比色法与核磁共振法测定A、C、Y、W135群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖氧乙酰基含量的比较

目的比较Hestrin比色法(简称比色法)和核磁共振(nuclear magnetic resonance,NMR)法在检测A、C、Y、W135群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖氧乙酰基(O-Acetyl,OAc)含量的相关性和精密度。方法用比色法和NMR法测定A、C、Y、W135群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖及其多糖衍生物,Y、W135群荚膜多糖水解物的OAc含量,比较分析两种方法的相关性及精密度。结果两种方法检测A、C、Y、W135群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖OAc含量的决定系数分别为R~2≥0.954、R~2≥0.960、R~2≥0.969、R~2≥0.972;比色法检测3批C群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖(PSC)OAc含量的精密度,SD值分别为0.21、0.21、0.18,对应CV值分别为9.03%、9.01%、8.70%(95%置信区间);NMR法检测3批A群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖(PSA)OAc含量的精密度,SD值分别为0.66、0.78、0.83,对应CV值分别为0.72%、0.85%、0.93%(95%置信区间);结论比色法和NMR法在检测A、C、Y、W135群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖OAc含量方面相关性良好,精密度良好,核磁法较比色法精密度更高。     

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the sialyltransferase genes of meningococcal serogroups B,C, Y and W135

A rapid method for serogrouping meningococci is essential for the characterization of phenotypically non-groupable meningococcal isolates and clinical samples, particularly for public health management purposes. The Scottish Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory (SMPRL) provides serogrouping results of meningococcal isolates and clinical samples using a PCR assay which detects restriction fragment length polymorphisms in meningococcal serogroups B, C, Y and W135. Although this PCR system was invaluable when first introduced, it has several drawbacks and lacks the required sensitivity for detecting DNA in clinical samples. Due to the recent introduction of the meningococcal group C conjugate vaccine and an impending group B vaccine, a more robust and informative method for serogroup determination is required. A protocol was devised allowing PCR amplification of the siaD gene of serogroup B, C, Y and W135 meningococci. This system was multiplexed and allowed serogroup differentiation between serogroups B and C and also between B/C and Y/W135 by product size analysis. A nested stage was incorporated into the system for enhanced detection of meningococci in clinical samples, and finally a sequencing protocol was designed allowing detection of any nucleotide changes within the siaD gene. This system allows rapid serogrouping results for use within an agarose gel system as well as more informative results when used for sequencing within the siaD gene.     

Four monoclonal antibodies against capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A,C, Y and W135: Its application in identity tests

Murine hybridoma monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced against the capsular polysaccharide (CPs) of serogroups A, C, W₁₃₅ and Y meningococci (MenA, MenC, MenW, MenY) in order to develop immunological reagents for the identification of meningococcal polysaccharides. Each serogroup-specific MAb reacted with the CPs from its homologous serogroup only and did not react with CPs from the other three serogroups. The affinity constant (Ka) of the four MAbs measured by non-competitive ELISA was 6.62 × 10⁹, 2.76 × 10⁹, 1.48 × 10⁹ and 3.8 × 10⁹ M^?1 for MenA, MenC, MenW and MenY MAbs respectively. The application of these MAbs for identity tests was demonstrated by their abilities to correctly identify the CPs from serogroups A, C, W₁₃₅ and Y in meningococcal CPs-based vaccines through ELISA. The MAbs obtained in this work are a very valuable set of tools for study meningococcal polysaccharides vaccines.     

Safety and preliminary immunogenicity of MenC/P64k, a meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine with a new recombinant carrier

This study reports the preliminary assessment of the safety and immunogenicity of the first serogroup C conjugate vaccine candidate that includes meningococcal P64k recombinant protein as the carrier (MenC/P64k). Twenty volunteers were recruited for a double-blind, randomized, controlled phase I clinical trial, receiving a single dose of MenC/P64k (study group) and a single dose of the commercial polysaccharide vaccine AC (control group). Only mild reactions were observed. No statistical differences were detected between the antipolysaccharide C IgG responses of both groups as well as between bactericidal serum titre (P > 0.05). The MenC/P64k vaccine was found to have a good safety profile, to be well tolerated and immunogenic.     

Three-dimensional structure of a mutant ribonuclease T1 (Y45W) complexed with non-cognizable ribonucleotide, 2'AMP, and its comparison with a specific complex with 2'GMP.

The crystal structure of a mutant ribonuclease T1 (Y45W) complexed with a non-cognizable ribonucleotide, 2'AMP, has been determined and refined to an R-factor of 0.159 using X-ray diffraction data at 1.7 A resolution. A specific complex of the enzyme with 2'GMP was also determined and refined to an R-factor of 0.173 at 1.9 A resolution. The adenine base of 2'AMP was found at a base-binding site that is far apart from the guanine recognition site, where the guanine base of 2'GMP binds. The binding of the adenine base is mediated by a single hydrogen bond and stacking interaction of the base with the imidazole ring of His92. The mode of stacking of the adenine base with His92 is similar to the stacking of the guanine base observed in complexes of ribonuclease T1 with guanylyl-2',5'-guanosine, reported by Koepke et al., and two guanosine bases, reported by Lenz et al., and in the complex of barnase with d(GpC), reported by Baudet & Janin. These observations suggest that the site is non-specific for base binding. The phosphate group of 2'AMP is tightly locked at the catalytic site with seven hydrogen bonds to the enzyme in a similar manner to that of 2'GMP. In addition, two hydrogen bonds are formed between the sugar moiety of 2'AMP and the enzyme. The 2'AMP molecule adopts the anti conformation of the glycosidic bond and C-3'-exo sugar pucker, whereas 2'GMP is in the syn conformation with C-3'-endo-C'-2'-exo pucker. The mutation enhances the binding of 2'GMP with conformational changes of the sugar ring and displacement of the phosphate group towards the interior of the catalytic site from the corresponding position in the wild-type enzyme complex. Comparison of two crystal structures obtained provides a solution to the problem that non-cognizable nucleotides exhibit unexpectedly strong binding to the enzyme, compared with high specificity in nucleolytic activity. The results indicate that the discrimination of the guanine base from the other nucleotide bases at the guanine recognition site is more effective than that estimated from nucleotide-binding experiments so far.     

Comparative study of the sensitivity and specificity of dried and liquid meningococcal erythrocyte diagnostic agents A, C and Y in a controlled trial

The comparative study of the sensitivity and specificity of dried and liquid meningococcal erythrocyte diagnosticums A, C and Y has been carried out in the indirect hemagglutination test with the sera of persons immunized with different doses of dried chemical meningococcal (group A) polysaccharide vaccine and persons receiving placebo under the conditions of a controlled epidemiological trial. The possibility of using, on principle, both liquid (A, C) and dried (A, C, Y) preparations in clinico-epidemiological studies has been established. The continuation of the research work aimed at the improvement of meningococcal diagnosticums and, in particular, at the development of polyvalent preparations seems to be justified.     

Identification of a novel protein complex containing annexin VI, Fyn, Pyk2, and the p120(GAP) C2 domain

p120(GAP) (RasGAP) has been proposed to function as both an inhibitor and effector of Ras. Previously we have shown that RasGAP contains a C2 domain which mediates both Ca(2+)-dependent membrane association and protein-protein interactions. Specifically, three proteins have been isolated in a complex with the C2 domain of RasGAP; these are the Ca(2+)-dependent lipid binding protein annexin VI (p70) and two previously unidentified proteins, p55 and p120. Here we provide evidence that p55 is the Src family kinase Fyn and p120 is the focal adhesion kinase family member Pyk2. In addition, in vitro binding assays indicate that Fyn, but not Pyk2 binds directly to annexin VI. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation studies in Rat-1 fibroblasts confirm that Fyn, Pyk2, annexin VI and RasGAP can form a protein complex in mammalian cells.     

Structural studies on O-specific polysaccharides of lipopolysaccharides from Yersinia enterocolitica serovars O:1,2a,3, O:2a,2b,3 and O:3

Lipopolysaccharides from Yersinia enterocolitica serovars O:1,2a,3, O:2a,2b,3 and O:3 have been isolated and characterized. 6-Deoxy-L-altrose residues were shown to be the main constituents of lipopolysaccharides isolated in addition to residues of L-rhamnose, D-glucose, D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, D-glycero-D-manno-heptose and L-glycero-D-manno-heptose, 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid being minor components of sugar chains. Mild hydrolysis of lipopolysaccharides with acetic acid furnished O-specific polysaccharides, which are composed of 6-deoxy-L-altrose. Using 13C-NMR spectroscopy and methylation data, the structural features of backbones have been elucidated as follows: ----2)-6d-L-Altp(beta 1----2)-6d-L-Altp(beta 1----3)-6d-L-Altp)(beta 1----for serovars O:1,2a,3 and O:2a,2b,3;----2)-6d-L-Altp(beta 1----for serovar O:3. In addition, O-polysaccharide of serovar O:2a,2b,3 was found to contain an O-acetyl group at the C-3 position of some 1,2-linked sugar residues.     

1H, 13C and 15N backbone and side-chain chemical shift assignment of the Fyn SH2 domain and its complex with a phosphotyrosine peptide

SH2 domains are interaction modules uniquely dedicated to recognize phosphotyrosine sites, playing a central role in for instance the activation of tyrosine kinases or phosphatases. Here we report the ¹H, ¹⁵N and ¹³C backbone and side-chain chemical shift assignments of the SH2 domain of the human protein tyrosine kinase Fyn, both in its free state and bound to a high-affinity phosphotyrosine peptide corresponding to a specific sequence in the hamster middle-T antigen. The BMRB accession numbers are 17,368 and 17,369, respectively.     

Sequence heterogeneity in NS5A of hepatitis C virus genotypes 2a and 2b and clinical outcome of pegylated-interferon/ribavirin therapy

Pegylated-interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) therapy is a current standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C. We previously reported that the viral sequence heterogeneity of part of NS5A, referred to as the IFN/RBV resistance-determining region (IRRDR), and a mutation at position 70 of the core protein of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b (HCV-1b) are significantly correlated with the outcome of PEG-IFN/RBV treatment. Here, we aimed to investigate the impact of viral genetic variations within the NS5A and core regions of other genotypes, HCV-2a and HCV-2b, on PEG-IFN/RBV treatment outcome. Pretreatment sequences of NS5A and core regions were analyzed in 112 patients infected with HCV-2a or HCV-2b, who were treated with PEG-IFN/RBV for 24 weeks and followed up for another 24 weeks. The results demonstrated that HCV-2a isolates with 4 or more mutations in IRRDR (IRRDR[2a]≥4) was significantly associated with rapid virological response at week 4 (RVR) and sustained virological response (SVR). Also, another region of NS5A that corresponds to part of the IFN sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) plus its carboxy-flanking region, which we referred to as ISDR/+C[2a], was significantly associated with SVR in patients infected with HCV-2a. Multivariate analysis revealed that IRRDR[2a]≥4 was the only independent predictive factor for SVR. As for HCV-2b infection, an N-terminal half of IRRDR having two or more mutations (IRRDR[2b]/N≥2) was significantly associated with RVR, but not with SVR. No significant correlation was observed between core protein polymorphism and PEG-IFN/RBV treatment outcome in HCV-2a or HCV-2b infection. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that sequence heterogeneity of NS5A of HCV-2a (IRRDR[2a]≥4 and ISDR/+C[2a]), and that of HCV-2b (IRRDR[2b]/N≥2) to a lesser extent, is involved in determining the viral sensitivity to PEG-IFN/RBV therapy.