Genome map of Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus ATCC 27374

Abstract A physical map of the chromosome of Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus was constructed by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of restriction fragments generated by Sal I, Sma I and Not I. Digestion of the type strain ATCC 27374 with these restriction endonucleases resulted in generating 4–14 fragments. The order of the fragments was deduced from hybridization of these restriction fragments to Southern blots of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis gels generated by the other two enzymes. The estimated genome size was 1160 kb. The position of several homologous and heterologous genes was determined on the circular map. These included the 2.8-kb sapA gene, encoding the 97-kDa surface array protein. Three copies of ribosomal RNA genes for which the 16S, 23S and 5S rRNA appeared to be located in close proximity in each of the three regions. The RNA polymerase genes rpoA , rpoB , and rpoD were mapped and appeared to be situated close together in one region. The flagellin genes ( flaAB ) of C. jejuni and the gyrase genes gyrA and gyrB of C. perfringens and Bacillus subtilis , respectively, were used to identify the locations of flaAB , the gyrA and the gyrB genes on the ATCC 27374 chromosome.     

Magnesium permeability of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Mg2+ is not countertransported during ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum

Magnesium transport across sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles was investigated in reaction mixtures of various composition using antipyrylazo III or arsenazo I to monitor extravesicular free Mg2+. The half-time of passive Mg2+ efflux from Mg2+-loaded SR was 100 s in 100 mM KCl, 150 S in 100 mM K gluconate, and 370 S in either 100 mM Tris methanesulfonate or 200 mM sucrose solutions. The concentration and time course of Mg2+ released into the medium was also measured during ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by SR. In reaction mixtures containing up to 3 mM Mg2+, small changes in free magnesium of 10 microM or less were accurately detected without interference from changes in free Ca2+ of up to 100 microM. Three experimental protocols were used to determine whether the increase of free [Mg2+] in the medium after an addition of ATP was due to Mg2+ dissociated from ATP following ATP hydrolysis or to Mg2+ translocation from inside to outside of the vesicles. 1) In the presence of ATP-regenerating systems which maintained constant ATP to ADP ratios and normal rates of active Ca2+ uptake, the increase of Mg2+ in the medium was negligible. 2) Mg2+ released during ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by SR was similar to that observed during ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by apyrase, in the absence of SR. 3) In SR lysed with Triton X-100 such that Ca2+ transport was uncoupled from ATPase activity, the rate and amount of Mg2+ release was greater than that observed during ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by intact vesicles. Taken together, the results indicate that passive fluxes of Mg2+ across SR membranes are 10 times faster than those of Ca2+ and that Mg2+ is not counter-transported during active Ca2+ accumulation by SR even in reaction mixtures containing minimal concentrations of membrane permeable ions that could be rapidly exchanged or cotransported with Ca2+ (e.g. K+ or Cl-).     

Markers of atopic dermatitis,allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma in pediatric patients: correlation with filaggrin,eosinophil major basic protein and immunoglobulin E

Background

Allergic reactions have been implicated as contributions in a number of atopic disorders, including atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic rhinitis (AR) and bronchial asthma (BA). However, the potential for filaggrin protein, eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) and immunoglobulin E (IgE) to elicit allergic response or to contribute to atopic disorders remains largely unexplored in pediatric patients. This study was undertaken to investigate the status and contribution of filaggrin protein, eosinophil MBP and total IgE in pediatric patients with AD, AR and BA.

Methods

Sera from 395 pediatric patients of AD, AR or BA with varying levels of disease activity according to the disease activity index and 410 age-matched non-atopic healthy controls were evaluated for serum levels of atopic markers, including filaggrin, eosinophil MBP and IgE.

Results

Serum analysis showed that filaggrin levels were remarkably high in pediatric patients with AD, followed by BA and AR, whereas its levels were low in non-atopic pediatric controls. Eosinophil MBP levels in sera of atopic patients were significantly high as compared with their respective controls, but its levels were highest in AR patients, followed by AD and BA. Total IgE in sera of AD patients was markedly high, followed by AR and BA patients, whereas its levels were low in non-atopic pediatric controls. Interestingly, not only was an increased number of subjects positive for filaggrin protein, eosinophil MBP or total IgE, but also their levels were statistically significantly higher among those atopic patients whose disease activity scores were higher as compared with atopic patients with lower disease activity scores.

Conclusions

These findings strongly support a role of filaggrin protein, eosinophil MBP and IgE in the onset of allergic reactions in pediatric patients with AD, AR and BA. The data suggest that filaggrin, eosinophil MBP or IgE might be useful in evaluating the progression of AD, AR or BA and in elucidating the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of these pediatric disorders.

     

Increment of hFIX expression with endogenous intron 1 in Vitro

This paper probes into the feasibility of increasing expression level of hFIX gene with endogenous intron 1 sequence.hFIX minigene was obtained with middle sequence truncated intron 1 inserted into the relative site of hFIX cDNA,and plasmid vector pKG5i‘IX,retroviral vector G1NaCi‘IX were constructed.These vectors were transduced into target cells of PA317,C2C12,primary rabbit skin fibroblasts (RSF) and primary human skin fibroblasts (HSF).The expression level of mixed colonies are PA317/pKG5i‘IX,151 ng/10^6 cells/24h;PA317/G1NaCi‘IX,308 ng/10^6 cells/24 h;C2C12/G1NaCi‘IX,186 ng/10^6 cells/24 h;RSF/G1NaCi‘IX,1929 ng/10^6 cells/24 h;HSF/G1NaCi‘IX,1646 ng/10^6 cells/24 h.These results indicated that hFIX minigene with intron l is able to increase the expression level to about 3 times of that of hFIX cDNA.Meanwhile,in order to study the application of hFIX minigene in the retroviral-mediated gene transfer system and refrain from intron splicing during viral production,a retroviral vector G1NaCi‘IXR with reversely inserted hFIX minigene expression cassette was constructed.The expression level of reverse constructor in PA317 cells was 390 ng/10^6 cells/24 h with 79% of bioactivity.PCR detection of HT/G1NaCi‘IXR cells infected with PA317/G1NaCi‘IXR supernatant confirmed the existence of intron 1 sequence.These results suggested that expression vector with forward-inserted intronl-carrying hFIX expression cassette can be used in directed gene transfer,but when using the retroviral-mediated gene transfer system,reversely-inserted intronl-carrying hFIX expression cassette should be considered.     

Helicobacter pylori strains vary cell shape and flagellum number to maintain robust motility in viscous environments

The helical shape of the human stomach pathogen Helicobacter pylori has been suggested to provide mechanical advantage for penetrating the viscous stomach mucus layer. Using single‐cell tracking and quantitative morphology analysis, we document marked variation in cell body helical parameters and flagellum number among H. pylori strains leading to distinct and broad speed distributions in broth and viscous gastric mucin media. These distributions reflect both temporal variation in swimming speed and morphologic variation within the population. Isogenic mutants with straight‐rod morphology showed 7–21% reduction in speed and a lower fraction of motile bacteria. Mutational perturbation of flagellum number revealed a 19% increase in speed with 4 versus 3 median flagellum number. Resistive force theory modeling incorporating variation of both cell shape and flagellum number predicts qualitative speed differences of 10–30% among strains. However, quantitative comparisons suggest resistive force theory underestimates the influence of cell body shape on speed for helical shaped bacteria.     

Acute immune hemolysis induced by a degradation product of amphotericin B

We report here on an eight-year-old boy who first developed acute intravascular hemolysis following therapy with amphotericin B (AmB) and subsequently a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction due to alloantibodies. Although there is as yet no evidence for metabolism of AmB in vivo, the hemolysis appeared to be the result of sensitization against a degradation product of the drug. The patient's serum contained a hemagglutinating IgM antibody that reacted with all red blood cells (RBC) tested in the presence of plasma obtained from patients receiving AmB (ex vivo antigen), but not in the presence of their urine, AmB itself, or with AmB-pretreated RBC. These findings indicate that the antibody was directed against a degradation product of AmB, presumably a trace metabolite, that has not yet been identified.     

康氏木霉纤维素酶系中C_x酶多分子型的分离纯化及某些性质

从康氐木霉(Trichoderma k(?)ningii)白色变异株As 3.4001的粗酶制剂中,获得了纤维素酶系中的一组C_x酶(C_(x1) C_(x2) C_(x3) C_(x4))。分离步骤包括Sephadex G-75凝胶过滤,DEAESephadex A-50离子交换层析,ConA-Sepharose亲合层析,SE-Sephadex C-50离子交换层析及聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳。C_(x1)与C_(x2)的分子量不同而所带电荷相同,它们的分子量各自为44,500和34,000。C_(x2)—C_(x4)的分子量相同而所带电荷不同。纯化的C_(x1)—C_(x4)经聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳鉴定为单带。比较它们对羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC-Na)的糖化力及液化力表明在作用方式的随机性上C_(x2)>C_(x3)>C_(x1)>C_(x4)。