Myoinositol and methyl stearate increases rifampicin susceptibility among drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis expressing Rv1819c

The alarming increase in multidrug resistance, which includes Bedaquiline and Delamanid, stumbles success in Tuberculosis treatment outcome. Mycobacterium tuberculosis gains resistance to rifampicin, which is one of the less toxic and potent anti-TB drugs, through genetic mutations predominantly besides efflux pump mediated drug resistance. In recent decades, scientific interventions are being carried out to overcome this hurdle using novel approaches to save this drug by combining it with other drugs/molecules or by use of high dose rifampicin. This study reports five small molecules namely Ellagic acid, Methyl Stearate, Myoinositol, Rutin, and Shikimic acid that exhibit synergistic inhibitory activity with rifampicin against resistant TB isolates. In-silico examinations revealed possible blocking of Rv1819c—an ABC transporter efflux pump that was known to confer resistance in M. tuberculosis to rifampicin. The synergistic anti-TB activity was assessed using a drug combination checkerboard assay. Efflux pump inhibition activity of ellagic acid, myoinositol, and methyl stearate was observed through ethidium bromide accumulation assay in the drug-resistant M. tuberculosis clinical strains and recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis expressing Rv1819c in coherence with the significant reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration of rifampicin. Cytotoxicity of the active efflux inhibitors was tested using in silico and ex vivo methods. Myoinositol and methyl stearate were completely non-toxic to the hematological and epithelial cells of different organs under ex vivo conditions. Based on these findings, these molecules can be considered for adjunct TB therapy; however, their impact on other drugs of anti-TB regimen needs to be tested.     

Facile one-pot synthesis and antimycobacterial evaluation of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines

The present article describes a facile one-pot synthesis of a series of eight pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines 4a-h which were evaluated for their in-vitro antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using the Alamar-Blue susceptibility test and the activity expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in mg/mL. The compounds 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4g exhibited the best results (1.2 microg/mL) when compared with first-line drugs such as isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIP). Therefore, this class of compounds could be a good starting point to develop new lead compounds in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.     

Distinct contributions of the innate immune receptors TLR2 and RP105 to formation and architecture of structured lung granulomas in mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Granulomas are key histopathological features of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, with complex roles in pathogen control and dissemination. Thus, understanding drivers and regulators of granuloma formation is important for improving tuberculosis diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Yet, molecular mechanisms underpinning granuloma formation and dynamics remain poorly understood. Here we used low-dose Mtb infection of C57BL/6 mice, which elicits structured lung granulomas composed of central macrophage clusters encased by a lymphocyte mantle, alongside the disorganized lymphocyte and macrophage clusters commonly observed in Mtb-infected mice. Using gene-deficient mice, we observed that Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and the TLR-related Radioprotective 105 kDa protein (RP105) contributed to the extent and spatial positioning of pathology in infected lung tissues, consistent with functional cooperation between TLR2 and RP105 in the innate immune recognition of Mtb. In mice infected with the highly virulent Mtb clinical isolate HN878, TLR2, but not RP105, positively regulated the extent of central macrophage regions within structured granulomas. Moreover, RP105, but not TLR2, promoted the formation of structured lung granulomas, suggesting that the functions of RP105 as an innate immune sensor for Mtb reach beyond its roles as TLR2 co-receptor. TLR2 and RP105 contributions to lung pathology are governed by Mtb biology, as neither receptor affected the frequency or architecture of structured granulomas in mice infected with the reference strain Mtb H37Rv. Thus, by revealing distinctive as well as cooperative functions of TLR2 and RP105 in lung pathology, our data identify TLRs as molecular determinants of TB granuloma formation and architecture, and expand understanding of how interactions between innate immune receptors and Mtb shape TB disease manifestation.     

A method for generating high-yield enriched neuronal cultures from P19 embryonal carcinoma cells

P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells are an invaluable tool for approximating the mechanisms that govern neuronal differentiation but with an enormous degree of simplification and have primarily been used to model the early stages of neurogenesis. However, they are often cultured under conditions that promote unrestricted non-neuronal growth that compromises neuronal viability. In this study we report an improved method to differentiate P19 EC cells that gives rise to high yields of functionally and morphologically mature neurons while significantly reducing the over-growth of non-neuronal cells in the cultures. In this protocol, P19 EC cells are induced in Minimum Essential Medium alpha supplemented with all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and 2.5% serum, and cultured as a monolayer. After RA-induction, cells are cultured on Matrigel coated-plates using defined media comprised of Neurobasal-A medium temporally supplemented with N2 and then B-27 for the remaining culture period. By treating the culture with Cytosine β-d-arabinofuranoside and 2′-Deoxycytidine for five days, the cultures are reliably promoted toward the neuronal differentiation vs non-neuronal differentiation, this accounting for a progressive neuronal enrichment of the cultures reaching 56% after 20 days of culture. P19-derived neural progenitor cells progressively expressed neuronal markers such as NeuN, Calretinin, Calbindin and Synapsin I in close resemblance to that occurring in vivo in the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, RA-induced P19 EC cells progressively acquired functional neuronal traits and after approximately 3 weeks in culture revealed mature neurophysiological properties, characteristics of CNS neurons. This protocol allows for a more specific assessment of the neuronal differentiation processes in vitro.     

卡介苗各亚株间Rv1985c和Rv1986基因缺失的研究

目的明确卡介苗群体内在Rv1985c和Rv1986两个位点上的遗传差异。方法基于结核分枝杆菌设计引物,针对21株卡介苗标准株和临床株进行Rv1985c和Rv1986两个位点的PCR鉴定,鉴定基因的缺失情况。结果 21株卡介苗中10株缺失Rv1985c基因,11株缺失Rv1986基因。结论卡介苗中部分菌株中两个基因位点的缺失,为今后的疫苗改造提供了备选位点,同时本研究中所建立的PCR方法也可以在临床上用于部分卡介苗菌株与结核分枝杆菌的快速鉴别。     

A novel steroidal antiandrogen targeting wild type and mutant androgen receptors

Prostate cancer (PCa) progression is enhanced by androgen and treatment with antiandrogens represents an alternative to castration. While patients initially respond favorably to androgen ablation therapy, most experience a relapse of the disease within 1–2 years by expressing androgen receptor (AR) mutants. Such mutations, indeed, promote unfavorable agonistic behavior from classical antagonists. Here, we have synthesized and screened 37 novel compounds derived from dihydrotestosterone (DHT), cyanolutamide and hydroxyflutamide. These derivatives were tested for their potential antagonistic activity using a luciferase reporter gene assay and binding properties were determined for wild type (WT) and mutant ARs (T877A, W741C, W741L, H874Y). In the absence and presence of antiandrogens, androgen dependent cellular proliferation and prostate specific antigen (PSA) expression were assayed in the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP by crystal violet, real time PCR and by Western blots. Also, cellular proliferation and PSA expression were assayed in 22Rv1. A novel compound RB346, derived from DHT, was found to be an antagonist for all tested AR forms, preventing DHT induced proliferation and PSA expression in LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells. RB346 displayed no agonistic activity, in contrast to the non-steroidal antiandrogen bicalutamide (Casodex^®) with unfavorable agonistic activity for W741L-AR. Additionally, RB346 has a slightly higher binding affinity for WT-AR, T877A-AR and H874Y-AR than bicalutamide. Thus, RB346 is the first potent steroidal antiandrogen with efficacy for WT and various AR mutants.     

结核分枝杆菌Rv0867c基因的克隆表达及其纯化

目的构建结核分枝杆菌Rv0867c基因的原核表达质粒,获得结核分枝杆菌Rv0867c基因的表达蛋白。方法制备结核分枝杆菌基因组DNA,采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)技术扩增目的基因片段;通过克隆载体pUC19构建质粒载体pUC19-Rv0867c,经序列测定证实正确,双酶切后连接于表达载体pPRO-EXHT,转化入大肠杆菌DH5α中,再经IPTG诱导表达带His标签的Rv0867c融合蛋白;用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)分析重组蛋白的相对分子质量大小及表达形式。结果成功扩增出了结核分枝杆菌Rv0867c基因,构建了具有正确基因序列的表达载体pPRO-EXHT-Rv0867c,转化入大肠杆菌DH5α中,经诱导产生高水平的表达产物。经SDS分析,在80 kD处出现新生蛋白带,凝胶薄层扫描检测表达量约占菌体蛋白的23.7%。该融合蛋白以包涵体的形式存在,用Ni²⁺-NTA纯化柱在变性条件下进行纯化。结论成功克隆了结核分枝杆菌Rv0867c基因并得到了其大肠杆菌表达产物,为进一步研究Rv0867c基因蛋白的活性及其功能,以及结核分枝杆菌快速促生长作用奠定了基础。     

结核分枝杆菌Rv1009基因真核表达质粒的构建及表达

目的构建结核分枝杆菌Rv1009基因真核表达载体。方法PCR扩增Rv1009基因,测序正确后克隆入真核表达载体pCDNA3.1(-),重组质粒酶切鉴定正确后以阳离子聚合物转染P815细胞后,分别以RT-PCR方法检测mRNA表达和间接免疫荧光技术检测目的蛋白的表达。结果构建了重组质粒pCDNA-Rv1009,RT-PCR结果证明Rv1009可在P815细胞中转录,用间接免疫荧光检测,表达有Rv1009蛋白的细胞着染。结论成功构建了结核分枝杆菌Rv1009基因的真核表达载体pCDNA-Rv1009,Rv1009基因可以在P815细胞中表达。     

结核分枝杆菌Rv3621c原核表达及免疫功能研究

目的 以结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis,M.tb)H37Rv基因组为模板,构建、纯化及鉴定原核表达质粒pPROEX-Rv3621c,通过人群、小鼠试验进行免疫原性评价。方法 构建重组质粒pPROEX-Rv3621c,并以全血干扰素释放分析技术(Whole-blood IFN-γ release assay,WBIA)检测其能否被安徽省淮南市M.tb感染者T细胞特异性识别。rRv3621c混合佐剂MTM[母牛分枝杆菌(M.vaccae),人工合成海藻糖-6'6,二分枝菌酸(TDB),单磷酰脂质A(MPLA)]免疫小鼠后,检测血清中特异性抗体分泌水平、脾细胞中抗原特异性Th1型细胞因子分泌水平及肺脏细胞因子mRNA表达水平。结果 成功构建重组质粒pPROEX-Rv3621c,并使之诱导表达、纯化和鉴定。在rRv3621c蛋白诱导下,活动性结核(Active tuberculosis, ATB)患者外周血淋巴细胞释放的IFN-γ水平明显较高(t=4.813, P<0.01),且ATB患者产生的IFN-γ水平高于潜伏性结核(Latent tuberculosis infection, LTBI)人群(t=4.442, P<0.01)。BCG+Rv3621c/MTM组小鼠产生的特异性抗体滴度水平明显高于Rv3621c/MTM组(P<0.01)和BCG组(P<0.01),Rv3621c/MTM组和BCG+Rv3621c/MTM组小鼠的IgG2a/IgG1比值大于1,明显高于MTM组和BCG组。BCG+Rv3621c/MTM组小鼠均分泌高水平IFN-γ、TNF-α和IL-2。Rv3621c/MTM组小鼠肺脏组织中IFN-γ、TNF-α及iNOS表达水平较高。结论 M.tb感染者外周血T细胞可特异性识别rRv3621c蛋白,rRv3621c混合佐剂MTM可以诱导较强烈的抗原特异性Th1型免疫应答。     

Rv1656重组蛋白在结核病辅助诊断中的应用价值研究

目的研究结核分枝杆菌Rv1656重组蛋白在结核病辅助诊断中的应用价值。方法以痰涂片、痰培养及3个商品化的结核杆菌抗体试剂盒为对照,应用化学发光酶免疫分析法检测42例结核病患者和54例非结核肺部疾病患者尿液中抗Rv1656抗体水平;绘制抗Rv1656抗体检测工作特征曲线(ROC曲线),确定其诊断结核病的临界值,并评价其诊断效能。结果结核病组患者尿液抗Rv1656抗体为(39517.2±11802.7pg/ml),非结核呼吸病组为(11416.3±1145.4pg/ml),差异有统计学意义(t=3.002,P<0.01);痰菌阴性结核病患者尿液中抗Rv1656抗体为(47011.4±1529.9pg/ml),痰菌阳性结核患者为(15535.7±1629.7pg/ml),差异有统计学意义(t=2.035,P<0.05)。尿Rv1656抗体诊断结核的灵敏度为42.8%,上海奥普血清结核抗体试剂盒为71.4%,差异有统计学意义(χ2=63.87,P<0.01)。尿Rv1656抗体诊断结核的特异性为83.3%,上海奥普血清结核抗体试剂盒为38.9%,差异有统计学意义(χ2=76.15,P<0.01)。结论结核分枝杆菌Rv1656重组蛋白具有抗原特异性可作为尿液结核抗体检测的组合抗原之一。