The recombinant Klebsiella pneumoniae outer membrane protein OmpA has carrier properties for conjugated antigenic peptides

Klebsiella pneumoniae OmpA, the 40-kDa major protein of the outer membrane, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was produced intracellularly in E. coli as inclusion bodies. Fusion of a short peptide to the N-terminus of native P40 facilitated high-level expression of the recombinant protein. Purified recombinant P40 was analyzed to verify purity and structural integrity. The molecular mass of purified recombinant P40 determined by electrospray mass spectrometry was 37,061 Da, in agreement with the theoretical mass deduced from the DNA sequence. Specific proliferation of recombinant-P40-primed murine lymph node cells in response to recombinant P40 stimulation in vitro indicated the presence of a T-cell epitope on recombinant P40. The induction of high serum antibody titers to a synthetic peptide derived from the attachment protein G of the respiratory syncytial virus when chemically coupled to recombinant P40 indicated that the protein had potent carrier properties.     

The replacement of accessory T-lymphocytes by synthetic peptides during the formation of splenic hematopoietic colonies

Whether accessory T cells can be replaced by the synthetic immunomodulators thymogen (Glu-Trp) and thymohexin (Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-Tyr-Arg) was studied. The latter immunomodulator was found to show a 3-fold increase in splenic colony formation after incubation of bone marrow cells with rabbit antimouse brain serum (RAMBS). The former preparation failed to show the same action. Its effect was close to that of thymocytes. When the recipients exposed to lethal irradiation were administered the RAMBS-treated bone marrow cells and one of the peptides, it was shown that in concomitant administration, thymohexin and thymocytes lost their ability to restore colony formation by RAMBS-treated bone marrow. Thymogen did not suppress the stimulating activity of thymocytes. It is suggested that the differences observed between the tested peptides in their ability to recover colony formation were determined by their structure.     

Seasonal variation in the capacity of the bank vole to infect larval ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) with the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi

Seasonal variation in the capacity of bank voles, Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber), to infect larval Ixodes ricinus (L.) ticks with Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner was examined from May through October 1991 at Bogesund, near Stockholm in south-central Sweden. Although larval infestations of bank voles were greatest in June and July, nearly 70% of all larval ticks infected with spirochetes by bank voles at this site became infected during August and September. Seasonality of infectivity was related to the degree of earlier nymphal infestation on voles as well as to the age composition of the vole population. These factors may influence the infectivity of other rodent reservoirs of B. burgdorferi, both in Europe and North America. Moreover, in determining the reservoir potential of tick hosts, a host population's spirochetal infectivity should be determined for the entire period of larval infestation rather than just during the period of peak larval infestation.     

An intensive regimen of pelotherapy in pulmonology

The authors show that intensification of peloid therapy, i.e. more frequent procedures, in patients with pulmonary diseases imposes additional load on the regulatory systems: vegetative, cardiovascular, immune. Moderate balneological reactions become more frequent, therapeutic results worsen. How to correct the above negative effects is proposed.     

Tactical and technical errors as the cause of development of external intestinal fistulas

An analysis of causes of the development of external enteric fistulas in 71 patients, who to the moment of surgery showed no purulent-inflammatory processes in the abdomen, has demonstrated that in most patients (40 persons) the fistula development can be related with technical errors (an injury, deserosing, suturing of the intestine) during an operation. It is believed that for prophylaxis of enteric fistulas a special care should be given by a surgeon to mobilization of the intestine from adhesions, strict observation of technical recommendations and tactical purposes pertaining to treatment of acute intestinal obstruction, strangulated hernias, etc.