Secretion of human interleukin-2 in biologically active form by Bacillus brevis directly into culture medium.

We constructed an efficient system for synthesis and secretion of human interleukin-2 (IL-2) by Bacillus brevis. The secretion vector we constructed had strong promoters and contained the region coding for the signal peptide of the gene for B. brevis 47 cell-wall protein, followed directly by the gene encoding mature IL-2. Modification of the signal peptide and use of a protease-deficient mutant of B. brevis HPD31 increased productivity. When the signal peptide was more basic near its amino terminal and more hydrophobic in the middle region, IL-2 production increased 20 fold. Production by the mutant harboring the secretion vector was four fold that of the parent harboring the same plasmid. The yield of IL-2 increased further to 0.12 g/liter, when cultural conditions were made optimal, such by the addition of Tween 40 to the medium. The IL-2 produced by B. brevis had the same biological activity as authentic IL-2. Biologically active human IL-2 was produced efficiently and secreted directly into the medium by B. brevis.

[Problems of Mason-Likar lead system in treadmill exercise electrocardiography].

A Mason-Likar (M-L) leads system has been widely used in the exercise electrocardiography (ECG) using treadmill for the detection of myocardial ischemia. In routine treadmill exercise ECG using M-L lead, we often observe different patterns of ST-T forms those of II, III and aVF on bipolar leads. In this study, on 213 patients, conventional 12 lead ECG and the M-L lead placement ECG were recorded both at supine and standing positions. A careful analysis was made on all the records of patterns, durations, and amplitudes of QRS and T waves. We also evaluated the ST trendgram of patients with no ischemic changes proven exercise TI-201 myocardial single photon emission tomography (SPECT). Quantitative examination showed no significant differences between those in precordial leads of the standard and the M-L lead system in any subjects. The augmented amplitude of QRS and T waves, the disappearance of abnormal Q-waves in II, III, aVF lead, the negative inversion in QRS phase in lead aVL an left axis deviation were often recognized with M-L lead placement. In treadmill exercise ECG, ST depression more than 1 mm in II, III, aVF lead was noted 14 out of 17 patients with no ischemic changes. The all ST-T changes showed "not-decrescendo" type in ST trendgram. We concluded that rigorous evaluation for electrical axis, the configuration of ST-T waves and the existence of myocardial ischemia in leads II, III, aVF was necessary on treadmill exercise ECG using M-L lead replacement.