Objective:To detect leptospiral antibodies by microscopic agglutination test(MAT) in northeast of Iran.Methods:This study was conducted to evaluate prevalence of human leptospiral infections by MAT.using six current r...Objective:To detect leptospiral antibodies by microscopic agglutination test(MAT) in northeast of Iran.Methods:This study was conducted to evaluate prevalence of human leptospiral infections by MAT.using six current reference strains of Leptospira interrogans in north-east of Iran.A total of 285 serum samples were collected from three north-east provinces of Iran,from December,2009 to June,2010.Results:Antibodies were detected at least against one serovar of Leptospira interrogans in 45 sera(15.79%) among 283 samples at a dilution 1:100 or greater.Positive titers against more than one serovar were detected in 24 sera of the positive samples.Therefore, there were 75 positive reactions against different serovar of Leptospira interrogans.Positive titers were recorded against serovar icterohaemorrhagiae(31 samples),hardjo(26 samples), grippotyphosa(7 samples),pomona(5 samples),canicola(4 samples) and ballum(2.sample). Conclusions:In present study the most prevalent(Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae) and the least prevalent(Leptospira ballum) serovar are different from previous studies.Maybe,species and prevalence of serovars change during the lime in one area and between regions.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the antioxidant,antibacterial and bacterial cell agglutination activities of the hexane(Hex) and 70%ethanol(70%EtOH) extracts of two species of red seaweeds Pterocladiella capillacea(P.capillacea...Objective:To evaluate the antioxidant,antibacterial and bacterial cell agglutination activities of the hexane(Hex) and 70%ethanol(70%EtOH) extracts of two species of red seaweeds Pterocladiella capillacea(P.capillacea) and Osmundaria obtusiloba.Methods:In vitro antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH radical scavenging assay,ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay,ferrous ion chelating assay,β-carotene bleaching assay and total phenolic content quantification.Antimicrobial activity was tested using the method of disc diffusion on Mueller-Hinton medium.The ability of algal extracts to agglutinate bacterial cells was also tested.Results:The 70%EtOH extract of the two algae showed the highest values of total phenolic content compared to the Hex extract.The results of DPPH for both extracts(Hex,70%EtOH) of Osmundaria obtusiloba(43.46%and 99.47%) were higher than those of P.capillacea(33.04%and 40.81%) at a concentration of 1 000 μg/mL.As for the ferrous ion chelating,there was an opposite behavior,extracts of P.capillacea had a higher activity.The extracts showed a low ferric-reducing antioxidant power,with optical density ranging from0.054 to 0.180.Antioxidant activities of all extracts evaluated for β-carotene bleaching were above 40%.There was no antibacterial activity against bacterial strains tested.However,the extracts of both species were able to agglutinate bacterial Gram positive cells of Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative cells of Escherichia coli,multidrug-resistant Salmonella and Vibrio harveyi.Conclusions This is the first report of the interaction between these algal extracts,rich in natural compounds with antioxidant potential,and Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial cells.展开更多
Labial agglutination occurs when the labia minora have become fused in the midline through either filmy or dense adhesions, forming a raphe. This condition is typically seen in pre-pubertal girls;however, there have b...Labial agglutination occurs when the labia minora have become fused in the midline through either filmy or dense adhesions, forming a raphe. This condition is typically seen in pre-pubertal girls;however, there have been cases reported in the literature of labial agglutination in postmenopausal and reproductive aged women. Labial agglutination has been associated with local irritation and inflammation in the setting of a hypoestrogenic state. Topical treatment is usually recommended prior to manual separation. However, some postmenopausal women have been refractory to conservative management, and surgery may then be required. We present a case of a 79-year-old Caucasian gravida 3 para 3 who was referred for treatment refractory labial agglutination for 3 years. The patient’s complaints included a small trickle escaping from the introitus during urination and the sensation of little urinary control. The patient underwent an exam under anesthesia. Gentle blunt dissection with a lacrimal dilator easily separated the labia minora down the visible midline fusion line (raphe). Bimanual exam then revealed a 12-week-sized enlarged uterus confirmed on ultrasound to be an 8 × 8 × 7 cm irregular mass concerning for uterine cancer. Proceeding to an operative release of severe labial agglutination can relieve patient discomfort and frustration when estradiol therapy has failed. In addition to alleviating symptoms, releasing labial agglutination can also provide the gynecologist access to critical screening procedures such as cervical cytology or a bimanual exam, all of which could lead to a diagnosis or pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions.展开更多
An agglutination test based on colored silica nanoparticles(colored SiNps) was established to detect serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Monodisperse colored SiNps were used as agglutination test carriers. The colore...An agglutination test based on colored silica nanoparticles(colored SiNps) was established to detect serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Monodisperse colored SiNps were used as agglutination test carriers. The colored SiNps were prepared through reverse microemulsion with reactive dyes, sensitized with 11 kinds of mono-specific antibodies against P. aeruginosa, and denoted as IgG-colored SiNps. Eleven kinds of IgG-colored SiNps were individually mixed with P. aeruginosa on a glass slide.Different serotypes of P. aeruginosa could be identified by agglutination test with evident agglutination. The P. aeruginosa could be detected in a range from 3.6×10^5 to 3.6×10^12 cfu mL^–1. This new agglutination test was confirmed to be a specific,sensitive, fast, easy-to-perform, and cost-efficient tool for the routine diagnosis of P. aeruginosa.展开更多
Objective:To prepare and evaluate a glycerol-preserved antigen from an Iranian strain of Leishmania infantum(L infantum) for use in glycerol-preserved direct agglutination tests (GP-DAT) as an alternative to freeze dr...Objective:To prepare and evaluate a glycerol-preserved antigen from an Iranian strain of Leishmania infantum(L infantum) for use in glycerol-preserved direct agglutination tests (GP-DAT) as an alternative to freeze dried direct agglutination teals(FD-DAT) that use freezedried antigen.Methods:Glycerol-preserved DAT antigen was prepared and stored at different temperatures.We tested antigen stored at 4℃,22-37℃and 50℃over a period of 365 days. Seven hundred twenty-nine serum samples were collected from different geographical zones of Iran from 2007-2009,and 80 of these samples were pooled to produce sera.Each pooled serum contained 10 sera.All positive and negative pooled sera were separately tested for anti-L. infantum antibodies with GP-DAT,FD-DAT and formaldehyde-fixed direct agglutination test (FF-DAT) antigens;tests were performed on both human and dog sera over a period of 12 months. Results:There was strong agreement between the results obtained using GP-DAT and FDDAT antigens stored at 22-37℃for 12 months for both human(100%) and dog(100%) pooled sera.The direct agglutination test results were highly reproducible(weighted kappa:GP=0.833, FD=0.979 and FF=0.917).Conclusions:Because GP-DAT antigen is highly stable over a range of temperatures and is easy to transport in the field,this type of antigen may be particularly useful in areas with endemic visceral leishmaniasis.展开更多
H antigen, the precursor of A and B antigens, belongs to Hh blood system in which it is the only antigen. H antigen distributes on all the human RBC surface except for Bombay phenotype and the copy number of H antigen...H antigen, the precursor of A and B antigens, belongs to Hh blood system in which it is the only antigen. H antigen distributes on all the human RBC surface except for Bombay phenotype and the copy number of H antigen on the surface of an adult RBC is approximately 1.7 × 10^6. These characteristics made H antigen the potential target molecule for the immunoassay and immunotherapy. A monoclonal antibody 2E8 against H antigen on the surface of erythrocyte had been prepared in previous work. Based on this antibody, the variable region genes of heavy and light chains （Vu and VL） from 2E8 had been cloned by 5＇ RACE. The two variable region genes were spliced by overlap extension and assembled ScFv （Vu-linker-VL） gene encoding the anti-H antigen named ScFv2Es. According to the prediction of the three-dimension structure of ScFv2Es and Cul fragment from 2E8 and HIV-1 gp41 antigen peptide, we further constructed the ScFv2Es-Cul-gp41 fusion molecule. The recombinant ScFv2Es-Cul-gp41 gene was cloned into pET-his vector and expressed in BL21（DE3）plysS cells. The fusion protein was purified from the inclusion bodies. In a series of subsequent analyses, this fusion protein showed identical antigen binding site and activity with the parent antibody. Meanwhile, in mimic test, as the main ingredient of reagent for autologous erythrocyte agglutination test, the bifunctional protein could agglutinate the RBCs in the presence of HIV-1 gp41 antibodies using sera from HIV-infected individuals. Cellular ＆ Molecular Immunology. 2008;5（4）：299-306.展开更多
We reported an unusual case of disseminated cryptococcal lymphadenitis in an immunocompetent host who presented with fever and lymphadenopathy, which were the only two symptoms and signs. Latex agglutination test of s...We reported an unusual case of disseminated cryptococcal lymphadenitis in an immunocompetent host who presented with fever and lymphadenopathy, which were the only two symptoms and signs. Latex agglutination test of serum and cerebrospinal fluid （CSF） were negative, while lymph node biopsy showed Cryptococcus neoformans. A diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcal lymphadenitis was made. Then the patient was treated with amphotericin B for 15 days as initial therapy and itraconazole for 6 months as maintenance therapy respectively. The patient received re-examination per 6 months and was followed up for 2 years. Swollen lymph nodes diminished gradually, and no fever or other symptoms were found. Latex agglutination test of serum and CSF were negative throughout the follow-up period, and anti-HIV, syphilis and tuberculosis antibody were all negative.展开更多
Recently, we proposed a new strategy to construct artificial plant protein assemblies, which were induced by adding a small molecule, based on dual supramolecular interactions. In this paper, we further explored this ...Recently, we proposed a new strategy to construct artificial plant protein assemblies, which were induced by adding a small molecule, based on dual supramolecular interactions. In this paper, we further explored this method by employing Human Galectin-1 （Gal-1） as a building block to form self-assembled microribbons. Two non-covalent interactions, including lactose-lectin binding and dimerization of Rhodamine B （RhB）, induced by the small molecule ligand addition, were involved in the crosslinking of the animal protein, resulting in the formation of assemblies. By using transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, cryo-electron microscopy （cryo-EM）, and three-dimensional （3D） tomographic analysis, we arrived at a possible mechanistic model for the microribbon formation. Furthermore, the morphology of protein assemblies could be fine-tuned by varying the incubation time, the protein/ligand ratio, and the chemical structures of ligands. Interestingly, the formation of protein microribbons successfully inhibited Gal-1 induced T-cell agglutination and apoptosis. This is because the multivalent and dynamic interactions in protein assemblies compete with the binding between Gal-1 and the glycans on cell surfaces, which suppresses the function of Gal-1 in promotion of tumor progression and metastasis.展开更多
The agglutination characteristics of serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus were studied in this paper. The results showed that the serum agglutinin had no agglutination to crucian carp, Chinese soft shell tur...The agglutination characteristics of serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus were studied in this paper. The results showed that the serum agglutinin had no agglutination to crucian carp, Chinese soft shell turtle, grass carp, chicken or human group A, B or O blood cells, but had strong agglutination to blood cells of mice and rabbits. The activities of serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus to mice blood cells reached 210, and to rabbit blood cells reached 28. Salinity had a greater effect on agglutinin activity. When the Na Cl concentration exceeded 0.6 mol/L,the serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus was basically inactivated. The optimum p H for agglutinin activity was 6.0-7.4. The serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus had obvious dependence to Ca2 ＋and Mg2 ＋, and EDTA could significantly inhibit its activity. The results of sugar inhibition test showed that the activity of agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus can be specifically inhibited by N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmannosamine. The serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus was isolated by ammonium sulfate gradient precipitation, and its activity was highest by the 25% ammonium sulfate precipitation system. The SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis（SDS-PAGE） showed that the protein bands were mainly distributed within 72-95 ku.展开更多
Objective:To assess the distribution of ABO blood group and their relationship with Plasmodium falciparum(P.falciparum) malaria among febrile outpatients who sought medical attention at Dore Bafeno Health Center,South...Objective:To assess the distribution of ABO blood group and their relationship with Plasmodium falciparum(P.falciparum) malaria among febrile outpatients who sought medical attention at Dore Bafeno Health Center,Southern Ethiopia.Methods:A total of 269 febrile outpatients who visited Dore Bafeno Health Center,Southern Ethiopia,were examined for malaria and also tested for ABO blood groups in January 2010.The blood specimens were collected by finger pricking,stained with Geimsa,and examined microscopically.Positive cases of the parasitemia were counted.CareStart^(TM) Malaria PflPv Combo was also used to test the blood specimens for malaria.ABO blood groups were determined by agglutination test using ERYCLONE antisera.Data on socio-demographic characteristics and treatment status of the participants were also collected.Chi-square and ANOVA tests were used to assess the difference between frequencies and means,respectively.Results:Out of a total of 269 participants,178(66.2%) febrile patients were found to be infected with Plasmodium parasites,among which 146(54.3%),28(10.4%),and 4(1.5%) belonged to P.falciparum,P.vivax,and mixed infections,respectively.All febrile patients were also tested for ABO blood groups and 51.3%,23.5%,21.9%and 3.3%were found to be blood types of 0,A,B and AB,respectively.Both total malaria infection and P.falciparum infection showed significant association with blood types(P<0.05).The proportion of A or B but not 0 phenotypes was higher(P<0.05) in individuals with P.falciparum as compared with non-infected individuals.The chance of having P.falciparum infection in patients with blood groups A,B and AB was 2.5,2.5 and 3.3times more than individuals showing blood 0 phenotypes,respectively.The mean P.falciparum malaria parasitemia for blood groups A,B,AB,and 0 were 3 744/μ L,1 805/ μ L,5 331/μ L,and1 515/μ L,respectively(P<0.01).Conclusions:The present findings indicate that individuals of blood groups A,B and AB are more susceptible to P.falciparum infection as compared with individuals of blood group O.Nevertheless,further in depth studies are required to clearly establish the role that ABO blood group plays in P.falciparum malaria.展开更多
Metallic nanoparticles have received considerable attention in bioassays and diagnostics due to their unique surface plasmon resonance(SPR) properties.Gold nanoparticles have been employed for the development of SPR-b...Metallic nanoparticles have received considerable attention in bioassays and diagnostics due to their unique surface plasmon resonance(SPR) properties.Gold nanoparticles have been employed for the development of SPR-based colorimetric bioassays.In the present report we have described a sensitive colorimetric approach for estimation of proteins,within a detection limit of 10?80 μg/m L,using unmodified silver nanoparticles.Besides the common advantages of colorimetric assay such as simplicity,high sensitivity,and low cost,our method has a label-free design and provides an important and attractive alternative to classical sensing probes and systems.The present work will contribute to the development of nanotechnology-based diagnostic tools.展开更多
Objective:To highlight the spectrum of clinical manifestations,labs,complications,treatment and outcome of brucellosis.Methods:Retrospective study was conducted in Kasturba Medical College,Manipal University,Karnataka...Objective:To highlight the spectrum of clinical manifestations,labs,complications,treatment and outcome of brucellosis.Methods:Retrospective study was conducted in Kasturba Medical College,Manipal University,Karnataka,India which included 68 confirmed cases of brucellosis from January 2006- April 2010.Diagnosis of brucellosis was made by culturing the sera/body fluids by standard BACTEC method(or) by testing the sera for Brucella agglutinins using the standard agglutination test(SAT).A titer of 1:320 or more was considered as significant.SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis and Microsoft Excel for graphical representation.Results:Of the 68 patients,46(68%) were male and 22(32%) were female patients with age distribution of 9-75 years.Forty four(64.7%) had history of contact with unpasteurized dairy products or infected animals.Symptoms included fever(68,100%),myalgia(21,31%),musculoskeletal symptoms (23,34%),headache(16,24%),gastrointestinal symptoms(19,28%) and altered sensorium(3, 4%).Co-morbidities and associations included HIV positivity(2,3%),type 2 diabetes mellitus (13,19%),steroid therapy(3,4%) and HBsAg positivity(8,12%).Ten(15%) patients had cervical lymphadenopathy,4(6%) had splenic enlargement,6(7%) had hepatomegaly,19(28%) had hepatosplenomegaly and 2(3%) got meningeal signs.Anaemia was observed in 39(57.3%) cases,high erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) was present in 55(80.8%) cases,leucocytosis in 10(14.7%),leucopenia in 10(14.7%),thrombocytopenia in 23(33.82%) and thrombocytosis in 2(2.94%) cases.Conclusions:In countries like India,where brucellosis and tuberculosis are endemic;rapid,sensitive and highly specific diagnostic methods are required to make early diagnosis and prevent resistance as there is an overlap in therapy.展开更多
BACKGROUND Cryptococcus presenting as an opportunistic pathogen mainly affects immunocompromised patients,but the disseminated form of infection is rare among immunocompetent populations.The partial radiographic chara...BACKGROUND Cryptococcus presenting as an opportunistic pathogen mainly affects immunocompromised patients,but the disseminated form of infection is rare among immunocompetent populations.The partial radiographic characteristics of pulmonary cryptococcosis mimic lung carcinoma,leading to unnecessary open chest exploratory surgery,and the lack of a gold-standard noninvasive diagnostic increases the risk of misdiagnosis.Positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT),a sensitive method for distinguishing malignant tumors,coupled with cryptococcal latex agglutination test showing a high positive rate may overcome these issues.CASE A 36-year-old man presented for general examination,without health complaints.Routine CT showed multiple pulmonary nodules and a mass with high maximum standardized uptake value.Initially,we suspected primary malignancy with hematogenous metastasis.Although his routine fungal analysis had been negative,subsequent CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy and histopathology examination indicated a diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis.Fluconazole(200 mg/d)antifungal drug treatment was initiated,and 1 mo later the pulmonary mass had reduced in size markedly(on chest CT scan)without any complications.CONCLUSION Serologic and PET/CT examinations may not rule out cryptococcosis,and percutaneous lung puncture is critical under all circumstances.展开更多
Generalist mammalian predators hunt for prey in different ways than raptors,often relying on ambush attack.Such differences in predator behavior can have profound effects on susceptibility of different species of prey...Generalist mammalian predators hunt for prey in different ways than raptors,often relying on ambush attack.Such differences in predator behavior can have profound effects on susceptibility of different species of prey to predation,but can also modify the behavior of prey.We investigated susceptibility of common birds to predation by domestic cats Felis catus,relying on an extensive data set on prey abundance and prey availability as determined by standardized bird counts.Susceptibility to cat predation for different species of birds was not significantly correlated with susceptibility to predation by sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus,but with susceptibility to goshawk Accipiter gentilis predation. Susceptibility to goshawk predation was independently predicted by susceptibility to cat and sparrowhawk predation.We cross-validated our estimate of susceptibilityto cat predation by showing that the frequency of birds with tail loss increased strongly with sus-ceptibility to cat predation.Male birds were disproportionately preyed upon,especially if havingsong posts low in the vegetation,and if having short flight distances when singing.Colonially breeding species were less susceptible to predation than solitary species.Bird species with high levels of innate immune defense against bacterial infections had high susceptibility to cat predation.These findings suggest that predation by cats has been an important selection pressure affecting anti-predation behavior,sexual display and immune function in common birds.展开更多
Hemipteran group of sap sucking insect pests cause worldwide crop destruction. The role of mannose specific monocot lectins have recently been worked out in hemipteran pest management. The present article demonstrates...Hemipteran group of sap sucking insect pests cause worldwide crop destruction. The role of mannose specific monocot lectins have recently been worked out in hemipteran pest management. The present article demonstrates the insecticidal efficacy of a new mannose specific agglutinin, isolated from tubers of Amorphophallus paeonifolius (AMTL) against a wide range of hemipteran insects. The 25 kDa dimeric protein was found to inhibit the survivability of hemipteran insects namely, Lipaphis erysimi, Aphis gossypii and Dysdercus cingulatus quite efficiently, as analysed by synthetic diet based bioassay experiments. Surface Plasmon Resonance study detected binding of insecticidal AMTL to insect gut brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) protein, an absolute prerequisite for conferring toxicity against target insects. Further ligand blot analysis spotted a ~74 kDa glycoprotein as putative receptor of AMTL from the total BBMV protein fraction of Lipaphis erysimi. Phylogenetic analysis showed a significant relatedness of AMTL to the previously established monocot lectin Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) in terms of their conserved mannose binding domains, agglutinating ability of rabbit erythrocytes and insecticidal efficacies. These information project AMTL as a promising candidate in preventing crop loss caused due to hemipteran insect attack.展开更多
The methods and strategies used to screen for syp-hilis and to confirm initially reactive results can vary significantly across clinical laboratories. While the performance characteristics of these different appro-ach...The methods and strategies used to screen for syp-hilis and to confirm initially reactive results can vary significantly across clinical laboratories. While the performance characteristics of these different appro-aches have been evaluated by multiple studies, there is not, as of yet, a single, universally recommendedalgorithm for syphilis testing. To clarify the currently available options for syphilis testing, this update will summarize the clinical challenges to diagnosis, review the specific performance characteristics of treponemal and non-treponemal tests, and fnally, summarize select studies published over the past decade which have evaluated these approaches. Specifcally, this review will discuss the traditional and reverse sequence syphilis screening algorithms commonly used in the United States, alongside a discussion of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control syphilis algorithm. Ultimately, in the United States, the decision of which algorithm to use is largely dependent on laboratory resources, the local incidence of syphilis and patient demographics. Key words： Syphilis; Treponemal infection; Immuno-assay; Reverse sequence screening; Rapid plasma regain; Treponema pallidum particle agglutination test; Automation; Algorithm; Primary infection; Late latent infection展开更多
As a ‘living fossil' of species origin and ‘rich treasure' of food and nutrition development, sea cucumber has received a lot of attentions from researchers. The cDNA library construction and EST sequencing ...As a ‘living fossil' of species origin and ‘rich treasure' of food and nutrition development, sea cucumber has received a lot of attentions from researchers. The cDNA library construction and EST sequencing of blood had been conducted previously in our lab. The bioinformatic analysis provided a gene fragment which is highly homologous with the genes of lectin family, named AjL(Apostichopus japonicus lectin). To characterize and determine the phylogeny of AjL genes in early evolution, we isolated a fulllength cDNA of lectin gene from the body wall of A. japonicus. The open reading frame of this gene contained 489 bp and encoded a 163 amino acids secretory protein being homologous to lectins of mammals and aquatic organisms. The deduced protein included a lectin-like domain. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that AjL migrated as a specific band(about 36.09 kDa under reducing), and agglutinated against rabbit red blood cells. AjL was similar to chain A of CEL-IV in space structure. We predicted that AjL may play the same role of CEL-IV. Our results suggested that more than one lectin gene functioned in sea cucumber and most of other species, which was fused by uncertain sequences during the evolution and encoded different proteins with diverse functions. Our findings provided the insights into the function and characteristics of lectin genes invertebrates. The results will also be helpful for the identification and structural, functional, and evolutionary analyses of lectin genes.展开更多
Thirty three species of marine algae belonging to Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta and Chlorophyta from the Fujian coast were examined for agglutinins with different animal and human erythrocytes. Protein extracts from 26 speci...Thirty three species of marine algae belonging to Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta and Chlorophyta from the Fujian coast were examined for agglutinins with different animal and human erythrocytes. Protein extracts from 26 species were active against at least one type of the erythrocytes tested. There were 3 species ( Grateloupia imbricata, Ishige foliacea and Entermorpha prolifera ) whose extracts could agglutinate all the erythrocytes used. The lowest protein concentration required to produce erythrocyte agglutination varied remarkably, from 3.1 μg/ml to 500 μg/ml . The strongest activity was found in the agglutination of rabbit erythrocytes by Gloiopeltis furcata extract. Inhibition assays performed with nine mono and bisaccharides indicated that agglutinations of rabbit erythrocytes by extracts of 7 species were inhibited by one or more types of the sugars assayed. The agglutinating activity shown by extracts of most species was not affected when the test solution was heated to 90℃, but was lost at 95℃-100℃. A few extracts lost their activity at 60℃, 65℃ and 75 ℃, respectively.展开更多
基金Supported by a grant form Research Council of Shahid BahonarUniversity of Kerman.Iran
文摘Objective:To detect leptospiral antibodies by microscopic agglutination test(MAT) in northeast of Iran.Methods:This study was conducted to evaluate prevalence of human leptospiral infections by MAT.using six current reference strains of Leptospira interrogans in north-east of Iran.A total of 285 serum samples were collected from three north-east provinces of Iran,from December,2009 to June,2010.Results:Antibodies were detected at least against one serovar of Leptospira interrogans in 45 sera(15.79%) among 283 samples at a dilution 1:100 or greater.Positive titers against more than one serovar were detected in 24 sera of the positive samples.Therefore, there were 75 positive reactions against different serovar of Leptospira interrogans.Positive titers were recorded against serovar icterohaemorrhagiae(31 samples),hardjo(26 samples), grippotyphosa(7 samples),pomona(5 samples),canicola(4 samples) and ballum(2.sample). Conclusions:In present study the most prevalent(Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae) and the least prevalent(Leptospira ballum) serovar are different from previous studies.Maybe,species and prevalence of serovars change during the lime in one area and between regions.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the antioxidant,antibacterial and bacterial cell agglutination activities of the hexane(Hex) and 70%ethanol(70%EtOH) extracts of two species of red seaweeds Pterocladiella capillacea(P.capillacea) and Osmundaria obtusiloba.Methods:In vitro antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH radical scavenging assay,ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay,ferrous ion chelating assay,β-carotene bleaching assay and total phenolic content quantification.Antimicrobial activity was tested using the method of disc diffusion on Mueller-Hinton medium.The ability of algal extracts to agglutinate bacterial cells was also tested.Results:The 70%EtOH extract of the two algae showed the highest values of total phenolic content compared to the Hex extract.The results of DPPH for both extracts(Hex,70%EtOH) of Osmundaria obtusiloba(43.46%and 99.47%) were higher than those of P.capillacea(33.04%and 40.81%) at a concentration of 1 000 μg/mL.As for the ferrous ion chelating,there was an opposite behavior,extracts of P.capillacea had a higher activity.The extracts showed a low ferric-reducing antioxidant power,with optical density ranging from0.054 to 0.180.Antioxidant activities of all extracts evaluated for β-carotene bleaching were above 40%.There was no antibacterial activity against bacterial strains tested.However,the extracts of both species were able to agglutinate bacterial Gram positive cells of Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative cells of Escherichia coli,multidrug-resistant Salmonella and Vibrio harveyi.Conclusions This is the first report of the interaction between these algal extracts,rich in natural compounds with antioxidant potential,and Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial cells.
文摘Labial agglutination occurs when the labia minora have become fused in the midline through either filmy or dense adhesions, forming a raphe. This condition is typically seen in pre-pubertal girls;however, there have been cases reported in the literature of labial agglutination in postmenopausal and reproductive aged women. Labial agglutination has been associated with local irritation and inflammation in the setting of a hypoestrogenic state. Topical treatment is usually recommended prior to manual separation. However, some postmenopausal women have been refractory to conservative management, and surgery may then be required. We present a case of a 79-year-old Caucasian gravida 3 para 3 who was referred for treatment refractory labial agglutination for 3 years. The patient’s complaints included a small trickle escaping from the introitus during urination and the sensation of little urinary control. The patient underwent an exam under anesthesia. Gentle blunt dissection with a lacrimal dilator easily separated the labia minora down the visible midline fusion line (raphe). Bimanual exam then revealed a 12-week-sized enlarged uterus confirmed on ultrasound to be an 8 × 8 × 7 cm irregular mass concerning for uterine cancer. Proceeding to an operative release of severe labial agglutination can relieve patient discomfort and frustration when estradiol therapy has failed. In addition to alleviating symptoms, releasing labial agglutination can also provide the gynecologist access to critical screening procedures such as cervical cytology or a bimanual exam, all of which could lead to a diagnosis or pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions.
基金supported by the Open Project of the State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, China (SKLVEB 2013 KFKT 0015)
文摘An agglutination test based on colored silica nanoparticles(colored SiNps) was established to detect serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Monodisperse colored SiNps were used as agglutination test carriers. The colored SiNps were prepared through reverse microemulsion with reactive dyes, sensitized with 11 kinds of mono-specific antibodies against P. aeruginosa, and denoted as IgG-colored SiNps. Eleven kinds of IgG-colored SiNps were individually mixed with P. aeruginosa on a glass slide.Different serotypes of P. aeruginosa could be identified by agglutination test with evident agglutination. The P. aeruginosa could be detected in a range from 3.6×10^5 to 3.6×10^12 cfu mL^–1. This new agglutination test was confirmed to be a specific,sensitive, fast, easy-to-perform, and cost-efficient tool for the routine diagnosis of P. aeruginosa.
基金funded by Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Project No:88-01-27-9353)National Institute of Health Research,Islamic Republic of Iran(Project No:241/1441)
文摘Objective:To prepare and evaluate a glycerol-preserved antigen from an Iranian strain of Leishmania infantum(L infantum) for use in glycerol-preserved direct agglutination tests (GP-DAT) as an alternative to freeze dried direct agglutination teals(FD-DAT) that use freezedried antigen.Methods:Glycerol-preserved DAT antigen was prepared and stored at different temperatures.We tested antigen stored at 4℃,22-37℃and 50℃over a period of 365 days. Seven hundred twenty-nine serum samples were collected from different geographical zones of Iran from 2007-2009,and 80 of these samples were pooled to produce sera.Each pooled serum contained 10 sera.All positive and negative pooled sera were separately tested for anti-L. infantum antibodies with GP-DAT,FD-DAT and formaldehyde-fixed direct agglutination test (FF-DAT) antigens;tests were performed on both human and dog sera over a period of 12 months. Results:There was strong agreement between the results obtained using GP-DAT and FDDAT antigens stored at 22-37℃for 12 months for both human(100%) and dog(100%) pooled sera.The direct agglutination test results were highly reproducible(weighted kappa:GP=0.833, FD=0.979 and FF=0.917).Conclusions:Because GP-DAT antigen is highly stable over a range of temperatures and is easy to transport in the field,this type of antigen may be particularly useful in areas with endemic visceral leishmaniasis.
基金the National Basic Research Program of China (2002CB513203)
文摘H antigen, the precursor of A and B antigens, belongs to Hh blood system in which it is the only antigen. H antigen distributes on all the human RBC surface except for Bombay phenotype and the copy number of H antigen on the surface of an adult RBC is approximately 1.7 × 10^6. These characteristics made H antigen the potential target molecule for the immunoassay and immunotherapy. A monoclonal antibody 2E8 against H antigen on the surface of erythrocyte had been prepared in previous work. Based on this antibody, the variable region genes of heavy and light chains （Vu and VL） from 2E8 had been cloned by 5＇ RACE. The two variable region genes were spliced by overlap extension and assembled ScFv （Vu-linker-VL） gene encoding the anti-H antigen named ScFv2Es. According to the prediction of the three-dimension structure of ScFv2Es and Cul fragment from 2E8 and HIV-1 gp41 antigen peptide, we further constructed the ScFv2Es-Cul-gp41 fusion molecule. The recombinant ScFv2Es-Cul-gp41 gene was cloned into pET-his vector and expressed in BL21（DE3）plysS cells. The fusion protein was purified from the inclusion bodies. In a series of subsequent analyses, this fusion protein showed identical antigen binding site and activity with the parent antibody. Meanwhile, in mimic test, as the main ingredient of reagent for autologous erythrocyte agglutination test, the bifunctional protein could agglutinate the RBCs in the presence of HIV-1 gp41 antibodies using sera from HIV-infected individuals. Cellular ＆ Molecular Immunology. 2008;5（4）：299-306.
文摘We reported an unusual case of disseminated cryptococcal lymphadenitis in an immunocompetent host who presented with fever and lymphadenopathy, which were the only two symptoms and signs. Latex agglutination test of serum and cerebrospinal fluid （CSF） were negative, while lymph node biopsy showed Cryptococcus neoformans. A diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcal lymphadenitis was made. Then the patient was treated with amphotericin B for 15 days as initial therapy and itraconazole for 6 months as maintenance therapy respectively. The patient received re-examination per 6 months and was followed up for 2 years. Swollen lymph nodes diminished gradually, and no fever or other symptoms were found. Latex agglutination test of serum and CSF were negative throughout the follow-up period, and anti-HIV, syphilis and tuberculosis antibody were all negative.
基金We acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Nos. 51721002, 21504016, and 91527305）. We thank Joint Lab for Structural Research at the Integrative Research Institute for the Sciences （IRIS Adlershof, Berlin） for Cryo-TEM imaging.
文摘Recently, we proposed a new strategy to construct artificial plant protein assemblies, which were induced by adding a small molecule, based on dual supramolecular interactions. In this paper, we further explored this method by employing Human Galectin-1 （Gal-1） as a building block to form self-assembled microribbons. Two non-covalent interactions, including lactose-lectin binding and dimerization of Rhodamine B （RhB）, induced by the small molecule ligand addition, were involved in the crosslinking of the animal protein, resulting in the formation of assemblies. By using transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, cryo-electron microscopy （cryo-EM）, and three-dimensional （3D） tomographic analysis, we arrived at a possible mechanistic model for the microribbon formation. Furthermore, the morphology of protein assemblies could be fine-tuned by varying the incubation time, the protein/ligand ratio, and the chemical structures of ligands. Interestingly, the formation of protein microribbons successfully inhibited Gal-1 induced T-cell agglutination and apoptosis. This is because the multivalent and dynamic interactions in protein assemblies compete with the binding between Gal-1 and the glycans on cell surfaces, which suppresses the function of Gal-1 in promotion of tumor progression and metastasis.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(41106123)National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(863 Program)(2012AA10A409)+1 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LY12C19009)Key Special Project of Department of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province(2012C12907-3)
文摘The agglutination characteristics of serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus were studied in this paper. The results showed that the serum agglutinin had no agglutination to crucian carp, Chinese soft shell turtle, grass carp, chicken or human group A, B or O blood cells, but had strong agglutination to blood cells of mice and rabbits. The activities of serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus to mice blood cells reached 210, and to rabbit blood cells reached 28. Salinity had a greater effect on agglutinin activity. When the Na Cl concentration exceeded 0.6 mol/L,the serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus was basically inactivated. The optimum p H for agglutinin activity was 6.0-7.4. The serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus had obvious dependence to Ca2 ＋and Mg2 ＋, and EDTA could significantly inhibit its activity. The results of sugar inhibition test showed that the activity of agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus can be specifically inhibited by N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmannosamine. The serum agglutinin from Portunus trituberculatus was isolated by ammonium sulfate gradient precipitation, and its activity was highest by the 25% ammonium sulfate precipitation system. The SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis（SDS-PAGE） showed that the protein bands were mainly distributed within 72-95 ku.
基金Supported by School of Graduate Studies through Aklilu LemmaInstitute of Pathobiology,Addis Ababa University(No:RDP/Py-014/09)
文摘Objective:To assess the distribution of ABO blood group and their relationship with Plasmodium falciparum(P.falciparum) malaria among febrile outpatients who sought medical attention at Dore Bafeno Health Center,Southern Ethiopia.Methods:A total of 269 febrile outpatients who visited Dore Bafeno Health Center,Southern Ethiopia,were examined for malaria and also tested for ABO blood groups in January 2010.The blood specimens were collected by finger pricking,stained with Geimsa,and examined microscopically.Positive cases of the parasitemia were counted.CareStart^(TM) Malaria PflPv Combo was also used to test the blood specimens for malaria.ABO blood groups were determined by agglutination test using ERYCLONE antisera.Data on socio-demographic characteristics and treatment status of the participants were also collected.Chi-square and ANOVA tests were used to assess the difference between frequencies and means,respectively.Results:Out of a total of 269 participants,178(66.2%) febrile patients were found to be infected with Plasmodium parasites,among which 146(54.3%),28(10.4%),and 4(1.5%) belonged to P.falciparum,P.vivax,and mixed infections,respectively.All febrile patients were also tested for ABO blood groups and 51.3%,23.5%,21.9%and 3.3%were found to be blood types of 0,A,B and AB,respectively.Both total malaria infection and P.falciparum infection showed significant association with blood types(P<0.05).The proportion of A or B but not 0 phenotypes was higher(P<0.05) in individuals with P.falciparum as compared with non-infected individuals.The chance of having P.falciparum infection in patients with blood groups A,B and AB was 2.5,2.5 and 3.3times more than individuals showing blood 0 phenotypes,respectively.The mean P.falciparum malaria parasitemia for blood groups A,B,AB,and 0 were 3 744/μ L,1 805/ μ L,5 331/μ L,and1 515/μ L,respectively(P<0.01).Conclusions:The present findings indicate that individuals of blood groups A,B and AB are more susceptible to P.falciparum infection as compared with individuals of blood group O.Nevertheless,further in depth studies are required to clearly establish the role that ABO blood group plays in P.falciparum malaria.
基金Grants received by D. Dash from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT),Government of India,and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),and equipment supports from the DST Unit on Nanoscience and Technology (DST-UNANST),Banaras Hindu University,and Humboldt Foundation
文摘Metallic nanoparticles have received considerable attention in bioassays and diagnostics due to their unique surface plasmon resonance(SPR) properties.Gold nanoparticles have been employed for the development of SPR-based colorimetric bioassays.In the present report we have described a sensitive colorimetric approach for estimation of proteins,within a detection limit of 10?80 μg/m L,using unmodified silver nanoparticles.Besides the common advantages of colorimetric assay such as simplicity,high sensitivity,and low cost,our method has a label-free design and provides an important and attractive alternative to classical sensing probes and systems.The present work will contribute to the development of nanotechnology-based diagnostic tools.
文摘Objective:To highlight the spectrum of clinical manifestations,labs,complications,treatment and outcome of brucellosis.Methods:Retrospective study was conducted in Kasturba Medical College,Manipal University,Karnataka,India which included 68 confirmed cases of brucellosis from January 2006- April 2010.Diagnosis of brucellosis was made by culturing the sera/body fluids by standard BACTEC method(or) by testing the sera for Brucella agglutinins using the standard agglutination test(SAT).A titer of 1:320 or more was considered as significant.SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis and Microsoft Excel for graphical representation.Results:Of the 68 patients,46(68%) were male and 22(32%) were female patients with age distribution of 9-75 years.Forty four(64.7%) had history of contact with unpasteurized dairy products or infected animals.Symptoms included fever(68,100%),myalgia(21,31%),musculoskeletal symptoms (23,34%),headache(16,24%),gastrointestinal symptoms(19,28%) and altered sensorium(3, 4%).Co-morbidities and associations included HIV positivity(2,3%),type 2 diabetes mellitus (13,19%),steroid therapy(3,4%) and HBsAg positivity(8,12%).Ten(15%) patients had cervical lymphadenopathy,4(6%) had splenic enlargement,6(7%) had hepatomegaly,19(28%) had hepatosplenomegaly and 2(3%) got meningeal signs.Anaemia was observed in 39(57.3%) cases,high erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) was present in 55(80.8%) cases,leucocytosis in 10(14.7%),leucopenia in 10(14.7%),thrombocytopenia in 23(33.82%) and thrombocytosis in 2(2.94%) cases.Conclusions:In countries like India,where brucellosis and tuberculosis are endemic;rapid,sensitive and highly specific diagnostic methods are required to make early diagnosis and prevent resistance as there is an overlap in therapy.
基金The Colleges and Universities in Anhui Province Natural Science Research Projects,No.KJ2018A0208.
文摘BACKGROUND Cryptococcus presenting as an opportunistic pathogen mainly affects immunocompromised patients,but the disseminated form of infection is rare among immunocompetent populations.The partial radiographic characteristics of pulmonary cryptococcosis mimic lung carcinoma,leading to unnecessary open chest exploratory surgery,and the lack of a gold-standard noninvasive diagnostic increases the risk of misdiagnosis.Positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT),a sensitive method for distinguishing malignant tumors,coupled with cryptococcal latex agglutination test showing a high positive rate may overcome these issues.CASE A 36-year-old man presented for general examination,without health complaints.Routine CT showed multiple pulmonary nodules and a mass with high maximum standardized uptake value.Initially,we suspected primary malignancy with hematogenous metastasis.Although his routine fungal analysis had been negative,subsequent CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy and histopathology examination indicated a diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis.Fluconazole(200 mg/d)antifungal drug treatment was initiated,and 1 mo later the pulmonary mass had reduced in size markedly(on chest CT scan)without any complications.CONCLUSION Serologic and PET/CT examinations may not rule out cryptococcosis,and percutaneous lung puncture is critical under all circumstances.
文摘Generalist mammalian predators hunt for prey in different ways than raptors,often relying on ambush attack.Such differences in predator behavior can have profound effects on susceptibility of different species of prey to predation,but can also modify the behavior of prey.We investigated susceptibility of common birds to predation by domestic cats Felis catus,relying on an extensive data set on prey abundance and prey availability as determined by standardized bird counts.Susceptibility to cat predation for different species of birds was not significantly correlated with susceptibility to predation by sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus,but with susceptibility to goshawk Accipiter gentilis predation. Susceptibility to goshawk predation was independently predicted by susceptibility to cat and sparrowhawk predation.We cross-validated our estimate of susceptibilityto cat predation by showing that the frequency of birds with tail loss increased strongly with sus-ceptibility to cat predation.Male birds were disproportionately preyed upon,especially if havingsong posts low in the vegetation,and if having short flight distances when singing.Colonially breeding species were less susceptible to predation than solitary species.Bird species with high levels of innate immune defense against bacterial infections had high susceptibility to cat predation.These findings suggest that predation by cats has been an important selection pressure affecting anti-predation behavior,sexual display and immune function in common birds.
文摘Hemipteran group of sap sucking insect pests cause worldwide crop destruction. The role of mannose specific monocot lectins have recently been worked out in hemipteran pest management. The present article demonstrates the insecticidal efficacy of a new mannose specific agglutinin, isolated from tubers of Amorphophallus paeonifolius (AMTL) against a wide range of hemipteran insects. The 25 kDa dimeric protein was found to inhibit the survivability of hemipteran insects namely, Lipaphis erysimi, Aphis gossypii and Dysdercus cingulatus quite efficiently, as analysed by synthetic diet based bioassay experiments. Surface Plasmon Resonance study detected binding of insecticidal AMTL to insect gut brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) protein, an absolute prerequisite for conferring toxicity against target insects. Further ligand blot analysis spotted a ~74 kDa glycoprotein as putative receptor of AMTL from the total BBMV protein fraction of Lipaphis erysimi. Phylogenetic analysis showed a significant relatedness of AMTL to the previously established monocot lectin Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) in terms of their conserved mannose binding domains, agglutinating ability of rabbit erythrocytes and insecticidal efficacies. These information project AMTL as a promising candidate in preventing crop loss caused due to hemipteran insect attack.
文摘The methods and strategies used to screen for syp-hilis and to confirm initially reactive results can vary significantly across clinical laboratories. While the performance characteristics of these different appro-aches have been evaluated by multiple studies, there is not, as of yet, a single, universally recommendedalgorithm for syphilis testing. To clarify the currently available options for syphilis testing, this update will summarize the clinical challenges to diagnosis, review the specific performance characteristics of treponemal and non-treponemal tests, and fnally, summarize select studies published over the past decade which have evaluated these approaches. Specifcally, this review will discuss the traditional and reverse sequence syphilis screening algorithms commonly used in the United States, alongside a discussion of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control syphilis algorithm. Ultimately, in the United States, the decision of which algorithm to use is largely dependent on laboratory resources, the local incidence of syphilis and patient demographics. Key words： Syphilis; Treponemal infection; Immuno-assay; Reverse sequence screening; Rapid plasma regain; Treponema pallidum particle agglutination test; Automation; Algorithm; Primary infection; Late latent infection
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.31502198 and 31572608)The Scientific Research Project of Department of Education of Liaoning Province (No.L2014284)+1 种基金The Dalian Fisheries Association of Industrial Technology Innovation,China (No.201400486)The Doctoral startup fund of Dalian Ocean University (No.HDYJ201407)
文摘As a ‘living fossil' of species origin and ‘rich treasure' of food and nutrition development, sea cucumber has received a lot of attentions from researchers. The cDNA library construction and EST sequencing of blood had been conducted previously in our lab. The bioinformatic analysis provided a gene fragment which is highly homologous with the genes of lectin family, named AjL(Apostichopus japonicus lectin). To characterize and determine the phylogeny of AjL genes in early evolution, we isolated a fulllength cDNA of lectin gene from the body wall of A. japonicus. The open reading frame of this gene contained 489 bp and encoded a 163 amino acids secretory protein being homologous to lectins of mammals and aquatic organisms. The deduced protein included a lectin-like domain. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that AjL migrated as a specific band(about 36.09 kDa under reducing), and agglutinated against rabbit red blood cells. AjL was similar to chain A of CEL-IV in space structure. We predicted that AjL may play the same role of CEL-IV. Our results suggested that more than one lectin gene functioned in sea cucumber and most of other species, which was fused by uncertain sequences during the evolution and encoded different proteins with diverse functions. Our findings provided the insights into the function and characteristics of lectin genes invertebrates. The results will also be helpful for the identification and structural, functional, and evolutionary analyses of lectin genes.
文摘Thirty three species of marine algae belonging to Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta and Chlorophyta from the Fujian coast were examined for agglutinins with different animal and human erythrocytes. Protein extracts from 26 species were active against at least one type of the erythrocytes tested. There were 3 species ( Grateloupia imbricata, Ishige foliacea and Entermorpha prolifera ) whose extracts could agglutinate all the erythrocytes used. The lowest protein concentration required to produce erythrocyte agglutination varied remarkably, from 3.1 μg/ml to 500 μg/ml . The strongest activity was found in the agglutination of rabbit erythrocytes by Gloiopeltis furcata extract. Inhibition assays performed with nine mono and bisaccharides indicated that agglutinations of rabbit erythrocytes by extracts of 7 species were inhibited by one or more types of the sugars assayed. The agglutinating activity shown by extracts of most species was not affected when the test solution was heated to 90℃, but was lost at 95℃-100℃. A few extracts lost their activity at 60℃, 65℃ and 75 ℃, respectively.
