A distinct member of the aspartic proteinase gene family from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

A gene (hap) transcribed during the intra-erythrocytic life cycle stages of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum was cloned and sequenced. It was found to encode a protein belonging to the aspartic proteinase family but which carried replacements of catalytically crucial residues in the hallmark sequences contributing to the active site of this type of proteinase. Consideration is given as to whether this protein is the first known parasite equivalent of the pregnancy-associated glycoproteins that have been documented in ungulate mammals. Alternatively, it may be operative as a new type of proteinase with a distinct catalytic mechanism. In this event, since no counterpart is known to exist in humans, it affords an attractive potential target against which to develop new anti-malarial drugs.

The aspartic proteinase from the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei as a potential model for plasmepsins from the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.

The gene encoding an aspartic proteinase precursor (proplasmepsin) from the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei has been cloned. Recombinant P. berghei plasmepsin hydrolysed a synthetic peptide substrate and this cleavage was prevented by the general aspartic proteinase inhibitor, isovaleryl pepstatin and by Ro40-4388, a lead compound for the inhibition of plasmepsins from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Southern blotting detected only one proplasmepsin gene in P. berghei. Two plasmepsins have previously been reported in P. falciparum. Here, we describe two further proplasmepsin genes from this species. The suitability of P. berghei as a model for the in vivo evaluation of plasmepsin inhibitors is discussed.

Binding of the 51- and 42-kDa individual components from the Bacillus sphaericus crystal toxin to mosquito larval midgut membranes from Culex and Anopheles sp. (Diptera: Culicidae).

Individual components (P51 and P42) from the crystal toxin (Bin) of Bacillus sphaericus were used for in vitro binding competition experiments with brush border membranes (BBMFs) from Culex pipiens and Anopheles gambiae larval midguts. P51 competed for the Bin binding site with a similar affinity to the Bin toxin, on both BBMFs. For C. pipiens, P42 bound non-specifically until P51 was added with maximum binding of P42 at a molar ratio of each component. The binding of P42 was much greater on A. gambiae BBMFs and the presence of either P51 or P42 enhanced the binding of the other component, with highest binding when a mole ratio of each protein was supplied.

Determination of the viability of Trichomonas vaginalis using flow cytometry.

In clinical laboratories, viability of Trichomonas vaginalis is determined by using light microscopy (differential count of motile to nonmotile organisms). Alternative methods are proposed that utilise flow cytometry. Under an epifluorescence microscope, live organisms fluorescence intensely green with fluorescein diacetate (FDA), whereas dead cells fluoresce orange with propidium iodide (PI). Flow cytometric histograms of green versus red fluorescence reveal distinct populations for live and dead cells. The anionic oxonal probe DiBAC4(3) is a membrane potential sensitive dye that distributes between the inside of the cell and the medium. Live organisms are less fluorescent than dead organisms when stained with the oxonol probe. Valinomycin, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and vanadate all give significant changes in the fluorescence intensities of cultures stained with the oxonol probe compared with control cultures, indicating that this probe is detecting changes in plasma membrane potential. Both FDA/PI and oxonol staining protocols allow good discrimination between populations and permit counts that are more statistically significant than those obtained by light microscopy. These methods remove the subjectiveness of microscopic counts and would increase the accuracy of susceptibility assays.

Antioxidant defences in the microaerophilic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis: comparison of metronidazole-resistant and sensitive strains.

The sensitivity of the microaerophilic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis to oxygen and products of its reduction, and the antioxidant defences employed by this organism, were investigated. Studies revealed that this amitochondrial flagellate is sensitive to oxygen tensions above those experienced in situ in the vagina (i.e. > 60 microM) and that metronidazole-resistant strains (CDC 85 and IR78) were more sensitive to elevated oxygen levels than a metronidazole-sensitive isolate (1910). In the presence of radical scavengers, inactivation of organisms at 60 microM oxygen was significantly lessened. Investigation of the antioxidant enzymes present in this organism revealed that activities of peroxide-reducing enzymes (e.g. catalase and general peroxidase) were not detectable, but that a cyanide-insensitive, azide-sensitive superoxide dismutase was present in cell extracts. Measurement of thiol-cycling enzymes indicated that NADPH could drive the reduction of oxidized glutathione (thiol reductase); however, the corresponding peroxidase activity was not detected. Analysis of thiols in whole cells of T. vaginalis indicated that glutathione was absent, but high levels of other thiols, propanethiol, methanethiol and H2S, were present. No significant differences were detected in thiol levels or antioxidant enzyme activities on comparison of metronidazole-sensitive and resistant strains. These results indicate that the sensitivity of T. vaginalis to oxygen above physiological levels is due to the lack of adequate peroxide-reducing enzymes and radical-scavenging mechanisms.

The potential for gene therapy in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive and is a leading cause of cancer death in the Western world. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this disease; resection is only available to a small fraction of patients and has a marginal effect on overall survival rates. Chemotherapy and radiation also have very limited effects on patient survival. There is clearly a need for new approaches to treatment of such an aggressive disease. Gene therapy is of potential use in the treatment of cancer, and all currently available strategies are discussed with relevance to pancreatic cancer. A key to such strategy is specific delivery and selective gene expression in target cells. Current approaches include replacement of tumor suppressor genes, the use of antisense (AS) oligonucleotides, gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT), and immunotherapy. The scene is now set for the next phase of development in clinical trials.

Permeabilization of model lipid membranes by Bacillus sphaericus mosquitocidal binary toxin and its individual components.

The high larvicidal effect of Bacillus sphaericus (Bs), a mosquito control agent, originates from the presence of a binary toxin (Bs Bin) composed of two proteins (BinA and BinB) that work together to lyse gut cells of susceptible larvae. We demonstrate for the first time that the binary toxin and its individual components permeabilize receptor-free large unilamellar phospholipid vesicles (LUVs) and planar lipid bilayers (PLBs) by a mechanism of pore formation. Calcein-release experiments showed that LUV permeabilization was optimally achieved at alkaline pH and in the presence of acidic lipids. BinA was more efficient than BinB, BinB facilitated the BinA effect, and their stoichiometric mixture was more effective than the full Bin toxin. In PLBs, BinA formed voltage-dependent channels of approximately 100-200 pS with long open times and a high open probability. Larger channels (> or =400 pS) were also observed. BinB, which inserted less easily, formed smaller channels (< or =100 pS) with shorter mean open times. Channels observed after sequential addition of the two components, or formed by their 1:1 mixture (w/w), displayed BinA-like activity. Bs Bin toxin was less efficient at forming channels than the BinA/BinB mixture, with channels displaying the BinA channel behavior. Our data support the concept of BinA being principally responsible for pore formation in lipid membranes with BinB, the binding component of the toxin, playing a role in promoting channel activity.

Hepatic intra-arterial delivery of a retroviral vector expressing the cytosine deaminase gene, controlled by the CEA promoter and intraperitoneal treatment with 5-fluorocytosine suppresses growth of colorectal liver metastases.

Targeting of colorectal liver metastases by regional gene therapy was tested in a clinically relevant syngeneic model. First, the CEA-CD-113 retroviral vector containing the cytosine deaminase gene controlled by the CEA specific tumour cell promoter, was shown in vitro to convert 5-fluorocytosine to 5-fluorouracil, resulting in cancer cell killing with a large bystander effect. Second, 10 days after the establishment of liver metastases, retroviral vectors were delivered to the liver by hepatic artery injection. After 5-fluorocytosine administration for 7 days, most surface metastases disappeared and tumour volumes were suppressed up to 8.2-fold. The results support the development of this approach for patient treatment.