OBJECTIVETo identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the regulatory and coding regions of heat shock protein 60 gene and search for its genetic makers in Chinese Han people.

METHODSThe 5' flank region, parts of the exons and introns of hsp60 gene were resequenced to identify the SNPs in Chinese Han people, and then the sequenced results to the Japanese, European and African's data in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and HapMap databases were compared.

RESULTSOne novel SNP was identified in exon 2 resulting in synonymous variant and the G allele frequency was 0.025. There were 11 reported SNPs in the sequenced region. The minor allele frequencies of rs1116734, rs3749095, rs1050347, rs8539 were 0.51, 0.30, 0.29, 0.49. The heterozygosity of the other 7 SNPs was 0. The distributions of rs1116734, rs1050347, rs8539, rs3749095 in Chinese Han people were similar to the Japanese's. The hsp60 rs3749095 which was not found in Japanese people was a high-frequency SNP in Chinese Han people; the distribution of rs8539 in Chinese Han people was quite different from European and African's (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe SNPs of hsp60 in Chinese Han people are different from the other peoples. The SNPs of hsp60 gene rs1116734, rs3749095, rs1050347, rs8539 are very common in Chinese Han people and might be used for candidate genetic markers of hsp60 gene.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Chaperonin 60 ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

As thermostable enzymes and organisms are much more needed, researches on heat shock proteins(HSPs) of hyperthermophilic archaea have drawn more concerns. HSPs from hyperthermophilic archaea are concise only with HSP60, sHSP, prefoldin and AAA+proteins, but without HSP100s, HSP90s, HSP70 (DnaK), HSP40 (DnaJ) and GrpE which are common in mesophilic or thermophilic archaea. Accordingly, studies on the structure, function and operation mechanism of these four groups are much more important and meaningful. This review focuses on the recent progress in the researchs on the structure, function, operation mechanism and cooperation of the HSPs from hyperthermophilic archaea. The problems and obfuscations in these HSPs are analyzed, and farther research direction and key points are put out.
Archaea ; classification ; metabolism ; Archaeal Proteins ; metabolism ; Chaperonin 60 ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Chaperones ; metabolism

To construct the secretive prokaryotic shuttle expression plasmid pBCG-SP-HSP65, the signal peptide sequence of antigen 85B amplified from Bacillus Calmette-guérin (BCG) genome by PCR and the whole HSP65 DNA sequence of human M. tuberculosis obtained from the plasmid pCMV-MTHSP65 by PCR were cloned into the plasmid pBCG-2100 under the control of the promoter of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) from human M. tuberculosis. Recombinants were electroporated into Mycobacterial smegmatis and induced by heating. Results of the induced expression were detected by SDS-PAGE and the biological activity of the expressed protein was tested by Western-blot analysis. Results showed pBCG-SP-MTHSP65 was constructed successfully and confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis, PCR detection and DNA sequencing analysis. After it was electroporated into Mycobacterial smegmatis and induced by heating, the percentage of expressed 65kD protein in Mycobacterial smegmatis detected by SDS-PAGE was 20% in total bacterial protein. But the percentage of expressed 65kD protein in recombibinant Mycobacterial smegmatis was up to 34.46% in total bacterial protein and 68.56% in the total protein of cell lysate supernants, Which demonstrated the recombinant HSP65 gene could express in recombinant with high efficiency and the expressed proteins were mainly soluble. Western-blot showed that the secretive proteins could specially combine with antibody against human M. tuberculosis HSP65. Orally, pBCG-SP-HSP65 was successfully constructed; HSP65 gene could express in Mycobacterial smegmatis with high efficiency via it. And the expressed proteins possess the biological activity. So it provids experimental evidence for the application of the recombinant Mycobacterial smegmatis and the development of the vaccine against tuberculosis.
Bacterial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Chaperonin 60 ; Chaperonins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mycobacterium smegmatis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine expression changes of major outer membrane protein(OMP) antigens of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai strain Lai during infection of human macrophages and its mechanism.

METHODSOmpR encoding genes and OmpR-related histidine kinase (HK) encoding gene of L.interrogans strain Lai and their functional domains were predicted using bioinformatics technique. mRNA level changes of the leptospiral major OMP-encoding genes before and after infection of human THP-1 macrophages were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR. Effects of the OmpR-encoding genes and HK-encoding gene on the expression of leptospiral OMPs during infection were determined by HK-peptide antiserum block assay and closantel inhibitive assays.

RESULTSThe bioinformatics analysis indicated that LB015 and LB333 were referred to OmpR-encoding genes of the spirochete, while LB014 might act as a OmpR-related HK-encoding gene. After the spirochete infecting THP-1 cells, mRNA levels of leptospiral lipL21, lipL32 and lipL41 genes were rapidly and persistently down-regulated (P <0.01), whereas mRNA levels of leptospiral groEL, mce, loa22 and ligB genes were rapidly but transiently up-regulated (P<0.01). The treatment with closantel and HK-peptide antiserum partly reversed the infection-based down-regulated mRNA levels of lipL21 and lipL48 genes (P <0.01). Moreover, closantel caused a decrease of the infection-based up-regulated mRNA levels of groEL, mce, loa22 and ligB genes (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONExpression levels of L.interrogans strain Lai major OMP antigens present notable changes during infection of human macrophages. There is a group of OmpR-and HK-encoding genes which may play a major role in down-regulation of expression levels of partial OMP antigens during infection.

Antigens, Bacterial ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Chaperonin 60 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leptospira interrogans ; genetics ; immunology ; pathogenicity ; Lipoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; microbiology

Deer serve as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens that impact on medical and veterinary health worldwide. In the Republic of Korea, the population of Korean water deer (KWD, Hydropotes inermis argyropus) has greatly increased from 1982 to 2011, in part, as a result of reforestation programs established following the Korean War when much of the land was barren of trees. Eighty seven Haemaphysalis flava, 228 Haemaphysalis longicornis, 8 Ixodes nipponensis, and 40 Ixodes persulcatus (21 larvae, 114 nymphs, and 228 adults) were collected from 27 out of 70 KWD. A total of 89/363 ticks (266 pools, 24.5% minimum infection rate) and 5 (1.4%) fed ticks were positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum using nested PCR targeting the 16S rRNA and groEL genes, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene fragment sequences of 88/89 (98.9%) of positive samples for A. phagocytophilum corresponded to previously described gene sequences from KWD spleen tissues. The 16S rRNA gene fragment sequences of 20/363 (5.5%) of the ticks were positive for A. bovis and were identical to previously reported sequences. Using the ITS specific nested PCR, 11/363 (3.0%) of the ticks were positive for Bartonella spp. This is the first report of Anaplasma and Bartonella spp. detected in ticks collected from KWD, suggesting that ticks are vectors of Anaplasma and Bartonella spp. between reservoir hosts in natural surroundings.
Anaplasma/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Arachnid Vectors/microbiology ; Bartonella/genetics/*physiology ; Chaperonin 60/genetics ; Deer/parasitology ; Disease Reservoirs/veterinary ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Ticks/*microbiology

OBJECTIVETo construct a prokaryotic expression system of groEL gene of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagia serovar Lai strain Lai, and to determine the immunoprotective effect of recombinant GroEL protein (rGroEL) in LVG hamsters.

METHODSThe groEL gene was amplified by high fidelity PCR and the amplification products were then sequenced. A prokaryotic expression system of groEL gene was constructed using routine genetic engineering technique. SDS-PAGE plus Bio-Rad Gel Image Analyzer was applied to examine the expression and dissolubility of rGroEL protein while Ni-NTA affinity chromatography was used to extract the expressed rGroEL. The immunoprotective rate in rGroEL-immunized LVG hamsters was determined after challenge with L.interrogans strain Lai. The cross agglutination titers of sera from immunized hamsters with different L.interrogans serogroups were detected using MAT.

RESULTSThe nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the cloned groEL gene were the same as those reported in GenBank. The constructed prokaryotic expression system of groEL gene expressed soluble rGroEL. The immunoprotective rates of 100 and 200 μg rGroEL in LVG hamsters were 50.0 % and 75.0%, respectively. The sera from the rGroEL-immunized LVG hamsters agglutinated all the L.interrogans serogroups tested with different levels.

CONCLUSIONThe GroEL protein is a genus-specific immunoprotective antigen of L.interrogans and can be used to develop an universal genetically engineering vaccine of Leptospira.

Agglutination Tests ; Animals ; Antigens, Bacterial ; immunology ; Chaperonin 60 ; genetics ; immunology ; Cricetinae ; Gene Expression ; Leptospira interrogans ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the involvement of intron A into eukaryotic expression vector to improve antigen expression efficiency and enhance immunogenicity of DNA vaccine in mice.

METHODSAs model antigen, the coding gene of mycobacterial Hsp65 was cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pCMV4.0 with intron A involved and pVAX1 without intron A involved, respectively. The resulted recombinant expression vectors were transfected into 293T cells and were then injected into BALB/c mice as DNA vaccines. Anti-Hsp65 specific IgG and isotype were detected by ELISA and T cell immune response was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay and intracellular cytokine staining.

RESULTSCompared with non-intron A pVAX1hsp65, the recombinant plasmid pCMV4.0hsp65 involved with intron A pVAX1hsp65 caused higher expression level of Hsp65 in 293T cells, and enhanced Th1 type immune response, which was defined as higher level of anti-Hsp65 specific total IgG level (3.76 ± 0.23 vs 3.15 ± 0.22, P < 0.01) and IgG2a/IgG1 ratio (4.08 ± 0.04 vs 2.23 ± 0.12, P < 0.01) and more IFN-γ-secreting CD4(+) ((2.0 ± 0.058)% vs (1.5 ± 0.087)%, t = 4.804, P < 0.01) and CD8(+) ((0.6 ± 0.058)% vs (1.0 ± 0.115)%, t = 3.098, P < 0.05) T lymphocytes. The difference showed statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONIntron A can improve the expression efficiency of mycobacterial Hsp65 antigen and enhance immunogenicity of DNA vaccine in mice when involved into eukaryotic expression vector.

Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Chaperonin 60 ; genetics ; immunology ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Introns ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of grOEL gene sequence in phylogenetic analysis and typing of Salmonella.

METHODSThe grOEL gene was amplified by PCR, sequenced and analyzed using Bioedit and DNAstar software. The Salmonella strains were identified using PCR-restriction fragment length polymophism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTSThe conservative and variable regions of grOEL gene of Salmonella serogroup were separately distributed and most of the small mutant regions distributed intermittently among the conservative regions. The phylogenetic tree of Salmonella based on the nucleotides differed from that generated based on the amino acid sequence. O8, O9 and O10 had the closest consanguinity, and 5 patterns were identified by PCR-RFLP.

CONCLUSIONThe grOEL gene can be used as a genetic marker for phylogenetic analysis of Salmonella and also as a target sequence for Salmonella typing identification.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Chaperonin 60 ; genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Salmonella ; classification ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo study the role of heat shock protein (HSP) 60 and HSP70 in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP).

METHODSThe immunohistochemical SP methods were used to detected the expression of HSP60 and HSP70 in 62 cases of oral lichen planus, 10 cases of normal oral mucosa, 21 cases of chronic discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), 10 cases of benign lymphoadenosis of mucosa, 46 cases of leukoplakia. RT-PCR was used to evaluate the expression of HSP60 mRNA and HSP70 mRNA in 12 cases of OLP and 5 cases of normal oral mucosa.

RESULTSHSP60 was expressed at much higher levels in OLP than other groups. The expression of HSP70 decreased in epithelial cells in erosive lichen planus group. HSP60 mRNA and HSP70 mRNA were expressed at high level in OLP.

CONCLUSIONHSP60 and HSP70 play an important role in pathogenesis of OLP.

Chaperonin 60 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Lichen Planus, Oral ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mouth Mucosa ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis

We herein report a case in which the recently characterized species Mycobacterium monacense was isolated from the sputum of an Iranian patient. This case represents the first isolation of M. monacense from Iran. The isolate was identified by conventional and molecular techniques. Our findings show that M. monacense infection is not restricted to developed countries.
Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Chaperonin 60/genetics ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; Lung Diseases/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Mycobacterium Infections/*microbiology/pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sputum/microbiology