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D Chevrier

Publications and source records attributed to D Chevrier.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Acetylaminofluorene-labelled ribosomal RNA for use in molecular epidemiology and taxonomy.

The use of acetylaminofluorene-labelled 16 + 23S rRNA (from Escherichia coli) is described for determining rRNA-gene-restriction patterns. The labelled probe allowed molecular fingerprinting of bacteria belonging to diverse phylogenetic branches (Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Brucella, Leptospira, Cytophaga, Campylobacter, Methylophaga). The labelled probe can be stored frozen (-20 degrees C) for at least a year and can endure vacuum dessication, ethanol precipitation or lyophilization.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Identification and classification of Campylobacter strains by using nonradioactive DNA probes.

Acetylaminofluorene-labeled genomic DNA probes were used for the identification and classification of Campylobacter strains. Relationships among 17 well-known strains of Campylobacter species and subspecies were studied by comparing acetylaminofluorene- or 32P-labeled probes. Results obtained with both methods were closely correlated and were in agreement with those already reported. In an identification experiment, hybridization with nonradioactive probes was performed on 60 strains isolated from stool samples after subculturing and quick DNA extraction; conventional biochemical tests were conducted in parallel. A good correlation was found between the results obtained by nonradioactive hybridization and by biochemical tests. Thus, the acetylaminofluorene-labeled genomic DNA probe method is an interesting alternative for laboratories without access to radioisotopes for the identification and classification of bacteria.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Higher order structures of the 5'-proximal region decrease the efficiency of translation of the porcine pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA.

The SP6 polymerase/promoter system was used to synthesize porcine pro-opiomelanocortin mRNAs with nucleotide sequence deletions in the 5'- as well as 3'-untranslated and coding regions. The translational efficiency of the mutant mRNAs was evaluated by cell-free translation or by monitoring the rate and extent of ribosome binding in the presence of sparsomycin. The results of these experiments indicate that specific nucleotide sequences in the 5'-untranslated and coding regions of the pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA decrease its rate of translation. Structure mapping of the mRNA with double-strand and single-strand specific nucleases suggests that these sequences can form stable secondary structures.

Animals↗

Urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (Campylobacter laridis variant) isolated from an appendix and from human feces.

Urease-positive thermophilic campylobacters were isolated for the first time from the feces of two adults with diarrheal disease and from the appendix of a child with appendicitis. They were identified as Campylobacter laridis by a hybridization dot blot assay. Urease testing should be included in the tests used for the identification of campylobacters at the species level, even for those strains which are not of gastric origin.

Appendix↗

[Immunoenzyme assay for histamine].

In order to produce monoclonal antibody to histamine, mice are immunized with histamine conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) by the 1,4-benzoquinone method. After an initial screening using ovalbumin (OVA) and histamine-OVA conjugate as antigens to identify monoclonal antibody secreting clones, the hybridomas are isolated by limiting dilution cloning and grown in ascites. The specificity of selected monoclonal antibody (D22) is studied using a direct enzyme immunoassay and an ELISA-inhibition test. D22 antibody reacts with histamine-protein conjugates prepared by the 1,4-benzoquinone coupling procedure. On the contrary, this antibody is unreactive with native proteins, 1,4-benzoquinone treated proteins or various amine-protein conjugates. Free unconjugated histamine significantly inhibits antibody binding to histamine-OVA and 50% inhibition (IC50) is recorded at 5 X 10(-3) M. On a histamine molar concentration basis a much more lower inhibitory potency of free histamine is recorded, as compared to histamine-benzoquinone derivative (IC50 = 2 X 10(-8) M) and to histamine-OVA (IC50 = 7 X 10(-10) M). It is our interpretation that for the D22 antibody, the main epitope encompasses the 2-histaminyl-1,4-benzoquinone moiety and that this points to the importance of polyvalent ligands for efficient bivalent binding of the IgG antibodies. Using the D22 antibody we set up a competitive enzyme immunoassay for measuring histamine in various biological samples. In this assay, the histamine to be quantified is chemically modified by 1,4-benzoquinone and allowed to compete with a histamine-peroxidase conjugate for binding to a limited amount of monoclonal antibody which is used to coat the wells of a microtitration plate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of histamine.

This paper reports a competitive solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for measuring histamine in various biological samples. In this assay, the histamine to be quantified is chemically modified by 1,4-benzoquinone treatment and allowed to compete with a histamine-peroxidase conjugate for binding to a limited amount of an anti-histamine monoclonal antibody which was used to coat the wells of a microtitration plate. After incubation and washing, peroxidase activity associated with the solid phase is measured. With this method the histamine concentration in blood or various tissues may be determined easily, safely and reproducibly. Histamine concentrations from 0.3 to 20 ng/ml may be measured with the procedure reported here.

Animals↗

Monoclonal anti-histamine antibody. Preparation, characterization and application to enzyme immunoassay of histamine.

An enzyme immunoassay to measure histamine has been developed. A histamine-bovine serum albumin conjugate was prepared using 1,4-benzoquinone as the coupling agent and was employed to immunize mice for the preparation of monoclonal antibodies against histamine. After an initial screening to identify antigen-binding monoclonal antibodies the clones were isolated by limiting dilution cloning, grown in ascites and antibodies which had been secreted into the ascitic fluid were precipitated by ammonium sulphate at 50% saturation. A systematic approach for the determination of epitope specificities of monoclonal antibodies was performed. It was found that for the most specific antibody the main epitope encompassed the 2-histaminyl-1,4-benzoquinone moiety and that the KD value determined by indirect ELISA was 1.5 X 10(-8) M for the hapten part of the immunogen and 4.6 X 10(-10) M for a histamine-Bq-ovalbumin conjugate. The selected monoclonal antibody could not recognize histidine or methyl-histamine. Using this antibody, we developed an enzyme immunoassay for histamine and pg amounts could be detected. The same assay was used to quantify the allergic release of histamine from guinea pig lung mast cells. Results obtained either by the present enzyme immunoassay or by a fluorometric assay were closely correlated (correlation coefficient r = 0.9702, n = 37).

Animals↗

Lymphocyte subpopulations in an experimental model of axial and peripheral enthesiopathies.

We report a study of lymphocyte subsets in experimental arthritis induced in Wistar Furth rats by native human type II collagen and muramyl dipeptide. This experimental arthritis shares similarities with both the spondyloarthropathies and rheumatoid arthritis. Peripheral blood T lymphocytes, primarily the CD4+ cells (p = 0.01), were lower in arthritic rats than in the controls, although the difference in the CD4/CD8 ratio was not statistically significant. Splenic CD4 cells were significantly (p = 0.03) more numerous in arthritic rats, while the numbers of MHC class II positive cells (p = 0.002) and kappa-bearing B-cells (p = 0.0004) were significantly lower. Determination of peripheral blood and spleen lymphocytes subsets could therefore be used for the assessment of arthritis and for the evaluation of therapeutic agents. Thymic T-cell differentiation does not appear to be impaired in this model. These results differ from the peripheral blood disturbances described in the active stages of human rheumatoid arthritis and are more similar to those reported in ankylosing spondylitis patients. However, the absence of alterations in the Peyer's patches suggests that pathogeneic mechanisms involving mucosal areas and exogenous intestinal antigens are not reproduced in this model.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗