We used a two-chamber system to study transcytosis of Enterococcus faecalis across monolayers of human colon carcinoma-derived T84 cells, which show structural resemblance to the native intestine. Among 16 E. faecalis isolates from different sources, the well-characterized strain OG1RF and 8 other isolates (2 endocarditis isolates, 1 urine isolate, and all 5 fecal isolates) showed translocation in this assay, while 6 clinical isolates (3 endocarditis and 3 urine isolates), the recipient strain JH2-2, and the control, Escherichia coli DH5alpha, had no detectable translocation. Of two OG1RF mutants involving the previously studied epa (enterococcal polysaccharide antigen) gene cluster, known to be needed for virulence and resistance to killing by polymorphonuclear leukocytes, one epa mutant (TX5179) was unable to translocate, while TX5180, with an epa disruption farther downstream, showed a moderate decrease in translocation relative to that of the wild-type strain OG1RF (P < 0.01), indicating that the epa gene cluster is important for translocation across a T84 monolayer. This observation was confirmed by complementation of the epa mutant (TX5179) with epa genes and restoration of its translocation ability. In conclusion, we have demonstrated translocation of at least some strains of E. faecalis across T84 monolayers, although strains differ considerably in this ability, and we have demonstrated that epa mutations can cause marked changes in successful translocation. These results suggest that this model may be a useful in vitro system for studying the process of translocation from the intestinal tract. 相似文献
One hundred fifty-three blood samples from patients positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence ofMycobacterium avium. Samples were collected from patients who also had blood cultures performed by a radiometric method. Blood samples were centrifuged on a Ficoll-Hypaque gradient to purify peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The purified cells were washed and incubated with a resin, boiled to release mycobacterial DNA, and then amplified. Polymerase chain reaction products were detected by a nonisotopic method. A 123 base-pair (bp) insertion sequence, namely IS6110, fromMycobacterium tuberculosis complex was also included in the reaction as an internal control ofTaq polymerase activity to exclude the presence of enzyme inhibitors. This IS6110 fragment can be distinguished from the 383 bp target product on ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel and may also be used in a colorimetric assay. Such results were compared with the results of culture and indicated that the assay is as sensitive as bacteriological methods, though faster. 相似文献
E. coli in vitro expression system. The GST-removed purified 2-Helix protein could form a stable trimer in vitro judging by gel-filtration and chemical cross-linking. CD spectra showed that the 2-Helix protein had a high percentage of
α-helix and was very thermo-stable. Crystals of the 2-Helix protein preparations have been obtained in many conditions with
hanging-drop diffusion method. These results indicated that Menangle virus has the common features of the fusion protein for
other paramyxoviruses and should adopt a similar fusion mechanism to other members. As the HR regions of Menangle virus F
protein could form stable six-helix bundle coiled coil structure, they should be used as drug target for the design of fusion
inhibitors, as successfully used for other parmyxoviruses. This is especially relevant to such a newly emergent virus with
zoonotic potentials.
Received January 23, 2003; accepted February 28, 2003
Published online April 28, 2003 相似文献
Background: Despite years of research, the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a significant challenge. Animal studies presented causal links between elevated regulatory T cell (Treg) response and better prognosis in AKI. Previous studies in mice and humans showed that TIM-3+ Treg cells were more potent than TIM-3- Treg cells. In this study, we investigated the role of TIM-3 in Treg in AKI patients.
Methods: Peripheral blood from AKI patients and healthy controls were gathered, and TIM-3+ Treg subset was examined.
Results: Compared to healthy controls, the AKI patients presented a significant upregulation in the frequency of circulating CD4+CD25+ T cells; however, the majority of this increase was from the CD4+CD25+TIM-3- subset, and the frequency of CD4+CD25+TIM-3+ T cells was downregulated in AKI patients. In both healthy controls and AKI patients, the CD4+CD25+TIM-3+ T cells expressed higher levels of Foxp3, and were more potent at expressing LFA-1, LAG-3, CTLA-4, IL-10 and TGF-β. In addition, the CD4+CD25+TIM-3+ T cells from both healthy controls and AKI patients presented higher capacity to suppress CD4+CD25- T cell proliferation than the CD4+CD25+TIM-3- T cells. Interestingly, the total CD4+CD25+ T cells from AKI patients presented significantly lower inhibitory capacity than those from healthy controls, indicating that the low frequency of CD4+CD25+TIM-3+ T cells was restricting the efficacy of the Treg responses in AKI patients.
Conclusions: We demonstrated that TIM-3 downregulation impaired the function of Treg cells in AKI. The therapeutic potential of CD4+CD25+TIM-3+ T cells in AKI should be investigated in future studies. 相似文献