Immunoproteomic identification of immunogenic proteins in Cronobacter sakazakii strain BAA-894.

Cronobacter spp. are emerging opportunistic pathogens. Cronobacter sakazakii is considered as the predominant species in all infections. So far, our understanding of the species' immunogens and potential virulence factors of Cronobacter spp. remains limited. In this study, an immunoproteomic approach was used to investigate soluble and insoluble proteins from the genome-sequenced strain C. sakazakii ATCC BAA-894. Proteins were separated using two-dimensional electrophoresis, detected by Western blotting with polyclonal antibodies of C. sakazakii BAA-894, and identified using tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS and MALDI-MS/MS, MS/MSMS). A total of 11 immunoreactive proteins were initially identified in C. sakazakii BAA-894, including two outer membrane proteins, four periplasmic proteins, and five cytoplasmic proteins. In silico functional analysis of the 11 identified proteins indicated three proteins that were initially described as immunogens of pathogenic bacteria. For the remaining eight proteins, one protein was categorized as a potential virulence factor involved in protection against reactive oxygen species, and seven proteins were considered to play potential roles in adhesion, invasion, and biofilm formation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that immunogenic proteins of C. sakazakii BAA-894 have been identified as immunogens and potential virulence factors by an immunoproteomics approach. Future studies should investigate the roles of these proteins in bacterial pathogenesis and modulation of host immune responses during infection to identify their potential as molecular therapeutic targets.

[Clinical observation of bushen er'xian decoction in treating premature ovarian failure].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect and immune regulatory mechanism of Bushen Er'xian Decoction (BED) on patients with premature ovarian failure (POF). METHODS: Sixty patients with POF were randomly assigned to two groups in the ratio of 2:1, the 40 in the treatment group were treated with BED and the 20 in the control group were treated with artificial menstrual cycle therapy. The clinical efficacy was observed and the changes of serum reproductive hormone and T lymphocytes before and after treatment were observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the treatment group was 72.5% (29/40 cases), which was higher than that in the control group, 45.0% (9/20 cases, P < 0.05). Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) decreased and estradiol (E2) increased in both groups after treatment (P <0.05), but the level of FSH was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (22.57 +/- 12.49 IU/L vs 31.10 +/- 14.50 IU/L, P <0.05). CD4 and CD4/CD8 increased, CD8 decreased in the treatment group after treatment, showing significant difference as compared with those before treatment and with those in the control group after treatment (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: BED is favourable for improving POF, being a good remedy with better clinical efficacy.

[Clinical observation on treatment of infertile patients with severe endometriosis by Kangyi Zhongyu Decoction combined with gonadotropin releasing hormone-a].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Kangyi Zhongyu Decoction (KZD) combined with gonadotropin releasing hormone-a (GnRH-a) on infertile patients with severe endometriosis. METHODS: Seventy-five infertile patients with the diagnosis of endometriosis confirmed by laparoscope who were scheduled to receive in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly assigned to three groups, they were treated respectively with KZD (A), GnRH-a (B) alone and combined of both (C), and IVF-ET were applied in the patients after 3 months of treatment. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions in the three groups were observed and the changes of serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and endometrial antibody (EMAb) levels before and after treatment were tested. RESULTS: Score of dyspareunia in Group A and C was obvioushy lower than that in Group B after treatment (P <0.01). Pregnancy rate in Group C was higher than that in Group A and B (P <0.05), with the adverse reactions less than in Group B (P <0.01). The positive rate of plasma EMAb was reduced obviously after treatment in Group C with the level lower than that in the other two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combined use of KZD and GnRH-a is a new method in treating infertile patients with severe endometriosis with ideal effectiveness and fewer adverse reactions, and it could advance the successful rate of reproductive assistant technique.