The rOmp22–HpaA Fusion Protein Confers Protective Immunity Against Helicobacter pylori in Mice

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) plays an essential role in the development of various gastroduodenal diseases; however, no vaccines preventing H. pylori infection have been available now. This study was to evaluate the protective effect of rOmp22–HpaA fusion protein against H. pylori infection in mouse model and to screen the candidate to be used in the development of an oral vaccine against H. pylori. rOmp22, rHpaA, rOmp22+rHpaA, and rOmp22–HpaA groups were used to immunize mice with mLT63 as adjuvant by intragastric route, respectively, four times at 1-week intervals. Two weeks after last immunization, all of the animals were orally challenged with H. pylori NCTC11637 and then were killed after another 2 weeks. The mice gastric tissue of all groups was separated to detect the presence of infection by urease tests, to culture H. pylori, and to observe the histological characteristics. The protective effect against H. pylori challenge in mice immunized with rOmp22–HpaA fusion protein and mLT63 adjuvant was significantly higher than PBS and mLT63 control groups (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was detected among rOmp22, rHpaA, rOmp22+rHpaA, and rOmp22–HpaA groups (P > 0.05). rOmp22–HpaA fusion protein retained immunogenicity and could be used as an antigen candidate in the development of an oral vaccine against H. pylori infection.     

Relationship between chemokine (C–X–C motif) ligand 12 gene variant (rs1746048) and coronary heart disease: Case–control study and meta-analysis

The goal of our study is to evaluate the contribution of CXCL12 rs1746048 (hg19, chr10:44775574) to the risk of CHD in Han Chinese, and to summarize its role in CHD through meta-analysis of existing studies among various ethnic groups. Significant association is observed between rs1746048-C and an increased risk of CHD in Han Chinese (χ² = 5.41, df = 1, P = 0.02). Post hoc analysis reveals an even stronger association of rs1746048 with the risk of CHD for subjects aged 65 years or older (genotype: χ² = 8.39, df = 2, P = 0.015; allele: χ2 = 9.13, df = 1, P = 0.003, odd ratio (OR) = 1.91, 95% confidential interval (CI) = 1.25–2.91). A break down analysis by gender shows that rs1746048 is likely a CHD risk factor under the recessive model in males (CC + CT versus TT: P = 0.05, χ² = 3.59, df = 1, OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.00–3.04). In addition, a meta-analysis of ten studies among over 107,000 individuals confirms that rs1746048 is a risk factor of CHD (P < 0.0001, OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.09–1.15) and this agrees with the findings of our case–control study in Han Chinese.     

Generalized Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Phialophora verrucosa: Report of a Case and Review of Literature

We report a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Phialophora verrucosa in a 64-year-old Chinese farmer suffering from CD4+ lymphopenia. He presented with diffuse and infiltrated plaques involving the entire face including the eyes, neck, occiput, and extending to the dorsal regions of his torso. The patient is notable for the discrete multifocal nature of the illness in the absence of disseminated infection and rarity of P. verrucosa as a cause of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis.     

Later Passages of Neural Progenitor Cells from Neonatal Brain Are More Permissive for Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is the most frequent infectious cause of birth defects, primarily neurological disorders. Neural progenitor/stem cells (NPCs) are the major cell type in the subventricular zone and are susceptible to HCMV infection. In culture, the differentiation status of NPCs may change with passage, which in turn may alter susceptibility to virus infection. Previously, only early-passage (i.e., prior to passage 9) NPCs were studied and shown to be permissive to HCMV infection. In this study, NPC cultures derived at different gestational ages were evaluated after short (passages 3 to 6) and extended (passages 11 to 20) in vitro passages for biological and virological parameters (i.e., cell morphology, expression of NPC markers and HCMV receptors, viral entry efficiency, viral gene expression, virus-induced cytopathic effect, and release of infectious progeny). These parameters were not significantly influenced by the gestational age of the source tissues. However, extended-passage cultures showed evidence of initiation of differentiation, increased viral entry, and more efficient production of infectious progeny. These results confirm that NPCs are fully permissive for HCMV infection and that extended-passage NPCs initiate differentiation and are more permissive for HCMV infection. Later-passage NPCs being differentiated and more permissive for HCMV infection suggest that HCMV infection in fetal brain may cause more neural cell loss and give rise to severe neurological disabilities with advancing brain development.     

Inducible transgenic expression in the short‐lived fish Nothobranchius furzeri

This study demonstrates inducible transgenic expression in the exceptionally short‐lived turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri, which is a useful vertebrate model for ageing research. Transgenic N. furzeri bearing a green fluorescent protein (Gfp) containing construct under the control of a heat shock protein 70 promoter were generated, heat shock‐induced and reversible Gfp expression was demonstrated and germline transmission of the transgene to the F1 and F2 generations was achieved. The availability of this inducible transgenic expression system will make the study of ageing‐related antagonistically pleiotropic genes possible using this unique vertebrate model organism.     

In vitro selection of a DNA aptamer targeted against Shigella dysenteriae

To identify DNA aptamers demonstrating binding specificity for Shigella dysenteriae, a whole-bacterium Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment (SELEX) method was applied to a combinatorial library of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecules. After several rounds of selection using S. dysenteriae as the target, the highly enriched oligonucleotide pool was sequenced and then grouped into different families based on primary sequence homologies and similarities in the secondary structures. Aptamer S 1, which showed particularly high binding affinity in preliminary studies, was chosen for further characterisation. This aptamer displayed a dissociation constant (K_d value) of 23.47 ± 2.48 nM. Binding assays to assess the specificity of aptamer S 1 showed high binding affinity for S. dysenteriae and low apparent binding affinity for other bacteria. The ssDNA aptamers generated may serve as a new type of molecular probe for microbial pathogens, as it has the potential to overcome the tedious isolation and purification requirements for complex targets.