Secretin PilQ is an antigenically conserved outer membrane protein which is present on most meningococci. This protein naturally expressed at high levels and is essential for meningococcal pilus expression at the cell surface. A 1095 bp fragment of C-terminal of secretin pilQ from serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis was cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a. Recombinant protein was overexpressed with IPTG and affinity-purified by Ni-NTA agarose. BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with purified rPilQ(406-770) mixed with Freund's adjuvant. Serum antibody responses to serogroups A and B N. meningitidis whole cells or purified rPilQ(406-770) and functional activity of antibodies were determined by ELISA and SBA, respectively. The output of rPilQ(406-770) was approximately 50% of the total bacterial proteins. Serum IgG responses were significantly increased in immunized group with PilQ(406-770) mixed with Freund's adjuvant in comparison with control groups. Antisera produced against rPilQ(406-770) demonstrated strong surface reactivity to serogroups A and B N. meningitidis tested by whole-cell ELISA. Surface reactivity to serogroup B N. meningitidis was higher than serogroup A. The sera from PilQ(406-770) immunized animals were strongly bactericidal against serogroups A and B. These results suggest that rPilQ(406-770) is a potential vaccine candidate for serogroup B N. meningitidis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.12.076 | DOI Listing |
Arch Microbiol
January 2025
Department of Stomatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
Treponema denticola, a bacterium that forms a "red complex" with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia, is associated with periodontitis, pulpitis, and other oral infections. The major surface protein (Msp) is a surface glycoprotein with a relatively well-established overall domain structure (N-terminal, central and C-terminal regions) and a controversial tertiary structure. As one of the key virulence factors of T.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Chem Inf Model
January 2025
Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno60200, Czech Republic.
Polymyxins, critical last-resort antibiotics, impact the distribution of membrane-bound divalent cations in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. We employed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to model the effect of displacing these ions. Two polymyxin-sensitive and two polymyxin-resistant models of the outer membrane of were investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethods Cell Biol
January 2025
Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, (3)Center for Cell Signaling, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States. Electronic address:
The externalization of Phosphatidylserine (PS) from the inner surface of the plasma membrane to the outer surface of the plasma membrane is an emblematic event during apoptosis and serves as a potent "eat-me" signal for the efferocytosis of apoptotic cells. Although less well understood, PS is also externalized on live cells in the tumor microenvironment and on live virus-infected cells whereby it serves as an immune modulatory signal that drives tolerance and immune escape. Given the importance of PS in cancer immunology and immune escape, PS-targeting monoclonal antibodies have been characterized with promising immunotherapeutic potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Exp Med Biol
January 2025
Stem Cell Research Unit, Biomedical Center, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
The human breast gland is composed of branching epithelial ducts that culminate in milk-producing units known as terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs). The epithelial compartment comprises an inner layer of luminal epithelial cells (LEP) and an outer layer of contractile myoepithelial cells (MEP). Both LEP and MEP arise from a common stem cell population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Med Rep
March 2025
Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on the Whole Industry Chain of Yu‑Yao, Henan Province, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, P.R. China.
Calycosin‑7‑O‑β‑D‑glucoside (CG), a major active ingredient of Astragali Radix, exerts neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia; however, whether the effects of CG are associated with mitochondrial protection remains unclear. The present study explored the role of CG in improving mitochondrial function in a HT22 cell model of oxygen‑glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R). The Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and western blotting were performed to investigate the effects of CG on mitochondrial function.
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