Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of heat killed Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) on various human cancer cell lines

Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) is a non-pathogenic mycobacterium, which has been tested on several cancer types like lung and bladder where tumour regression and complete recovery was observed. In discovering the potential cytotoxic elements, a preliminary test was carried out using four different fractions consisting of live bacteria, culture supernatant, heat killed bacteria and heat killed culture supernatant of MIP against two human cancer cells A549 and CaSki by 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptosis was investigated in MCF-7 and ORL-115 cancer cells by poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and DNA fragmentation assays. Among four MIP fractions, only heat killed MIP fraction (HKB) showed significant cytotoxicity in various cancer cells with inhibitory concentration, IC50 in the range 5.6-35.0 μl/(1.0 × 10(6) MIP cells/ml), while cytotoxicity effects were not observed in the remaining fractions. HKB did not show cytotoxic effects on non-cancerous cells contrary to cancerous cells, suggesting its safe usage and ability to differentially recognize between these cells. Evaluation on PARP assay further suggested that cytotoxicity in cancer cells were potentially induced via caspase-mediated apoptosis. The cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of MIP HKB have indicated that this fraction can be a good candidate to further identify effective anti-cancer agents.

Shape control of mesoporous silica nanomaterials templated with dual cationic surfactants and their antibacterial activities

Mesoporous silica nanomaterials of different shapes (film, platelet, sphere, rod) were synthesized simply by tuning the mole ratio of dual cationic surfactant templates, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and tetrabutylammonium iodine (TBAI). The film showed the most potent antibacterial activity against mycobacteria.

Enhanced Production of Androst-1,4-Diene-3,17-Dione by Mycobacterium neoaurum JC-12 Using Three-Stage Fermentation Strategy

To improve the androst-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) production from phytosterol by Mycobacterium neoaurum JC-12, fructose was firstly found favorable as the initial carbon source to increase the biomass and eliminate the lag phase of M. neoaurum JC-12 in the phytosterol transformation process. Based on this phenomenon, two-stage fermentation by using fructose as the initial carbon source and feeding glucose to maintain strain metabolism was designed. By applying this strategy, the fermentation duration was decreased from 168 h to 120 h with the ADD productivity increased from 0.071 g/(L·h) to 0.108 g/(L·h). Further, three-stage fermentation by adding phytosterol to improve ADD production at the end of the two-stage fermentation was carried out and the final ADD production reached 18.6 g/L, which is the highest reported ADD production using phytosterol as substrate. Thus, this strategy provides a possible way in enhancing the ADD production in pharmaceutical industry.

Defining the Interaction of Human Soluble Lectin ZG16p and Mycobacterial Phosphatidylinositol Mannosides

ZG16p is a soluble mammalian lectin that interacts with mannose and heparan sulfate. Here we describe detailed analysis of the interaction of human ZG16p with mycobacterial phosphatidylinositol mannosides (PIMs) by glycan microarray and NMR. Pathogen-related glycan microarray analysis identified phosphatidylinositol mono- and di-mannosides (PIM1 and PIM2) as novel ligand candidates of ZG16p. Saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR and transferred NOE experiments with chemically synthesized PIM glycans indicate that PIMs preferentially interact with ZG16p by using the mannose residues. The binding site of PIM was identified by chemical-shift perturbation experiments with uniformly (15)N-labeled ZG16p. NMR results with docking simulations suggest a binding mode of ZG16p and PIM glycan; this will help to elucidate the physiological role of ZG16p.

Lipid and lipoarabinomannan isolation and characterization

Mycobacteria are microorganisms that contain a very high content of structurally diverse lipids, some of them being biologically active substances. As such the lipid composition is commonly used to characterize mycobacterial strains at the species and type-species level. This chapter describes the methods that allow the purification of the most commonly isolated biologically active lipids and those used for analyzing extractable lipids and their constituents, cell wall-linked mycolic acids and lipoarabinomannan (LAM). The latter involve simple chromatographic and analytical techniques, such as thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

[Identification of Mycobacterium spp. isolates using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)]

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has recently been widely used in diagnostic microbiological laboratories. It is a cheap and rapid method for the identification of bacteria and micromycetes. Apart from this purpose, it is also used for the detection of antibiotic resistance mechanisms. It has the potential to be extended for other purposes in microbiology. The aim of this study was to validate MALDI-TOF MS for the identification of mycobacteria.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty isolates of Mycobacterium spp. isolated in the Laboratory of Mycobacteriology of the Plzeň University Hospital were included in the study. The isolates were identified to the species level using biochemical tests, gene probes, and sequencing of the gene encoding 16S rRNA. The identification by MALDI-TOF MS was performed with the use of silica beads. Strain identification by sequencing the gene encoding 16S rRNA was considered as the reference method.

RESULTS

MALDI-TOF MS correctly identified all isolates of Mycobacterium spp. (score range 1.461 - 2.168). The species identified were Mycobacterium tuberculosis (n= 5), Mycobacterium kansasii (n=5), Mycobacterium avium (n=6), Mycobacterium intracelullare (n=3), Mycobacterium xenopi (n=3), Mycobacterium gordonae (n=1), Mycobacterium abscessus (n=1), Mycobacterium kumamotonense (n=2), Mycobacterium mantenii (n=1), Mycobacterium lentiflavum (n=1), Mycobacterium fortuitum (n=1), and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum (n=1).

CONCLUSION

MALDI-TOF MS is a suitable tool for the routine identification of Mycobacterium spp. in laboratories using this method for the conventional identification of microbes.

Improved synthesis of capuramycin and its analogues

Capuramycin and its congeners are considered to be important lead molecules for the development of a new drug for multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections. Extensive structure-activity relationship studies of capuramycin to improve the efficacy have been limited because of difficulties in selectively chemically modifying the desired position(s) of the natural product with biologically interesting functional groups. We have developed efficient syntheses of capuramycin and its analogues by using new protecting groups, derived from the chiral (chloro-4-methoxyphenyl)(chlorophenyl)methanols, for the uridine ureido nitrogen and primary alcohol. The chiral nonracemic (2,6-dichloro-4-methoxyphenyl)(2,4-dichlorophenyl)methanol derivative is a useful reagent to resolve rac-3-amino-1,3-dihydro-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one, the (S)-configuration isomer of which plays a significant role in improving the mycobactericidal activity of capuramycin.

Thin layer chromatography characterization of ELISA specific glycolipids antigens immunomagnetically purified from environmental mycobacteria

Thin layer chromatography (TLC) could easily and rapidly evidentiate the qualitative differences between glycolipids (GLs). Different immunomagnetically purified mycobacterial GLs have been compared using TLC, in order to choose the most appropriate antigens to be utilized in ELISA. The GLs were purified from environmental mycobacteria (EM) (M. avium-intracellulare, M. kansasii, M. xenopi, M. scrofulaceum and M. gordonae) and from M. tuberculosis H37Rv. BioMag Amine and BioMag Carboxyl terminated superparamagnetic microparticles were utilized in the magnetic separation of glycolipids from mycobacterial species. TLC of GLs before and after magnetic purification, corroborated with ELISA results, shows that COOH-terminated particles allow a better purification for M. kansasii, M. xenopi and M. scrofulaceum, while NH2-terminated particles act better on MAI and M. gordonae GLs. The use of GL purified antigens in ELISA could fulfill the criteria of high levels of both sensitivity and specificity of serologic assays in EM diagnosis.

Microbial transformation of cycloastragenol

The microbial transformation of cycloastragenol by the fungi Cunninghamella blakesleeana NRRL 1369 and Glomerella fusarioides ATCC 9552, and the bacterium Mycobacterium sp. NRRL 3805 were investigated. Both fungi mainly provided hydroxylated metabolites together with products formed by cyclization, dehydrogenation and Baeyer-Villiger oxidation resulting in a ring cleavage. The bacteria yielded only a single oxidation product, namely, 3-oxo-cycloastragenol. Structures of the metabolites were elucidated by 1-D ((1)H,(13)C), 2-D NMR (COSY, HMBC, HMQC) and HRMS analyses.

Cyclopropanation of α-mycolic acids is not required for cording in Mycobacterium brumae and Mycobacterium fallax

The capacity to form microscopic cords (cording) of Mycobacterium species has been related to their virulence. The compounds responsible for cording are unknown, but a recent study has shown that cording could be related to the fine structure of α-mycolic acids. This investigation attributes the need for a proximal cyclopropane in α-mycolic acids for cording in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG and proposes cyclopropanases as good targets for new chemotherapeutic agents. As other Mycobacterium species in addition to M. tuberculosis and M. bovis form microscopic cords, it would be of major interest to know whether the relationship between proximal cyclopropanation of α-mycolic acids and cording could be extended to non-tuberculous mycobacteria. In this study, we have examined the correlation between the cording and cyclopropanation of α-mycolic acids in two species, Mycobacterium brumae and Mycobacterium fallax. Scanning electron microscopy images showed, for the first time to our knowledge, the fine structure of microscopic cords of M. brumae and M. fallax, confirming that these two species form true cords. Furthermore, NMR analysis performed on the same cording cultures corroborates the absence of cyclopropane rings in their α-mycolic acids. Therefore, we can conclude that the correlation between cording and cyclopropanation of α-mycolic acids cannot be extended to all mycobacteria. As M. brumae and M. fallax grow rapidly and have a simple pattern of mycolic acids (only α-unsaturated mycolic acids), we propose these two species as suitable models for the study of the role of mycolic acids in cording.

[Molecular and cellular biology of mycobacteria]

The cell wall of mycobacteria contains mycobacteria-specific long-chain fatty acids, called mycolic acids, and mycolic acid-containing glycolipids. This highly hydrophobic structure of the cell wall of mycobacteria is critical not only for their acid-fast properties but also for their resistance to a variety of chemical attacks from the host cells, supporting their ability to survive for years within the host. On the other hand, the host T cells are capable of recognizing these critical lipid components of the cell wall of mycobacteria, such as glucose monomycolates, that are captured by group 1 CD1 molecules. These T cells are able to eliminate mycobacteria-infected cells. This opens the possibility for a new type of lipid-based vaccines against tuberculosis.

A method to extract intact and pure RNA from mycobacteria

We describe a high-yielding, simple, and aerosol-free protocol for the isolation of RNA from mycobacteria that does not require sophisticated instruments. The method yielded 50 μg of RNA from 10(7) cells, 50 times more than a recently reported method. Our method can extract total RNA from aerobically grown bacteria and from in vitro hypoxia-induced dormant bacilli and mycobacteria residing within infected macrophages.

Acid-fast staining and Petroff-Hausser chamber counting of mycobacterial cells in liquid suspension

Accurate and rapid cell counts of mycobacterial species in culture are difficult to obtain. Here, a method using modified Kinyoun acid-fast staining was adapted for use with a Petroff-Hausser sperm and bacteria cell-counting chamber by using a liquid suspension staining technique. Cell counts obtained by this method were compared to viable cell counts by agar plate counting, revealing accurate correlation.

Rhomboid homologs in mycobacteria: insights from phylogeny and genomic analysis

BACKGROUND

Rhomboids are ubiquitous proteins with diverse functions in all life kingdoms, and are emerging as important factors in the biology of some pathogenic apicomplexa and Providencia stuartii. Although prokaryotic genomes contain one rhomboid, actinobacteria can have two or more copies whose sequences have not been analyzed for the presence putative rhomboid catalytic signatures. We report detailed phylogenetic and genomic analyses devoted to prokaryotic rhomboids of an important genus, Mycobacterium.

RESULTS

Many mycobacterial genomes contained two phylogenetically distinct active rhomboids orthologous to Rv0110 (rhomboid protease 1) and Rv1337 (rhomboid protease 2) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, which were acquired independently. There was a genome-wide conservation and organization of the orthologs of Rv1337 arranged in proximity with glutamate racemase (mur1), while the orthologs of Rv0110 appeared evolutionary unstable and were lost in Mycobacterium leprae and the Mycobacterium avium complex. The orthologs of Rv0110 clustered with eukaryotic rhomboids and contained eukaryotic motifs, suggesting a possible common lineage. A novel nonsense mutation at the Trp73 codon split the rhomboid of Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis into two hypothetical proteins (MAP2425c and MAP2426c) that are identical to MAV_1554 of Mycobacterium avium. Mycobacterial rhomboids contain putative rhomboid catalytic signatures, with the protease active site stabilized by Phenylalanine. The topology and transmembrane helices of the Rv0110 orthologs were similar to those of eukaryotic secretase rhomboids, while those of Rv1337 orthologs were unique. Transcription assays indicated that both mycobacterial rhomboids are possibly expressed.

CONCLUSIONS

Mycobacterial rhomboids are active rhomboid proteases with different evolutionary history. The Rv0110 (rhomboid protease 1) orthologs represent prokaryotic rhomboids whose progenitor may be the ancestors of eukaryotic rhomboids. The Rv1337 (rhomboid protease 2) orthologs appear more stable and are conserved nearly in all mycobacteria, possibly alluding to their importance in mycobacteria. MAP2425c and MAP2426c provide the first evidence for a split homologous rhomboid, contrasting whole orthologs of genetically related species. Although valuable insights to the roles of rhomboids are provided, the data herein only lays a foundation for future investigations for the roles of rhomboids in mycobacteria.

Synthesis of galactofuranose-based acceptor substrates for the study of the carbohydrate polymerase GlfT2

Despite the prevalence and importance of carbohydrate polymers, the molecular details of their biosynthesis remain elusive. Many enzymes responsible for the synthesis of carbohydrate polymers require a 'primer' or 'initiator' carbohydrate sequence. One example of such an enzyme is the mycobacterial galactofuranosyltransferase GlfT2 (Rv3808c), which generates an essential cell wall building block. We recently demonstrated that recombinant GlfT2 is capable of producing a polymer composed of alternating beta-(1,5) and beta-(1,6)-linked galactofuranose (Galf) residues. Intriguingly, the length of the polymers produced from a synthetic glycosyl acceptor is consistent with those found in the cell wall. To probe the mechanism by which polymer length is controlled, a collection of initiator substrates has been assembled. The central feature of the synthetic route is a ruthenium-catalyzed cross-metathesis as the penultimate transformation. Access to synthetic substrates has led us to postulate a new mechanism for length control in this template-independent polymerization. Moreover, our investigations indicate that lipids possessing but a single galactofuranose residue can act as substrates for GlfT2.

Revival and emended description of 'Mycobacterium paraffinicum' Davis, Chase and Raymond 1956 as Mycobacterium paraffinicum sp. nov., nom. rev

The omission of the name 'Mycobacterium paraffinicum' from the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names was due to phenotypic confusion surrounding a close relationship with Mycobacterium scrofulaceum. Correspondingly, 'M. paraffinicum' strains grew slowly in > 7 days, stained acid-alcohol-fast and produced yellow-pigmented, smooth, waxy colonies in the dark at an optimal temperature of 35°C. However, 'M. paraffinicum' strains demonstrated no activity for urease, nicotinamidase or pyrazinamidase and lacked growth at 42°C, unlike M. scrofulaceum. The mycolic acid pattern, as determined by HPLC, clustered 'M. paraffinicum' with M. scrofulaceum, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum. Strains were fully susceptible to linezolid, rifabutin, clarithromycin and amikacin. Examination of the historical reference strain of 'M. paraffinicum', ATCC 12670, and five additional isolates using comparative studies with 16S rRNA, hsp65 and rpoB gene and concatenated sequences showed that they formed a tight taxonomic group that was distinct from similar non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE) analysis confirmed a close association of the five additional isolates with the reference strain of 'M. paraffinicum' with a genetic distance of 0.12 and showed that all six strains were distinct from other closely related species. These genetic results provided unambiguous evidence of the uniqueness of this slowly growing, scotochromogenic species and supported the revival of the name as Mycobacterium paraffinicum (ex Davis, Chase and Raymond 1956) sp. nov., nom. rev. We propose the previously deposited reference strain ATCC 12670(T) =DSM 44181(T) =NCIMB 10420(T), located in collections worldwide, as the type strain.

Reliable identification of mycobacterial species by PCR-restriction enzyme analysis (PRA)-hsp65 in a reference laboratory and elaboration of a sequence-based extended algorithm of PRA-hsp65 patterns

BACKGROUND

Identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) based on phenotypic tests is time-consuming, labor-intensive, expensive and often provides erroneous or inconclusive results. In the molecular method referred to as PRA-hsp65, a fragment of the hsp65 gene is amplified by PCR and then analyzed by restriction digest; this rapid approach offers the promise of accurate, cost-effective species identification. The aim of this study was to determine whether species identification of NTM using PRA-hsp65 is sufficiently reliable to serve as the routine methodology in a reference laboratory.

RESULTS

A total of 434 NTM isolates were obtained from 5019 cultures submitted to the Institute Adolpho Lutz, Sao Paulo Brazil, between January 2000 and January 2001. Species identification was performed for all isolates using conventional phenotypic methods and PRA-hsp65. For isolates for which these methods gave discordant results, definitive species identification was obtained by sequencing a 441 bp fragment of hsp65. Phenotypic evaluation and PRA-hsp65 were concordant for 321 (74%) isolates. These assignments were presumed to be correct. For the remaining 113 discordant isolates, definitive identification was based on sequencing a 441 bp fragment of hsp65. PRA-hsp65 identified 30 isolates with hsp65 alleles representing 13 previously unreported PRA-hsp65 patterns. Overall, species identification by PRA-hsp65 was significantly more accurate than by phenotype methods (392 (90.3%) vs. 338 (77.9%), respectively; p < .0001, Fisher's test). Among the 333 isolates representing the most common pathogenic species, PRA-hsp65 provided an incorrect result for only 1.2%.

CONCLUSION

PRA-hsp65 is a rapid and highly reliable method and deserves consideration by any clinical microbiology laboratory charged with performing species identification of NTM.

Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin alters growth, activity and cell envelope features of sterol-transforming mycobacteria

Modified beta-cyclodextrins have been shown previously to enhance sterol conversion to 4-androstene-3,17-dione (AD) and 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione (ADD) by growing Mycobacterium spp. The enhancement effect was mainly attributed to steroid solubilization by the formation of inclusion complexes with modified cyclodextrins. In this work, the influence of randomly methylated beta-cyclodextrin (MCD) on the growth, AD- and ADD-producing activity, cell wall (CW) composition and ultrastructure of sterol-transforming Mycobacterium sp. VKM Ac-1816D was studied. The specific growth rate of the strain on glycerol increased in the presence of MCD (20-100 mM). Washed cells grown in the presence of MCD (20-40 mM) expressed 1.6-fold higher ADD-producing activity than did the cells grown without MCD, and their adhesiveness differed. Electron microscopy showed MCD-mediated CW exfoliation and accumulation of membrane-like structures outside the cells, while preserving cells intact. The analysis of CW composition revealed both a decrease in the proportion of extractable lipids and a considerable shift in fatty acid profile resulting from MCD action. The MCD-mediated enhancement of mycolic and fatty acids content was observed outside the cells. The total secreted protein level rose 2.4-fold, and the extracellular 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase activity 3.2-fold. The composition of the CW polysaccharide was not altered, while the overall proportion of the carbohydrates in the CW of the MCD-exposed mycobacteria increased. The results showed that the multiple mechanisms of MCD-mediated intensification of sterol to AD(D) conversion by mycobacteria include not only solubilization of steroids, but also the increase of CW permeability for both steroids and soluble nutrients, disorganization of the lipid bilayer and the release of steroid-transforming enzymes weakly associated with the CW.

Stereoselective synthesis of a fragment of mycobacterial arabinan

Strategies for the stereoselective synthesis of mycobacterial arabinan were explored. Arabinofuranosyl donors with various protective groups were screened in terms of suitability for beta-(1,2-cis)-selective glycosylation. The protective group was found to affect the stereoselectivity of arabinofuranosylation. Beta-selectivity was drastically enhanced by using donors protected with 3,5-TIDPS, possibly due to conformational constraints on the furanose ring. Synthesis of heptaarabinofuranoside was then performed to demonstrate the practicality of this methodology. [reaction: see text].

Biodegradation of phytane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylhexadecane) and accumulation of related isoprenoid wax esters byMycobacterium ratisbonensestrain SD4 under nitrogen-starved conditions

The accumulation of storage lipids during the biodegradation of 2,6,10,14-tetramethylhexadecane (phytane) by Mycobacterium ratisbonense strain SD4 grown under nitrogen-starved conditions was investigated. Detailed chemical analysis of intracellular metabolites revealed the existence of (at least) three different pathways for the catabolism of phytane, and the accumulation of significant proportions (39% of the total lipids) of several isoprenoid wax esters formed by condensation of oxidation products of the hydrocarbon. In contrast, triacylglycerols but no wax esters were accumulated by strain SD4 grown on hexadecane, the unbranched homologue of phytane.

Structural Compromise of Disallowed Conformations in Peptide and Protein Structures

Using a data set of 454 crystal structures of peptides and 80 crystal structures of non-homologous proteins solved at ultra high resolution of 1.2 A or better we have analyzed the occurrence of disallowed Ramachandran (phi, psi) angles. Out of 1492 and 13508 non-glycyl residues in peptides and proteins respectively 12 and 76 residues in the two datasets adopt clearly disallowed combinations of Ramachandran angles. These examples include a number of conformational points which are far away from any of the allowed regions in the Ramachandran map. According to the Ramachandran map a given (phi, psi) combination is considered disallowed when two non-bonded atoms in a system of two-linked peptide units with ideal geometry are prohibitively proximal in space. However, analysis of the disallowed conformations in peptide and protein structures reveals that none of the observations of disallowed conformations in the crystal structures correspond to a short contact between non-bonded atoms. A further analysis of deviations of bond lengths and angles, from the ideal peptide geometry, at the residue positions of disallowed conformations in the crystal structures suggest that individual bond lengths and angles are all within acceptable limits. Thus, it appears that the rare tolerance of disallowed conformations is possible by gentle and acceptable deviations in a number of bond lengths and angles, from ideal geometry, over a series of bonds resulting in a net gross effect of acceptable non-bonded inter-atomic distances.

Molecular and supra-molecular structure related differences in toxicity and granulomatogenic activity of mycobacterial cord factor in mice

To establish the structure biological activity relationship of cord factor (trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate, TDM), we compared the molecular or supra-molecular structure of TDM micelles with toxicity, thymic atrophy and granulomatogenicity in lungs and spleen of BALB/c mice. According to the difference in the mycolyl subclass composition, TDM was divided into two groups, one possessing alpha-, methoxy- and keto-mycolates in M. tuberculosis H37Rv, M. bovis BCG and M. kansasii (group A) and the other having alpha-, keto- and wax ester-mycolates in M. avium serotype 4, M. phlei and M. flavescens (group B), although mycolic acid molecular species composition differed in each group considerably. Supra-molecular structure of TDM micelle differed species to species substantially and the micelle size of TDM from M. bovis BCG Connaught was the largest. The highest toxicity was shown with TDM from M. tuberculosis H37Rv which possessed the highest amount of alpha- (47.3%) and methoxy-mycolates (40.8%), while TDM from M. phlei having the low amount of alpha-mycolate (11.6%) showed almost no toxicity with the given doses. The thymic atrophy was observed with TDM from group A, but not with TDM from group B. On the other hand, TDM from group B showed massive lung granulomatogenic activity based on the histological observations and organ indices. Taken together, group A TDM showed a wide variety of micelle sizes and specific surface areas, high to low toxicity and marked to moderate granulomatogenicity, while group B TDM showed smaller sizes of micelles and larger specific surface areas, lower toxicity but higher granulomatogenicity in lungs. Existence of higher amount of longer chain alpha-mycolates in TDM appeared to be essential for high toxicity and thymic apoptotic activity, whereas TDM possessing wax ester-mycolate with smaller sized micelles seemed to be less toxic, but more granulomatogenic in lungs in mice. Thus, the mycolic acid subclass and molecular species composition of TDM affect critically the micelle forms, toxicity and granulomatogenicity in mice, while the relative abundances and carbon chain length of alpha-mycolate affected the toxicity in mice.

Antiarthritic Effects of Relaxin, in Combination with Estrogen, in Rat Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis

The incidence and severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are reduced during pregnancy. Estradiol-17beta and relaxin (RLX), hormones of pregnancy, are implicated in decreased immune responsiveness. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of estrogen and RLX, alone or in combination, on the development of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in ovariectomized (OVX) Lewis rats. Arthritis was induced on day 0 by adjuvant injection in the left hind paw. Rats were treated with estradiol valerate (E), porcine RLX, E + RLX, or vehicle. Healthy OVX control animals were used for comparison. Treatment with RLX or E alone decreased adjuvant-induced inflammation in both the injected (primary) and noninjected (secondary) hind paws. Combined treatment with E and RLX was more effective than either hormone alone in blocking secondary paw inflammation. Furthermore, E plus RLX reduced changes to spleen and thymus weights induced by adjuvant injection. Both E and RLX alone decreased circulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. The combination of E and RLX resulted in a greater decline in TNFalpha than treatment with either hormone alone. There was no effect of hormones on the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)-1beta. The anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased in response to E and E plus RLX. In conclusion, combined therapy with E and RLX was more effective than either hormone alone in reducing chronic inflammation, joint changes, and high circulating TNFalpha associated with AIA in rats. Accordingly, these hormones could play a role in reducing RA-induced inflammation during pregnancy by an effect on the immune system.

Discrimination of intact mycobacteria at the strain level: a combined MALDI-TOF MS and biostatistical analysis

New methodologies for surveillance and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are required to stem the spread of disease worldwide. In addition, the ability to discriminate mycobacteria at the strain level may be important to contact or source case investigations. To this end, we are developing MALDI-TOF MS methods for the identification of M. tuberculosis in culture. In this report, we describe the application of MALDI-TOF MS, as well as statistical analysis including linear discriminant and random forest analysis, to 16 medically relevant strains from four species of mycobacteria, M. tuberculosis, M. avium, M. intracellulare, and M. kansasii. Although species discrimination can be accomplished on the basis of unique m/z values observed in the MS fingerprint spectrum, discrimination at the strain level is predicted on the relative abundance of shared m/z values among strains within a species. For the 16 mycobacterial strains investigated in the present study, it is possible to unambiguously identify strains within a species on the basis of MALDI-TOF MS data. The error rate for classification of individual strains using linear discriminant analysis was 0.053 using 37 m/z variables, whereas the error rate for classification of individual strains using random forest analysis was 0.023 using only 18 m/z variables. In addition, using random forest analysis of MALDI-TOF MS data, it was possible to correctly classify bacterial strains as either M. tuberculosis or non-tuberculous with 100% accuracy.