A hyperexcitability phenotype in mouse trigeminal sensory neurons expressing the R192Q Cacna1a missense mutation of familial hemiplegic migraine type-1.

Missense mutation R192Q in the CACNA1A gene causes familial hemiplegic migraine type-1 (FHM1), a monogenic subtype of migraine with aura. Using knock-in (KI) gene targeting we introduced this mutation into the mouse gene and generated a transgenic mouse model to investigate basic mechanisms of migraine pathophysiology. While FHM1 R192Q KI trigeminal ganglia were previously shown to exhibit constitutive up-regulation of ATP-gated P2X3 receptors, little is known about the firing properties of trigeminal sensory neurons, which convey nociceptive inputs to higher brain centers. We patch-clamped trigeminal sensory neurons to search for differences in firing properties between wildtype (WT) and KI cells in culture. Although various subclasses of trigeminal neurons were observed with respect to their firing patterns evoked by intracellular current injection, their distribution among WT and KI cells was similar with only small differences in rheobase or input resistance values. However, when neurons were excited by either α,ß-methyl-ATP to stimulate P2X3 receptors or capsaicin to activate transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV1) receptors, the firing threshold in KI neurons was significantly lowered and followed by a larger number of spikes. Activation by α,ß-methyl-ATP was associated with a transient cluster of action potentials, while capsaicin elicited more persistent firing. Using α,ß-methyl-ATP or capsaicin, two functional classes of WT or KI neurons were distinguished according to the first spike latency, which suggests that a subgroup of neurons may be indirectly activated, probably via crosstalk between neurons and satellite glial cells. Thus, our results are consistent with reported facilitated trigeminal pain behavior of FHM1 R192Q KI mice.

Comparison of necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolates from farm animals and from humans.

Necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli (NTEC) isolated from animals and humans can belong to the same serogroups/types and produce or carry the genes coding for fimbrial and afimbrial adhesins of the same family, P, S, F17, and/or AFA, raising the question of a potential zoonotic source of human infection. The main purpose of this study was to compare 239 NTEC1 strains (45 from cattle, 65 from humans and 129 from piglets) and 98 NTEC2 strains from cattle, using a uniform and standardized typing scheme. The O serogroups and the biotypes recognized amongst NTEC1 and NTEC2 strains were quite varied, although some were more frequently observed (serogroups O2, O4, O6, O8, O18, O78, and O83 and biotypes 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9). Hybridization, results with gene probes for the P family (PAP probe), S family (SFA probe), AFA family (AFA probe), F17 family (F17 probe) of fimbrial and afimbrial adhesins, could differentiate most NTEC1 strains, which are PAP-, SFA- and/or AFA-positive, from NTEC2 strains, which are mainly F17- and/or AFA-positive, but were of no help in differentiating between NTEC1 strains from cattle, humans, and piglets. All but seven (98%) NTEC1 and NTEC2 strains were serum resistant, 199 (59%) produced an aerobactin, and colicin (I, V, or unidentified) was produced by 22-34% of them. On the other hand, more than 90% of the NTEC1 strains were haemolytic on sheep blood agar compared with only 40% of the NTEC2 strains. Production of a classical haemolysin, active on sheep erythrocytes, and hybridization with the PAP probe were associated in a majority of NTEC1 strains (63-81%), but very rarely in NTEC2 strains (3%). Production of enterohaemolysin and hybridization with the PAP probe were much less frequently associated in NTEC strains (1-9%). It was thus possible neither to completely differentiate NTEC1 strains from cattle, humans, and pigs, nor to define a signature for the NTEC strains. Necrotoxigenic E. coli must still be identified on the basis of the production of the Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factors 1 or 2 (or of their encoding genes) and complete differentiation of NTEC1 strains from cattle, humans, and piglets, use additionnal methods.

Isolation of Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 from cattle at slaughter in Italy.

Cattle arriving for slaughter at a large abattoir in northern Italy between April 1997 and January 1998 were examined for intestinal carriage of Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 using an immunomagnetic separation technique. Sixty sorbitol non-fermenting VTEC O157 strains were isolated from 59 (13.1%) of the 450 cattle examined. In particular, VTEC O157 was found in 37 (16.6%) of 223 feedlot cattle and in 22 (16.1%) of 137 dairy cull cows, but not in the 90 veal calves sampled. The isolation rate was higher during warm weather (17.5%), falling to an average of 2.9% during the winter months. VT-negative, O157 latex-agglutinating E. coli strains were isolated from 23 (5.1%) of the 450 animals. PCR analysis showed that all 60 VTEC O157 strains carried the VT2 gene and that 25 strains also carried the VT1 gene. In addition, four of the VT-negative, O157 latex-agglutinating E. coli strains carried the VT2 gene. Atypical biochemical features were observed in some VTEC O157: two strains (3.3%) showed beta-glucuronidase activity, and seven (11.7%) produced urease.