Structure of beta-D-glucans from Fusarium oxysporum.
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Carbohydrate Sequence↗
Biomedical subjects
G Michel
Publications and source records attributed to G Michel.
Fosfomycin enhances the expression of penicillin-binding protein 2 in methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.
The effects of fosfomycin on penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) were studied on the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain CIP (Collection de l'Institut Pasteur, Paris, France) 65-25 and on a methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strain CIP 65-6. The combinations of fosfomycin and oxacillin were synergistic, additive or antagonistic, depending on antibiotic concentrations. Fosfomycin induced modifications of the PBP profile of the two strains studied. In particular, it increased the expression of PBP2. This suggested that this protein is inducible; the only PBP not affected by fosfomycin was PBP3.
Bacterial Proteins↗
Biosynthesis of bacillomycin D by Bacillus subtilis. Evidence for amino acid-activating enzymes by the use of affinity chromatography.
Bacillomycin D is an antifungal lipopeptide produced by B. subtilis. The formation of the peptidyl bonds of bacillomycin D occurs non-ribosomally, as demonstrated by the use of chloramphenicol, an inhibitor of protein biosynthesis. Amino acid-activating enzymes were found in B. subtilis cell lysates purified by affinity chromatography on a gel containing L-Pro, an amino acid of bacillomycin D. Presence of ATP during this purification increases the binding of enzymatic proteins and their activity. An enzyme, with an apparent molecular weight of 230 kDa, catalyzed ATP-PPi exchange reactions, which were mediated by specific amino acids, corresponding to a partial sequence of bacillomycin D.
Adenosine Triphosphate↗
Interleukin-8 receptor-mediated chemotaxis of normal human epidermal cells.
Normal human keratinocytes show chemotactic behavior towards interleukin-8 (IL-8). Under physiological conditions this cytokine seems to be present in an equilibrium between monomeric and dimeric forms, as indicated by Western blotting data. Radioligand binding studies suggest that keratinocyte chemotaxis is mediated by receptors specific for IL-8 dimers. IL-8 receptor-specific mRNA can be detected in a keratinocyte cell line by polymerase chain reaction.
3T3 Cells↗
Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the gamma-D-glutamyl-L-diamino acid endopeptidase II of Bacillus sphaericus.
The gene encoding the Bacillus sphaericus gamma-D-glutamyl-L-diamino acid endopeptidase II, a cytoplasmic enzyme involved in cell sporulation [1], contains the information for a 271-amino acid protein devoid of a signal peptide. The endopeptidase lacks sequence relatedness with other proteins of known primary structure except that its C-terminal region has significant similarity with the C-terminal region of the 54-kDa P54 protein of Enterococcus faecium, of unknown function [2].
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Anti-GOR and hepatitis C virus in autoimmune liver diseases.
Anti-GOR is an autoantibody found in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We have studied the specificity of this antibody for HCV infection in various groups of autoimmune liver diseases. Anti-HCV was detected by a second generation HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 14 of 29 patients with liver-kidney-microsomal (LKM-1) -antibody-positive autoimmune hepatitis type 2 and in all 6 control patients with HCV-RNA-positive chronic hepatitis C. Anti-HCV was not found in those with antinuclear-antibody-positive autoimmune hepatitis type 1 (10 patients), with soluble-liver-protein-antibody-positive autoimmune hepatitis type 3 (8), with primary biliary cirrhosis (9), with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (10), or in healthy controls (13). Anti-GOR was detected in 11 of 14 patients with autoimmune hepatitis type 2 who were all positive for anti-HCV but only in 1 of 15 LKM-1 patients who were negative for anti-HCV. We did not find anti-GOR in any other group of autoimmune liver disease, SLE, or control sera, but this antibody was detected in 3 of 6 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Autoimmune hepatitis type 2 patients who were anti-GOR positive and anti-HCV positive were less likely to be female, were older (p less than 0.001), and had lower LKM-1 antibody titres (p less than 0.001), lower disease activity, and responded less effectively to immuno- suppression than did those who were anti-HCV negative/anti-GOR negative. The findings show that anti-GOR reflects HCV-specific autoimmunity. HCV seems to induce autoimmunity to both GOR (an HCV-specific autoepitope) and LKM-1 (an epitope that is also recognised by autoimmune hepatitis sera of a different cause). Anti-GOR and LKM-1 antibodies contribute to a better differentiation of chronic hepatitis, a finding that has therapeutic implications.
Adolescent↗
Synthesis of beta-hydroxy fatty acids and beta-amino fatty acids by the strains of Bacillus subtilis producing iturinic antibiotics.
The iturinic antibiotics, which contain long chain beta-amino acids, are produced by Bacillus subtilis. Screening these strains for the presence of a possible precursor of the iturinic antibiotics, we isolated a lipopeptide containing beta-hydroxy fatty acids. The structure of this compound was studied and it appears to be identical or structurally very similar to surfactin. The carbon chain of its beta-hydroxy fatty acids was n C16, iso C16, iso C15 or anteiso C15. The percentages of each beta-hydroxy fatty acids varied according to the strain producing iturinic antibiotics and were influenced by addition of branched-chain alpha-amino acids to the culture medium. These results demonstrate for the first time that iso C14 beta-hydroxy fatty acid is a constituent present in such a surfactin like lipopeptide. Besides, the presence of radioactive beta-hydroxy fatty acids in the phospholipids when the strains were grown in the presence of sodium [14C]acetate seems also characterize the different strains producing iturinic antibiotics.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Composition and immunogenicity of the polysaccharide components of the thermostable macromolecular antigen group of mycobacterial antigens.
The thermostable macromolecular antigen (TMA) group includes major components of the mycobacterial cell envelope and cytoplasm, which elicit humoral and cellular immune reactions, and seems to play important roles in infectious diseases. The best known member of this group, antigen A60 of Mycobacterium bovis BCG, was previously shown to contain three moieties of polysaccharides, free lipids, and polypeptides. In this work, the TMA polysaccharides of three pathogenic mycobacteria (M. avium, M. bovis and M. paratuberculosis) have been analyzed by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In all cases the cores of the TMA complexes were represented by branched glucans of high molecular mass (about 10(6) daltons), for which structural models have been proposed. The immunogenicity of the polysaccharide components from the three TMA was verified with several immunological procedures (immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis of the antigen, and immunoblotting of the corresponding electrofocused immunoglobulins). All tests tallied in showing a negligible immunogenicity of the glucans examined (inability to produce, upon injection, the synthesis of specific immunoglobulins), thus pointing to the protein moiety of TMA as the one responsible for the high immunoreactivity of the complexes.
Animals↗
Arterioureteral fistula after extended resection of pelvic tumors: report of three cases and review of the literature.
Arterioureteral fistulas are rare. Three patients with arterioureteral fistulas complicating extended resection of pelvic tumors associated with bilateral cutaneous ureterostomy in the right lower quadrant are reported. In one case, the fistula involved the left ureter, the right common iliac artery, and the inferior mesenteric artery. Pathological iliac artery, pelvic cancer, or operated ureteral stones are often incriminated in the genesis of ureteroarterial fistulas. Insertion of a ureteral catheter has been found to be the main promoting factor. The common iliac artery is involved frequently. Clinical presentation is often limited to gross hematuria, whereas complementary investigations have not proved to be sensitive. Surgical treatment is often complex, but must be undertaken early, even in the absence of absolute proof of diagnosis, in order to preclude uncontrollable massive hemorrhage.
Female↗
Splenic hemangioma--report of three pediatric cases with pathologic correlation.
Splenic hemangioma is a very rare neoplasm in children. We report three cases of splenic hemangioma, two of solitary hemangioma and one of hemangiomatosis. Two patients had hematologic disorders related to hemangioma. Imaging findings of this entity are presented and discussed with emphasis on pathologic correlation.
Child, Preschool↗
Purification and partial characterization of the gamma-D-glutamyl-L-di-amino acid endopeptidase II from Bacillus sphaericus.
1. A gamma-D-glutamyl-L-di-amino acid endopeptidase II (EC3.4.-.-) active on the peptide moieties of some bacterial peptidoglycans has been purified to homogeneity from the sporulation medium and from the spores of Bacillus sphaericus. 2. Enzyme from both sources showed a single protein band (Mr 28,000) by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. It is an acidic protein (pI 4.1). Kinetic studies have shown a Km value of 0.24 mM and an apparent Vmax of 8.3 mumol min-1 mg-1 with the pentapeptide L-Ala-gamma-D-Glu-L-Lys-D-[14C]Ala-D-[14C]Ala as substrate. 3. The enzyme was inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, a sulfhydryl inhibitor. 4. The 38-residue N-terminal region was sequenced. It may be useful to construct a nucleotide probe for the research of the gene encoding this enzyme.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Ovarian dysgerminoma metastatic to the breast.
A 16-year-old girl underwent a right salpingo-oophorectomy for a pure dysgerminoma limited to the right ovary. One month later, she developed a right pelvic mass along with abdominal lymphadenopathies, peritoneal carcinomatosis, left breast mass, and left axillary node. Cytology of the breast mass was suggestive of a pure dysgerminoma. Breast metastases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma are uncommon. In the literature, this is the first case of a breast metastasis of an ovarian dysgerminoma.
Adolescent↗
Combined radiotherapy and surgery: local control and complications in early carcinoma of the uterine cervix--the Villejuif experience, 1975-1984.
From January 1975 to December 1984, 441 patients were treated by combined radiotherapy and surgery at the Institut Gustave Roussy (IGR) for Stage IB (288) and II (proximal) (103) carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Standard treatment consisted of pre-operative utero-vaginal brachytherapy (60 Gy) using a mould technique followed by a colpo-hysterectomy and external iliac lymphadenectomy. Overall 5 year actuarial survival for the whole population was 87% and disease-free survival 85%. Loco-regional relapse occurred in 23 patients (5%). Of these, 12 were central pelvic failures, 8 regional failures and 3 combined central and regional failures. There were 36 systemic relapses (8%) of which 12 relapsed concurrently in the pelvis. Five year actuarial pelvic disease-free, disease-free and overall survival was 87, 85 and 87%, respectively, for the whole population. 340 patients developed one or more complications [Grade 1: 198/441 (44%), Grade 2: 121/441 (27%) and Grade 3 or 4: 21/441 (4.7%)]. Five year actuarial survival for the whole population was poorer for histologically node positive than for node negative (89 vs. 55%, p less than 0.0001). Pre-operative brachytherapy followed by surgery can provide good local control with acceptable morbidity in early cervical cancer.
Combined Modality Therapy↗
Hepatitis C virus antibody secretion in vitro by peripheral blood lymphocytes.
A recombinant polypeptide corresponding to a virus-specific cDNA clone (c100-3) serves as the antigen for a hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody assay. Previous investigations have shown an 80% prevalence of HCV antibodies in sera of patients suffering from post-transfusional chronic hepatitis non-A, non-B, but positive results were also obtained for 30 to 70% of sera from patients with chronic hepatitis B or autoimmune hepatitis. In this study we show that HCV antibodies are secreted by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in vitro. PBL from 12/35 patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis and 1/6 patients with chronic active hepatitis B spontaneously secreted HCV antibodies in cell culture supernatants. The results were confirmed by neutralisation assay and ELISAs using recombinant and synthetic polypeptides derived from the c100-3 antigen and from the HCV core antigen. Two patients suffering from non-A, non-B hepatitis were negative for HCV antibodies in serum, but their PBL produced HCV c100-3 antibodies in vitro. PBL from patients suffering from autoimmune chronic hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, toxic-liver injury and healthy blood donors did not produce antibodies to HCV c100 antigen irrespective of HCV antibody test results in their sera. Polyclonal B cell activation or mitogenic stimulation of T helper cells led to increased immunoglobulin synthesis by PBL in vitro, but did not lead to enhancement of specific HCV antibody production. In addition, HCV antibody production was not induced by these stimulation procedures in control lymphocytes. This spontaneous HCV antibody production in vitro suggests persistent antigenic stimulation of the B cells in vivo.
B-Lymphocytes↗
Nucleolar organizer regions in ovarian tumors: discrimination between carcinoma and borderline tumor.
Nonhistone nucleoproteins associated with the nucleolar organizer region (NOR) can be visualized by a silver-staining technique on paraffin-embedded tissues. The number of black dots (Ag NORs) appearing on the nuclei are thought to reflect cell differentiation of certain tumors and can be used as an adjunct in predicting their evolution. We applied this method to determine if Ag NORs counts could be used as a diagnostic aid in borderline tumors of the ovary. Thirty-two cases of adenocarcinomas, 25 cases of borderline tumors, and 14 cases of adenomas were selected from Bouin-fixed archival material after histological examination. Both mean values of Ag NORs counts demonstrated a progressive increase from adenomas to borderline tumors and to carcinomas; the differences were statistically significant. Using discriminant analysis, all cases of benign and malignant tumors except one adenoma and one carcinoma were discriminated as belonging to an individualized group. No difference was found between borderline tumor with peritoneal implants and those without peritoneal implants. The results indicate that the Ag NORs counting procedure may be useful in distinguishing borderline tumors from carcinomas and adenomas. Ag NORs counts cannot, however, predict the clinical behavior of borderline tumors of the ovary.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Identification of a small epitope in domain Ib of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A that elicits enzyme-neutralizing antibodies.
A peptide corresponding to amino acids 392-404 of the amino acid sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (the last 13 amino acids of domain Ib) was synthesized and coupled to thyroglobulin. The conjugate induced an antiserum in rabbits with high antibody titer against native toxin as measured by ELISA, and this antiserum was highly efficient in inhibiting the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of exotoxin A. These data corroborate the potential importance of amino acids 400-404 in the enzymatic mechanism of exotoxin A.
ADP Ribose Transferases↗
Bactericidal properties of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, alone and in combination, and chlorine and formaldehyde against bacterial water strains.
The bactericidal properties of peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, and formaldehyde were compared in vitro using a rapid micromethod. A combination of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide was also tested to assess interactions. The activities of these agents, which are widely used as disinfectants, were evaluated against water isolates and culture collection strains. Peracetic acid and chlorine exhibited an excellent antimicrobial activity, with a relatively rapid destruction of 10(5) bacteria/mL. The time-dependent bactericidal activities of hydrogen peroxide and formaldehyde were the lowest. The combination of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, tested by a checkerboard micromethod, was found to be synergistic. The minimal bactericidal concentration was established in terms of time for a given mixture of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Determination of bactericidal concentrations showed that synergy was maintained with increasing contact time. Concentrations for minimal times of treatment by chemicals that provided interesting activities in vitro were tested for disinfection of ultrafiltration membranes. The bactericidal activities of peroxygen compounds were confirmed and synergism was maintained in working conditions. Chlorine showed a loss of efficacy when used on membranes.
Chlorine↗
Improvement in outcome for children receiving allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in first remission of acute myeloid leukemia: a report from the Groupe d'Etude des Greffes de Moelle Osseuse.
PURPOSE: We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR) who received HLA-identical bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in 13 French transplant centers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-four children were treated from June 1979 through December 1990. The conditioning regimen included total-body irradiation (TBI) in 54 cases and busulfan in 20. Prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) consisted of cyclosporine (CycloA) plus methotrexate (MTX) for 38 patients, MTX for 17, CycloA for 18, and T depletion without other prophylaxis for one. The mean value of the interval from diagnosis to transplantation was 167 days. RESULTS: Sixteen patients died of transplant-related complications, 12 relapsed, and 46 are alive in continuous remission with a median follow-up of 46 months. We examined results obtained over three successive periods: 1979 to 1982 (n = 14 children), 1983 to 1986 (n = 29), and 1987 to 1990 (n = 31). Probabilities of event-free survival (EFS) were 43%, 48%, and 82% for the three successive periods, respectively (P < .02). This improvement in EFS was linked to a decreased risk of transplant-related mortality: 36%, 36%, and 3%, respectively (P < .01). Other factors associated with a better EFS in the univariate analysis were a short time interval from diagnosis to transplant (< 120 days), the absence of significant (grade > or = 2) acute GVHD, and the absence of chronic GVHD. In the multivariate analysis, two factors had a favorable impact on long-term survival: the year of transplantation (years 1987 to 1990 v others) and the absence of acute GVHD. CONCLUSION: The outcome for children receiving allogeneic BMT in first CR of AML has improved in France during recent years.
Acute Disease↗