Identification of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in formalin-fixed porcine lung, using an indirect immunoperoxidase method

An indirect immunoperoxidase staining technique was evaluated for detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded porcine lung. Lungs from swine with induced (n = 4) or naturally occurring M hyopneumoniae infection (n = 31) were examined grossly, by light and immunofluorescent microscopy, and by an indirect immunoperoxidase test, using antibody raised in swine against M hyopneumoniae as the primary antibody. Organisms stained by the indirect immunoperoxidase method were identified in tissue sections as pleomorphic brown-staining structures corresponding to those observed with immunofluorescence. Mycoplasma hyosynoviae, M hyorhinis, and Acholeplasma laidlawii did not stain with the indirect immunoperoxidase method, using antibody raised against M hyopneumoniae.

DNA probes for mycobacteria. I. Isolation of DNA probes for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and for mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT)

Traditional methods used in identifying mycobacteria such as acid-fast bacillus stains and culture are often time-consuming, insensitive and non-specific. The isolation of DNA probes, coupled to a non-radioactive, e.g. biotin-based detection system, have the potential to foster the development of clinical assays for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT) that are rapid, sensitive and specific. To this end, we have isolated two different probes: one which is specific for the Mtb complex and one which recognizes all other potentially pathogenic mycobacteria. The use of these probes in combination should allow the detection and differentiation of M. tuberculosis from MOTT. To isolate the first probe, we prepared a library of M. tuberculosis DNA fragments in a lambda EMBL phage vector. Recombinant phage were screened by plaque-lift hybridization procedures using nick-translated mycobacterial genomic DNA to identify sequences specific to the Mtb complex. Inserts from candidate recombinant phage were purified, nick-translated and hybridized against a wide variety of filter-bound mycobacterial and non-mycobacterial DNAs. Two clones were identified which hybridized to the closely related M. tuberculosis, M. bovis and M. microti but not to other species of mycobacteria. The second probe was isolated by preparing a library of M. malmoense DNA fragments in lambda EMBL and screening by plaque-lift hybridization. One clone was identified which, in addition to recognizing members of the Mtb complex, also hybridized to M. intracellulare, M. malmoense, M. scrofulaceum, M. simiae, M. xenopi, M. avium, M. szulgai, M. kansasii and M. haemophilum. None of the three clones hybridized to DNA from non-mycobacterial species.

Glycosylation and surface expression of the influenza virus neuraminidase requires the N-terminal hydrophobic region

A full-length double-stranded DNA copy of an influenza A virus N2 neuraminidase (NA) gene was cloned into the late region of pSV2330, a hybrid expression vector that includes pBR322 plasmid DNA sequences and the simian virus 40 early region and simian virus 40 late region promoters, splice sequences, and transcription termination sites. The protein encoded by the cloned wild-type NA gene was shown to be present in the cytoplasm of fixed cells and at the surface of "live" or unfixed cells by indirect immunofluorescence with N2 monoclonal antibodies. Immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of [35S]methionine-labeled proteins from wild-type vector-infected cells with heterospecific N2 antibody showed that the product of the cloned NA DNA comigrated with glycosylated NA from influenza virus-infected cells, remained associated with internal membranes of cells fractionated into membrane and cytoplasmic fractions, and could form an immunoprecipitable dimer. NA enzymatic activity was detectable after simian virus 40 lysis of vector-infected cells. These properties of the product of the cloned wild-type gene were compared with those of the polypeptides produced by three deletion mutant NA DNAs that were also cloned into the late region of the pSV2330 vector. These mutants lacked 7 (dlk), 21 (dlI), or all 23 amino acids (dlZ) of the amino (N)-terminal variable hydrophobic region that anchors the mature wild-type NA tetrameric structure in the infected cell or influenza viral membrane. Comparison of the phenotypes of these mutants showed that this region in the NA molecule also includes sequences that control translocation of the nascent polypeptide into membrane organelles for glycosylation.

The influenza virus nucleoprotein synthesized from cloned DNA in a simian virus 40 vector is detected in the nucleus

We obtained DNA sequences coding for the nucleoprotein (NP) of an influenza A virus by reverse transcription of virion RNA with synthetic oligonucleotide primers. Terminal sequence analysis showed that the cloned gene contained a full-length copy of the virion RNA segment. The NP-specific DNA was inserted into the late region of a simian virus 40 vector, and the DNA recombinant was propagated in the presence of an early simian virus 40 temperature-sensitive mutant helper. Infection of African green monkey kidney cells with the recombinant produced a polypeptide immunoprecipitable with NP-specific antisera. The polypeptide product had a molecular weight of 56,000, identical to that of the nucleoprotein of influenza virus as estimated on polyacrylamide gels. The putative NP was detected in the nucleus of infected primate cells by an immunofluorescence assay. This nuclear localization of NP from recombinant DNA was similar to that seen during influenza virus infection.

A sequence-specific endonuclease (Xmn I) from Xanthomonas manihotis

A type II restriction endonuclease Xmn I with a novel site specificity has been isolated from Xanthomonas manihotis. Xmn I does not cleave SV40 DNA, but cleaves phi X174 DNA into three fragments, which constitute 76.61%, 18.08% and 5.31% of the total length of 5386 base pairs, and cleaves pBR322 DNA into two fragments of 55.71% and 44.29% of the entire 4362 base pairs. The nucleotide sequences around the cleavage sites made by Xmn I are not exactly homologous, but they have a common sequence of 5' GAANNNNTTC 3' according to a simple computer program analysis on nucleotide sequences of phi X174 DNA, pBR322 DNA and SV40 DNA. The results suggest that the cleavage site of Xmn I is located within its recognition sequence of 5' GAANNNNTTC 3'.

Studies on Agrobacterium tumefaciens. VIII. Avirulence induced by temperature and ethidium bromide

When tumorigenic strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens were subcultured at temperatures between 31.5 and 37 degrees C or in broth containing ethidium bromide, they lost their capacity to induce tumors in tomato plants. The sensitivities of curing virulence (tumorigenicity) depended on the density of the population of cells, fewer cells (100/ml) being more sensitive to curing than higher densities (10(6)/ml). The loss of virulence need not require the total loss of the virulence-specifying plasmid, but may result from a loss of a small segment of that plasmid. Virulent strains made avirulent by temperature or ethidium bromide treatment still harbor a large plasmid of 70-80 megadaltons size compared with the 100- to 120-megadalton plasmid in the untreated strains.