PURPOSE: Study on the pathogen and the pathogen-related disease require the information at both cellular and organism level. However, lack of appropriate high-quality antibodies and the difference between the experimental animal models make it difficult to analyze in vivo mechanism of pathogen-related diseases. For more reliable research on the infection and immune-response of pathogen-related diseases, accurate analysis is essential to provide spatiotemporal information of pathogens and immune activity to avoid false-positive or mis-interpretations. In this regards, we have developed a method for tracking Francisella tularensis in the animal model without using the specific antibodies for the F. tularensis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A dual reporter plasmid using GFP-Lux with putative bacterioferritin promoter (pBfr) was constructed and transformed to F. tularensis live vaccine strain to generate F. tularensis LVS (FtLVS)-GFP-Lux for both fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging. For vaccination to F. tularensis infection, FtLVS and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from FtLVS were used. RESULTS: We visualized the bacterial replication of F. tularensis in the cells using fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging, and traced the spatio-temporal process of F. tularensis pathogenesis in mice. Vaccination with LPS purified from FtLVS greatly reduced the bacterial replication of FtLVS in animal model, and the effect of vaccination was also successfully monitored with in vivo imaging. CONCLUSION: We successfully established dual reporter labeled F. tularensis for cellular and whole body imaging. Our simple and integrated imaging analysis system would provide useful information for in vivo analysis of F. tularensis infection as well as in vitro experiments, which have not been fully explained yet with various technical problems.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Fluorescence ; Francisella tularensis* ; Francisella* ; Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline ; In Vitro Techniques ; Methods ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Plasmids ; Vaccination ; Whole Body Imaging

One hundred and thirty trimethoprim-resistant R plasmids derived from of Escherichia coli isolated from clinical specimens and feces of healthy collegians were examined for incompatibility, EcoRI endonuclease restriction fragment pattern, and Southern hybridization with DHFR I, II, III, V, and VII probe. 1. Most trimethoprim-resistant R plasmids were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and kanamycin, and showed multiple drug resistance and various antimicrobial resistance patterns. 2. Trimethoprim-resistant R plasmids ranged from 90 to 50 kilobase and 42.3% of R plasmids tested were classified to incompatibilty group Inc FI, Inc FII or Inc FIV, 3. Among 48 random selected R plasmids from various origin, 14 R plasmids (including 9 of 14 Inc FII plasmids and 3 of 14 Inc FI plasmids) hybridized with DHFR VII oligonucleotide probe but others did not respond to any of DHFR probes used. 4. Most R plasmids showed various EcoRI endonuclease fragments and different reaction sites by Southern hybridization. Six plasmids showed identical or nearly identical molecular weight, EcoRI endonuclease fragment patterns and different sites of Southern hybridization. But 2 Inc FII plasmids derived from urine and feces showed identical pattern. These findings, if confirmed by further studies, suggest that normal flora E. coli can act as reservoir of resistant genes and, consequently, as a factor in the dissemination of these genes among enteric pathogens and need to be examined further.
Ampicillin ; Chloramphenicol ; Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Feces ; Gentamicins ; Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline ; Kanamycin ; Molecular Biology* ; Molecular Weight ; Plasmids ; R Factors ; Tetracycline ; Trimethoprim Resistance* ; Trimethoprim*

BACKGROUND: Palmoplantar pustulosis(PPP) is often associated with osteo-arthropathy, especially sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis(SCCH). The relation between PPP and SCCH or other types of seronegative arthropathy remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution and the frequency of osteo-arthropathy in patients with PPP. METHODS: Twenty fiv patients with PPP were included in this study, and checked for clinical symptoms and signs, labiratory findings, and radiologic findings including plain X-ray, 99mTc-MDP bone scan, and computed tomography. RESULTS: The incidenc of osteo-arthropathy in PPP was 64%. The prevalent age at onset of osteo arthropathy was the forth decade in males, and the sixth decade in females. The frequent, sites of osteo arthralgia were sternocostoclavicular areas, spines, shoulders, knees, and sacroiliac joints, and the frequent sites of increased radioisotope uptake were similar to t,he distribution of sites of osteoarthropathy. 99mTc-MDP bone scan was more sensitive in detecting osteo-arthropathy than plain X ray and commputed tomography. In laboratory findings, we observed an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocyte counts, alkaine phosphatase, and the positivity of C-reactive pr otein. CONCLUSIONS: The frequent involvement of the anterior chest, wall, knees, spines, and sacroiliac joints was noted in patients with PPP. 99mTc MDP bone scan may be the most helpful in making a diagnosis of osteo-arthropathy accompanied with PPP.
Arthralgia ; Blood Sedimentation ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline ; Knee ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Shoulder ; Spine ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate ; Thorax

It is known that CD28, a positive costimulatory receptor, plays a very important role in inducing the optimal stimulation of T lymphocytes. CTLA-4 (CD152), however, acts as a negative regulator in T lymphocyte activation. The effect of an feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection on the expression of feline CD28 and CTLA-4 was studied with FIV-infected and uninfected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using a competitive PCR assay. The nature of CD28 and CTLA-4 expression was also examined with fresh and antigen-stimulated PBMC. FIV infection induced a lower expression of CD28, but a higher expression of CTLA-4 in the infected PBMC than in the uninfected PBMC. Relatively high levels of CD28 expression were demonstrated in both the fresh and the antigen-stimulated PBMC. The expression level of CTLA-4 in the freshly isolated PBMC was rather low, however, FIV antigen stimulation induced a relatively high expression of CTLA-4 in feline PBMC.
Animals ; Antigens, CD ; Antigens, CD28/*biosynthesis ; Antigens, Differentiation/*biosynthesis ; Antigens, Viral/*immunology ; Cats ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression ; Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline/immunology/*physiology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology/*virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary

A 7-year-old, spayed female, domestic short hair cat showed signs of a 2-week history of chronic anorexia, depression, and severe weight loss. Upon physical examination, pyrexia, mild gingivitis, and pale mucus membranes were noted. Laboratory analysis revealed normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia, severe thrombocytopenia, and hypergammaglobulinemia. Serum protein electrophoresis revealed the presence of elevated alpha-2 fraction within the globulin concentration. Based on history, clinical signs, and laboratory results, systemic viral infection was strongly suspected. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction identified the presence of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in the serum. Furthermore, gene sequencing revealed the virus as FIV subtype A. Treatment with anti-retroviral agents, including azidothymidine (AZT) and recombinant human interferon-alpha, was continued for 4 weeks. However, the patient's clinical condition deteriorated, resulting in death 1 month after initiation of treatment due to progressive renal failure. Necropsy and histopathology revealed hepatic and renal necrosis with hyper-cellular bone marrow mainly comprised of myeloid precursor cells. This case report is the first to describe phylogenetic subtyping, anti-retroviral combination treatment, and clinical outcomes in an FIV-infected cat in Korea. In addition, this report suggests that treatment should be initiated during the early phase of infection that could be effective for the virus.
Anemia ; Animals ; Anorexia ; Anti-Retroviral Agents ; Bone Marrow ; Cats* ; Child ; Depression ; Electrophoresis ; Female ; Fever ; Gingivitis ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypergammaglobulinemia ; Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline* ; Interferon-alpha* ; Korea ; Membranes ; Mucus ; Necrosis ; Physical Examination ; Renal Insufficiency ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thrombocytopenia ; Weight Loss ; Zidovudine*