Experimental infection of human volunteers with Haemophilus ducreyi does not confer protection against subsequent challenge.

Two groups of human volunteers were inoculated with 2 doses of live Haemophilus ducreyi 35000HP. The reinfection group consisted of 7 subjects who previously had participated in experimental infection with 35000HP to the pustular stage of disease. The control group consisted of 7 naive subjects. Papules developed at 92.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 66.1%-99.8%) of sites inoculated with live bacteria, in the reinfection group, and at 85.7% (95% CI, 57.2%-98. 2%) of sites in the control group. Sixty-nine percent (95% CI, 36. 8%-90.9%) of papules evolved into pustules in the reinfection group, compared with 41% (95% CI, 15.2%-72.3%) in the control group. The recovery rates of H. ducreyi from surface cultures and the histopathology of biopsies obtained from both groups were similar. Thus, experimental infection to the pustular stage of disease does not provide protective immunity against subsequent challenge.

The immune response to Haemophilus ducreyi resembles a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction throughout experimental infection of human subjects.

Previous work in 3 subjects infected for 2 weeks indicated that experimental infection with Haemophilus ducreyi recruits CD4 cells to the skin at the pustular stage of disease. In order to describe the kinetics of the host response, 23 subjects were infected at 2 sites with a standardized dose of H. ducreyi. Subjects were biopsied 1 or 4 days after inoculation or when they developed a painful pustular lesion (days 7-14). Papules and pustules contained a predominant T cell infiltrate that consisted of CD45RO and CD4 cells of the alpha beta lineage. Both papules and pustules contained mixed or T helper 1 type cytokine mRNA and interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA. Although the subjects had no history of chancroid, their immune responses resembled delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions that occurred within 24 h of inoculation and persisted throughout the course of experimental infection.

Evaluation of an isogenic hemolysin-deficient mutant in the human model of Haemophilus ducreyi infection.

Haemophilus ducreyi causes the genital ulcerative disease chancroid. One putative virulence factor of H. ducreyi is a pore-forming hemolysin that displays toxicity against human fibroblasts and keratinocytes. In order to test the role of the hemolysin in pathogenesis, an isogenic hemolysin-deficient mutant was constructed, designated 35000HP-RSM1. The lipooligosaccharide, outer membrane protein patterns, and growth attributes of 35000HP-RSM1 were identical to its parent, 35000HP. Human subjects were challenged on the upper arm with the isogenic isolates in a double-blinded, randomized, escalating dose-response study. Pustules developed at a similar rate at sites inoculated with the mutant or parent. The cellular infiltrate and bacterial load in lesions were also similar. These results indicate the hemolysin does not play a role in pustule formation. Due to the limitations of this model, the role of the hemolysin at later stages of infection could not be determined.

Characterization of a transposon Tn916-generated mutant of Haemophilus ducreyi 35000 defective in lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis.

To define the role of the surface lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of Haemophilus ducreyi in the pathogenesis of chancroid, Tn916 mutants of H. ducreyi 35000 defective in expression of the murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3F11 epitope on H. ducreyi LOS were identified by immunologic screening. One mutant, designated 1381, has an LOS which lacks the MAb 3F11 epitope and migrates with an increased mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The gene disrupted by the Tn916 element in strain 1381 was identified by cloning the sequences flanking the Tn916 element. The sequences were then used to probe a lambda DASHII genomic library. In strain 1381, Tn916 interrupts a gene which encodes an open reading frame (ORF) with an Mr of 40,246. This ORF has homology to the product of the rfaK gene of Escherichia coli. The major LOS glycoform produced by strain 1381 was analyzed by using a combination of mass spectrometry, linkage and composition analysis, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The major LOS species was found to terminate in a single glucose attached to the heptose (L-glycero-D-manno-heptose, or Hep) trisaccharide core. In the wild-type strain 35000, glucose serves as the acceptor for the addition of the D-glycero-D-manno-heptose (or DDHep), which extends to form the mature branch of the H. ducreyi LOS. This mature oligosaccharide is in turn partially capped by the addition of sialic acid (NeuAc), i.e., NeuAc2 alpha-->3Gal beta1-->4GlcNAc beta1-->3Gal beta1-->4DDHep alpha1-->6Glc beta1 (W. Melaugh et al., Biochemistry 33:13070-13078, 1994). Since this LOS terminates prior to the addition of the branch DD-heptose, this gene is likely to encode the D-glycero-D-manno-heptosyltransferase. Strain 1381 exhibits a significant reduction in adherence to and invasion of primary human keratinocytes. This defect was complemented by the cloned heptosyltransferase gene, indicating that the terminal portion of the LOS oligosaccharide plays an important role in adherence to human keratinocytes.

An isogenic haemolysin-deficient mutant of Haemophilus ducreyi lacks the ability to produce cytopathic effects on human foreskin fibroblasts.

The haemolysin of Haemophilus ducreyi is the newest member of the Proteus/Serratia family of pore-forming toxins. In order to assess the role of the haemolysin in virulence, we constructed an isogenic haemolysin-deficient mutant of H. ducreyi strain 35000 This strain, designated 35000-3, lacks detectable haemolytic activity. We tested H. ducreyi strains 35000 and 35000-3 for their cytopathic activity against human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs). We observed strong cytopathic activity when strain 35000 was co-cultured with HFFs. In contrast, cytopathic activity was not observed when strain 35000-3 was co-cultured with HFF cells. We also analysed the isogenic pair of H. ducreyi strains for cytopathic activity against HeLa cells and the keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Strains 35000 and 35000-3 were strongly cytotoxic when co-cultured with HeLa cells. HaCaT monolayers were slightly damaged by cocultivation with strain 35000-3 but this damage was much less than that observed when HaCaT cells were cocultured with strain 35000. These results indicate that the H. ducreyi haemolysin is responsible for the previously observed cytotoxic activity against HFF cells and is partially responsible for the activity observed with HaCaT cells. The haemolysin, however, is not responsible for the activity observed with HeLa cells.

Cloning and characterization of the genes encoding the hemolysin of Haemophilus ducreyi.

We previously identified a heat- and protease-labile haemolytic activity expressed by Haemophilus ducreyi. In order to characterize the haemolysin at the molecular level, genomic DNA from H. ducreyi was probed with haemolysin genes from other Gram-negative organisms. The haemolysin genes of Proteus mirabilis hybridized to H. ducreyi DNA suggesting that the haemolysin of H. ducreyi is related to the Proteus/Serratia pore-forming family of haemolysins. Tn916 mutagenesis was employed to isolate haemolysin-deficient mutants. Approximately 5000 Tn916 transposon mutants were screened for the loss of haemolytic activity and two mutants were identified. One mutant, designated 35,000-1, was further characterized. Sequences flanking the Tn916 element in strain 35,000-1 were employed to identify clones from a lambda DASHII library of H. ducreyi strain 35,000 DNA. A 13 kb insert from one lambda clone was selected for further study. This 13 kb fragment was able to both confer haemolytic activity to Escherichia coli and complement the haemolysin deficiency in strain 35,000-1. The haemolysin gene cluster was cloned from this 13 kb insert and two genes, designated hhdA and hhdB, were identified. The derived amino acid sequence of these genes demonstrated homology to the haemolysin and activation/secretion proteins of P. mirabilis and Serratia marcescens.

Identification of a hemolytic activity elaborated by Haemophilus ducreyi.

Haemophilus ducreyi is the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease chancroid. We have identified a hemolytic activity expressed by H. ducreyi. This activity is most readily detected when horse erythrocytes are used as a target; however, low levels of activity can be detected with sheep, human, or rabbit erythrocyte targets. The activity is heat labile and protease sensitive.

Anti-C-reactive protein inhibits cytoskeletal rearrangement without altering calcium influx in natural killer cell activation.

C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase protein in human serum, is present on large granular lymphocytes (LGL). Anti-CRP inhibits natural killer (NK) cell-mediated lysis. Our current study shows that anti-CRP also inhibits antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of LGL. Calcium influx and protein kinase C (PKC) activation are the early signal transduction events in NK activation. In the conjugates formed between LGL and targets (NK or ADCC), 75-90% of LGL respond with a calcium influx. Addition of anti-CRP had no effect on the percentage of LGL which respond to target cell binding or on the magnitude of the calcium response of LGL. This was true for both NK and ADCC effector cells. Crosslinking anti-CRP with a secondary antibody did not alter this result. Next, the effect of PMA, a PKC activator, and calcium ionophore, A23187, on anti-CRP-mediated inhibition of cytotoxicity were studied. PMA alone reversed most of the inhibition of lysis seen with anti-CRP. Based on previous observations that anti-CRP inhibited target cell-stimulated release of lytic factors, the effect of anti-CRP on release of lytic factors stimulated by PMA and calcium ionophore was evaluated. Anti-CRP blocked the release of lytic factors stimulated by PMA and ionophore. Release of lytic factors involves the rearrangement of cytoskeletal element of NK cell toward the target cell. The effect of anti-CRP on cytoskeletal reorganization was studied. In conjugates formed between effector and target cells, the polarization of cytoskeleton at the contact site of NK and target cell was significantly reduced in the presence of anti-CRP. Although anti-CRP inhibits both ADCC and NK lytic mechanisms, it does not alter target cell-induced Ca2+ influx. CRP interacts with the secretory mechanisms involved in granule exocytosis since anti-CRP inhibits the cytoskeletal polarization and the release of lytic factors and PMA might reverse anti-CRP-mediated inhibition by activating alternative mechanisms of cytotoxicity in effectors.

Construction of chimaeric genes for mapping a surface-exposed epitope on the pilus of non-typable Haemophilus influenzae strain M37.

A murine monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated 3H12, reacts with a surface-exposed conformational epitope on the pilus of non-typable Haemophilus influenzae strain M37. This antibody does not recognize the related pilus from H. influenzae type b, strain MinnA. Although mAb 3H12 does not recognize strain M37 pilin on Western blots, mAb 3H12 recognizes the recombinant M37 pilin protein expressed by Escherichia coli. In order to map the epitope recognized by mAb 3H12, we constructed a series of chimaeric genes. The chimaeric genes were expressed in E. coli and the chimaeric proteins characterized with respect to their reactivity with mAb 3H12. Residues between 37 and 100 of the M37 pilin protein are essential for the expression of the mAb 3H12 epitope. Residues in the carboxyl half of the M37 protein enhance the reactivity of mAb 3H12 when expressed in the presence of residues 37-100. Construction of chimaeric genes may provide a general methodology for mapping of conformational epitopes expressed by one of a related pair of proteins.

Induction of protective immunity to monoclonal-antibody-defined Plasmodium falciparum antigens requires strong adjuvant in Aotus monkeys.

Monoclonal antibodies to the major Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface coat and rhoptry antigens were produced. A combination of the affinity-purified polypeptides with Freund complete adjuvant which was given three times completely protected an Aotus lemurinus azure (karotype VI) monkey against homologous challenge; however, immunization with the same polypeptides with a muramyl dipeptide derivative [MDP-Lys(L18)] did not protect a second Aotus monkey, even though comparable high antibody titers were induced.

Use of human plasma for continuous in vitro cultivation of Plasmodium falciparum.

Plasma from units of human blood collected in CPDA-1 preservative were compared with human serum in cultures of Plasmodium falciparum. No significant differences in parasite growth and multiplication were seen between cultures containing serum or plasma. The wider availability of plasma makes it an attractive alternative to serum, especially in large scale cultures.

Intestinal absorption of vitamin A in experimental uremia.

Intestinal absorption of vitamin A was determined in a group of rats rendered uremic by subtotal nephrectomy. The results were compared with those obtained in a group of sham-operated control animals. Absorption studies were performed by in-vivo perfusion of an isolated loop of the proximal jejunum with intact blood and lymphatic supply. The rate of intestinal absorption of vitamin A, in the uremic groups was nearly identical to that found in the control group. It thus appears that intestinal absorption of vitamin A is not affected by experimental uremia in the rat.

Synchronization of Plasmodium falciparum in continuous in vitro culture: use of colchicine.

Cultures of Plasmodium falciparum with parasitemias of 3-5% were exposed to 4 mM colchicine for 24 hours. Synchrony was observed 48 hours after treatment, and the cultures remained synchronous for more than two replicative cycles. The percentage of ring stage parasites reached peaks of over 90% at 72 and 120 hours. The percentage of schizonts reached a peak of 70% at 144 hours. Parasitemias in both colchicine-treated and untreated control cultures reached peaks of over 20% 120 hours after colchicine treatment.