Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), a member of the human poxvirus family, encodes the MC159 protein that inhibits Fas-, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligant (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis. We used site-directed mutagenesis to change charged or hydrophobic amino acid residues to alanines to identify regions of MC159 that are critical for protection from apoptosis an...

The major outer membrane protein (OmpH) of Pasteurella multocida X-73 was purified by selective extraction with detergents, followed by size exclusion chromatography. The planar lipid bilayer assay showed that OmpH has pore-forming function. The average single channel conductance in 1.0 M KCl was 0.62 nS. The gene (ompH) encoding OmpH has been isolated and sequenced by construction of a genomic...

Activation of the A2A adenosine receptor (A(2A)R) during reperfusion of various tissues has been found to markedly reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this study, we used bone marrow transplantation (BMT) to create chimeric mice that either selectively lack or selectively express the A(2A)R on bone marrow-derived cells. Bolus i.p. injection of the selective A2A agonist, 4-[3-[6-amino-9-(5-cy...

Plasma amino acid levels have never been studied in the placental intervillous space of preterm gestations. Our objective was to determine the possible relationship between plasma amino acids of maternal venous blood (M), of the placental intervillous space (PIVS) and of the umbilical vein (UV) of preterm newborn infants. Plasma amino acid levels were analyzed by ion-exchange chromatography in ...

Macromolecular complexes of acrylamide and sodium acrylate copolymer with microelements, including Cu(II), may form at preparation crop protection stimulation compositions, where the serves as an adhesive, water-retaining film-forming agent. Preparations for production also contain amino acids that protect plants under stressful conditions (cold, dry, etc.). Carboxylic groups copolymer, carboxy...

The A2 genes of Leishmania donovani encode amastigote-specific A2 proteins, which are considered to be virulence factors required for the survival of this protozoan parasite in the mammalian host. The A2 genes are present within a multigene family and corresponding A2 proteins are composed predominantly of multiple copies of a 10 amino acid repeat sequences. A2-specific antibodies have been det...

The R28 protein of group A streptococcus (GAS) and the Rib protein of group B streptococcus (GBS) are surface molecules that elicit protective immunity to experimental infection. These proteins are members of the same family and cross-react immunologically. In spite of extensive amino acid residue identity, the cross-reactivity between R28 and Rib was found to be limited, as shown by analysis w...

Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of tuberculosis in cattle but also infects other animals, including humans. Previous studies in cattle have demonstrated that the protection induced by BCG is not complete. In order to improve the protection efficacy of BCG, in this study we overexpressed Ag85B in a BCG Pasteur strain, by using an expression system based on the use of an auxotrophic st...