A new capture test using conjugated peptides for the detection of HIV antibodies.

A new capture test utilizing conjugated peptides has been developed for the detection of antibodies elicited against HIV-1. Human sera diluted 1:1000 were incubated in ELISA plates precoated with protein G. The captured IgG were allowed to react with three synthetic peptides corresponding to the gp41 sequence (591-611) YLKDQQLLGIWGCSGKLICTT, the gp120 sequence (314-329) IRIQRGPGRAFVTIGK and the p27 sequence (182-198) EWRFDSRLAFHHVAREL. The peptides were used in the form of N-hydroxysuccinimido-biotin ovalbumin conjugates. Peroxidase-labelled streptavidin was used to detect antigen-antibody complexes. The sensitivity and specificity of detection of antibodies were analyzed with 40 HIV positive sera, 10 seroconverting sera and 21 normal human sera (NHS). The results were compared with a commercial indirect ELISA in which a single conjugated gp41 peptide was used as antigenic probe. This indirect ELISA recognized 100% of the HIV positive and the seroconverting sera. The new capture test using the gp41 conjugated peptide also recognized 100% of the HIV positive sera but was more specific since it gave no false positive results whereas the indirect test did. The gp120 and p27 conjugated peptides detected 35/40 (87.5%) and 31/40 (77.5%) of HIV positive sera respectively and also detected 9/10 (90%) and 10/10 (100%) of the seroconverting sera respectively, without any false positive results (0/21). The proposed new capture test is a very sensitive and specific assay for detecting HIV antibodies.     

Mutational analysis of primary alcohol metabolism in the methylotrophic actinomycete Amycolatopsis methanolica

Abstract Mutants of the methylotrophic actinomycete Amycolatopsis methanolica unable to grow on methanol as carbon source were isolated and characterized. Mutants specifically affected in methanol utilization were deficient in formaldehyde assimilation. Mutants blocked in the first step of primary alcohol oxidation (C1–C4) had lost activity of the tetrazolium-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase, a three-component enzyme complex. This complex, or individual components, thus play a crucial role in utilization of primary alcohols in A. methanolica .     

New unified nomenclature for genes involved in the oxidation of methanol in Gram-negative bacteria

Abstract The system involving the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde in Gram-negative methylotrophic bacteria is complex. A total of 32 genes have been reported, termed mox , for methanol oxidation, and it is possible that more will be identified. Some mox genes carrying out completely different functions have been given the same designations by different laboratories and others have been given separate designations that were later discovered to be the same. It is now important to change the mox nomenclature to remedy this confusing situation. This communication proposes a new nomenclature for genes involved in methanol oxidation based on currently known linkage groups.     

Teixobactin as a scaffold for unlimited new antimicrobial peptides: SAR study

It looks that a new era of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) started with the discovery of teixobactin, which is a “head to side-chain” cyclodepsipeptide. It was isolated from a soil gram-negative b-proteobacteria by means of a revolutionary technique. Since there, several groups have developed synthetic strategies for efficient synthesis of this peptide and its analogues as well. Herein, all chemistries reported as well as the biological activity of the analogues are analyzed. Finally, some inputs regarding new trends for the next generation of analogues are discussed.     

A coupled spectrophotometric enzyme assay for the determination of pectin methylesterase activity and its inhibition by proteinaceous inhibitors

Pectin methylesterase (PME; EC 3.1.1.11) activities are widespread in bacteria, fungi, and plants. PME-mediated changes in cell wall pectin structure play important roles in plant development. Genome sequencing projects have revealed the existence of large PME multigene families in higher plants. Additional complexity for PME regulation arises from the presence of specific PME inhibitor proteins (PMEI) in plant cells. Several assay procedures for the determination of PME activity have been reported. However, previous protocols suffered from various limitations. Here we report a protocol for a coupled enzyme assay based on methanol oxidation via alcohol oxidase (AO; EC 1.1.3.13) and subsequent oxidation of formaldehyde by formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH; EC 1.2.1.3). This simple and robust assay allows the continuous monitoring of PME activity in the neutral pH range. Furthermore, as plant PMEIs do not interfer with AO and FDH activities, this assay is suitable for the characterization of the inhibition kinetics of PMEI.     

Initial microbial adhesion is a determinant for the strength of biofilm adhesion

Abstract A considerable amount of methylformate accumulated in the culture medium of methanol-grown methylotrophic yeasts. Methylformate is considered as an intermediate in a novel formaldehyde oxidation pathway. Through investigations with Pichia methanolica , methylformate formation was found to be catalysed by a new type of alcohol dehydrogenase, which was named methylformate synthase. When cells were grown on a relatively high concentration of methanol or exposed to a high concentration of formaldehyde, formation of methylformate was enhanced and the level of methylformate synthase in the cells increased. How methylformate synthase is involved in formaldehyde oxidation and formaldehyde detoxification is discussed.     

利用色谱法快速检测分析啤酒腐败菌的新方法

啤酒在生产过程中很容易染菌,而传统的用于啤酒腐败菌检测的方法耗时长,不能满足实际需求.由于腐败菌污染的啤酒通过色谱检测,相应组分(生物胺、有机酸和风味物质)都会有特征峰的产生,所以本研究通过建立无腐败菌污染的啤酒中各组分的标准色谱图,再使啤酒强制染菌,对其组分进行色谱分析,并与标准色谱图进行比较,从而找出各组分对应的特征峰.未来,此方法可用于实际生产线上快速检测啤酒是否发生微生物污染.     

Multicenter evaluation of the new HIV DUO assay for simultaneous detection of HIV antibodies and p24 antigen

A multicenter survey was performed to evaluate a new semi-automated human immunodeficiency virus fourth generation antibodies and antigen simultaneous assay. This assay showed a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 99.6% among sera obtained from hospitalized patients or blood donors. Sera obtained from commercially available as well as in-house seroconversions were tested showing that HIV DUO is able to reveal an infected state in 11 out of 14 cases earlier than conventional tests. This new assay improves old test performances in terms of sensitivity, maintaining specificity at very high levels.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the key intermediate of ticagrelor and its diverse analogs using a new alcohol dehydrogenase from Rhodococcus kyotonensis

Bioreduction catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase/reductase is one of the most valuable biotransformation processes widely used in industry. The (S)-2-Chloro-1-(3, 4-difluorophenyl) ethanol is a key chiral synthon for synthesizing the antithrombotic agent ticagrelor. Herein, a new alcohol dehydrogenase (named Rhky-ADH) identified from Rhodococcus kyotonensis by an enzyme promiscuity-based genome mining method was successfully cloned and functionally expressed in Escherichia coli. The whole cell biocatalyst harboring Rhky-ADH was biochemically characterized and was shown to be able to convert 2-Chloro-1-(3, 4-difluorophenyl) ethanone to (S)-2-Chloro-1-(3, 4-difluorophenyl) ethanol with more than 99 % enantiomeric excess (ee) and 99 % conversion. Our data showed that the optimum temperature and pH for Rhky-ADH were 25 °C and pH 8.0, respectively. The addition of NADH and an appropriate concentration of isopropanol enhanced the activity of Rhky-ADH, and 1 mM Mn²⁺ increased the enzyme activity by about 8 %. Substrate specificity experiments showed that Rhky-ADH had notable enzyme promiscuity and could reduce several ketones with high stereoselectivity. Our investigation on this novel enzyme adds another rare biocatalyst to the toolbox for producing chiral alcohols, which are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.     

Immobilized cofactor derivatives for kinetic-based enzyme capture strategies: direct coupling of NAD(P)+

This study reevaluates the potential for direct coupling of NAD(P)(+) to a carboxylate-terminating spacer arm using carbodiimide-promoted coupling in an attempt to develop a greatly simplified synthetic method for cofactor immobilization that would support the more widespread adoption of kinetic-based enzyme capture (KBEC) strategies for protein purification applications and protein-detecting arrays/proteomic studies. Direct coupling of NAD(+) to epoxy (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether)-activated Sepharose is also described. Depending on the synthetic method used, the position of attachment of cofactor is concluded to be primarily through the pyrophosphate or ribosyl hydroxyl groups. Total substitution levels varied from 0.5 to 2 micromol/g wet weight with 28-67% accessibility. Model bioaffinity chromatographic studies employing KBEC strategies are reported for bovine heart L-lactate dehydrogenase, yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, l-phenylalanine dehydrogenase from Sporosarcina, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) from Candida utilis, and GDH from bovine liver. The NAD(+) derivative prepared using epoxy-activated Sepharose shows most potential for further development based on total substitution levels, the apparent absence of nonbiospecific interference, reversible biospecific adsorption of some of the test enzymes using soluble KBEC/stripping ligand tactics, and the relative simplicity of the synthetic method.     

Application of synthetic peptides for detection of anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies

Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and represent an important tool for the serological diagnosis of RA.In this study, we describe ACPA reactivity to overlapping citrullinated Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1)-derived peptides and analyze their potential as substrates for ACPA detection by streptavidin capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Using systematically overlapping peptides, containing a 10 amino acid overlap, labelled with biotin C-terminally or N-terminally, sera from 160 individuals (RA sera (n = 60), healthy controls (n = 40), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 20), Sjögren’s syndrome (n = 40)) were screened for antibody reactivity.Antibodies to a panel of five citrullinated EBNA-1 peptides were found in 67% of RA sera, exclusively of the IgG isotype, while 53% of the patient sera reacted with a single peptide, ARGGSRERARGRGRG-Cit-GEKR, accounting for more than half of the ACPA reactivity alone. Moreover, these antibodies were detected in 10% of CCP2-negative RA sera. In addition, 47% of the RA sera reacted with two or three citrullinated EBNA-1 peptides from the selected peptide panel. Furthermore, a negative correlation between the biotin attachment site and the location of citrulline in the peptides was found, i.e. the closer the citrulline was located to biotin, the lower the antibody reactivity.Our data suggest that citrullinated EBNA-1 peptides may be considered a substrate for the detection of ACPAs and that the presence of Epstein-Barr virus may play a role in the induction of these autoantibodies.     

Mode of action of the new antibiotic for Gram-positive pathogens daptomycin: Comparison with cationic antimicrobial peptides and lipopeptides

With the steady rise in the number of antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive pathogens, it has become increasingly important to find new antibacterial agents which are highly active and have novel and diversified mechanisms of action. Two classes will be discussed here: the cationic antimicrobial peptides, which are amphiphilic in nature, targeting membranes and increasing their permeability; and lipopeptides, which consist of linear or cyclic peptides with an N-terminus that is acylated with a fatty acid side chain. One member of the cyclic lipopeptide family, the anionic molecule daptomycin, has been extensively studied and is the major focus of this review. Models will be presented on its mode of action and comparisons will be made to the known modes of action of cationic antimicrobial peptides and other lipopeptides.