Identification and in vitro characterization of novel nanobodies against human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor to provide inhibition of G-CSF function.

It has been shown that Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has a higher expression in malignant tumors, and anti-G-CSF therapy considerably decreases tumor growth, tumor vascularization and metastasis. Thus, blocking the signaling pathway of G-CSF could be beneficial in cancer therapy. This study is aimed at designing and producing a monoclonal nanobody that could act as an antagonist of G-CSF receptor. Nanobodies are the antigen binding fragments of camelid single-chain antibodies, also known as VHH. These fragments have exceptional properties which makes them ideal for tumor imaging and therapeutic applications. We have used our previously built nanobody phage libraries to isolate specific nanobodies to the G-CSF receptor. After a series of cross-reactivity and affinity experiments, two unique nanobodies were selected for functional analysis. Proliferation assay, real-time PCR and immunofluorescence assays were used to characterize these nanobodies. Finally, VHH26 nanobody that was able to specifically bind G-CSF receptor (G-CSF-R) on the surface of NFS60 cells and efficiently block G-CSF-R downstream signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner was selected. This nanobody could be further developed into a valuable tool in tumor therapy and it forms a basis for additional studies in preclinical animal models.

Comparison of SYBR Green and TaqMan real-time PCR methods for quantitative detection of residual CHO host-cell DNA in biopharmaceuticals.

The Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line is one of the predominant hosts used in the bioproduction of pharmaceutical proteins. There have been many concerns about the use of animal cell lines in biopharm industries, and one of the most important concerns has been residual host-cell DNA. Improper integration of residual DNA into the recipient genomes could activate oncogenes or deactivate tumor suppressor genes. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a routine assay method used in the quantification of DNA. In this study, genomic CHO DNA was purified and subjected to real-time PCR. The efficiency of the reaction was calculated, and the limit of detection (LOD) was determined. The calculated efficiency for the primers using the SYBR Green method was 94.3% (r(2) = 0.998). A melting curve analysis showed neither unspecific products nor primer dimers. The calculated efficiency for the TaqMan assay was 96.6% (r(2) = 1). The results showed that the LOD of the SYBR Green and TaqMan assays were 100 fg and 10 fg, respectively. Since the LOD of the TaqMan assay showed a better sensitivity than the SYBR Green, this method could be used directly on the final products for the quantification of residual DNA, without prior DNA extraction.

Assessment of cytokine expression profile in acute myeloid leukemia patients before and after chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: One of the major goals of cancer treatment is the monitoring of chemotherapeutic protocols. Quantitative and comparative cytokine expression profiling could be reliable to be used for biomarkers in deadly and fast-growing cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The present study aims to assess and further validate cytokines with probable effects on proliferation and maturation of blood cells in AML. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gene expression levels of IL-1ß, IL-10, IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were analyzed before and after chemotherapy and after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy in 46 AML patients by an in-house quantitative comparative RT-PCR method. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that although the gene expression level of TNF-α was almost constant in all 3 samples, IL-1ß, IL-8, and IL-10 expression levels showed a decrease after chemotherapy and an increase after G-CSF therapy. On the other hand, the expression level of IFN-γ had a different pattern with an increase after chemotherapy and a decrease after G-CSF therapy. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results of this study are in support of the idea that the analyzed cytokines could be useful biomarkers for AML treatment monitoring. However, further molecular epidemiological investigations are suggested to elaborate more cancer monitoring biomarkers.

Isolation, characterization and complete genome sequence of PhaxI: a phage of Escherichia coli O157 : H7.

Bacteriophages are considered as promising biological agents for the control of infectious diseases. Sequencing of their genomes can ascertain the absence of antibiotic resistance, toxin or virulence genes. The anti-O157 : H7 coliphage, PhaxI, was isolated from a sewage sample in Iran. Morphological studies by transmission electron microscopy showed that it has an icosahedral capsid of 85-86 nm and a contractile tail of 115×15 nm. PhaxI contains dsDNA composed of 156 628 nt with a G+C content of 44.5 mol% that encodes 209 putative proteins. In MS analysis of phage particles, 92 structural proteins were identified. PhaxI lyses Escherichia coli O157 : H7 in Luria-Bertani medium and milk, has an eclipse period of 20 min and a latent period of 40 min, and has a burst size of about 420 particles per cell. PhaxI is a member of the genus 'Viunalikevirus' of the family Myoviridae and is specific for E. coli O157 : H7.

Ligation Independent Cloning of Polycistronic, Genetically Modified, HuMAb4D5-8 F (ab') 2, in Bacterial Plasmid.

In recent years, recombinant monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives have emerged as important targeted therapy agents. Monoclonal antibodies are extremely difficult to produce. So, the cost of production is very high and many people cannot afford these drugs. In this regard, choosing inexpensive and easy ways to manipulate production systems such as bacterial hosts to reduce the cost of manufacturing these critical components are considered as vital step for developmental issues in recombinant expression systems. We, therefore, attempted to generate a polycistronic construct of anti HER-2 F(ab')2 fragment antibody for insertion in an expression bacterial plasmid. Also some modifications were made in the hinge region to express antibody F(ab')2 fragment in its authentic form preventing from multiple varieties of disulfide bond formation. Finally, synthesized construct was cloned in pET-32 Ek/LIC vector without using restriction enzyme digestion or ligation reactions. The results of this study showed that modified F(ab')2 fragment was simply and successfully inserted in Escherichia coli (E.coli) using the Ligation Independent Cloning technology.

Purification and biochemical characterization of extracellular laccase from the ascomycete Paraconiothyrium variabile.

An extracellular laccase-producing ascomycete was isolated from soil and identified as Paraconiothyrium variabile using rDNA sequence analysis. Typical laccase substrates including 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS), 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP), and guaiacol were oxidized by the purified enzyme (designated as PvL). The molecular mass of PvL was 84 kDa and it showed a pI value of 4.2. The enzyme acted optimally at pH 4.8 and exhibited an optimum temperature of 50 °C. Using ABTS, PvL represented Km and Vmax of 203 µM and 40 µmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively. After 24 h incubation at pH 4.8 and 4 °C, 80% of the initial activity of PvL remained. The enzyme was inhibited by Fe2+, Hg2+, and Mn2+, but induced by Cu2+. EDTA (10 mM), 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT) (0.1 mM), and NaN3 (10 mM) were found to completely inhibit PvL. Sixty-eight percent of Malachite green was decolorized by 4 U/mL of PvL after 15 min incubation at 30 °C.

Cloning, molecular characterization and expression of a cDNA encoding a functional NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase from Mucor racemosus PTCC 5305 in E. coli.

The present work aims to study a new NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (cb5r) from Mucor racemosus PTCC 5305. A cDNA coding for cb5r was isolated from a Mucor racemosus PTCC 5305 cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA including coding and sequences flanking regions was determined. The open reading frame starting from ATG and ending with TAG stop codon encoded 228 amino acids and displayed the closest similarity (73%) with Mortierella alpina cb5r. Lack of hydrophobic residues in the N-terminal sequence was apparent, suggesting that the enzyme is a soluble isoform. The coding sequence was then cloned in the pET16b transcription vector carrying an N-terminal-linked His-Tag sequence and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The enzyme was then homogeneously purified by a metal affinity column. The recombinant Mucor enzyme was shown to have its optimal activity at pH and temperature of about 7.5 and 40 degrees C, respectively. The apparent K(m) value was calculated to be 13 microM for ferricyanide. To our knowledge, this is the first report on cloning and expression of a native fungal soluble isoform of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase in E. coli.

Phase 2 study of the efficacy and safety of the combination of arsenic trioxide, interferon alpha, and zidovudine in newly diagnosed chronic adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL).

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is resistant to chemotherapy and carries a dismal prognosis particularly for the acute and lymphoma subtypes. Promising results were obtained with the combination of zidovudine and interferon-alpha. Chronic ATL has a relatively better outcome, but poor long-term survival is noted when patients are managed with a watchful-waiting policy or with chemotherapy. In ATL cell lines, arsenic trioxide shuts off constitutive NF-kappaB activation and potentiates interferon-alpha apoptotic effects through proteasomal degradation of Tax. Clinically, arsenic/interferon therapy exhibits some efficacy in refractory aggressive ATL patients. These results prompted us to investigate the efficacy and safety of the combination of arsenic, interferon-alpha, and zidovudine in 10 newly diagnosed chronic ATL patients. An impressive 100% response rate was observed including 7 complete remissions, 2 complete remissions but with more than 5% circulating atypical lymphocytes, and 1 partial response. Responses were rapid and no relapse was noted. Side effects were moderate and mostly hematologic. In conclusion, treatment of chronic ATL with arsenic, interferon-alpha, and zidovudine is feasible and exhibits an impressive response rate with moderate toxicity. Long-term follow up will clarify whether this will translate to disease cure. Overall, these clinical results strengthen the concept of oncogene-targeted cancer therapy.

Genetically engineered phage harbouring the lethal catabolite gene activator protein gene with an inducer-independent promoter for biocontrol of Escherichia coli.

Complications of chemotherapy, such as appearance of multidrug resistance, have persuaded researchers to consider phage therapy as a new method to combat bacterial infections. In vitro experiments were performed to assess the therapeutic value of genetically modified phages for controlling gastrointestinal Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells in Luria-Bertani (LB) media and contaminated cow milk. We constructed a modified nonreplicating M13-derived phage expressing a lethal catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) that is a Glu181Gln mutant of CAP. The modified phagemid was propagated in the lethal CAP-resistant strain XA3DII. Time-kill assay experiments showed a considerable reduction in the number of surviving bacteria in both LB media and contaminated cow milk. Our further study using other test strains demonstrated that the host range of lethal phage is limited to E. coli strains that produce pili. This study provides a possible strategy for the exploitation of genetically engineered nonlytic phages as bactericidal agents by minimizing the risk of release of progeny phages and endotoxins into the environment. The phage was engineered to remain lethal to its bacterial target, but incapable of replicating therein. Furthermore, the addition of an inducer to express the lethal protein is not required.

Cloning, molecular characterization and expression of a cDNA encoding a functional NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase from Mucor racemosus PTCC 5305 in E. coli

The present work aims to study a new NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (cb5r) from Mucor racemosus PTCC 5305. A cDNA coding for cb s r was isolated from a Mucor racemosus PTCC 5305 cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA including coding and sequences flanking regions was determined. The open reading frame starting from ATG and ending with TAG stop codon encoded 228 amino acids and displayed the closest similarity (73 percent) with Mortierella alpina cb s r. Lack of hydrophobic residues in the N-terminal sequence was apparent, suggesting that the enzyme is a soluble isoform. The coding sequence was then cloned in the pET16b transcription vector carrying an N-terminal-linked His-Tag® sequence and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The enzyme was then homogeneously purified by a metal affinity column. The recombinant Mucor enzyme was shown to have its optimal activity at pH and temperature of about 7.5 and 40 °C, respectively. The apparent Km value was calculated to be 13 μM for ferricyanide. To our knowledge, this is the first report on cloning and expression of a native fungal soluble isoform of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase in E. coli.

MICROALGAL BIOTRANSFORMATION OF STEROIDS(1).

Microbial biotransformation of steroids is not a new concept, but most studies in this field have focused on fungal and bacterial systems. Microalgae, despite their photosynthetic ability and immense biodiversity, have not received much attention in this aspect until recently. Since the publication of the first article on microalgal biotransformation of steroids about 20 years ago, there have been many reports describing different modifications, including hydroxylation, reduction, side-chain degradation, and isomerization introduced by these microorganisms on estrane, androstane, and pregnane derivatives. On the other hand, the development of new large-scale cultivation systems, the adaptation of existing fermentation techniques to microalgae, and the introduction of microalgal genetic manipulation methods have made these organisms promising candidates for a wide range of biotechnological processes, including biotransformations. In this review, we have summarized the steroid transformation patterns of several microalgal strains and present a perspective of the future trends in microalgal biotechnology, including the possibility of adapting relatively new techniques, such as organic media catalysis and cell immobilization, to this specific field.

Using universal degenerate primers for restriction digestion mapping by PCR.

In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is developed to determine the restriction map without using restriction endonucleases. A 937 bp fragment of pUC 19 which contained one cut site for EcoRI and two recognition sites for PvuII was used as a model. The PCR was carried out using designed degenerate primers and the products were analyzed on 1.5% agarose gel. The number of cut sites, length of fragments and the arrangement of the fragments from 3' or 5' end of desired sequence were determined.

Microbial transformation of nandrolone decanoate by acremonium strictum.

Estr-4-en-3,17-dione II, 17beta-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one III, 15alpha-hydroxyestr-4-en-3,17-dione IV, and 15alpha,17beta-dihydroxyestr-4-en-3-one V were produced by microbial transformation of nandrolone decanoate I in the culture of Acremonium strictum PTCC 5282. Bioconversion characteristics observed were ester hydrolysis, oxidation, and hydroxylation. Each microbial product was purified chromatographically and characterized on the basis of spectral data obtained from (1)H-NMR,( 13)C-NMR, FT-IR, MS, and physical constants such as melting point and optical rotation.

Studies on the microbial transformation of androst-1,4-dien-3,17-dione with Acremonium strictum.

The strain of Acremonium strictum PTCC 5282 was applied to investigate the biotransformation of androst-1,4-dien-3,17-dione (I; ADD). Microbial products obtained were purified by preparative TLC and the pure metabolites were characterized on the basis of their spectroscopic features (13C NMR, 1H NMR, FTIR, MS) and physical constants (melting points and optical rotations). The 15 alpha-Hydroxyandrost-1,4-dien-3,17-dione (II), 17 beta-hydroxyandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (III), androst-4-en-3,17-dione (IV; AD), 15 alpha-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione (V), 15 alpha,17 beta-dihydroxyandrost-1,4-dien-3-one (VI) and testosterone (VII) were produced during this fermentation. Formation of the 15 alpha,17 beta-dihydroxy derivative of ADD is reported for the first time during steroid biotransformation. The bioconversion reactions observed were 1,2-hydrogenation, 15 alpha-hydroxylation and 17-ketone reduction. From the time course profile of this biotransformation, ketone reduction and 1,2-hydrogenation were observed from the first day of fermentation while 15 alpha-hydroxylation occurred from the third day. Optimum concentration of the substrate, which gave the maximum bioconversion efficiency, was 0.5 mg ml(-1) in one batch. The highest yield of the microbial products recorded in this work was achieved within the pH range 6.5-7.3 and at the temperature of 27 degrees C.

Analysis of aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase in crevicular fluid from implants with and without peri-implantitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this investigation was to determine the presence of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in crevicular fluid collected from implants with and without clinical and radiographic signs of peri-implantitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 17 implants with symptoms of peri-implantitis in 12 subjects, including 4 females and 8 males, compared to 17 implants in 13 subjects, including 5 females and 8 males, with healthy peri-implant tissues. Filter paper strips were used to collect peri-implant crevicular fluid for 30 seconds in the base of the crevice/pocket. SPSS statistical software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL) was used to determine AST and ALP activity. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a significant difference in the activity of AST and ALP between the 2 study groups (P < 0.0001). AST activity was significantly associated with the amount of bleeding on probing (P = 0.02), but no statistical correlation was found between ALP activity and increased amount of bleeding on probing (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, our results may suggest that peri-implant crevicular fluid analysis could be further investigated in longitudinal studies as a suitable diagnostic strategy in the evaluation of dental implants.

Biotransformation of hydrocortisone by a natural isolate of Nostoc muscorum.

Hydrocortisone was converted in the culture of an isolated strain of the cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum PTCC 1636 into some androstane and pregnane derivatives. The microorganism was, isolated during a screening program from soil samples collected from paddy fields of north of Iran. The bioproducts obtained were purified using chromatographic methods and identified as 11beta-hydroxytestosterone, 11beta-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione and 11beta,17alpha,20beta,21-tetrahydroxypregn-4-en-3-one on the basis of their spectroscopic features.

Microbial transformation of hydrocortisone by Acremonium strictum PTCC 5282.

The ability of a genus of cephalosporium-like fungus isolated from soil, Acremonium strictum PTCC 5282, for hydrocortisone biotransformation has been investigated. This potential had not been previously examined. The fermentation yielded 11beta,17beta-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one, 11beta,17alpha,20beta,21-tetrahydroxypregn-4-en-3-one and 21-acetoxy-11beta,17alpha,20-trihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one. Each microbial metabolite was purified and characterized using spectroscopic methods.