X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (XHIM) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder, caused by mutations of the gene encoding CD40 ligand (CD40L; CD154). We report the clinical manifestations and mutational analysis of the CD40L gene observed in a male patient from a XHIM family. Having hypogammaglobulinemia and elevated IgM, the 3-yr-old boy exhibited the characteristic clinical features of XHIM. The patient suffered from frequent respiratory infections, and chronic enteritis caused by Cryptosporidium parvum. In addition, a lymph node biopsy and a culture from this sample revealed C. neoformans infection. Activated lymphocytes from the patient failed to express CD40L on their surface as assessed by flow cytometry and a missence mutation (W140R) was found at the XHIM hotspot in his CD40L cDNA to confirm the diagnosis. Genetic analysis of the mother and sister showed a heterozygote pattern, indicating carrier status. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular diagnosis of an XHIM patient in Korea.
Animals ; CD40 Ligand/*genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Cryptococcosis/*complications/genetics/immunology ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Cryptosporidiosis/*complications/genetics/immunology ; *Cryptosporidium parvum ; Female ; *Heterozygote ; Humans ; Hypergammaglobulinemia/complications/*diagnosis/genetics/immunology ; Immunoglobulin M/*blood ; Korea ; Male ; Pedigree ; *X Chromosome

A Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoite and oocyst lambda gt11 cDNA library was screened with a hyperimmune rabbit serum that was developed against insoluble fragments of ultrasonicated oocysts. A clone named Cp22.4.1 encoding a protein of 231 amino acids with 4 zinc-finger domains characterized by a Cys-X2-Cys-X4-His-X4-Cys motif was isolated and characterized. There was a complete match between the sequencing data of the coding region of Cp22.4.1 and the corresponding gene at chromosomal level. Cloning in a pBAD-TOPO-TA expression vector permitted to evaluate the antigenicity of the recombinant His-tagged antigen. This antigen was recognized by 2 out of 5 sera from Cryptosporidium immune calves and not by sera from parasite naive animals.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood ; Antigens, Protozoan/chemistry/*immunology ; Base Sequence ; Cattle/*immunology ; Cryptosporidium parvum/*immunology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; Zinc Fingers/genetics/*immunology

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were isolated from a child suffering from acute gastroenteritis and successfully passaged in a calf and mice (designated hereafter SNU-H1) in the Republic of Korea; its molecular genotype has been analyzed. The GAG microsatellite region was amplified by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with a 238 base pair product, which is commonly displayed in C. parvum. The isolate was shown to be a mixture of the genotypes 1 (anthroponotic) and 2 (zoonotic). To study its infectivity in animals, 2 calves and 3 strains of mice were infected with the SNU-H1; in these animals, the propagation of both genotypes was successful. In immunosuppressed (ImSP) BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice the number of oocysts decreased after day 10 post-infection (PI) ; but in ImSP ICR mice, they remained constant until day 27 PI. The results show that both the C. parvum genotypes 1 and 2 can be propagated in calves and ImSP mice.
Animals ; Cattle ; Child ; Cryptosporidiosis/microbiology ; Cryptosporidium parvum/*genetics/immunology ; Diarrhea/parasitology ; Feces/parasitology ; Genotype ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oocysts ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Zoonoses/parasitology