Knowledge of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of divergent murine species is critical from both a phylogenetic perspective and in understanding nuclear-mitochondrial interactions, particularly as the latter influences our xenocybrid models of mitochondrial disease. To this end, the sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the murine species Mus terricolor (formerly Mus dunni) is reported and compared with the published sequence for the common laboratory mouse Mus musculus domesticus strain C57BL/6J. These species are of interest because xenomitochondrial cybrid mice were created that harbor M.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe CopB outer membrane protein has been considered a vaccine candidate for the prevention of infections due to Moraxella catarrhalis. Monoclonal antibody 10F3 recognizes whole cells of about 70% of clinical isolates, suggesting that this epitope is reasonably conserved. To determine whether CopB has other surface epitopes, we analyzed M.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStaphylococcal fibronectin-binding protein (FnbA) is a surface-associated receptor responsible for the reversible binding of bacteria to human fibronectin and fibrin(ogen). Recently we have shown that FnbA serves as a substrate for coagulation factor XIIIa and undergoes covalent cross-linking to its ligands, resulting in the formation of heteropolymers (Matsuka, Y. V.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to determine if certain genotypes might be associated with variable responses to the candidate vaccine adjuvants RC529 and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), as well as to bacterial LPS, a structurally similar control stimulus. In this study, the +896 TLR4 polymorphism and selected cytokine polymorphisms were genotyped, and together with the donor sex, these factors were used to model the in vitro cytokine responses to RC529, MPL, and LPS. We show evidence that each of the three stimuli engage human TLR4, that each gave higher responses in men than women, and that TLR4 expression levels in blood monocytes were higher in men than women.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA novel antigen that induces cross-reactive bactericidal antibodies against a number of Neisseria meningitidis strains is described. This antigen, a approximately 28-kDa lipoprotein called LP2086, was first observed within a complex mixture of soluble outer membrane proteins (sOMPs) following a series of fractionation, protein purification, and proteomics steps. Approximately 95 different neisserial isolates tested positive by Western blotting and PCR screening methods for the presence of the protein and the gene encoding LP2086.
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