引起缓慢的细胞病变。     

Molecular cloning of the 3'' half of the Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin gene and demonstration that this region encodes receptor-binding activity.

Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin (CPE) causes the symptoms associated with C. perfringens food poisoning. To determine whether the C-terminal half of CPE contains receptor-binding activity, the 3' half of the cpe structural gene was cloned with an Escherichia coli expression vector system. E. coli lysates containing the expressed C-terminal CPE fragment (CPEfrag) were then assayed for CPE-like serologic, receptor-binding, and cytotoxic activities. CPEfrag was shown to contain an epitope located at or near the receptor-binding domain of the CPE molecule. Competitive-binding studies showed specific competition for CPE receptors between CPE and CPEfrag lysates. CPEfrag lysates did not cause cytotoxicity in Vero (African green monkey kidney) cells. However, preincubation with CPEfrag lysates specifically protected Vero cells from subsequent CPE challenge. This indicates that CPEfrag recognizes the physiologic receptor which mediates CPE cytotoxicity. Collectively, these studies indicate that the C-terminal half of CPE contains a receptor-binding domain but additional amino acid sequences appear to be required for CPE cytotoxicity.     

不同来源的肾综合征出血热病毒对Vero细胞的致病变作用

前文报道,肾综合征出血热病毒76-118株能使Vero细胞产生病变。本文报道76-118株和另11株不同来源的肾综合征出血热病毒(H537、A9、H5、R178、HB55、R22、Z10,沟3、L99、A16和J10)对Vero细胞的致病变作用(CPE )。其中除沟3株外,大部分毒株在感染Vero细胞后的第一代即可见明显的CPE。CPE的特点与76-118株相似,主要是感染细胞粘聚、融合,形成网状结构。CPE能被特异性抗HFRS病毒血清和型特异性单克隆抗体所中和抑制,但不能被特异性抗呼肠孤病毒Ⅲ型免疫血清所中和抑制。HFRS病毒对Vero细胞的致病变作用,对进一步研究HFRS病毒的某些生物学特性及实验方法等均有重要意义。     

A new method for the rapid evaluation of gas vacuoles regeneration and viability of cyanobacteria by flow cytometry

Flow cytometric analysis for measuring gas vacuole regeneration and viability of cyanobacteria was developed. This novel approach distinguished between cyanobacteria with intact and collapsed gas vacuoles. By this method, sonicated cyanobacteria under illuminated conditions were shown to regenerate their gas vacuoles to the level of the untreated cells within 1–3 days. Ultrasonically treated cyanobacteria cultured under non-aerated and non-illuminated conditions did not regenerate their gas vacuoles. Combined with dual staining, viable and non-viable cyanobacteria are easily and rapidly quantified or enumerated by measuring the intensity of red fluorescence and green fluorescence. A high correlation was found between the numbers of viable and non-viable cyanobacteria with flow cytometric measurement.     

The use of fluorogenic esters to detect viable bacteria by flow cytometry

The ability of flow cytometry (FCM) to detect viable bacteria after staining with a range of fluorogenic esters was investigated with several bacterial species. The dyes studied were the fluorescein diacetate (FDA) derivatives carboxyfluorescein diacetate, 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein acetoxymethyl ester and calcein acetoxymethyl ester, as well as ChemChrome B, a commercially-available stain for the detection of viable bacteria in suspension. No one dye was found to be universal but ChemChrome B dye stained the widest number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative species, whereas the FDA derivatives preferentially stained Gram-positive bacteria. The use of ChemChrome B to detect viable bacteria in environmental samples was investigated further by studying the survival of Klebsiella pneumoniae in lakewater. During survival studies, a higher number of viable bacteria were detected both by direct viable counts and FCM after staining with rhodamine 123 and ChemChrome B than by colony-forming units, suggesting the presence of viable but nonculturable cells. These results demonstrate the potential use of FCM to enumerate viable bacteria in natural waters.     

Enumeration of viable Enterococcus faecalis, a predominant apical periodontitis pathogen, using propidium monoazide and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

To discriminate between viable and non-viable Enterococcus faecalis, the predominant pathogen in apical periodontitis, a real-time PCR method combined with propidium monoazide (PMA) was developed and evaluated. PMA had no antimicrobial effect on E. faecalis cells and permitted enumeration of both viable and non-viable cells. Therefore, E. faecalis cells from the root canals of nine patients with apical periodontitis were analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of this approach. Viable and non-viable E. faecalis cells were successfully discriminated in these clinical specimens. A real-time PCR assay combined with PMA will contribute to the precise diagnosis of apical periodontitis.     

Identification and isolation of the binding substance for Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin on Vero cells

Abstract To identify the binding substance for Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE), the CPE-binding substances metabolically labelled with [³H]leucine on CPE-susceptible (Vero) and resistant (L-929) cells were analyzed by solubilization, immunoprecipitation, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and fluorography. The CPE-binding substance was found on Vero cells, but not on L-929 cells. The molecular weight of the CPE-binding substance was found to be 60 000 on SDS-PAGE. The CPE-binding substances were isolated from Vero cells and Balb/c mouse intestinal brush border membranes by affinity chromatography on CPE-coupled Sepharose 4B. They were homogeneous substances with molecular weights of 60 000 on SDS-PAGE and inhibited to the same extent the binding reaction of ¹²⁵I-labeled CPE with Vero cells. These results suggests that the CPE-binding substances are the receptors of CPE on these cells.     

Localization of the receptor-binding region of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin utilizing cloned toxin fragments and synthetic peptides. The 30 C-terminal amino acids define a functional binding region.

In this study a short sequence encoding the receptor-binding activity of the much larger 35-kDa enterotoxin elaborated by Clostridium perfringens was localized by recombinant DNA techniques. Defined fragments corresponding to portions of the enterotoxin gene were cloned into an Escherichia coli expression vector system, and these lysates were analyzed for their ability to compete for binding with native C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE). The lysate containing CPE290-319 (CPE sequence encompassing residues 290-319) was shown to compete with 125I-CPE for specific binding sites on rabbit intestinal brush border membranes. To confirm this finding, a peptide corresponding to the CPE amino acid sequence 290-319 was synthesized and found to completely block CPE specific binding. To demonstrate directly that CPE290-319 can act as a competitive antagonist of CPE cytotoxicity for physiologic receptors, Vero cells were preincubated with either E. coli lysates containing CPE290-319 or the synthetic peptide corresponding to this sequence. Preincubation of Vero cells with either the lysate or the peptide completely protected these cells from CPE challenge. This information localizes the C-terminal 30 residues of CPE (CPE290-319) as a linear sequence sufficient for recognition and binding to the eukaryotic CPE receptor.     

表达犬CD150的Vero细胞系的建立

目的建立表达CD150基因的非洲绿猴肾细胞系Vero-CD150,提高犬瘟热病毒的分离效率。方法分离健康犬血液中的白细胞,并克隆编码CD150的基因,构建真核表达质粒pIRES-CD150,将该质粒转染Vero细胞系,经过克隆化筛选获得Vero-CD150细胞系。利用RT-PCR、流式细胞仪（FCM）进行鉴定,同时对临床检测为阳性的自然发病犬,取肝、肺、脾脏等脏器为病料,接种于Vero-CD150细胞系。结果RT-PCR和流式细胞仪皆检测到CD150在Vero细胞中能够稳定表达;与Vero细胞系相比,Vero-CD150细胞系的生长特性相似;接种病料后,感染细胞不仅产生明显的细胞病变,且用RT-PCR可检测到病毒核酸。结论本试验使CD150基因能在体外转入正常的非洲绿猴肾细胞系Vero中,获得稳定表达CD150基因的Vero细胞亚克隆,并使后者结合CDV的能力明显增强。该细胞系的建立,为更有效的分离犬瘟热病毒打下了基础,可用于进一步研究。     

Alteration of the In Vitro Host Range of Rabies Virus after Serial Chick Embryo Cell Passage Using Alkaline Maintenance Medium

HEP Flury strain of rabies virus maintained by 7-day chicken egg passage (parent line) and the same strain serially passaged in primary chick embryo (CE) cells using alkaline maintenance medium (AM line) were inoculated to cells of various species. Growth was negative in primary mouse embryo, L and HeLa cells, and positive in primary hamster kidney and BHK21 cells with both lines. An all-or-none difference between the two lines was observed in primary monkey kidney and Vero cells. The parent line did not multiply in these monkey cells, whereas the AM line grew to high titers. In the case of Vero cells a unique cytopathic effect (CPE) was induced by the AM line. After five consecutive passages in Vero cells, the CPE-inducing agent was identified as rabies virus by a neutralization test. It was infective to intracerebrally inoculated suckling mice but not to adult mice, and its Vero cell-infective titer determined by CPE induction was about 1 log lower than the baby mouse-infective and CE plaque-forming titers. In contrast to the AM line, HEP Flury strain receiving 150 CE cell passages under neutral maintenance medium and three other strains receiving similar CE cell passages all failed to grow in Vero cells.     

Susceptibility of human and rat neural cell lines to infection by SARS-coronavirus

Pathological characterization of autopsied tissues from patients with SARS revealed severe damage in restricted tissues, such as lung, with no apparent cell damage in other tissues, such as intestine and brain. Here, we examined the susceptibility of neural cell lines of human (OL) and rat (C6) origins to SARS-associated coronavirus. Both of the neural cell lines showed no apparent cytopathic effects (CPE) by infection but produced virus with infectivity of 10(2-5) per ml, in sharp contrast to the production by infected Vero E6 cells of >10(9) per ml that showed a lytic infection with characteristic rounding CPE. Interestingly, the infection of intestinal cell line CaCo-2 also induced no apparent CPE, with production of the virus at a slightly lower level as that of the Vero E6 cell culture. Notably, the cellular receptor for the virus, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 was expressed at similar levels on Vero E6 and CaCo-2 cells, but at undetectable levels on OL and C6 cells.     

Flow cytometric assay for cytotoxic activity of crude Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin using non-adherent cell FM3A

Abstract The flow cytometric assay method was tested for the cytotoxic activity of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) in culture using mouse mammary carcinoma cell line FM3A stained with propidium iodide (PI). From the results obtained, FM3A cells proved to be susceptible to CPE. A reproducible dose-response curve with FM3A was obtained between crude CPE at 13.9–109 ng/ml and between purified CPE at 40–400 ng/ml, respectively. These findings indicate that non-adherent FM3A is preferable to determine the cytotoxic activity of CPE because it can be used without detachment procedures with trypsinin compared with adherent African monkey kidney cell line (Vero cells). Furthermore, the flow cytometry with non-adherent cell FM3A stained with PI only proved to be a useful method to determine the biological activity of CPE in culture isolates.     

Evidence that alterations in small molecule permeability are involved in the Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin-induced inhibition of macromolecular synthesis in Vero cells

The mechanism by which Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) simultaneously inhibits RNA, DNA, and protein synthesis is unknown. In the current study the possible involvement of small molecule permeability alterations in CPE-induced inhibition of macromolecular synthesis was examined. Vero cells CPE-treated in minimal essential medium (MEM) completely ceased net precursor incorporation into RNA and protein within 15 minutes of CPE treatment. However, RNA and protein synthesis continued for at least 30 minutes in Vero cells CPE-treated in buffer (ICIB) approximating intracellular concentrations of most ions. Addition of intracellular concentrations of amino acids to ICIB (ICIB-AA) caused a further small but detectable increase in protein synthesis in CPE-treated cells. ICIB did not affect CPE-specific binding levels or rates. Similar small molecule permeability changes (i.e., 86Rb-release) were observed in cells CPE-treated in either ICIB or in Hanks' balanced salt solution. Collectively these findings suggest that CPE-treatment of cells in ICIB-AA ameliorates CPE-induced changes in intracellular concentrations of ions and amino acids and permits the continuation of RNA and protein synthesis. These results are consistent with and support the hypothesis that permeability alterations for small molecules are involved in the CPE-induced inhibition of precursor incorporation into macromolecules in Vero cells.     

Determination of cryothermal injury thresholds in tissues impacted by cardiac cryoablation

Despite widespread clinical use of cryoablation, there remain questions regarding dosing and treatment times which may affect efficacy and collateral injury. Dosing and treatment times are directly related to the degree of cooling necessary for effective lesion formation. Human and swine atrial, ventricular, and lung tissues were ablated using two cryoablation systems with concurrent infrared thermography. Post freeze-thaw samples were cultured and stained to differentiate viable and non-viable tissue. Matlab code correlated viability staining to applied freeze-thaw thermal cycles, to determine injury thresholds. Tissue regions were classified as live, injured, or dead based upon staining intensity at the lesion margin. Injury begins at rates of ∼10 °C/min to 0 °C, with non-viable tissue requiring cooling rates close to 100 °C/min to ∼ −22 °C for swine and significantly greater cooling to −26 °C for human tissue (p = 0.041). At similar rates, lung tissue injury began at 0 °C, with human tissue requiring significantly less cooling, to ∼ −15 °C for complete necrosis and −26 °C for swine (p = 0.024). Data suggest that there are no significant differences between swine and human myocardial response, but there may be differences between swine and human lung cryothermal tolerance.