Two Distinct Functional Patterns of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-Specific T Cell Responses in Seronegative,Aviremic Patients

In hepatitis C Virus (HCV) high-risk groups, HCV-specific T cell responses have been detected in seronegative, aviremic persons who have no evidence of HCV infection. Herein, we investigated functional profiles of HCV-specific T-cell responses in seronegative, aviremic patients of a HCV high-risk group. Seventy seven hemodialysis patients with chronic renal disease were analyzed by IFN-γ ELISpot assays, and eight of 71 (11.3%) seronegative, aviremic patients displayed HCV-specific T-cell responses. Their HCV-specific memory T cells were characterized by assessing cytokine polyfunctionality, known to provide antiviral protection. By intracellular staining of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and MIP-1β, we identified two distinct populations in the seronegative, aviremic patients: polyfunctional responders and TNF-α-predominant responders. In further analysis, occult HCV infection was excluded as a cause of the HCV-specific T cell response via secondary nested RT-PCR of HCV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples. HCV-specific T cells targeted multiple epitopes including non-structural proteins in a single patient, implying that their T cells might have been primed by HCV proteins synthesized within the host. We conclude that HCV-specific memory T cells of seronegative, aviremic patients arise from authentic HCV replication in the host, but not from current occult HCV infection. By functional pattern of HCV-specific T cells, there are two distinct populations in these patients: polyfunctional responders and TNF-α-predominant responders.     

Cloning and expression of sucrose phosphorylase gene from Bifidobacterium longum in E. coli and characterization of the recombinant enzyme

A DNA fragment, which complemented the growth of E. coli both on M9 medium containing raffinose and on LB medium containing ampicillin, IPTG and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoxyl--d-galactoside, was isolated from the genomic library of Bifidobacterium longum SJ32, which had been digested with EcoRI. In the cloned DNA fragment, a gene encoding a sucrose phosphorylase (splP) and a partially cloned putative sucrose regulator gene (splR) were identified using the deletion analysis and sequence analysis. A 56 kDa protein was synthesized in E. coli and partially purified by DEAE-ion exchange chromatography. The partially purified enzyme did not react with melibiose, melezitoze and raffinose but did with sucrose. It had transglucosylation activity in addition to hydrolytic activity.     

Pulmonary Toxocariasis Mimicking Invasive Aspergillosis in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

A 45-year-old-male who had underlying ulcerative colitis and presented with fever and dry cough. Initially, the patient was considered to have invasive aspergillosis due to a positive galactomannan assay. He was treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated clinically and radiographically. The lung biopsy revealed eosinophilic pneumonia, and ELISA for Toxocara antigen was positive, leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary toxocariasis. After a 10-day treatment course with albendazole and adjunctive steroids, the patient recovered completely without any sequelae. Pulmonary toxocariasis may be considered in patients with subacute or chronic pneumonia unresponsive to antibiotic agents, particularly in cases with eosinophilia.     

Cattle Manure Enhances Methanogens Diversity and Methane Emissions Compared to Swine Manure under Rice Paddy

Livestock manures are broadly used in agriculture to improve soil quality. However, manure application can increase the availability of organic carbon, thereby facilitating methane (CH₄) production. Cattle and swine manures are expected to have different CH₄ emission characteristics in rice paddy soil due to the inherent differences in composition as a result of contrasting diets and digestive physiology between the two livestock types. To compare the effect of ruminant and non-ruminant animal manure applications on CH₄ emissions and methanogenic archaeal diversity during rice cultivation (June to September, 2009), fresh cattle and swine manures were applied into experimental pots at 0, 20 and 40 Mg fresh weight (FW) ha⁻¹ in a greenhouse. Applications of manures significantly enhanced total CH₄ emissions as compared to chemical fertilization, with cattle manure leading to higher emissions than swine manure. Total organic C contents in cattle (466 g kg⁻¹) and swine (460 g kg⁻¹) manures were of comparable results. Soil organic C (SOC) contents were also similar between the two manure treatments, but dissolved organic C (DOC) was significantly higher in cattle than swine manure. The mcrA gene copy numbers were significantly higher in cattle than swine manure. Diverse groups of methanogens which belong to Methanomicrobiaceae were detected only in cattle-manured but not in swine-manured soil. Methanogens were transferred from cattle manure to rice paddy soils through fresh excrement. In conclusion, cattle manure application can significantly increase CH₄ emissions in rice paddy soil during cultivation, and its pretreatment to suppress methanogenic activity without decreasing rice productivity should be considered.     

A proteomic approach for identifying cellular proteins interacting with erythropoietin in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells

Identification of the cellular proteins interacting with incompletely folded and unfolded forms of erythropoietin (EPO) in recombinant CHO (rCHO) cells leads to better insight into the possible genetic manipulation approaches for increasing EPO production. To do so, a pull‐down assay was performed with dual‐tagged (N‐terminal GST‐ and C‐terminal hexahistidine‐tagged) EPO expressed in E. coli as bait proteins and cell lysates of rCHO cells (DG44) as prey proteins. Cellular proteins interacting with dual‐tagged EPO were then resolved by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and identified by MALDI‐TOF MS/MS. A total of 27 protein spots including glucose‐regulated protein 78 (GRP78) were successfully identified. Western blot analysis of GRP78 confirmed the results of the MS analyses. Taken together, a pull‐down assay followed by a proteomic approach is found to be an efficient means to identify cellular proteins interacting with foreign protein in rCHO cells. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010