bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paradoxical effect of pilus expression on binding of antibodies by Haemophilus influenzae
Authors: Gilsdorf J R , Tucci M , Forney L J , Watson W , Marrs C F , Hansen E J
Published: January 2020

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) pili are surface proteins that are associated with the ability of Hib to attach to human epithelial cells. Like pilus expression of other bacteria, expression of Hib pili undergoes phase variation. We observed that Hib in the piliated phase (Hib p+) bound monoclonal antibodies directed against six conserved, surface-exposed, nonpilus Hib outer membrane epitopes to a greater extent than Hib in the nonpiliated phase (Hib p-). However, after extended incubation, p+ and p- cells bound these antibodies in a similar fashion. The differential in nonpilus antibody binding to p+ and p- Hib was not related to the presence of the type b capsule. In addition, Hib p+ organisms whose pilin gene was insertionally inactivated and did not produce pili and Hib in the nonpiliated phase bound the nonpilus Hib antibodies similarly. Hib p+ and p- organisms did not differ in their binding of anti-type b capsule antibody, and the binding was specific for the epitopes recognized by the antibodies. In complement-dependent bactericidal assays, the nonpilus antibodies killed Hib p+ more effectively than Hib p-. The increased binding to, and killing of, Hib p+ by a variety of nonpilus antibodies may be important for host defense against invasive Hib.
Immunological cross-reactivity of the C-terminal 42-kilodalton fragment of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 expressed in baculovirus
Authors: Hui G S , Hashiro C , Nikaido C , Case S E , Hashimoto A , Gibson H , Barr P J , Chang S P
Published: January 2020

The roles of allelic and conserved epitopes in vaccine-induced immunity to the C-terminal 42-kDa fragment of the Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) were investigated. The C-terminal fragment of MSP1 was expressed as a baculovirus recombinant protein, BVp42. Rabbits were immunized with BVp42, and antibodies were tested for reactivity to MSP1s of the homologous and heterologous allelic forms, represented by the FUP, FVO, FC27, and Honduras parasite isolates, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay. Despite the fact that allelic sequences accounted for approximately 50% of the BVp42 molecule, anti-BVp42 antibodies cross-reacted extensively with parasites carrying heterologous MSP1 alleles. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent inhibition assays confirmed that an overwhelming majority of the anti-BVp42 antibodies were cross-reactive, suggesting that determinants within conserved block 17 are dominant B-cell epitopes in the anti-BVp42 response. Moreover, the BVp42 polypeptide could inhibit (> 90%) the cross-reactivity of anti-MSP1 antibodies in animals immunized with the complete native MSP1 protein. Anti-BVp42 antibodies were equally effective in inhibiting the in vitro growth of parasites carrying homologous or heterologous MSP1 alleles. Serotyping by monoclonal antibodies indicated that the immunological and biological cross-reactivities were not caused by identical variant-specific amino acid substitutions within conserved block 17. These results should provide the impetus to develop a vaccine based on the C-terminal conserved region(s) of MSP1 against parasites of diverse genetic makeup.
Impairment of natural killer cell activity in Indian kala-azar: restoration of activity by interleukin 2 but not by alpha or gamma interferon
Authors: Manna P P , Bharadwaj D , Bhattacharya S , Chakrabarti G , Basu D , Mallik K K , Bandyopadhyay S
Published: January 2020

Indian kala-azar patients have normal numbers of peripheral blood NK cells but impaired functional activity due to decreased binding and lysis of target cells. This impairment of NK activity could not be corrected by exogenous recombinant human alpha or gamma interferon. However, recombinant human interleukin 2 was able to restore this activity by augmenting conjugate formation and lysis of target cells.
An OspB mutant of Borrelia burgdorferi has reduced invasiveness in vitro and reduced infectivity in vivo
Authors: Sadziene A , Barbour A G , Rosa P A , Thomas D D
Published: January 2020

Most Borrelia burgdorferi strains have two major surface proteins, OspA and OspB. In the present study, we selected from a clonal population of infectious B. burgdorferi an OspB escape mutant, identified the genetic basis for this phenotype, and evaluated its functional activities. Selection with the anti-OspB antibody H614 was performed in vitro in medium and extended in vivo in scid mice. Mutants with a truncated OspB protein were selected at a frequency of 1 x 10(-5) to 3 x 10(-5). After no major rearrangements in DNA were detected, sequence analysis of the mutant's ospAB locus revealed a single base change in the consensus ribosomal binding sequence for ospB and a single nucleotide deletion in the ospB gene itself. The effect of these mutations was reduced expression of a truncated OspB protein. When functional abilities of the wild type and mutant were compared, the mutant had a threefold-lower capacity to penetrate a human endothelium umbilical vein cell monolayer. Infectivity of wild-type and mutant cells for scid mice was evaluated by culturing different organs, and the median infectious dose was calculated. The inoculum of mutant cells for infecting the mice was 30- to 300-fold higher than that of wild-type cells. This study shows that reduced size and expression of OspB are associated with lowered virulence of B. burgdorferi. Selection of mutants that to some degree remain infectious is one approach to defining the role of different surface proteins in the pathogenesis of Lyme disease.
Synthesis, characterization, and clinical evaluation of conjugate vaccines composed of the O-specific polysaccharides of Shigella dysenteriae type 1, Shigella flexneri type 2a, and Shigella sonnei (Plesiomonas shigelloides) bound to bacterial toxoids
Authors: Taylor D N , Trofa A C , Sadoff J , Chu C , Bryla D , Shiloach J , Cohen D , Ashkenazi S , Lerman Y , Egan W
Published: January 2020

The theoretic basis for developing conjugate vaccines, to induce immunoglobulin G (IgG) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibodies for the prevention of shigellosis, has been described (J. B. Robbins, C.-Y. Chu, and R. Schneerson, Clin. Infect. Dis. 15:346-361, 1992). The O-specific polysaccharides (O-SPs) of Shigella dysenteriae type 1, S. flexneri type 2a, and S. sonnei were covalently bound to carrier proteins. Alone, the O-SPs were not immunogenic in mice. Conjugates of these O-SPs, injected into young outbred mice subcutaneously as saline solutions containing 2.5 micrograms of saccharide, elicited serum IgG and IgM antibodies with booster responses; adsorption onto alum enhanced their immunogenicity. Injection of 25 micrograms of these conjugates into adult volunteers elicited mild local reactions only. Each conjugate induced a significant rise of the geometric mean serum IgG, IgM, and IgA LPS antibody levels. A second injection 6 weeks later did not elicit booster responses, and adsorption of the conjugates onto alum did not enhance their immunogenicity. Conjugate-induced levels of IgA, but not IgG or IgM, declined to preimmunization levels at day 56. The levels of postimmunization antibodies of the three immunoglobulin classes were similar to or higher than those of recruits in the Israel Defense Force following shigellosis caused by S. flexneri type 2a or S. sonnei. These data provide the basis for evaluating these conjugates to prevent shigellosis.
Aeromonas salmonicida grown in vivo
Authors: Garduño R A , Thornton J C , Kay W W
Published: January 2020

The virulent fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida was rapidly killed in vivo when restricted inside a diffusion chamber implanted intraperitoneally in rainbow trout. After a period of regrowth, the survivors had acquired resistance to host-mediated bacteriolysis, phagocytosis, and oxidative killing, properties which were subsequently lost by growth in vitro. Resistance to bacteriolysis and phagocytosis was associated with a newly acquired capsular layer revealed by acidic polysaccharide staining and electron microscopy. This capsular layer shielded the underlying, regular surface array (S-layer) from immunogold labeling with a primary antibody to the S-layer protein. Resistance to oxidative killing was mediated by a mechanism not associated with the presence of the capsular layer. An attenuated vaccine strain of A. salmonicida grown in vivo failed to express the capsular layer. Consequently, the in vivo-grown cells of this attenuated strain remained as sensitive to bacteriolysis, and as avidly adherent to macrophages, as the in vitro-grown cells. The importance of these new virulence determinants and their relation to the known virulence factors of A. salmonicida are discussed.
Molecular genetic analysis of beta-toxin of Clostridium perfringens reveals sequence homology with alpha-toxin, gamma-toxin, and leukocidin of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Hunter S E , Brown J E , Oyston P C , Sakurai J , Titball R W
Published: January 2020

Oligonucleotide probes designed on the basis of the N-terminal sequence of Clostridium perfringens beta-toxin were used to isolate the encoding gene (cpb). The nucleotide sequence of cpb was determined, and on the basis of DNA hybridization experiments it was shown that the gene is found only in type B and C strains of C. perfringens. The deduced amino acid sequence of the beta-toxin revealed homology with the alpha-toxin, gamma-toxin, and leukocidin of Staphylococcus aureus. The beta-toxin purified from C. perfringens appeared to exist in monomeric and multimeric forms. Recombinant beta-toxin, produced in Escherichia coli, appeared to be mainly in the multimeric form.
Protein antigens of Chlamydia psittaci present in infected cells but not detected in the infectious elementary body
Authors: Rockey D D , Rosquist J L
Published: January 2020

Ocular infection of guinea pigs with the guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC) strain of Chlamydia psittaci produces a clinical condition representative of acute chlamydial conjunctivitis in humans. Guinea pigs which had recovered from two challenges with GPIC were used as a source of sera for the identification of antigens present in GPIC-infected tissue culture cells but absent in the infectious elementary body (EB). Immunoblots of lysates of infected HeLa cells probed with the convalescent-phase sera identified protein antigens of 22, 34, and 52 kDa (p22, p34, and p52, respectively) that were not detected in lysates of purified EB or in uninfected HeLa cells. Protein p22 was also not detected in lysates of purified reticulate bodies. Immunoblotting of lysates of HeLa cells infected with other chlamydiae demonstrated that the antigenicity of p22 and p34 was subspecies specific. Immunoblotting was also used to detect p22 and p34 in lysates of the conjunctivae of infected guinea pigs. Adsorption of convalescent-phase sera with GPIC EB produced a reagent with dominant reactivity toward p22, p34, and a 28-kDa EB protein. Immunofluorescent staining of GPIC-infected HeLa cells demonstrated that these adsorbed sera labeled the inclusion and inclusion membrane, with no apparent reactivity toward EB or reticulate bodies. Collectively, these data identify non-EB chlamydial components which may be released into the inclusion during intracellular growth.
Conservation of salivary glycoprotein-interacting and human immunoglobulin G-cross-reactive domains of antigen I/II in oral streptococci
Authors: Moisset A , Schatz N , Lepoivre Y , Amadio S , Wachsmann D , Schöller M , Klein J P
Published: January 2020

In this study we localized more precisely the salivary glycoprotein-interacting and the human immunoglobulin G (hIgG)-cross-reacting domains on the SR molecule, an antigen I/II-related protein from S. mutans serotype f. Mapping of the SR molecule with polypeptides expressed by subclones covering the entire molecule and with synthetic peptides demonstrates that the salivary glycoprotein-binding domain is located in the N-terminal alanine-rich repeats of the SR molecule. In order to investigate the degree of conservation of both regions in various oral streptococci, we tested the reactivity of 8 representative strains of the mutans group and 11 nonmutans oral Streptococcus strains (S. anginosus, S. milleri, S. constellatus, S. intermedius, S. mitis, S. sanguis, S. gordonii, S. salivarius, and S. mitis strains) with antipeptide antibodies in a whole-cell enzyme linked immunosorbent assay together with colony hybridization analysis using DNA probes designed to map these two regions. All the mutans group strains except S. rattus and the 11 nonmutans streptococcal strains showed a high conservation of the C-terminal part of the SR molecule, especially the hIgG-cross-reacting domain, and less homology for the N-terminal salivary glycoprotein-binding region. Almost all of the sera from patients with rheumatic disease reacted strongly with SR from S. mutans serotype f, P1 from S. mutans serotype c, and four peptides located in the hIgG-cross-reacting region and not with peptides located at the C and N termini and in the proline-rich repeats. These results confirm that epitopes located within this region are immunogenic in humans and could lead to the synthesis of natural anti-IgG antibodies.
Comparison of conjugates composed of lipopolysaccharide from Shigella flexneri type 2a detoxified by two methods and bound to tetanus toxoid
Authors: Polotsky V Y , Robbins J B , Bryla D , Schneerson R
Published: January 2020

Shigella flexneri type 2a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was detoxified with acetic acid (O-SP) or with hydrazine (DeALPS). DeALPS, but not O-SP, retained part of its lipid A. Both gave an identical line of precipitation with typing antiserum by double immunodiffusion, and both had low levels of LPS activity by the Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay. O-SP had an M(r) of approximately 17,000. DeALPS had two components of M(r)s approximately 30,00 (major and approximately 10,000 (minor). Adipic acid hydrazide derivatives of O-SP and DeALPS were conjugated to tetanus toxoid (TT), purified by gel filtration through CL-6B Sepharose, and designated O-SP-TT and DeALPS-TT, respectively. Saccharide (2.5 micrograms) as O-SP, DeALPS, or their conjugates was injected subcutaneously into 5-week-old mice three times 2 weeks apart. The mice were bled before the second injection and 7 days after the second and third. O-SP alone did not elicit immunoglobulin M (IgM) or IgG LPS antibodies. DeALPS elicited low levels of IgM LPS antibodies after the third injection only. Two of three lots of O-SP-TT induced significant levels of IgM LPS antibodies after the third injection. One O-SP-TT lot elicited IgG LPS antibodies after the second injection, and all three lots elicited significant levels of IgG after the third. DeALPS-TT induced low levels of anti-LPS IgM and IgG only after the third injection. The geometric mean antibody titers of both immunoglobulin classes induced by O-SP-TT were higher than those induced by DeALPS-TT. By these criteria, O-SP provided a more immunogenic saccharide than DeALPS for S. flexneri type 2a conjugates.
Binding of the glycan of the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis to HeLa cells
Authors: Swanson A F , Kuo C C
Published: January 2020

Recent studies have shown that the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis is glycosylated. The glycan of the MOMP of C. trachomatis serovar L2 was separated from the glycoprotein with N-glycanase, reduced with tritiated NaBH4, and tested for its ability to interact with HeLa cells. The [3H]glycan was shown to attach readily to HeLa cells at 25 or 37 degrees C. This process was slower at 4 degrees C. Competition for possibly similar receptor sites on HeLa cells between the glycan and a sugar, an aminosaccharide, or elementary bodies (EBs) was then studied. D-Galactose, D-mannose, or N-acetylglucosamine was shown to reduce the attachment of the glycan to HeLa cells at concentrations of 0.1 to 0.5 M. Sedoheptulose, D-fructose, or sialic acid did not inhibit the binding of glycan to HeLa cells. The presence of at least 100 native or UV-inactivated EBs per HeLa cell interfered with the glycan's ability to bind to HeLa cells. Heat-inactivated EBs did not compete with the glycan for binding. In the reverse situation, nonradiolabeled glycan prevented the EBs from infecting and forming inclusions in HeLa cells. Incubation of [3H]glycan with rabbit immune serum prepared against antigens of whole EB and the MOMP inhibited attachment. In contrast, incubation of glycan with mouse monoclonal antibodies against the protein portion of the MOMP or the chlamydial lipopolysaccharide did not inhibit attachment. These results suggest that the glycan portion of the MOMP is involved in the attachment process of C. trachomatis organisms to HeLa cells.
Alteration of the pilin adhesin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO results in normal pilus biogenesis but a loss of adherence to human pneumocyte cells and decreased virulence in mice
Authors: Farinha M A , Conway B D , Glasier L M , Ellert N W , Irvin R T , Sherburne R , Paranchych W
Published: January 2020

The disulfide loop domain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO pilin was altered by insertion of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene into the pilin gene so that the C-terminal nine amino acids were replaced with 11 new amino acids. The altered pilin gene was transferred into wild-type PAO by recombination, where it did not affect normal piliation as observed by transmission electron microscopy or change of sensitivity to f116, PO4, B9, and Pf1 pilus-specific bacteriophages. However, the binding to human pneumocyte A549 cells was markedly reduced when tested in an in vitro binding assay (2 to 6 bacteria bound per A549 cell for the mutant bacteria compared with 50 bacteria per A549 cell for the wild-type bacteria). Additionally, when susceptible A.BY/SnJ mice were challenged with wild-type P. aeruginosa PAO and with P. aeruginosa PAO-MP (altered pilin gene), a 50% lethal dose of 3 x 10(6) bacteria per mouse was observed for PAO-MP compared with 7 x 10(4) bacteria per mouse for PAO. Approximately 90 of the adherence capability of P. aeruginosa PAO is seemingly attributable to the C-terminal disulfide loop adherence domain of pili. The pilus adherence function contributes significantly to the virulence of P. aeruginosa PAO in the A.BY/SnJ mouse infection model.
Characterization and genetic complementation of a Brucella abortus high-temperature-requirement A (htrA) deletion mutant
Authors: Elzer P H , Phillips R W , Kovach M E , Peterson K M , Roop R M
Published: January 2020

In order to evaluate the biological function of the Brucella abortus high-temperature-requirement A (HtrA) stress response protein homolog, the majority of the htrA gene was deleted from the chromosome of B. abortus 2308 via gene replacement. In contrast to the parental strain, the resulting htrA deletion mutant, designated PHE1, failed to grow on solid medium at 40 degrees C and demonstrated increased sensitivity to killing by H2O2 and O2- in disk sensitivity assays. BALB/c mice were infected with strains 2308 and PHE1 to assess the effect of the htrA mutation on virulence, and significantly fewer brucellae were recovered from the spleens of mice infected with PHE1 than from those of mice infected with 2308 at 1 week postinfection. Genetic complementation studies were performed to confirm the relationship between the htrA mutation and the phenotype observed for PHE1. Plasmid pRIE1 was constructed by inserting a 1.9-kb EcoRI fragment encoding the B. abortus htrA gene into the broad-host-range plasmid pBBR1MCS. Introduction of pRIE1 into PHE1 relieved the temperature- and H2O2-sensitive phenotypes of this mutant in vitro, and PHE1(pRIE1) colonized the spleens of BALB/c mice at levels equivalent to those of the parental 2308 strain at 1 week postinfection. These results support our previous proposal that the B. abortus htrA gene product functions as a stress response protein and further suggest that this protein contributes to virulence. These studies also demonstrate the utility of the broad-host-range plasmid pBBR1MCS for genetic complementation studies in Brucella spp., establishing a key reagent for more detailed genetic analysis of this important zoonotic pathogen.
Vaccination with pure Mycobacterium leprae proteins inhibits M. leprae multiplication in mouse footpads
Authors: Gelber R H , Mehra V , Bloom B , Murray L P , Siu P , Tsang M , Brennan P J
Published: January 2020

In this study, we evaluated vaccination with a number of purified, as well as recombinant, Mycobacterium leprae proteins for protective efficacy in mice. BALB/c mice were immunized intradermally with various native somatic (purified) or recombinant M. leprae proteins and their synthetic polypeptides emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. The protective efficacy of these preparations was assessed by enumeration of bacilli in the footpads of mice challenged with viable M. leprae 1 to 2 months following immunization. Protection was afforded by the purified and recombinant 10-kDa M. leprae cytoplasmic heat shock protein, the recombinant cell wall-associated 65-kDa M. leprae heat shock protein, and to a lesser extent, the purified 28-kDa M. leprae cytoplasmic protein (superoxide dismutase). Vaccination with either the purified or recombinant 35-kDa M. leprae cell membrane protein, the synthetic 27-amino-acid N-terminal peptide of the 10-kDa protein, the recombinant 18-kDa M. leprae protein, or the purified 22-kDa cell membrane protein was ineffective. When the interval between immunization and challenge was increased to 6 months, the purified 10-kDa M. leprae protein and the recombinant 65-kDa M. leprae protein lost vaccine efficacy, while a sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble protein fraction of the M. leprae cell wall (soluble proteins), as had been found previously, continued to protect, suggesting that multiple M. leprae protein epitopes are critical for solid vaccine protection.
Surface-associated filamentous hemagglutinin induces autoagglutination of Bordetella pertussis
Authors: Menozzi F D , Boucher P E , Riveau G , Gantiez C , Locht C
Published: January 2020

Filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) is a major adhesin produced by Bordetella pertussis, the etiologic agent of whooping cough. FHA has been shown to be surface associated but is also secreted by virulent bacteria. Microscopic observations of lungs of mice infected with B. pertussis showed that the bacteria grow as clusters within the alveolar lumen. When B. pertussis was cultivated in vitro with chemically defined medium, bacteria grew as aggregates, mimicking growth observed in vivo. This aggregation was abolished by the addition of cyclodextrin (CDX) to the growth medium and depended on the production of FHA, because a mutant lacking the FHA structural gene failed to form aggregates in a CDX-free medium. Western blot (immunoblot) analyses revealed that, in the absence of CDX, FHA was attached to the bacterial surface and was not efficiently released into the growth medium. Hydrophobic chromatography of FHA showed that CDX drastically reduced the hydrophobicity of FHA, suggesting a direct binding of CDX to FHA, which was further supported by the partial protection of FHA from trypsin digestion in the presence of CDX. In addition, free FHA can interact in a CDX-inhibitable manner with solid phase-immobilized FHA. It can therefore be postulated that the B. pertussis aggregates are most likely due to direct FHA-FHA interaction.
Mycobacterium bovis BCG priming induces a strong potentiation of the antibody response induced by recombinant BCG expressing a foreign antigen
Authors: Gheorghiu M , Lagranderie M R , Gicquel B M , Leclerc C D
Published: January 2020

Several recent studies have demonstrated that strong cellular or humoral immune responses can be induced against foreign antigens expressed by recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG. It has therefore been suggested that BCG could represent one of the best candidate vectors for live recombinant vaccines. However, a large percentage of the human population has been immunized by BCG, and this priming could modify the immune response to future recombinant BCG vaccines. In the present study, we have therefore compared the immune responses induced in naive and BCG-primed mice by two recombinant BCG vaccines expressing either beta-galactosidase or human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Nef antigens. Our results demonstrated that BCG priming limits the growth of recombinant BCG in mouse spleen or lymph nodes. This reduction in BCG growth was associated with decreased proliferative responses against Nef or beta-galactosidase antigens. This suppression, however, never exceeded 50%. Interestingly, in contrast to these reduced T-cell responses, BCG-primed mice developed high levels of anti-beta-galactosidase antibodies after immunization with recombinant BCG expressing this antigen. This stimulation of antibody responses was not due to polyclonal stimulation or to a nonspecific adjuvant effect of BCG. The isotypic patterns of anti-beta-galactosidase antibody responses induced by the recombinant BCG were similar in naive and BCG-primed mice. These results indicate that priming with BCG will not be a limitation for the use of recombinant BCG vaccines in humans.
Protein tyrosine kinase activity is essential for Fc gamma receptor-mediated intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus by human monocytes
Authors: Zheng L , Nibbering P H , Zomerdijk T P , van Furth R
Published: January 2020

Our previous study revealed that the intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus by human monocytes after cross-linking Fc gamma receptor I (Fc gamma RI) or Fc gamma RII is a phospholipase C (PLC)-dependent process. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity plays a role in the Fc gamma R-mediated intracellular killing of bacteria and activation of PLC in these cells. The results showed that phagocytosis of bacteria by monocytes was not affected by the PTK inhibitors genistein and tyrphostin-47. The intracellular killing of S. aureus by monocytes after cross-linking Fc gamma RII or Fc gamma RII with anti-Fc gamma R monoclonal antibody and a bridging antibody or with human immunoglobulin G (IgG) was inhibited by these compounds in a dose-dependent fashion. The production of O2- by monocytes after stimulation with IgG or IgG-opsonized S. aureus was almost completely blocked by the PTK inhibitor. These results indicate that inhibition of PTK impairs the oxygen-dependent bactericidal mechanisms of monocytes. Genistein and tyrphostin-47, which do not affect the enzymatic activity of purified PLC, prevented activation of PLC after cross-linking Fc gamma RI or Fc gamma RII, measured as an increase in the intracellular inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate concentration. Cross-linking Fc gamma RI or Fc gamma RII induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in monocytes, one of which was identified as PLC-gamma 1, and the phosphorylation could be completely blocked by PTK inhibitors, leading to the conclusion that activation of PLC after cross-linking Fc gamma R in monocytes is regulated by PTK activity. Together, these results demonstrate that PTK activity is essential for the activation of PLC which is involved in the Fc gamma R-mediated intracellular killing of S. aureus by human monocytes.
Anthrax edema toxin differentially regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced monocyte production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 by increasing intracellular cyclic AMP
Authors: Hoover D L , Friedlander A M , Rogers L C , Yoon I K , Warren R L , Cross A S
Published: January 2020

Bacillus anthracis exotoxins mediate most of the symptomatology of severe anthrax. In addition to a clinical syndrome reminiscent of septic shock, which may be mediated by cytokines produced by macrophages stimulated with lethal toxin, infected patients show profound edema at sites of infection. Edema is mediated by edema toxin (ET), which comprises of a binding molecule, protective antigen, and an active moiety, edema factor, which possesses intrinsic adenylyl cyclase activity. Intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) regulates the production of several cytokines that modulate edema formation and play important roles in host defense against invading bacteria. To determine whether ET enhanced the accumulation of cAMP in monocytes and thereby influenced cytokine production, we cultured human monocytes with endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) and dilutions of ET and determined the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in culture supernatant fluids. We further estimated cytokine-specific mRNA accumulation in monocytes by reverse transcription PCR and examined intracellular cAMP concentrations following treatment with ET. ET and LPS each induced monocytes to secrete comparable amounts of IL-6. ET did not inhibit and in most experiments modestly enhanced LPS-induced IL-6 production. In contrast to this stimulatory effect on IL-6 production, ET induced little or no TNF-alpha production. Moreover, ET profoundly inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha synthesis. These regulatory phenomena were also observed at the mRNA level in association with dose-related enhancement of intracellular cAMP in ET-treated monocytes. Monocytes treated with dibutyryl cAMP, an active analog of cAMP, produced cytokines in a pattern identical to that of cells treated with ET. The disruption of cytokine networks as a consequence of unregulated, ET-induced cAMP accumulation in human monocytes may impair cellular antimicrobial responses and contribute to clinical signs and symptoms.
Localization of high-molecular-weight adhesion proteins of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae by immunoelectron microscopy
Authors: Bakaletz L O , Barenkamp S J
Published: January 2020

A family of high-molecular-weight (HMW) surface-exposed proteins important in the attachment of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) to human epithelial cells was previously identified (J. W. St. Geme III, S. Falkow, and S. J. Barenkamp, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:2875-2879, 1993). In the present investigation, indirect immunogold labeling and electron microscopy were used to localize these proteins on three clinical isolates of NTHi, mutants deficient in expression of one or both HMW proteins, and embedded sections of human oropharyngeal cells after incubation with NTHi strain 12. The filamentous material comprising the proteins was labeled with monoclonal antibodies directed against two prototype HMW proteins (HMW1 and HMW2) of prototype NTHi strain 12. Gold labeling was observed as a cap or discrete aggregate off one pole or centrally along one long axis of the bacterial cell. Heavily labeled, non-bacterial-cell-associated, disk-like aggregates of the HMW proteins were frequently noted in both bacterial preparations as well as in association with the oropharyngeal cell surface and intracellularly. Mutants demonstrated diminished labeling or an absence thereof, respectively, which correlated well with their previously demonstrated reduced ability or inability to adhere to Chang conjunctival epithelial cells in vitro. The Haemophilus HMW proteins share antigenic determinants with and demonstrate amino acid sequence similarity to the filamentous hemagglutinin protein of Bordetella pertussis, a critical adhesin of that organism. The studies presented here demonstrate that the Haemophilus proteins and B. pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin show impressive morphologic and perhaps additional functional similarity.
Pili and lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bind to the glycolipid asialo GM1
Authors: Gupta S K , Berk R S , Masinick S , Hazlett L D
Published: January 2020

This study investigated which adhesins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa interact with the glycolipid asialo GM1, using solid-phase binding and thin-layer chromatography assays. Radioiodinated pili and flagella contaminated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) bound to the glycolipid. When LPS was reduced to acceptable levels in pilus and flagellum samples, only pili specifically bound to the glycolipid. Commercial, radiolabeled LPS as well as whole bacteria of strain ATCC 19660 also bound to asialo GM1. Binding was specific, competitive, and saturable. Organ cultures of whole mouse eyes and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used also, and strain ATCC 19660 was inhibited from corneal binding by exogenous pili or commercial LPS and inhibition was concentration dependent for both. Binding of radiolabeled strain ATCC 19660 bacteria to neutral lipids extracted from bovine corneal epithelial tissue showed that the bacteria bound to a glycolipid which migrated at a position similar to that of an asialo GM1 standard and that the glycolipid stained positively with an antibody specific for asialo GM1. The data provide evidence that pili (reduced LPS) and LPS of P. aeruginosa bind to asialo GM1 glycolipid and that the glycolipid is not restricted to the mouse cornea.
Mouse T lymphocytes that express a gamma delta T-cell antigen receptor contribute to resistance to Salmonella infection in vivo
Authors: Mixter P F , Camerini V , Stone B J , Miller V L , Kronenberg M
Published: January 2020

Mice depleted of lymphocytes expressing the alpha beta or the gamma delta T-cell receptor for antigen (TCR) by antibody treatment were infected orally with Salmonella enteritidis. In both groups of treated mice, the 50% lethal dose decreased, suggesting that both the alpha beta TCR+ and the gamma delta TCR+ subsets contribute to resistance to oral infection. These data provide further evidence for the contribution of gamma delta T cells in the response to bacterial infections.
Composition and diversity of intestinal coliform flora influence bacterial translocation in rats after hemorrhagic stress
Authors: Katouli M , Bark T , Ljungqvist O , Svenberg T , Möllby R
Published: January 2020

Coliform bacteria are the most frequently reported bacteria to translocate after hemorrhage. We investigated the correlation between composition and diversity of the cecal coliform flora and the degree of translocation in a rat model of hemorrhagic stress. Two groups of nine rats each were bled to 60 and 50 mm Hg mean arterial blood pressure, respectively. A sham-operated group without bleeding (n = 9) and a noninstrumented group (n = 6) served as controls. From each rat, 40 coliform isolates from the cecum and up to 16 from positive mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cultures were tested with an automated biochemical fingerprinting method. The phenotypic diversity of coliforms in each cecal sample was calculated as Simpson's diversity index (DI), and similarities between bacterial types in different samples were calculated as population similarity coefficients. Three rats in the sham-operated group and seven in each of the bled groups showed bacterial translocation. Of the different biochemical phenotypes (BPTs) found in the cecum of bled rats (mean, 6.5 BPTs), only a few were detected in MLNs (mean, 1.9 BPTs per MLN), with Escherichia coli being the dominant species. The translocating E. coli strains were mainly of two BPTs. Rats showing no translocation either did not carry these strains or had a high diversity of coliforms in the cecum. Furthermore, translocation of these coliform types was independent of their proportion in the cecum. In bled rats, the diversity of coliforms (mean DI, 0.53) was significantly higher than that in control groups (mean DI, 0.30; P = 0.004), suggesting that hemorrhage stimulates an increase in diversity of cecal coliforms. Rats with similar coliform flora and subjected to the same treatment showed similar patterns of translocation. Our results suggest that the composition of the coliform flora is an important factor in translocation and that certain coliform strains have the ability to translocate and survive in MLNs more easily than others.
Comparative study of cytokine release by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with Streptococcus pyogenes superantigenic erythrogenic toxins, heat-killed streptococci, and lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Müller-Alouf H , Alouf J E , Gerlach D , Ozegowski J H , Fitting C , Cavaillon J M
Published: January 2020

The differences between toxic or septic shocks in humans during infections by streptococci and gram-negative bacteria remain to be fully characterized. For this purpose, a quantitative study of the cytokine-inducing capacity of Streptococcus pyogenes erythrogenic (pyrogenic) exotoxins (ETs) A and C, heat-killed S. pyogenes bacteria, and Neisseria meningitidis endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and monocytes has been undertaken. The levels of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and TNF-beta induced by these bacterial products and bacteria were determined by using cell supernatants. The capacity of ETs to elicit the monocyte-derived cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha was found to depend on the presence of T lymphocytes, because of the failure of purified monocytes to produce significant amounts of these cytokines in response to ETs. PMBC elicited large amounts of these cytokines, as well as IL-8 and TNF-beta, with an optimal release after 48 to 96 h. The most abundant cytokine produced in response to ETA was IL-8. In contrast to the superantigens ETA and ETC, LPS and heat-killed streptococci stimulated the production of significant amounts of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, with optimal production after 24 to 48 h in monocytes, indicating no significant involvement of T cells in the process. ETs, but neither LPS nor streptococci, were potent inducers of TNF-beta in PBMC. This study outlines the differences in the pathophysiological features of shock evoked by endotoxins and superantigens during infection by gram-negative bacteria and group A streptococci, respectively. The production of TNF-alpha was a common pathway for LPS, streptococcal cells, and ETs, although cell requirements and kinetics of cytokine release were different.
Identification of hifD and hifE in the pilus gene cluster of Haemophilus influenzae type b strain Eagan
Authors: McCrea K W , Watson W J , Gilsdorf J R , Marrs C F
Published: January 2020

Haemophilus influenzae produces surface structures called pili that promote adherence to human cells. Three genes encoding the major pilus structural component (pilin), chaperone, and usher proteins (designated hifA, -B, and -C, respectively) have been identified previously. In this study, transposon mutagenesis and DNA sequence analysis identified two open reading frames (ORFs) downstream of, and in the same orientation as, hifC. These genes have been designated hifD and hifE. Both genes have predicted C-terminal amino acid homology to HifA, and mutations in either gene resulted in the loss of morphologic and functional pili, indicating that hifD and hifE encode pilus structural components and are required for pilus expression. Another ORF, identified immediately downstream of hifE, has a predicted amino acid sequence that is 70% identical to an aminopeptidase of Escherichia coli called PepN, and a mutation within this ORF did not alter pilus expression. These data indicate that the pepN homolog is not required for pilus biogenesis and that one end of the pilus gene cluster has been defined.
Age-related resistance in ovine cryptosporidiosis: patterns of infection and humoral immune response
Authors: Ortegà-Mora L M , Wright S E
Published: January 2020

The phenomenon of age-related resistance to infection with Cryptosporidium parvum has been well characterized in rodent models, and its existence has been demonstrated in calves. To determine whether this is a genuine age effect in a fully susceptible animal model or the result of infection with related pathogens inducing a nonspecific immunity, and to examine several parameters associated with severity of clinical diseases, lambs maintained in a parasite-free environment were infected with C. parvum oocysts at increasing ages. A marked decrease in the severity of clinical symptoms was observed as the age at infection increased, though the kinetics of both fecal and serum antibody responses were similar in all age groups, suggesting that mechanisms other than humoral response may play an important role in the development of age-related resistance. This study demonstrates the first experimental evidence for age-related resistance to ovine cryptosporidiosis and examines parameters which may influence the acquisition of resistance to infection.
Preparation, characterization, and immunological properties in mice of Escherichia coli O157 O-specific polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines
Authors: Konadu E , Robbins J B , Shiloach J , Bryla D A , Szu S C
Published: January 2020

Escherichia coli O157 causes severe enteritis and the extraintestinal complication of hemolytic-uremic syndrome, with their highest incidence occurring in children. We postulated that serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the O-specific polysaccharide of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) may confer protective immunity to enteric pathogens by inducing bactericidal reactions against the ingested organisms in the jejunum (J. B. Robbins, C. Chu, and R. Schneerson, Clin. Infect. Dis. 15:346-361, 1992; S. C. Szu, R. Gupta, and J. B. Robbins, p. 381-394, in I. K. Wachsmuth, P. A. Blake, and O. Olsvik, ed., Vibrio cholerae, 1994). Because polysaccharide-protein conjugates induce serum IgG antibodies in infants, we bound the O-specific polysaccharide of E. coli O157 to proteins. E. coli O157 LPS, treated with acetic acid or hydrazine, was derivatized with adipic acid dihydrazide and bound to proteins by carbodiimide-mediated condensation. Conjugates of these adipic hydrazide derivative were prepared with bovine serum albumin, formalin-treated exotoxin C of Clostridium welchii (Pig Bel toxoid), or Pseudomonas aeruginosa recombinant exoprotein A. The conjugates had low levels of endotoxin and elicited serum antibodies with bactericidal activity to the O157 LPS. The largest increase in LPS antibodies was of the IgG class. Clinical evaluation of E. coli O157-toxoid conjugates is planned.
Construction and characterization of attenuated delta aroA delta virG Shigella flexneri 2a strain CVD 1203, a prototype live oral vaccine
Authors: Noriega F R , Wang J Y , Losonsky G , Maneval D R , Hone D M , Levine M M
Published: January 2020

We engineered an oral Shigella vaccine prototype that can invade intestinal epithelial cells but cannot undergo extensive intracellular replication or extend to adjacent epithelial cells. Strain CVD 1203, derived from wild-type Shigella flexneri 2a by introducing deletions in chromosomal aroA and invasion plasmid virG, was highly attenuated in the Sereny test. Two 10(9)-CFU orogastric doses (2 weeks apart) stimulated production of secretory immunoglobulin A antibodies to S. flexneri 2a and protected against conjunctival sac challenge with virulent S. flexneri 2a.
Arginine-derived nitric oxide reduces fecal oocyst shedding in nude mice infected with Cryptosporidium parvum
Authors: Leitch G J , He Q
Published: January 2020

Dietary L-arginine (4%) significantly reduced fecal oocyst shedding in athymic nude mice chronically infected with Cryptosporidium parvum. This effect appeared to be due to an increase in host nitric oxide (NO) production as it was not observed in arginine-supplemented animals administered the NO synthase inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. N-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester alone significantly increased fecal oocyst shedding in chronically infected animals. In in vitro assays, oocyst excystation and sporozoite viability were significantly reduced by the NO donors sodium nitroprusside and S-nitroso-L-acetyl penicillamine in a concentration-dependent manner. These data suggest that arginine-derived NO may reduce the parasite load in experimental cryptosporidiosis.
Role for CD8+ T cells in antichlamydial immunity defined by Chlamydia-specific T-lymphocyte clones
Authors: Igietseme J U , Magee D M , Williams D M , Rank R G
Published: January 2020

The role of CD8+ T cells in antichlamydial immunity was investigated in a murine model of chlamydial genital infection by using T-cell clones generated against the Chlamydia trachomatis agent of mouse pneumonitis (MoPn). Two CD8+ T-cell clones tested (2.1F and 2.14-9) were chlamydia antigen specific and MHC restricted and reacted against MoPn as well as the Chlamydia psittaci agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis and C. trachomatis serovar E, suggesting the recognition of a genus-specific antigen. Upon adoptive transfer into persistently MoPn-infected nu/nu mice, 55.6% of the recipients of clone 2.1F (15 of 27) resolved the infection but recipients of clone 2.14-9 did not. The ability to resolve the MoPn infection correlated with the capacity of clone 2.1F to elaborate a combination of gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The results suggested that in addition to CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells may also contribute to antichlamydial T-cell immunity in vivo.
Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae induce a 68-kilodalton phosphorylated protein in macrophages
Authors: Murakami Y , Hanazawa S , Watanabe A , Naganuma K , Iwasaka H , Kawakami K , Kitano S
Published: January 2020

The present study was performed to examine whether Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae induce specifically a protein kinase-mediated phosphorylated protein that is involved in the mechanism of signal transduction. The fimbriae induced a 68-kDa phosphorylated protein (pp68) in a dose-dependent manner in mouse peritoneal macrophages. A marked appearance of pp68 was observed 20 min after the initiation of fimbrial treatment. The fimbria-induced pp68 was inhibited dramatically by staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C. pp68 induction was also inhibited by H-7, a potent inhibitor of several types of protein kinase. However, the induction was not inhibited by HA-1004 and H-8, relatively high-affinity inhibitors of protein kinase A. Phorbol myristate acetate and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol, activators of protein kinase C, were able to induce pp68 in mouse peritoneal macrophages. This protein was localized in the cytosolic fraction of fimbria-treated macrophages. pp68 also was induced in fimbria-treated human monocyte-like cells. Finally, we observed that gene expression of the fimbria-induced neutrophil chemoattractant KC was inhibited markedly by staurosporine.
The PapG tip adhesin of P fimbriae protects Escherichia coli from neutrophil bactericidal activity
Authors: Tewari R , Ikeda T , Malaviya R , MacGregor J I , Little J R , Hultgren S J , Abraham S N
Published: January 2020

Compared with Escherichia coli ORN103, a nonfimbriated K-12 strain, P-fimbriated E. coli ORN103/pPAP5 was found to interact poorly with human neutrophils and resist their bactericidal activity in vitro. PapG, the Gal alpha(1-->4)Gal binding moiety located at the distal end of the P fimbrial filament, appeared to be responsible for this effect because an isogenic PapG- mutant, E. coli ORN103/pPAP24, exhibited binding interactions with neutrophils that were similar to nonfimbriated E. coli ORN103. Although no direct evidence is available, the poor adherence mediated by PapG could be related to its electrostatic properties because the isolated PapG protein had a pI of 5.2, which indicated that in the physiological pH range it possessed a net negative charge. Antibodies against PapG overcame the protective effect of PapG and markedly enhanced the interactions of P-fimbriated E. coli with neutrophils resulting in bacterial killing. When a P-fimbriated clinical E. coli strain or its isogenic PapG- derivative was injected into the peritoneal cavities of mice, a similar number of neutrophils was recruited to the site of injection. After 2 h, the number of P-fimbriated E. coli organisms that survived the neutrophil influx in the mouse peritoneum was approximately four times more than the number of surviving PapG- bacteria. This result demonstrates that the PapG protein, which is strategically located at the distal region of the P-fibrillum structure, protects E. coli from the bactericidal action of neutrophils.