Muramyl peptides activate innate immunity conjointly via YB1 and NOD2.

Bacterial cell wall muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and glucosaminyl-MDP (GMDP) are potent activators of innate immunity. Two receptor targets, NOD2 and YB1, have been reported; we investigated potential overlap of NOD2 and YB1 pathways. Separate knockdown of NOD2 and YB1 demonstrates that both contribute to GMDP induction of NF-κB expression, a marker of innate immunity, although excess YB1 led to induction in the absence of NOD2.

Magnetic immunoassay for detection of staphylococcal toxins in complex media.

Method of highly sensitive registration of magnetic nanoparticles by their nonlinear magnetization is used in a novel sandwich-type immunoassay for detection of staphylococcal toxins in complex media of virtually any volume, with increasing sensitivity at higher sample volume. The signal is read out from the entire volume of a nontransparent 3D fiber structure employed as a solid phase, which provides large reaction surface, quick reagent mixing, as well as antigen immunofiltration directly in the course of the assay. The method has demonstrated near-linear dose-response curves within a wide range of ~3 decades, while detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST) in neat milk without sample preparation.

Generation of scFv phages specific to Staphylococcus enterotoxin C1 by panning on related antigens.

A method for generation of highly specific miniantibodies within the phage particle has been developed, and used to produce antibodies against Staphylococcus enterotoxin type C1. Under successive panning of the non-immune phage miniantibody (scFv) library with enterotoxins SE (types A, B, C1, D, E, G, and I) adsorbed on the plate surface, we generated 11 individual phage clones to Staphylococcus enterotoxin type C1. Five of them interacted specifically only with SEC1 and had no cross-reactions with the other enterotoxins.

Cytokinin-binding protein (70 kDa): localization in tissues and cells of etiolated maize seedlings and its putative function.

The distribution pattern of a 70 kDa cytokinin-binding protein (CBP70) was studied in 4-d-old etiolated maize seedlings (Zea mays L., cv. Elbrus).

Identification of pentadecapeptide mimicking muramyl peptide.

We used monoclonal antibody, generated against N-acetylglucosaminyl-beta1-4-N-acetylmuramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (GMDP), and phage display libraries of random peptides to select for oligopeptides, that mimic GMDP in their biological activity. Selected phage clones displayed a peptide RVPPRYHAKISPMVN (called RN-peptide) on their surface. This peptide was synthesized.