Differential expression of the human Thy-1 gene in rodent-human somatic cell hybrids [corrected

Thy-1 is a cell surface differentiation marker which shows distinct patterns of tissue-specific expression in different species. In man, the Thy-1 antigen is encoded by chromosome 11. We have examined the regulatory signals determining human Thy-1 expression through serologic analysis of rodent-human somatic cell hybrids retaining human chromosome 11 in which the fusion partners belong to distinct differentiation lineages. Cell surface expression of human Thy-1 was determined by mixed hemadsorption assays with two monoclonal antibodies (mAb), K117 and L127, shown to detect authentic human Thy-1 through analysis of COS-7 monkey kidney cells transfected with a cloned human Thy-1 gene. Three different patterns of human Thy-1 expression were observed when hybrid cells, constructed with different human and rodent cell types, were tested with mAb K117 and L127. Hybrids formed between Thy-1+ human neuroblastoma cells and Thy-1- mouse neuroblastoma cells, or hybrids between Thy-1+ human fibroblasts and the Thy-1- mouse kidney carcinoma, RAG, retain human Thy-1 expression. In contrast, hybrids formed between either Thy-1+ human neuroblastoma cells or Thy-1+ human fibroblasts and Thy-1- mouse L cells lose expression of human Thy-1 even though chromosome 11 is retained. Finally, hybrids formed between Thy-1- human peripheral lymphocytes or a Thy-1- lymphoblastoid B cell line and Thy-1- Chinese hamster fibroblasts begin to express human Thy-1. These studies suggest that both positive and negative trans-acting signals may play a role in the tissue-specific regulation of the human Thy-1 gene.     

Polymorphism and diversity in the Tla gene system

The TL products of mouse strains carrying the Tla ^a, Tla^a, and Tla ^e haplotypes were analyzed by comparative peptide mapping. As expected from their known serologic differences, TL antigens from strain A (Tla ^a), A.CA strain (Tla ^d) and P/J strain (Tla ^e) mice showed structural variation. However, comparable variations were also observed in the TL product derived from strains expressing the serologically indistinguishable Tla ^a allele (A, NFS/N, SJL/J, C57BR, and C58) demonstrating additional unexpected polymorphism in the TL system. When compared with the structural diversity of the H-2 K and D gene products, the structural variation of the TL antigens was small. Taken together, the results of our analysis of the TL products suggest that Tla polymorphism is more extensive than previously thought; however, the structural diversity of the products is still low compared with K and D gene products.     

Reference collection of strains of the Salmonella typhimurium complex from natural populations

A collection of 72 reference strains of the Salmonella typhimurium complex of clones recovered from a variety of hosts and environmental sources in diverse geographic locations has been established for use in studies of variation in natural populations. Included are strains of the serovars S. typhimurium, S. saintpaul, S. heidelberg, S. paratyphi B (including variety java) and S. muenchen. The strains, which have been characterized by enzyme electrophoresis for allelic variation in 24 chromosomal structural genes and represent 48 distinctive multilocus genotypes (electrophoretic types or ETs), exemplify the full range of genotypic variation in the S. typhimurium complex. Evolutionary genetic relationships among the ETs are indicated in a phylogenetic tree generated by the neighbour-joining method from a matrix of Nei's standard genetic distance.     

Production of a mannose-resistant fibrillar haemagglutinin by strains of Escherichia coli of EPEC serotype O111:H12

Two strains of Escherichia coli of serotype O111:H12 produced a mannose-resistant haemagglutinin (MREHA) of Duguid's pattern 7 that reacted strongly with the red cells of ox and sheep. These strains also adhered to HEp2-epithelial cells and formed fibrillae demonstrable by negative staining and immunogold labelling.     

Localisation on human chromosome 19 of three genes for cell surface antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies

Expression of three distinct human cell surface antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was examined in a series of rodent-human somatic cell hybrids retaining different subsets of human chromosomes. Cell surface reactivity with mAbs F8 and G253, detecting a 95 kilodalton (kD) glycoprotein (gp95); with mAbs F10 and A103, detecting a 50 kD glycoprotein (gp50); and with mAb S7 was found to cosegregate with human chromosome 19. However, differential antigen expression was observed with hybrids containing fragments of the 19 and hybrids constructed with different human cell types. Comparison of results from the serological typing with the presence of a number of chromosome 19 DNA markers in hybrid cells and cytogenetic analysis suggests that MSK20, the gene coding for the F10/A103 antigen gp50, is located in chromosome region 19pter----19p13.2. The genes coding for the F8/G253 antigen, gp95 (gene symbol MSK19) and the S7 antigen (MSK37) are located in region 19p13.2----19q13.2. Thus, the cell surface antigens described in this study may be used as selectable markers for specific portions of human chromosome 19.