Functional expression of a recombinant copper/zinc superoxide dismutase of filarial nematode, Brugia malayi

A gene encoding a copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ Zn-SOD) of a filarial nematode, Brugia malayi, has been isolated and the biochemical properties of a functionally expressed recombinant enzyme were investigated. The cloned complementary DNA contained a single open reading frame of 477 bp encoding 158 amino acids (aa), which conserved metal-binding residues as well as residues specific for Cu/Zn-SODs. Comparison of the deduced aa sequence of the enzyme with that of other helminthes species, including filarial worms, exhibited high degree of similarities (49-98%). Recombinant enzyme of 32 kDa had an isoelectric point of 6.6 and was shown to consist of 2 subunits linked by interchain disulfide bonds. Enzyme activity of the recombinant protein was inhibited by potassium cyanide and hydrogen peroxide but not by sodium azide. It showed a wide range of pH optima, i.e., 7.0-11.0 and was highly resistant to heat inactivation.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the copper/zinc and manganese superoxide dismutase genes from the human parasiteClonorchis sinensis

A copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) gene and a manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene of the human parasiteClonorchis sinensishave been cloned and their gene products functionally characterized. GenesCu/ZnSODandMnSODencode proteins of 16 kDa and 25·4 kDa, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of the two genes contained highly conserved residues required for activity and secondary structure formation of Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD, respectively, and show up to 73·7% and 75·4% identities with their counterparts in other animals. The genomic DNA sequence analysis of Cu/ZnSOD gene revealed this as an intronless gene. Inhibitor studies with purified recombinant Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD, both of which were functionally expressed inEscherichia coli, confirmed that they are copper/zinc and manganese-containing SOD, respectively. Immunoblots showed that bothC. sinensisCu/ZnSOD and MnSOD should be antigenic for humans, and both, especially theC. sinensisMnSOD, exhibit extensive cross-reactions with sera of patients infected by other trematodes or cestodes. RT-PCR and SOD activity staining of parasite lysates indicate that there are no significant differences in mRNA level or SOD activity for both species of SOD, indicating cytosolic Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD might play a comparatively important role in theC. sinensisantioxidant system.

Adenocarcinoma arising from an ectopic pancreas in the stomach

Ectopic pancreas is rare, being found in between 0.6 % and 15 % at autopsy. Heterotopic pancreas is usually an asymptomatic condition which is found incidentally at surgery or at autopsy. Occasionally, significant symptoms arise from complications, such as recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding, biliary or intestinal obstruction, or malignant degeneration. Malignant change is very rare. We report a case of malignant change (adenocarcinoma) in an ectopic pancreas in the stomach. In the literature, there are eight reported cases of malignant change in ectopic gastric pancreas. The prognosis in the other reported cases is unknown, but in our patient, the tumor was confined to the muscle of the stomach and there was no lymph node invasion.

PCR-RFLP based molecular typing of enteroviruses isolated from patients with aseptic meningitis in Korea

We have evaluated PCR-RFLP as a practical method for rapid typing of enteroviruses causing aseptic meningitis in Korea. Through blind examination of 80 clinical isolates from patients with aseptic meningitis, we have compared the results of conventional serotyping with PCR-RFLP based genotyping, which was developed for this study. Among the 80 case isolates, which had been previously typed by routine neutralization test, only 42 cases (52.5%) were matched with typing by PCR-RFLP. The result clearly demonstrated that the enterovirus serotype does not coincide with the genotype. Therefore, the classification of enteroviruses by genotyping with PCR-RFLP, although rapid and simple, may be complicated by regional or seasonal differences. However, the PCR-RFLP method developed in this study is applicable to the epidemiological study of enteroviruses when regional or seasonal differences exist, and is useful in identifying the source of an infection.

Sequence analysis of hemagglutinin and nucleoprotein genes of measles viruses isolated in Korea during the 2000 epidemic

To characterize the genetic properties of currently circulating measles viruses in Korea, the complete nucleotide sequences of hemagglutinin (H) protein and nucleoprotein (N) genes of Korean viruses were analyzed. The entire genes of H and N were directly amplified by RT-PCR from each clinical specimen and sequenced. Sequence analyses of H and N genes indicated that all Korean viruses had a high degree of homology (>99.8%) when compared with each other. The Korean viruses differed from other wild-type viruses by as much as 6.8% in the H gene and 6.5% in the N gene at the nucleotide level. The deduced amino acid variability was up to 6.4% for the H protein and up to 6.5% for the N protein. Phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences of the H and N genes revealed that all Korean viruses were grouped into the clade H1.

Characterization and pathogenetic role of proteinase from Acanthamoeba castellanii

A secreted proteinase was purified from the culture supernatant of Acanthamoeba castellanii with several chromatographic steps. The purified proteinase was a chymotrypsin-like serine proteinase. Its molecular weight was approximately 12 kDa on SDS-PAGE, and its native molecular weight was 12 kDa when determined by molecular sieve chromatography. It showed a broad temperature optimum ranging 30-55 degrees C with an optimal at 55 degrees C and an optimal pH of 8.5. It could degrade various protein substrates, such as collagen, fibronectin, laminin, secretory immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, plasminogen, fibrinogen, haemoglobin and rabbit corneal proteins. It showed strong cytopathic effects in cultured cells, including HEp2 and HEK cells. The corneal lesions, induced by both the purified proteinase and A. castellanii, displayed similar clinical results for both cases, in which the stromal infiltration and opacity with the epithelial defect were revealed. These results suggest that the enzyme was highly associated with the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba. The fact that cytopathic effects and development of corneal lesions caused by the proteinase of Acanthamoeba were inhibited by the proteinase inhibitor suggest that the proteinase inhibitor might be useful as a therapeutic agent.

Purification and characterization of iron superoxide dismutase and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase from Acanthamoeba castellanii

Two superoxide dismutases (SOD I and SOD II) were purified from Acanthamoeba castellanii and characterized for several biochemical properties. Analysis of the primary structure and inhibition studies revealed that SOD I is iron SOD (Fe-SOD), with a molecular mass of 50 kDa, and SOD II is copper-zinc SOD (Cu,Zn-SOD), with a molecular mass of 38 kDa. Both enzymes have a homodimeric structure consisting of 2 identical subunits, each with a molecular mass of 26 and 19 kDa for SOD I and SOD II, respectively. The isoelectric points of SOD I and SOD II were 6.4 and 3.5, respectively, and there were no isoenzyme forms detected. Both enzymes show a broad optimal pH of 7.0-11.0. Because no differences were observed in the apparent molecular weight of SOD I after addition of the reducing agent 2-mercaptoethanol, the subunits do not appear to be linked covalently by disulfide bonds. However, the subunits of SOD II were covalently linked by intra- and interdisulfide bonds. Western blot analyses showed that the 2 enzymes have different antigenicity. Both enzymes occur as cytoplasmic and detergent-extractable fractions. These enzymes may be potential virulence factors of A. castellanii by acting both as antioxidants and antiinflammatory agents. These enzymes may be attractive targets for chemotherapy and immunodiagnosis of acanthamoebiasis.

Purification and characterization of an extracellular serine proteinase from Acanthamoeba castellanii

An extracellular proteinase of Acanthamoeba castellanii was purified and its biochemical and pathological properties were characterized. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was approximately 42 kDa as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Sephacryl S-200 HR gel-filtration chromatography. Therefore, its structure seemed to be monomeric with a single polypeptide. Its activity was inhibited by the serine proteinase inhibitors diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride. Its activity was optimum at 30 to 50 degrees C with a maximum at 50 degrees C; optimal pH was 8.0. As much as 70% of the enzyme activity was maintained at 50 degrees C for at least 12 h but was rapidly inactivated thereafter. The purified enzyme degraded collagen and rabbit corneal extract. Furthermore, it exhibited strong cytopathic effects on human corneal epithelial cells and fibroblast cells. These suggest the possible role of this enzyme in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba.

Molecular cloning and expression of Cu/Zn-containing superoxide dismutase from Fasciola hepatica

The cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD) of Fasciola hepatica, a causative agent of fascioliasis, was purified and characterized. The enzyme consists of two identical subunits, each with an apparent molecular mass of 17.5 kDa. An analysis of the enzyme's primary structure and inhibition studies revealed that the enzyme is a copper/zinc-containing SOD (Cu/Zn-SOD). The enzyme activity was relatively stable in a broad pH range, from pH 7.0 to 10.0, and the enzyme showed maximum activity at pH 7.5. This enzyme also displayed strong antigenicity against sera of bovine and human subjects with fascioliasis. The SOD gene fragment was amplified by PCR with degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from amino acid sequences conserved in the Cu/Zn-SODs of other organisms. An F. hepatica cDNA library was screened with the SOD gene fragment as a probe. As a result, a complete gene encoding the Cu/Zn-SOD was identified, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The gene had an open reading frame of 438 bp and 146 deduced amino acids. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the enzyme with previously reported Cu/Zn-SOD amino acid sequences revealed considerably high homologies. The coding region of the F. hepatica Cu/Zn-SOD was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Staining of native polyacrylamide gel for SOD activity of the expressed protein revealed SOD activity that was inactivated by potassium cyanide and hydrogen peroxide but not by sodium azide. This means that the presence of the recombinant fusion protein is indicative of Cu/Zn-SOD. The expressed protein also reacted with sera of bovine and human subjects with fascioliasis, but it did not react with sera of uninfected bovine and human subjects.

Cloning and expression of a cysteine proteinase gene from Paragonimus westermani adult worms

A gene encoding a cysteine proteinase from Paragonimus westermani has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The cysteine proteinase cDNA fragment was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from the conserved active site of the cysteine proteinase. The 5' and 3' regions of the gene were amplified using a PCR technique for the rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The cloned gene has an open reading frame of 687 bp and deduced amino acid sequence of 229. Sequence analysis and alignment showed significant homologies with the eukaryotic cysteine proteinases and conservation of the Cys, His, and Asp residues that form a catalytic triad. Analysis of the expressed protein on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the molecular weight of the protein was approximately 28.5 kDa. The expressed protein reacted with the sera of patients with paragonimiasis but not with the sera of fascioliasis and clonorchiasis. These results suggest that the expressed protein may be valuable as a specific diagnostic material for the immunodiagnosis of paragonimiasis.

Amniotic membrane patching promotes healing and inhibits proteinase activity on wound healing following acute corneal alkali burn

Amniotic membrane (AM) contains basement membrane components and various proteinase inhibitors. Furthermore, when used as a graft, the basement membrane of AM could block inflammatory insults to a damaged corneal surface. Thus, we evaluated whether amniotic membrane patching could promote the healing process by inhibiting proteolytic damage. Alkali wounds were inflicted on the central corneas of rabbits by applying a round filter paper, 6.0 mm in diameter, soaked in 1 N NaOH for 30 sec. Amniotic membrane patching was performed over the perilimbal sclera immediately after wounding. A total of 115 rabbits were divided into four groups: (1) immediately covered by AM with the amnion cell side down up to the perilimbal sclera (n =26); (2) covered by AM with the stromal side down up to the perilimbal sclera (n =19); (3) anchored to the fornix (n =29); and (4) uncovered as a control (n =41). AM was removed 3 days postoperatively. During follow-ups, epithelial defects, corneal thickness and its opacity of each eye were measured. Some corneas were removed for histopathologic studies and for proteinase activity assay and zymography. The epithelial healing was faster and the corneal thickness was thicker in all three AM-covered groups than in the control (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between covered and anchored groups (P>0.05). Corneal opacity was least in the amnion cell side down group. Infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was much less in AM-covered groups than in the control. Pathological results were associated with zymographic findings, which revealed much higher proteinase activity in uncovered group than AM-covered groups. Immediate intervention for acute alkali burns with AM as a temporary patch promotes wound healing by inhibiting proteinase activity and PMNs infiltration.

Use of monoclonal antibody in diagnosis of candidiasis caused by Candida albicans: detection of circulating aspartyl proteinase antigen

To develop a serological diagnosis of invasive candidiasis based on detection of circulating secreted aspartyl proteinase (SAP) antigen of Candida albicans, three different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were compared. The first was a standard ELISA to detect anti-SAP antibodies, and the others were an antigen capture ELISA and an inhibition ELISA to detect circulating SAP antigen with monoclonal antibody (MAb) CAP1, which is highly specific for SAP. These tests were applied to 33 serum samples retrospectively selected from 33 patients with mycologically and/or serologically proven invasive candidiasis caused by C. albicans. Serum samples from 12 patients with aspergillosis and serum samples from 13 healthy individuals were also included. The sensitivities and specificities were 69.7 and 76.0% for the standard ELISA and 93.9 and 92.0% for the antigen capture ELISA, respectively. However, these values reached 93.9 and 96.0%, respectively, for the inhibition ELISA. Serum samples from 31 of 33 patients had detectable SAP antigen, with concentrations ranging from 6.3 to 19.0 ng/ml. These results indicate that the inhibition ELISA with MAb CAP1 is effective in detection of circulating SAP antigen and that this assay may be useful for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of invasive candidiasis.

Production, characterization, and epitope mapping of a monoclonal antibody against aspartic proteinase of Candida albicans

A monoclonal antibody (MAb; MAb CAP1) that was reactive with extracellular aspartic proteinase of Candida albicans (CAP) was produced. The MAb showed strong sensitivity and reactivity to CAP but not to the aspartic proteinases of Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, and Aspergillus fumigatus or to human cathepsin D or porcine pepsin. The epitope of the CAP recognized by the MAb was the proteinaseous part of CAP and the putative epitope of the MAb was located in the Asp77 to Gly103 sequence. This antibody could be useful for the characterization of CAP and would be a valuable probe for the detection of CAP antigen in the sera of patients with invasive candidiasis.