Crystal Structure of the Dog Lipocalin Allergen Can f 2: Implications for Cross-reactivity to the Cat Allergen Fel d 4

The dog lipocalin allergen Can f 2 is an important cause of allergic sensitization in humans worldwide. Here, the first crystal structure of recombinant rCan f 2 at 1.45 Å resolution displays a classical lipocalin fold with a conserved Gly-Xaa-Trp motif, in which Trp19 stabilizes the overall topology of the monomeric rCan f 2. Phe38 and Tyr84 localized on the L1 and L5 loops, respectively, control access to the highly hydrophobic calyx. Although the rCan f 2 calyx is nearly identical with the aero-allergens MUP1, Equ c 1 and A2U from mouse, horse and rat, respectively, no IgE cross-reactivity was found using sera from five mono-sensitized subjects. However, clear IgE cross-reactivity was demonstrated between Can f 2 and the cat allergen Fel d 4, although they share less than 22% sequence identity. This suggests a role for these allergens in co-sensitization between cat- and dog-allergic patients.     

One-tube loop-mediated isothermal amplification combined with restriction endonuclease digestion and ELISA for colorimetric detection of resistance to isoniazid, ethambutol and streptomycin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates

In this study, we designed a simple and rapid colorimetric detection method, a one-tube loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-PCR-hybridization-restriction endonuclease-ELISA [one-tube LAMP-PCR-HY-RE-ELISA] system, to detect resistance to isoniazid, ethambutol and streptomycin in strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from clinical specimens. The clinical performance of this method for detecting isoniazid-resistant, ethambutol-resistant and streptomycin-resistant isolates of M. tuberculosis showed 98.9%, 94.3% and 93.8%, respectively. This assay is rapid and convenient that can be performed within one working day. One-tube LAMP-PCR-HY-RE-ELISA system was designed based on hot spot point mutations in target drug-resistant genes, using LAMP-PCR, hybridization, digestion with restriction endonuclease and colorimetric method of ELISA. In this study, LAMP assay was used to amplify DNA from drug-resistant M. tuberculosis, and ELISA was used for colorimetrical determination. This assay will be a useful tool for rapid diagnosis of mutant codons in strains of M. tuberculosis for isoniazid at katG 315 and katG 463, ethambutol at embB 306 and embB 497, and streptomycin at rpsL 43.     

Computational genome analyses of metabolic enzymes in Mycobacterium leprae for drug target identification

Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. M. leprae has undergone a major reductive evolution leaving a minimal set of functional genes for survival. It remains non-cultivable. As M. leprae develops resistance against most of the drugs, novel drug targets are required in order to design new drugs. As most of the essential genes mediate several biosynthetic and metabolic pathways, the pathway predictions can predict essential genes. We used comparative genome analysis of metabolic enzymes in M. leprae and H. sapiens using KEGG pathway database and identified 179 non-homologues enzymes. On further comparison of these 179 non-homologous enzymes to the list of minimal set of 48 essential genes required for cell-wall biosynthesis of M. leprae reveals eight common enzymes. Interestingly, six of these eight common enzymes map to that of peptidoglycan biosynthesis and they all belong to Mur enzymes. The machinery for peptidoglycan biosynthesis is a rich source of crucial targets for antibacterial chemotherapy and thus targeting these enzymes is a step towards facilitating the search for new antibiotics.     

结核杆菌潜伏感染小鼠模型的制备及其评价指标

目前对于结核分枝杆菌进入潜伏期的机制以及再激化的原因知之甚少,一个重要的原因是缺乏潜伏感染(LTBI)动物模型,完整的LTBI模型应包括两种类型,一是低剂量荷菌的持续性感染模型,另一种为潜伏感染模型,即Cornell模型的改进型。综合使用柯氏量表评分、脾肺荷菌数、诱导的IFN-γ和TNF-α水平、组织中IL-10和IL-4的表达、脏器中特异性抗原负荷以及激素诱导TB复发的时间、潜伏感染相关基因的表达水平等指标可以比较准确、客观、特异性的评价小鼠LTBI模型的反应性。     

应用荧光染色法检测寄主昆虫体表病原真菌孢子及其附着孢

采用蝗虫翅膀作为侵染组织,探讨了荧光染色剂Calcofluor White M2R在观测寄主体表绿僵菌孢子及其附着孢形成中的应用。结果表明,在荧光显微镜下,清晰可见蝗虫翅膀上发蓝色荧光的绿僵菌孢子、芽管及附着孢,而蝗虫翅膀未被染色,避免了干扰观察目标物。该方法可以准确观察病原真菌孢子在昆虫体表组织的萌发及附着孢形成。     

Isovalent and mixed-valent molybdenum complexes containing Mo(μ-E)(μ-S2)Mo (E = O, S) core units

The reactions of Tp^iPrMoO(SR)(NCMe) (Tp^iPr = hydrotris(3-isopropylpyrazolyl)borate) with propylene sulfide in toluene result in the formation of the diamagnetic, isovalent Mo(V) complex, [Tp^iPrMo^VO]₂(μ-S)(μ-S₂). This complex and its previously reported μ-oxo analog, [Tp^iPrMo^VO]₂(μ-O)(μ-S₂), react with cobaltocene to produce one-electron-reduced, mixed-valent complexes, [CoCp₂][{Tp^iPrMo^IV,VO}₂(μ-E)(μ-S₂)] (E = S or O, respectively). All complexes have been isolated and characterized by microanalysis, mass spectrometry, IR and ¹H NMR or EPR spectroscopies, and X-ray crystallography. Neutral [Tp^iPrMo^VO]₂(μ-S)(μ-S₂) exhibits a pseudo-C₂ symmetric structure, with distorted octahedral anti oxo-Mo(IV) centers coordinated by Tp^iPr and linked by μ-sulfido and μ-disulfido ligands. A similar structure is adopted by the anion in mixed-valent [CoCp₂][{Tp^iPrMo^IV,VO}₂(μ-S)(μ-S₂)]; this compound adopts a hexagonal, supramolecular structure with columns of tight ion-pairs with interactions, interconnected through weaker contacts to three neighboring columns. The structure contains large interstitial voids filled with lattice solvent molecules. EPR investigation of the mixed-valent complexes gave rise to unusually broad signals with no evident hyperfine splitting. The synthesis and characterization of a number of cis-dioxo-Mo(VI) precursors are also reported.     

应用HTS-ELISA筛选方法制备抗黄曲霉毒素M1单抗

摘要：【目的】 确立基于高通量酶联免疫（HTS-ELISA）筛选方法制备高亲和力抗黄曲霉毒素M1单克隆抗体的方法体系。【方法】 采用AFM1-BSA （Aflatoxin M1-bovine serum albumin）免疫Balb/C小鼠,利用HTS-ELISA方法筛选分泌抗黄曲霉毒素 M1单抗的杂交瘤细胞株,并分析抗体的特性。【结果】筛选到14株具有分泌高活性抗黄曲霉毒素M1单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,纯化的最佳抗体的亲和力为5.5×10-10 mol/L。与黄曲霉毒素M1及其结构类似物黄曲霉毒素M2、B1、B2、G1、G2以及其他物质脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇和BSA的交叉反应率分别为100%、4.5%、21.5%、1.0%、16.6%、1.0%、0%、0%。间接竞争ELISA检测最低检测限可达0.01 μg/L,线性范围为0.1-10 μg/L,竞争性抑制抗体反应50%的抑制浓度IC50为0.82 μg/L,添加0.25-5 μg/L黄曲霉毒素的牛奶间接竞争ELISA检测回收率在60.3%-152.8之间。【结论】HTS-ELISA方法可以制备具有高亲和力的抗黄曲霉毒素M1单克隆抗体,可为黄曲霉毒素M1免疫检测体系的建立提供优质抗体材料。