RESUMO
Chronic non-healing wounds are a major health problem with resident bacteria strongly implicated in their impaired healing. A rapid-screen to provide detailed knowledge of wound bacterial populations would therefore be of value and help prevent unnecessary and indiscriminate use of antibiotics-a process associated with promoting antibiotic resistance. We analysed chronic wound fluid samples, which had been assessed for microbial content, using 20 different fluorescent labelled peptide substrates to determine whether protease activity correlated with the bacterial load. Eight of the peptide substrates showed significant release of fluorescence after reaction with some of the wound samples. Comparison of wound fluid protease activities with the microbiological data indicated that there was no correlation between bacterial counts and enzyme activity for most of the substrates tested. However, two of the peptide substrates produced a signal corresponding with the microbial data revealing a strong positive correlation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa numbers. This demonstrated that short fluorescent labelled peptides can be used to detect protease activity in chronic wound fluid samples. The finding that two peptides were specific indicators for the presence of P. aeruginosa may be the basis for a diagnostic test to determine wound colonisation by this organism.
Assuntos
Carga Bacteriana , Peptídeo Hidrolases/análise , Infecções por Pseudomonas/microbiologia , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/enzimologia , Infecção dos Ferimentos/microbiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Doença Crônica , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Infecções por Pseudomonas/patologia , Infecção dos Ferimentos/patologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
AIMS: To determine the effect of pH, temperature, desiccation, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and desferrioxamine B (DFO) on Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive community acquired methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (PVL +ve CA-MSSA) biofilm formation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Biofilms from PVL +ve CA-MSSA (clinical isolate) were subjected to pH, temperature, desiccation, EDTA and DFO. PVL +ve CA-MSSA were more resistant to pH and heat than their planktonic equivalents. Desiccation studies demonstrated that PVL +ve CA-MSSA biofilms were more refractory to the treatment than planktonic cells. Significant inhibition of PVL +ve CA-MSSA biofilm formation was observed in the presence of 1 mmol l(-1) EDTA. Low concentrations (2·5 µmol l(-1) ) of DFO enhanced the growth of PVL +ve CA-MSSA biofilms. At higher concentrations (1 mmol l(-1) ), DFO did inhibit the growth but not as much as EDTA. A combination of EDTA and DFO inhibited PVL +ve CA-MSSA biofilm formation at lower concentrations than either alone. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that PVL +ve CA-MSSA biofilms are resistant to environmental stress but their growth can inhibited effectively by a mixture of EDTA and DFO. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The inhibition of biofilm formation by PVL +ve CA-MSSA using chelating agents has not been previously reported and provides a practical approach to achieve the disruption of these potentially important biofilms formed by an emerging pathogen.
Assuntos
Biofilmes/efeitos dos fármacos , Quelantes/farmacologia , Staphylococcus aureus/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Toxinas Bacterianas/genética , Biofilmes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Desferroxamina/farmacologia , Dessecação , Ácido Edético/farmacologia , Exotoxinas/genética , Temperatura Alta , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Leucocidinas/genética , Staphylococcus aureus/efeitos dos fármacos , Staphylococcus aureus/genética , Estresse FisiológicoRESUMO
AIMS: Elucidation of the regulation of ChiB production in Aspergillus nidulans. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mutational inactivation of the A. nidulans chiB gene resulted in a nonautolytic phenotype. To better understand the mechanisms controlling both developmental progression and fungal autolysis, we examined a range of autolysis-associated parameters in A. nidulans developmental and/or autolytic mutants. Investigation of disorganization of mycelial pellets, loss of biomass, extra-/intracellular chitinase activities, ChiB production and chiB mRNA levels in various cultures revealed that, in submerged cultures, initialization of autolysis and stationary phase-induced ChiB production are intimately coupled, and that both processes are controlled by the FluG-BrlA asexual sporulation regulatory pathway. ChiB production does not affect the progression of apoptotic cell death in the aging A. nidulans cultures. CONCLUSIONS: The endochitinase ChiB plays an important role in autolysis of A. nidulans, and its production is initiated by FluG-BrlA signalling. Despite the fact that apoptosis is an inseparable part of fungal autolysis, its regulation is independent to FluG-initiated sporulation signalling. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Deletion of chiB and fluG homologues in industrial filamentous fungal strains may stabilize the hyphal structures in the autolytic phase of growth and limit the release of autolytic hydrolases into the culture medium.
Assuntos
Aspergillus nidulans/enzimologia , Aspergillus nidulans/genética , Autólise , Quitinases/metabolismo , Proteínas Fúngicas/metabolismo , Anticorpos Antifúngicos/imunologia , Aspergillus nidulans/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Aspergillus nidulans/imunologia , Autólise/genética , Autólise/metabolismo , Biomassa , Quitina/metabolismo , Quitinases/genética , Proteínas Fúngicas/genética , Proteínas Fúngicas/fisiologia , Regulação Fúngica da Expressão Gênica , Fenótipo , RNA Mensageiro/análise , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Transdução de Sinais/genética , Esporos Fúngicos/genética , Esporos Fúngicos/metabolismoRESUMO
Evidence has accumulated that herbicides in the environment present a significant health hazard to the population. Therefore, the levels of heavily used substances such as atrazine and simazine and their metabolites need to be regularly assessed. The objective was to develop a rapid and simple tube ELISA procedure suitable for use in field studies and non-specialized laboratories. The antisera used were polyclonal antibodies raised in sheep against atrazine or simazine amido caproic acid conjugated to bovine serum albumin. The antibodies were first used to construct a two-step competitive ELISA procedure in 96-well microtitre plates. The 96-well format was then adapted to a coated-tube enzyme immunoassay, by immobilization of hapten-gelatine conjugates on polystyrene tubes. This enabled the colour to be read using a basic spectrophotometer. Soil samples were collected from agricultural and non-agricultural sites in Poland. Atrazine and simazine were extracted by liquid extraction from soil and assayed by tube ELISA. In addition, the samples were extracted by solid-phase extraction before analysis by HPLC. The immunoassays and chemical analysis were carried out by different individuals who were unaware of each other's results, which were then compared at the end of the study. Correlation of the two methods was excellent, with R=98.7 and 81.3 for atrazine and simazine, respectively. The immunoassay yielded the same order of results without having to perform solid-phase extraction before analysis. The study has demonstrated that the simple antigen-coated tube assay provides a cost-effective and valuable screening test. Comparison with the more elaborate, heavily labour-intensive HPLC analysis demonstrated that the results obtained by the simpler enzyme-immunoassay tests were within the same order.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores/análise , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão/métodos , Herbicidas/análise , Herbicidas/farmacologia , Técnicas Imunoenzimáticas/métodos , Atrazina/química , Biomarcadores/química , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Haptenos/química , Poliestirenos/química , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Simazina/química , Solo , Espectrofotometria/métodosRESUMO
Polycystin-1 is a putative 460 kDa membrane protein with a unique structure and is possibly representative of a new family of proteins. Its structure suggests an involvement in cell signalling and cell-matrix interactions. The amino acid sequence of polycystin-1 has to date been predicted from its gene sequence. This, to our knowledge, is the first report of the isolation and analysis of polycystin-1 at the protein level using mass spectrometry to confirm its predicted structure. The availability of purified polycystin-1 will allow a new approach to unravelling the complexity of the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions of this large molecule in normal cells and its perturbation in disease.
Assuntos
Espectrometria de Massas/métodos , Proteínas/química , Proteínas/isolamento & purificação , Western Blotting , Linhagem Celular , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Humanos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Ligação Proteica , Conformação Proteica , Transdução de Sinais , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização e Dessorção a Laser Assistida por Matriz , Canais de Cátion TRPP , Tripsina/metabolismoRESUMO
Jet injectors are needleless injectors that penetrate skin with high-pressure fluid. They have potential advantages over needles and syringes in mass immunisation programs, but concerns over their capacity to transfer blood-borne viruses have been a barrier to acceptance. Hepatitis B infection can transmit in 10 pl of blood; detection of such low volumes presents severe difficulties to such assessments. A model to assess jet injector safety was developed using injection of an inert buffer into calves and assaying the next injector discharge, representing the next dose of vaccine, for blood using a highly sensitive ELISA. Four injectors were tested: two with reusable heads and direct skin contact, one with single-use injector heads and one where the injector head discharged at a distance from the skin. All injectors tested transmitted significant (over 10 pl) volumes of blood; the volumes and frequency of contamination varied with injector. The source of the contamination was consistent with contamination by efflux of injected fluid and blood from the pressurised pocket in tissue that is formed during injection. This insight should inform the design of safe jet injectors.
Assuntos
Injeções a Jato/efeitos adversos , Viroses/transmissão , Animais , Sangue/virologia , Bovinos , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Humanos , Injeções a Jato/métodos , Modelos Biológicos , Segurança , Vacinação/efeitos adversosRESUMO
Needle free jet injection guns have been used extensively in both veterinary and human health to deliver both vaccine and drugs, but in recent years, concerns have mounted for their potential to transmit blood borne disease agents among consecutive vaccinates. A Ped-O-Jet type jet injection device was used to deliver serial subcutaneous injections of 0.5 mL saline (as a surrogate for vaccine) into calves and pigs, with intervening ejectates collected in vials to represent what the next vaccinate would have received. An enzyme linked immunosorbant assay was developed to detect species specific albumin as a marker for blood, using calibration standards from known dilutions of bovine or porcine blood. Assay sensitivity of 20 pL/mL corresponded to the estimated minimal chimpanzee infectious dose of 10 pL for hepatitis B virus. The methodology and available results for evaluating the safety of jet injector devices are reported.
Assuntos
Contaminação de Medicamentos , Injeções a Jato , Albumina Sérica/análise , Animais , Sangue , Líquidos Corporais , Calibragem , Bovinos , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/métodos , Humanos , Modelos Biológicos , Segurança , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Soroalbumina Bovina/análise , Pele , Suínos , Vacinas/administração & dosagemRESUMO
This paper presents the detailed design and characterisation of a regenerable integrated optical surface plasmon resonance immunoprobe as a detector for the triazine herbicide simazine. A sensor design theoretically optimised for use in the aqueous environment is presented and its fabrication described. Experimental results on the sensitivity to changes in bulk refractive index of the analyte and on non-specific binding of ovalbumin are presented. Binding inhibition immunoassays were conducted for simazine and the lower limit of detection determined to be 0.16 microgram/l using anti-simazine IgG antibodies and 0.11 microgram/l using anti-simazine Fab fragments. A sample test cycle of 20 min was established.
Assuntos
Técnicas Biossensoriais , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Herbicidas/análise , Óptica e Fotônica , Simazina/análise , Ressonância de Plasmônio de Superfície , Desenho de Equipamento , Imunoensaio , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , TransdutoresRESUMO
A review of the major types of biological molecules and systems (including antibodies, enzymes and whole cells) on which biosensors can be based is presented. Specific emphasis is placed on a critical assessment of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the respective technologies and on analysis of the importance of practical considerations such as sample interference, signal-to-noise ratio and biomolecule stability. The importance of efficient coupling of the biological and transducer components of a biosensor is highlighted. Future trends and directions in biosensor research and commercial aspects of the technology are also discussed. The article concludes with a summary of current biosensor research activities at the GEC-Marconi Hirst Research Centre.
Assuntos
Técnicas Biossensoriais , Animais , HumanosRESUMO
Fluorescein antibodies were labelled with 7-aminocoumarin (AMC) derivatives, the 3-acetic acid and the 3-propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide esters. The labelled antibodies were used in conjunction with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and carboxyfluorescein-conjugated primary and secondary antibodies to develop novel immunofluorescent staining procedures. These methods combine the advantages of the fluorescence properties of AMC and the ready availability of FITC-labelled antisera to provide an amplified fluorescence signal as well as overcoming the photobleaching problems in FITC staining. The method is easy to perform and is expected to make an important contribution to the improvement of the quality of staining achieved with immunofluorescence. Details of the procedure used to stain human fibroblasts with antifibronectin antibodies are reported in order to illustrate the method.
Assuntos
Anticorpos , Cumarínicos , Fibroblastos/química , Fluoresceína-5-Isotiocianato , Animais , Fibronectinas/imunologia , Fluoresceína-5-Isotiocianato/imunologia , Imunofluorescência , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G , Imuno-Histoquímica/métodos , Indicadores e Reagentes , Coelhos , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Ovinos , Coloração e Rotulagem/métodosRESUMO
Anti-fluorescein antibodies were found to prevent the fading of emitted fluorescence from fibroblasts stained with fluorescein-labelled fibronectin antibodies. The prevention of fading is the result of specific binding of the fluorochromes present on the stained cells by the anti-fluorescein antibodies. The sheep anti-FITC antibody used in this study was equally effective in preventing the fading of both FITC- and carboxyfluorescein-labelled fibronectin antibodies. The method is simple, effective, does not interfere with the primary immune reaction, and in addition to preventing the fading of fluorescence it reduced the background fluorescence of the specimens. The procedure is expected to make an important contribution to improving the quality of fluorescence immunohistochemical techniques used in diagnosis.
Assuntos
Fibroblastos/citologia , Fluoresceína-5-Isotiocianato/imunologia , Fluoresceínas/química , Imunofluorescência , Fibronectinas/isolamento & purificação , Fluoresceína-5-Isotiocianato/química , Fluorescência , HumanosRESUMO
Monoclonal anti-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) antibody cross-reacts with 7-hydroxy coumarin derivatives conjugated to BSA. This property permitted the affinity purification of monoclonal anti-FITC antibodies from ascitic fluid using an-immunosorbent consisting of a 7-hydroxy coumarin derivative linked to Sepharose 4B. Ascitic fluid was applied to the immunosorbent column and, after washing, the bound antibody was eluted under extremely mild conditions using 3 M MgCl2. Antibody eluted in this manner was greater than 96% pure as assessed by SDS-PAGE. A polyclonal sheep anti-FITC antibody was also purified from serum on the same immunosorbent to greater than 94% purity. This simple and rapid method for the purification of anti-FITC antibodies will find applications in both immunodiagnostic procedures and in studies of hapten-antibody interactions. The affinity constant of the purified monoclonal anti-FITC antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase was assessed by ELISA and was found to be 1.5 x 19(9) M-1.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais/isolamento & purificação , Cromatografia de Afinidade/métodos , Fluoresceínas , Tiocianatos , Umbeliferonas/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Sítios de Ligação de Anticorpos , Reações Cruzadas , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Fluoresceína-5-Isotiocianato , Soroalbumina Bovina , OvinosRESUMO
Monoclonal antibodies to FITC were produced and shown to be specific for the fluorochrome. Molecular weight marker proteins labelled with FITC could be detected after SDS-PAGE and transfer onto nitrocellulose using anti-FITC followed by an anti-mouse IgG-alkaline phosphatase conjugate. The molecular weight of an antigen common to Legionella pneumophila and recognised by a monoclonal antibody could be determined accurately on a Western blot when FITC labelled markers were used as internal standards. The FITC-anti-FITC system was shown to be extremely sensitive, detecting 23.7 amol of BSA-FITC conjugate (equivalent to 1.42 x 10(7) molecules of FITC) in a dot blot assay.
Assuntos
Proteínas/análise , Anticorpos Monoclonais/isolamento & purificação , Antígenos de Bactérias/análise , Colódio , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida/métodos , Fluoresceína-5-Isotiocianato , Fluoresceínas/imunologia , Corantes Fluorescentes , Legionella/imunologia , Microquímica , Peso Molecular , Muramidase/análise , Ovalbumina/análise , Ligação Proteica , Proteínas/imunologia , Soroalbumina Bovina/análise , Tiocianatos/imunologiaRESUMO
Sheep were immunised with 11-deoxycortisol-21-hemisuccinate-bovine serum albumin (11-deoxycortisol-21-HS-BSA) or with 17-hydroxyprogesterone-7 alpha-carboxyethyl thioether-keyhole limpet haemocyanin (17-OHP-7 alpha-CETE-KLH) or with 17-OHP-3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime-KLH (17-OHP-3-CMO-KLH). The resultant antisera were assessed using [3H]17-OHP and dextran-coated charcoal to separate the antibody bound and free fractions. All sheep produced antisera with an apparent affinity constant of from 1.4 to 6.6 X 10(9) 1/mol. Those raised against 11-deoxycortisol-21-HS-BSA had titres ranging from 1:12,000 to 1:78,000 but showed significant cross-reactivity with many of the steroids tested. Sheep immunised with 17-OHP-7 alpha-CETE-KLH had antisera titres of from 1:102,000 to 1:180,000 and only 17-hydroxypregnenolone cross-reacted significantly (10-20%). The best antisera were raised in sheep immunised with 17-OHP-3-CMO-KLH. Titres ranged from 1:168,000 to 1:390,000 and there were about 8 g/l of specific antibodies which cross-reacted 5.7% or less with 17-hydroxypregnenolone, and less than 0.5% with progesterone, 11-deoxycortisol and the other steroids studied. The antisera to 17-OHP-3-CMO-KLH were further assessed using [125I]17-OHP; titres ranged from 1:5,700,000 to 1:18,000,000 with affinity constants of from 1.67 to 2.5 X 10(10) 1/mol. They showed minimal or no cross-reactivity with the steroids studied. Reimmunisation after an 8-month interval produced antisera with a higher affinity constant and even lower cross-reactivity with other steroids.
Assuntos
Hidroxiprogesteronas/imunologia , Soros Imunes/imunologia , 17-alfa-Hidroxiprogesterona , Animais , Especificidade de Anticorpos , Antígenos/imunologia , Cortodoxona/imunologia , Hemocianinas/imunologia , Imunização , Radioisótopos do Iodo , Soroalbumina Bovina/imunologia , Ovinos/imunologia , TrítioRESUMO
A simple and efficient method is described to overcome the difficulty in radiolabelling ovalbumin and is applicable to any protein. Coumarin-3-acetic acid-N-OH-succinimidyl ester (CASE) binds directly to ovalbumin in aqueous solution to form covalent bonds with free amino groups. The attached CASE residues can then be radiolabelled by the chloramine-T method. This offers an inexpensive alternative to the Bolton and Hunter reagent with the advantage that CASE is fluorescent. This property, apart from direct use as a fluorescent tag, allows one to monitor the conjugate before radiolabelling. Below a conjugation ratio of 9:1, CASE-ovalbumin retained full antigenic identity with ovalbumin.
Assuntos
Ovalbumina , Compostos de Tosil , Umbeliferonas , Animais , Reações Antígeno-Anticorpo , Cloraminas , Corantes Fluorescentes , Radioisótopos do Iodo , Camundongos , Ovalbumina/imunologiaRESUMO
The labelling of pepsin-digested human glomerular basement membrane (pHGBM) with a newly developed fluorescent iodine acceptor 7-hydroxy-coumarin-3-acetic acid N-hydroxysucciniimydyl ester (CASE) is described. The binding of a monoclonal antibody to pHGBM was assessed by radiobinding assays, and when directly iodinated pHGBM was used there was no apparent binding. When CASE was conjugated to pHGBM prior to iodination 11% binding was achieved. CASE acting as an iodine acceptor may be useful for proteins containing few or inaccessible tyrosine residues or which are destroyed by introduction of 125I. Since CASE is fluorescent, small amounts of material can be detected during isolation prior to iodination.