Circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium vivax: gene cloning and characterization of the immunodominant epitope

The gene encoding the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax has been cloned. The deduced sequence of the protein consists of 373 amino acids with a central region of 19 tandem repeats of the nonapeptide Asp-Arg-Ala-Asp/Ala-Gly-Gln-Pro-Ala-Gly. A synthetic 18-amino acid peptide containing two tandem repeats binds to a monoclonal antibody directed to the CS protein of Plasmodium vivax and inhibits the interaction of this antibody with the native protein in sporozoite extracts. The portions of the CS gene that do not contain repeats are closely related to the corresponding regions of the CS genes of two simian malarias, Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium knowlesi. In contrast, the homology between the CS genes of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum, another malaria parasite of humans, is very limited.     

Expression of the major surface antigen of Plasmodium knowlesi sporozoites in yeast

The circumsporozite protein, a surface antigen of the sporozoite stage of the monkey malarial parasite Plasmodium knowlesi, was expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by using an expression vector containing the 5' regulatory region of the yeast alcohol dehydrogenase I gene. It was necessary to eliminate the entire 5' upstream region of the parasite DNA to obtain the expression of this protein. Only the circumsporozoite precursor was produced by the yeast transformants, as detected by immunoblotting. About 55 and 20 percent of the circumsporozoite protein produced in yeast was associated wtih the 25,000 g and 150,000 g particulate fractions, respectively. The protein could be solubilized in Triton X-100 and was stable in solubilized extracts.     

Circumsporozoite protein heterogeneity in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax

Phenotypic heterogeneity in the repetitive portion of a human malaria circumsporozoite (CS) protein, a major target of candidate vaccines, has been found. Over 14% of clinical cases of uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax malaria at two sites in western Thailand produced sporozoites immunologically distinct from previously characterized examples of the species. Monoclonal antibodies to the CS protein of other P. vivax isolates and to other species of human and simian malarias did not bind to these nonreactive sporozoites, nor did antibodies from monkeys immunized with a candidate vaccine made from the repeat portion of a New World CS protein. The section of the CS protein gene between the conserved regions I and II of a nonreactive isolate contained a nonapeptide repeat, Ala-Asn-Gly-Ala-Gly-Asn-Gln-Pro-Gly, identical at only three amino acid positions with published nonapeptide sequences. This heterogeneity implies that a P. vivax vaccine based on the CS protein repeat of one isolate will not be universally protective.     

Migration of Plasmodium sporozoites through cells before infection

Intracellular bacteria and parasites typically invade host cells through the formation of an internalization vacuole around the invading pathogen. Plasmodium sporozoites, the infective stage of the malaria parasite transmitted by mosquitoes, have an alternative mechanism to enter cells. We observed breaching of the plasma membrane of the host cell followed by rapid repair. This mode of entry did not result in the formation of a vacuole around the sporozoite, and was followed by exit of the parasite from the host cell. Sporozoites traversed the cytosol of several cells before invading a hepatocyte by formation of a parasitophorous vacuole, in which they developed into the next infective stage. Sporozoite migration through several cells in the mammalian host appears to be essential for the completion of the life cycle.     

Location and chemical synthesis of a pre-S gene coded immunodominant epitope of hepatitis B virus

Immunodominant, disulfide-bond independent epitopes recognized by human antibodies to hepatitis B virus (HBV) are located within the 55-residue amino terminal portion (coded for by the pre-S region of HBV DNA) of minor HBV envelope components larger than the major protein constituents encoded by the S gene. A peptide having the sequence of the first 26 amino acids from the amino terminal methionine was synthesized and elicited antibodies (at dilutions of greater than or equal to 1 to 10(5) ) to the HBV envelope. These antibodies can be utilized for diagnostic tests. The immunogenicity of the peptide was substantially increased by covalent attachment to liposomes. The disulfide bond-independent determinants on sequences coded for by the pre-S gene may be more easily mimicked by peptide analogs than "conformational" determinants on the S-gene product.     

高价铁肠杆菌素受体蛋白FepA表面抗原决定簇基因的克隆及序列同源性分析

用PCR技术获取高价铁肠杆菌素受体蛋白FepA表面抗原决定簇基因,分析其在大肠杆菌种内的序列同源性。以提取的大肠杆菌基因组DNA为模板,设计一对基因特异引物,用PCR扩增的方法获得目的基因。将PCR扩增后得到的片段纯化并克隆至pMD19-T Simple Vector载体,用菌落PCR及酶切鉴定阳性菌落,对阳性菌落进行测序,并与Gene Bank公布的大肠杆菌区段进行序列同源性分析。扩增出598bp的含有受体蛋白FepA表面抗原决定簇基因的目的片段,经测序分析其种内的序列同源性为95%～99%,为今后制备针对该区段的抗体奠定了基础。     

Identification and isolation of a variant surface glycoprotein from Trypanosoma vivax

The protozoan Trypanosoma vivax is one of the most important agents of African trypanosomiasis, a disease that hinders the productive use of livestock in one-third of the African continent. Trypanosoma vivax is also present in the Caribbean and in South America, posing a threat to the livestock industries of the tropical and subtropical world. Much less is known of the biology of this trypanosome than of the better studied T. brucei and T. congolense. One of the variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) of a West African stock of T. vivax was identified, purified, and partially characterized by the use of a combination of highly resolving techniques to maximize information from the relatively small amount of parasite material available. The molecular weight of the isolated protein (46,000) is smaller than that of VSGs from other species. As with T. brucei VSGs the protein from T. vivax is complexed with sugars and incorporates 3H when living trypanosomes are incubated with [3H]myristic acid, but the T. vivax molecule is more hydrophobic than the T. brucei molecule. The small size of the T. vivax VSG may have a bearing on the functional and evolutionary relationships of variant antigens in trypanosomes.     

DNA cloning of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite gene: amino acid sequence of repetitive epitope

A clone of complementary DNA encoding the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has been isolated by screening an Escherichia coli complementary DNA library with a monoclonal antibody to the CS protein. The DNA sequence of the complementary DNA insert encodes a four-amino acid sequence: proline-asparagine-alanine-asparagine, tandemly repeated 23 times. The CS beta-lactamase fusion protein specifically binds monoclonal antibodies to the CS protein and inhibits the binding of these antibodies to native Plasmodium falciparum CS protein. These findings provide a basis for the development of a vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum malaria.     

A poliovirus neutralization epitope expressed on hybrid hepatitis B surface antigen particles

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope protein carrying the surface antigen (HBsAg) is assembled with cellular lipids in mammalian cells into empty viral envelopes. In a study to evaluate the capacity of such particles to present foreign peptide sequences in a biologically active form, in-phase insertions were created in the S gene encoding the major envelope protein. One of the sequences inserted was a synthetic DNA fragment encoding a poliovirus neutralization epitope. Mammalian cells expressing the modified gene secreted hybrid particles closely resembling authentic 22-nanometer HBsAg particles. These particles reacted with a poliovirus-specific monoclonal antibody and induced neutralizing antibodies against poliovirus. The results indicate that empty viral envelopes of HBV may provide a means for the presentation of peptide sequences and for their export from mammalian cells.     

Construction of synthetic immunogen: use of new T-helper epitope on malaria circumsporozoite protein

The circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium falciparum is the focus of intense efforts to develop an antisporozoite malaria vaccine. Localization of sites for T-cell recognition on this molecule is critical for vaccine design. By using an algorithm designed to predict T-cell sites and a large panel of H-2 congenic mice, a major nonrepetitive T-cell site was located. When a synthetic peptide corresponding to this site was covalently linked to the major B-cell site on the molecule, an immunogen capable of eliciting a high-titer antibody response was formed. This peptide sequence could prime helper T cells for a secondary response to the intact CS protein. The new helper T-cell site is located outside the repetitive region of the CS protein and appears to be the immunodominant T site on the molecule. This approach should be useful in the rational design and construction of vaccines.     

DEV核衣壳蛋白二级结构与B细胞表位预测

为预测和分析鸭肠炎病毒NP蛋白的二级结构和B细胞表位,以DEV-NP基因推导的氨基酸序列为基础。采用Chou-Fasman法、Ganmier-Robson法和Karplus-Schulz法预测该蛋白二级结构;按Kyte—Doolittle方案、Emini方案和Jameson-Wolf方案预测其B细胞抗原表位。结果表明,DEV-NP蛋白的二级结构较为复杂,含有较多的转角、无规则卷曲等柔性区域以及α-螺旋与β-折叠区段,且在蛋白肽链中有多个区段可形成B细胞抗原表位,其中第10—15和182—186区段及其附近可能是DEV-NP蛋白的B细胞表位优势区。     

膜表面特性影响蛋白质超滤分离的研究

以蛋白质的水溶液为研究体系,通过改变溶液的pH值及水醇比例来考察亲水性与疏水性的超滤膜对蛋白质截留的变化,以截留率来表征膜表面特性对蛋白质分离的影响。结果表明,膜表面的极性对蛋白质分离影响显著,蛋白质的带电性及其在膜表面形成的吸附层影响也十分明显。     

Immunogenicity of synthetic peptides from circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum

In a study of recombinant proteins that might be useful in developing a vaccine against malaria, synthetic peptides from the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium falciparum were found to be immunogenic for mice and rabbits. Antibody to peptides from the repeating region of the CS protein recognized native CS protein and blocked sporozoite invasion of human hepatoma cells in vitro. Antibodies to peptides from regions I and II had no biologic activity, although antibody to region I recognized processed CS protein by Western blot analysis. These data support the feasibility of developing a vaccine against the sporozoite stage of the malaria parasite by using synthetic peptides of the repeating region of the CS protein conjugated to a carrier protein.     

Aldolase activity of a Plasmodium falciparum protein with protective properties

Immunization with a 41-kilodalton blood stage antigen (p41) of Plasmodium falciparum induces immunity to malaria in monkeys. However, antigenic polymorphism and repetitive amino acids commonly found in protective antigens complicate vaccine development. The gene encoding p41 has now been cloned and analyzed. Sequencing and hybridization studies revealed that the gene structure is highly conserved in 14 parasite isolates from three continents. This finding and the lack of repetitive amino acids in the translated DNA sequence may indicate that p41 has an essential function. In this study the protein was found to be 60 percent homologous to the key glycolytic enzyme aldolase from vertebrates, and the affinity-purified p41 protein from parasites showed aldolase activity.     

基于遗传退火算法的测试序列优化研究

最优测试序列的生成是大型复杂系统可测试性设计中极为重要的一步,可利用遗传退火算法解决组合优化问题的优越性来生成最优测试序列.建立最优测试序列问题的数学模型,利用优先权布尔矩阵式编码方案来对测试序列进行编码,设计交算子和两种变异算子,并引入与或树来说明算法搜索最优序列的全过程,在MatLab上进行仿真实验.实验结果表明,该算法取得较好的效果,具有一定的参考价值.     

猪细小病毒自然弱毒N株VP1蛋白二级结构及B细胞抗原表位预测

以PPV—N株的VP1蛋白基因序列为材料,采用Chou—Fasman、Garnier—Robson和Karplus—Schultz预测VP1蛋白的二级结构,用Kyte—Doolittle法预测VP1蛋白的亲水性,用Emini法预测VP1蛋白的表面可能性,用Jameson—Wolf法预测VP1蛋白的抗原指数,然后综合分析VP1蛋白的B细胞抗原表位。结果表明,PPV—N株VP1蛋白的二级结构以β-折叠为主,并有较多的转角和无规则卷曲区域,在序列的20～56、61～80、86～130、136～188区域最有可能是B细胞抗原表位的优势区域。本研究为PPV—N株的自然弱毒分子机理以及反向疫苗学研究提供了一定的理论依据。     

芜菁花叶病毒杭州分离株外壳蛋白基因序列分析

从杭州郊区分离出一个ＴｕＭＶ强毒株系，利用分子克隆和Ｓａｎｇｅｒ双脱氢测序方法分析了其外壳蛋白基因的ＤＮＡ序列．该序列与已报道的其他４种ＴｕＭＶ分离物都具有较高的同源性，最高达９７．６％，最低达８９．５％，其氨基酸序列的同源性更高，最高达９７．９％，最低达９４．５％。本文分析了该序列中ＡＴ和ＧＣ含量，计算了４种核苷酸在有意义链中和在密码子不同位置上的出现频率，同时还分析了该病毒外壳蛋白氨基酸遗传密码的使用频率。     

Correction on the nomenclature of human Plasmodium

In the nomenclatorial and zoological confusion in the names for the human malaria parasites (Sabrosky and Usinger. Science, 1944, 100, 190-192; Beltran. Gaceta Med. Mexico, 1944, 74, 61-74), one further point has been discovered. It has usually been considered that there were only two different proposals involving malariae as a new specific name-Oscillaria malariae Laveran, 1881, and Haemamoeba malariae Feletti and Grassi, 1890. Actually it now appears that there were three!     

Enhanced protein adsorption at the solid-solution interface: dependence on surface charge

By the use of infrared internal reflection spectroelectrochemistry, it has been possible to observe an enhanced adsorption of porcine fibrinogen onto a germanium surface at potentials more positive than -200 millivolts relative to a saturated calomel electrode. The enhanced adsorption was observed directly at the interface between the solid and the aqueous solution.