Targeted gene disruption of murine CD7

CD7 is a 40 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein member of the Ig superfamily. CD7 is a marker of mature human T cells and NK cells, and is expressed early in their development. Cross-linking CD7 positively modulates T cell and NK cell activity as measured by calcium fluxes, expression of adhesion molecules, cytokine secretion and proliferation. CD7 associates directly with phosphoinositol 3'-kinase, and CD7 ligation induces production of D-3 phosphoinositides and tyrosine phosphorylation. Severe combined immunodeficiency has been associated with a lack of lymphocyte surface CD7. The CD7 ligand is unknown. The murine CD7 homolog is encoded by a single gene on chromosome 11. In order to characterize the role of CD7 in lymphocyte development and function we have eliminated the CD7 gene by targeted disruption. CD7- deficient mice display normal histology of thymus and spleen, normal lymphocyte populations in primary and secondary lymphoid tissues, and normal serum Ig levels. Specific antibody responses after immunization with T-dependent and T-independent antigens are equivalent in wild-type and CD7 knockout mice. CD7-deficient lymphocytes respond normally to T cell mitogenic and allogeneic stimuli, and display normal NK cell cytotoxicity.      

Prior information and oculomotor initiation: the effect of cues in gaps

Eye movements reflect not only an important output of various neural control systems, but also often reflect cognitive processing. For example, saccades are frequently used as a behavioural index of attentional processing. A second important eye movement type, smooth pursuit (SP), has received much less attention in this regard. These two types of eye movement were classically thought of as being separate, but recent results have suggested a closer linkage of their control mechanisms and perhaps their interactions with cognitive processes. Prior information, in the form of cues, alters saccade latency leading to characteristic cueing effects. When the period between the appearance of the cue and the appearance of the saccade target is sufficiently long, the latency of saccades to targets appearing at cued locations is increased. This "inhibition of return" is enhanced by a second type of stimulus manipulation, the early removal of the fixation target a few hundred milliseconds before the target appears (the gap paradigm). In the current experiments, the effect of cues, and interactions between cues and long gaps were investigated. In the main pursuit experiment, and in a separate saccade experiment, subjects were presented with interleaved runs of tasks with and without long gaps (gap duration = 1 s), and with and without cues. In tasks without cues, SP latency was reduced by long gaps (mean reduction 8 ms); unexpectedly, saccade latency for non-cue tasks was increased by long gaps (mean increase 41 ms). In a control experiment with only non-cue tasks, in which SP and saccade gap and non-gap tasks were run together, SP latency was again reduced in gap tasks, while saccade latency was increased, but by much less than in the first experiment. Analysis of individual subjects' data showed that while gaps increased saccade latency in two subjects who had participated in the main experiment (in which cues and gaps had been combined), in two naive subjects long gaps did not affect saccade latency. In the main pursuit experiment, cues had both spatially specific and non-spatially specific (warning) effects on pursuit latency. In non-gap conditions, latency was greater when contralateral cues were presented 250 ms prior to the appearance of the pursuit target, compared to ipsilateral cues, a pattern of effect consistent with inhibition of return. However, this was reversed when cues appeared during a gap--contralateral cues increased while ipsilateral cues decreased latency. For saccades, as expected, in both gap and non-gap conditions, cue effects were consistent with inhibition of return (latency was lower with contralateral cues), and the inhibition of return effect was larger in gap, compared to non-gap conditions. The results suggest that, in appropriate contexts (or as a result of appropriate training), there are distinct inhibitory mechanisms that operate on saccades but not pursuit. What appears to be an inhibition of return effect on pursuit latency when static cues are presented in pursuit tasks, may be better understood as the product of a modulation of mechanisms active in pursuit initiation, perhaps related to motion processing. In contrast to some recent evidence suggesting a close anatomical and functional linkage between pursuit and saccade initiation, the results are consistent with the involvement of a wider range of mechanisms, or a greater degree of flexibility, in programming the initiation of these two oculomotor behaviours.     

Alveolar macrophages from HIV-infected subjects are resistant to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro

HIV-infected individuals frequently develop Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Alveolar macrophages (AM) are the initial host defense against this organism. We measured MTB growth in AM from normal and HIV-infected subjects after in vitro exposure. Intracellular growth of MTB was reduced in AM from HIV-infected subjects compared with normal macrophages. This was confined to subjects with CD4 counts greater than 200/microl. Growth of avirulent mycobacteria in HIV macrophages was significantly less than virulent MTB. Because avirulent MTB is more sensitive to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), we examined the relationship between cytokine secretion and mycobacterial growth. Higher AM spontaneous TNF-alpha secretion was associated with reduced MTB growth in normal AM. This relationship was not seen in HIV-infected subjects, suggesting that other factors contributed to mycobacteria resistance. Mycobacteria-induced TNF-alpha secretion was inversely associated with growth in normal AM but not in HIV-infected subjects. Finally, binding and internalization of MTB was augmented in HIV macrophages compared with normal, demonstrating that reduced intracellular MTB growth was not due to impaired phagocytosis. In conclusion, the increased incidence of MTB infection in HIV-infected subjects does not appear to be due to a defect in macrophage innate immunity.     

Förster's resonance excitation transfer theory: not just a formula

After 65 years of increasing scrutiny and application, Theodor Fo?rster's treatment of resonance excitation transfer is widely quoted and has acquired the acronym FRET, in which "F" originally and rather curiously stood for "fluorescence." In this brief and mostly qualitative survey, we review some of its history, mention its important limitations, and relate some personal encounters with Fo?rster.     

Reduced expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis

AIMS: To test the hypothesis that cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 or COX-2 expression is defective in lungs in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and to characterize the cellular distribution. IPF is a progressive inflammatory lung disorder with an adverse prognosis. Previous work has shown that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) regulates collagen deposition and fibroblast proliferation and a defect in COX regulation may contribute to the fibrosis that occurs in IPF. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was utilized to determine COX immunoreactivity in lung sections from 25 IPF, six sarcoidosis and 14 control subjects. RESULTS: COX-1 and COX-2 expression in bronchiolar epithelial cells was significantly lower in IPF and sarcoidosis than in controls. No significant difference was found in COX-2 expression between macrophages in IPF and control sections, but COX-2 was reduced in macrophages in sarcoidosis compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: These studies confirm COX-2 loss in bronchial epithelial cells but not macrophages in IPF, and show for the first time reduced constitutive COX-1 expression in epithelial cells and macrophages. Similar abnormalities were observed in sarcoidosis.     

Screening for cognitive impairment,Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: Opinions of European caregivers,payors, physicians and the general public

The IMPACT survey queried physicians, caregivers, payors and members of the general public from 5 European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) regarding their opinions towards screening for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as part of a 30-minute Web-based questionnaire conducted between April and May 2009. A larger proportion of caregivers (84%) and members of the general public (80%) than of physicians (56%) or payors (40%) viewed routine screening for AD as extremely or very important (P<0.001 for caregivers or general public vs physicians or payors). When asked if everyone should be routinely screened for AD at age 65, a smaller proportion of physicians (42%) and payors (44%) than members of the general public (81%) or caregivers (80%) agreed (P<0.001 for caregivers or general public vs physicians or payors). These opinions were generally consistent across the 5 countries for each respondent group. A notable exception was physician respondents from Italy, where most generalists and specialists actually favoured screening. Overall, generalists had a more positive attitude towards screening than specialists. The most frequently cited reason given by those who did not favour routine screening at age 65 was screening inaccuracy. This article discusses these results in relation to what screening is, when to screen and the barriers to screening. Despite the majority of IMPACT respondents being in favour of screening for AD, the evidence to support the introduction of population screening for cognitive impairment is not available; however, the importance of optimal identification of AD and other dementias in primary care should be a priority for community health professionals and payors. In order to do this effectively, further work is required to identify good assessment guidelines for use during opportunistic screening for cognitive impairment in primary care.     

Antibiogram and plasmid profiling of carbapenemase and extended spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Abeokuta,South western,Nigeria

Background

The increased reports of ESBL dissemination from various centres in south western, Nigeria and the recent emergence of carbapenem resistant bacteria prompted the conception of this study.

Objectives

To demonstrate the relationship between high molecular weight plasmids and the expression of antibiotic multi-resistance including ESBL and carbapenemase.

Methods

We investigated 97 isolates of selected organisms consisting of 67 E. coli and 30 Klebseilla spp for the presence of plasmids expressing ESBL including carbapenem-hydrolysing enzymes. Beta-lactamase was determined using acidometric method, while ESBL and carbapenemase activity was determined using the double-disk diffusion test as well as the Modified Hodge test (MHT). Plasmid profiles of ESBL and carbapenemase positive isolates were determined according to standard protocols.

Results

An ESBL prevalence rate of 21.6% and carbapenem- resistance rate of 9.3% was recorded. Antibiotic susceptibility profile of ESBL isolates showed 100.0% resistance against Amoxicillin, Cotrimoxazole and Erythromycin. Moderate susceptibility was recorded against the Quinolone class of antibiotics; Meropenem remained the most active antibiotic against ESBL isolates with 62.5% against E. coli and 60% against K. pneumoniae. The plasmid profiles of our study isolates ranged from 11.8kbp to 35.5kbp.

Conclusion

Due to the relationship between high molecular weight plasmids and multi-drug resistance, we hereby recommend regular molecular surveillance of this form in our study setting.     

Vanadate-Induced Inhibition of BCR-Triggered Apoptosis is Coupled with Tyrosine Phosphorylation and Induction of G2M Growth Arrest in Ramos-BL B Cells

The regulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation of key signaling molecules by tyrosine kinases and phosphatases is essential for BCR-triggered signaling cascades during B cell selection process. We used the non-selective tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate to study the importance of the late regulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation for BCR-triggered G1 growth arrest and apoptosis in Ramos-BL B cells. Vanadate induces G2M growth arrest in a dose-dependent manner and prevents BCR-triggered apoptosis. Vanadate-induced upregulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation is concomitant with increased expression of cyclin B and inhibition of caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. The anti-apoptotic effect of vanadate was observed even when added up to 6 hours after the treatment of Ramos-BL B cells with anti-IgM. Vanadate increases BCR-triggered tyrosine phosphorylation of the cytosolic tyrosine phosphatases, SHP-1 and SHP-2 after 24 hours. Co-stimulation with anti-CD40 prevents anti-IgM-triggered tyrosine phosphorylation of these phosphatases and up-regulates the expression of SHP-1. We conclude that the regulation of the tyrosine phosphatase activity is indispensable for BCR-triggered execution of the apoptosis in Ramos-BL B cells.     

Human defined antigenic region on the nucleoprotein of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus identified using truncated proteins and a bioinformatics approach

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne viral zoonosis widely distributed in Africa, Asia and eastern Europe. In this study, amino acid sequence data for the CCHFV nucleoprotein (NP) was used to identify potential linear epitopic regions which were subsequently included in the design of large and small truncated recombinant NP antigens and peptide libraries. Two truncated recombinant CCHFV NP antigens were prepared based on results of prediction studies to include epitopic regions and exclude hydrophobic regions that could influence protein expression and solubility. Serum samples were collected from acute and convalescent patients. An IgG antibody response was detected in 16/16 samples tested using the large recombinant NP-based ELISA and in 2/16 using the small recombinant NP-based ELISA. A total of 60 peptides covering predicted epitopic regions of the NP were synthesized and peptide NRGGDENPRGPVSR at amino acid position 182–195, reacted with 13/16 human serum samples. In summary, functional assays are required to determine the biological activity of predicted epitopes for development of peptide based assays for antibody detection. Bacterially expressed complete NP antigens have previously been shown to be useful tools for antibody detection. Truncation of the antigen to remove the hydrophobic C terminus had no impact on the ability of the antigen to detect IgG antibody in human sera. The results indicate that the region from amino acids 123 to 396 includes a highly antigenic region of the NP with application in development of antibody detection assays.