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 evaluate the protective effectiveness of MPT64 and ESAT6 DNA vaccines against M. tuberculosis. Methods BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 14 groups and subjected to following treatments respectively, i.e. immunized with. ESAT6 (25?g)+MPT64 (25?g)(A), ESAT6(100?g)+IFN-?(100?g) (B), ESAT6 (75?g)+MPT64 (25?g)(C), ESAT6(100?g)+IL-12(100?g) (D), MPT64(100?g)+IL-12(100?g) (E), ESAT6 (25?g)+MPT64 (75?g)(F), MPT64 (100?g)(G), Pvax1 (H),ESAT6 (100?g)(I), ESAT6 (100?g)+MPT64 (100?g)(J), ESAT6 (50?g)+MPT64 (50?g)(K), MPT64(100?g)+IFN-?(100?g)(L), BCG(M ), and saline(N). Then they were infected with M. tuberculosis H37Rv via intravenous route. The pathological changes in the lung, liver, and spleen were observed after the infection. Results Eight weeks after the inoculation, there were only alveolar exudation and capillary hyperemia in the lung lesions in the mice of group N. In the mice of group M and J, main pathological changes included tuberculous granulomas consisting of numerous lymphocytes, macrophages, epithelioid cells and Langhans giant cells, and moderate hyperplasia in alveolar walls. The lung lesions of the other groups were similar, and both hyperplasia and exudate were found (A, B, C, D, E, G, H, I, K, L). No necrosis was found in all the above groups. There were hyperemia, dense lymphocytes infiltration in the portal area, and tuberculous granuloma in the liver in all the groups. No difference was found among all the groups. The pathological changes in spleen induced hyperplasia and fusion of splenic lymph nodule. The reactions in group M and J were stronger than that of the other groups. Conclusions MPT64 and ESAT6 DNA vaccines from M.tuberculosis could enhance immunity against M. tuberculosis, either they were used in combination with different dosages or with IL-12 or IFN-?. The vaccine used in group J showed the strongest effect in enhancing immunity, almost reaching that of combined use of BCG, IFN-? and IL-12.

To study the therapeutic action of tuberculosis Ag85A DNA vaccines. Methods:BALB/c mice were infected by in-traperitoneal injection with M. tuberculosis H37Rv for 8 weeks, and then treated with the saline (A), plasmid vector (B), M. bovis BCG (C), M. vaccae (D), and Ag85A DNA vaccine (E). Ag85A-specific antibodies were determined by ELISA. The lungs, livers and spleens were taken and observed their pathological changes, weighted and performed mycobacterial cultures 2 or 5 monthes after treatment. Spleen cells were tested for proliferative responses.Results:Ag85A-specific antibodies increased in the mice of group E. At 2 months after immunothera-pies, the stimulation rates of spleen cells had no significant difference among each group. The numbers of viable bacteria in the lungs and spleens of therapeutic group were lower than those in the control group. The group C and B could be observed slight .lesion of lung. At 5 months after immunotherapies, the stimulation rates of spleen cells all increased significantly in the immunotherapeutic groups. The numbers of viable bacteria in the lung and spleen had no significant difference among each group. No lesions of lung could be observed in group E and D. Conclusion:The tuberculosis DNA vaccines seem to have some immunotherapeutic actions.

Objective To investigate the mutation of embB and pncA genes in mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates, and assess its clinical value. Methods The drug-sensitivity of 106 clinical isolates of mycobacterial species was identified by the tranditional method, and then analyzed the mutation of their embB and pncA genes with PCR-SSCP. Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H 37 RV was used as a control. Results The mutational frequency of pncA gene in 94 PZA-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis was 44 6%(42/94). The mutational frequency of embB gene in 83 EMB-resistant isolates was 54 2%. The frequency of both genes mutation was 11 8%(11/94). Conclusion EMB and PZA resistances in some mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were due to mutations of embB and pncA genes. PCR- SSCP method might become a simple and rapid diagnostic test for genotypes of EMB and PZA resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis.

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 explore the feasibility of detecting the mutations of rpoB gene in rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains by gene chip. Methods The DNA chip was designed according to the sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis rpoB gene. The DNA fragments which contained hot mutation sites of rpoB gene were labelled with cy3 fluorescence, amplified by PCR technique and hybridized with gene chip. The DNA sequencing was used as the control. Results Eighteen of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were detected for the mutations of rpoB gene by gene chip. Among them, one sensitive strain was identical with the type strain, and all of 17 strains with rifampin-resistant, rpoB mutations were detected. Of the 17 strains with rpoB mutations, 14 were detected as single point mutation, one was detected as double sites point mutations with the sites of 511 and 516, and two were detected as single point mutation with the sites of 518 and 526, respectively. Because the probe of 517 rifampin-resistant did not be dotted on the gene chip, only sites of 518 and 526 mutations were detected, which were consistent with the results of DNA sequencing. Conclusion Using the gene chip could detect mass rpoB gene mutation of rifampin-resistant with higher specialty and sensitivity, which could be used for clinical detection of rifampin-resistant strains and clinical medicine.

Objective To evaluate the clinic application value of detection of rPOB,katG and rPSL resistance genes to M tuberculosis by polymerase china reaction-single stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP).Method The drug-resistance tests of M tuberculosis clinical isolates from 141 patients with the tuberculosis was analyzed by Bactec-960 rapid culture,drug-sensitive and PCR-SSCP techniques.Results As nearly As one of three patients with priliminary treatment had resistance to one kind of the drugs tested at least.The mutation rates of RFP,INH and SM drug-sensitive isolates were 6 5%,11 4% and 27 2% respectively.That of the drug-resistant isolates were 60 2%,45 7% and 62 7%.As drug-resistant concentration heightened,so mutation rate of genes increased.Conclusions Detecting the resistance genes was a new explore in guiding treatment,and multiple drug-sensitive test combinative use have cooperativity each other.It might become good test for clinical management.

M.tuberculosis strains isolated strains from sputum specimens of 134 patients were analyzed by PCR SSCP and traditional drug susceptibility tests. The results sbowed that the gene mutation rate of PZA, SM, RFP,INH and EMB resistance in those clinically isolated strains was 42 7%,71 7%,78 9%,68 6% and 43 9%, respectively. The gene mutation was in relation with drug resistance level of M. tuberculosis. The gene mutation rate was higher in high concentration resistance strains than in low concentration resistance strains.

Crude glycosaminoglycan(CPG) from the whole viscera of Pinctada martensii was isolated with the two-enzyme hydrolysis and purified by the chromatograph.And the antitumor activity was studied with MTT colormetric assay. The CPG could be separated into two fractions(GAG-1, GAG-2) by the DEAE-52-cellulose ion exchange chromatograph. The contents of hexosamine of CPG,GAG-1, GAG-2 were 54.6%,50.0%,35.4%,respectively. The sulfate of GAG-2 was 13.8%. The inhibiting rates of CPG, GAG-1 and GAG-2 to HL-60 cells were 54.6%, 50.0% and 35.4%,respectively. The inhibition to HL-60 of 5-Fu could be increased by combined use with CPG, GAG-1 and GAG-2, GAG-1 was the main active fraction.

Objective To predict the epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv2657c protein, to understand its immunogenicity Methods The T?cell and B?cell epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv2657c protein were predicted by DNAStar software package. The homology of Rv2657c amino acid sequence with the human protein sequences was prepared using Blast method, then the CTL epitopes were predicted using SYFPEITHI supermotif method, BIMAS quantitative motif method and NetCTL prediction method, and the Th epitopes were predicted by RANKPEP and SYFPEITHI supermotif prediction method. Results The prediction using DNAStar software package showed that Rv2657c protein had 5 B?cell epitopes and 6 T?cell epitopes. The protein had 6 CTL epitopes and there were 38 Th epitopes. Conclusion Rv2657c protein has both B?cell epitopes and T?cell epitopes. It may be a candidate target antigen for the studies of vaccine and diagnosis of tuberculosis.