Phylogenetic diversification of immunoglobulin genes and the antibody repertoire

Immunoglobulins are encoded by a large multigene system that undergoes somatic rearrangement and additional genetic change during the development of immunoglobulin-producing cells. Inducible antibody and antibody-like responses are found in all vertebrates. However, immunoglobulin possessing disulfide-bonded heavy and light chains and domain-type organization has been described only in representatives of the jawed vertebrates. High degrees of nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence identity are evident when the segmental elements that constitute the immunoglobulin gene loci in phylogenetically divergent vertebrates are compared. However, the organization of gene loci and the manner in which the independent elements recombine (and diversify) vary markedly among different taxa. One striking pattern of gene organization is the "cluster type" that appears to be restricted to the chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes) and limits segmental rearrangement to closely linked elements. This type of gene organization is associated with both heavy- and light-chain gene loci. In some cases, the clusters are "joined" or "partially joined" in the germ line, in effect predetermining or partially predetermining, respectively, the encoded specificities (the assumption being that these are expressed) of the individual loci. By relating the sequences of transcribed gene products to their respective germ-line genes, it is evident that, in some cases, joined-type genes are expressed. This raises a question about the existence and/or nature of allelic exclusion in these species. The extensive variation in gene organization found throughout the vertebrate species may relate directly to the role of intersegmental (V<==>D<==>J) distances in the commitment of the individual antibody-producing cell to a particular genetic specificity. Thus, the evolution of this locus, perhaps more so than that of others, may reflect the interrelationships between genetic organization and function.      

Antibiotic dosing in the 'at risk' critically ill patient: Linking pathophysiology with pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics in sepsis and trauma patients

Background

Critical illness, mediated by trauma or sepsis, can lead to physiological changes that alter the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics and may result in sub-therapeutic concentrations at the sites of infection. The first aim of this project is to identify the clinical characteristics of critically ill patients with significant trauma that have been recently admitted to ICU that may predict the dosing requirements for the antibiotic, cefazolin. The second aim of this is to identify the clinical characteristics of critically ill patients with sepsis that may predict the dosing requirements for the combination antibiotic, piperacillin-tazobactam.

Methods/Design

This is an observational pharmacokinetic study of patients with trauma (cefazolin) or with sepsis (piperacillin-tazobactam). Participants will have samples from blood and urine, collected at different intervals. Patients will also have a microdialysis catheter inserted into subcutaneous tissue to measure interstitial fluid penetration of the antibiotic. Participants will be administered sinistrin, indocyanine green and sodium bromide as well as have cardiac output monitoring performed and tetrapolar bioimpedance to determine physiological changes resulting from pathology. Analysis of samples will be performed using validated liquid chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic analysis will be performed using non-linear mixed effects modeling to determine individual and population pharmacokinetic parameters of antibiotics.

Discussion

The study will describe cefazolin and piperacillin-tazobactam concentrations in plasma and the interstitial fluid of tissues in trauma and sepsis patients respectively. The results of this study will guide clinicians to effectively dose these antibiotics in order to maximize the concentration of antibiotics in the interstitial fluid of tissues.     

A conserved subtilisin-like protein TgSUB1 in microneme organelles of Toxoplasma gondii

Proteolytic processing plays a significant role in the process of invasion by the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. We have cloned a gene, TgSUB1, encoding for a subtilisin-type serine protease found in T. gondii tachyzoites. TgSUB1 protein is homologous to other Apicomplexan and bacterial subtilisins and is processed within the secretory pathway of the parasite. Initial cleavage occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum, after which the protein is transported to micronemes, vesicles that secrete early during host cell invasion. Upon stimulation of microneme secretion, TgSUB1 is cleaved into smaller products that are secreted from the parasite. This secondary processing is inhibited by brefeldin A and serine protease inhibitors. TgSUB1 is a candidate processing enzyme for several microneme proteins cleaved within the secretory pathway or during invasion.     

Maintenance of long term gamma-herpesvirus B cell latency is dependent on CD40-mediated development of memory B cells

It has been proposed that the gamma-herpesviruses maintain lifelong latency in B cells by gaining entry into the memory B cell pool and taking advantage of host mechanisms for maintaining these cells. We directly tested this hypothesis by kinetically monitoring viral latency in CD40(+) and CD40(-) B cells from CD40(+)CD40(-) mixed bone marrow chimera mice after infection with a murine gamma-herpesvirus, MHV-68. CD40(+) B cells selectively entered germinal centers and differentiated into memory B cells. Importantly, latency was progressively lost in the CD40(-) B cells and preferentially maintained in the long-lived, isotype-switched CD40(+) B cells. These data directly demonstrate viral exploitation of the normal B cell differentiation pathway to maintain latency.     

Murid herpesvirus 4 strain 68 M2 protein is a B-cell-associated antigen important for latency but not lymphocytosis

This work describes analyses of the function of the murid herpesvirus 4 strain 68 (MHV-68) M2 gene. A frameshift mutation was made in the M2 open reading frame that caused premature termination of translation of M2 after amino acid residue 90. The M2 mutant showed no defect in productive replication in vitro or in lungs after infection of mice. Likewise, the characteristic transient increase in spleen cell number, Vbeta4 T-cell-receptor-positive CD8(+) T-cell mononucleosis, and establishment of latency were unaffected. However, the M2 mutant virus was defective in its ability to cause the transient sharp rise in latently infected cells normally seen in the spleen after infection of mice. We also demonstrate that expression of M2 is restricted to B cells in the spleen and that M2 encodes a 30-kDa protein localizing predominantly in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane of B cells.     

A single malaria merozoite serine protease mediates shedding of multiple surface proteins by juxtamembrane cleavage

Erythrocyte invasion by the malaria merozoite is accompanied by the regulated discharge of apically located secretory organelles called micronemes. Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen-1 (PfAMA-1), which plays an indispensable role in invasion, translocates from micronemes onto the parasite surface and is proteolytically shed in a soluble form during invasion. We have previously proposed, on the basis of incomplete mass spectrometric mapping data, that PfAMA-1 shedding results from cleavage at two alternative positions. We now show conclusively that the PfAMA-1 ectodomain is shed from the merozoite solely as a result of cleavage at a single site, just 29 residues away from the predicted transmembrane-spanning sequence. Remarkably, this cleavage is mediated by the same membrane-bound parasite serine protease as that responsible for shedding of the merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) complex, an abundant, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored multiprotein complex. Processing of MSP-1 is essential for invasion. Our results indicate the presence on the merozoite surface of a multifunctional serine sheddase with a broad substrate specificity. We further demonstrate that translocation and shedding of PfAMA-1 is an actin-independent process.     

Host cell invasion by malaria parasites

The complex life cycle of the malaria parasite includes three specialized invasive stages, distinct both in terms of their cellular architecture and in their choice of target host cell. Despite the dissimilarities between these forms, there are clear parallels in the manner by which they enter their respective host cells. Advances in the area of erythrocyte invasion by the malaria merozoite, outlined here by Chetan Chitnis and Mike Blackman and discussed at the Molecular Approaches to Malaria conference, Lorne, Australia, 2-5 February 2000, will undoubtedly impact on our understanding of mechanisms of cell entry by the other invasive forms. Similarly, recent progress in dissecting the functional role of surface proteins expressed by sporozoite and ookinete stages has provided fascinating insights into general aspects of invasion by all invasive stages of apicomplexan parasites.     

Attenuation of pattern recognition receptor signaling is mediated by a MAP kinase kinase kinase

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a key role in plant and animal innate immunity. PRR binding of their cognate ligand triggers a signaling network and activates an immune response. Activation of PRR signaling must be controlled prior to ligand binding to prevent spurious signaling and immune activation. Flagellin perception in Arabidopsis through FLAGELLIN‐SENSITIVE 2 (FLS2) induces the activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and immunity. However, the precise molecular mechanism that connects activated FLS2 to downstream MAPK cascades remains unknown. Here, we report the identification of a differentially phosphorylated MAP kinase kinase kinase that also interacts with FLS2. Using targeted proteomics and functional analysis, we show that MKKK7 negatively regulates flagellin‐triggered signaling and basal immunity and this requires phosphorylation of MKKK7 on specific serine residues. MKKK7 attenuates MPK6 activity and defense gene expression. Moreover, MKKK7 suppresses the reactive oxygen species burst downstream of FLS2, suggesting that MKKK7‐mediated attenuation of FLS2 signaling occurs through direct modulation of the FLS2 complex.     

1-Thio-beta-D-galactofuranosides: synthesis and evaluation as beta-D- galactofuranosidase inhibitors

Beta-D-galactofuranosidase is a good chemotherapeutic target for the design of inhibitors, since beta-D-galactofuranose is a constituent of important parasite glycoconjugates but is not present in the host mammals. With this aim, we have synthesized for the first time alkyl, benzyl and aryl 1-thio-beta-D-galactofuranosides by condensation of penta-O-benzoyl-alpha,beta-D-galactofuranose with the corresponding thiols, in the presence of SnCl4as catalyst. The complete chemical and spectroscopical characterization of these compounds showed that the reaction was stereoselective. Debenzoylation with sodium methoxide afforded the beta-S-galactofuranosides in high yield. The thioglycosides were tested as inhibitors of the beta-D- galactofuranosidase of Penicillium fellutanum, using for the first time 4-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactofuranoside as chromogenic substrate. The 4- aminophenyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactofuranoside, obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of the nitrophenyl derivative, was the best inhibitor being then an adequate ligand for the preparation of an affinity phase aimed at the isolation of beta-d-galactofuranosidases from different sources. Also the inhibitory activity of d-galactono-1, 4-lactone was shown.