Recombinant hepatitis A virus antigen: improved production and utility in diagnostic immunoassays

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunoassays use cell culture-derived HAV antigen to detect HAV-specific antibodies. The current method of production of HAV antigen in tissue culture is time-consuming and expensive. We previously expressed the HAV open reading frame in recombinant vaccinia viruses (rV-ORF). The recombinant HAV polyprotein was accurately processed and was assembled into subviral particles. These particles were bound by HAV-neutralizing antibodies and were able to elicit antibodies which were detected by commercial immunoassays. The present investigation compared the production of HAV antigen by standard tissue culture methods to the production of HAV antigen with the recombinant vaccinia virus system. In addition, HAV and rV-ORF antigens were assessed for their utility in diagnostic immunoassays. Serum or plasma samples from HAV antibody-positive and antibody-negative individuals were evaluated by immunoassay that used either HAV or rV-ORF antigen. All samples (86 of 86) in which HAV antibody was detected by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) also tested positive by the recombinant antigen-based immunoassay (VacRIA). Similarly, all samples (50 of 50) that were HAV antibody negative also tested negative by the VacRIA. The lower limit of detection of HAV antibody was similar among immunoassays with either HAV or rV-ORF antigen. Thus, in the population studied, the sensitivity and specificity of the VacRIA were equivalent to those of the commercial ELISA. Since production of recombinant antigen is faster and less expensive than production of traditional HAV antigen, the development of diagnostic HAV antibody tests with recombinant HAV antigen appears warranted.     

Syndrome X and endothelial dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: Syndrome X (angina, normal coronary arteriogram and positive exercise test) remains an enigma with unexplained features and apparent conflicts of evidence. The present study addressed whether (i) the Syndrome is characterised by generalised flow-related endothelial dysfunction, (ii) myocardial thallium201 defects reflect myocardial or microvascular dysfunction, (iii) endothelial dysfunction and its consequences can be improved by oral L-arginine. METHODS: Flow-mediated brachial artery dilatation was measured by ultrasonic 'wall-tracking' in 7 Syndrome X patients, further characterised as having thallium201 defects and no known cause of endothelial dysfunction, and a normal control group. Syndrome X patients entered a 4-week randomised double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over trial of oral L-arginine (7 g twice daily), with brachial artery studies, exercise tests and technetium99 tetrafosmin scans. RESULTS: Flow-mediated dilatation was absent in Syndrome X vs. normal. Stress technetium99 tetrafosmin and thallium201 scans showed similar defects. Flow-mediated dilatation, symptom-limited exercise duration and peak oxygen consumption (VO2max) were increased but rate-pressure-product (RPP) and radionuclide defects were unchanged after L-arginine vs. placebo. CONCLUSIONS: The study supports coronary microvascular rather than myocardial dysfunction and shows loss of flow-mediated dilatation in systemic arteries. Oral L-arginine improved flow-mediated dilatation, exercise capacity and VO2max (by ca. 17%) despite unchanged RPP. The findings support generalised endothelial dysfunction. The arginine effects imply NO-mediated improvement of skeletal muscle perfusion suggesting improved homogeneity of microvascular distribution.     

Autonomic straightening after gravitropic curvature of cress roots

Few studies have documented the response of gravitropically curved organs to a withdrawal of a constant gravitational stimulus. The effects of stimulus withdrawal on gravitropic curvature were studied by following individual roots of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) through reorientation and clinostat rotation. Roots turned to the horizontal curved down 62 degrees and 88 degrees after 1 and 5 h, respectively. Subsequent rotation on a clinostat for 6 h resulted in root straightening through a loss of gravitropic curvature in older regions and through new growth becoming aligned closer to the prestimulus vertical. However, these roots did not return completely to the prestimulus vertical, indicating the retention of some gravitropic response. Clinostat rotation shifted the mean root angle -36 degrees closer to the prestimulus vertical, regardless of the duration of prior horizontal stimulation. Control roots (no horizontal stimulation) were slanted at various angles after clinostat rotation. These findings indicate that gravitropic curvature is not necessarily permanent, and that the root retains some commitment to its equilibrium orientation prior to gravitropic stimulation.     

Molecular characterization of the mycobacterial heparin-binding hemagglutinin, a mycobacterial adhesin

Although it generally is accepted that the interaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with alveolar macrophages is a key step in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis, interactions with other cell types, especially epithelial cells, also may be important. In this study we describe the molecular characterization of a mycobacterial heparin-binding hemagglutinin (HBHA), a protein that functions as an adhesin for epithelial cells. The structural gene was cloned from M. tuberculosis and bacillus Calmette-Guérin, and the sequence was found to be identical between the two species. The calculated Mr was smaller than the observed Mr when analyzed by SDS/PAGE. This difference can be attributed to the Lys/Pro-rich repeats that occur at the C-terminal end of the protein and to a putative carbohydrate moiety. Glycosylation of HBHA appears to protect the protein from proteolytic degradation, which results in the removal of the C-terminal Lys/Pro-rich region responsible for binding of HBHA to sulfated carbohydrates. Evidence suggests that glycosylation is also important for HBHA-mediated hemagglutination and for certain immunologic properties of the protein. Finally, the absence of a signal peptide in the coding region of HBHA raises the possibility that this protein is not secreted via the general secretion pathway.     

Comparative evaluation of 99mTc GH, 99mTcO4, and 99mTc DTPA as brain imaging agents

The brain imaging properties of 99mTc glucoheptonate, 99mTc pertechnetate, and 99mTc DPTA are compared. Results demonstrate that optimum images are obtained at 90, 180, and 180 min., for 99mTc GH, 99mTc DTPA, and 99mTc perterchnetate, respectively. The former two images are not affected by prior bone imaging with 99mTc pyrophosphate, while 99mTc pertechnetate images are adversely affected. 99mTc glucoheptonate appears to be the superior agent for brain imaging, followed by 99mTc DTPA and 99mTc pertechnetate.