Identification and cloning of a glucan- and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein from Eisenia foetida earthworm involved in the activation of prophenoloxidase cascade.

Coelomic fluid of Eisenia foetida earthworms contains a 42-kDa protein named coelomic cytolytic factor 1 (CCF-1) that was described previously to be involved in cytolytic, opsonizing, and hemolytic properties of the coelomic fluid. Cloning and sequencing of CCF-1 reveal significant homology with the putative catalytic region of beta-1,3- and beta-1,3-1,4-glucanases. CCF-1 also displays homology with coagulation factor G from Limulus polyphemus and with Gram-negative bacteria-binding protein of Bombyx mori silkworm, two proteins involved in invertebrate defense mechanisms.

Role of glycoprotein gD in the adhesion of pseudorabies virus infected cells and subsequent cell-associated virus spread.

Pseudorabies virus (PrV) infected cells in suspension are able to adhere to a monolayer of uninfected cells by means of PrV glycoproteins expressed at the outer cell membrane, with gB and gC playing a major role as ligands and a heparinlike substance as receptor. In order to investigate the role of gD in this process and subsequent transmission of infectivity to contact cells, experiments with a gD deletion mutant, heparin and a monoclonal antibody (Mab) against gD were performed. The first indication that gD is active during cell adhesion was found by the observation that the binding of gD- PrV infected cells was five times weaker than that of wild type (WT) PrV infected cells.

Involvement of membrane-bound viral glycoproteins in adhesion of pseudorabies virus-infected cells.

Cell-associated spread of pseudorabies virus (PrV) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Besides the already known direct cell-to-cell spread of the virus in monolayers, adhesion and subsequent fusion of suspended PrV infected cells to monolayers of uninfected cells are thought to occur. To study the adhesion of PrV-infected cells, an in vitro model was developed in SK-6 cells.

Effect of a 2 g cimetidine infusion on twenty-four-hour intragastric pH in critically ill patients.

We evaluated the effect of a cimetidine continuous infusion (2 g in 24 h) on the intragastric pH of 16 critically ill patients (11 men, 5 women, mean age 45 years). During the 24 h pre-trial period and the subsequent 24 h cimetidine infusion, an intragastric combined electrode was placed in the fundus and the pH recorded with a portable pH module and data collection unit. In each patient, the cimetidine infusion induced a prolonged rise of intragastric pH.