Human pDCs Are Superior to cDC2s in Attracting Cytolytic Lymphocytes in Melanoma Patients Receiving DC Vaccination

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百日咳杆菌去内毒素及保护性抗原的纯化

内毒素(Endotoxin,简称ET)是百日咳全菌苗(Bordetellapertussis vaccine)产生副作用的主要毒素之一,且不易除去。现有的分离方法,如蔗糖密度梯度离心法,较繁琐,成本高。本文采用Sepha-cryl S-300凝胶层折法可以简便有效的去除大部分内毒素。初步毒素试验结果表明:已达到日本生物制品规格的要求。两种保护性抗原FHA和LPF-HA也得到进一步分离纯化,为今后研制高效的百日咳组分菌苗提供了实验条件。     

Adenylyl cyclase and G-proteins in Phytomonas

Phytomonas sp. membranes have an adenylyl cyclase activity which is greater in the presence of Mn2+ than with Mg2+. The Mg2+ and Mn2+ activity ratio varies from one membrane preparation to another, suggesting that the adenylyl cyclase has a variable activation state. A[35S]GTP-gamma-S-binding activity with a Kd of 171 nM was detected in Phytomonas membranes. Incubation of these membranes with activated cholera or pertussis toxin and [adenylate 23P]NAD+ led to incorporation of radioactivity into bands of about 40-44 kDa. Crude membranes were electrophoresed on SDS-polyacrylamide gels and analyzed, by Western blotting, with the 9188 anti-alpha[s] antibody and the AS/7 antibody (anti-alpha[i], anti-alpha[i1], and anti-alpha[i2]. These procedures resulted in the identification of polypeptides of approximately 40-44 kDa. Phytomonas adenylyl cyclase could be activated by treatment of membrane preparations with cholera toxin, in the presence of NAD+, while similar treatment with pertussis toxin did not affect this enzyme activity. These studies indicate that in Phytomonas, adenylyl cyclase activity is coupled to an unknown receptor entity through G alpha[s] proteins.     

Cholesteric-like crystal analogs in glucuronoxylan-rich cell wall composites: Experimental approach of acellular re-assembly from native cellulosic suspension

Summary Many plant cell walls are constructed according to a helicoidal pattern that is analog to a cholesteric liquid crystal order. This raises the question whether the wall assembly passes through a true but temporary liquid crystal state. The paper focuses on experiments performed from aqueous suspensions of extracted quince slime, i.e., a cellulose/glucuronoxylan wall composite that presents a helicoidal order when observed in situ, within the enlarged periplasm of the seed epidermal cells. Experiments carried out in acellular conditions showed that a spontaneous reassociation into a helicoidal order can be obtained from totally dispersed suspensions. The ultrastructural aspect of the reassembled mucilage suspension was different according to the resin used (LR White or nanoplast, a water-soluble melamin resin). It was always typically polydomain, and when an order was visible it was cholesteric-like and similar to the in situ native organization. Transition states with many imperfections expressed the difficulty of the system to reassemble in the absence of constraining surfaces. The possible intervention of glucuronoxylan (GX) in the ordered assembly of the microfibrils was checked by: (1) progressive extraction of GX by trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The extraction was associated to a control of the fraction by analysis of uronic acid contents and observation at the electron microscope level. Extraction of GX provoked the formation of a flocculent mass, the flocculation being more intense when the TFA was more concentrated; (2) progressive change of pH in order to analyze the influence of pH on flocculation. Low pH (ca. pH 3) led also to a flocculation of the suspension, but the floc was reversibly lost after dialysis against distilled water. The results indicate the antifloc role of the GX due to the anionic charges carried by the side-chains. However, the function of GX as helper twisting agent in the cholesteric-like reassembly must not be ruled out.     

The role of infectious agents in sudden infant death syndrome

Abstract Epidemiological factors associated with susceptibility to respiratory infections are similar to those associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Here we review the evidence that respiratory pathogens might be involved in some cases of Sudden Infact Death Syndrome in the context of factors identified in epidemiological studies of cot deaths: the age range affected; mother's smoking; respiratory viral infections; immunisation status. Both laboratory and epidimiological evidence suggests that vulnerability of infants to infectious agents depends on interactions between genetic, developmental and environmental factors that contribute to colonisation by microorganisms, the inflammatory and specific immune responses and the infants' physiological responses to inflammatory mediators. A model is proposed to explain how microorganisms might trigger a series of events resulting in some of these unexpected deaths and discusses how the present recommendations regarding child care practices might help reduce the numbers of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases associated with infectious agents.     

Effect of dilution rate on the release of pertussis toxin and lipopolysaccharide ofBordetella pertussis

Summary The kinetics ofBordetella pertussis growth was studied in a glutamate-limited continuous culture. Growth kinetics corresponded to Monod's model. The saturation constant and maximum specific growth rate were estimated as well as the energetic parameters, theoretical yield of cells and maintenance coefficient. Release of pertussis toxin (PT) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were growth-associated. In addition, they showed a linear relationship between them. Growth rate affected neither outer membrane proteins nor the cell-bound LPS pattern.Nomenclature X cell concentration (g L^–1) - specific growth rate (h^–1) - _m maximum specific growth rate (h^–1) - D dilution rate (h^–1) - S concentration of growth rate-limiting nutrient (glutamate) (mmol L^–1 or g L^–1) - Ks substrate saturation constant (mol L^–1) - m_s maintenance coefficient (g g^–1 h^–1) - Y_x/s theoretical yield of cells from glutamate (g g^–1) - Y_x/s yield of cells from glutamate (g g^–1) - Y_PT/s yield of soluble PT from glutamate (mg g^–1) - Y_KDO/s yield of cell-free KDO from glutamate (g g^–1) - Y_PT/x specific yield of soluble PT (mg g^–1) - Y_KDO/x specific yield of cell-free KDO (g g^–1) - q_PT specific soluble PT production rate (mg g^–1 h^–1) - q_KDO specific cell-free KDO production rate (g g^–1 h^–1)     

Inhibition of Bordetella pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin-mediated cell adherence with monoclonal antibodies

Abstract Filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), a 220-kDa protein located on the surface of Bordetella pertussis , is one of the major cell adhesins of this bacterium. We have produced three hybridoma cell lines that express monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against FHA: X3C, X3E and X4B. The anti-FHA mAbs X3C and X3E reacted with 220-kDa FHA protein bands on Western blots. The mAb X4B, which reacted with FHA in ELISA, did not bind to FHA in a Western blot assay. All three mAbs seemed to be directed to the same epitope or to epitopes in close proximity as suggested by competition ELISAs. All three mAbs were able to inhibit the adherence of Chinese hamster ovary cells to purified FHA, and they could also inhibit the FHA-mediated agglutination of goose red blood cells. The attachment of B. pertussis to epithelial cell monolayers was inhibited by the mAb X3C. These antibodies are very useful probes to identify the presence of FHA in bordetellae species and in clinical reagents such as pertussis vaccines, and to characterize the functional domains of this important bacterial adhesin.     

Immunogenicity,effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccine in older adults living in nursing homes: A real-life study

IntroductionBNT162b2 (BioNTech and Pfizer) is a nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine that provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and is generally well tolerated. However, data about its efficacy, immunogenicity and safety in people of old age or with underlying chronic conditions are scarce.PurposeTo describe BNT162b2 (BioNTech and Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity, effectiveness and reactogenicity after complete vaccination (two doses), and immunogenicity and reactogenicity after one booster, in elders residing in nursing homes (NH) and healthy NH workers in real-life conditions.MethodsObservational, ambispective, multicenter study. Older adults and health workers were recruited from three nursing homes of a private hospital corporation located in three Spanish cities. The primary vaccination was carried out between January and March 2021. The follow-up was 13 months. Humoral immunity, adverse events, SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations and deaths were evaluated. Cellular immunity was assessed in a participant subset.ResultsA total of 181 residents (mean age 84.1 years; 89.9% females, Charlson index ≥2: 45%) and 148 members of staff (mean age 45.2 years; 70.2% females) were surveyed (n:329). After primary vaccination of 327 participants, vaccine response in both groups was similar; ≈70% of participants, regardless of the group, had an antibody titer above the cut-off considered currently protective (260 BAU/ml). This proportion increased significantly to ≈ 98% after the booster (p < 0.0001 in both groups). Immunogenicity was largely determined by a prior history of COVID-19 infection. Twenty residents and 3 workers were tested for cellular immunity. There was evidence of cellular immunity after primary vaccination and after booster. During the study, one resident was hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2. No SARS-CoV-2-related deaths were reported and most adverse events were mild.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is immunogenic, effective and safe in elderly NH residents with underlying chronic conditions.     

表达量高、血凝活性好的H3N2流感病毒血凝素（HA）蛋白疫苗的筛选研究

摘要 目的：筛选表达量高、血凝活性好的H3N2流感病毒血凝素（HA）重组蛋白。方法：以A/MINNESOTA/41/2019（H3N2）毒株的HA为基础,将HA胞外区N端融合GP67信号肽,C端融合三聚化基序,分别构建HA胞外区全长及近膜区截短2个氨基酸的HA重组杆状病毒,并构建相应的不含三聚化基序的HA重组杆状病毒;经昆虫细胞表达,Western blot鉴定,亲和层析纯化后分析重组蛋白的血凝效价及稳定性。结果：四种HA重组蛋白均获得有效表达,其中HA胞外区全长融合三聚化基序的重组蛋白（HA-T）表达水平最高,经Strep tag亲和层析获得高度纯化,产量高达30 mg/L,Ethylene glycolbis交联分析显示为稳定的HA三聚体形式,血凝活性分析显示HA-T的活性最高,血凝效价为29,动态光散射显示HA-T在4℃放置3个月性质稳定。结论：HA-T表达量高、稳定性好、血凝活性高且易于纯化,研究结果为流感重组蛋白疫苗的研发策略提供了参考。     

Structurally defined synthetic cancer vaccines: analysis of structure, glycosylation and recognition of cancer associated mucin, MUC-1 derived peptides

Translation of an immune response into therapy is probably the toughest task in designing vaccines for cancer due to the heterogeneity of the cell surface antigens which display tremendous variations in glycoforms. Consequently, a small segment (antigen) of the cancer-associated mucin, in spite of generating antigen-specific immune responses, may be limited in therapeutic value. It is important that the synthetic segment resembles the native cancer-associated mucin in both structure and conformation. Synthetic cancer associated mucin derived 16 amino acid peptide GVTSAPDTRAPAPGSTA and its partially glycosylated forms have demonstrated specific binding to two monoclonal antibodies, B27.29 and BCP8, raised against the native cancer associated mucin, MUC-1 and a MUC-1 derived synthetic peptide, respectively. In spite of the structural similarities at the core peptide level of both glycosylated and unglycosylated peptides, it appears that partial glycosylation does not inhibit and even slightly enhances binding to the MAb B27.29 indicating that the glycosylated synthetic peptide more closely resembles the native mucin epitope recognized by MAb B27.29. From molecular dynamic simulations using NMR derived distance constraints, both glycosylated and unglycosylated peptides have shown a type I turn involving the same amino acids in both glycosylated and unglycosylated peptides. The GalNAc attached to the threonine (T³) and serine (S⁴) in the 16 amino acid sequence has not imposed any conformational changes to the peptide backbone nor has offered severe steric resistance to the binding of either antibody to the glycopeptides as indicated by hapten inhibition studies. Nevertheless, all peptides have displayed glycosylation dependent specificities in binding to these antibodies, i.e. the glycosylated peptides demonstrated relative higher affinities to the native mucin antibody B27.29 while the unglycosylated peptide is more specific to the MAb BCP8. Immune responses generated by these synthetic glycopeptides are highly specific in recognizing the native cancer associated mucin.