bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibody responses to the chlamydial heat shock proteins hsp60 and hsp70 are H-2 linked
Authors: Zhong G , Brunham R C
Published: January 2020

The effects of both H-2 and non-H-2 genes on antibody responses to two Chlamydia trachomatis heat shock proteins (hsp60 and hsp70) were investigated. These chlamydial proteins are homologs of Escherichia coli GroEL (hsp60) and DnaK (hsp70) and are highly sequence conserved between bacterial and mammalian sources. Antibody responses among 17 different strains of mice immunized with C. trachomatis serovar B and serovar C elementary bodies were evaluated by immunoblot, radioimmunoprecipitation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibody responses to the two proteins displayed host genetic restriction. Of six distinctive H-2 haplotypes, only H-2d generated high antibody responses to hsp70. Five of the six H-2 haplotypes, i.e., H-2a, H-2d, H-2k, H-2q, and H-2s, produced high antibody responses to hsp60. Only the H-2b-bearing strain had low antibody responses to hsp60. By using congenic and H-2 recombinant strains, the genes responsible for regulating antibody responses to hsp70 and hsp60 were mapped to the K-IA region of the H-2 locus. In F1 hybrid crosses between high and low responders, high responses to hsp60 and hsp70 were dominant traits. Other genes outside the H-2 locus also influenced antibody responses to hsp60 and hsp70, since inbred strains of identical H-2 but different background genes displayed variable antibody responses to the proteins. The genetic control of murine immune responses to C. trachomatis hsp60, a putative chlamydial immunopathologic antigen, suggests that a similar genetic mechanism may also exist in humans, and this observation may help to explain the observed variability in the spectrum of chlamydial diseases seen in humans.
Construction of a multivalent meningococcal vaccine strain based on the class 1 outer membrane protein
Authors: Van Der Ley P , Poolman J T
Published: January 2020

Outer membrane complexes (OMCs) are promising vaccine candidates for protection against meningococcal disease. However, a major obstacle to this approach is the fact that the protective antibodies induced are generally type specific. In an attempt to overcome this problem, we have investigated the possibility of constructing a multivalent vaccine strain by insertion of an additional class 1 outer membrane protein-encoding gene. Starting with a derivative of strain H44/76 deficient in class 3 outer membrane protein, a second class 1 gene was inserted into the chromosome, through homologous recombination with a suicide plasmid carrying the class 1 gene from strain 2996 placed within a class 5 gene. In this way, a strain was obtained in which a class 3 protein was in effect replaced by a class 1 protein from another subtype, i.e. P1.5,2 in addition to the P1.7,16 protein of H44/76. Immunization of mice with such OMCs resulted in high bactericidal titers against both H44/76 and 2996, where normally only strain-specific antibodies are induced. Mutational removal of class 3 protein from the immunizing OMCs had no detectable effect on the bactericidal titer against H44/76, whereas removal of class 1 protein led to a strong reduction. These results demonstrate the dominant role of the subtype-specific sequences of class 1 protein in the induction of bactericidal antibodies and show that construction of a multivalent OMC-based vaccine should be feasible.
Effect of passive immunization with purified specific or cross-reacting immunoglobulin G antibodies against Treponema pallidum on the course of infection in guinea pigs
Authors: Wicher K , Zabek J , Wicher V
Published: January 2020

Whole immune serum or highly purified immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to Treponema pallidum exhaustively adsorbed with three strains of nonpathogenic treponemes (TPI-IgG) were used for passive immunization of inbred strain 2 guinea pigs before and after intradermal challenge with 3.4 x 10(7) virulent T. pallidum Nichols organisms. Before challenge, control animals received a similarly purified IgG fraction containing either a cocktail of antibodies against three nonpathogenic treponemes (NPTI-IgG) or IgG prepared from normal guinea pig serum (NGPS-IgG). The purified fractions contained both IgG1 and IgG2 isotypes. The antibody levels (detected by fluorescent treponemal antibody test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and molecular specificities (immunoblot) of sera obtained from recipient animals before infection reflected those of the purified fractions used for immunization. Three protocols of passive immunization were used. Whole immune serum containing specific and cross-reacting antibodies afforded better protection than TPI-IgG even though asymptomatic animals were not fully protected. A single intradermal injection (0.1 ml) of TPI-IgG or NPTI-IgG into one hind leg 22 h before infection at the same site provided relatively higher protection than multiple intravenous injections (total, 15 ml) of the respective individual preparations. Since purified NGPS-IgG injected in the same animals, into the opposite hind leg, failed to protect against the challenging infection, it is reasonable to assume that specific and cross-reacting antitreponemal antibodies of the IgG1 subclass, which in guinea pigs are homocytotropic, play a relevant role in local protection.
Characterization of two genes encoding distinct transferrin-binding proteins in different Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolates
Authors: Gerlach G F , Klashinsky S , Anderson C , Potter A A , Willson P J
Published: January 2020

The gene encoding the Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 transferrin-binding protein (tfbA) was cloned, and the carboxy-terminal 70% of the protein was expressed as an aggregate protein in Escherichia coli. The nucleotide sequences of the tfbA genes from A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 7 (G.-F. Gerlach, C. Anderson, A. A. Potter, S. Klashinsky, and P. J. Willson, Infect. Immun. 60:892-898, 1992) and 1 were determined, and a comparison revealed that they had 65% sequence identity. The deduced amino acid sequences showed a sequence agreement of 55%, and both proteins possessed a lipoprotein-like signal sequence. The serotype 1 TfbA protein had a predicted molecular mass of 65 kDa, compared with 60 kDa for the serotype 7 TfbA protein, and both proteins were immunologically distinct as assessed in a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Southern hybridization and Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of the 13 A. pleuropneumoniae type strains revealed that serotypes 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11 encode and express a TfbA protein highly homologous to that of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 whereas the TfbA proteins and the encoding genes of serotypes 6 and 12 were highly homologous to that found in A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1. The tfbA genes of A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 5A and 5B were recognized, under medium-stringency hybridization conditions, by the A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1-derived tfbA probe, and the respective proteins were weakly reactive with the antibody raised against the A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 TfbA protein.
Construction of stable LamB-Shiga toxin B subunit hybrids: analysis of expression in Salmonella typhimurium aroA strains and stimulation of B subunit-specific mucosal and serum antibody responses
Authors: Su G F , Brahmbhatt H N , Wehland J , Rohde M , Timmis K N
Published: January 2020

The complete Shiga toxin B subunit and two N-terminal segments of the B subunit have been inserted into a cell surface exposed loop of the LamB protein, and expression of the hybrid proteins from three different promoter systems, i.e., (i) an in vitro-inducible tac promoter that provides high-level expression, (ii) the iron-regulated aerobactin promoter presumably induced in vivo under the iron-limiting conditions of the intestinal mucosal environment, and (iii) a synthetic, modified beta-lactamase promoter providing moderate level constitutive expression, has been analyzed in Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and attenuated antigen carrier strains of S. typhimurium (aroA mutants). The hybrid vaccine strains were used to immunize mice by the oral and intraperitoneal routes. S. typhimurium aroA mutants apparently have a membrane export defect which prevents the transport of LamB and its derivatives across the cytoplasmic membrane. High-level expression of hybrid proteins through use of the tac promoter proved deleterious to the vaccine strains and prevented the production of viable cells at reasonable cell densities. The lower levels of gene expression observed with the beta-lactamase and aerobactin promoters did not have this effect. Immunization of mice with S. typhimurium aroA strains carrying the hybrid genes expressed from these two promoters resulted in significant B subunit-specific mucosal and serum antibody responses. This suggests that such expression systems may be useful when incorporated into candidate antidysentery live oral vaccines for inducing protection against the effect of Shiga toxin in infections caused by Shigella dysenteriae 1 and other Shiga toxin-or Shiga-like toxin-producing pathogens.
Roles of the pap- and prs-encoded adhesins in Escherichia coli adherence to human uroepithelial cells
Authors: Johanson I , Lindstedt R , Svanborg C
Published: January 2020

In this study, we reexamined the structural prerequisites for the attachment of P-fimbriated Escherichia coli to human urinary tract epithelial cells. The epithelial cells were obtained from A1P1 nonsecretor individuals, who express the globoseries of glycolipids without the ABH blood group determinants, and from A1P1 secretor individuals, who in addition express globo-A, a receptor for the prsJ96 adhesin. The wild-type E. coli strains J96, AD110, and IA2 and the recombinant clones HB101 papJ96, HB101 prsJ96, HB101 papIA2, and HB101 papAD110 were tested for binding. They expressed P fimbriae, as defined by P blood group-dependent agglutination of human erythrocytes of the globoseries, but differed in reactivity with galactose alpha 1-4galactose beta (Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta)-latex beads, isolated glycolipids of the globoseries, sheep erythrocytes, and uroepithelial cells. Three different patterns of binding were represented among the recombinant clones. HB101 papIA2 and HB101 papAD110 agglutinated sheep erythrocytes and Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta-latex beads and attached to both secretor and nonsecretor epithelial cells. HB101 prsJ96 agglutinated sheep erythrocytes, reacted poorly with Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta-latex beads, and attached to A1 secretor but not to A1 nonsecretor epithelial cells. HB101 papJ96 agglutinated Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta-latex beads but not sheep erythrocytes and attached poorly to human uroepithelial cells. The receptors relevant for adhesion were analyzed by inhibition with glycolipids in suspension. The sheep erythrocyte agglutination and attachment to secretor and nonsecretor epithelial cells of HB101 papIA2 and HB101 papAD110 were inhibited by globotetraosylceramide, while the Forssman glycolipid had no effect. The sheep erythrocyte reactivity and attachment to secretor epithelial cells of HB101 prsJ96 were inhibited by the Forssman glycolipid. These results permitted three conclusions. First, the expression of functionally active Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta-specific adhesins, as in HB101 papJ96, was not sufficient to make E. coli competent to attach to human uroepithelial cells. Attachment required P fimbriae of the papIA2 or papAD110 type. Second, the sheep erythrocyte reactivity of P-fimbriated strains could not be attributed solely to recognition of the Forssman glycolipid and may not be used to define the prsJ96-encoded phenotype. Third, the P-fimbrial adhesins which mediate secretor state-independent attachment to human uroepithelial cells recognized receptor epitopes provided by globotetraosylceramide.
Identification of type 4 pili in Kingella denitrificans
Authors: Weir S , Marrs C F
Published: January 2020

Kingella denitrificans is an occasionally pathogenic member of the family Neisseriaceae and is a member of the normal respiratory flora. Electron microscopy, colony morphology types, DNA transformation patterns, and immunoblots suggest that K. denitrificans and K. kingae have type 4 pili. This was confirmed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing for K. denitrificans.
Elimination of the vitamin B12 uptake or synthesis pathway does not diminish the virulence of Escherichia coli K1 or Salmonella typhimurium in three model systems
Authors: Sampson B A , Gotschlich E C
Published: January 2020

The role of iron in infection is of great importance and is well understood. During infection, both the host and the pathogen go through many complicated changes to regulate iron levels. Iron and vitamin B12 share certain features. For example, Escherichia coli has similar transport systems for both nutrients, and binding proteins for both are located in gastric juice, liver, saliva, granulocytes, and milk. It is because of such parallels between iron and B12 that we have explored the role of B12 in virulence. A btuB::Tn10 insertion which disrupts the gene encoding the vitamin B12 receptor from E. coli K-12 was P1 transduced into a virulent E. coli K1 strain. In both an infant-rat model and a chicken embryo model, no difference in virulence between the wild-type and the mutant strains was found. Strains of Salmonella typhimurium with mutations in the cobalamin synthesis pathway (Cob) and in btuB were used in a mouse model of virulence. Mutation of the Cob locus or of btuB does not decrease virulence. Interestingly, the inability to synthesize vitamin B12 actually increases virulence compared with the wild type in the S. typhimurium model. This effect is independent of the B12 intake of the mice.
Immune specificity of murine T-cell lines to the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis
Authors: Ishizaki M , Allen J E , Beatty P R , Stephens R S
Published: January 2020

The antigenically variant Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein (MOMP) is a target of antibody-mediated neutralization in vitro, and it is an important protein for designing a subunit vaccine. Knowledge of MOMP T-cell determinants will be essential to elicit rapid and strong immune responses following an encounter with infectious organisms. C. trachomatis-specific T-cell lines were derived from MOMP-immunized BALB/c mice and selected with intact organisms. We used these short-term T-cell lines to identify determinants of MOMP that could be recognized by T cells following processing of the intact organism. T-cell line proliferation in response to overlapping MOMP peptides showed that only a peptide encompassing the third variable segment (VS3) elicited a strong proliferative response. We further mapped determinants within the VS3 peptide and found that a sequence-conserved portion of the VS3 peptide elicited T-cell proliferation of T-cell lines from BALB/c mice. Thus, unlike the response to several MOMP peptides with unselected T cells, development of short-term T-cell lines with intact organisms restricted the repertoire of antigens capable of being recognized by MOMP-specific T cells.
In vivo induction of nitrite and nitrate by tumor necrosis factor, lymphotoxin, and interleukin-1: possible roles in malaria
Authors: Rockett K A , Awburn M M , Aggarwal B B , Cowden W B , Clark I A
Published: January 2020

Tumor necrosis factor and related cytokines are thought to be implicated in cell-mediated immunity and pathophysiology in malaria, but their mechanism of action has not been ascertained. Tumor necrosis factor has been reported to generate nitric oxide in vitro, so we have measured levels of this molecule and its products in the plasma of mice after they have received an injection of tumor necrosis factor, lymphotoxin, interleukin-1, gamma interferon, or interleukin-6, all of which have been reported to be increased in malaria. Total reactive nitrogen intermediate levels in plasma were assayed spectrophotometrically after exposing plasma to a copper-cadmium-zinc catalyst to convert nitrate to nitrite and then to Griess reagent. Tumor necrosis factor, lymphotoxin, and interleukin-1 all induced reactive nitrogen intermediates in vivo, with interleukin-1 showing the most activity. Tumor necrosis factor was then examined more closely. It induced more reactive nitrogen intermediates in malaria-infected mice than in normal mice, and appreciably more was in the form of nitrate than was in the form of nitrite. NG-methyl-L-arginine inhibited the in vivo generation of reactive nitrogen intermediates by tumor necrosis factor in a dose-dependent manner, implying that these molecules were arginine derived. These results are consistent with the possibility that tumor necrosis factor, lymphotoxin, and interleukin-1 may contribute to host pathology and parasite suppression through generation of nitric oxide.
Effects of cytokines, complement, and antibody on the neutrophil respiratory burst and phagocytic response to Plasmodium falciparum merozoites
Authors: Kumaratilake L M , Ferrante A , Jaeger T , Rzepczyk C M
Published: January 2020

The interaction between Plasmodium falciparum merozoites and human neutrophils, as well as the role of cytokines, complement, and antimalarial antibody on this interaction, was examined in vitro by measuring luminol-dependent chemiluminescence and phagocytosis. Merozoites, in the presence of heat-inactivated (56 degrees C/30 min) normal serum, had very little effect on the neutrophil chemiluminescence. This response was significantly enhanced by the addition of normal serum (containing normal complement activity). In the presence of serum or plasma containing anti-P. falciparum antibodies (IS) with no detectable complement activity, the merozoites induced a marked response characterized by an increase in initial peak rate of chemiluminescence and a sustained increased rate of chemiluminescence. However, this response was not further increased if IS containing complement activity was used. Pretreatment of neutrophils with either tumor necrosis factor alpha, lymphotoxin, or gamma interferon significantly increased the neutrophil response to IS-treated merozoites, reflected in an increased initial peak rate and sustained increased rate of chemiluminescence. The effects of cytokine treatment of neutrophils and IS opsonization of merozoites were synergistic. In association with the changes in the chemiluminescence responses, IS was shown to promote phagocytosis of merozoites by neutrophils, and this event was further increased by treating neutrophils with the cytokines. The results emphasize the importance of antibody and cytokines in neutrophil-mediated damage of P. falciparum merozoites.
Role of endotoxin in alterations of hepatic drug metabolism by diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine adsorbed
Authors: Ansher S , Thompson W , Snoy P , Habig W
Published: January 2020

Administration of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine adsorbed (DTP vaccine) or endotoxin (LPS) resulted in marked alterations in hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes in endotoxin-responsive (R) and non-endotoxin-responsive (NR) mice. A single human dose (0.5 ml) of DTP vaccine increased hexobarbital-induced sleep times to 1.6- to 1.8-fold above those of controls in both strains of mice. This effect persisted for 7 days. In contrast, Bordetella pertussis LPS-treated mice showed an increase at 1 day (3.0-fold for R mice and 1.5-fold for NR mice), which returned to control levels by day 7. Furthermore, cytochrome P-450 levels were decreased 30 to 40% 24 h after DTP vaccine administration in both R and NR mice, while after LPS administration they were decreased 30% in R mice and less than 10% in NR mice. Both spleen and liver weights of R and NR mice were increased 7 to 14 days following DTP vaccine administration. However, LPS treatment had no apparent effect on liver weights, and spleen weights of R mice were elevated from days 3 to 7. Histopathologic tissue examination showed random, multifocal inflammation with hepatocyte necrosis after DTP vaccine administration to both R and NR mice and an absence of lesions in LPS-treated mice. Premixing LPS with polymyxin eliminated the increased sleep times, but premixing DTP vaccine with polymyxin did not affect the increased sleep times. Levels of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 in plasma of R mice were markedly increased after DTP and LPS treatment, while NR mice had reduced increases. These results suggest that LPS contributes to the alterations in R and NR mice seen within the first 24 h of vaccine administration but that it is not likely to contribute to the effects observed at later time points.
Expression of the eukaryotic Trypanosoma cruzi CRA gene in Yersinia enterocolitica and induction of an immune response against CRA in mice
Authors: Sory M P , Kaniga K , Goldenberg S , Cornelis G R
Published: January 2020

The 70-kb plasmid pYV of Yersinia enterocolitica directs the secretion of a set of proteins, called Yops, that are produced during infection of humans and animals. Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of American trypanosomiasis, synthesizes a cytoplasmic protein termed CRA that is considered to be T. cruzi specific. To produce CRA in Y. enterocolitica, we constructed a hybrid yopE-CRA gene that we integrated into plasmid pYV by homologous recombination. Recombinant Y. enterocolitica produced a chimeric Yop-CRA protein that was secreted in large amounts in the surrounding medium. This protein reacted with sera directed against either CRA or YopE. To test the ability of the recombinant strain to induce an immune response against CRA, we inoculated C57BL/6J mice by gastric intubation with live recombinant bacteria. A clear antibody response directed against CRA was detected in the mouse serum. The CRA-presenting Y. enterocolitica strain also carried a bioluminescence detection marker, which allowed us to monitor colonization of the intestinal lumen of infected mice. No significant differences were observed between the infectivity of the CRA antigen-producing and -nonproducing Y. enterocolitica strains, despite the fact that one of them no longer produced YopE.
Iron acquisition and hemolysin production by Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Pickett C L , Auffenberg T , Pesci E C , Sheen V L , Jusuf S S
Published: January 2020

Campylobacter jejuni strains were tested for their ability to acquire iron from various iron sources present in humans. Hemin, hemoglobin, hemin-hemopexin, and hemoglobin-haptoglobin stimulated the growth of C. jejuni strains in low-iron medium. Transferrin, lactoferrin, and ferritin were unable to provide iron to the strains tested. Derivatives of the naturally transformable C. jejuni strain 81-176 were isolated on the basis of their inability to use hemin as an iron source. These mutants were also unable to use hemoglobin, hemin-hemopexin, or hemoglobin-haptoglobin as iron sources. Some mutants lacked a 71,000-Da iron-regulated outer membrane protein, while others appeared to retain all of their outer membrane proteins. Growth curves and a recombination experiment that exploited natural transformation were used to further characterize the mutants. A hemolytic activity was shown to be produced by several C. jejuni strains, but it did not appear to be iron regulated.
Immune CD4+ T cells specific for Theileria parva-infected lymphocytes recognize a 24-kilodalton protein
Authors: Grab D J , Baldwin C L , Brown W C , Innes E A , Lonsdale-Eccles J D , Verjee Y
Published: January 2020

Theileria parva is a protozoan parasite that infects and transforms bovine lymphocytes. Here we report the partial purification of a T. parva-specific protein from infected lymphocytes that is recognized by CD4+ parasite-specific T-cell clones derived from immune cattle. T. parva-infected lymphocytes were homogenized in Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline in the presence of protease inhibitors. The antigen was purified from a postmicrosomal supernatant by using a combination of DEAE-cellulose chromatography and hydroxylapatite column chromatography. After labelling with 125I, the antigen preparation was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and found to contain 8 to 10 proteins. This preparation was subjected to chromatography in phosphate-buffered saline on HPLC TSK-250/125 columns coupled in tandem. A radiolabelled protein of M(r) 24,000 correlated with antigenic activity.
Phosphatidylserine found in intestinal mucus serves as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen for salmonellae and Escherichia coli
Authors: Krivan H C , Franklin D P , Wang W , Laux D C , Cohen P S
Published: January 2020

Salmonella choleraesuis (a pig pathogen), Salmonella typhimurium (a virulent strain in mice), and three strains of Escherichia coli (including a human enterohemorrhagic strain, a human urinary tract isolate, and a human fecal isolate) grew as well in vitro utilizing the lipids derived from mouse cecal mucus as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen as they did in mouse crude cecal mucus. Further analysis of the total lipid extracts of mucus dialysates showed that the acidic lipid fraction supported growth nearly as well as the total lipid fraction. Interestingly, among the many purified acidic lipids from mucus which were tested and analyzed, including several phospholipids, only phosphatidylserine was found to support the growth of all of these enteric bacteria, including Salmonella milwaukee, a human pathogen. The possible role of growth on pure phosphatidylserine in the pathogenesis of salmonellae is discussed.
Effects of N-acetylglucosamine on carbohydrate fermentation by Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449 and Streptococcus sobrinus SL-1
Authors: Homer K A , Patel R , Beighton D
Published: January 2020

We have investigated the ability of two species of streptococci isolated from the human oral cavity (Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449 and Streptococcus sobrinus SL-1) to metabolize N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), a naturally occurring amino sugar present in saliva and human glycoproteins, when provided as the sole fermentable carbohydrate and determined the effects of the presence of GlcNAc on the fermentation of other carbohydrates. S. mutans used GlcNAc at concentrations of up to 10 mM to increase cell numbers, but S. sobrinus was unable to ferment the amino sugar alone and its uptake only occurred in the presence of a fermentable carbohydrate. GlcNAc had a marked inhibitory effect on the ability of S. sobrinus to produce lactic acid from glucose, sucrose, and fructose, at the same time increasing the lag period and doubling time of batch-grown cells. Such patterns of inhibition were found with S. mutans, but the effects were less than those seen in S. sobrinus. In mixed culture studies of the two species, S. sobrinus became the predominant organism when 10 mM glucose was supplied as the sole fermentable carbohydrate, with a concomitant decrease in the numbers of S. mutans cells, but supplementation of the broth with 10 mM glucose and 10 mM GlcNAc resulted in the emergence of S. mutans as the predominant organism. S. mutans and S. sobrinus grown in media containing glucose possessed the ability to transport glucose and GlcNAc, probably via the same glucose-phosphotransferase system at similar rates. However, intracellular levels of N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase and glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase were markedly higher in S. mutans grown on glucose and GlcNAc than in S. sobrinus: 34 and 398 and 8 and 17 nmol of NADPH formed per mi per mg of protein for S. mutans and S. sobrinus, respectively. We propose that GlcNAc inhibited growth of S. sobrinus in media containing glucose and GlcNAc by competing with glucose for the glucose phosphotransferase, depleting intracellular levels of phosphoenolpyruvate, and possessing, in contrast to S. mutans, low levels of N-acetyl-glucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase and glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase activity. Together, these data suggest that in dental plaque, S. sobrinus when exposed to GlcNAc will have a reduced ability to compete with S. mutans for dietary carbohydrates, contributing to the greater frequency of isolation of S. mutans from human populations.
Induction of mucosal immunity by intranasal application of a streptococcal surface protein antigen with the cholera toxin B subunit
Authors: Wu H Y , Russell M W
Published: January 2020

The level and distribution of isotype-specific antibodies in various secretions and of antibody-secreting cells in corresponding lymphoid organs and tissues were compared in mice immunized with Streptococcus mutans surface protein antigen I/II (AgI/II) conjugated to the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), given intranasally (i.n.) or intragastrically (i.g.), with or without free cholera toxin (CT) as an adjuvant. Immunization i.n. induced stronger initial antibody responses to AgI/II in both serum and saliva than immunization i.g., but salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA)-specific antibody responses to immunization about 3 months later were not increased relative to total salivary IgA concentrations. Specific antibodies induced by i.n. immunization were as widely distributed in serum, saliva, tracheal wash, gut wash, and vaginal wash as those induced by i.g. immunization. Likewise, specific antibody-secreting cells were generated in the spleen, salivary glands, intestinal lamina propria, and mesenteric and cervical lymph nodes by either route of immunization. The strongest salivary IgA antibody response was induced by AgI/II-CTB conjugate given i.n., but the addition of CT did not further enhance it. However, free CTB could effectively replace CT as an adjuvant in i.n. immunization with unconjugated AgI/II. Booster i.n. immunization with AgI/II plus either free CT or CTB induced stronger recall serum antibody responses than conjugated AgI/II-CTB with or without CT as an adjuvant. Therefore, i.n. immunization with a protein antigen and free or coupled CTB is an effective means of generating IgA antibody responses expressed at several mucosal sites where protective immunity may be beneficial.
Adherence of Helicobacter pylori to cultured human gastric epithelial cells
Authors: Smoot D T , Resau J H , Naab T , Desbordes B C , Gilliam T , Bull-Henry K , Curry S B , Nidiry J , Sewchand J , Mills-Robertson K
Published: January 2020

Experiments were performed to demonstrate that adherence of Helicobacter pylori to gastric epithelial cells causes alterations in the cell cytoskeleton. H. pylori intimately attached to cultured human gastric epithelial cells on small cellular projections, while there was no intimate association of H. pylori with cultured human esophageal epithelial cells. Fluorescein-conjugated phalloidin staining of gastric epithelial cells showed that H. pylori adherence stimulated actin polymerization; this stimulation was not observed with esophageal cells. Also, this organism's selectivity for gastric mucosa was supported by rare binding of bacteria to esophageal epithelial cells and gastric fibroblasts.
YopB and YopD constitute a novel class of Yersinia Yop proteins
Authors: Håkansson S , Bergman T , Vanooteghem J C , Cornelis G , Wolf-Watz H
Published: January 2020

Virulent Yersinia species harbor a common plasmid that encodes essential virulence determinants (Yersinia outer proteins [Yops]), which are regulated by the extracellular stimuli Ca2+ and temperature. The V-antigen-encoding operon has been shown to be involved in the Ca(2+)-regulated negative pathway. The genetic organization of the V-antigen operon and the sequence of the lcrGVH genes were recently presented. The V-antigen operon was shown to be a polycistronic operon having the gene order lcrGVH-yopBD (T. Bergman, S. Håkansson, A. Forsberg, L. Norlander, A. Macellaro, A. Bäckman, I. Bölin, and H. Wolf-Watz, J. Bacteriol. 173:1607-1616, 1991; S. B. Price, K. Y. Leung, S. S. Barve, and S. C. Straley, J. Bacteriol. 171:5646-5653, 1989). We present here the sequence of the distal part of the V-antigen operons of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterocolitica. The sequence information encompasses the yopB and yopD genes and a downstream region in both species. We conclude that the V-antigen operon ends with the yopD gene. This conclusion is strengthened by the observation of an insertion-like element downstream of the yopD gene. The translational start codons of YopB and YopD have been identified by N-terminal amino acid sequencing. By computer analysis, the yopB and yopD gene products were found to be possible transmembrane proteins, and YopD was shown to contain an amphipathic alpha-helix in its carboxy terminus. These findings contrast with the general globular pattern observed for other Yops. Homology between Yersinia LcrH and Shigella flexneri IppI and between Yersinia YopB and S. flexneri IpaB was found, suggesting conservation of this locus between these two genera. YopB was also found to have a moderate level of homology, especially within the hydrophobic regions, to members of the RTX protein family of alpha-hemolysins and leukotoxins, indicating that YopB might exhibit a similar function.
Interleukin-6 production in a murine model of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: relation to resistance and inflammatory response
Authors: Chen W , Havell E A , Gigliotti F , Harmsen A G
Published: January 2020

The production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its possible relationship to host resistance and inflammatory response to Pneumocystis carinii infection were examined in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID mice). IL-6 activity was detected in the serum and lungs of P. carinii-infected mice but not in mice free of P. carinii. Moreover, the IL-6 levels in P. carinii-infected mice increased markedly after spleen cell reconstitution but then decreased to an undetectable level after the clearance of P. carinii. However, neutralization of IL-6 activity in spleen cell-reconstituted SCID mice by treatment with anti-IL-6 immunoglobulin G (IgG) resulted in no significant effect on the clearance of P. carinii (P > 0.05). Both the serum and lungs of treated mice contained an excess amount of anti-IL-6 IgG and lacked detectable IL-6. These results suggest that failure to inhibit the P. carinii clearance by anti-IL-6 treatment was not due to insufficient administration of antibody or incomplete neutralization of IL-6 activity. However, compared with mice receiving rat control IgG, mice treated with anti-IL-6 IgG had significantly higher numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes (particularly CD8+ cells) in the lung lavage fluids (P < 0.05 for both) at day 19 after reconstitution. In addition, the levels of both total IgG (P < 0.001) and P. carinii-specific antibodies (P < 0.05) in the serum of mice treated with anti-IL-6 were significantly higher than those in control mice. These results indicate that although P. carinii infection causes both local and systemic production of IL-6 in SCID mice, IL-6 does not appear to play a crucial role in the clearance of P. carinii. However, it appears that during resolution of P. carinii pneumonia, IL-6 plays a role in the regulation of pulmonary inflammation and antibody responses.
Cytokine mRNA in the central nervous system of SCID mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii: importance of T-cell-independent regulation of resistance to T. gondii
Authors: Hunter C A , Abrams J S , Beaman M H , Remington J S
Published: January 2020

Levels of cytokine mRNA were studied in the central nervous system (CNS) of SCID mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii. This infection led to 100% mortality by day 23 postinfection. Inflammation was observed in the lungs on day 7 and in the heart, liver, and kidneys on days 14 and 18 of infection. In the CNS, necrotic, acellular lesions that contained numerous parasites, accompanied by a localized astrocyte activation, were evident on day 14. Polymerase chain reaction-assisted amplification of RNA revealed that, although transcripts for interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and IL-1 beta were present in the brains of uninfected mice, increased levels of these transcripts were detected on day 7 of infection. Transcripts for macrophage inflammatory protein 1 and transforming growth factor beta were also detected in brains of infected mice at this time point. On days 14 and 18, levels of these transcripts had increased and transcripts for IL-6, IL-10, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were also detected. Transcripts for IL-2 or IL-4 were not detected at any of the time points. Detection of locally produced cytokine transcripts may reflect involvement of the cytokines in the immunopathogenesis of this infection or involvement in mediating antitoxoplasma activity. To assess the possible role of endogenous IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10, IL-6, and GM-CSF, cytokine-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies were administered to infected SCID mice. Neutralization of IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha led to earlier mortality than that in controls. In contrast, treatment with antibody to IL-10 and IL-6 increased survival time. Treatment with anti-GM-CSF did not alter the time to death. These results indicate that TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma are both involved in T-cell-independent mechanisms of resistance to T. gondii in SCID mice and that IL-10 and IL-6 may downregulate the immune response to this pathogen.
Anti-Cryptosporidium parvum antibodies inhibit infectivity in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Doyle P S , Crabb J , Petersen C
Published: January 2020

Cryptosporidium parvum causes acute diarrhea in immunocompetent individuals and a severe life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals, including AIDs patients. No efficacious therapy for cryptosporidiosis has yet been reported. However, treatment of some patients with cryptosporidiosis with hyperimmune bovine colostrum has ameliorated or eliminated clinical symptoms. Consequently, it is important to identify and characterize C. parvum antigens which are the targets of protective antibodies to facilitate the development of more efficacious therapy. We report that hyperimmune bovine colostral immunoglobulin inhibits C. parvum infectivity in a reproducible in vitro assay, and we correlate this inhibition with the protective capacity of the bovine colostrum in vivo. We have also identified the major C. parvum sporozoite antigens recognized on Western blots (immunoblots) by this colostral immunoglobulin preparation. Antibodies that recognize some surface molecules of other Apicomplexan parasites are protective in vivo. Consequently, we radioiodinated membrane proteins of sporozoites and immunoprecipitated 19 molecules which are the target of immunoglobulin that is protective in vivo and in vitro.
Adherence to human cells of a cryptic Haemophilus genospecies responsible for genital and neonatal infections
Authors: Rosenau A , Sizaret P Y , Musser J M , Goudeau A , Quentin R
Published: January 2020

Haemophilus strains usually identified as Haemophilus influenzae biotype IV belonging to a cryptic genospecies are responsible for genital and neonatal infections. As a first approach to identifying the bacterial factors involved in the pathogenesis of these unusual diseases, we studied the piliation, adherence, and invasion properties of 17 strains assigned to this cryptic genospecies. Twelve strains spontaneously displayed abundant peritrichous piliation, and two strains expressed peritrichous pili after enrichment procedures. For virtually all strains, piliation correlated with adhesion to cultured HeLa cells of genital origin and to a lesser extent with adhesion to HEp-2 cells of laryngeal origin. A variation in the adherence properties of the various strains was observed: all piliated strains except one adhered to 50 to 100% of HeLa cells, with a mean number of bacteria per cell varying from 4 to 50. Adherence was not dependent on the state of growth for most strains, was more pronounced with HeLa cells than with HEp-2 cells for 10 of the 12 highly adherent strains, was time and inoculum dependent, and was not followed by significant invasion of cells. Most of the strains belonging to this unusual Haemophilus clone possess adhesins that do not recognize erythrocyte receptors, since agglutination of human erythrocytes was observed with only 3 of the 14 piliated strains.
Molecular and immunological characterization of a novel polymorphic lipoprotein of Borrelia burgdorferi
Authors: Wallich R , Simon M M , Hofmann H , Moter S E , Schaible U E , Kramer M D
Published: January 2020

We describe the cloning, expression, and molecular characterization of a novel polymorphic Borrelia burgdorferi lipoprotein recognized by monoclonal antibody LA7. Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame encoding a 21,866-Da polypeptide (IpLA7). Comparison with other known proteins indicated sequence similarity between IpLA7 signal peptides and those of other prokaryotic lipoproteins, including the immunodominant B. burgdorferi outer surface proteins OspA, OspB, pC, and OspD. Both natural IpLA-7 and recombinant IpLA-7 could be biosynthetically labeled with [3H]palmitate. Upon solubilization of intact B. burgdorferi with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114, IpLA7 was extracted together with other lipoproteins into the detergent phase. Indirect immunolabeling studies indicated that the epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody LA7 is mainly located in the periplasmic space. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting confirmed the calculated acidic pI of 5.7 for IpLA-7. The LA7 gene was shown to be species specific and to be located on the linear chromosome of B. burgdorferi. The analysis of 40 individual spirochetal isolates on the basis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms revealed considerable genotypic heterogeneity of LA7 corresponding to that previously found for ospA. Native IpLA-7 and recombinant IpLA-7 were recognized by immune sera from infected mice as well as some human sera derived from infected but healthy donors and may thus prove useful as an additional marker for the serodiagnosis of Lyme disease.
Characterization of a cDNA clone encoding the carboxy-terminal domain of a 90-kilodalton surface antigen of Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes
Authors: Franco F R , Paranhos-Bacallà G S , Yamauchi L M , Yoshida N , da Silveira J F
Published: January 2020

We have cloned and sequenced a cDNA for a metacyclic trypomastigote-specific glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 90 kDa, termed MTS-gp90. By immunoblotting, antibodies to the MTS-gp90 recombinant protein reacted exclusively with a 90-kDa antigen of metacyclic trypomastigotes. The insert of the MTS-gp90 cDNA clone strongly hybridized with a single 3.0-kb mRNA of metacyclic forms, whereas the hybridization signal with epimastigote mRNA was weak and those with RNAs from other developmental stages were negative, indicating that transcription of the MTS-gp90 gene is developmentally regulated. A series of experiments showed that the MTS-gp90 gene is present in multiple copies in the Trypanosoma cruzi genome, arranged in a nontandem manner, and that there are at least 40 copies of the gene per haploid genome. Sequence analysis of recombinant MTS-gp90 revealed 40 to 60% identity at the amino acid level with members of a family of mammalian stage-specific, 85-kDa surface antigens of T. cruzi. However, there are considerable differences in the amino acid compositions outside the homology region.
Monocyte antimycobacterial activity before and after Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccination in Chingleput, India, and London, United Kingdom
Authors: Cheng S H , Walker K B , Lowrie D B , Mitchison D A , Swamy R , Datta M , Prabhakar R
Published: January 2020

Monocytes from purified protein derivative S Mantoux-negative children and young adults inhibited intracellular growth of Mycobacterium microti more in Chingleput than in London. Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccination did not enhance bacteriostasis with the Indians but did so with the Londoners. No evidence was found for involvement of cytokines such as macrophage-activating factor and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the differences.
Mitomycin-induced synthesis of a Shiga-like toxin from enteropathogenic Escherichia coli H.I.8
Authors: Yee A J , De Grandis S , Gyles C L
Published: January 2020

Escherichia coli H.I.8, an O128 infant diarrhea isolate, produces low titers of a unique Shiga-like toxin (SLT), called SLT-IIva, which is a variant of SLT-II. We investigated induction of toxin synthesis and the putative association of a bacteriophage with toxin synthesis. Induction of broth cultures of strain H.I.8 with mitomycin yielded a 3,000-fold increase in SLT-IIva, production of a colicin, and appearance of a bacteriophage. Southern hybridization demonstrated that the genes for SLT-IIva were not carried by the bacteriophage.
Limited diversity of the protein D gene (hpd) among encapsulated and nonencapsulated Haemophilus influenzae strains
Authors: Janson H , Ruan M , Forsgren A
Published: January 2020

Protein D is a surface-exposed lipoprotein of the gram-negative bacterium Haemophilus influenzae with affinity for human immunoglobulin D myeloma protein. The gene encoding protein D (hpd) in a serotype b strain of H. influenzae was cloned. Escherichia coli carrying the hpd gene bound human myeloma immunoglobulin D. Nucleotide sequence analysis identified an 1,092-bp open reading frame that was more than 99% identical to the hpd gene from a nontypeable H. influenzae strain. In the deduced amino acid sequences for protein D, only 2 of 364 amino acid residues differed. The restriction fragment length polymorphism of the hpd region in different strains was analyzed by Southern blot analyses of PstI- or EcoRI-digested genomic DNA from 100 H. influenzae strains. The analysis was performed by using isolated fragments of the cloned hpd gene, originating from the nontypeable H. influenzae 772, as probes. All strains tested had DNA sequences with a high degree of homology to the hpd probes. The analysis also showed that restriction endonuclease sites within the gene were more conserved than sites adjacent to the hpd gene. An interesting difference between type b strains and unencapsulated strains was observed. The majority of type b strains seem to have a 1.4-kbp DNA fragment upstream of the hpd gene that is absent in nontypeable strains. On the basis of the high degree of conservation of the hpd gene among H. influenzae strains, we conclude that protein D is a possible vaccine candidate.
Genetic control of resistance to Mycoplasma pulmonis infection in mice
Authors: Lai W C , Linton G , Bennett M , Pakes S P
Published: January 2020

The differences in susceptibility of various inbred strains of mice to a highly pathogenic strain of Mycoplasma pulmonis CT (T2) has been known for some time. We assessed the genetic control of resistance to T2 infection. Tracheolung lavage samples and lungs of mice were assessed for T2 organisms after intratracheal injection of T2. We found that H-2b (C57BL/6 (B6) and H-2k B10.BR mice were resistant, whereas H-2b A.By, H-2k C3H/Bi, H-2k C3H/HeJ (C3H), and H-2b BALB.B mice were susceptible. We also typed individual B6C3F2 mice for H-2 and for resistance to T2 and observed that resistance to T2 infections is controlled by a single dominant gene not linked to H-2. Histologic examination revealed severe lung lesions typical of M. pulmonis infections in susceptible C3H mice, in contrast to minimal lung lesions in resistant B6 mice. No significant titers of local or systemic antimycoplasma antibodies were detected in either resistant or susceptible mice at 5 days postinfection. Macrophages taken from uninfected B6 or C3H mice failed to inhibit growth of T2 in vitro. However, macrophages from B6 mice did inhibit growth of T2 much better than C3H macrophages when harvested on day 5 of infection. Thus, there is an association between activation of macrophage bactericidal function and genetic resistance to growth of T2 organisms.