Vaccination inhibits the human adenoviral transduction in a mouse keratoconjunctivitis model

Adenovirus infections are a major cause of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), which can lead to corneal subepithelial infiltrates and multifocal corneal opacity. In the current study, we investigated the use of an E1/E3-deleted adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vector as a vaccine administered intramuscularly (IM) or intranasally (IN) against subsequent challenges with a luciferase-expressing Ad5 (Ad5-Luci) vector via eyedrop. We evaluated the adaptive immune response to Ad5 vector vaccination and confirmed a robust polyfunctional CD8 T cell response in splenic cells. Neutralizing Ad5 antibodies were also measured in the sera of vaccinated mice as well as Ad5 antibody in the eye wash solutions. Upon challenge with Ad5-Luci vector 8 weeks post the primary immunization, transduction was significantly reduced by > 70% in the vaccinated mice, which was slightly better in IM- vs. that in IN-vaccinated animals. Resistance to subsequent challenge was observed 10 months post primary IM vaccination, with sustained reduction up to 60% in the Ad5-Luci vector transduction. Passive immunization of naive mice with antisera from IM to vaccinated mice subsequently challenged with the Ad5-Luci vector resulted in approximately 40% loss in transduction efficiency. Furthermore, the mice that received IM immunization with or without CD8 T cell depletion showed > 40% and 70% reductions, respectively, in Ad8 genomic copies after Ad8 topical challenge. We conclude that Ad-vector vaccination successfully induced an adaptive immune response that prevented subsequent Ad transduction in the cornea and conjunctiva-associated tissues in a mouse model of adenovirus keratoconjunctivitis, and that both cellular and humoral immunity play an important role in preventing Ad transduction.     

人精子体外氧化损伤对线粒体tRNA~(LeuUUR)基因的影响

目的:探讨活性氧(ROS)对人类精子线粒体tRNALeuUUR基因的氧化损伤。方法:采用Percoll梯度离心法筛选具有正常生理功能的精子,作为正常精子模型,并分为损伤组20例和对照组20例,分别加入次黄嘌呤-黄嘌呤氧化酶体系或不予处理,37℃有氧环境中孵育60min。分别提取精子DNA,以Fpg酶切损伤碱基并采用接头介导PCR(LM-PCR)检测线粒体tRNALeuUUR基因的氧化损伤。采用Rhodamine(Rh123)荧光探针标记精子,通过流式细胞仪检测线粒体膜电位,观察精子的功能。结果:与对照组相比,损伤组精子孵育后线粒体膜电位明显降低[(116.27±11.72)%vs(64.00±4.88)%,P<0.05]。Fpg酶切和LM-PCR显示精子线粒体tRNALeuUUR基因损伤。结论:ROS可能通过对精子线粒体tRNALeuUUR基因氧化损伤而影响精子功能(线粒体膜电位明显降低),从而引起不育。     

PCR和ELISA法在检测HBV-DNA、HCV-RNA和结核分枝杆菌中的作用

目的:探讨PCR技术和ELISA法在检测HBV-DNA、HCV-RNA和结核分枝杆菌中的作用,以及与直接涂片法的对比结果.方法:分别用两法对临床确诊的感染病例和非感染者同时进行检测,并进行对比分析.结果:HBeAg阳性者HBV-DNA阳性,检出率为96.8%,HCV-RNA阳性检出率为19.4%.不同标本TB-DNA平均阳性检出率为39.98%.结论:PCR法灵敏度和特异度分别高于ELISA法和涂片查菌法.     

人肿瘤特异抗原MAGE-3基因疫苗的构建和表达

目的：克隆肿瘤特异性共享抗原mage-3基因，制备基于α－病毒复制酶的高效黑色素瘤特异性基因疫苗。方法：用RT-PCR方法从黑色素瘤细胞系LB373中制备mage-3基因，以含α－病毒复制酶的哺乳细胞高效表达质粒pSMART2a为载体，构建重组DNA疫苗。重组子用载体中的T7和T3启动子序列为测序引物进行自动测序。再将鉴定过的重组质粒用脂质体法转化293细胞，用免疫印迹法和免疫组化法鉴定转化细胞中mage-3蛋白的表达。结果：正确构建了mage-3/pSMART2a重组质粒，并且在转化此质粒的293细胞中检测出了mage-3蛋白的表达。结论：此重组mage-3/pSMART2a质粒可以作为肿瘤特异的DNA疫苗，可进行下一步的肿瘤动物模型的疫苗接种及相关免疫学效应研究。     

Bacterial ghosts (BGs)—Advanced antigen and drug delivery system

Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are empty bacterial envelopes of Gram-negative bacteria produced by controlled expression of cloned gene E, forming a lysis tunnel structure within the envelope of the living bacteria. BGs are devoid of cytoplasmic content and possess all bacterial bio-adhesive surface properties in their original state while not posing any infectious threat. BGs are ideally suited as an advanced drug delivery system (ADDS) for toxic substances in tumor therapy. The inner space of BGs can be loaded with either single components or combinations of peptides, drugs or DNA which provides an opportunity to design new types of (polyvalent) drug delivery vehicles. Uptake of BGs loaded with Doxorubicin (Dox) by CaCo2 cells led to effective Dox release from endo-lysosomal compartments and accumulation in the nucleus. Viability and proliferative capacity of the cells were significantly decreased (2–3 orders of magnitude) after internalization of Dox loaded BGs as compared to cells incubated with free Dox. The same effect was observed with leukemia cells. Melanoma cells also revealed a high capability to internalize BGs. These results indicate that BGs are able to target a range of types of cancer. BGs have also been investigated as DNA delivery vectors. Studies show DNA loaded BGs are efficiently phagocytosed and internalized by both professional APCs and tumor cells with up to 82% of cells expressing the plasmid-encoded reporter gene. Our studies with BGs as an ADDS system contribute (i) to optimize drug delivery for the treatment of cancer; (ii) define specific conditions for selection and preparation of BG formulations; (iii) and provide a background for the clinical application of BGs in cancer therapy.     

Usefulness of PCR Strategies For Early Diagnosis of Chagas'' Disease Reactivation and Treatment Follow-Up in Heart Transplantation

Heart transplantation (HTx) is a useful therapy for end‐stage Chaga? cardiomyopathy; however, Chagas reactivation remains a mayor complication. Parasitological methods offer poor diagnostic sensitivity, and use of more sensitive tools such as the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is usually necessary. In the present study, reactivation incidence and PCR usefulness for early reactivation diagnosis, as well as for treatment response evaluation during follow‐up, were analyzed using Strout parasite detection test, in 10 of 222 consecutive HTx patients suffering Chagas cardiomyopathy. PCR strategies targeted to minicircle sequences (kDNA, detection limit 1 parasite/ 10 mL blood) and miniexon genes (SL‐DNA, 200 parasite/10 mL) were performed to compare parasite burdens between samples. No patients received prophylactic antiprotozoal therapy (benznidazole). Five patients (50%) exhibited clinical reactivation within a mean period of 71.6 days; positive Strout results were observed in most cases presenting clinical manifestations. kDNA‐PCR was positive 38–85 days before reactivation, whereas SLDNA‐PCR became positive only 7–21 days later, revealing post‐HTx parasitic load enhancement present prior to clinical reactivation development. Reactivations were successfully treated with benznidazole and generated negative PCR results. Results observed in this study indicate the value of PCR testing for an early diagnosis of Chagas reactivation as well as for monitoring treatment efficacy.     

通用引物PCR-SSCP技术分析16Sr RNA基因特征快速鉴定细菌

目的探讨通用引物聚合酶链反应-单链构象多态性(PCR-SSCP)技术在细菌检测中的应用.方法选取9种常见的细菌,采用通用引物对细菌的16SrRNA基因进行PCR扩增,产物进行单链构象多态性分析,并以标准菌株为对照.结果一对引物扩增产物SSCP图谱各细菌之间难以区别;两对引物扩增产物SSCP图谱条带数目、相对迁移率及条带之间的间距存在明显,可相互区别;3种细菌的标准菌株和临床菌株的SSCP图谱完全一致.结论采用针对16SrRNA的通用引物PCR-SSCP技术以标准菌株为对照可方便快捷地检测细菌.     

In vivo quantification of fluorescent molecular markers in real-time: A review to evaluate the performance of five existing methods

With the advent of molecular-targeted fluorescent markers, there is a renewed interest in fluorescence quantification methods that are based on continuous wave excitation and multi-spectral image acquisition. However, little is known about their in vivo quantification performance. We reviewed the performance of five selected methods by analytically describing these and varying input parameters of irradiance, excitation geometry, collection efficiency, autofluorescence, melanin content, blood volume, blood oxygenation and tissue scattering using optical properties representing those for human skin. We identified one method that corrects for variations in all parameters. This requires image acquisition before and after marker administration, under identical geometry. Hence, it is suited for applications where the site of interest can be relocated (e.g. anaesthetized animals and dermatology). For applications where relocation is not possible, we identified a second method where the uncertainty in the fluorescence signal was ±20%. Hence, use of these methods can substantially aid in vivo fluorescence quantification compared to use of the raw fluorescence signal, as this changed by more than 3 orders of magnitude. Since these methods can be computed in real-time, they are of particular interest for applications where direct feedback is critical, as diagnostic screening or image-guided surgery.     

Postmenopausal Women With Colles'' Fracture Have Lower Values of Bone Mineral Density Than Controls as Measured by Quantitative Ultrasound and Densitometry

Measurement of ultrasonographic parameters provides information concerning not only bone density but also bone architecture. We investigated the usefulness of ultrasonographic parameters and bone mineral density (BMD) to evaluate the probability of Colles' fracture. Two-hundred eighty-nine postmenopausal women (62.3 +/- 8.7 yr) with (n = 76) and without (n = 213) Colles' fracture were studied. BMD of lumbar spine and proximal femur was evaluated in all women by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), and stiffness in the calcaneus were measured by a Sahara ultrasonometer (Hologic). Patients suffering from Colles' fracture had lower values of BMD adjusted by height at the lumbar spine, L2-L4 (0.797 g/cm2 vs 0.860 g/cm2), femoral neck (0.685 g/cm2 vs 0.712 g/cm2 ), SOS (1518 m/sg vs 1525 m/sg), and stiffness (74.6 vs 77.7) (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, BUA values were similar in both groups. After stepwise logistic regression analysis, the area found under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was 0.60 for L2L4 and 0.63 for a formula combining L2L4 and height. Our data suggest that patients suffering from Colles' fracture have lower values of BMD by DXA, SOS, and stiffness. However, the ability of these techniques to discriminate is low because the values for the area under ROC curve are 0.60 for L2-L4 and 0.63 for a formula derived of the combination of L2-L4 and height.