3-Amino-6-methoxy-9-(2-hydroxyethylamino) acridine: A new fluorescent dye to detect mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures

A new fluorescent acridine orange derivative, 3-amino-6-methoxy-9-(2-hydroxyethylamino) acridine (AMHA), has been applied to Hela cells in order to set up appropriate conditions for the detection of mycoplasma contaminations. Since AMHA staining reveals intensely fluorescent nuclei and slight fluorescent cytoplasm, we can visualize and localize mycoplasma contamination on each cell. In combination with a shortened Chen's staining method (1977), AMHA should allow a better detection of mycoplasma in animal cell cultures than the well established Hoechst dye.     

Purification and Characterization of Membrane Protein (90 kDa) from Mycoplasma salivarium,Which Binds Immunoglobulin (Ig) G Fc Fragment

A 90 kDa protein of Mycoplasma salivarium was released from cell membranes of the organism with Triton X-100 and purified by ion-exchange chromatography and chromatofocusing. The protein was eluted at pH 5.5 by chromatofocusing. The protein was shown to react with the Fc fragments of IgG from human and nine different animal species and did not distinguish between IgG from different species, while protein A, tested for comparative purposes, displayed a strong specificity for human and swine IgG. Furthermore, the protein reacted with antigen specific goat IgG (specific for gamma chains of human IgG), sheep red blood cells (SRBC) sensitized with rabbit antiserum to SRBC, that is, the Fc part of rabbit IgG, and concanavalin A as well. These findings may suggest that the protein is a lectin which binds the carbohydrate moiety of the Fc part of IgG.     

Passage number of cancer cell lines: Importance,intricacies, and way-forward

Cancer cell lines play a crucial role as invaluable models in cancer research, facilitating the examination of cancer progression as well as the advancement of diagnostics and treatments. While they may not perfectly replicate the original tumor, they generally exhibit similar characteristics. Low-passage cancer cell lines are generally preferred due to their closer resemblance to the original tumor, as long-term culturing can alter the genetic and molecular profiles of a cell line thereby highlighting the importance of monitoring the passage number (PN). Variations in proliferation, migration, gene expression, and drug sensitivity can be linked to PN differences. PN can also influence DNA methylation levels, metabolic profiles, and the expression of genes/or proteins in cancer cell lines. When conducting research on cancer cell lines, it is crucial for researchers to carefully select the appropriate PN to maintain consistency and reliability of results. Moreover, to ensure dependability and replicability, scientists ought to actively track the growth, migration, and gene/or protein profiles of cancer cell lines at specific PNs. This approach enables the identification of the most suitable range of PNs for experiments, guaranteeing consistent and precise results. Additionally, such efforts serve to minimize disparities and uphold the integrity of research. In this review, we have laid out recommendations for laboratories to overcome these PN discrepancies when working with cancer cell lines.     

血清SAA、YKL-40及SP-A的联合检测对小儿难治性肺炎支原体肺炎的预测价值分析

摘要 目的：探究血清淀粉样蛋白A（SAA）、几丁质酶样蛋白YKL-40和肺表面活性物质相关蛋白-A（SP-A）表达水平对的联合检测对小儿难治性肺炎支原体肺炎（RMPP）的预测价值。方法：纳入2019年11月至2021年12月期间我院收治的60例MPP患儿作为研究对象,依据病情最终转归将其分为RMPP组和普通肺炎支原体肺炎（GMPP）组,另纳入同期于我院行体格检查的60例健康儿童作为对照组。收集所有受试儿童的临床资料、实验室指标及影像学结果,采用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测血清SAA、YKL-40和SP-A的表达水平,应用受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）判定各指标单项检测和联合检测的预测效能。结果：MPP组患儿和对照组儿童一般资料相比无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。依据病情最终转归,60例MPP患儿中共有23例（38.33 %）进展为RMPP,RMPP组与GMPP组患儿在白介素-6（IL-6）、C-反应蛋白（CRP）、降钙素原（PCT）、D-二聚体（D-D）等实验室指标以及肺不张、胸腔积液等影像学特征方面相比有统计学差异（P＜0.05）。RMPP组和GMPP组血清SAA、YKL-40和SP-A的表达水平显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）,同时RMPP组血清SAA、YKL-40和SP-A的表达水平显著高于GMPP组（P＜0.05）。血清SAA的最佳截断值为39.75 mg/L,预测RMPP发生的ROC曲线下面积为0.894（95%CI：0.861-0.925）,敏感度为78.26 %,特异度为86.67 %;血清YKL-40的最佳截断值为31.85 ng/mL,预测RMPP发生的ROC曲线下面积为0.754（95%CI：0.634-0.873）,敏感度为73.91 %,特异度为67.21 %;血清SP-A的最佳截断值为35.59 ng/mL,预测RMPP发生的ROC曲线下面积为0.761（95%CI：0.640-0.891）,敏感度为73.91 %,特异度为75.00 %;SAA+YKL-40-1+SP-A三者联合检测预测RMPP的AUC为0.914（95%CI：0.871-0.957）,敏感度为91.30 %,特异度为91.66 %。结论：血清SAA、YKL-40和SP-A表达水平的检测可作为预测RMPP发生的重要生物学指标,且三者联合检测的预测效能较高,可为临床尽早诊断RMPP、尽早干预、改善患儿预后提供一定的帮助。     

Almond brown line and decline: a new disease probably caused by a mycoplasma-like organism

Young almond (Prunus dulcis, cvs Carmel, Peerless and Price) orchards established on the plum rootstock Marianna 2624 (P. cerasifera×P. munsoniana) contained trees that exhibited poor terminal shoot growth and wilted, chlorotic leaves. The scion/rootstock graft union showed an external splitting of the bark and an internal line of necrotic bark tissues that extended into the woody cylinder of the union, which was deeply pitted. Affected trees declined. The disease was named almond brown line and decline (ABLD). Incidence of ABLD ranged up to 55% per cultivar in some orchards. Numerous attempts to graft-transmit orchard collections of ABLD to healthy almond/Marianna 2624 indicators failed. Also, ABLD does not appear to be soil-borne. However, ABLD was serendipitiously determined to be bud-perpetuated when infected scion buds from an apparently healthy appearing Peerless almond/peach tree located in a foundation orchard were grafted onto healthy rooted cuttings of Marianna 2624 to produce yearling trees. Also, graft-inoculations on the almond scion portion of healthy trees, but not the plum rootstock portion, with the peach yellow leafroll mycoplasma-like organism (PYLR-MLO) caused symptoms resembling ABLD. Laboratory and glasshouse assays of several symptomatic trees did not detect tomato ringspot virus and two ilarviruses. These results suggest that an MLO, possibly PYLR-MLO, may be the causal agent of ABLD and that Marianna 2624 is probably resistant to the PYLR-MLO.     

Evidence for Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase in Mollicutes and Release of Reactive Oxygen Species

The presence of superoxide dismutase was demonstrated in 21 strains of mollicutes, including achuloplas-mas, mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas. Additionally, catalase activities were demonstrated in nearly 50% of the cell lysates. whereas no peroxide activities were detectable. The production of O₂-and H₂O₂ with glucose as substrate was demonstrated for 8 strains of 10 strains tested. Anaerobic mycoplasmas showed the highest amount of radical production, whereas superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were in the range of activities estimated for aerobic mollicutes. Some pathogenic strains additionally released compounds into the culture medium, which stimulated O₂-production by PMNs.     

磷酸肌酸钠与维生素C 对肺炎支原体感染心肌损害患儿炎症因子水平的影响

目的:探究磷酸肌酸钠配合大剂量维生素C对小儿肺炎支原体感染心肌损害患儿炎症因子的影响。方法:收集我院收治的肺炎支原体感染心肌损害患儿72例,根据治疗方法不同分为对照组和试验组,每组36例。对照组给予磷酸肌酸钠治疗,试验组给予磷酸肌酸钠联合维生素C治疗。观察并比较两组患儿治疗前后心肌酶、心功能、炎症因子水平、临床疗效及不良反应。结果:与治疗前比较,治疗后两组患儿血清心肌酶水平均降低,且试验组低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。与治疗前比较,治疗后两组患儿心排出量、每搏输出量均升高,且试验组高于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05);与治疗前比较,治疗后两组患儿血清IL-18,IL-6及IL-17水平均降低,且试验组低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05);与治疗前比较,治疗后两组患儿血清TGF-β水平均升高,且试验组高于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。试验组临床总有效率(91.67%)高于对照组(72.22%),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:磷酸肌酸钠配合大剂量维生素C治疗小儿肺炎支原体感染心肌损害的临床疗效显著,能够改善心肌功能,抑制炎性反应,安全性较高。     

外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病伴发支原体及沙眼衣原体感染的研究

为研究外阴阴道假丝酵母菌病(Vulvovaginal Candidiasis,VVC)患者合并支原体和衣原体感染情况,对86例复发性VVC(recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis,RVVC)患者、219例单纯性VVC患者以及健康妇女200例,分别进行解脲脲原体(Ureaplasma urealyticum,Uu)、人型支原体(mycoplasma hominis,Mh)和沙眼衣原体(Chlamydia trachomatis,CT)检测;所有VVC病例均进行真菌培养。RVVC组和单纯VVC组与对照组之间Uu、Mh及Uu混合Mh阳性率比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。而三组之间CT和CT混合支原体阳性率比较,均无显著性差异(P0.05)。真菌培养阳性组与阴性组之间,Uu阳性率比较有显著性差异(P0.05),而CT阳性率比较无显著性差异(P0.05)。结果表明,VVC患者合并Uu感染较正常人群明显增高,假丝酵母菌与Uu混合感染可能导致VVC的发生和复发。     

Impacts of intentional mycoplasma contamination on CHO cell bioreactor cultures

Mycoplasma contamination events in biomanufacturing facilities can result in loss of production and costly cleanups. Mycoplasma may survive in mammalian cell cultures with only subtle changes to the culture and may penetrate the 0.2 µm filters often used in the primary clarification of harvested cell culture fluid. Culture cell-based and indicator cell-based assays that are used to detect mycoplasma are highly sensitive but can take up to 28 days to complete and cannot be used for real-time decision making during the biomanufacturing process. To support real-time measurements of mycoplasma contamination, there is a push to explore nucleic acid testing. However, cell-based methods measure growth or colony forming units and nucleic acid testing measures genome copy number; this has led to ambiguity regarding how to compare the sensitivity of the methods. In addition, the high risk of conducting experiments wherein one deliberately spikes mycoplasma into bioreactors has dissuaded commercial groups from performing studies to explore the multiple variables associated with the upstream effects of a mycoplasma contamination in a manufacturing setting. Here we studied the ability of Mycoplasma arginini to persist in a single-use, perfusion rocking bioreactor system containing a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) DG44 cell line expressing a model monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibody. We examined M. arginini growth and detection by culture methods, as well as the effects of M. arginini on mammalian cell health, metabolism, and productivity. We compared process parameters and controls normally measured in bioreactors including dissolved oxygen, gas mix, and base addition to maintain pH, to examine parameter changes as potential indicators of contamination. Our work showed that M. arginini affects CHO cell growth profile, viability, nutrient consumption, oxygen use, and waste production at varying timepoints after M. arginini introduction to the culture. Importantly, how the M. arginini contamination impacts the CHO cells is influenced by the concentration of CHO cells and rate of perfusion at the time of M. arginini spike. Careful evaluation of dissolved oxygen, pH control parameters, ammonia, and arginine over time may be used to indicate mycoplasma contamination in CHO cell cultures in a bioreactor before a read-out from a traditional method.