Biomedical subjects

R Zuerner

Publications and source records attributed to R Zuerner.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Penicillin-binding proteins in Leptospira interrogans.

The Leptospira interrogans ponA and pbpB genes were isolated and characterized. ponA and pbpB encode the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) 1 and 3, respectively. There is little sequence variation between the PBP genes from two L. interrogans strains (serovar icterohaemorrhagiae strain Verdun and serovar pomona strain RZ11). The deduced L. interrogans PBP 1 and PBP 3 protein sequences from the two strains shared over 50% similarity to homologous proteins from Escherichia coli. It was demonstrated for strain Verdun that ponA and pbpB are transcribed individually from their own promoter. The ponA and pbpB genes from both strains are separated by 8 to 10 kb and oriented such that their transcription is convergent. The L. interrogans PBP 1 and PBP 3 proteins were synthesized in E. coli and were modified with ampicillin using a digoxigenin-ampicillin conjugate. These data show that both genes encode functional PBPs.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PubMed2001

Protective killed Leptospira borgpetersenii vaccine induces potent Th1 immunity comprising responses by CD4 and gammadelta T lymphocytes.

Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo is the most common cause of bovine leptospirosis and also causes zoonotic infections of humans. A protective killed vaccine against serovar hardjo was shown to induce strong antigen-specific proliferative responses by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from vaccinated cattle by 2 months after the first dose of vaccine. This response was absent from nonvaccinated control cattle. The mean response peaked by 2 months after completion of the two-dose vaccination regimen, and substantial proliferation was measured in in vitro cultures throughout the 7 months of the study period. Variations in magnitude of the response occurred among the vaccinated animals, but by 7 months postvaccination there was a substantial antigen-specific response with PBMC from all vaccinated animals. Up to one-third of the PBMC from vaccinated animals produced gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) after 7 days in culture with antigen, as ascertained by flow cytometric analysis, and significant levels of IFN-gamma were measured in culture supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two-color immunofluorescence revealed that one-third of the IFN-gamma-producing cells were gammadelta T cells, with the remaining cells being CD4(+) T cells. The significance of this study is the very potent Th1-type immune response induced and sustained following vaccination with a killed bacterial vaccine adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide and the involvement of gammadelta T cells in the response. Moreover, induction of this Th1-type cellular immune response is associated with the protection afforded by the bovine leptospiral vaccine against L. borgpetersenii serovar hardjo.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Technological advances in the molecular biology of Leptospira.

Pathogenic members of the genus Leptospira have been refractory to genetic study due to lack of known mechanisms of genetic exchange. To bypass this limitation, several techniques have been useful for Leptospira gene discovery, including heterologous complementation of Escherichia coli mutants, screening of DNA libraries with probes, and random sequence analysis. Construction of combined physical and genetic maps revealed the presence of two circular chromosomal replicons. The organization of the L. interrogans genome is quite variable, with genetically similar strains differentiated by many rearrangements. These rearrangements likely occur through recombination between repetitive DNA elements found scattered throughout the genome. Analysis of intervening sequences and genes encoding LPS biosynthetic enzymes provide evidence of lateral transfer of DNA between Leptospira spp. We have also gained insight into the biology of these bacteria by analyzing genes encoding LPS and outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Some of these OMPs are differentially expressed. Characterization of mechanisms governing the expression of the OMP genes should provide insight into host-parasite interactions. Furthermore, recent advances in heterologous expression of leptospiral OMP genes are opening new avenues of vaccine development.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Leptospira genomics.

The bacterial species Leptospira interrogans (sensu stricto) has a complex genome containing two circular chromosomal replicons. Comparative analysis of the larger chromosome reveals a fluid genetic organization with many large rearrangements differentiating two closely related strains. In the present study new genes were identified by partial sequence analysis of randomly cloned fragments of L. interrogans DNA. These genes were localized in regions of the genome by nucleic acid hybridization with DNA fragments separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The resulting genetic maps provide improved resolution for each strain and provide evidence for additional chromosomal rearrangements. Insertion elements may be involved in recombination events, as several are near regions of the chromosome that have undergone rearrangement.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed1995

IS1500, an IS3-like element from Leptospira interrogans.

Copies of an insertion-sequence (IS)-like element were isolated from two closely related serovars of Leptospira interrogans sensu stricto. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 1236 bp element showed a characteristic IS structure with terminal imperfect inverted repeats (IRs) flanking a 1159 bp central region. This element was designated IS1500. Four open reading frames (orfA-orfD) were found in the central 'unique' region of IS1500. Similarities were detected between ORFA and ORFB and the putative transposases from members of the IS3 family of transposable elements. IS1500 or IS1500-like sequences were also detected in all other pathogenic leptospiral serovars, but not in the saprophytic species L. biflexa. Differences in IS1500 copy numbers in members of the same species suggest that this element can transpose. Physical mapping of IS1500 insertions in L. interrogans serovars icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona showed insertions were only on the large chromosomal replicon. The location of some IS1500 insertions coincides with regions of the genome that have undergone large rearrangements.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Mutations in the second-largest subunit of Drosophila RNA polymerase II interact with Ubx.

Specific mutations in the gene encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RpII215) cause a partial transformation of a structure of the third thoracic segment, the capitellum, into the analogous structure of the second thoracic segment, the wing. This mutant phenotype is also caused by genetically reducing the cellular concentration of the transcription factor Ultrabithorax (Ubx). To recover mutations in the 140,000-D second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RpII140) and determine whether any can cause a mutant phenotype similar to Ubx we attempted to identify all recessive-lethal mutable loci in a 340-kilobase deletion including this and other loci. One of the 13 complementation groups in this region encodes RpII140. Three RpII140 alleles cause a transformation of capitellum to wing but unlike RpII215 alleles, only when the concentration of Ubx protein is reduced by mutations in Ubx.

Alleles↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Genome structure of spirochetes.

The genome structures of several pathogenic spirochetes have recently been determined. The genomes of Borrelia species consist of a linear chromosome of approximately one million base pairs (Mb) and various linear and circular plasmids. Analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms and 16S ribosomal RNA sequence data indicate the division of Borrelia burgdorferi into at least three distinct genetic groups. Leptospira interrogans has a circular chromosome 5 Mb in size and a 0.35 Mb extrachromosomal element. Repetitive sequence elements similar to insertion sequences have been identified in the Leptospira interrogans genome. The chromosome of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum is circular and has a size of approximately one Mb. Genetic studies conducted to date indicate that B. burgdorferi and L. interrogans have a high degree of genetic diversity, whereas remarkably few genetic differences have been observed among the pathogenic Treponema. Knowledge of the genomic structure of these organisms will serve as a basis for future genetic studies.

Borrelia burgdorferi Group↗