Preparation of protected peptidyl thioester intermediates for native chemical ligation by Nα‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry: considerations of side‐chain and backbone anchoring strategies,and compatible protection for N‐terminal cysteine*,†

Abstract: Native chemical ligation has proven to be a powerful method for the synthesis of small proteins and the semisynthesis of larger ones. The essential synthetic intermediates, which are C‐terminal peptide thioesters, cannot survive the repetitive piperidine deprotection steps of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry. Therefore, peptide scientists who prefer to not use N^α‐t‐butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) chemistry need to adopt more esoteric strategies and tactics in order to integrate ligation approaches with Fmoc chemistry. In the present work, side‐chain and backbone anchoring strategies have been used to prepare the required suitably (partially) protected and/or activated peptide intermediates spanning the length of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). Three separate strategies for managing the critical N‐terminal cysteine residue have been developed: (i) incorporation of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐S‐(N‐methyl‐N‐phenylcarbamoyl)sulfenylcysteine [Fmoc‐Cys(Snm)‐OH], allowing creation of an otherwise fully protected resin‐bound intermediate with N‐terminal free Cys; (ii) incorporation of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐S‐triphenylmethylcysteine [Fmoc‐Cys(Trt)‐OH], generating a stable Fmoc‐Cys(H)‐peptide upon acidolytic cleavage; and (iii) incorporation of N^α‐t‐butyloxycarbonyl‐S‐fluorenylmethylcysteine [Boc‐Cys(Fm)‐OH], generating a stable H‐Cys(Fm)‐peptide upon cleavage. In separate stages of these strategies, thioesters are established at the C‐termini by selective deprotection and coupling steps carried out while peptides remain bound to the supports. Pilot native chemical ligations were pursued directly on‐resin, as well as in solution after cleavage/purification.     

Immunogenicity and safety of a novel yeast Hansenula polymorpha-derived recombinant Hepatitis B candidate vaccine in healthy adolescents and adults aged 10–45 years

The aim was to determine whether the immunogenicity of an investigational hepatitis B vaccine (spHB) is at least as high as that of a licensed control vaccine, Engerix B^®, and to evaluate its safety before inclusion in new pediatric combination vaccines. Two randomized, controlled, blind-observer, Phase 3 trials were performed: one in Argentina (344 participants aged 10–15 years, 10 μg HBsAg/dose) and one in Uruguay (344 participants aged 16–45 years, 20 μg HBsAg/dose). Both vaccines were given in a 0, 1, 6 month schedule to all participants with a baseline anti-Hep B antibody titer <0.6 mIU/mL. Antibody titers were measured pre-dose 1, 1 month after dose 2, pre-dose 3, and 1 month after dose 3. Statistical non-inferiority analyses were performed on seroprotection rates (SP) post-dose 3 (% with anti-Hep B titers ≥10 mIU/mL; delta non-inferiority limit of −10%). In both studies, SP for the spHB vaccine was 100% and the spHB vaccine was non-inferior in terms of SP to the licensed control vaccine. GMTs post-dose 3 were approximately 1.8- and 4.1-fold higher for spHB in the 10–15 year and 16–45 year age groups, respectively. Reactogenicity was low for each vaccine, after each dose. This highly immunogenic hepatitis B candidate vaccine was selected for further investigation as a component of new pediatric combination vaccines.     

复方积雪草有效组分对人肾小管上皮细胞补体C3表达的影响

目的：探讨复方积雪草有效组分——积雪草苷／大黄素干预肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）诱导的人肾近曲小管上皮细胞（HPTEC）补体C3 mRNA及蛋白的表达水平。方法：采用HPTEC，模型组TNF-α 10ng／ml诱导，治疗组在TNF-α诱导的同时，以不同浓度的积雪草苷、大黄素以及积雪草苷合大黄素进行干预，于24h后分别提取细胞RNA及上清，应用逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）和酶链免疫方法（ELISA）分别检测HPTEC C3 mRNA和蛋白的表达。结果：正常HPTEC具有C3 mRNA和蛋白表达，经TNF-α诱导后G表达明显上调，用不同浓度的积雪草苷、大黄素以及积雪草苷合大黄素干预后，C3 mRNA及蛋白水平表达出现不同程度的下调，呈一定的剂量依赖关系和协同作用。结论：复方积雪草有效组分能够抑制炎性细胞因子TNF-α上调所致的肾局部G过度产生。     

重组人骨形态发生蛋白4基因腺相关病毒载体对兔骨髓基质干细胞生物学行为的影响

目的应用重组人骨形态发生蛋白4基因腺相关病毒载体(AAV-hBMP4)转染兔骨髓基质干细胞(BMSCs),观察其对BMSCs生物学行为的影响,从而为骨组织工程寻找理想的病毒载体及种子细胞。方法全骨髓法培养兔BMSCs,按感染复数(MOI)值不同设定为四组,分别转染兔BMSCs,观察病毒量对细胞形态的影响。选取影响最小的MOI值,进行后续实验。转染兔BMSCs,MTT法描记细胞生长曲线,观察AAV对细胞增殖活性的影响。以重组增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因的腺相关病毒载体(AAV-EGFP)为参照,行流式细胞仪检测,计算转染效率。AAV-hBMP4与对照病毒AAV-EGFP分别转染细胞,观察细胞形态,行碱性磷酸酶(ALP)染色、Von Kossa染色及ALP含量测定,观察成骨活性。兔肌袋实验观察异位成骨情况。结果MOI值为5×10~4 vg/cell时,AAV对细胞形态影响最小,以此值进行后续实验。AAV转染后,细胞增殖活性良好,转染效率为55％～65％。AAV-hBMP4转染后,细胞形态呈现典型的成骨改变,ALP染色及Von Kossa染色均出现成骨的特征性改变,而AAV-EGFP组无上述改变。细胞上清ALP含量测定显示,实验组ALP含量显著增高,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(t=218．65,P＜0．01)。兔肌袋实验术后4周组织学检测可见大量钙盐沉积,矿化结节形成。结论AAV-hBMP4转染效率高,对BMSCs的增殖活性影响小,AAV-hBMP4转染的BMSCs可望成为组织工程化骨的理想种子细胞。     

慢性乙型肝炎患者病毒e系统状态与肝纤维化关系的研究

目的:观察慢性乙型肝炎患者乙型肝炎病毒e系统状态和复制指标在肝纤维化发生过程中的变化及其与血清纤维化标志的关系,探讨它们在肝纤维化发生过程中的作用及其可能的临床意义.方法:188例慢性乙型肝炎患者根据肝纤维化程度分为S0～S4期等5组,分别用定量PCR及放免法检测患者血清中HBV-DNA及肝纤维化标志透明质酸、Ⅳ型胶原、Ⅲ型前胶原和层粘连蛋白的含量;HBeAg和抗-HBe采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测,并观察其在不同肝病理纤维化分期时的变化.结果:随着肝纤维化程度加重,血清HBV-DNA含量逐渐升高,从S1期开始显著增加(P＜0.01);而HBeAg阳性率逐渐降低,S3、S4期较S0显著减少(P＜0.05和P＜0.01);抗-HBe阳性率呈相反的变化趋势,在S3和S4期的阳性率明显高于S0期(P＜0.05和P＜0.01).血清HBV-DNA( )HBeAg( )组血清纤维化标志最低,HBV-DNA(-)抗-HBe( )组最高,两者差异有显著性(P＜0.01).结论:HBV复制和e系统状态的改变与肝纤维化程度密切相关,肝内病毒复制标志与血清纤维化标志联合检测,对于判断肝纤维化程度和指导抗病毒治疗有重要的价值.     

Immunoadsorption in Severe C4d-Positive Acute Kidney Allograft Rejection: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) frequently causes refractory graft dysfunction. This randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate whether immunoadsorption (IA) is effective in the treatment of severe C4d-positive AMR. Ten out of 756 kidney allograft recipients were included. Patients were randomly assigned to IA with protein A (N = 5) or no such treatment (N = 5) with the option of IA rescue after 3 weeks. Enrolled recipients were subjected to tacrolimus conversion and, if indicated, 'anti-cellular' treatment. All IA-treated patients responded to treatment. One death unrelated to IA occurred after successful reversal of rejection. Four control subjects remained dialysis-dependent. With the exception of one patient who developed graft necrosis, non-responders were subjected to rescue IA, however, without success. Because of a high graft loss rate in the control group the study was terminated after a first interim analysis. Even though limited by small patient numbers, this trial suggests efficiency of IA in reversing severe AMR.     

风疹易感人群婚前风疹疫苗接种预防先天性风疹综合征

目的探讨婚前风疹易感人群风疹疫苗接种在提高孕妇对风疹的免疫力,预防先天性风疹综合征中的作用.方法对10 913例婚前风疹病毒抗体IgG阴性者给予国产风疹减毒活疫苗注射.3个月随防671例,比较风疹疫苗接种前后该地区孕妇近期风疹感染的发病率.结果818例风疹病毒抗体IgG阴性者接种后抗体转阳率为99.8%.风疹疫苗接种前后3年孕妇近期风疹感染率分别为0.37%及0.08%,有明显下降,有非常显著差异(P＜0.001).结论应用国产风疹减毒活疫苗对婚前易感人群作预防接种可提高育龄妇女对风疹的免疫力,降低孕期风疹感染的发生率,是预防先天性风疹综合征及风疹致畸的有效、安全措施.     

用RT-PCR方法检测登革病毒E基因核酸

目的：应用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)技术建立检测登革2型病毒E基因的方法。方法：分别抽提登革2型病毒NGC株和从登革出血热病人血清中分离得到的2型登革热病毒(DV)核酸(RNA)，合成CD-NA第一链，经过RT-PCR得到cDNA产物，用HinfI限制性内切酶酶切鉴定。结果：通过RT-PCR检测登革2型病毒核酸。结论：登革2型病毒E基因核酸的RT-PCR检测方法的建立为快速诊断登革病毒感染提供了可靠的方法。     

Characteristics of antibody responses in tick-borne encephalitis vaccination breakthroughs

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is an important human pathogenic flavivirus that is endemic in Europe and Asia. The disease can be effectively prevented by inactivated vaccines and vaccination breakthroughs (VBTs) are rare. We investigated the characteristics of antibody responses in such VBTs in comparison to those in unvaccinated TBE patients. In contrast to the unvaccinated controls, most of the VBTs displayed a delayed IgM antibody response and had high avidity and strongly neutralizing antibodies already in the first sample taken upon hospitalization. The antibody profile of these patients therefore had the characteristics of an anamnestic immune response. In the VBTs analyzed, immunological priming and memory were apparently not sufficient or fast enough to prevent the disease.     

Presence of lysine at aa 335 of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein of mumps virus vaccine strain Urabe AM9 is not a requirement for neurovirulence

The recent global resurgence of mumps has drawn attention to the continued need for robust mumps immunization programs. Unfortunately, some vaccines derived from inadequately attenuated vaccine strains of mumps virus have caused meningitis in vaccinees, leading to withdrawal of certain vaccine strains from the market, public resistance to vaccination, or in some cases, cessation of national mumps vaccination programs. The most widely implicated mumps vaccine in cases of postvaccination meningitis is derived from the Urabe AM9 strain, which remains in use in some countries. The Urabe AM9 vaccine virus has been shown to exhibit a considerable degree of nucleotide and amino acid heterogeneity. Some studies have specifically implicated variants containing a lysine residue at amino acid position 335 in the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein with neurotoxicity, whereas a glutamic acid residue at this position was associated with attenuation. To test this hypothesis we generated two modified Urabe AM9 cDNA clones coding either for a lysine or a glutamic acid at position 335 in the HN gene. The two viruses were rescued by reverse genetics and characterized in vitro and in vivo. Both viruses exhibited similar growth kinetics in neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines and were of similar neurotoxicity when tested in rats, suggesting that amino acid 335 is not a crucial determinant of Urabe AM9 growth or neurovirulence.