MyD88 Is Required for Protection from Lethal Infection with a Mouse-Adapted SARS-CoV

A novel human coronavirus, SARS-CoV, emerged suddenly in 2003, causing approximately 8000 human cases and more than 700 deaths worldwide. Since most animal models fail to faithfully recapitulate the clinical course of SARS-CoV in humans, the virus and host factors that mediate disease pathogenesis remain unclear. Recently, our laboratory and others developed a recombinant mouse-adapted SARS-CoV (rMA15) that was lethal in BALB/c mice. In contrast, intranasal infection of young 10-week-old C57BL/6 mice with rMA15 results in a nonlethal infection characterized by high titer replication within the lungs, lung inflammation, destruction of lung tissue, and loss of body weight, thus providing a useful model to identify host mediators of protection. Here, we report that mice deficient in MyD88 (MyD88^−/−), an adapter protein that mediates Toll-like receptor (TLR), IL-1R, and IL-18R signaling, are far more susceptible to rMA15 infection. The genetic absence of MyD88 resulted in enhanced pulmonary pathology and greater than 90% mortality by day 6 post-infection. MyD88^−/− mice had significantly higher viral loads in lung tissue throughout the course of infection. Despite increased viral loads, the expression of multiple proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines within lung tissue and recruitment of inflammatory monocytes/macrophages to the lung was severely impaired in MyD88^−/− mice compared to wild-type mice. Furthermore, mice deficient in chemokine receptors that contribute to monocyte recruitment to the lung were more susceptible to rMA15-induced disease and exhibited severe lung pathology similar to that seen in MyD88^−/−mice. These data suggest that MyD88-mediated innate immune signaling and inflammatory cell recruitment to the lung are required for protection from lethal rMA15 infection.     

Isolation of a homocysteine gamma-lyase-producing bacterium and study of its enzyme production conditions

Aim: To investigate the possibility of finding a new homocysteine (Hcy) γ‐lyase with the desired properties for Hcy measurement in bacteria. Methods and Results: Through a process of enrichment, the Hcy γ‐lyase‐producing bacterium strain N2‐1 was isolated from soil. Based upon its morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, as well as its 16S rDNA sequence and phylogenetic tree analysis, this isolate belongs to the genus Serratia. The effects of pH, aeration, inducers, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sources on enzyme production were studied. Methionine, yeast extract, and glucose were selected as the optimal inducer, C and N sources, respectively. Maximum production of Hcy γ‐lyase was obtained when the isolate was cultured at 30°C at pH 6·5 for about 36 h in the optimum medium. Results also showed that this Hcy γ‐lyase has relatively high specificity towards Hcy. Conclusions: Because of its high specificity for Hcy, this bacterial Hcy γ‐lyase has the potential application in Hcy determination. Significance and Impact of the Study: In addition to isolating a bacterium that produces Hcy γ‐lyase suitable for Hcy determination, this study also indicates that the bacterium could be a source for production of Hcy γ‐lyase for clinical applications.     

Implication of RNA-binding protein La in proliferation, migration and invasion of lymph node-metastasized hypopharyngeal SCC cells

The 5-year survival rate for oral cavity cancer is poorer than for breast, colon or prostate cancer, and has improved only slightly in the last three decades. Hence, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Here we demonstrate by tissue micro array analysis for the first time that RNA-binding protein La is significantly overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Within this study we therefore addressed the question whether siRNA-mediated depletion of the La protein may interfere with known tumor-promoting characteristics of head and neck SCC cells. Our studies demonstrate that the La protein promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion of lymph node-metastasized hypopharyngeal SCC cells. We also reveal that La is required for the expression of β-catenin as well as matrix metalloproteinase type 2 (MMP-2) within these cells. Taken together these data suggest a so far unknown function of the RNA-binding protein La in promoting tumor progression of head and neck SCC.     

Differences in viral distribution and cell adhesion molecule expression in the intestinal tract of rhesus macaques infected with pathogenic and nonpathogenic SIV

We investigated SIV infection and expression of adhesion molecules in the small intestine of rhesus macaques infected with pathogenic SIV (SIV_mac) or nonpathogenic clone (SIV_1A11). There was a wider dissemination and marked difference in tissue localization of SIV_mac relative to SIV_1A11. Our results also indicate that viral pathogenicity is associated with increased migration of inflammatory cells expressing VLA-α4, LFA-1α, Mac-1α, ICAM-1, and β2 integrin into the intestinal mucosa.     

Sodium dependence of acetate formation by the acetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii.

Growth of Acetobacterium woodii on fructose was stimulated by Na+; this stimulation was paralleled by a shift of the acetate-fructose ratio from 2.1 to 2.7. Growth on H2-CO2 or on methanol plus CO2 was strictly dependent on the presence of sodium ions in the medium. Acetate formation from formaldehyde plus H2-CO by resting cells required Na+, but from methanol plus H2-CO did not. This is analogous to H2-CO2 reduction to methane by Methanosarcina barkeri, which involves a sodium pump (V. Müller, C. Winner, and G. Gottschalk, Eur. J. Biochem. 178:519-525, 1988). This suggests that the reduction of methylenetetrahydrofolate to methyltetrahydrofolate is the Na+-requiring reaction. A sodium gradient (Na+ out/Na+ in = 32, delta pNa = -91 mV) was built up when resting cells of A. woodii were incubated under H2-CO2. Acetogenesis was inhibited when the delta pNa was dissipated by monensin.     

Nest structure and colony cycle of the Allegheny mound ant,Formica exsectoides Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Summary The nest structure and colony cycle of a population of Allegheny mound ants,Formica exsectoides, were examined in central Michigan. The dispersion pattern of mounds was random. Nest structure and presence of brood were primarily determined by excavation of twenty-three nests over three intervals from June through September. Additional excavations of five nests in 1990 and ten nests in 1991 provided further details on nest structure and colony cycle. Most galleries occurred within the mound and upper 30 cm of soil, but some activity reached depths of 100 to 270 cm. Depth of nests showed little correlation with external measurements of height and diameter. Immature stages were recovered from two strata: the upper 20 cm of nest and mound and the lowest nest depths. Alate sexual forms were found in or near the mound in July, and numerous dealate queens were collected in September from peripheral galleries near the soil surface.     

The feeding biology of Hydrobia ventrosa (Montagu). II. Allocation of the components of the carbon-budget and the significance of the secretion of dissolved organic material

The deposit-feeding prosobranch Hydrobia ventrosa (Montagu) was fed ¹⁴C-labelled food for a short period. As food, sterile detritus (homogenously ¹⁴C-labelled, dried barley hay), detritus with attached bacteria, and pure bacteria were used. The distribution of the ingested ¹⁴C was followed for a 24-h period. It was found that the assimilation efficiencies of sterile hay, hay with bacteria, and pure bacteria were 34, 56, and 70 %, respectively. This indicates a significance of bacteria for deposit-feeders. There is a considerable loss of dissolved organic material, in part due to leakage from faecal pellets (13 % of the ingested C in the case of a pure bacterial meal and 7 % of the ingested C in the case of sterile hay). The animals also excrete about 30 % of the assimilated carbon. Excretion of mucus constitutes about 9 % of the assimilated carbon. The fraction of assimilated carbon respired depends on the nature of the food. For sterile hay, hay with bacteria, and pure bacteria the percentage respired was 53, 30, and 38 %, respectively. Growth efficiency is, therefore, higher when protein-rich bacteria are included in the diet.