The antigenic similarity between Neisseria meningitidis group B (NMGB) capsular polysaccharide (PS) and human polysialic acid (PSA) has hampered the development of a NMGB PS-based vaccine. But the possibility of a safe vaccine based on NMGB PS has been demonstrated by the existence of the NMGB PS-associated nonautoreactive epitope, which is distinct from those present on human PSA. To obtain peptide mimotopes of NMGB PS, we used HmenB3, a protective and nonautoreactive monoclonal antibody, to screen a phage library with 12 amino acids. We obtained 23 phage clones that bound to HmenB3 but not in the presence of E. coli K1 PS [which is alpha (2-8) -linked PSA like NMGB PS]. The clones contained 3 mimotopes and differed from previously described NMGB PS mimotopes. Immunization with a synthetic peptide of one mimotope elicited anti-NMGB antibodies in BALB/c mice. These mimotopes may be useful in the development of group B meningococcal vaccines.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacterial Vaccines/*immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Female ; Meningococcal Infections/*immunology/*prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B/genetics/*immunology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics/*immunology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Focal dystonia of musicians is one of the most disabling problems for professional musicians. It has focal task-specificity, presenting with involuntary flexion or extension of individual fingers when musicians play their instruments. It occurs mostly in pianists, and controversies still exist about the pathophysiology, whether it is caused by motor function disability or by a psychological condition. Although sensorimotor rehabilitation, change in instrument, skill or teacher, and immobilization with brace have been tried as treatment, there is still no definitive treatment. Because botox therapy has been effective in certain cases without irreversible side effects, this could be applied even in professional players. We report a case of focal dystonia of the hand in a professional pianist treated using electromyogram-guided botox injection and a review of the relevant medical literature.
Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Braces ; Dystonic Disorders ; Fingers ; Hand ; Immobilization

Toxoplasmosis is a rare but fatal complication in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, usually associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We report a case of cerebral toxoplasmosis in a patient with multiple myeloma, following tandem autologous stem cell transplantation. A 55-year-old Korean male presented with weakness in both legs that had progressed to both arms. A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain revealed multiple, variable-sized ring-enhancing lesions with surrounding edema in the cerebral hemispheres and brain stem. Stereotactic biopsy revealed bradyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii in the brain tissue. The patient received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, followed by pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, accompanying treatment for progressive multiple myeloma. Cerebral toxoplasmosis should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses in patients with neurologic signs following autologous HSCT.
Arm ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Cerebrum ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Edema ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pyrimethamine ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; Sulfadiazine ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis ; Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Hippocampal synaptic dysfunction is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Many agents regulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity show an ameliorative effect on AD pathology, making them potential candidates for AD therapy. In the present study, we investigated spinosin as a regulating agent of synaptic plasticity in AD. Spinosin attenuated amyloid β (Aβ)-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) impairment, and improved plasmin activity and protein level in the hippocampi of 5XFAD mice, a transgenic AD mouse model. Moreover, the effect of spinosin on hippocampal LTP in 5XFAD mice was prevented by 6-aminocaproic acid, a plasmin inhibitor. These results suggest that spinosin improves synaptic function in the AD hippocampus by regulating plasmin activity.