Virulence of wild-type E. coli uroisolates in experimental pyelonephritis

This study was designed to analyze the colonizing and invasive properties of wild-type bacteriuric E. coli possessing a variety of phenotypic characteristics in experimental nonobstructive pyelonephritis (P and Type 1 [T] fimbriae, hemolysin [Hly], presence of K capsules, flagella [H], serotype, biotype, human and mouse serumcidal resistance). Special emphasis was on the role of Gal-Gal adhesin (P fimbriae) of non-genetically engineered uroisolates. It was shown that organisms that are P+ or T+ or Hly+ are more likely to colonize bladders than strains negative for those parameters (P less than 0.001). Additionally, P+ strains were more often associated with kidney histopathology than P- E. coli (P less than 0.05). However, the data also indicated that fimbriae (P and Type 1) were not sole determinants of virulence since two strains devoid of fimbriae, hemolysin, K capsules and sensitive to human serumcidal activity caused incipient and acute pyelonephritis. Even among identical serotypes and biotypes, the presence/absence of fimbriae did not appear to be the critical factor in urovirulence, nor did the presence of several positive characteristics (hemolysin, K capsule, flagella, serum resistance) in a given strain enhance uropathogenicity. Therefore, these properties do not need to work together to render an E. coli urovirulent. These phenotypic characters may simply represent associated or serologic markers with the host serving as the dominant determinant of susceptibility to urinary infection. The findings emphasize the inherent limitations in relating and extrapolating colonizing and invasive properties of genetically engineered strains to those of naturally occurring, wild-type E. coli human uroisolates causing pyelonephritis.

Characterization of a nonspecific activator protein for the enzymatic hydrolysis of glycolipids

We have studied the substrate specificities of a non-specific activator protein on the enzymatic hydrolyses of the following compounds: GM1 and GM2, as well as several of their derivatives including oligosaccharides, GgOse3Cer-II3-sulfate and LacCer-II3-sulfate, Gb-Ose3Cer and GbOse4Cer, three neolacto-series glycosphingolipids, and two non-ceramide glycolipids. Our results show that this activator protein has a broad spectrum of activity and exhibits the properties of a nonspecific natural detergent. The evidence of non-specificity was the ability of this activator protein to stimulate the hydrolyses of glycolipids, regardless of glycosphingolipids or non-ceramide glycolipids, carried out by glycosidases from animals, plants, and microorganisms. Its activity was, however, limited to substrates that had a lipid moiety. The oligosaccharide of GM1 and deacetyl-fatty acid free GM1 (II3-NeuGg-Ose4-sphingosine) were hydrolyzed by beta-galactosidase in the absence of this activator protein.

Gangliosides GM2, IV4GalNAcGM1b, and IV4GalNAcGC1a as antigens for monoclonal immunoglobulin M in neuropathy associated with gammopathy

It was previously reported that monoclonal IgM from two patients with gammopathy and neuropathy showed similar specificity by reacting with the same group of unidentified minor components in the ganglioside fractions of human nervous tissues (Ilyas, A. A., Quarles, R. H., Dalakas, M. C., and Brady, R. O. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 82, 6697-6700). Enzymatic degradation, ion-exchange chromatography, and immunostaining of purified ganglioside standards on thin-layer chromatograms have now revealed that the antigenic glycolipids recognized by the IgM from these patients are gangliosides GalNAc beta 1-4Gal(3-2 alpha NeuAc)beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer(GM2), GalNAc beta 1-4Gal(3-2 alpha NeuAc)beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer (IV4GalNAcGM1b), and GalNAc beta 1-4Gal(3-2 alpha NeuAc)beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4 beta Gal(3-2 alpha NeuAc)beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1-Cer (IV4GalNAcGD1a). The monoclonal IgM appears to be reacting with the terminal [GalNAc beta 1-4Gal(3-2 alpha NeuAc)beta 1-] moiety shared by these three gangliosides and is a useful probe for detecting small amounts of GM2, IV4GalNAcGM1b, IV4GalNAcGD1a, and other gangliosides with the same terminal sugar configuration in tissues. Species distribution studies using the antibody revealed that GM2 is present in the brains and nerves of all species examined, while IV4GalNAcGM1b and IV4GalNAcGD1a exhibit some striking species specificity. GM2, but not IV4GalNAcGD1a, is enriched in purified myelin from human brain.

A GM2-specific beta-hexosaminidase from the roe of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus)

The roe of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) was found to contain a beta-hexosaminidase different from the beta-hexosaminidases isolated from other sources. The enzyme from mullet roe is able to cleave GalNAc from GM2 without the assistance of either an activator protein or a detergent. It also cleaves the oligosaccharide derived from GM2 and other oligosaccharides containing the GM2 sequence GalNAc beta 4(NeuAc alpha 3)Gal-. However, it is not effective in hydrolyzing neutral glycosphingolipids containing terminal GalNAc or GlcNAc, such as GbOse4Cer, GgOse3Cer, or LcOse3Cer. These results indicate that mullet roe beta-hexosaminidase can specifically cleave GalNAc from the glycoconjugates containing the GM2 sequence. No beta-hexosaminidase with such specificity has been previously described. Thus, this unique enzyme should be very useful for the detection and analysis of glycoconjugates containing the oligosaccharide chains with GM2 sequence.

Isolation and characterization of gangliosides with hybrid neolacto-ganglio-type sugar chains

We have previously reported the presence of GM2 as the major ganglioside in the roe of striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, (Li, Y.-T., Hirabayashi, Y., DeGasperi, R., Yu, R. K., Ariga, T., Koerner, T. A. W., and Li, S.-C. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 8980-8985). In addition to GM2, mullet roe also contain a series of gangliosides with thin-layer chromatographic mobilities slower than GM2. Besides enzymatic hydrolysis and NMR spectroscopy, we have employed the thin-layer chromatography overlay technique using a human monoclonal IgM antibody which recognizes the GM2 epitope to study the nature of these gangliosides. Using these methods we have isolated and characterized three novel mullet roe gangliosides with the following structures: (Formula: see text). These three gangliosides all contain neolacto-series sugar chains. However, the unique feature of gangliosides 5 and 10 is that the terminal portion of the sugar chain is of the ganglio-series while the internal portion is of the neolacto series structure. Due to the substitution of a GalNAc on the internal Gal in 9 and 10 in the inner core, these two gangliosides also contain the gangliotriaosyl structure. Thus, the sugar chains in these gangliosides are of novel type and can be considered a hybrid between the two series which can be defined as the neolacto-ganglio series.

Occurrence of ceramide-glycanase in the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris

We have detected the presence of ceramide-glycanase in the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris. We have also devised a simple method for the preparation of this enzyme from the earthworm. This enzyme cleaved the linkage between the ceramide and the glycan chain in LacCer, GbOse3Cer, GbOse4Cer, GbOse5Cer, GM3, GM2, GM1 and GD1a. By using tritium-labeled GM2 as substrate, the optimum pH of this enzyme was found to be between pH 4 and 4.5. In the earthworm, the ceramide-glycanase was mainly found in the muscle. The intestine was found to contain a very low level of this enzyme. Because of their easy availability, earthworms should become a convenient source for the preparation of ceramide-glycanase.

Absence of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity in the kidneys of sheep, cattle and pig

The kidneys of man, sheep, cattle and pig were all found to contain 1-aspartamido-beta-acetylglucosamine amidohydrolase activity. However, among these, only human kidney was found to contain endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity. The absence of this enzyme in the kidneys of sheep and cattle explains why the oligosaccharides accumulated in, and excreted by, sheep and cattle afflicted with disorders of glycoprotein catabolism (i.e. alpha-mannosidosis and beta-mannosidosis) contain two N-acetylglucosamine residues at the reducing terminus instead of one, as is the case for human patients afflicted with similar disorders.

Structure of a new hexasaccharide from the coaggregation polysaccharide of Streptococcus sanguis 34

The major constituent of a coaggregation polysaccharide from Streptococcus sanguis 34 is a hexasaccharide, isolated as the alditol. The proposed structure is alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1----3)-beta-L-Rhap-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----6) -beta-D-Galf- (1----6)-beta-D-GalpNAc-(1----3)-D-Galol, based upon g.l.c.-m.s. of alditol acetates and partially methylated alditol acetates, f.a.b.-m.s., 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, g.l.c.-m.s. of trimethylsilylated (+)- and (-)-2-butyl glycosides, and cleavage by alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase. The structural deduction was facilitated by cleavage of the hexasaccharide at the furanoside linkage by 48% hydrogen fluoride, and reduction of the product, to yield alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1----3)-beta-L-Rhap-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----6) -D-Galol.

Biochemical basis of type AB GM2 gangliosidosis in a Japanese spaniel

The biochemical basis of a case of GM2 gangliosidosis in a Japanese Spaniel was studied. This dog had a massive accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in the brain. The beta-hexosaminidase activity in this affected dog brain was approximately 12 times higher than that of normal brain. However, the activity toward p-nitrophenyl-6-sulfo-2-acetamido-2-deoxyglucopyranoside was only four times higher in the affected brain than in normal brain. The GM2 activator preparation obtained from the normal dog brain could stimulate the hydrolysis of GM2 ganglioside by beta-hexosaminidase isolated from the affected dog. However, the corresponding activator fraction from the affected dog could not stimulate such a reaction. It was concluded that the biochemical basis of the GM2 gangliosidosis in this Japanese Spaniel was due to the attenuation in the stimulatory activity of GM2 activator. This case represents the first animal form similar to the activator deficiency (or defect) of Type AB GM2 gangliosidosis in humans.

Accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in a case of leiomyosarcoma

Analysis of the glycosphingolipid composition in one case of uterine leiomyosarcoma metastasized to the liver showed an accumulation of globotriaosylceramide as compared with normal liver and uterus from which the tumour originated. The structure and the amount of glycosphingolipids were established by using specific glycosidases, permethylation analysis and h.p.l.c. The reason for the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in leiomyosarcoma remains to be answered.

A unique glycosphingolipid-splitting enzyme (ceramide-glycanase from leech) cleaves the linkage between the oligosaccharide and the ceramide

A novel type of enzyme which hydrolyzes the linkage between the ceramide and the sugar chain in various glycosphingolipids has been found in the leech, Hirudo medicinalis. This enzyme releases the intact oligosaccharide from LacCer, GbOse3Cer, GbOse4Cer, GbOse5Cer, nLcOse4Cer, GM3, GM2, GM1, GD1a and GT1 with the concurrent release of ceramides. By using tritium-labeled GM1 as substrate we found the optimum pH of this enzyme to be between pH 4 and 5. Since the enzyme cleaves the linkage between the ceramide and the sugar chain in various glycosphingolipids with no apparent preference toward the sugar chain, we propose to call this enzyme ceramide-glycanase.

A prevalence survey of 'incapacitating headache' in the People's Republic of China

Two Chinese populations over age 15 were surveyed as to the point prevalence of "incapacitating" headaches in an urban population of 1,525 persons and a rural one of 1,203. Personal interviews were carried out by a team of instructed interviewers; there was 100% cooperation. In both populations, prevalence in women was twice that in men except in the urban population in the youngest age group. Prevalence in the urban was almost exactly twice that of the rural population, with the highest figure occurring in traders.

Brain injury due to head trauma. Epidemiology in urban areas of the People's Republic of China

A door-to-door survey was carried out in six cities of the People's Republic of China during 1983 in a well-defined population of 63,195 to determine the prevalence of frequently occurring neurologic disorders, including brain injury. In the survey, trained health workers conducted a complete census and administered a questionnaire that had been pretested to assure a high level of sensitivity in identifying individuals suffering from brain injury due to head trauma. All those with responses suggesting brain injury were examined by senior neurosurgeons who used uniform diagnostic criteria and reviewed available medical records to establish a diagnosis. There was 100% cooperation with the screening and diagnostic phases of the survey. Based on this investigation, the age-adjusted (to the 1960 US population) prevalence ratio for brain injury due to head trauma is seven per 1,000, and the incidence rate is 56 per 100,000 per year. The ratios and rates are higher in male than female subjects. The main cause of brain injury due to head trauma in the People's Republic of China is bicycle accidents.

Ganglioside patterns in normal and lepromatous armadillo tissues

Gangliosides derived from tissues of normal and lepromatous armadillos were examined by thin-layer chromatography. The ganglioside patterns produced by the Mycobacterium leprae-infected tissues varied from that of the normal tissue. Although increased levels of several gangliosides were observed in the infected tissues, there was an apparent preferential increase in GM3 gangliosides as determined by column chromatography and enzymatic hydrolysis.