15 research outputs found
Biochemical Comparison of Anopheles gambiae and Human NADPH P450 Reductases Reveals Different 2′-5′-ADP and FMN Binding Traits
NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) plays a central role in chemical
detoxification and insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae,
the major vector for malaria. Anopheles gambiae CPR (AgCPR) was
initially expressed in Eschericia coli but failed to bind
2′, 5′-ADP Sepharose. To investigate this unusual trait, we
expressed and purified a truncated histidine-tagged version for side-by-side
comparisons with human CPR. Close functional similarities were found with
respect to the steady state kinetics of cytochrome c reduction,
with rates (kcat) of 105
s−1 and 88 s−1, respectively, for mosquito
and human CPR. However, the inhibitory effects of 2′,5′-ADP on
activity were different; the IC50 value of AgCPR for 2′,
5′ –ADP was significantly higher (6–10 fold) than human CPR
(hCPR) in both phosphate and phosphate-free buffer, indicative of a decrease in
affinity for 2′, 5′- ADP. This was confirmed by isothermal titration
calorimetry where binding of 2′,5′-ADP to AgCPR
(Kd = 410±18 nM) was
∼10 fold weaker than human CPR
(Kd = 38 nM). Characterisation
of the individual AgFMN binding domain revealed much weaker binding of FMN
(Kd = 83±2.0 nM) than the equivalent
human domain (Kd = 23±0.9 nM).
Furthermore, AgCPR was an order of magnitude more sensitive than hCPR to the
reductase inhibitor diphenyliodonium chloride
(IC50 = 28 µM±2 and 361±31
µM respectively). Taken together, these results reveal unusual biochemical
differences between mosquito CPR and the human form in the binding of small
molecules that may aid the development of ‘smart’ insecticides and
synergists that selectively target mosquito CPR
Viral Etiology of Encephalitis in Children in Southern Vietnam: Results of a One-Year Prospective Descriptive Study
Viral encephalitis is associated with high morbidity and mortality in Vietnam. However little is known about the causes of the disease due to a lack of diagnostic facilities in this relatively resource-poor setting. Knowledge about the etiologies and clinical outcome of viral encephalitis is necessary for future design of intervention studies targeted at improvement of clinical management, treatment and prevention of the disease. We report the viral agents, clinical outcome and prognostic factors of mortality of encephalitis in children admitted to a referral hospital for children in southern Vietnam. We show that about one third of the enrolled patients die acutely, and that mortality is independently associated with patient age and Glasgow Coma Scale on admission. Japanese encephalitis, dengue virus and enterovirus (including enterovirus 71) are the major viruses detected in our patients. However, more than half of the patients remain undiagnosed, while mortality in this group is as high as in the diagnosed group. This study will benefit clinicians and public health in terms of clinical management and prevention of childhood encephalitis in Vietnam