Deglycosylation of eukaryotic-expressed flagellin restores adjuvanticity.

Flagellin, the TLR5 agonist, shows potent adjuvant activities in diverse vaccines and immunotherapies. Vibrio vulnificus flagellin B expressed in eukaryotic cells (eFlaB) could not stimulate TLR5 signaling. Enzymatic deglycosylation restored eFlaB's TLR5 stimulating functionality, suggesting that glycosylation interferes with eFlaB binding to TLR5. Site-directed mutagenesis of N-glycosylation residues restored TLR5 stimulation and adjuvanticity. Collectively, deglycosylated eFlaB may provide a built-in adjuvant platform for eukaryotic-expressed antigens and nucleic acid vaccines.

Structural basis for the selective addition of an oxygen atom to cyclic ketones by Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase from Parvibaculum lavamentivorans.

Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase (BVMO) catalyzes insertion of an oxygen atom into aliphatic or cyclic ketones with high regioselectivity. The BVMOs from Parvibaculum lavamentivorans (BVMOParvi) and Oceanicola batsensis (BVMOOcean) are interesting because of their homologies, with >40% sequence identity, and reaction with the same cyclic ketones with a methyl moiety to give different products. The revealed BVMOParvi structure shows that BVMOParvi forms a two-domain structure like other BVMOs. It has two inserted residues, compared with BVMOOcean, that form a bulge near the bound flavin adenine dinucleotide in the active site. Furthermore, this bulge is linked to a nearby α-helix via a disulfide bond, probably restricting access of the bulky methyl group of the substrate to this bulge. Another sequence motif at the entrance of the active site (Ala-Ser in BVMOParvi and Ser-Thr in BVMOOcean) allows a large volume in BVMOParvi. These minute differences may discriminate a substrate orientation in both BVMOs from the initial substrate binding pocket to the final oxygenation site, resulting in the inserted oxygen atom being in different positions of the same substrate.

Single-incision laparoscopic adrenalectomy at Viet Duc University Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the technique of choice in the treatment of adrenal tumors. SILS has recently been introduced in this field and applied in Viet Duc University Hospital. Herein, we report our experience with single-incision transperitoneal adrenalectomy. METHODS: Between August 2010 and January 2012, 61 patients (23 men, 38 women) underwent SILS adrenalectomy at our institution. The diagnoses consisted of 20 patients with pheochromocytoma, 17 with nonfunctioning adenoma, 16 with Conn syndrome, 4 with Cushing syndrome and 4 with adrenal cysts. The mean age was 47.8 years (range, 21-68 years). There were 29 right-sided and 32 left-sided tumors; their mean diameter was 30.7 mm (range, 8-59 mm). Patients were in the flank position with the operated side up. A 2.5-cm pararectal incision at the level of the umbilicus was made to insert the SILS Port. RESULTS: The mean operating time was 78 min (range, 50-120 min), and mean blood loss was approximately 70 mL. Left-sided tumors were excised entirely with the SILS technique. Right-sided lesions sometimes required an additional trocar (hybrid technique). No drainage was needed at the operating site. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications, but one case was converted to the conventional three-port technique. The mean length of hospital stay was 3.4 days (range, 2-6 days). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results show that SILS adrenalectomy is safe and technically feasible. It should be considered among the surgical managements for selected patients with adrenal tumors.