HLA-binding regions of HIV-1 proteins. I. Detection of seven HLA binding regions in the HIV-1 Nef protein.

The physical association of HLA class I or H-2 molecules with 36 HIV-1 Nef synthetic peptides was studied using a direct peptide binding assay (PBA) in solid phase. To assess the functional significance of the PBA results, the Nef peptides were also tested for their ability to inhibit the lytic activity of human or murine CTL. The PBA results showed that seven partly overlapping regions of the Nef protein contained MHC binding peptides (4-18, 46-67, 73-94, 100-128, 126-155, 182-198, and 192-206). Five of these seven regions included all the already described epitopes recognized by CD8+ human CTL. The two other regions, 4-18 and 46-67, are not yet described as antigenic for human CD8+ cells but they are located in the N-terminal part of Nef that was previously described as being stimulator for rat or chimpanzee CD4+ cells. Altogether, it can be concluded that 1) In virtually 100% of the cases, the PBA is capable to detect known antigenic peptides recognized by CTL. 2) The PBA and the functional inhibition assay provide similar results, supporting the functional significance of PBA results. 3) The PBA is easy to handle on a large scale, using multiple peptide and several MHC molecules, so that it can be used as a routine method for prevision of possibly epitopic sequences. 4) Systematic studies of peptides issued from the whole sequence of a given protein allow to map polyepitopic areas that are probably the most interesting parts of proteins for a vaccine purpose.     

Prospective study of bacterial meningitis in North East Thames region, 1991-3, during introduction of Haemophilus influenzae vaccine.

OBJECTIVE--To describe the epidemiology of primary bacterial meningitis in the North East Thames region over a three year period before and during the introduction of the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae type b. DESIGN--Analysis of information on cases of primary bacterial meningitis identified by microbiology laboratories in the region, with collection of case data by questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Annual incidence rates for types of meningitis according to age and ethnic group. RESULTS--The annual incidence rates for the three major causes of bacterial meningitis in the general population were 1.9/100,000 for Neisseria meningitidis, 1.6/100,000 for Haemophilus influenzae before vaccination, and 1.0/100,000 for Streptococcus pneumoniae. Higher rates of H influenzae meningitis were found in Asians compared with white people (3.6/100,000 v 1.5/100,000, P = 0.01). As a result of the vaccine programme introduced in October 1992 the number of cases of H influenzae meningitis in children under 5 years has fallen by 87%. CONCLUSIONS--Bacterial meningitis is a serious problem especially in preschool children. There are differences in the incidence of some causes of bacterial meningitis in different ethnic groups; with H influenzae type b being significantly more common among black and Asian people than among white people. The immunisation programme for H influenzae type b in the North East Thames region has been successful in reducing the incidence of this type of meningitis in Asian and white populations. The numbers were too small to evaluate in the black population.     

What is the role of cytokines in human colostrum?

No one has ever doubted that maternal milk, in comparison to formula milk, has a far superior nutritional value. Colostrum has a well acknowledge crucial value for the survival of the animal species that cannot receive immunoglobulins through the placenta. Until recently the presence of cytokines in colostrum was unsuspected but it has been now clarified that normally there are at least four cytokines, namely interleukin 1 and 6, tumor necrosis factor and interferon gamma, that may exert an important immunostimulatory role particularly on the oropharyngeal-associated lymphoid tissue. As a corollary, physiological concentration of cytokines administered per os may exert a useful adjuvant activity in aged or immunodeficient people.     

Ruptured fission yeast walls

Distributions of rupture sites of fission yeast cells ruptured by glass beads have been related to a new morphometric analysis. As shown previously (Johnson et al.,Cell Biophysics, 1995), ruptures were not randomly distributed nor was their distribution dictated by geometry, rather, ruptures at the extensile end were related to cell length just as the rate of extension is related to cell length. The extension patterns of early log, mid-log, late log, and stationary phase cells from suspension cultures were found to approximate the linear growth patterns of Kubitschek and Clay (1986). The median length of cells was found to decline through the log phase in an unbalanced manner.     

Packing forces in ribonuclease crystals

Packing in Ribonuclease A and Ribonuclease S crystals have been compared in order to determine the possible role of the precipitant on lattice contacts. Both proteins have similar tertiary structures, but they crystallize in different space groups depending on the precipitating agent. It is found that packing differs either by the number of nearest neighbours or by the size of surface areas buried in individual contacts. Ammonium sulfate seems to promote hydrophobic interactions with interfaces similar to those found in oligomeric proteins. Organic precipitants favour electrostatic interactions.