七鳃鳗血清中补体C3和VLRB介导的免疫防御

日本七鳃鳗（Lampetra japonica）属最原始的无颌类脊椎动物,是研究免疫起源与进化的重要模式生物。七鳃鳗血清中C3分子(L-C3)是其含量最高的补体成分,在补体经典激活途径和旁路激活途径中均发挥重要作用。本文通过PCR扩增获取C3分子α-γ链的基因序列,构建到原核表达载体pET-28a,成功在大肠杆菌中表达C3部分蛋白质并制备多克隆抗体。利用流式细胞术和激光共聚焦证明,L-C3分布在神经轴体的胞浆中。免疫共沉淀及细胞沉积结果显示,七鳃鳗血清中,VLRB与L-C3蛋白相互作用并共沉积于靶细胞膜表面。天然L-C3和VLRB清除实验,验证其在参与七鳃鳗血清杀伤靶细胞时发挥重要作用。本研究为七鳃鳗补体系统的研究奠定了基础,为七鳃鳗免疫起源与进化提供重要资料。     

Polyclonal antibody production against rGPC3 and their application in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Glypican-3 (GPC3) is an integral membrane proteoglycan, which contains a core protein anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage. The glypican-3 can regulate the signaling pathways, thereby enhances cell division, growth, and apoptosis in certain cell types. It is almost nonexistent on the surface of the human normal cell membrane and highly expresses on the membrane of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. It has been well established that GPC3 provides a useful diagnostic marker. For generating the polyclonal antibody of GPC3, we expected that GPC3 N-terminal region (amino acid sequence 26–358) could be expressed in Escherichia coli system, however, no active expression was observed after IPTG induction. Interestingly, after deletion of six proline residues from position 26 to 31 in the N-terminus, expression of recombinant GPC3 was clearly detected. We further analyzed the expressed protein deprived of six prolines, to immunize the New Zealand male rabbits for production of active antibodies. The binding affinity of antibody was analyzed by immunofluorescence analysis, immunohistochemical detection, and western blotting. The functional GPC3 N-terminal protein recombinant development, expression, purification, and the polyclonal antibody have been generated provide the basis for the diagnosis of HCC in cancer therapy.     

Common and form-specific cell wall antigens of Candida albicans as released by chemical and enzymatic treatments

In order to investigate the antigenic properties of the proteins and mannoproteins present in the cell surface of Candida albicans, and to identify individual antigenic moieties and their distribution, a number of polyclonal antisera were obtained by immunizing rabbits with chemical and enzymatic cell wall extracts obtained from intact cells from both growth forms (yeast and mycelium) of the fungus. Prior to injection, wall moieties present in the extracts were subjected to different treatments and/or purification procedures such as adsorption onto polystyrenelatex microbeads or electrophoretic separation. When used as probes in indirect immunofluorescence assays, the different antisera gave rise to different fluorescence patterns varying in intensity and topological localization of the reactivity in C. albicans cells. When the different antisera were used as probes in Western blots of wall proteinaceous materials solubilized from both blastospores and germ tubes, differences in reactivity and specificity were readily discernible, allowing to identify a number of common and form-specific cell wall components. Of special interest was the fact that one of the antisera raised, after adsorption onto heat-killed blastospores, specifically recognized medium to low molecular weight moieties present only in the cell wall extracts from germ tubes. When this antiserum was used as probe in immunofluorescence assays, reactivity was confined to the hyphal extensions. Together, these observations seem to indicate that the different antibody preparations described in this report could represent important tools in the study of different aspects of the cell wall biology in C. albicans, including the identification and study of the distribution of common and form-specific cell wall-bound antigens.Abbreviations IIF Indirect immunofluorescence - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - PAb polyclonal antibody     

CHARACTERIZATION OF MORPHOSPECIES AND STRAINS OF MICROCYSTIS (CYANOBACTERIA) FROM NATURAL POPULATIONS AND LABORATORY CLONES USING CELL PROBES (LECTINS AND ANTIBODIES)1

The genus Microcystis (cyanobacteria) includes toxic and bloom-forming morphotypes which are usually arranged into species based on morphological features. Immunofluorescence assays using polyclonal and preadsorbed antibodies, as well as FITC-labebd lectins were used to characterize three morphospecies of Microcystis (M. viridis, M. wesenbergii, and M. aeruginosa) from natural populations (several lakes/reservoirs in Denmark and Spain) and laboratory clones. The cell probes used were unaffected by the different phases of the cell division cycle, growth phase, or environmental factors, such as culture medium, light, or temperature. Anhbody and lectin binding patterns were specific to each clone. In nature, the cell probes were useful tools to characterize Microcystis populations. Antibodies and lectins revealed geographic differentiation within the same morphospecies. Differentiation was moderate among nearby locales and intensified among areas distant from one another. Microcystis aeruginosa from Spain has very different cell surface antigens and lectin binding sites than M. aeruginosa from Denmark. A taxonomy of Microcystis based on cell probes reveals some discrepancies with classical morphospecies. The binding affinities were more closely related to the geographic origin of the tested material than to the morphospecies identification. Different morphospecies from the same lake in some cases were more similar than the same morphospecies from different lakes. Microcystis viridis and M. aeruginosa from Danish lakes appeared to be closely related species, whereas M. wesenbergii emerged as a different species.     

抗乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原preS1（20－47）多抗的制备、性质和应用

ＨＢｓＡｇｐｒｅＳ１（２１－４７）肽参与乙肝病毒与肝细胞受体的结合。我们用固相法合成了ＨＢｓＡｇｐｒｅＳ１（２０－４７）２８肽,并用此肽与ＢＳＡ的偶联物免疫家兔;抗血清经亲和层析纯化后,得到了高纯度、高活力及专一性的抗ＨＢｓＡｇｐｒｅＳ１（２０－４７）多抗,它能成功地用于基因工程表达产物及病人血清中的ＰｒｅＳ１抗原的检测。     

Identification and characterization of antibodies elicited by human cystatin C fragment

Amyloid formation is associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases that affect the independence and quality of life of aging populations. One of rather atypical, occurring at a young age amyloidosis is hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy (HCCAA) related to aggregation of L68Q variant of human cystatin C (hCC). Human cystatin C plays a very important role in many aspects of human health; however, its amyloidogenic properties manifested in HCCAA present a real, lethal threat to some populations and any work on factors that can affect possible influencing hCC aggregation is not to overestimate. It was proved that interaction of hCC with monoclonal antibodies suppresses significantly hCC dimerization process. Therefore, immunotherapy seems to be the right approach toward possible HCCAA treatment. In this work, the hCC fragment encompassing residue 60‐70 (in 2 variants: linear peptide and multiple antigenic peptide) was used as an immunogen in rabbit immunization. As a result, specific anti‐hCC antibodies were found in both rabbit sera. Surprisingly, rabbit antibodies were obtained after immunization with only a short peptide. The obtained antibodies were characterized, and their influence on the aggregation propensity of the hCC molecules was evaluated. The antibodies turned out not to have any significant influence on the cystatin C dimerization process. Nevertheless, we hope that antibodies elicited in rabbits by other hCC fragments could lead to elaboration of effective treatment against HCCAA.     

Damage to an ancient parchment document by Aspergillus

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is often associated with hypergammaglobulinemia and increased serum levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC). In order to investigate whether polyclonal B lymphocyte activation (PBA) is a current process in PCM, we measured the numbers of IgG secreting cells (IgG SC) in the peripheral blood of 16 patients and of 8 healthy controls. The numbers of IgG SC were found to be significantly elevated in PCM patients. We also observed increased serum levels of IgG, IgA and CIC. These data reflect an activation of B lymphocytes in PCM patients.Abbreviations CIC circulating immune complexes - E-PtnA protein A- coupled sheep red blood cells - IgG SC immunoglobulin G secreting cells - PBA Polyclonal B cell activation - PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells - PCM paracoccidioidomycosis - PFC plaque forming cells assay - PtnA-BA protein A- binding, polyethyleneglycol precipitation immunoradiometric assay     

抗A型流感病毒聚合酶碱性蛋白1多克隆抗体的制备和鉴定

流感病毒属于正黏病毒科,为有包膜包裹的单股负链RNA病毒。它的8个基因片段编码至少16种病毒蛋白,其中3个蛋白组成流感病毒的聚合酶复合体。流感病毒聚合酶碱性蛋白1(PB1)是该复合体的组分之一,在病毒的转录、复制及重配中发挥重要的作用。为研究其功能,构建His-PB1(aa 550–755)融合蛋白原核表达质粒,IPTG诱导融合蛋白表达,通过镍柱亲和将其纯化,然后作为抗原免疫家兔。对抗血清进行间接ELISA检测,表明抗体效价可达1∶100 000。兔源PB1蛋白抗血清经亲和纯化后,用于免疫印迹检测流感病毒WSN毒株PB1蛋白以及外源转染的FLAG-PB1蛋白,结果表明该PB1抗体具有良好的特异性,同时也能特异性识别其他亚型的A型流感病毒的PB1蛋白,为进一步研究流感病毒PB1蛋白的功能奠定了基础。     

Structure and immune recognition of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus spike protein

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