The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic people in Wuhan. This was a cross-sectional study, which enrolled 18,712 asymptomatic participants from 154 work units in Wuhan. Pearson Chi-square test,
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Viral/blood* ; COVID-19/immunology* ; Carrier State/immunology* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/immunology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood* ; Immunoglobulin M/blood* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupations/classification* ; Phosphoproteins/immunology* ; SARS-CoV-2/immunology* ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology* ; Young Adult

Autoantigens ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; immunology ; Lactoferrin ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; immunology ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; immunology ; metabolism ; Phosphoproteins ; metabolism ; Proteins ; metabolism

To explore the association between T-cell receptor beta variable (TCR BV) complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) spectratyping and CMV activation in the recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).Fluorescence quantitative PCR melting curve analysis was used to sequence 24 TCR BV families in 7 HSCT recipients and 3 healthy controls. CMV-pp65 antigenemia was measured by immunohistochemical staining. Plasma IgM specific for CMV was identified using ELISA. Relationship between TCR BV families and CMV activation was statistically analyzed.Twenty-four TCR BV families were expressed in 3 healthy controls, while TCR BV CDR3 sequencing results in 7 recipients turned out to be BV9, BV11, BV17, BV20 and so on. Amino acid sequence features were as follows:TCR BV9 contained "QVRGGTDTQ", TCR BV11 contained "VATDEQ" and "LGDEQ", TCR BV17 contained "IGQGNTEA", and TCR BV20 contained "VGLAANEQ". Five recipients suffered from pp65 antigenemia in 3 month after transplantation, and pp65-positive cells ranged from 2 to 15 per 5×10white blood cells. Three recipients were CMV-IgM positive. No significant differences were found in TCR BV families between pp65-positive recipients and pp65-negative recipients (all>0.05). But there was statistically significant difference in frequency of TCR BV11 between CMV-IgM negative recipients and CMV-IgM positive recipients (<0.05).T cell immune response was characterized by special TCR BV CDR3 spectratyping in HSCT recipients, and TCR BV11 expression may be associated with CMV activation.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Complementarity Determining Regions ; genetics ; immunology ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; genetics ; Phosphoproteins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; immunology ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta ; genetics ; immunology ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; virology ; Viral Matrix Proteins

BACKGROUND: Quantitation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA using real-time PCR has been utilized for monitoring CMV infection. However, the CMV antigenemia assay is still the 'gold standard' assay. There are only a few studies in Korea that compared the efficacy of use of real-time PCR for quantitation of CMV DNA in whole blood with the antigenemia assay, and most of these studies have been limited to transplant recipients. METHOD: 479 whole blood samples from 79 patients, falling under different disease groups, were tested by real-time CMV DNA PCR using the Q-CMV real-time complete kit (Nanogen Advanced Diagnostic S.r.L., Italy) and CMV antigenemia assay (CINA Kit, ArgeneBiosoft, France), and the results were compared. Repeatedly tested patients were selected and their charts were reviewed for ganciclovir therapy. RESULTS: The concordance rate of the two assays was 86.4% (Cohen's kappa coefficient value=0.659). Quantitative correlation between the two assays was a moderate (r=0.5504, P<0.0001). Among 20 patients tested repeatedly with the two assays, 13 patients were transplant recipients and treated with ganciclovir. Before treatment, CMV was detected earlier by real-time CMV DNA PCR than the antigenemia assay, with a median difference of 8 days. After treatment, the antigenemia assay achieved negative results earlier than real-time CMV DNA PCR with a median difference of 10.5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Q-CMV real-time complete kit is a useful tool for early detection of CMV infection in whole blood samples in transplant recipients.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Cytomegalovirus/*genetics ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/drug therapy/pathology/virology ; DNA, Viral/*blood/metabolism ; Ganciclovir/therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Immunoassay ; Organ Transplantation ; Phosphoproteins/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; *Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Virology/*methods

Aptamers are synthetic, relatively short (e.g., 20-80 bases) RNA or ssDNA oligonucleotides that can bind targets with high affinity and specificity, similar to antibodies, because they can fold into unique, three-dimensional shapes. For use in various assays and experiments, aptamers have been conjugated with biotin or digoxigenin to form complexes with avidin or anti-digoxigenin antibodies, respectively. In this study, we developed a method to label the 5' ends of aptamers with cotinine, which allows formation of a stable complex with anti-cotinine antibodies for the purpose of providing another affinity unit for the application in biological assays using aptamers. To demonstrate the functionality of this affinity unit in biological assays, we utilized two well-known aptamers: AS1411, which binds nucleolin, and pegaptanib, which binds vascular endothelial growth factor. Cotinine-conjugated AS1411/anti-cotinine antibody complexes were successfully applied to immunoblot, immunoprecipitation, and flow cytometric analyses, and cotinine-conjugated pegaptanib/anti-cotinine antibody complexes were used successfully in enzyme immunoassays. Our results show that cotinine-conjugated aptamer/anti-cotinine antibody complexes are an effective alternative and complementary technique for aptamer use in multiple assays and experiments.
Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/immunology/metabolism ; *Aptamers, Nucleotide/chemistry/immunology ; Biological Assay ; *Cotinine/administration & dosage/chemistry ; Flow Cytometry ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Phosphoproteins/*chemistry/immunology ; Protein Binding ; RNA-Binding Proteins/*chemistry/immunology ; *Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/chemistry/immunology

The study was aimed to compare the efficiency of cytomegalovirus (CMV) quantitative PCR and CMV-pp65 antigen test for detection of CMV infection and their clinical significance in patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). 84 patients received allogeneic HSCT were enrolled in study. Anticoagulant blood samples were obtained from the recipients before and after transplantation and in the convalescence. CMV quantitative PCR and CMV-pp65 antigen test were performed weekly. The results showed that out of 84 patients, 26 cases were positive (30.95%) by CMV quantitative PCR method. Of the 26 cases, 9 cases were CMV antigenemia and 13 cases were CMV disease, the median positive time was 37.1 (7 - 105) days after HSCT. 22 cases were positive (26.19%) by CMV-pp65 antigen test method, the median positive time was 46.6 (10 - 128) days after HSCT. All the 22 positive cases detected by CMV-pp65 antigen test were also positive by CMV quantitative PCR method. Nevertheless, 4 positive cases detected by CMV quantitative PCR but negative detected by CMV-pp65 antigen test method did not develop CMV disease. The CMV disease was found in the cases either with moderate to high copies of CMV quantitative PCR or moderate to high level CMV antigenemia by CMV-pp65 antigen test method. The clearance median time was 17.5 (11 - 28) days by CMV quantitative PCR method after receiving antiviral therapy and was 10.0 (7 - 21) days by CMV-pp65 antigen detection method. It is concluded that both CMV quantitative PCR and CMV-pp65 antigen test can detect the infection of CMV early and effectively in patients received HSCT. CMV quantitative PCR is more sensitive, and CMV-pp65 is more specific. It can be more effective to guide the antiviral treatment and evaluate its efficacy when combining the two methods.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; diagnosis ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphoproteins ; blood ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; blood ; Young Adult

PRAS40 (proline-rich Akt substrate 40 kD) associates with mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1(mTORC1), serine 183 site (Ser183) of PRAS40 can be phosphorylated by mTORC1. To prepare the phosphorylated PRAS40 (Ser183) antibody, We chosen 10-amino acid including Ser183 as antigen peptide through antigenicity and hydrophobicity analysis, hinged on keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), and used the KLH-peptide to immunize rabbits. After antibody serum titer detection by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the antibody was purified with rProtein A sepharose fast flow and dephosphorylated antigen membrane. The antibody titrate reached 1:10 000 after purification and its special property was enhanced with absorption treatment of dephosphorylated antigen membrane. In addition, we used rabbit anti-PRAS40 antibody and the phosphorylated PRAS40 (Ser183) antibody to detect PRAS40 expression in several cell lines, including the normal cells HL7702, HEK293, tumor cells HepG2, A549 and S180. There were no quite difference among these cells; otherwise, we observed the decreased phosphorylation level of Ser183 after amino acid withdrawal treatment. Therefore, the polyclonal phosphorylated PRAS40 (Ser183) antibody was specific to PRAS40 (Ser183) site and could be used for the function study of PRAS40.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; Animals ; Antibodies ; analysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Male ; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 ; Multiprotein Complexes ; Phosphoproteins ; chemistry ; immunology ; Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Serine ; metabolism ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Successful preemptive therapy for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in transplant patients depends on the availability of sensitive, specific, and timely diagnostic tests for CMV infection. Although the pp65 antigenemia assay has been widely used for this purpose, real-time quantification of CMV DNA has recently been recognized as an alternative diagnostic approach. However, the guidelines for antiviral therapy based on real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) have yet to be established. From November 2004 to March 2005, a total of 555 whole blood samples from 131 hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients were prospectively collected. RQ-PCR was conducted using an Artus(R) CMV LC PCR kit (QIAGEN). Both qualitative and quantitative correlations were drawn between the two methods. Exposure to the antiviral agent influenced the results of the two assays. Additionally, the discrepancy was observed at low levels of antigenemia and CMV DNA load. Via ROC curve analysis, the tentative cutoff value for preemptive therapy was determined to be approximately 2x10(4) copies/mL (sensitivity, 80.0%; specificity, 50.0%) in the high risk patients, and approximately 3x10(4) copies/mL (sensitivity, 90.0%; specificity, 70.0%) in the patients at low risk for CMV disease. Further study to validate the optimal cutoff value for the initiation of preemptive therapy is currently underway.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytomegalovirus/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/*diagnosis/therapy ; DNA, Viral/*blood ; Female ; *Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphoproteins/analysis/immunology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; ROC Curve ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Viral Matrix Proteins/analysis/immunology

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a dangerous complication in patients with chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD). CMV-specific immunity depends on the activity of T cells. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of CMV pp65 gene modified dendritic cells (DCs) on activation of autologous T cells. Lentivirus system was utilized to introduce the CMV full-length pp65 gene into mouse DCs; CpG-DNA was used to induce mature DCs; flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to determine the expression of antigen and IFNgamma in T lymphocytes. The results showed that the DCs were infected with lentivirus at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 50 with optimal infectious efficiency of 30%-40%; mature DCs expressing pp65 gene could stimulate autologous naive T cells to express CD69 specifically; mature DCs expressing PP65 could stimulate autologous CD4+ or CD8+ T cells to produce IFNgamma. It is concluded that CMV pp65-modified and CpG-DNA-induced mature DCs can activate CMV-specific T lymphocytes in vitro.
Animals ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; Cytomegalovirus ; immunology ; DNA ; genetics ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lectins, C-Type ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Phosphoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

The secondary structures of fusion protein pp150/MDBP, including alpha-helix, beta-sheet, turn regions, were analyzed by Garnier-Robson's and Chou-Fasman's methods; the antigenic epitopes of B cells were analysed by using hydrophilicity plot. The results showed that the fusion protein pp150/MDBP might have less alpha-helix, but be rich in beta-sheet and turn regions. The epitopes recognized by B cells may be at 7-56 amino acid residues or adjacent to 137-192 amino acid residues.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Cytomegalovirus ; chemistry ; Epitopes ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phosphoproteins ; chemistry ; immunology ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Viral Fusion Proteins ; chemistry ; immunology ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; chemistry ; immunology