xMAP-based analysis of three most prevalent staphylococcal toxins in Staphylococcus aureus cultures.

Detection of staphylococcal toxins presents a great interest for medical diagnostics. Screening of clinical samples for the presence of several types of staphylococcal toxins using traditional methods-biological tests on animals or cell cultures as well as ELISA-is laborious. Multiplex detection methods would simplify testing.

Development of xMAP assay for detection of six protein toxins.

xMAP technology was used for simultaneous identification of six protein toxins (staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B, cholera toxin, ricin, botulinum toxin A, and heat labile toxin of E. coli). Monoclonal antibody-conjugated xMAP microspheres and biotinilated monoclonal antibodies were used to detect the toxins in a sandwich immunoassay format.

GMDP augments antitumor action of the CP/TNFalpha combination in vivo.

We have shown that glucosaminyl muramyl dipeptide (GMDP) has been augmented the antitumor action of chemotherapy drug cisplatin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) on the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and melanoma B-16 mouse tumor models. The doses of cisplatin, TNFalpha and GMDP and also the conditions of the drugs combination injection provided 100% survival of mice with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma were found. Furthermore, it was shown first that GMDP has been decreased toxicity of the cisplatin/TNFalpha combination and normalized the changes in the experimental mice hematological parameters which were produced by the CP/TNFalpha combination.

Muramyl peptides augment cytotoxic effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in combination with cytotoxic drugs on tumor cells.

We have demonstrated that biologically active muramyl peptides, in particular, glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide (GMDP), augmented in vitro cytotoxic activity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) against murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells. The introduction of GMDP resulted in cytotoxic effect characteristic for substantially higher dose of cytokine. Even more potent was the combination of GMDP, TNF-alpha and Actinomycin D (ActD).