Further evidence for the involvement of mitochondrial aquaporin-8 in hepatocyte lipid synthesis.

We recently provided evidence suggesting that mitochondrial aquaporin-8 (mtAQP8), a channel protein able to conduct H2O2, is involved in the modulation of hepatocyte cholesterogenesis. To expand that study, we cultured human hepatocyte-derived Huh-7 cells in medium with lipoprotein-deficient serum (LPDS) to induce the de novo synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids. We found that LPDS induced mtAQP8 expression and that AQP8 gene silencing significantly down-regulated the LPDS-induced synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids as well as the expression of the corresponding key biosynthetic enzymes, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and fatty acid synthase. Our data further support a regulatory role of mtAQP8 in hepatocyte lipid homeostasis.

Bacterial Lipoproteins Induce BAFF Production via TLR2/MyD88/JNK Signaling Pathways in Dendritic Cells.

B-cell activating factor (BAFF) plays a crucial role in survival, differentiation, and antibody secretion of B cells. Microbial products with B-cell mitogenic properties can indirectly promote expansion and activation of B cells by stimulating accessory cells, such as dendritic cells (DCs), to induce BAFF. Although bacterial lipoproteins are potent B-cell mitogen like lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), it is uncertain whether they can stimulate DCs to induce BAFF expression. Here, we evaluated the effect of bacterial lipoproteins on BAFF expression in mouse bone marrow-derived DCs. Lipoprotein-deficient Staphylococcus aureus mutant induced relatively low expression level of membrane-bound BAFF (mBAFF) and the mRNA compared with its wild-type strain, implying that bacterial lipoproteins can positively regulate BAFF induction. The synthetic lipopeptides Pam2CSK4 and Pam3CSK4, which mimic bacterial lipoproteins, dose-dependently induced BAFF expression, and their BAFF-inducing capacities were comparable to those of LPS in DCs. Induction of BAFF by the lipopeptide was higher than the induction by other microbe-associated molecular patterns, including peptidoglycan, flagellin, zymosan, lipoteichoic acid, and poly(I:C). Pam3CSK4 induced both mBAFF and soluble BAFF expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. BAFF expression by Pam3CSK4 was completely absent in DCs from TLR2- or MyD88-deficient mice. Among various MAP kinase inhibitors, only JNK inhibitors blocked Pam3CSK4-induced BAFF mRNA expression, while inhibitors blocking ERK or p38 kinase had no such effect. Furthermore, Pam3CSK4 increased the DNA-binding activities of NF-κB and Sp1, but not that of C/EBP. Pam3CSK4-induced BAFF promoter activity via TLR2/1 was blocked by NF-κB or Sp1 inhibitor. Collectively, these results suggest that bacterial lipoproteins induce expression of BAFF through TLR2/MyD88/JNK signaling pathways leading to NF-κB and Sp1 activation in DCs, and BAFF derived from bacterial lipoprotein-stimulated DCs induces B-cell proliferation.

Vitamin D Status of Mice Deficient in Scavenger Receptor Class B Type 1, Cluster Determinant 36 and ATP-Binding Cassette Proteins G5/G8.

Classical lipid transporters are suggested to modulate cellular vitamin D uptake. This study investigated the vitamin D levels in serum and tissues of mice deficient in SR-B1 (Srb1-/-), CD36 (Cd36-/-) and ABC-G5/G8 (Abcg5/g8-/-) and compared them with corresponding wild-type (WT) mice. All mice received triple-deuterated vitamin D3 (vitamin D3-d3) for six weeks. All knockout mice vs. WT mice showed specific alterations in their vitamin D concentrations. Srb1-/- mice had higher levels of vitamin D3-d3 in the serum, adipose tissue, kidney and heart, whereas liver levels of vitamin D3-d3 remained unaffected. Additionally, Srb1-/- mice had lower levels of deuterated 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3-d3) in the serum, liver and kidney compared to WT mice. In contrast, Cd36-/- and WT mice did not differ in the serum and tissue levels of vitamin D3-d3, but Cd36-/- vs. WT mice were characterized by lower levels of 25(OH)D3-d3 in the serum, liver and kidney. Finally, Abcg5/g8-/- mice tended to have higher levels of vitamin D3-d3 in the serum and liver. Major alterations in Abcg5/g8-/- mice were notably higher levels of 25(OH)D3-d3 in the serum and kidney, accompanied by a higher hepatic mRNA abundance of Cyp27a1 hydroxylase. To conclude, the current data emphasize the significant role of lipid transporters in the uptake, tissue distribution and activation of vitamin D.

Bam32/DAPP1-Dependent Neutrophil Reactive Oxygen Species in WKYMVm-Induced Microvascular Hyperpermeability.

B cell adaptor molecule of 32 kDa (Bam32), known as dual adapter for phosphotyrosine and 3-phosphoinositides 1 (DAPP1), has been implicated in regulating lymphocyte proliferation and recruitment during inflammation. However, its role in neutrophils during inflammation remains unknown. Using intravital microscopy, we examined the role of Bam32 in formyl peptide receptor agonist WKYMVm-induced permeability changes in post-capillary venules and assessed simultaneously neutrophil adhesion and emigration in cremaster muscles of Bam32-deficient (Bam32-/-) and wild-type (WT) control mice. We observed significantly reduced WKYMVm-induced microvascular hyperpermeability accompanied by markedly decreased neutrophil emigration in Bam32-/- mice. The Bam32-specific decrease in WKYMVm-induced hyperpermeability was neutrophil-dependent as this was verified in bone marrow transplanted chimeric mice. We discovered that Bam32 was critically required for WKYMVm-induced intracellular and extracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neutrophils. Pharmacological scavenging of ROS eliminated the differences in WKYMVm-induced hyperpermeability between Bam32-/- and WT mice. Deficiency of Bam32 decreased WKYMVm-induced ERK1/2 but not p38 or JNK phosphorylation in neutrophils. Inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling cascade suppressed WKYMVm-induced ROS generation in WT neutrophils and microvascular hyperpermeability in WT mice. In conclusion, our study reveals that Bam32-dependent, ERK1/2-involving ROS generation in neutrophils is critical in WKYMVm-induced microvascular hyperpermeability during neutrophil recruitment.

In vivo proteomics identifies the competence regulon and AliB oligopeptide transporter as pathogenic factors in pneumococcal meningitis.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) is a leading cause of severe bacterial meningitis in many countries worldwide. To characterize the repertoire of fitness and virulence factors predominantly expressed during meningitis we performed niche-specific analysis of the in vivo proteome in a mouse meningitis model, in which bacteria are directly inoculated into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cisterna magna. We generated a comprehensive mass spectrometry (MS) spectra library enabling bacterial proteome analysis even in the presence of eukaryotic proteins. We recovered 200,000 pneumococci from CSF obtained from meningitis mice and by MS we identified 685 pneumococci proteins in samples from in vitro filter controls and 249 in CSF isolates. Strikingly, the regulatory two-component system ComDE and substrate-binding protein AliB of the oligopeptide transporter system were exclusively detected in pneumococci recovered from the CSF. In the mouse meningitis model, AliB-, ComDE-, or AliB-ComDE-deficiency resulted in attenuated meningeal inflammation and disease severity when compared to wild-type pneumococci indicating the crucial role of ComDE and AliB in pneumococcal meningitis. In conclusion, we show here mechanisms of pneumococcal adaptation to a defined host compartment by a proteome-based approach. Further, this study provides the basis of a promising strategy for the identification of protein antigens critical for invasive disease caused by pneumococci and other meningeal pathogens.

Engineering an Artificial Membrane Vesicle Trafficking System (AMVTS) for the Excretion of ß-Carotene in Escherichia coli.

Large hydrophobic molecules, such as carotenoids, cannot be effectively excreted from cells by natural transportation systems. These products accumulate inside the cells and affect normal cellular physiological functions, which hinders further improvement of carotenoid production by microbial cell factories. In this study, we proposed to construct a novel artificial transport system utilizing membrane lipids to carry and transport hydrophobic molecules. Membrane lipids allow the physiological mechanism of membrane dispersion to be reconstructed and amplified to establish a novel artificial membrane vesicle transport system (AMVTS). Specifically, a few proteins in E. coli were reported or proposed to be related to the formation mechanism of outer membrane vesicles, and were individually knocked out or overexpressed to test their physiological functions. The effects on tolR and nlpI were the most significant. Knocking out both tolR and nlpI resulted in a 13.7% increase of secreted ß-carotene with a 35.6% increase of specific production. To supplement the loss of membrane components of the cells due to the increased membrane vesicle dispersion, the synthesis pathway of phosphatidylethanolamine was engineered. While overexpression of AccABCD and PlsBC in TW-013 led to 15% and 17% increases of secreted ß-carotene, respectively, the overexpression of both had a synergistic effect and caused a 53-fold increase of secreted ß-carotene, from 0.2 to 10.7 mg/g dry cell weight (DCW). At the same time, the specific production of ß-carotene increased from 6.9 to 21.9 mg/g DCW, a 3.2-fold increase. The AMVTS was also applied to a ß-carotene hyperproducing strain, CAR025, which led to a 24-fold increase of secreted ß-carotene, from 0.5 to 12.7 mg/g DCW, and a 61% increase of the specific production, from 27.7 to 44.8 mg/g DCW in shake flask fermentation. The AMVTS built in this study establishes a novel artificial transport mechanism different from natural protein-based cellular transport systems, which has great potential to be applied to various cell factories for the excretion of a wide range of hydrophobic compounds.

Maintaining extraembryonic expression allows generation of mice with severe tissue factor pathway inhibitor deficiency.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a serine protease with multiple anticoagulant activities. The Kunitz1 (K1) domain of TFPI binds the active site of factor VIIa and is required for inhibition of tissue factor (TF)/factor VIIa catalytic activity. Mice lacking TFPI K1 domain die in utero. TFPI is highly expressed on trophoblast cells of the placenta. We used genetic strategies to selectively ablate exon 4 encoding TFPI K1 domain in the embryo, while maintaining expression in trophoblast cells. This approach resulted in expected Mendelian frequency of TFPI K1 domain-deficient mice. Real-time polymerase chain reaction confirmed 95% to 99% genetic deletion and a similar reduction in transcript expression. Western blotting confirmed the presence of a truncated protein instead of full-length TFPI. Mice with severe TFPI K1 deficiency exhibited elevated thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) levels, frequent fibrin deposition in renal medulla, and increased susceptibility to TF-induced pulmonary embolism. They were fertile, and most lived normal life spans without any overt thrombotic events. Of 43 mice observed, 2 displayed extensive brain ischemia and infarction. We conclude that in contrast to complete absence of TFPI K1 domain, severe deficiency is compatible with in utero development, adult survival, and reproductive functions in mice. Inhibition of TFPI activity is being evaluated as a means of boosting thrombin generation in hemophilia patients. Our results show that in mice severe reduction of TFPI K1 activity is associated with a prothrombotic state without overt developmental outcomes. We note fibrin deposits in the kidney and rare cases of brain ischemia.

Characterization of FlgP, an Essential Protein for Flagellar Assembly in Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

The flagellar lipoprotein FlgP has been identified in several species of bacteria, and its absence provokes different phenotypes. In this study, we show that in the alphaproteobacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides, a ΔflgP mutant is unable to assemble the hook and the filament. In contrast, the membrane/supramembrane (MS) ring and the flagellar rod appear to be assembled. In the absence of FlgP a severe defect in the transition from rod to hook polymerization occurs. In agreement with this idea, we noticed a reduction in the amount of intracellular flagellin and the chemotactic protein CheY4, both encoded by genes dependent on σ28 This suggests that in the absence of flgP the switch to export the anti-sigma factor, FlgM, does not occur. The presence of FlgP was detected by Western blot in samples of isolated wild-type filament basal bodies, indicating that FlgP is an integral part of the flagellar structure. In this regard, we show that FlgP interacts with FlgH and FlgT, indicating that FlgP should be localized closely to the L and H rings. We propose that FlgP could affect the architecture of the L ring, which has been recently identified to be responsible for the rod-hook transition.IMPORTANCE Flagellar based motility confers a selective advantage on bacteria by allowing migration to favorable environments or in pathogenic species to reach the optimal niche for colonization. The flagellar structure has been well established in Salmonella However, other accessory components have been identified in other species. Many of these have been implied in adapting the flagellar function to enable faster rotation, or higher torque. FlgP has been proposed to be the main component of the basal disk located underlying the outer membrane in Campylobacter jejuni and Vibrio fischeri Its role is still unclear, and its absence impacts motility differently in different species. The study of these new components will bring a better understanding of the evolution of this complex organelle.

Milk cholesterol concentration in mice is not affected by high cholesterol diet- or genetically-induced hypercholesterolaemia.

Breast milk cholesterol content may imply to affect short- and long-term cholesterol homeostasis in the offspring. However, mechanisms of regulating milk cholesterol concentration are only partly understood. We used different mouse models to assess the impact of high cholesterol diet (HC)- or genetically-induced hypercholesterolaemia on milk cholesterol content. At day 14 postpartum we determined milk, plasma and tissue lipids in wild type (WT), LDL receptor knockout (Ldlr-/-), and ATP-binding cassette transporter G8 knockout (Abcg8-/-) mice fed either low- or 0.5% HC diet. In chow-fed mice, plasma cholesterol was higher in Ldlr-/- dams compared to WT. HC-feeding increased plasma cholesterol in all three models compared to chow diet. Despite the up to 5-fold change in plasma cholesterol concentration, the genetic and dietary conditions did not affect milk cholesterol levels. To detect possible compensatory changes, we quantified de novo cholesterol synthesis in mammary gland and liver, which was strongly reduced in the various hypercholesterolaemic conditions. Together, these data suggest that milk cholesterol concentration in mice is not affected by conditions of maternal hypercholesterolaemia and is maintained at stable levels via ABCG8- and LDLR-independent mechanisms. The robustness of milk cholesterol levels might indicate an important physiological function of cholesterol supply to the offspring.

Identification of Surface Epitopes Associated with Protection against Highly Immune-Evasive VlsE-Expressing Lyme Disease Spirochetes.

The tick-borne pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi is responsible for approximately 300,000 Lyme disease (LD) cases per year in the United States. Recent increases in the number of LD cases, in addition to the spread of the tick vector and a lack of a vaccine, highlight an urgent need for designing and developing an efficacious LD vaccine. Identification of protective epitopes that could be used to develop a second-generation (subunit) vaccine is therefore imperative. Despite the antigenicity of several lipoproteins and integral outer membrane proteins (OMPs) on the B. burgdorferi surface, the spirochetes successfully evade antibodies primarily due to the VlsE-mediated antigenic variation. VlsE is thought to sterically block antibody access to protective epitopes of B. burgdorferi However, it is highly unlikely that VlsE shields the entire surface epitome. Thus, identification of subdominant epitope targets that induce protection when they are made dominant is necessary to generate an efficacious vaccine. Toward the identification, we repeatedly immunized immunocompetent mice with live-attenuated VlsE-deleted B. burgdorferi and then challenged the animals with the VlsE-expressing (host-adapted) wild type. Passive immunization and Western blotting data suggested that the protection of 50% of repeatedly immunized animals against the highly immune-evasive B. burgdorferi was antibody mediated. Comparison of serum antibody repertoires identified in protected and nonprotected animals permitted the identification of several putative epitopes significantly associated with the protection. Most linear putative epitopes were conserved between the main pathogenic Borrelia genospecies and found within known subdominant regions of OMPs. Currently, we are performing immunization studies to test whether the identified protection-associated epitopes are protective for mice.

Identification of Lyme borreliae proteins promoting vertebrate host blood-specific spirochete survival in Ixodes scapularis nymphs using artificial feeding chambers.

Lyme borreliosis, the most common vector-borne illness in Europe and the United States, is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex and transmitted by Ixodes ticks. In humans, the spirochetes disseminate from the tick bite site to multiple tissues, leading to serious clinical manifestations. The ability of spirochetes to survive in ticks during blood feeding is thought to be essential for Lyme borreliae to be transmitted to different vertebrate hosts. This ability is partly attributed to several B. burgdorferi proteins, including BBA52 and Lp6.6, which promote spirochete survival in nymphal ticks feeding on mice. One of the strategies to identify such proteins without using live animals is to feed B. burgdorferi-infected ticks on blood via artificial feeding chambers. In previous studies, ticks were only fed on bovine blood in the feeding chambers. In this study, we used this chamber model and showed that I. scapularis ticks will not only acquire bovine blood but human and quail blood as well. The latter two are the incidental host and an avian host of Lyme borreliae, respectively. We also investigated the roles that BBA52 and Lp6.6 play in promoting spirochete survival in nymphal ticks fed on human or quail blood. After feeding on human blood, spirochete burdens in ticks infected with an lp6.6-deficient B. burgdorferi were significantly reduced, while bba52-deficient spirochete burdens in ticks remained unchanged, similar to the wild-type strain. No strain showed a change in spirochete burdens in ticks fed on quail blood. These results indicate that Lp6.6 plays a role for B. burgdorferi in nymphs fed on human but not quail blood. Such information also demonstrates that the artificial feeding chamber is a powerful tool to identify B. burgdorferi proteins that promote vertebrate host blood-specific spirochete survival in I. scapularis ticks.

Upregulation of AcrEF in Quinolone Resistance Development in Escherichia coli When AcrAB-TolC Function Is Impaired.

We studied mechanisms of drug resistance development in Escherichia coli strains lacking efflux pump components. E. coli K12 deletion mutants were subjected to increasing concentrations of ciprofloxacin (CIP) to determine the frequency of target gene mutations. We generated a series of mutants that were selected based on their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to CIP, as well as their corresponding point mutations in target genes. The mutants displayed a number of target modifications and, in particular, gyrA mutations altering codons Ser83Leu, Asp87Gly, and Asp87His as well as a change in parC at 78 (substitution of Gly for Asp). All these mutations were related to drug resistance. When exposed to CIP, mutants lacking efflux pump genes acrA and acrB demonstrated a low level of resistance that was because of point mutations in the target genes. High-level resistance was achieved with a 100- to 500-fold increase in expression of efflux pump genes acrE and acrF that compensated for the loss of AcrA and AcrB, and thus resulted in an obvious increase of CIP MIC. We demonstrate that an intact AcrAB-TolC efflux pump is crucial to the development of bacterial resistance. Its activity is complemented by expression of the alternative AcrEF efflux pump.

Sensitized mutagenesis screen in Factor V Leiden mice identifies thrombosis suppressor loci.

Factor V Leiden (F5L ) is a common genetic risk factor for venous thromboembolism in humans. We conducted a sensitized N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screen for dominant thrombosuppressor genes based on perinatal lethal thrombosis in mice homozygous for F5L (F5L/L ) and haploinsufficient for tissue factor pathway inhibitor (Tfpi+/- ). F8 deficiency enhanced the survival of F5L/LTfpi+/- mice, demonstrating that F5L/LTfpi+/- lethality is genetically suppressible. ENU-mutagenized F5L/L males and F5L/+Tfpi+/- females were crossed to generate 6,729 progeny, with 98 F5L/LTfpi+/- offspring surviving until weaning. Sixteen lines, referred to as "modifier of Factor 5 Leiden (MF5L1-16)," exhibited transmission of a putative thrombosuppressor to subsequent generations. Linkage analysis in MF5L6 identified a chromosome 3 locus containing the tissue factor gene (F3). Although no ENU-induced F3 mutation was identified, haploinsufficiency for F3 (F3+/- ) suppressed F5L/LTfpi+/- lethality. Whole-exome sequencing in MF5L12 identified an Actr2 gene point mutation (p.R258G) as the sole candidate. Inheritance of this variant is associated with suppression of F5L/LTfpi+/- lethality (P = 1.7 × 10-6), suggesting that Actr2p.R258G is thrombosuppressive. CRISPR/Cas9 experiments to generate an independent Actr2 knockin/knockout demonstrated that Actr2 haploinsufficiency is lethal, supporting a hypomorphic or gain-of-function mechanism of action for Actr2p.R258G Our findings identify F8 and the Tfpi/F3 axis as key regulators in determining thrombosis balance in the setting of F5L and also suggest a role for Actr2 in this process.

Newly born peroxisomes are a hybrid of mitochondrial and ER-derived pre-peroxisomes.

Peroxisomes function together with mitochondria in a number of essential biochemical pathways, from bile acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation. Peroxisomes grow and divide from pre-existing organelles, but can also emerge de novo in the cell. The physiological regulation of de novo peroxisome biogenesis remains unclear, and it is thought that peroxisomes emerge from the endoplasmic reticulum in both mammalian and yeast cells. However, in contrast to the yeast system, a number of integral peroxisomal membrane proteins are imported into mitochondria in mammalian cells in the absence of peroxisomes, including Pex3, Pex12, Pex13, Pex14, Pex26, PMP34 and ALDP. Overall, the mitochondrial localization of peroxisomal membrane proteins in mammalian cells has largely been considered a mis-targeting artefact in which de novo biogenesis occurs exclusively from endoplasmic reticulum-targeted peroxins. Here, in following the generation of new peroxisomes within human patient fibroblasts lacking peroxisomes, we show that the essential import receptors Pex3 and Pex14 target mitochondria, where they are selectively released into vesicular pre-peroxisomal structures. Maturation of pre-peroxisomes containing Pex3 and Pex14 requires fusion with endoplasmic reticulum-derived vesicles carrying Pex16, thereby providing full import competence. These findings demonstrate the hybrid nature of newly born peroxisomes, expanding their functional links to mitochondria.

Transintestinal Cholesterol Transport Is Active in Mice and Humans and Controls Ezetimibe-Induced Fecal Neutral Sterol Excretion.

Except for conversion to bile salts, there is no major cholesterol degradation pathway in mammals. Efficient excretion from the body is therefore a crucial element in cholesterol homeostasis. Yet, the existence and importance of cholesterol degradation pathways in humans is a matter of debate. We quantified cholesterol fluxes in 15 male volunteers using a cholesterol balance approach. Ten participants repeated the protocol after 4 weeks of treatment with ezetimibe, an inhibitor of intestinal and biliary cholesterol absorption. Under basal conditions, about 65% of daily fecal neutral sterol excretion was bile derived, with the remainder being contributed by direct transintestinal cholesterol excretion (TICE). Surprisingly, ezetimibe induced a 4-fold increase in cholesterol elimination via TICE. Mouse studies revealed that most of ezetimibe-induced TICE flux is mediated by the cholesterol transporter Abcg5/Abcg8. In conclusion, TICE is active in humans and may serve as a novel target to stimulate cholesterol elimination in patients at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Protective Immunity Elicited by Oral Immunization of Mice with Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Braun Lipoprotein (Lpp) and Acetyltransferase (MsbB) Mutants.

We evaluated the extent of attenuation and immunogenicity of the ΔlppAB and ΔlppAB ΔmsbB mutants of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium when delivered to mice by the oral route. These mutants were deleted either for the Braun lipoprotein genes (lppA and lppB) or in combination with the msbB gene, which encodes an acetyltransferase required for lipid A modification of lipopolysaccharide. Both the mutants were attenuated (100% animal survival) and triggered robust innate and adaptive immune responses. Comparable levels of IgG and its isotypes were produced in mice infected with wild-type (WT) S. typhimurium or its aforementioned mutant strains. The ΔlppAB ΔmsbB mutant-immunized animals resulted in the production of higher levels of fecal IgA and serum cytokines during later stages of vaccination (adaptive response). A significant production of interleukin-6 from T-cells was also noted in the ΔlppAB ΔmsbB mutant-immunized mice when compared to that of the ΔlppAB mutant. On the other hand, IL-17A production was significantly more in the serum of ΔlppAB mutant-immunized mice (innate response) with a stronger splenic T-cell proliferative and tumor-necrosis factor-α production. Based on 2-dimensional gel analysis, alterations in the levels of several proteins were observed in both the mutant strains when compared to that in WT S. typhimurium and could be associated with the higher immunogenicity of the mutants. Finally, both ΔlppAB and ΔlppAB ΔmsbB mutants provided complete protection to immunized mice against a lethal oral challenge dose of WT S. typhimurium. Thus, these mutants may serve as excellent vaccine candidates and also provide a platform for delivering heterologous antigens.

Study of the degradation of a multidrug transporter using a non-radioactive pulse chase method.

Proteins are constantly synthesized and degraded in living cells during their growth and division, often in response to metabolic and environmental conditions. The synthesis and breakdown of proteins under different conditions reveal information about their mechanism of function. The metabolic incorporation of non-natural amino acid azidohomoalanine (AHA) and subsequent labeling via click chemistry emerged as a non-radioactive strategy useful in the determination of protein kinetics and turnover. We used the method to monitor the degradation of two proteins involved in the multidrug efflux in Escherichia coli, the inner membrane transporter AcrB and its functional partner membrane fusion protein AcrA. Together they form a functional complex with an outer membrane channel TolC to actively transport various small molecule compounds out of E. coli cells. We found that both AcrA and AcrB lasted for approximately 6 days in live E. coli cells, and the stability of AcrB depended on the presence of AcrA but not on active efflux. These results lead to new insight into the multidrug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria conferred by efflux.

Duplex Quantitative PCR Assay for Detection of Haemophilus influenzae That Distinguishes Fucose- and Protein D-Negative Strains.

We have developed a specific Haemophilus influenzae quantitative PCR (qPCR) that also identifies fucose-negative and protein D-negative strains. Analysis of 100 H. influenzae isolates, 28 Haemophilus haemolyticus isolates, and 14 other bacterial species revealed 100% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI], 96% to 100%) and 100% specificity (95% CI, 92% to 100%) for this assay. The evaluation of 80 clinical specimens demonstrated a strong correlation between semiquantitative culture and the qPCR (P < 0.001).

Hepatic ABCG5/G8 overexpression substantially increases biliary cholesterol secretion but does not impact in vivo macrophage-to-feces RCT.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Biliary cholesterol secretion is important for reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). ABCG5/G8 contribute most cholesterol mass secretion into bile. We investigated the impact of hepatic ABCG5/G8 on cholesterol metabolism and RCT. METHODS: Biliary and fecal sterol excretion (FSE) as well as RCT were determined using wild-type controls, Abcg8 knockout mice, Abcg8 knockouts with adenovirus-mediated hepatocyte-specific Abcg8 reinstitution and hepatic Abcg5/g8 overexpression in wild-types. RESULTS: In Abcg8 knockouts, biliary cholesterol secretion was decreased by 75% (p < 0.001), while mass FSE and RCT were unchanged. Hepatic reinstitution of Abcg8 increased biliary cholesterol secretion 5-fold (p < 0.001) without changing FSE or overall RCT. Overexpression of both ABCG5/G8 elevated biliary cholesterol secretion 5-fold and doubled FSE (p < 0.001) without affecting overall RCT. CONCLUSIONS: ABCG5/G8 mediate mass biliary cholesterol secretion but not from a RCT-relevant pool. Intervention strategies aiming at increasing hepatic Abcg5/g8 expression for enhancing RCT are not likely to be successful.