Objective To identify the cross-reactive antigens shared by Mycobacteria smegmatis(MS) and Mycobacteria tuberculosis(MTB) and to analyze their antigenicity.Methods Bacterial antigens were extracted from strains of MS and MTB by ultrasonication.Western blot assay was performed to analyze common antigens that reacted with both of the antiserum samples against MS and MTB.The extracted bacterial antigens were mixed with incomplete Freund′s adjuvant and then were injected into muscles of mice.Cytokines secreted by murine spleen lymphocytes following stimulation with various antigens of MS and MTB were determined by ELISPOT and flow cytometry on the 7th day.IgG levels in serum samples were detected by ELISA 7 days after injection.Results There were cross-reactive antigens shared by MS and MTB.Potent humoral immune responses and cellular immunity against both MS and MTB could be induced by those cross-reactive antigens after sensitization the mice by either MS or MTB antigens.Cytokines of IL-2 and IFN-γ in CD4+ and CD8+T cells of mice stimulated with MS or MTB antigens were significantly increased as compared with those of non-sensitization group and those of Brucella antigens stimulation group.ConclusionCross-reactive antigens shared by MS and MTS can effectively promote specific immune reactions to the infection of MTB, which provides a scientific basis for the development of tuberculosis vaccines.

BACKGROUND:Autologous micro-skin graft covered with alogeneic skin has become a major means for repair of extremely severe burn wounds. Due to the limitation of the source of alogeneic skin, heterogeneous skin (pigskin) or artificial skin serves as a vector to cover the wound on the clinical use. OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effect of thin-thickness micro-skin pulping covered with heterogeneous skin for repair of burn wounds in comparison with blade-thickness micro-skin pulping covered with heterogeneous skin. METHODS:A self-control study was performed in 36 patients with severe burns of bilateral limbs. There were 42 pairs of wounds, 32 of which were at joint sites. One or two pairs of III-degree burns treated with escharectomy were selected from each patient for self-control comparison. Covered with heterogeneous skin, thin-thickness micro-skin pulping and blade-thickness micro-skin pulping were used in the trial and control groups, respectively. The expansion ratio was controled at 1:8-1:12 in al patients. Wound healing time, degree of scar hyperplasia within 6 months to 2 years after transplantation, and ratio of reconstruction surgery at joint sites were observed and compared. The removed scars by surgery were analyzed based on the total score of the Vancouver Scar Scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The average wound healing time was (44.7±1.24) days in the trial group and (49.6±1.41) days in the control group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The trial group exhibited less scar hyperplasia than the control group at 6 months to 2 years after transplantation. Compared with the control group, the ratio of severe scar hyperplasia was significantly less in the trial group (P < 0.05), while the ratio of mild scar hyperplasia was obviously greater in the trial group (P < 0.01). However, there was no difference in the ratio of moderate scar hyperplasia between the two groups (P > 0.05). The reconstructive surgery ratio of the trial group was 38%, significantly lower than that of the control group (59.38%;P < 0.01). The total score on the Vancouver Scar Scale was less in the trial group than the control group (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the thin-thickness micro-skin covered with heterogeneous skin is likely to be a better treatment to repair large ful-thickness skin burn by increasing the thickness of micro-skin, and it can obtain better wound healing quality.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of null allele for 17 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STR) loci in a group of infertile males.

METHODSTwo hundred thirty six infertile males featuring non-obstructive azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia were analyzed with an AmpFISTR ((R)) Yfiler (TM) kit. Deletions of azoospermia factor (AZF) fragments were confirmed with Y chromosome sequence-tagged sites (STSs) analysis using modified multiplex PCR.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence of AZF microdeletions was 16.95% (40/236). In the non-obstructive azoospermia group, 13 cases had AZFc deletion, 6 cases had AZFb+c deletion, 2 cases had AZFa deletion, 1 case had AZFb deletion. In the severe oligozoospermia group, 17 cases had AZFc deletion and 1 had AZFb deletion. No AZFa+b+c deletion was detected. Forty cases showed null alleles by scanning of the 17 STR loci. Deletions of DYS438, DYS439, DYS437, DYS389I and DYS389II were found in the 2 cases with AZFa deletion. In patients with AZFb deletion, DYS392 and DYS385a/b were found deleted. Deletions of DYS448 were detected in all of the 30 cases with AZFc deletion. Deletions of DYS392, DYS385a/b, and DYS448 were found in 6 cases with AZFb+c deletion.

CONCLUSIONDeletions of the Y chromosome AZF regions are associated with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia. Null allele due to complete absence of AZFa, AZFb and AZFc regions may lead to misinterpretation in the sexual assault cases. Revealing the locus heterogeneity in male infertility population can enrich the Y-STR database and facilitate interpretation STR data in forensic DNA testing.

Alleles ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats