Hemagglutinating Activity Research Articles

PckA-deficient Porphyromonas gingivalis W83 shows reduction in hemagglutination activity and alteration in the distribution of gingipain activity.

Bacterial metabolism during infection is related to bacterial persistence and virulence factors. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a key pathogen that contributes to chronic periodontitis. Our previous study showed that pckA, the gene encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, is a putative-specific pathogenic gene of virulent strains of P. gingivalis. Here, a pckA-deficient strain (ΔPG1676) was constructed in P. gingivalis W83. Virulence properties were compared between the mutant and wild-type strains. Specifically, hemagglutination activity was determined by the ability to agglutinate sheep erythrocytes. Gingipain activity was detected using synthetic-specific substrates. Gene expression levels were analyzed using RT-qPCR, and cell surface-associated polysaccharides were examined by silver staining and electron microscopy. Inactivation of the pckA gene did not affect bacterial growth and lipopolysaccharide formation but led to a reduction in hemagglutination activity and downregulation in expression of the hemagglutination-associated gene, rfa, when compared with the wild-type strain. Additionally, the ΔPG1676 mutant exhibited an alteration in the distribution of gingipain activity. Increased gingipain activity was detected on the cell surface, but a decrease in its activity in the culture supernatant was shown. Taken together, our results suggest that the pckA gene plays a role in modulating the virulence of P. gingivalis W83.

A rapid and effective method for purification of a heat-resistant lectin from potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers.

The potato lectin has been identified to consist of two chitin-binding modules, each containing twin hevein domains. Based on the thermotolerance of the hevein polypeptide, a simple, rapid, and effective protocol for the small-scale purification of the potato lectin has been developed in this study. The method involves only one anion exchange chromatographic step beyond the ammonium sulfate precipitation and the heating treatment. With this method, the potato lectin, a glycoprotein with molecular mass of approximately 60kDa was found and purified to homogeneity with 9513.3 u/mg of specific hemagglutination (HA) activity in 76.8% yield. The homogeneity was confirmed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and reverse-phase HPLC analysis. The purified lectin was identified using MS-based peptide sequencing (MALDI-TOF/TOF) and showed a 100% Confidence Interval as being homologous to hevein domains in potato lectin. The periodic acid-Schiff staining and ferric-orcinol assay for pentose, as well as its HA activity inhibition by chitosan oligomers further confirmed the purified lectin as a potato chitin-binding lectin. It is noteworthy that the purified potato lectin exhibited heat resistance, by which, together with a short time precipitation by ammonium sulfate, more than 96% of the total proteins in the crude extract were removed. The lectin therefore was easily resolved from the other remining proteins on a DEAE-methyl polyacrylate column.

Biochemical and structural characterization of a mannose binding jacalin-related lectin with two-sugar binding sites from pineapple (Ananas comosus) stem

A mannose binding jacalin-related lectin from Ananas comosus stem (AcmJRL) was purified and biochemically characterized. This lectin is homogeneous according to native, SDS-PAGE and N-terminal sequencing and the theoretical molecular mass was confirmed by ESI-Q-TOF-MS. AcmJRL was found homodimeric in solution by size-exclusion chromatography. Rat erythrocytes are agglutinated by AcmJRL while no agglutination activity is detected against rabbit and sheep erythrocytes. Hemagglutination activity was found more strongly inhibited by mannooligomannosides than by D-mannose. The carbohydrate-binding specificity of AcmJRL was determined in some detail by isothermal titration calorimetry. All sugars tested were found to bind with low affinity to AcmJRL, with Ka values in the mM range. In agreement with hemagglutination assays, the affinity increased from D-mannose to di-, tri- and penta-mannooligosaccharides. Moreover, the X-ray crystal structure of AcmJRL was obtained in an apo form as well as in complex with D-mannose and methyl-α-D-mannopyranoside, revealing two carbohydrate-binding sites per monomer similar to the banana lectin BanLec. The absence of a wall separating the two binding sites, the conformation of β7β8 loop and the hemagglutinating activity are reminiscent of the BanLec His84Thr mutant, which presents a strong anti-HIV activity in absence of mitogenic activity.

Purification and characterization of a lectin with refolding ability from Genipa americana bark

Genipa americana L., commonly known as genipap, is a plant with economical and medicinal importance, and a promising source of bioactive compounds. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with several biotechnological applications. This study reports the isolation and characterization of a G. americana bark lectin (GaBL). A single chromatographic procedure on Sephacryl S-100 resulted in isolation of GaBL, a protein with native molecular weight of over 200 kDa and pI 4.02, whose hemagglutinating activity was inhibited by lactose and fetuin, not affected by ions (Ca2+ and Mg2+), and stable upon heating (303–393 K) as well as over the pH range 5–10. The highest activity was found at a temperature lower than 333 K and pH 5. The secondary structure was analyzed by circular dichroism and showed a prevalence of beta structures and unordered forms. GaBL was able to partially refold in acidic pH conditions when dissolved in PBS buffer at pH 7.4. In conclusion, GaBL was purified in milligram quantities with high stability against different conditions, and is a new biomaterial with potential biotechnological applications.

Paracoccidioides restrepiensis B339 (PS3) and P. lutzii LDR2 yeast cells and soluble components display in vitro hemolytic and hemagglutinating activities on human erythrocytes.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by thermodimorfic fungi of Paracoccidioides species complex. Several pathogenic fungi produce hemagglutinins and hemolysins, which are virulence factors involved in adhesion of pathogens to host tissues or cells and in destruction of erythrocytes. The present research investigated hemolytic and hemagglutinating activities of yeast cells and soluble components from P. restrepiensis (PS3; former P. brasiliensis B339) and P. lutzii (LDR2). Different concentrations of live and heat-killed yeast cells and soluble components from cell free antigen preparation (CFA) (native or heated - 56 and 100 °C, 30 min) were mixed with 1% human erythrocyte suspension. Yeast cells from both species caused hemolysis, but P. lutzii LDR2 was more hemolytic than P. restrepiensis B339, while the opposite phenomena occurred with soluble components in most conditions. Live or heat-killed yeast cells of both fungi agglutinated erythrocytes, but only heated soluble components from P. restrepiensis B339 showed hemagglutinating activity. In conclusion, yeast cells of P. restrepiensis B339 and P. lutzii LDR2 produce hemolysins and hemagglutinins, which most likely are more restricted to yeast cells in P. lutzii LDR2 and are more released in soluble form byP. restrepiensis B339, requiring further study.

Mosquito-larvicidal BinA toxin displays affinity for glycoconjugates: Proposal for BinA mediated cytotoxicity.

Lysinibacillus sphaericus parasporal BinAB toxin displays mosquito larvicidal activity against Culex and Anopheles, but several Aedes species are refractory. Recently reported crystal structure of BinAB revealed the presence of N-terminal lectin-like domain in BinA. Hemagglutination and hemolytic activities were not observed for BinA in the present studies. We attempted to characterize carbohydrate specificity of BinA by high-throughput approaches using extrinsic fluorescence and thermofluor shift assay. A total of 34 saccharides (mono-, di- and polysaccharides, and glycoproteins) were used for initial high-throughput screening. The promising glycans were identified based on significant change in the fluorescence intensity. Surface plasmon resonance revealed differential binding of BinA with glycoproteins (fetuin, asialofetuin and thyroglobulin) and affinity for simple sugars, l-fucose and l-arabinose. In the limited carbohydrate competition assay, arabinose, fucose and fetuin inhibited BinA toxicity towards Culex larvae. This study for the first time provides direct evidence that BinA is competent to bind diverse and structurally different glycosylated proteins. This activity may be linked to its intracellular cytotoxicity, as protein N-glycosylation is thought to be critical for development and survival of insect larvae. The glycoproteins do not form stable complexes with BinA, however, as observed in the pull-down assay using affinity immobilized BinA and in native-PAGE analysis. As BinA displays only mild affinity with receptor polypeptide, we hypothesize that toxin-receptor specificity of BinA in Culex may be mediated by dual interaction of BinA with glycan core of GPI anchor and receptor polypeptide. The study shall be useful for refining strategies for improving larvicidal activity and for broadening target specificity of BinAB toxin.

A novel serological assay for influenza based on DiD fluorescence dequenching that is free from observer bias and potentially automatable – A proof of concept study

BackgroundSerum hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and microneutralization (MN) antibodies are often used as a correlate of protection for influenza. However, these manual assays are labor-intensive and difficult to standardize due to variability in biologic reagents used and subjective interpretation of the results. MethodsSera with known HAI and MN titers were used to assess a novel test based on the inhibition of fluorescence ‘dequenching’. Whole influenza virions (A/California/07/2009 (H1N1), A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2) and B/Brisbane/60/2008) labelled with 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindodicarbocyanine perchlorate (DiD) were exposed to serial dilutions of serum and mixed with turkey red blood cells followed by acidification of the media (pH 5.0–5.5). The H1N1 and B/Brisbane strains were high hemagglutinating while the H3N2 strain had low hemagglutinating activity. In some experiments, labelled virions were subjected to repetitive freeze-thaw cycles prior to use in the assay. ResultsIn the absence of detectable HAI/MN antibodies, there were consistent and substantial increases from baseline DiD fluorescence upon acidification. Sera with known high titer HAI/MN antibodies reduced or completely prevented DiD dequenching at low dilutions with progressive increases in fluorescence at higher dilutions, which permitted a reproducible assignment of an antibody ‘titer’ based on baseline and acidified DiD fluorescence values. The ‘titers’ measured by the DiD dequenching assay were highly correlated with HAI/MN results for the H1N1 and B strains (Spearman’s correlation coefficients (rs) 0.874 to 0.946, p < 10−7 to 10−35). Correlations with HAI/MN titres for the low-hemagglutinating H3N2 strain tested were lower but remained statistically significant (rs 0.547–0.551, p < 0.004). Freeze-thawing of the DiD pre-stained virus stocks had no significant impact on the results of the assay. ConclusionsThe DiD dequenching assay may be a labour-saving and more objective alternative to the classic serologies. This novel assay could theoretically be standardized across laboratories using pre-stained virions and has the potential to be fully automated.

Multi-clade H5N1 virus-like particles: Immunogenicity and protection against H5N1 virus and effects of beta-propiolactone

During the past decade, H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses have diversified genetically and antigenically, suggesting the need for multiple H5N1 vaccines. However, preparation of multiple vaccines from live H5N1 HPAI viruses is difficult and economically not feasible representing a challenge for pandemic preparedness. Here we evaluated a novel multi-clade recombinant H5N1 virus-like particle (VLP) design, in which H5 hemagglutinins (HA) and N1 neuraminidase (NA) derived from four distinct clades of H5N1 virus were co-localized within the VLP structure. The multi-clade H5N1 VLPs were prepared by using a recombinant baculovirus expression system and evaluated for functional hemagglutination and neuraminidase enzyme activities, particle size and morphology, as well as for the presence of baculovirus in the purified VLP preparations. To remove residual baculovirus, VLP preparations were treated with beta-propiolactone (BPL). Immunogenicity and efficacy of multi-clade H5N1 VLPs were determined in an experimental ferret H5N1 HPAI challenge model, to ascertain the effect of BPL on immunogenicity and protective efficacy against lethal challenge. Although treatment with BPL reduced immunogenicity of VLPs, all vaccinated ferrets were protected from lethal challenge with influenza A/VietNam/1203/2004 (H5N1) HPAI virus, indicating that multi-clade VLP preparations treated with BPL represent a potential approach for pandemic preparedness vaccines.

Antimicrobial, hemagglutination and phytotoxic activity of crude ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Seriphidium kurramense

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antimicrobial activity, hemagglutination and phytotoxic activity of crude ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Seriphidium kurramense. METHODSThe extracts were analyzed by agar well diffusion assays against five bacterial species: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhi. The extracts were also screened against six fungal species — Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani and Pleurotus florida — using the agar tube diffusion method. Additionally, hemagglutination and phytotoxic activities of the crude ethanolic and aqueous extracts were assessed. RESULTSThe crude ethanolic and aqueous extracts showed dose-dependent inhibition of the various tested fungal and bacterial strains. No hemagglutination activity was observed. Both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts showed dose-dependent phytotoxic activity toward Lemna minor. CONCLUSIONThe crude ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Seriphidium kurramense possess good antimicrobial and phytotoxic activities, but no hemagglutination activity.

Production and characterization of lectin from Bauhinia holophylla (Fabaceae:Cercideae) calli

Bauhinia holophylla is a woody plant found in the Brazilian Cerrado used in folk medicine to treat diabetes. Lectins are glycoproteins with several biotechnological applications and play important roles in plant defenses and in medicine. Lectins have been produced in vitro using plant tissue culture techniques. This study shows the production and characterization of lectin from B. holophylla by callus culture. Calli were obtained from leaf segments placed on woody plant and Murashige and Skoog media supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (0, 4.52, 9.05, 18.10 µM) or 6-benzylaminopurine (0, 4.44, 8.88, 17.75 µM), in the presence or absence of light. The highest concentrations of lectin expressed by hemagglutination activity were observed in green and compact callus induced in woody plant medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine in the presence of light, which showed specificity by all types of erythrocytes tested. The highest concentrations of lectin (128 HU mg−1) and fresh weight of callus were observed in the stationary phase (41st–60th day). Lectin was not detected in subcultured calli. d-Galactose promoted the highest inhibitory effect on the lectin activity in human erythrocytes ABO system, especially B-type. Lectin has been shown to be a stable protein, maintaining its hemagglutination activity after incubation at a wide range of temperatures, pH values and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid concentrations.

COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFLUENZA INFECTION IN MACROPHAGES DIFFERENTIATED FROM MONOCYTES OF THP-1 (INFLUENZA A VIRUSES OF SUBTYPES H1, H5 AND H9)

Macrophages (Mf) play an important role in the pathogenesis of influenza infection, but the obtaining of Mf in large quantities is difficult. In connection with this, in the present study, THP-1 monocytes differentiated by phorbol ether (PMA) into macrophages (MF) were used to study influenza infection. Differentiated cells — THP-PMA Mf were infected with pandemic А(H1N1)pdm09 and avian influenza A viruses H5N2 and H9N2. Differences in the levels of penetration of viral RNA (gene M1) and nucleocapsid (NP) proteins of the investigated viruses were found. The levels of expression of viral RNA and proteins were significantly higher in cells infected with avian viruses compared to pandemic viruses. Of particular interest is the phenomenon of prolonged intracellular presence of viral RNAs and nuclear localization of NP protein. However, no infectious or haemagglutinating activity of the virus of all subtypes studied in the culture liquid was detected up to 96 h. This indicates the abortive nature of influenza infection in THP-PMA Mf. Thus, MF performs a special function of depositing viral components and delivering them to the sites of inflammation. The blocking mechanism in human and avian influenza A viruses with different pathogenicity may differ, due to the existence of multiple mechanisms of escape from the immune response. As a result of infection with the human virus А(H1N1)pdm09, the infection developed slowly and caused death of 25% of the cells by 72 h, whereas in the case of infection with avian viruses, 50% of the cells died after 24 hours and by 72 h all the THP-PMA MF died. Preprocessing with recombinant IFNα2b had a protective effect, suppressing the accumulation of the NP protein of the A/H5N2 virus in the THP-PMA Mf nuclei. The obtained data allow us to conclude that one of the reasons for the different course and outcome of influenza infection in human infection with influenza A viruses is the sensitivity of human macrophages to avian influenza viruses of subtypes H5 and H9 as compared to the pandemic virus. Our result on the THP-PMA Mf model is consistent with reports on the blocking of the stages of the release of infectious influenza A virions in primary cultures of monocytic and alveolar MF. Massive death of MF caused by avian influenza viruses explains their high pathogenicity.

Purification and characterization of a mitogenic lectin from Penicillium duclauxii

Lectins are proteins/glycoproteins of non-immune origin which interact specifically and non-covalently with carbohydrate moieties on the cell surface. In this study, a lectin was purified from Penicillium duclauxii by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose and gel filtration chromatography on a Sephadex G-100 column. An overall recovery of 94.11% and 60-fold purification was achieved. The purified lectin had a molecular weight of 54.9 kDa and was found to be heterogeneous as revealed by double band of sub-units with molecular mass of 21.13 kDa and 33.26 kDa, under reducing conditions. It is a glycoprotein with carbohydrate content of 3.95%. Lectin induced haemagglutination of erythrocytes was inhibited strongly by glycoproteins such as bovine submaxillary mucin, porcine stomach mucin and fetuin. The maximum haemagglutinating activity of P. duclauxii lectin was maintained after incubation at a temperature and pH range of 20–35 °C and 6.0–8.0, respectively. The haemagglutinating activity of P. duclauxii lectin was unaffected by EDTA and various metal ions. The purified P. duclauxii lectin exhibited maximum mitogenic activity towards mouse splenocytes at a concentration of 75 μg/mL. This manuscript reports a novel lectin from P. duclauxii with potent mitogenic activity towards mouse splenocytes.

Meristiella echinocarpa lectin (MEL): a new member of the OAAH-lectin family

A new lectin from the marine red alga Meristiella echinocarpa (MEL) was isolated and biochemically characterized. MEL is a monomeric protein of 28 kDa with specificity for yeast mannan. Hemagglutination activity of MEL was stable between pH 5 and 10, temperatures up to 50 °C, and neither EDTA nor divalent ions affected it. The complete amino acid sequence of MEL was determined through a combination of tandem mass spectrometry and DNA cloning. As a new member of the OAAH-lectin family, the primary structure of MEL consists of 267 amino acid residues distributed in four tandem repeat domains, sharing at least 48% of identity. Theoretical secondary structure of MEL was composed of 3% α-helix, 40% β-sheet, 19% β-turn, and 38% coil. Melting temperatures of the lectin in the absence and presence of mannan were 54 and 61 °C, respectively. Furthermore, MEL was able to recognize and agglutinate pathogenic bacterial strains, such as multidrug-resistant Salmonella and Vibrio alginolyticus.

Target-directed isolation and identification of a serum lectin from lamprey (Lampetra japonica) by chromatographys and MALDI-TOF/TOF

A 105-kDa polymer lectin was purified from lamprey (Lampetra japonica) serum by chromatography methods including cation ion-exchange chromatography with a SP-Sepharose™ XL column and size exclusion chromatography with a Superdex 200 column. The target fractions were collected according to the direction of hemagglutinating activity. The results revealed that the active fractions could adsorb on SP-Sepharose column and showed a 280 nm UV absorbance peak corresponding to molecular weights of 105 kDa in the following size exclusion chromatography. The target fractions with hemagglutinating activity were further checked by Native- PAGE and SDS-PAGE. Two single bands at around 105 kDa and 35 kDa were displayed by two electrophoresis methods respectively, indicating that the protein exists as a trimer in solution. After Native-PAGE and SDS-PAGE, two bands were excised from the gels respectively and further identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF as serum lectin (gi: 13094239). The lectin was able to agglutinate rabbit red blood cells (RRBCs) and sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) in vitro. The lectin isolated from lamprey serum in the current study might be helpful for deeply understanding the innate immune molecules dependent immune defence in jawless vertebrates which have been proved recently that they possess a lymphocyte-based system of anticipatory immunity with variable lymphocyte receptors as mediators.

Functional growth inhibition of influenza A and B viruses by liquid and powder components of leaves from the subtropical plant Melia azedarach L.

We evaluated the anti-influenza-virus effects of Melia components and discuss the utility of these components. The effects of leaf components of Melia azedarach L. on viruses were examined, and plaque inhibition tests were performed. The in vivo efficacy of M. azedarach L. was tested in a mouse model. Leaf components of Melia azedarach L. markedly inhibited the growth of various influenza viruses. In an initial screening, multiplication and haemagglutination (HA) activities of H1N1, H3N2, H5, and B influenza viruses were inactivated by the liquid extract of leaves of M. azedarach L. (MLE). Furthermore, plaque inhibition titres of H1N1, H3N2, and B influenza viruses treated with MLE ranged from 103.7 to 104.2. MLE possessed high plaque-inhibitory activity against pandemic avian H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2 vaccine candidate strains, with a plaque inhibition titre of more than 104.2. Notably, the buoyant density decreased from 1.175 to 1.137 g/cm3, and spikeless particles appeared. We identified four anti-influenza virus substances: pheophorbide b, pheophorbide a, pyropheophorbide a, and pheophytin a. Photomorphogenesis inside the envelope may lead to removal of HA and neuraminidase spikes from viruses. Thus, MLE could efficiently remove floating influenza virus in the air space without toxicity. Consistent with this finding, intranasal administration of MLE in mice significantly decreased the occurrence of pneumonia. Additionally, leaf powder of Melia (MLP) inactivated influenza viruses and viruses in the intestines of chickens. MLE and MLP may have applications as novel, safe biological disinfectants for use in humans and poultry.

BACTERIAL AGGLUTINATION BY A LECTIN FROM THE LEAVES OF THE MEDICINAL PLANT, PIMENTA DIOICA (L.) MERR

Objective: The current investigation involves the purification, characterization of the lectin from the leaves of Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. (Myrtaceae) a medicinal plant, and its application in bacterial typing.Methods: A lectin was purified from the leaves by cation exchange chromatography. SDS PAGE revealed the molecular weight of the purified lectin. Biochemical characterization was carried out by performing various tests. Hemagglutination inhibition was conducted to detect the sugar specificity. Additionally, bacterial agglutination was performed to predict whether the purified lectin was able to agglutinate the bacterial strains.Results: SDS PAGE analysis revealed the lectin to be a tetramer in the range of 43-66 kDa. The purified lectin agglutinated human, avian, and mouse erythrocytes, and was inhibited by 125 mmol of mannose and xylose. The lectin was stable at 0-60 ° C for 30 min and was unaffected by either 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME) or Dithiothreitol (DTT) (50-250µM). A pH of 6.0–8.0 was found optimum for its activity and was nearly independent of metal ions. The purified lectin contained about 20% carbohydrate as estimated by Anthrone method. Purified lectin agglutinated the Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris.Conclusion: The isolated lectin was found to possess significant hemagglutinating activity. Due to its ability to agglutinate Gram negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris, it could be used for bacterial typing and for the design of bacterial filters.

Specific Mutations in the PB2 Protein of Influenza A Virus Compensate for the Lack of Efficient Interferon Antagonism of the NS1 Protein of Bat Influenza A-Like Viruses.

Recently, two new influenza A-like viruses have been discovered in bats, A/little yellow-shouldered bat/Guatemala/060/2010 (HL17NL10) and A/flat-faced bat/Peru/033/2010 (HL18NL11). The hemagglutinin (HA)-like (HL) and neuraminidase (NA)-like (NL) proteins of these viruses lack hemagglutination and neuraminidase activities, despite their sequence and structural homologies with the HA and NA proteins of conventional influenza A viruses. We have now investigated whether the NS1 proteins of the HL17NL10 and HL18NL11 viruses can functionally replace the NS1 protein of a conventional influenza A virus. For this purpose, we generated recombinant influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (PR8) H1N1 viruses containing the NS1 protein of the PR8 wild-type, HL17NL10, and HL18NL11 viruses. These viruses (r/NS1PR8, r/NS1HL17, and r/NS1HL18, respectively) were tested for replication in bat and nonbat mammalian cells and in mice. Our results demonstrate that the r/NS1HL17 and r/NS1HL18 viruses are attenuated in vitro and in vivo However, the bat NS1 recombinant viruses showed a phenotype similar to that of the r/NS1PR8 virus in STAT1-/- human A549 cells and mice, both in vitro and in vivo systems being unable to respond to interferon (IFN). Interestingly, multiple mouse passages of the r/NS1HL17 and r/NS1HL18 viruses resulted in selection of mutant viruses containing single amino acid mutations in the viral PB2 protein. In contrast to the parental viruses, virulence and IFN antagonism were restored in the selected PB2 mutants. Our results indicate that the NS1 protein of bat influenza A-like viruses is less efficient than the NS1 protein of its conventional influenza A virus NS1 counterpart in antagonizing the IFN response and that this deficiency can be overcome by the influenza virus PB2 protein.IMPORTANCE Significant gaps in our understanding of the basic features of the recently discovered bat influenza A-like viruses HL17NL10 and HL18NL11 remain. The basic biology of these unique viruses displays both similarities to and differences from the basic biology of conventional influenza A viruses. Here, we show that recombinant influenza A viruses containing the NS1 protein from HL17NL10 and HL18NL11 are attenuated. This attenuation was mediated by their inability to antagonize the type I IFN response. However, this deficiency could be compensated for by single amino acid replacements in the PB2 gene. Our results unravel a functional divergence between the NS1 proteins of bat influenza A-like and conventional influenza A viruses and demonstrate an interplay between the viral PB2 and NS1 proteins to antagonize IFN.

Identification of the alpha-enolase P46 in the extracellular membrane vesicles of Bacteroides fragilis.

BACKGROUNDMembers of the Bacteroides fragilis group are the most important components of the normal human gut microbiome, but are also major opportunistic pathogens that are responsible for significant mortality, especially in the case of bacteraemia and other severe infections, such as intra-abdominal abscesses. Up to now, several virulence factors have been described that might explain the involvement of B. fragilis in these infections. The secretion of extracellular membrane vesicles (EMVs) has been proposed to play a role in pathogenesis and symbiosis in gram-negative bacteria, by releasing soluble proteins and other molecules. In B. fragilis, these vesicles are known to have haemagglutination and sialidosis activities, and also contain a capsular polysaccharide (PSA), although their involvement in virulence is still not clear.OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to identify proteins in the EMV of the 638R B. fragilis strain by mass spectrometry, and also to assess for the presence of Bfp60, a surface plasminogen (Plg) activator, previously shown in B. fragilis to be responsible for the conversion of inactive Plg to active plasmin, which can also bind to laminin-1.METHODS B. fragilis was cultured in a minimum defined media and EMVs were obtained by differential centrifugation, ultracentrifugation, and filtration. The purified EMVs were observed by both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunoelectron microscopy (IM). To identify EMV constituent proteins, EMVs were separated by 1D SDS-PAGE and proteomic analysis of proteins sized 35 kDa to approximately 65 kDa was performed using mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).FINDINGSTEM micrographs proved the presence of spherical vesicles and IM confirmed the presence of Bfp60 protein on their surface. Mass spectrometry identified 23 proteins with high confidence. One of the proteins from the B. fragilis EMVs was identified as an enolase P46 with a possible lyase activity.MAIN CONCLUSIONSAlthough the Bfp60 protein was not detected by proteomics, α-enolase P46 was found to be present in the EMVs of B. fragilis. The P46 protein has been previously described to be present in the outer membrane of B. fragilis as an iron-regulated protein.

A Biophysical and Computational Study of Concanavalin A Immobilized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles.

Con A, a lectin extract from jackbean Canavalia ensiformis is known for its agglutination activity. ZnO nanoparticles promote the faster electron transfer between the lectin immobilized and the target cells. Hence, Con A immobilized on ZnO nanoparticles will agglutinate cells more effectively than the native protein. Concanavalin A (Con A), a lectin was immobilized on the hexagonal zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles to monitor its activity on RBCs and lymphocytes. The immobilization of Con A and zinc oxide nanoparticles has been studied by molecular docking, microscopic and genotoxicity assessment techniques. Qualitative assessment using various techniques like atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction showed minor changes in morphology of Con A and ZnO nanoparticles. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the linking of Con A amino groups with ZnO nanoparticles. Con A immobilized nanoparticles in contrast to native lectin showed minor changes in hemagglutination activity as confirmed by pH dependence studies using fluorimetry. Con Aimmobilized nanoparticles retained the agglutination activity, this can be indicative of their potential application in detection of virus transformed and neoplastic cells. The Con A immobilized ZnO nanoparticles did not induce any significant but minor damage to whole cell DNA as revealed from comet assay or plasmid DNA. Con A immobilized on ZnO nanoparticles showed minor changes in the structure of ZnO nanoparticles and in the conformational of native Con A. However, Con A immobilized ZnO nanoparticles interestingly, showed pH resistance and better hemagglutination activity as well as minor DNA damage to whole cell lymphocytes. Thus, this novel bioaffinity support has prospective clinical implications.

Isolation, characterization and analysis of the agglutinative activity of a lectin from Crotalaria spectabilis

Lectins are proteins with ability to recognize specific carbohydrates. These are present in virtually all organisms and have increasing applications in biotechnology. Here, our aim was to purify lectins from seeds of Crotalaria spectabilis Roth and determine their agglutinative ability. In this study, 45 g of seeds were milled, their proteins were precipitated by acetone or ammonium sulfate and purified by exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography. An isolated lectin was submitted to tests for hemagglutination and inhibition of hemagglutinating activity by carbohydrates as well as tests for its response to chelating and reducing agents. Our results show that the apparent molecular weight (as determined by SDS-PAGE) of the lectin is 30 kDa, and the tests for inhibition of erythrocytes’ agglutinative activity by sugars were positive for d-galactose and N-acetyl-d-galactosamine. Data obtained with the chelating agent EDTA demonstrated the presence of divalent cations in the protein structure. However, the reducing agent 2-mercaptoethanol was unable to inhibit the protein’s bioactivity. The lectin agglutinated the blood groups A, B, AB and O, as well as bacterial lineages from the species Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira biflexa, indicating a prospective application in the diagnosis and treatment of leptospirosis.