scholarly journals Modification of Bacteriophages to Increase Their Association with Lung Epithelium Cells In Vitro

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 308
Author(s):  
Aurelija M. Grigonyte ◽  
Alexia Hapeshi ◽  
Chrystala Constantinidou ◽  
Andrew Millard
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Specificity ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Mouse Fibroblast ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Lung Epithelium ◽  
Bacterial Host ◽  
Tissue Targeting ◽  
Phage T7 ◽  
Epithelium Cells

There is currently a renaissance in research on bacteriophages as alternatives to antibiotics. Phage specificity to their bacterial host, in addition to a plethora of other advantages, makes them ideal candidates for a broad range of applications, including bacterial detection, drug delivery, and phage therapy in particular. One issue obstructing phage efficiency in phage therapy settings is their poor localization to the site of infection in the human body. Here, we engineered phage T7 with lung tissue targeting homing peptides. We then used in vitro studies to demonstrate that the engineered T7 phages had a more significant association with the lung epithelium cells than wild-type T7. In addition, we showed that, in general, there was a trend of increased association of engineered phages with the lung epithelium cells but not mouse fibroblast cells, allowing for targeted tissue specificity. These results indicate that appending phages with homing peptides would potentially allow for greater phage concentrations and greater efficacy at the infection site.

Dendritic cells loaded with XAGE-1b protein induce specific antitumor response against lung cancer

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 18080-18080
Author(s):  
Q. Zhou ◽  
Y. L. Wu ◽  
A. L. Guo ◽  
K. Wang ◽  
C. R. Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Expression Vector ◽  
Normal Lung ◽  
Lung Epithelium ◽  
Cytotoxic Assay ◽  
Antitumor Response ◽  
Epithelium Cells

18080 Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells for initiating cellular immune response. Cancer-testis antigens (CTA) are the biggest tumor antigens family expressing only in some tumors and genital system but not in normal cells. XAGE-1b gene is one of CTA which highly expresses in lung cancer and has strong immunogenicity. Our study was to examine whether DCs loaded with XAGE-1b protein could induce specific antitumor response against lung cancer cells in vitro. Methods: Tumor tissues and normal lung tissues were obtained by operation from 30 non-small cell lung cancer patients. Cancer cells and normal lung epithelium cells were cultured and saved as target cells. Total RNA were isolated and RT-PCR was done to determine XAGE-1b gene expression. XAGE-1b gene was cloned by constructing expression vector and recombinant protein was expressed and purified by using BL21 (DE3) E. coli and AKTA-FPLC. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from 20ml blood and cultured to be DCs in serum-free DCs Medium. DCs were loaded with XAGE-1b protein through coculture and induced T lymphocytes into XAGE-1b-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). The cytotoxicity of CTLs was then measured by cytotoxic assay. Results: 12/30(40%) lung cancer tissues expressed XAGE-1b gene, most of which were adenocarcinoma (11/12, 91.7%). None of normal tissues expressed it. Gene sequencing and western blot confirmed the expression vector construction and recombinant protein expression. Immunofluorescence identification showed the accumulation of XAGE-1b protein in immature DCs. T lymphocytes were stimulated twice with XAGE-1b protein-loaded DCs. Cytotoxic assay showed that the CTL cytotoxicity was much stronger for XAGE-1b positive tumor cells than for XAGE-1b negative tumor cells and it was almost none for normal lung epithelium cells. Conclusions: Our study indicates that DCs loaded with XAGE-1b protein could induce specific antitumor effect against lung cancer cells in vitro and this model offers a new approach to the immunotherapy for lung cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Fast and scalable lipid nanoparticle formulation of niclosamide (nano NCM) effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guankui Wang ◽  
Hanmant Gaikwad ◽  
Mary K McCarthy ◽  
Mercedes Gonzalez-Juarrero ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Replication ◽  
Essential Medicine ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
World Health ◽  
Lung Epithelium ◽  
Antiviral Activities ◽  
Nanoparticle Formulation ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Epithelium Cells

As exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, highly infective respiratory viruses can spread rapidly in the population because of lack of effective approaches to control viral replication and spread. Niclosamide (NCM) is an old anthelminthic drug (World Health Organization essential medicine list) with pleiotropic pharmacological activities. Several recent publications demonstrated that NCM has broad antiviral activities and potently inhibits viral replication, including replication of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and dengue viruses. Unfortunately, NCM is almost completely insoluble in water, which limits its clinical use. We developed a highly scalable and cost-effective nanoparticle formulation of NCM (nano NCM) using only FDA-approved excipient and demonstrated potency against SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells (Vero E6 and ACE2-expressing lung epithelium cells). Our ultimate goal is to develop the nano NCM formulation for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

scholarly journals A Frameshift Mutation in wcaJ Associated with Phage Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demeng Tan ◽  
Yiyuan Zhang ◽  
Jinhong Qin ◽  
Shuai Le ◽  
Jingmin Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Phage Resistance ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Coding Region

Phage therapy is a potential and promising avenue for controlling the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae, however, the rapid development of anti-phage resistance has been identified as an obstacle to the development of phage therapy. Little is known about the mechanism employed by MDR K. pneumoniae strains and how they protect themselves from lytic phage predation in vitro and in vivo. In this study, comparative genomic analysis shows undecaprenyl-phosphate glucose-1-phosphate transferase (WcaJ), the initial enzyme catalyzing the biosynthesis of colanic acid, is necessary for the adsorption of phage 117 (Podoviridae) to the host strain Kp36 to complete its lytic life cycle. In-frame deletion of wcaJ alone was sufficient to provide phage 117 resistance in the Kp36 wild-type strain. Complementation assays demonstrated the susceptibility of phage 117, and the mucoid phenotype could be restored in the resistant strain Kp36-117R by expressing the wild-type version of wcaJ. Remarkably, we found that bacterial mobile genetic elements (insA and insB) block phage 117 infections by disrupting the coding region of wcaJ, thus preventing phage adsorption to its phage receptor. Further, we revealed that the wcaJ mutation likely occurred spontaneously rather than adapted by phage 117 predation under unfavorable environments. Taken together, our results address a crucial evolutionary question around the mechanisms of phage–host interactions, increasing our current understandings of anti-phage defense mechanisms in this important MDR pathogen.

The Hierarchic Order of Intermediate Filament Structure and Assembly

1985 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 722-725
Author(s):  
U. Aebi ◽  
E.C. Glavaris ◽  
R. Eichner
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Specificity ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Cdna Sequencing ◽  
Filament Structure ◽  
Keratin Filaments ◽  
Isoelectric Points ◽  
Immunological Crossreactivity

Five different classes of intermediate-sized filaments (IFs) have been identified in differentiated eukaryotic cells: vimentin in mesenchymal cells, desmin in muscle cells, neurofilaments in nerve cells, glial filaments in glial cells and keratin filaments in epithelial cells. Despite their tissue specificity, all IFs share several common attributes, including immunological crossreactivity, similar morphology (e.g. about 10 nm diameter - hence ‘10-nm filaments’) and the ability to reassemble in vitro from denatured subunits into filaments virtually indistinguishable from those observed in vivo. Further more, despite their proteinchemical heterogeneity (their MWs range from 40 kDa to 200 kDa and their isoelectric points from about 5 to 8), protein and cDNA sequencing of several IF polypeptides (for refs, see 1,2) have provided the framework for a common structural model of all IF subunits.

The URNA Genes of Herpesvirus Saimiri (Strain C488) Are Dispensable for Transformation of Human T Cells In Vitro

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 10551-10555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armin Ensser ◽  
André Pfinder ◽  
Ingrid Müller-Fleckenstein ◽  
Bernhard Fleckenstein
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Herpesvirus Saimiri ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Type Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Human T Cell ◽  
Human T Cells ◽  
Small Nuclear Rnas ◽  
T Cell Lines

ABSTRACT The herpesvirus saimiri strain C488 genome contains five genes for small nuclear RNAs, termed herpesvirus saimiri URNAs (or HSURs). Using a cosmid-based approach, all HSURs were precisely deleted from the genome. The mutant virus replicated at levels that were similar to those of wild-type viruses in OMK cells. Although the HSURs are expressed in wild-type virus-transformed human T-cell lines, the deletion does not affect viral transformation in cell culture.

scholarly journals Mutations in fbiD (Rv2983) as a Novel Determinant of Resistance to Pretomanid and Delamanid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. e01948-20
Author(s):  
Dalin Rifat ◽  
Si-Yang Li ◽  
Thomas Ioerger ◽  
Keshav Shah ◽  
Jean-Philippe Lanoix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Solid Media ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Resistance

ABSTRACTThe nitroimidazole prodrugs delamanid and pretomanid comprise one of only two new antimicrobial classes approved to treat tuberculosis (TB) in 50 years. Prior in vitro studies suggest a relatively low barrier to nitroimidazole resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but clinical evidence is limited to date. We selected pretomanid-resistant M. tuberculosis mutants in two mouse models of TB using a range of pretomanid doses. The frequency of spontaneous resistance was approximately 10−5 CFU. Whole-genome sequencing of 161 resistant isolates from 47 mice revealed 99 unique mutations, of which 91% occurred in 1 of 5 genes previously associated with nitroimidazole activation and resistance, namely, fbiC (56%), fbiA (15%), ddn (12%), fgd (4%), and fbiB (4%). Nearly all mutations were unique to a single mouse and not previously identified. The remaining 9% of resistant mutants harbored mutations in Rv2983 (fbiD), a gene not previously associated with nitroimidazole resistance but recently shown to be a guanylyltransferase necessary for cofactor F420 synthesis. Most mutants exhibited high-level resistance to pretomanid and delamanid, although Rv2983 and fbiB mutants exhibited high-level pretomanid resistance but relatively small changes in delamanid susceptibility. Complementing an Rv2983 mutant with wild-type Rv2983 restored susceptibility to pretomanid and delamanid. By quantifying intracellular F420 and its precursor Fo in overexpressing and loss-of-function mutants, we provide further evidence that Rv2983 is necessary for F420 biosynthesis. Finally, Rv2983 mutants and other F420H2-deficient mutants displayed hypersusceptibility to some antibiotics and to concentrations of malachite green found in solid media used to isolate and propagate mycobacteria from clinical samples.

scholarly journals InsP7is a small-molecule regulator of NUDT3-mediated mRNA decapping and processing-body dynamics

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (32) ◽  
pp. 19245-19253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumyadip Sahu ◽  
Zhenzhen Wang ◽  
Xinfu Jiao ◽  
Chunfang Gu ◽  
Nikolaus Jork ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Control Process ◽  
Stem Cell Differentiation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Inositol Pyrophosphate ◽  
Body Dynamics ◽  
Processing Body ◽  
The Stability

Regulation of enzymatic 5′ decapping of messenger RNA (mRNA), which normally commits transcripts to their destruction, has the capacity to dynamically reshape the transcriptome. For example, protection from 5′ decapping promotes accumulation of mRNAs into processing (P) bodies—membraneless, biomolecular condensates. Such compartmentalization of mRNAs temporarily removes them from the translatable pool; these repressed transcripts are stabilized and stored until P-body dissolution permits transcript reentry into the cytosol. Here, we describe regulation of mRNA stability and P-body dynamics by the inositol pyrophosphate signaling molecule 5-InsP7(5-diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate). First, we demonstrate 5-InsP7inhibits decapping by recombinant NUDT3 (Nudix [nucleoside diphosphate linked moiety X]-type hydrolase 3) in vitro. Next, in intact HEK293 and HCT116 cells, we monitored the stability of a cadre of NUDT3 mRNA substrates following CRISPR-Cas9 knockout ofPPIP5Ks(diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate 5-kinases type 1 and 2, i.e.,PPIP5KKO), which elevates cellular 5-InsP7levels by two- to threefold (i.e., within the physiological rheostatic range). ThePPIP5KKO cells exhibited elevated levels of NUDT3 mRNA substrates and increased P-body abundance. Pharmacological and genetic attenuation of 5-InsP7synthesis in the KO background reverted both NUDT3 mRNA substrate levels and P-body counts to those of wild-type cells. Furthermore, liposomal delivery of a metabolically resistant 5-InsP7analog into wild-type cells elevated levels of NUDT3 mRNA substrates and raised P-body abundance. In the context that cellular 5-InsP7levels normally fluctuate in response to changes in the bioenergetic environment, regulation of mRNA structure by this inositol pyrophosphate represents an epitranscriptomic control process. The associated impact on P-body dynamics has relevance to regulation of stem cell differentiation, stress responses, and, potentially, amelioration of neurodegenerative diseases and aging.

scholarly journals Allelic Exchange and Mutant Selection Demonstrate that Common Clinical embCAB Gene Mutations Only Modestly Increase Resistance to Ethambutol in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Safi ◽  
Robert D. Fleischmann ◽  
Scott N. Peterson ◽  
Marcus B. Jones ◽  
Behnam Jarrahi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
In Vitro Selection ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Mutant Selection ◽  
Preferential Growth ◽  
Allelic Exchange ◽  
High Level ◽  
Isogenic Mutants

ABSTRACT Mutations within codon 306 of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis embB gene modestly increase ethambutol (EMB) MICs. To identify other causes of EMB resistance and to identify causes of high-level resistance, we generated EMB-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates in vitro and performed allelic exchange studies of embB codon 406 (embB406) and embB497 mutations. In vitro selection produced mutations already identified clinically in embB306, embB397, embB497, embB1024, and embC13, which result in EMB MICs of 8 or 14 μg/ml, 5 μg/ml, 12 μg/ml, 3 μg/ml, and 4 μg/ml, respectively, and mutations at embB320, embB324, and embB445, which have not been identified in clinical M. tuberculosis isolates and which result in EMB MICs of 8 μg/ml, 8 μg/ml, and 2 to 8 μg/ml, respectively. To definitively identify the effect of the common clinical embB497 and embB406 mutations on EMB susceptibility, we created a series of isogenic mutants, exchanging the wild-type embB497 CAG codon in EMB-susceptible M. tuberculosis strain 210 for the embB497 CGG codon and the wild-type embB406 GGC codon for either the embB406 GCC, embB406 TGC, embB406 TCC, or embB406 GAC codon. These new mutants showed 6-fold and 3- to 3.5-fold increases in the EMB MICs, respectively. In contrast to the embB306 mutants, the isogenic embB497 and embB406 mutants did not have preferential growth in the presence of isoniazid or rifampin (rifampicin) at their MICs. These results demonstrate that individual embCAB mutations confer low to moderate increases in EMB MICs. Discrepancies between the EMB MICs of laboratory mutants and clinical M. tuberculosis strains with identical mutations suggest that clinical EMB resistance is multigenic and that high-level EMB resistance requires mutations in currently unknown loci.

scholarly journals Wild type GAL4 binds cooperatively to the GAL1-10 UASG in vitro

1993 ◽  
Vol 268 (13) ◽  
pp. 9629-9635
Author(s):  
T. Kang ◽  
T. Martins ◽  
I. Sadowski
Keyword(s):  
Wild Type
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document