Immunological and genetic characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi BapA and EppA proteins

Microbiology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 149 (5) ◽  
pp. 1113-1125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Miller ◽  
Brian Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Sequence Analyses ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Strong Immune Response ◽  
Considerable Evidence ◽  
Infectious Cycle

A large majority of examined Lyme disease spirochaete isolates were demonstrated to contain one or both of the paralogous genes bapA and eppA. Immunological analyses of serum samples collected from infected patients coupled with comparative sequence analyses indicated that bapA gene sequences are quite stable but the encoded proteins do not provoke a strong immune response in most individuals. Conversely, EppA proteins are much more antigenic but vary widely in sequence between different bacteria. Considerable evidence of insertion, deletion and other mutations within eppA genes was observed. A number of significant recombination events were also found to have occurred in regions flanking bapA genes, while the genes themselves rarely exhibited evidence of mutation, suggesting strong selective pressure to maintain BapA sequences within narrow limits. Data from these and other studies suggest important roles for BapA and EppA during the Borrelia burgdorferi infectious cycle.

TBE in Sweden

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Specific Immunoglobulin ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽  
First Time

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was isolated for the first time in Sweden in 1958 (from ticks and from 1 tick-borne encephalitis [TBE] patient).1 In 2003, Haglund and colleagues reported the isolation and antigenic and genetic characterization of 14 TBEV strains from Swedish patients (samples collected 1991–1994).2 The first serum sample, from which TBEV was isolated, was obtained 2–10 days after onset of disease and found to be negative for anti-TBEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas TBEV-specific IgM (and TBEV-specific immunoglobulin G/cerebrospinal fluid [IgG/CSF] activity) was demonstrated in later serum samples taken during the second phase of the disease.

First Detection and Genetic Characterization of Equus Caballus Papillomavirus 1, 2 and 7 in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panpan Tong ◽  
Xiaozhen Song ◽  
Meiling Ren ◽  
Erken Jia ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Epidemiological Study ◽  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Equus Caballus ◽  
Genomic Sequences ◽  
Sequence Analyses ◽  
Pioneer Study ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Complete Genomic

Abstract Background: Nine species of Equus caballus papillomavirus (EcPV) have been reported to infect horses, however, there are so far no reports of such infections in China. Results: In our pioneer study with Chinese horses, we found EcPV-1 in intranasal papilloma and nasal swabs, EcPV-2 in nasal swabs and semen, and EcPV-7 primarily in semen. This indicates that EcPVs are indeed hosted by horses in China, and that EcPV-2 and 7 may be getting transmitted though breeding. Sequence analyses for complete genomic sequences of EcPV-1 (G2), EcPV-2 (XJ-KS1391) and EcPV-7 (XJ-zs1) were performed which indicated that EcPV-1, 2 and 7, that infect horses in China, share 99.3% nt identity with the already published sequences for EcPV-1, 2 and 7. These observations indicate that three types of EcPVs identified in the current study are highly similar variants of previously known types of EcPV-1, 2 and 7. Phylogenetic analysis based on L1 genes in GenBank showed that EcPV-1, 2 and 7, found in Chinese horses, are closely related to and clustered together with already known EcPV-1, 2 and 7, respectively. Conclusion: Our study provides a novel evidence for EcPVs infection and circulation in Chinese horses and thus lays the foundation for a systematic and detailed epidemiological study of these infections in Chinese horses.

scholarly journals Genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in dogs and cats in Guangdong, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayu Li ◽  
Xiaoyu Dan ◽  
Kexin Zhu ◽  
Na Li ◽  
Yaqiong Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Giardia Duodenalis ◽  
Ratio Analysis ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Sequence Analyses ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chi Square Test

Abstract Background There are only limited number of reports on molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in dogs and cats in China. This study was conducted to assess the infection rates, genetic identity, and public health potential of these parasites in dogs and cats in Guangdong, China. Methods PCR and sequence analyses were used to identify and genotype Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in fecal samples from 641 dogs and 418 cats in Guangdong. Chi-square test and odds ratio analysis were used to compare the occurrence rates of these pathogens and identify risk factors for infection. Results The overall infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were 6.9% (44/641) and 9.4% (60/641) in dogs, and 6.2% (26/418) and 3.6% (15/418) in cats. Purebred cats (12.4%; χ2 = 5.110, OR = 2.8, P = 0.024) and dogs (10.8%; χ2 = 5.597, OR = 4.8, P = 0.018) were more likely to be infected by Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis, respectively. Dogs (12.0%; χ2 = 7.589, OR = 2.6, P = 0.006) and cats (13.6%; χ2 = 8.235, OR = 3.5, P = 0.004) under 6 months had significantly higher infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp. than older animals. Household (13.9%; χ2 = 10.279, OR = 2.6, P = 0.008) and pet shop dogs (11.0%; χ2 = 7.182, OR = 2.0, P = 0.048) had higher occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp., as was the case for G. duodenalis occurrence in experimental dogs (13.4%; χ2 = 9.223, OR = 1.9, P = 0.017). Cryptosporidium canis (n = 42), C. muris (n = 1) and Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV (n = 1) were identified in dogs, while C. felis (n = 21), C. parvum (n = 3), C. muris (n = 1) and Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV (n = 1) were identified in cats. In contrast, the canine-specific assemblages C (n = 27) and D (n = 26) and the feline-specific assemblage F (n = 14) were almost exclusively the only genotypes of G. duodenalis in dogs and cats, respectively. There was no significant difference in infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis between diarrheal and non-diarrheal pets. Conclusions While domestic pets in Guangdong are infected with zoonotic Cryptosporidium species, they are mainly infected with host-specific G. duodenalis genotypes. Risk factors for infections differ between Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis and between dogs and cats.

scholarly journals Characterization of Antigenic Relatedness Among GI Norovirus Genotypes Using Serum Samples From Norovirus-Infected Patients and Mouse Sera

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongjie Xie ◽  
Junrui Chen ◽  
Jingrong Yu ◽  
Fuyu Pei ◽  
Mark Momoh Koroma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Binding Affinity ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationship ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Virus Spread ◽  
Gastroenteritis Outbreak ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Antigenic Relatedness ◽  
Primary Focus

Characterizing diversity and the antigenic relatedness of norovirus remains a primary focus in understanding its biological properties and vaccine designs. The precise antigenic and serological features of GI genotypes have not been studied. The study represented an investigation on a gastroenteritis outbreak related to GI.3 norovirus and the three most detected GI genotypes, GI.2 (belonging to immunotype B), GI.3 and GI.9 (belonging to immunotype C), were selected to characterize their phylogenetic relationship, HBGA binding profiles and antigenic relatedness within (intra-immunotype), and between (inter-immunotypes) genotypes using mouse sera and patient’s serum samples from the GI.3 related outbreak. Wide HBGA binding profiles and evolution of binding affinity were observed in the three GI genotypes studied. A low specific blockade antibody to GI.3 in the population generated the pool of susceptible individuals and supported virus spread in the outbreak. We found strong blockade immune response in homologous strains, moderate intra-immunotype blockade but weak inter-immunotypes blockade in humans following GI.3 norovirus infections. These findings further support the immunotypes grouping and will be valuable for optimizing the design of norovirus vaccine.

Characterization of human infection by Leishmania spp. in the Northwest of Argentina: immune response, double infection with Trypanosoma cruzi and species of Leishmania involved

Parasitology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. M. FRANK ◽  
M. M. FERNÁNDEZ ◽  
N. J. TARANTO ◽  
S. P. CAJAL ◽  
R. A. MARGNI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Double Infection ◽  
Strong Immune Response ◽  
American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
Very High

The aims of this study were to characterize human American tegumentary leishmaniasis, which includes cutaneous, mucocutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis, in Northwest Argentina, to determine the prevalence of double infection with Trypanosoma cruzi and to identify the species of Leishmania in this area. Most of the 330 leishmaniasis patients presented cutaneous ulcers (96·1%), 2·4% mucocutaneous and 1·5% the mucosal form (‘espundia’). The aetiological agents, determined by isoenzyme electrophoresis, were identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in 16 out of 20 isolates and in the remaining 4 as Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, the first ever-documented in Argentina. Sera analysed by ELISA and IFA using complex antigen from both T. cruzi and L. braziliensis showed a very high percentage of positives (66·3–78·2%). When antigens for specific diagnosis of Chagas' disease were used, 40·9% of the leishmaniasis patients were also found to be infected by T. cruzi. These results indicate that the strong immune response against T. cruzi gave no protection to Leishmania, in spite of the serological cross-reaction between these parasites. In addition, we showed that more than 40% of the patients would be misdiagnosed as chagasic if complex antigens, as epimastigotes or soluble fraction from epimastigotes, were used in IFA or ELISA. This is of paramount importance not only because patients' treatment would be associated to misdiagnosis but the fact that in many countries in Central and South America, a positive test for Chagas' disease means a rejection for those seeking employment.

Comparative evaluation of three different ELISA methods for the diagnosis of early culture-confirmed Lyme disease in Italy

2005 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella Marangoni ◽  
Monica Sparacino ◽  
Francesca Cavrini ◽  
Elisa Storni ◽  
Valeria Mondardini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Comparative Evaluation ◽  
Endemic Area ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Erythema Migrans ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Positive Reactivity

In this study the raising and development of the immune response to Borrelia burgdorferi infection in 45 Italian patients suffering from culture-confirmed Lyme borreliosis erythema migrans was investigated. A total of 95 serially collected serum samples were tested by using three different commercial ELISAs: recomWell Borrelia (Mikrogen), Enzygnost Borreliosis (DADE Behring) and Quick ELISA C6 Borrelia (Immunetics). The sensitivities of the ELISAs were as follows: Enzygnost Borreliosis IgM, 70.5 %; Quick ELISA C6 Borrelia, 62.1 %; recomWell Borrelia IgM, 55.7 %; recomWell Borrelia IgG, 57.9 %; and Enzygnost Borreliosis IgG, 36.8 %. In order to compare the specificity values of the three ELISAs, a panel of sera obtained from blood donors (210 samples coming from a non-endemic area and 24 samples from an endemic area) was tested, as well as sera from patients suffering from some of the most common biological conditions that could result in false-positive reactivity in Lyme disease serology (n = 40). RecomWell Borrelia IgG and recomWell Borrelia IgM were the most specific (97.1 % and 98.9 %, respectively), followed by Quick ELISA C6 Borrelia (96.7 %). Enzygnost Borreliosis IgG and IgM achieved 90.1 % and 92.3 % specificity, respectively. Sera that gave discrepant results when tested by the three ELISAs were further analysed by Western blotting.

scholarly journals Molecular characterization of the Borrelia burgdorferi in vivo-essential protein PncA

Microbiology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 157 (10) ◽  
pp. 2831-2840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mollie W. Jewett ◽  
Sunny Jain ◽  
Angelika K. Linowski ◽  
Amit Sarkar ◽  
Patricia A. Rosa
Keyword(s):  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Catalytic Triad ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Aspartic Acid Residue ◽  
Essential Protein ◽  
Catalytic Function ◽  
Infectious Cycle ◽  
Current Annotation

The conversion of nicotinamide to nicotinic acid by nicotinamidase enzymes is a critical step in maintaining NAD+ homeostasis and contributes to numerous important biological processes in diverse organisms. In Borrelia burgdorferi, the nicotinamidase enzyme, PncA, is required for spirochaete survival throughout the infectious cycle. Mammals lack nicotinamidases and therefore PncA may serve as a therapeutic target for Lyme disease. Contrary to the in vivo importance of PncA, the current annotation for the pncA ORF suggests that the encoded protein may be inactive due to the absence of an N-terminal aspartic acid residue that is a conserved member of the catalytic triad of characterized PncA proteins. Herein, we have used genetic and biochemical strategies to determine the N-terminal sequence of B. burgdorferi PncA. Our data demonstrate that the PncA protein is 24 aa longer than the currently annotated sequence and that pncA translation is initiated from the rare, non-canonical initiation codon AUU. These findings are an important first step in understanding the catalytic function of this in vivo-essential protein.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 epitope mapping on microarrays highlights strong immune-response to N protein region

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo Musicò ◽  
Roberto Frigerio ◽  
Alessandro Mussida ◽  
Luisa Barzon ◽  
Alessandro Sinigaglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Epitope Mapping ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Promising Candidate ◽  
Strong Immune Response ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Peptide Microarrays ◽  
Validation Phase ◽  
Epitope Discovery

AbstractA workflow for SARS-CoV-2 epitope discovery on peptide microarrays is herein reported. The process started with a proteome-wide screening of immunoreactivity based on the use of a high-density microarray followed by a refinement and validation phase on a restricted panel of probes using microarrays with tailored peptide immobilization through a click-based strategy. Progressively larger, independent cohorts of Covid-19 positive sera were tested in the refinement processes, leading to the identification of immunodominant regions on SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S), Nucleocapsid (N) protein and Orf1ab polyprotein. A summary study testing 50 serum samples highlighted an epitope of the N protein (region 155-171) providing 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity of IgG detection in Covid-19 samples thus being a promising candidate for rapid implementation in serological tests.

Molecular characterization and haplotypes of sheep and goat isolates of Cysticercus tenuicollis in Turkey

Parasitology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 146 (8) ◽  
pp. 1047-1054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyma Gunyakti Kilinc ◽  
Harun Kaya Kesik ◽  
Sami Simsek
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Nadh Dehydrogenase ◽  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Mature Stage ◽  
Sequence Analyses ◽  
Taenia Hydatigena ◽  
Cysticercus Tenuicollis ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Common Parasite

AbstractTaenia hydatigena, is a common parasite, lived mostly in dogs and wild carnivores in its mature stage, and the larvae, Cysticercus tenuicollis, is found on ruminants and pigs. The aim of the current study was to determine the genetic diversity in 20 isolates of the sheep and goats. After the isolation of total genomic DNA from C. tenuicollis isolates, genetic characterization of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene region was amplified using specific JB11–JB12 primers in PCR and the PCR products were sequenced and haplotype and genetic diversity analyses were utilized. As a result, multiple nucleotide changes were determined in the sequence analyses of the isolates leading to detection of 16 and 15 different haplotypes in sheep and goat samples, respectively. These findings are important in terms of showing the diversity of nucleotide variation in C. tenuicollis in Turkey.

TBE in Sweden

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Åke Lundkvist
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Specific Immunoglobulin ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽  
First Time

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was isolated for the first time in Sweden in 1958 (from ticks and from 1 tick-borne encephalitis [TBE] patient).1 In 2003, Haglund and colleagues reported the isolation and antigenic and genetic characterization of 14 TBEV strains from Swedish patients (samples collected 1991–1994).2 The first serum sample, from which TBEV was isolated, was obtained 2–10 days after onset of disease and found to be negative for anti-TBEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas TBEV-specific IgM (and TBEV-specific immunoglobulin G/cerebrospinal fluid [IgG/CSF] activity) was demonstrated in later serum samples taken during the second phase of the disease.

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