Objectives To understand the mutations of embB genes in M. tuberculosis isolates, and to evaluate their clinical value. Method 102 clinical isolates were identified for their mycobacterial species, and then analyzed their embB genes with PCR SSCP, PCR RFLP, and PCR direct sequencing. Results Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H 37 R v was used as a control. 102 clinical isolates all had the same 16S rDNA SSCP profiles as M. tuberculosis . Forty one drug sensitive isolates had normal embB SSCP and RFLP profiles. Of 61 ethambutol resistant isolates, 23 (37.7%) displayed abnormal embB SSCP profiles. Eight isolates had abnormal RFLP profiles. All embB mutations situated at codon 306, whose EMB MICs were more than 20 ?g/ml. Eight isolates had ATG to ATA or ATT mutations at codon 306. Thirty isolates had ATG to GTG or CTG mutations at codon 306, whose EMB MICs were more than 30 ?g/ml. Conclusions Ethabutol resistances in some M. tuberculosis isolates were due to mutations on embB genes. PCR SSCP and PCR RFLP method might become a simple and rapid diagnostic test for genotypes of M. tuberculosis ethabutol resistance.

Objective To study the rapid detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to streptomycin by reverse dot blot hybridization technique. Methods The oligonucleotide probes of streptomycin-resistant genes (rpsL and rrs) were prepared and dropped on nitrocellulose membrane. The target DNA fragments of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates were labeled with biotin by PCR amplification, and then hybridized with the oligonucleotide probes on the membranes. PCR-SSCP and PCR-direct sequencing (PCR-DS) techniques were used to detect the target fragment of M.tuberculosis as control. Results In 53 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates, the consistent rate of three detection methods was 100%. Both the SSCP mapping of rpsL and rrs genes and the results of membrane hybridization in 9 drug-sensitive strains were identical to those in M. tuberculosis standard strain H37Rv. Of 44 streptomycin-resistant strains, 33 strains had AAG→AGG mutation at the codon 43 of rpsL gene, 6 strains had A→C mutation at the 513 site of rrs gene, 1 strain had A→T mutation at the 513 site of rrs gene, and the detection rate of the target genes mutation was 90 9%. In 53 M.tuberculosis clinical isolates, 40 resistant strains and 9 sensitive strains to streptomycin could be detected using dot blot hybridization and the consistent rate with the in vitro susceptibility test was 92 6%(49/53). Conclusion The reverse dot blot hybridization technique showed high sensitivity and specificity to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to streptomycin. It possessed the simple and rapid characteristics, and could be used to detecte streptomycin-resistant M.tuberculosis clinical strains.

Objective To construct recombinant plasmid containing CFP-10 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB).Methods The gene fragment of CFP-10 was amplified by PCR from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv genomic DNA and cloned to pET-32a(+) vector.The recombinant plasmid pET-32a-CFP-10 was transformed into E.coli BL21 (DE3) and induced by IPTG.Results CFP-10 gene fragment was amplified from genomic DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain,and thepET-32a(+) prokaryotic recombinant plasmid was constructed successfully.The recombinant protein was expressed with the induction of IPTG.Conclusions The prokaryotic expression vector for CFP-10 was successfully constructed and the recombinant protein was highly expressed in E.coli BL21 (DE3),which lays a foundation for its subsequent immunological function study.

Objective To study the relationship between the genetic polymorphisms of carboxylesterase 1 gene (CESI) and the susceptibility to antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATBDIH).Methods Genetic polymorphisms of CES1 in 473 tuberculosis patients with or without hepatotoxicity (200∶ 273) after antituberculosis chemotherapy were analyzed by PCR-MassArray.Results In4 tags of CES1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP),the frequency of the rs1968753 allele had statistical difference between the hepatotoxicity group and the no-hepatotoxicity group ( P =0.0236 ).The characteristics of anti-hepatotoxicity had been shown relationship with rs8192950 ( P =0.044,OR =0.649,95％ CI =0.426-0.989,AC/AA ) and rs1968753 ( P =0.048,OR =0.556,95％ CI =0.311-0.995,GG/AA).The diplotypes with ‘ CGC' haplotype exhibited significant protection against hepatotoxicity at one copy (P=0.048,OR=0.654,95％CI=0.430-0.996).Conclusions The genetic polymorphisms of CESI might have significant association with ATBDIH.SNP rs8192950 AC genotype and rs1968753 GG genotype might be the candidates for risk prediction of ATBDIH.

Objective To investigate the Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections in 2014 among Beijing army recruits, and evaluate a new method for screening latent tuberculosis infections.Methods A total of 194 army recruits were subjected to chest X-ray examination purified protein derivative(PPD) skin test, antibody detection, and interferon gamma release assay(IGRA) by ELISA combined with recombinant protein CFP10-ESAT6 and latent infection protein Rv2628.Results The positive rates of PPD skin test and antibody test were 49.7% and 15.5%, respectively.The latent infection rate of IGRA test was 22.2% in 194 cases after CFP10-ESAT6 stimulation.After stimulation of latent tuberculosis infection(LTBI) with Rv2628, IFN-γ level was significantly higher than that in healthy control group (P<0.05).The weak positive group of TST (5 mm≤diameter<15 mm) had a significantly higher level of IFN-γ than the strong positive group(diameter≥15 mm)(P<0.05),but after stimulation with CFP10-ESAT6,IFN-γ levels were not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).There was no significant difference between antibody negative and positive groups after stimulation by CFP10-ESAT6 and Rv2628 (P>0.05).The area under the ROC curve of Rv2628 diagnosis of tuberculosis infection was 0.84.When Youden index was 0.621,the specificity was 94.7% and sensitivity was 67.4%.ConclusionCombined detection of antigens Rv2628 and CFP10-ESAT6 specific IFN-γ values can be potentially used for differential diagnosis of active or latent tuberculosis infections.

Objective To study the correlation between genetic polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-1A/1B and susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB).Methods Genetic polymorphisms of IL-1A and IL1 B in 1032 TB patients and 1008 non-TB patients were analyzed using PCR-MassARRAY method.The correlation between genetic polymorphisms of IL-1A/1B and susceptibility to TB was statistically analyzed.Results Two tag SNPs of IL-1A and three tag SNPs of IL-1B were screened for the study.There were differences in the allele frequencies of rs2853550 and rs3783526 between TB group and non-TB group (P=0.047and P =0.034,respectively).IL-1 B SNP1 rs2853550 (P =0.025,OR =1.302,95 ％ CI =1.034-1.640,TC vs.CC) was found to be highly associated with TB,while the other SNPs showed no significant correlations with TB.Furthermore,IL-1B SNP1 rs2853550 [P=0.019,OR=1.308,95％ CI=1.045-1.638 for (TC+TT) vs.CC] in the dominant model conferred significant risk for TB,but IL-1A SNP2 rs3783526 [P=0.000,OR=0.764,95％ CI =0.591-0.988 for GG vs.(AA+GA)] in the recessive model showed protective effects against TB.The haplotype ‘TG’ in the IL-1B block showed a higher risk for TB compared with the common ‘ CA’ haplotype (P=0.032,OR=1.265,95％ CI=1.020-1.567).The diplotypes containing ‘ GA’ haplotype in IL-1A block and ‘ TG’ haplotype in IL-1B block were major risk factors for TB (for onecopy,adjusted P=0.014,OR=1.403 and 95％ CI=1.072-1.836; adjusted P=0.013,OR=1.339 and 95％ CI=1.063-1.688,respectively),but the diplotype with ‘CG’ in IL-1B block played a protective effect against TB (for two-copy,P=0.006,OR=0.664 and95％ CI=0.494-0.891).Conclusion The genetic polymorphisms of IL-1B rs2853550 might be closely associated with TB,but the GG genotype of IL1 A SNP rs3783526 might have the characteristic of anti-TB.

Objective To investigate effect of Wenjingtongluo prescription combined with acupuncture and moxibustion on ESR, Fib and hemorheology in patients with cervical spondylosis.Methods 110 cases of cervical spondylosis were divided into two groups, 55 cases in each group.The control group was treated with acupuncture and moxibustion.Experimental group on the basis of acupuncture treatment, were given Wenjingtongluo prescription.The PRI index, VAS score and blood rheology of the two groups were compared.Results The total effective rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (92.73% vs 76.36%) .There was a significant difference (χ2 =5.636, P <0.05) .After treatment, the two groups of PRI index ( emotional score, sensory score, total score ) , VAS score were significantly reduced ( P <0.05 ) .After treatment, the PRI index ( sensory score, total score) and VAS score of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group after treatment.The difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment, two groups of ESR, Fib, PCV, whole blood viscosity, whole blood viscosity decreased significantly( P<0.05).The experimental group after treatment, ESR, Fib, PCV, whole blood viscosity, whole blood viscosity was significantly lower than the control group after treatment.The difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Wenjingtongluo prescription combined with acupuncture can significantly improve the clinical symptoms, reduce the pain of patients and improve the level of blood rheology.

Objective To study the therapeutic effects of Ag85A plasmid DNA vaccines in a mouse model of multi-drug resistant-(MDR-) Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Methods BALB/c mice were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical strain HB361 with isoniazid and rifampin resist-ance by intratail-vein injection and were subsequently divided into 6 groups. At the third day after infection, the mice were treated with saline (group A), vector pVAX1 (greup B), rifampin (group C), vaccae (group D), Ag85A plasmid DNA vaccines (group E),rifampin and Ag85A plasmid DNA vaccines (group F) for 60 d. The lungs and spleens from the mice were taken and their pathological changes, weight and number of myeobacterial colony were examined at the third week after the end of treatment. Results At third week af-ter the end of treatment, the gross pathological observation and histopathological examination in lung showed that the lung lesions were limited, the profile of the alveoli was relatively clear, and normal structure could be seen in 2/3 areas of the lung sections in group D, E and F. The extent of lung lesion was 50% in group D,20% in group E and F. The pathological changes in group A, B, and C were more severer than those in group D, E and F. Compared with group A, the colony-forming units (CFU) in the lungs from mice in group D,E and F decreased 52%, 68%, 78%, respectively. The CFU in the spleens from mice in group D,E and F decreased 48%, 65%, 79%, respectively. Conclusion Ag85A plasmid DNA vaccines alone or Ag85A plasmid DNA vaccines along with chemotherapy have significant therapeutic effects on the mouse model of MDR-Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Objective To develop a diagnosis model for active pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods The proteomic fingerprinting of 264 sera from active tuberculosis patients and controls were analyzed using the surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) and protein-chip technology. The peaks were detected and filtrated by Ciphergen PrnteinChip(R) Software (version 3.1.1). Using the Biomarker Pattern 5.0 software, a diagnostic model was developed for diagnosis of active tuberculosis. Re-sults Fifty protein peaks were significantly different between the patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and the controls with overlapping clinical features (P<0.01). Five protein peaks at 4360, 3311, 8160, 5723, 15173 m/z were chosen for the system classifier and the development of diagnosis model 1. The model differenti-ated the patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis from the controls with a sensitivity of 83.0%, and a speci-ficity of 89.6%. The diagnostic accuracy was up to 86.4%. Three protein peaks at 5643, 4486, 4360 m/z were chosen for the system classifier and the development of diagnosis model 2. The model differentiated the pa-tients with active pulmonary tuberculosis from the controls with a sensitivity of 96.9%, and a specificity of 97.8%. The diagnostic accuracy was up to 97.3%. Conclusion It might be a new diagnostic test for the de-tection of sera from the patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis using SELDI-TOF-MS and protein chip.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Catalase ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Mutation ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA