Evidence of recombination producing allelic diversity in MHC class I Mafa-B and -A alleles in cynomolgus macaques

The MHC class I-A and -B genes of cynomolgus macaques are highly polymorphic. These genes encode proteins presenting peptides to CD8+ T cells to initiate adaptive immune response. Recombination events are one way the diversity of these alleles can be increased. Such events have been well characterized in humans, but have not been as well characterized in macaques. In order to identify and examine recombinations that create new alleles, it is important to analyze intron sequences. Intron sequences have been shown to be important to understand the evolutionary mechanisms involved in the generation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles and loci. Thus far, there have been relatively few intron sequences reported for MHC class I alleles in macaques, and this has hampered the understanding of MHC organization and evolution in macaques. In this study, we present evidence of a gene conversion event generating the Mafa-B*099 allele lineage by the combination of Mafa-B*054 and Mafa-B*095 allele lineages. A potential recombination between the Mafa-A3*13 and Mafa-A4:14 lineages was also observed, but it is less clear due to lack of intron 2 sequence. This report stresses the role that recombination can play in MHC class I diversity in cynomologus macaques, and the importance of introns in identifying and analyzing such events.

A retrospective clinical study of transaortic extended septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in China

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to assess the early and mid-term clinical effects of transaortic extended septal myectomy (TAESM) on obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in China.

METHODS

Ninety-three consecutive patients [57 men; mean age 45.8 ± 13.4 (11–74) years] with obstructive HCM underwent TAESM in Fuwai hospital. Their clinical data were analysed retrospectively. All the patients had drug-refractory symptoms and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction with a resting or physically provoked gradient of ≥50 mmHg. Preoperative transthoracic, intra-operative transoesophageal and postoperative transthoracic echocardiography was performed to assess LVOT gradients, septal thickness, LVOT diameter, mitral valve function, etc. Systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the anterior mitral valve leaflet had been detected in all preoperatively.

RESULTS

All the surgical procedures of the 93 patients were technically successful. The average length of postoperative stay was 7.8 ± 3.7 days. The 30-day and in-hospital mortality was 0%. Initial postoperative transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) demonstrated marked reduction in LVOT gradient (91.76 ± 25.08 to 14.34 ± 13.44 mmHg, P < 0.0005) and significant improvement in mitral regurgitation (MR; P < 0.0005). Concomitant surgical procedures were carried out in 37 (39.8%). Complete atrioventricular block occurred in 3, complete left bundle branch block in 44, intraventricular conduction delay in 18, complete right bundle branch block in 2, transient renal dysfunction in 2 and transient intra-aortic-balloon-pumping was needed in 2. No other complications were observed during hospital stay. During a follow-up of 10.72 ± 11.02 (1–24) months, there were no readmissions or deaths, and all patients subjectively reported an obvious decrease in limiting symptoms and a significant increase in physical ability. At the latest follow-up, the New York Heart Association functional class decreased from 3.09 ± 0.60 (2–4) preoperatively to 1.12 ± 0.32 (1–2) (P < 0.0005); the LVOT gradient remained low at 14.78 ± 14.01 mmHg; MR remained absent (51) or at mild-(41)-to-moderate-(1) levels and SAM resolved completely in 98.9% (92 of 93) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

TAESM provides excellent relief from LVOT obstruction in HCM patients, with a conspicuous clinical and echocardiographic outcome at early and mid-term follow-up. For obstructive HCM and cardiac comorbidities, concomitant cardiac procedures with TAESM can be performed with low risk and satisfactory results.

Identification of 23 novel MHC class I alleles in cynomolgus macaques of Philippine and Philippine/Mauritius origins

We report here novel Mafa-A, -AG and -B alleles identified in two groups of cynomolgus macaques.

Identification of a novel HLA-A allele, A*29:28, in an East African population

The new allele is identical to A*29:01:01:01 in exons 2 and 3, except for a single-nucleotide substitution (TTG to TGG) at codon 156.

Global IRS-1 phosphorylation analysis in insulin resistance

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

IRS-1 serine phosphorylation is often elevated in insulin resistance models, but confirmation in vivo in humans is lacking. We therefore analysed IRS-1 phosphorylation in human muscle in vivo.

METHODS

We used HPLC-electrospray ionisation (ESI)-MS/MS to quantify IRS-1 phosphorylation basally and after insulin infusion in vastus lateralis muscle from lean healthy, obese non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic volunteers.

RESULTS

Basal Ser323 phosphorylation was increased in type 2 diabetic patients (2.1 ± 0.43, p ≤ 0.05, fold change vs lean controls). Thr495 phosphorylation was decreased in type 2 diabetic patients (p ≤ 0.05). Insulin increased IRS-1 phosphorylation at Ser527 (1.4 ± 0.17, p ≤ 0.01, fold change, 60 min after insulin infusion vs basal) and Ser531 (1.3 ± 0.16, p ≤ 0.01, fold change, 60 min after insulin infusion vs basal) in the lean controls and suppressed phosphorylation at Ser348 (0.56 ± 0.11, p ≤ 0.01, fold change, 240 min after insulin infusion vs basal), Thr446 (0.64 ± 0.16, p ≤ 0.05, fold change, 60 min after insulin infusion vs basal), Ser1100 (0.77 ± 0.22, p ≤ 0.05, fold change, 240 min after insulin infusion vs basal) and Ser1142 (1.3 ± 0.2, p ≤ 0.05, fold change, 60 min after insulin infusion vs basal).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

We conclude that, unlike some aspects of insulin signalling, the ability of insulin to increase or suppress certain IRS-1 phosphorylation sites is intact in insulin resistance. However, some IRS-1 phosphorylation sites do not respond to insulin, whereas other Ser/Thr phosphorylation sites are either increased or decreased in insulin resistance.

A review of SA aneurysms with a small subsection on aneurysms arising from a splenomesenteric trunk

SA aneurysm (SAA) accounts for up to 50% to 75% of all visceral artery aneurysms associated with a high mortality rate of 25% in case of aneurysm rupture. It is the third most common intra-abdominal aneurysm following those of the aorta and the iliac arteries. The incidence of SAA varies from 0.1 to 10.4% in the general population. It has anatomic variations in about 10% of the population, 1% of which emerging from the superior mesenteric artery. Accordingly, SAA arising from a spleno-mesenteric trunk is very rare. To our best knowledge, there are only a few cases reported in the literature up to date. This is a review of literature and reported cases with anomalous SAAs arising from a spleno-mesenteric trunk, which had been diagnosed by ultrasound (US), computed tomography angiography (CTA), digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and managed by open surgery.

First Report of Fruit Rot Disease on Pomelo Caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae in China

Pomelo (Citrus grandis) is widely cultivated in MeiZhou Guangdong Province of China. In 2008, a disease on pomelo fruit caused significant economic losses by affecting fruit quality. Diseased fruit was collected in December 2008 from MeiZhou Guangdong, surface sterilized in 75% ethanol for 1 min and internal necrotic tissue was transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 28°C for 5 days. Three single-spore isolates were obtained from different fruit and identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon & Maubl. (synonyms Diplodia natalensis Pole-Evans and Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat.; teleomorph Botryosphaeria rhodina (Cooke) Arx) on the basis of morphological and physiological features. The fungus produced dark brown colonies (initially grayish) on PDA. Young hyphae were hyaline and aseptate, whereas mature hyphae were septate with irregular branches. Cultures of L. theobromae produced globular or irregular pycnidia abundantly on PDA (pH 3.5) at 28°C after 1 month. Mature conidia of L. theobromae were 20 to 26 × 12 to 15.5 μm, subovoid to ellipsoid-ovoid, initially hyaline and nonseptate, remaining hyaline for a long time, and finally becoming dark brown and one septate with melanin deposits on the inner surface of the wall arranged longitudinally giving a striate appearance to the conidia. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA was amplified from gDNA using primers ITS1 (5'-TCCGATGGTGAACCTGCGG-3') and ITS4 (5'-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3') (1). Amplicons were 542 bp long (GenBank Accession No. JF693024) and had 100% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence (GenBank Accession No. EU860391) of L. theobromae isolated from a Pinus sp. (2). To satisfy Koch's postulates, six asymptomatic fruit on potted plants were sprayed until runoff with a spore suspension (1 × 10⁶ spores/ml) prepared from 30-day-old cultures of one isolate. Control fruit received water. Plants were covered with sterile wet gauze to maintain high humidity. Fruit spot symptoms similar to those on diseased field fruit appeared after 15 days on all inoculated fruits. L. theobromae was reisolated from all inoculated test fruit. No symptoms were observed on the fruit of control plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of L. theobromae causing disease on pomelo fruit in China. This pathogen has also been previously reported to be economically important on a number of other hosts by mostly affecting the leaves. References: (1) J. C. Batzer et al. Mycologia 97:1268, 2005. (2) C. A. Pérez et al. Fungal Divers. 41:53,2010.

Benefits associated with a broad selection of dosage strengths for recombinant factor VIII products

Factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates for haemophilia A patients are dosed according to body weight. This results in a continuous range of prescribed doses, which challenges pharmacies to find dosage strengths closest to the prescribed dose while utilizing the least number of vials. This study was conducted to determine whether a broader selection of FVIII dosage strengths results in improved dispensing accuracy and an increased number of single-vial users. This research retrospectively analyzed a US pharmacy database of prescriptions filled in 2008. Recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) therapies were classified by the range of dosage strengths offered in 2008: Group 1 had three dosage strengths; Group 2 had four dosage strengths; and Group 3 had six dosage strengths. A total of 76,584 dispensed doses of rFVIII for 1,244 patients were included in this analysis. Dispensing accuracy (calculated as both the absolute and relative difference between dispensed and prescribed dose) was significantly better for Group 3 (23.2 IU, 1.2%) than Groups 1 (33.5 IU, 1.6%) and 2 (50.2 IU, 2.4%) (both P < 0.01). In addition, the average number of unique actual rFVIII potencies dispensed per month was highly correlated (-0.977) with dispensing accuracy for each dosage strength group. Among Groups 1, 2 and 3, 23.0%, 44.9% and 73.4% of patients, respectively, had at least one single vial option dispensed (P < 0.0001). A broader selection of rFVIII dosage strengths and more actual rFVIII potencies were associated with improved dispensing accuracy and more single-vial users. This may translate into less waste, cost savings, increased convenience and improved adherence to physician-prescribed regimens.

Impact of luteolin on the production of alpha-toxin by Staphylococcus aureus

AIMS

To investigate the influence of subinhibitory concentrations of luteolin on the production of α-toxin in Staphylococcus aureus.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using a broth microdilution method, and the MICs of luteolin against the tested Staph. aureus strains ranged from 16 to 64 μg ml(-1). Haemolysis, Western blot and real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays were used to evaluate the effect of luteolin on Staph. aureusα-toxin secretion and on the level of gene expression, respectively. The data indicated that subinhibitory concentrations of luteolin dose dependently decreased the production of α-toxin in both meticillin-sensitive Staph. aureus (MSSA) and meticillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA). Furthermore, the transcriptional levels of agr (accessory gene regulator) in Staph. aureus were also inhibited by luteolin.

CONCLUSIONS

Luteolin decreases the production and/or secretion of α-toxin in Staph. aureus; the reduced production may be dependent, in part, upon the luteolin-induced inhibition of the agr locus.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The findings indicate that luteolin may be used as a basis for the development of antimicrobial agents aimed at bacterial virulence factors.

Current good manufacturing practice production of an oncolytic recombinant vesicular stomatitis viral vector for cancer treatment

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an oncolytic virus currently being investigated as a promising tool to treat cancer because of its ability to selectively replicate in cancer cells. To enhance the oncolytic property of the nonpathologic laboratory strain of VSV, we generated a recombinant vector [rVSV(MΔ51)-M3] expressing murine gammaherpesvirus M3, a secreted viral chemokine-binding protein that binds to a broad range of mammalian chemokines with high affinity. As previously reported, when rVSV(MΔ51)-M3 was used in an orthotopic model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats, it suppressed inflammatory cell migration to the virus-infected tumor site, which allowed for enhanced intratumoral virus replication leading to increased tumor necrosis and substantially prolonged survival. These encouraging results led to the development of this vector for clinical translation in patients with HCC. However, a scalable current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP)-compliant manufacturing process has not been described for this vector. To produce the quantities of high-titer virus required for clinical trials, a process that is amenable to GMP manufacturing and scale-up was developed. We describe here a large-scale (50-liter) vector production process capable of achieving crude titers on the order of 10(9) plaque-forming units (PFU)/ml under cGMP. This process was used to generate a master virus seed stock and a clinical lot of the clinical trial agent under cGMP with an infectious viral titer of approximately 2 × 10(10) PFU/ml (total yield, 1 × 10(13) PFU). The lot has passed all U.S. Food and Drug Administration-mandated release testing and will be used in a phase 1 clinical translational trial in patients with advanced HCC.

Impact of copper and cadmium on aerobic and anaerobic digestibility of sonicated sludge

The effects of the introduction of a sludge reduction process such as ultrasound on batch aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability after exposition to two metals (copper and cadmium) were investigated. The specific energy of ultrasonic treatment applied to the sludge was 200,000 kJ kg TS(-1). Ultrasonic treatment led to floc size reduction and to organic matter solubilization. Low copper (< 5 mg L(-1)) and cadmium (< 1 mg L(-1)) concentration improved aerobic biodegradability. For high metal concentration the maximal instantaneous biogas production rate q(max) inhibition by copper and cadmium was modeled by a saturation-type relationship under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Under aerobic conditions, respiration inhibition was not affected by sonication. Cadmium inhibition (74%) was more than copper (58%). The positive effect of sonication on CO2 production was maintained after metal introduction. Under anaerobic conditions, metal introduction cancelled out the positive effect of the treatment. The sonicated sludge was 16% less sensitive to copper inhibition but 10% more sensitive to cadmium inhibition compared to non sonicated sludge.

The effects of subinhibitory concentrations of costus oil on virulence factor production in Staphylococcus aureus

AIM

To determine the antimicrobial activity of costus (Saussurea lappa) oil against Staphylococcus aureus, and to evaluate the influence of subinhibitory concentrations of costus oil on virulence-related exoprotein production in staph. aureus.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using a broth microdilution method, and the MICs of costus oil against 32 Staph. aureus strains ranged from 0.15 to 0.6 μl ml(-1) . The MIC(50) and MIC(90) were 0.3 and 0.6 μl ml(-1) , respectively. Western blot, haemolytic, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) release and real-time RT-PCR assays were performed to evaluate the effects of subinhibitory concentrations of costus oil on virulence-associated exoprotein production in Staph. aureus. The data presented here show that costus oil dose dependently decreased the production of α-toxin, toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) and enterotoxins A and B in both methicillin-sensitive Staph. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA).

CONCLUSION

Costus oil has potent antimicrobial activity against Staph. aureus, and the production of α-toxin, TSST-1 and enterotoxins A and B in Staph. aureus was decreased by costus oil.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The data suggest that costus oil may deserve further investigation for its potential therapeutic value in treating Staph. aureus infections. Furthermore, costus oil could be rationally applied in food products as a novel food preservative both to inhibit the growth of Staph. aureus and to repress the production of exotoxins, particularly staphylococcal enterotoxins.

[Endovascular repair of stanford type B aortic dissections with severe complications]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the security and efficiency of endovascular repair for Stanford type B aortic dissection (AD) with severe complications.

METHODS

Between January 2003 and December 2009, 60 patients having Stanford type B AD with severe complications were treated, including 39 males and 21 females with an average age of 43.7 years (range, 34-71 years). Severe complications included 27 cases of huge hemothorax, 1 case of paraplegia, 7 cases of acute renal failure, 10 cases of celiac trunk ischemia, 10 cases of superior mesenteric artery ischemia, and 5 cases of severe limb ischemia. Emergency stent-graft deployment were applied in all patients, and 64 stent-grafts were successfully implanted.

RESULTS

All patients survived and were followed up 3-86 months. Hemothorax disappeared after 28 days to 3 months of operation in all hemothorax patients; renal function returned normal after 1 to 9 days; limb and visceral ischemia disappeared gradually after 1 to 14 days; and muscular strength of lower limb in the paraplegia patient began to recover after 4 hours of operation. The postoperative CT angiography showed enlarged true lumen and thrombosis in the false lumen.

CONCLUSION

Emergency endovascular repair is a safe and effective method to treat Stanford type B AD with severe complications.

Integration of CO2 and odorant signals in the mouse olfactory bulb

Carbon dioxide (CO(2)) is an important environmental cue for many animal species. In both vertebrates and invertebrates, CO(2) is detected by a specialized subset of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and mediates several stereotypical behaviors. It remains unknown how CO(2) cues are integrated with other olfactory signals in the mammalian olfactory bulb, the first stage of central olfactory processing. By recording from the mouse olfactory bulb in vivo, we found that CO(2)-activating neurons also respond selectively to odorants, many of which are putative mouse pheromones and natural odorants. In addition, many odorant-responsive bulbar neurons are inhibited by CO(2). For a substantial number of CO(2)-activating neurons, binary mixtures of CO(2) and a specific odorant produce responses that are distinct from those evoked by either CO(2) or the odorant alone. In addition, for a substantial number of CO(2)-inhibiting neurons, CO(2) addition can completely block the action potential firing of the cells to the odorants. These results indicate strong interaction between CO(2) signals and odorant signals in the olfactory bulb, suggesting important roles for the integration of these two signals in CO(2)-mediated behavioral responses.