Expression of a polypeptide containing a dipeptide repeat is confined to the insect stage of Trypanosoma brucei

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is transmitted between mammalian hosts by the tsetse fly (Glossina spp.). Trypanosomes ingested by the fly undergo a number of changes in the insect midgut during differentiation to procyclic forms. These include the loss of the variant specific glycoprotein (VSG) coat and the appearance of a common set of procyclic surface antigens. In order to investigate genes other than VSG genes which are expressed only at certain stages of the life cycle, the first cDNA specific to procyclic culture form trypanosomes (equivalent to the stage found in the insect midgut) has been characterized. The encoded polypeptide shows several characteristics of membrane proteins, but its most striking feature is the presence of a repetitive amino-acid sequence in which there are 22 tandem repeats of the dipeptide-Glu-Pro-. Related genes are also found in other trypanosome species and in leishmania. This gene shows many similarities to a number of surface antigen genes described in malaria and, more recently, Trypanosoma cruzi. This is the first example of a repetitive sequence in a parasite protein which is present only in the insect vector, and which therefore cannot be implicated in the mammalian host immune response.     

Nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for the major protein of hepatitis B virus surface antigen.

DNA extracted from hepatitis B virus Dane particles has been cloned in bacteria using a plasmid vector. A full-length clone has been examined by restriction endonuclease analysis, and the nucleotide sequence of an 892-base pair fragment from cloned hepatitis B viral DNA encoding the surface antigen gene is reported. The amino acid sequence deduced from the DNA indicates that the surface antigens is a protein consisting of 226 amino acids and with a molecular weight of 25,398. The portion of the gene coding for this protein apparently contains no intervening sequences.     

Schistosoma mansoni shares a protective oligosaccharide epitope with freshwater and marine snails

The expression of similar antigenic determinants by trematode parasites and their intermediate (invertebrate) or definitive (vertebrate) hosts has been previously reported. Studies of experimental and human infection by the parasite Schistosoma mansoni have revealed the strong immunogenicity of a surface antigen with a relative molecular mass (Mr) 38,000 (38K). Here we provide evidence that the important protective epitope of the 38K molecule is expressed by the uninfected intermediate host of S. mansoni, Biomphalaria glabrata and is synthesized both by the mollusc and by the parasite throughout its life cycle, thus confirming our original hypothesis. Deglycosylation experiments indicate that the protective epitope is an oligosaccharide and in B. glabrata, is associated with a 90K component. Analysis of soluble extracts from different freshwater mollusc species shows that the same protective epitope is found in schistosome as well as in non-schistosome hosts. Moreover, it was also found on the haemocyanin of the keyhole limpet (Megathura crenulata), a carrier protein widely used in immunological studies.     

Cloning and expression in E. coli of the malarial sporozoite surface antigen gene from Plasmodium knowlesi

The malarial sporozoite, the infective stage found in the salivary gland of the insect vector, bears highly immunogenic surface antigen(s). Repeated exposure to irradiated sporozoites induces protection against malaria in several host species, including man. Further, monoclonal antibodies that confer passive immunity react with the immunogenic surface determinants of different sporozoite species. One approach to prevent malaria, therefore, would be to produce a vaccine that induces high titres of circulating antibodies against the sporozoite surface determinant(s). However, production of such a vaccine has not been possible since sporozoites cannot be cultivated in vitro and, therefore, only limited amounts of surface antigen may be obtained. To overcome this problem, we have prepared mRNA from Plasmodium knowlesi-infected mosquitoes to construct a cDNA library. From this library we have isolated a clone that expresses the sporozoite surface antigen as a beta-lactamase fusion protein in the plasmid pBR322. This is the first potentially protective malarial antigen to be cloned by recombinant DNA technology.     

血小板生成素在毕赤酵母中的表达

以人胎肝cDNA文库为模板,用PCR和DNA重组技术,将TPOcDNA克隆到pGEM     

Fibronectin receptors on Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and their biological function

Successful invasion of mammalian cells by pathogenic parasites is generally considered, from circumstantial evidence, to be a consequence of specific mechanisms of recognition of cell surface components--this has stimulated investigations of the biochemical characterization of such molecules. Several studied of trypanosomiasis have examined the ability of parasites to interact with mammalian cells. However, knowledge of the mammalian cell surface 'receptors' which interact with the parasite is limited. We now report that fibronectin, which is a high molecular weight glycoprotein present in blood, connective tissue and at cell surfaces, binds specifically to Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes. The reaction is specific, reversible (in the presence of a 100-fold molar excess of unlabelled ligand) and of moderate affinity (Kd = 11.36 nM). Various other proteins (for example, thyroglobulin, ferritin, catalase, aldolase, human IgG and bovine serum albumin) had no significant effect on the binding of labelled ligand to the parasite surface. Addition of anti-fibronectin antibodies to the culture medium significantly inhibited the infection of rat fibroblasts (3T3 FR) by T. cruzi trypomastigotes, suggesting that cell surface fibronectin may act as a recognition site for attachment of the parasites.     

Retrovirus transfer of a bacterial gene into mouse haematopoietic progenitor cells

The haematopoietic system is made up of a hierarchy of cells with different developmental, functional and proliferative capacities. Although cellular diversity appears to arise from the commitment and maturation of stem cells, the molecular basis for this differentiation process is unknown. The introduction of cloned DNA sequences into haematopoietic progenitor cells would provide a novel approach for studying this differentiating in vivo system. One laboratory has reported DNA-mediated transfer of genes into mouse bone marrow cells. However, retroviruses offer a number of advantages over DNA-mediated gene transfer procedures, including high efficiency infection of a wide range of cell types in vitro and in vivo, stable and low copy integration into the host chromosome, and a defined integrated provirus structure. For these reasons recombinant DNA techniques have been utilized to construct high efficiency retrovirus vectors expressing foreign genes. We demonstrate here, using such a retrovirus vector, the transfer of a dominant selectable drug-resistance gene into defined classes of mouse haematopoietic progenitor cells. These observations should facilitate the development of molecular genetic approaches to fundamental and clinical problems in haematopoiesis.     

Cytoadherence of knobless Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes and its inhibition by a human monoclonal antibody

Red blood cells infected with mature stages of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum bind to the endothelial lining of capillaries and venules. This sequestration is important for the survival of the parasite but may have severe consequences for the host. For example, it is involved in the causation of cerebral malaria which carries 25% mortality. Knob-like protrusions present on the surface of infected erythrocytes have been considered necessary but not sufficient for this cytoadherence. Here we describe the adhesion to endothelial cells of infected erythrocytes which do not have knobs. A human monoclonal antibody (33G2) which was specific for an epitope containing regularly spaced dimers of glutamic acid present in the repeated amino-acid sequences of some defined P. falciparum antigens was found to inhibit cyto-adherence and may therefore be an important reagent for elucidating the molecular basis of parasite sequestration.     

黑线仓鼠MHCⅡ类DQA基因外显子2的克隆与序列分析

为了探明黑线仓鼠MHC的结构与功能并寻找分子标记,对MHCⅡ类DQA基因的外显子2进行克隆和序列分析．提取黑线仓鼠3个群体（吴村、沂南和临朐）的基因组DNA构建基因池,利用PCR技术扩增得到249bp的片段,将该目的片段连接到pMD18-T载体中,重组质粒转入大肠杆菌DH5α后利用蓝白斑法筛选阳性克隆,测序后得到该目的片段的核苷酸序列（Genbank登录号：FJ209306）并推导出氨基酸序列．结果表明：黑线仓鼠、人类、大鼠、小鼠、猪、马、牛、兔之间DQA基因外显子2的核苷酸序列同源性为68．7％-85％,氨基酸序列同源性为56．8％-83．5％,黑线仓鼠与大鼠、小鼠亲缘关系更近．测序得到的OQA基因外显子2的序列在物种间具有丰富的多态性,可以作为物种遗传分析的分子标记．     

草莓多聚半乳糖醛酸酶基因RNAi植物表达载体的构建及表达鉴定

从草莓叶片中克隆到多聚半乳糖醛酸酶基因的1个281bp片断,构建含该正、反向互补重复序列DNA片段的中间载体,经测序证实连接正确后,克隆到植物表达载体p2300121中的GUS基因位置并经双酶切证实,得到RNAi表达载体。采用直接转化法将PG2300121导入根癌农杆菌菌株EHA105,并用新构建的工程菌对普通烟草进行了遗传转化研究。在Kanamycin选择压力下获得的烟草转化不定芽和完整植株,经PCR方法鉴定,证实了该基因已导入烟草基因组中。     

鸡腺病毒内蒙古分离株六邻体蛋白基因片段的合成和分子克隆

根据鸡１０型腺病毒以及人２、５、４０、４１型腺病毒、牛３型、鼠１型腺病毒六邻体蛋白基因序列，选择保守区，设计和合成一对引物，以鸡腺病毒内蒙古分离株基因组ＤＮＡ为模板，进行聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）扩增得到预期大小的０．５５ｋｂＤＮＡ片段．将此ＤＮＡ片段克隆于ｐＵＣ１９的ＳｍａＩ位点，筛选重组质粒，进行限制酶切分析和ＰＣＲ检测，得到含有六邻体蛋白基因片段的重组质粒，为进一步开展此病毒分子生物学研究和分子生物学诊断技术的建立创造了条件     

Kas基因启动子区的克隆及功能初步分析

利用TAIL-PCR技术,克隆到了与辣椒素合成有关的胎座特异表达基因——3-酮酯酰．ACP合成酶基因（Kas）上游400bp的调控区域．将其全长片段与GUS基因连接构建植物表达载体并转化烟草．GUS组织化学染色表明,克隆到的440bp片段具有启动子活性．对该片段进行序列分析发现,在起始密码子ATG上游存在2个TATA-box,分别为-316～-311位的TATAAA和-224～-219位的TATAAA;在TATA-box上游还存在1个位于-378～-374处的CAAT-box,序列为CCAAT．该研究旨在为利用基因调控辣椒素的生物合成,提高辣椒果实中的辣椒素含量奠定基础．     

Isolation of cDNA clones encoding the 20K non-glycosylated polypeptide chain of the human T-cell receptor/T3 complex

The antigen receptor on human T lymphocytes consists of two variable immunoglobulin-like glycoproteins, alpha and beta, which occur in association with three invariable T3 membrane proteins. In humans two of these proteins, T3-gamma and T3-delta, are glycoproteins of relative molecular mass (Mr) 25,000 (25K) and 20,000 (20K), respectively, while the third, T3-epsilon, is a 20K non-glycosylated protein. On the surface of murine T cells, a non-glycosylated protein dimer composed of 17K subunits (T3-zeta) is found associated with the T-cell receptor alpha and beta chains and the three T3-like polypeptide chains. It is generally accepted that major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen recognition is a function of the alpha-beta heterodimer. This has led to the postulation that the proteins of the T3 complex are involved in the signal transduction that immediately follows antigen recognition via the antigen receptor. Events believed to be involved in early T-cell activation, such as rapid increases in phosphatidylinositol turnover and free intracellular calcium, can be triggered by antibodies directed against either the T3 complex or the clonotypic receptor. We have previously reported our findings on the cloning of the complementary DNA and genomic structure encoding both the human and murine 20K glycoprotein, T3-delta (refs 11-13). We now present our results on the cloning of the cDNA encoding the human 20K non-glycosylated chain, T3-epsilon.     

米根霉L-乳酸脱氢酶基因的克隆及在大肠杆菌中的表达

文章以米根霉基因组DNA为模板,根据已公布的米根酶L-乳酸脱氢酶基因(ldnL)序列设计引物,PCR扩增得到含有ldnL的DNA片段;PCR产物T/A克隆后再双酶切,将ldnL片段连接到大肠杆菌表达载体pET17b,得到重组表达质粒pET17b-ldnL;pET17b-ldnL转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),摇瓶培养诱导表达后的菌体经SDS-PAGE电泳分析,结果表明克隆的ldnL基因在大肠杆菌中实现表达。     

水稻苯达松敏感致死基因的RAPD标记的克隆及测序

用3S Spin DNA Agarose Gel Purification Kit试剂盒将与水稻苯达松敏感致死基因相连锁的RAPD遗传标记S20—420和S316—600回收纯化，连接于pGEM—T载体并克隆测序，得到了S20—420和S316—600的全序列，其长度分别为423bp、606bp．将两端序列设计特异PCR扩增引物可用于检测水稻苯达松敏感致死基因和标记辅助育种．     

胰岛自身抗原GAD65片段和胰岛素B链基因共表达DNA疫苗的构建与表达

构建两种胰岛自身抗原谷氨酸脱羧酶（ glutamic acid decarboxylase, GAD） 65片段与胰岛素B链基因共表达DNA疫苗,并检测其在体外COS-7细胞中的表达。PCR方法从GAD65质粒中扩增出GAD190-385和GAD490-570两个片段的cDNA,overlap法再分别与信号肽基因进行拼接,将拼接后的融合基因SGAD190-515和SGAD490-570分别与胰岛素B链基因依次克隆入双启动子真核表达载体pBudCFA．1中。重组质粒经酶切和测序鉴定后,脂质体体外转染COS-7细胞,Western blot方法检测目的基因在该细胞中的表达。结果表明核酸序列测定克隆的融合基因和胰岛素B链基因序列与报告序列一致,开放阅读框正确,Western blot显示转染了DNA疫苗的COS-7细胞中均可检测两个目的基因的表达。两种GAD65片段与胰岛素B链基因共表达DNA疫苗均成功构建,为自身免疫糖尿病的免疫干预研究奠定了实验基础。     

The genome of the simian and human malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi

Plasmodium knowlesi is an intracellular malaria parasite whose natural vertebrate host is Macaca fascicularis (the 'kra' monkey); however, it is now increasingly recognized as a significant cause of human malaria, particularly in southeast Asia. Plasmodium knowlesi was the first malaria parasite species in which antigenic variation was demonstrated, and it has a close phylogenetic relationship to Plasmodium vivax, the second most important species of human malaria parasite (reviewed in ref. 4). Despite their relatedness, there are important phenotypic differences between them, such as host blood cell preference, absence of a dormant liver stage or 'hypnozoite' in P. knowlesi, and length of the asexual cycle (reviewed in ref. 4). Here we present an analysis of the P. knowlesi (H strain, Pk1(A+) clone) nuclear genome sequence. This is the first monkey malaria parasite genome to be described, and it provides an opportunity for comparison with the recently completed P. vivax genome and other sequenced Plasmodium genomes. In contrast to other Plasmodium genomes, putative variant antigen families are dispersed throughout the genome and are associated with intrachromosomal telomere repeats. One of these families, the KIRs, contains sequences that collectively match over one-half of the host CD99 extracellular domain, which may represent an unusual form of molecular mimicry.     

Lectin-like polypeptides of P. falciparum bind to red cell sialoglycoproteins

Attempts to control human malaria by immunological means could be compromised by antigenic variability within and between different strains of malarial parasites1. A useful alternative approach might be to block parasite antigens which are important in the mechanisms of invasion of red cells. As the major human parasite Plasmodium falciparum is highly specific for human red cells, isolation of the proteins involved in the recognition of red cells by this parasite might be of particular value. Recent studies suggest that the major red cell sialoglycoproteins (SGPs), glycophorins A, B and possibly C, may carry the sites recognized by the parasite2-4. Furthermore, because certain carbohydrates present on SGPs such as N-acetylglucosamine are able to block invasion by the parasite5, they may be involved in the initial interaction between parasite and red cell. We have now identified parasite proteins which bind to SGP or N-acetylglucosamine on Sepharose 4B columns. Three proteins, of molecular weights (MWs) 140,000 (140K), 70K and 35K, seem to be specifically bound by N-acetylglucosamine.     

红色糖多孢菌红霉素抗性基因的克隆与鉴定

将红色糖多孢菌（Saccharopolyspora erythraea）的染色体DNA用PsTi酶切后与载体PUWL201连接，转化变沿青链霉菌（S.lividans)TK23的原生质体。采用双重抗性筛选得到了9个转化子。分别抽提其中的质粒并再次转化原生质体，在含红霉素的平板上各筛选约200个转化子，其中3个在抗性板上生长良好，分别命名为PLP42、PLP1b和PLP44。对其中的PLP42酶切分析表明，其含有约3.0Kb的红色糖多孢菌（Saccharopolyspora erythraea）染色体DNA片段，它的载体部分发生了缺失。以PUC18为载体，将PLP42的1.7kb-KpnI片断克隆、测序、经与Genebank的ermE基因顺序比较，证实巳克隆了Saccharopolyspora erythraea的抗性基因。     

Production of human alpha-interferon in silkworm using a baculovirus vector

Microorganisms are generally used for mass production of foreign gene products, but multicellular organisms such as plants have been proposed as an economical alternative. The silkworm may be useful in this context as it can be cultured easily and at low cost. We have therefore developed a virus vector to introduce foreign genes, for example, the gene for human alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha), into silkworms. We used the baculovirus Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) which has a large (greater than 100 kilobases, kb) double-stranded circular DNA genome within its rod-shaped capsid. Baculoviruses have been used previously as vectors for expression of beta-interferon and beta-galactosidase in established cell lines. Although BmNPV has not been used previously as an expression vector, it has an advantage over the baculovirus Autographa californica NPV in that it has a narrower host range and will not grow in wild insect pests in the field. In the present study, the polyhedrin gene encoding the major inclusion body protein of BmNPV was identified by hybridization with complementary DNA and cloned in a plasmid. For insertion of foreign genes, we constructed a recombinant plasmid carrying a polylinker linked to the promoter of the polyhedrin gene, and inserted the IFN-alpha gene into this plasmid. The resulting plasmid and the BmNPV genomic DNA were co-transfected into BM-N cells, and stable recombinant viruses isolated by plaque assay on BM-N cells. The recombinant virus replicated in silkworm larvae, which synthesized as much as 5 X 10(7) units (approximately 50 micrograms) of interferon in their haemolymph.