Functional and genomic profiling of effector CD8 T cell subsets with distinct memory fates

An important question in memory development is understanding the differences between effector CD8 T cells that die versus effector cells that survive and give rise to memory cells. In this study, we provide a comprehensive phenotypic, functional, and genomic profiling of terminal effectors and memory precursors. Using killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 as a marker to distinguish these effector subsets, we found that despite their diverse cell fates, both subsets possessed remarkably similar gene expression profiles and functioned as equally potent killer cells. However, only the memory precursors were capable of making interleukin (IL) 2, thus defining a novel effector cell that was cytotoxic, expressed granzyme B, and produced inflammatory cytokines in addition to IL-2. This effector population then differentiated into long-lived protective memory T cells capable of self-renewal and rapid recall responses. Experiments to understand the signals that regulate the generation of terminal effectors versus memory precursors showed that cells that continued to receive antigenic stimulation during the later stages of infection were more likely to become terminal effectors. Importantly, curtailing antigenic stimulation toward the tail end of the acute infection enhanced the generation of memory cells. These studies support the decreasing potential model of memory differentiation and show that the duration of antigenic stimulation is a critical regulator of memory formation

Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Neisseria meningitidis, Delhi, India

Decreased susceptibility of Neisseria meningitidis isolates to ciprofloxacin emerged from an outbreak in Delhi, India. Results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the meningococcal isolates to ciprofloxacin and further sequencing of DNA gyrase A quinolone-resistance–determining region confirmed the emergence of ciprofloxacin resistance in the outbreak

Co-immobilization of lipase, glycerol kinase, glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase and peroxidase onto alkylamine glass beads through glutaraldehyde coupling

342-346A method for co-immobilizing lipase from porcine pancreas, glycerol kinase (GK) from Cellulomonas spp., glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase (GPO) from Aerococcus viridans and peroxidase from horseradish onto zirconia-coated alkylamine glass beads through glutaraldehyde coupling has been described. The co-immobilized enzymes retained 71.4% of initial specific activity with a conjugation yield of 43.6 mg/g support. The optimum pH and Km for triolein increased, while Vmax was decreased slightly, but incubation temperature for maximum activity remained unaltered after co-immobilization. The co-immobilized enzymes showed increased thermal and storage stabilities in cold, compared to their native form. Among the various metal salts tested, only CuSO4 caused inhibition of both free and co-immobilized enzymes. The co-immobilized enzymes showed better suitability over mixture of individually immobilized enzymes in determination of serum triglyceride.</span

Determination of serum triglycerides using lipase, glycerol kinase, glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase and peroxidase co-immobilized onto alkylamine glass beads

326-328A method for determination of serum triglycerides (Tgs) using lipase, glycerol kinase, glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase and peroxidase co-immobilized onto alkylamine glass beads (pore diameter 55 nm) through glutaralde¬hyde coupling was developed and evaluated. The minimum detection limit of the method was 0.54 mM. The analytical recovery of added triolein in the serum was 97.55±1.5% (mean ± S.D.). The mean value of serum Tgs, determined by the present method showed a good correlation (r=0.984) with the Bayer’s kit method, employing free enzymes. The within and between batch coefficients of variation (CV) were <2.25% and <1.35% respectively. No significant loss of activity was observed, when co-immobilized enzymes were reused for about 200 times and stored at 4°C in distilled water. The cost of Tg determination for 200 serum samples was less, as compared with Bayer’s kit method

Rational Site-Directed Mutations of the LLP-1 and LLP-2 Lentivirus Lytic Peptide Domains in the Intracytoplasmic Tail of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp41 Indicate Common Functions in Cell-Cell Fusion but Distinct Roles in Virion Envelope Incorporation

Two highly conserved cationic amphipathic α-helical motifs, designated lentivirus lytic peptides 1 and 2 (LLP-1 and LLP-2), have been characterized in the carboxyl terminus of the transmembrane (TM) envelope glycoprotein (Env) of lentiviruses . Although various properties have been attributed to these domains, their structural and functional significance is not clearly understood. To determine the specific contributions of the Env LLP domains to Env expression, processing, and incorporation and to viral replication and syncytium induction, site-directed LLP mutants of a primary dualtropic infectious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolate (ME46) were examined. Substitutions were made for highly conserved arginine residues in either the LLP-1 or LLP-2 domain (MX1 or MX2, respectively) or in both domains (MX4). The HIV-1 mutants with altered LLP domains demonstrated distinct phenotypes. The LLP-1 mutants (MX1 and MX4) were replication defective and showed an average of 85% decrease in infectivity, which was associated with an evident decrease in gp41 incorporation into virions without a significant decrease in Env expression or processing in transfected 293T cells. In contrast, MX2 virus was replication competent and incorporated a full complement of Env into its virions, indicating a differential role for the LLP-1 domain in Env incorporation. Interestingly, the replication-competent MX2 virus was impaired in its ability to induce syncytia in T-cell lines. This defect in cell-cell fusion did not correlate with apparent defects in the levels of cell surface Env expression, oligomerization, or conformation. The lack of syncytium formation, however, correlated with a decrease of about 90% in MX2 Env fusogenicity compared to that of wild-type Env in quantitative luciferase-based cell-cell fusion assays. The LLP-1 mutant MX1 and MX4 Envs also exhibited an average of 80% decrease in fusogenicity. Altogether, these results demonstrate for the first time that the highly conserved LLP domains perform critical but distinct functions in Env incorporation and fusogenicity

Dicer Regulates the Balance of Short-Lived Effector and Long-Lived Memory CD8 T Cell Lineages

<div><p>MicroRNAs constitute a major post-transcriptional mechanism for controlling protein expression, and are emerging as key regulators during T cell development and function. Recent reports of augmented CD8 T cell activation and effector differentiation, and aberrant migratory properties upon ablation of Dicer/miRNAs in naïve cells have established a regulatory role of miRNAs during priming. Whether miRNAs continue to exert similar functions or are dispensable during later stages of CD8 T cell expansion and memory differentiation remains unclear. Here, we report a critical role of Dicer/miRNAs in regulating the balance of long-lived memory and short-lived terminal effector fates during the post-priming stages when CD8 T cells undergo clonal expansion to generate a large cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) pool and subsequently differentiate into a quiescent memory state. Conditional ablation of Dicer/miRNAs in early effector CD8 T cells following optimal activation and expression of granzyme B, using unique <i>dicer</i>^<i>fl/fl</i> <i>gzmb-cre</i> mice, led to a strikingly diminished peak effector size relative to wild-type antigen-specific cells in the same infectious milieu. Diminished expansion of Dicer-ablated CD8 T cells was associated with lack of sustained antigen-driven proliferation and reduced accumulation of short-lived effector cells. Additionally, Dicer-ablated CD8 T cells exhibited more pronounced contraction after pathogen clearance and comprised a significantly smaller proportion of the memory pool, despite significantly higher proportions of CD127^Hi memory precursors at the effector peak. Combined with previous reports of dynamic changes in miRNA expression as CD8 T cells differentiate from naïve to effector and memory states, these findings support distinct stage-specific roles of miRNA-dependent gene regulation during CD8 T cell differentiation.</p></div