Detection of human herpesvirus 7 in salivary glands.

The prevalence and cellular distribution of human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) in archival labial salivary glands was analysed for virus-specific DNA sequences by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization signals. In addition, the cellular expression of HHV-7-encoded protein was detected by immunohistochemical staining with a virus-specific monoclonal antibody. Eleven of 20 samples were positive for the HHV-7 DNA sequence by PCR.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for riboflavin carrier protein and modified protein: application for epitope analysis.

Rabbit antibodies to native riboflavin carrier protein (RCP), are to a large extent directed towards the conformational epitopes and antibodies to disulphide bond reduced carboxymethylated riboflavin carrier protein (RCM-RCP) to the sequential epitopes. Taking advantage of this premise and in order to map the epitopes of RCP recognized by the antibodies, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were validated for RCP and RCM-RCP using the Avidin-Biotin system. The usefulness of these assays were illustrated when antigenicity of peptides derived from RCM-RCP following trypsinization were examined.

Glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus sobrinus C211 are both stimulated and inhibited by hydrogen peroxide.

There are 2 glucosyltransferases (GTF) produced by Streptococcus sobrinus C211. One enzyme, GTF-S, produces a water-soluble glucan that is a-1,6-linked, with short a-1,3 branches, and the other enzyme, GTF-I, produces a water-insoluble glucan that is a-1,3-linked with a-1,6 branches. Hydrogen peroxide was found not only to be a potent inhibitor of GTF activity, but also a stimulator of GTF activity when employed at relatively low concentrations.