M1 protein triggers a phosphoinositide cascade for group A Streptococcus invasion of epithelial cells

Invasion of nonphagocytic cells by bacteria provides a favorable niche for persistence and evasion of host defenses and antibiotics. M protein is a major virulence factor because it promotes high-frequency invasion of epithelial cells by group A Streptococcus (GAS) and also renders the bacterium resistant to phagocytosis. In this study, we investigated the role of M1 protein from serotype M1 strain 90-226 in regulating mammalian signal transduction and cytoskeletal rearrangement for bacterial entry. LY294002 and wortmannin, which are inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) blocked invasion of epithelial cells by GAS by 75 and 80%, respectively, but failed to inhibit invasion by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Also, epithelial cells transiently transfected with dominant negative p85 and p110 genes, the regulatory and catalytic subunits of PI 3-K, respectively, were less able to be invaded by GAS. To separate the influence of other streptococcal virulence factors from M protein, Lactococcus lactis was engineered to express M1 protein on its surface. L. lactis(pLM1) invaded epithelial cells efficiently in vitro, and PI 3-K inhibitors blocked 90% of this invasion. Purified soluble M1 protein stimulated the formation of stress fibers and actin tuffs on epithelial cells. LY294002 and wortmannin inhibited these cellular changes. A phosphoinositide analogue also inhibited the invasion of epithelial cells by GAS. Therefore, M1 protein, either directly or via bound fibronectin, initiates signals that depend on the lipid kinase PI 3-K pathway, which paves the way for cytoskeletal rearrangement that internalize the bacterium.     

GJB2: the spectrum of deafness-causing allele variants and their phenotype

Genetic testing was completed on 1,294 persons with deafness referred to the Molecular Otolaryngology Research Laboratories to establish a diagnosis of DFNB1. Exon 2 of GJB2 was screened for coding sequence allele variants by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) complemented by bidirectional sequencing. If two deafness-causing mutations of GJB2 (encoding Connexin 26) were identified, further screening was not performed. If only a single deafness-causing mutation was identified, we screened for the g.1777179_2085947del (hereafter called del(GJB6-D13S1830); GenBank NT_024524.13) and mutations in the noncoding region of GJB2. Phenotype-genotype correlations were evaluated by categorizing mutations as either protein truncating or nontruncating. A total of 205 persons carried two GJB2 exon 2 mutations and were diagnosed as having DFNB1; 100 persons carried only a single deafness-causing allele variant of exon 2. A total of 37 of these persons were c.35delG carriers, and 51 carried other allele variants of GJB2. Persons diagnosed with DFNB1 segregating two truncating/nonsense mutations had a more severe phenotype than persons carrying two missense mutations, with mean hearing impairments being 88 and 37%, respectively (P < 0.05). The number of deaf c.35delG carriers was greater than expected when compared to the c.35delG carrier frequency in normal-hearing controls (P < 0.05), suggesting the existence of at least one other mutation outside the GJB2 coding region that does not complement GJB2 deafness-causing allele variants.     

Peptide-binding motifs of the mixed haplotype Abetaz/Aalphad major histocompatibility complex class II molecule: a restriction element for auto-reactive T cells in (NZBxNZW)F1 mice.

We previously showed that the mixed haplotype Abetaz/Aalphad major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules function as restricting element for autoreactive T-cell clones derived from autoimmune prone (NZBxNZW)F1 (B/WF1) mice. Subsequent analysis revealed that some of these Abetaz/Aalphad-restricted autoreactive T-cell clones were pathogenic upon transfer to pre-autoimmune B/WF1 mice. In this paper, we analysed the peptide-binding motif of Abetaz/Aalphad class II molecules. Amino acid-sequencing analysis of peptides eluted from purified Abetaz/Aalphad molecules revealed several sequences, including one that corresponds to murine l-plastin 588-601. Synthetic 18-mer l-plastin 588-605 peptide (SMARKIGARVYALPEDLV, as described by the amino acid single letter code) was demonstrated to bind to Abetaz/Aalphad MHC class II molecules on transfectant B lymphoma cells (TAbetaz). A competitive binding inhibition assay using truncation peptides revealed the core sequence for binding resides in 591Arg to 601Pro. Binding inhibition assay using substitution peptides, each having substitution to the other 19 residues at positions from 590Ala to 601Pro, revealed four major anchor sites 592Lys (p1), 594Gly (p3), 595Ala (p4), 597Val (p6) and one minor anchor site 600Leu (p9). Positively charged residues are not allowed at p3 and negatively charged residues are not allowed at p4 and p6. Relatively large hydrophobic residues (Leu, Ile) are not tolerated at p3 and p4. Met and Trp are not tolerated at p6. Based on these findings, the characteristics of peptides recognized by autoreactive T cells in B/WF1 mice are discussed.     

聚醚砜表面光固定脲酶的研究

我们利用含芳香叠氮基的光活性酯将脲酶光固定在聚醚砚（Polyether sulfone,PES）膜的表面。同时研究了紫外光辐照时间对固定化脲酶密度、固定化脲酶活性的影响，温度、PH值对自由脲酶、固定化脲酶相对活性的影响；并考察了固定化脲酶的相对活性随光活性酶浓度的变化、固定化脲酶的重复使用次数及储存稳定性等性质。结果表明，PES膜表面固定化脲酶的浓度为0.33mg/cm^2；当紫外光辐照时间为5分钟时，固定化脲酶的相对活性最高；固定化脲酶的最适Ph值和最适温度分别为7℃和50 ℃；在50℃时，连续使用12次后，固定化脲酶仍具有50%的催化活性；在4℃保存储存一个多月仍可保持80%的催化活性。     

Characterization of enteropathogenic and enteroaggregative Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheal outbreaks.

Virulence characteristics of diarrheal outbreak-associated Escherichia coli O55:NM, O126:NM, and O111:NM were examined. The E. coli O55:NM strains were atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), while the E. coli O126:NM and O111:NM strains should be classified as enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC). The contributions of EPEC and EAggEC to the human disease burden in Japan might be significantly greater than is currently appreciated.     

Beta-2-adrenoceptor agonists as inhibitors of lung vascular permeability to radiolabelled transferrin in the adult respiratory distress syndrome in man

Increased lung vascular permeability leading to increased plasma protein extravasation and accumulation (PPA) is a characteristic feature of acute lung injury. Using a previously described technique, PPA was monitored in the lungs of patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) — an extreme example of acute lung injury in man. An external radiation probe detector was used to monitor the pulmonary accumulation of the plasma protein transferrin radiolabelled in-vivo with ^113mIn. Ten patients with ARDS exhibiting increased PPA indices (>1.0x10^-3/min) were given an intravenous infusion of terbutaline (7 g/kg) over 30 min. Of the four patients in whom the post-drug PPA indices remained within the ARDS range, none survived, whilst five of the six patients in whom the post-drug PPA indices were reduced to below 1.0x10^-3/min survived. PPA indices prior to the administration of terbutaline were not significantly different between the survivor (n=5) and non-survivor (n=5) groups. There was a significant decrease in the PPA indices following terbutaline in survivors (p<0.01) but not in non-survivors. Thus beta-2-agonists in therapeutic doses can inhibit increased lung vascular permeability in man. These findings may have prognostic and therapeutic implication for beta-2-agonists in ARDS.     

NLRP3炎症小体与糖尿病心肌病的关系及中医药调控研究进展

糖尿病心肌病（DCM）是糖尿病的并发症之一,是指发生在糖尿病中,其发病机制区别于其他心血管疾病如冠心病、心脏瓣膜病、亦或先天性心脏病的一种特发类心肌病,亦是多年以来糖尿病患者的主要致死病因之一。研究表明,DCM的发病机制与胰岛素抵抗、多种炎症反应激活、氧化应激增加、冠状动脉微循环受阻、晚期糖基化终产物（AGEs）积累等过程有密切联系。而在多种炎症反应中,NOD样受体蛋白3（NLRP3）炎症小体激活可通过炎症的级联反应诱导分泌出大量促炎细胞因子,继而介导细胞焦亡过程,促进心肌损伤。目前基于NLRP3炎症小体在DCM损伤防治重要作用功能,国内外开展了大量中医药实验研究,证明了黄芪多糖、人参皂苷Rb₁等中药提取物或单味中药如云芝、冬虫夏草亦或抵挡汤、加味桃核承气汤等组方制剂及针刺、中医运动疗法等可通过调控NLRP3炎症小体的相关通路从而抑制其组装或激活,降低炎症反应,进而抑制DCM中心肌的重构,改善DCM的心脏功能。该文就NLRP3炎症小体与DCM的关系及中医药在此领域中发挥抗炎效应的研究进展进行综述,旨在为DCM开发治疗手段提供新的思路。     

大气颗粒物浓度对流感样病例发病关联性研究

目的 探讨大气颗粒物浓度对合肥市流感样病例发病情况的影响.方法 对2014-2017年合肥市流感监测流感样发病例数及同期大气颗粒物(PM2.5PM10),应用分布滞后非线性模型分析两者关系及其滞后效应.结果 流感样病例发病与PM2.5PM10呈正相关(r= 0.10,P＜0.001)与湿度呈负相关(r =-0.09,P = 0.001),其中PM2.5浓度对流感样病例人群的滞后3日和4日有显著影响,其超额死亡风险(ER)分别为0.115％(95％CI:0.016％～1.002％)、0.116％(95％CI:0.002％～1.002％),双污染模型中,纳入其他气态污染物后,模型均表现无统计学意义.结论 PM2.5可能是流感样病例发病的重要影响因素.     

银杏叶总黄酮对实验性心肌缺血的影响

目的：观察银杏叶总黄酮（ＴＦＧｂ）抗心肌缺血的作用。方法：采用结扎家兔冠状动脉前降支造成急性心肌梗塞的病理模型,用心电图、血清磷酸肌酸激酶活性和梗死面积评价ＴＦＧｂ对心肌缺血的保护作用。结果：ＴＦＧｂ（１６７ｍｇ·ｋｇ－１·ｄ－１,ｉｐ,连续用药１４ｄ）可明显降低心肌梗塞兔ＥＫＧ中ＳＴ段异常抬高的总幅度以及病理性Ｑ波的出现数;并显著抑制心肌组织磷酸肌酸激酶释放。硝基四氮唑蓝染色显示,预先用ＴＦＧｂ可使心肌梗塞范围明显缩小。结论：ＴＦＧｂ对心肌缺血性损伤具有保护作用