Binding of anti-α-enolase antibodies to recombinant <i>Mycoplasma bovis</i> α-enolase (rMbEno).

<p>ELISA plate wells were coated with rMbEno (1.0 ug protein/well). Well contents were reacted with serial dilutions (1/200 to 1/12800) of rabbit anti-α-enolase antibodies, followed by anti-rabbit IgG(whole molecule) peroxidase conjugate. Results were determined using o-phenylenediamine as a substrate, as described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038836#s4" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>.</p

Assay of rVpmaX adhesion and adhesion inhibition to EBL cells visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

<p>Active rVpmaX interacted with fixed EBL cells, and the surplus protein was rinsed away by washing with PBST. The attached protein was immunostained with rabbit anti-rVpmaX antibody and mouse anti-rabbit IgG-FITC. The EBL cell membranes were labeled with 1,19-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI), and the cell nuclei were counter-labeled with 49,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). (A1–A2) 10 µg rVpmaX adhering to EBL cells. (B) Adhesion inhibition of 10 µg rVpmaX to EBL cells by 10 µl rabbit anti-rVpmaX serum. (C) Adhesion of 20 µg rVpmaX to EBL cells. (D) The adhesion of 20 µg rVpmaX to EBL cells was inhibited by 20 µl rabbit anti-rVpmaX serum. (E) EBL cells without protein added.</p

Localization of <i>Mycoplasma bovis</i> α-enolase.

<p>Western blot analysis of bovine serum albumin (BSA; lane 1), cell soluble cytosolic fraction proteins (lane 2), cell membrane fraction proteins (lane 3), whole cell protein (lane 4), and purified recombinant <i>Mycoplasma bovis</i> α-enolase blotted onto a nylon membrane and detected with rabbit anti-recombinant enolase antibodies (lane 5) blotted onto a nylon membrane and detected with rabbit anti-recombinant enolase antibodies. M: protein marker.</p

Adherence and inhibition assays.

<p>Experiments were performed in triplicate. Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS). *P<0.05, compared with the corresponding group using non-immune rabbit antibodies.</p

Localization of VpmaX in <i>M. bovis</i> Hubei-1.

<p>Western blot analysis of rVpmaX (lane 1), <i>M. bovis</i> total proteins (lane 2), cell membrane fraction proteins (lane 3), cell soluble cytosolic fraction proteins (lane 4), and bovine serum albumin (lane 5) using rabbit anti-rVpmaX serum and a peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody.</p

Ligand blotting assay.

<p>Membrane fraction proteins(lane 1), soluble cytosolic fraction proteins(lane 2), commercial α-enolase(lane 3), recombinant <i>Mycoplasma bovis</i> α-enolase (lane 4), and BSA(lane 5) were blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes following SDS-PAGE, and then incubated with plasminogen post-blocking. Bound plasminogen was detected with sheep anti-plasminogen polyclonal antibody. M: protein marker.</p

Overlapping PCR primers using for amplification of α-Enolase.

<p>Overlapping PCR primers using for amplification of α-Enolase.</p

Plasminogen binding assays.

<p>Plates were coated as detailed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038836#s4" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>.(A) Plasminogen (Plg) (0.5 to 0.007732unit/well) binds to fixed recombinant <i>Mycoplasma bovis</i> α-enolase (rMbEno) in a concentration-dependent manner. (B) In a parallel assay, Plg (0.5 to 0.007732/units) binds to whole cell proteins in a concentration-dependent manner. (C) In a competition assay, binding of plasminogen is inhibited by increasing concentrations of anti-rMbEno antiserum (in serial dilutions from 1/100 to 1/6400). (D) Negative control: Plasminogen binding is inhibited by an anti<i>-M. bovis</i> monoclonal antibody. Three independent experiments were performed in triplicate. The error bars indicate the standard deviations from three independent experiments.</p

Promotion of Hernia Repair with High-Strength, Flexible, and Bioresorbable Silk Fibroin Mesh in a Large Abdominal Hernia Model

The use of synthetic surgical meshes for abdominal hernia repair presents numerous challenges due to insufficient mechanical strength, nonabsorbability, and implant rigidity that leads to complications including chronic inflammatory reactions and adhesions. In this study, a naturally derived, high-strength, flexible, and bioresorbable silk fibroin mesh was developed by knitted textile engineering and biochemical manipulation. The mechanical properties of the mesh were optimized with the trial of different surface coating methods (thermal or chemical treatment) and 12 different knit patterns. Our silk fibroin mesh showed sufficient tensile strength (67.83 N longitudinally and 62.44 N vertically) which afforded the high mechanical strength required for abdominal hernia repair (16 N). Compared to the commonly used commercial nonabsorbable and absorbable synthetic meshes (Prolene mesh and Ultrapro mesh, respectively), the developed silk fibroin mesh showed advantages over other meshes, including lower elongation rate (47.14% longitudinally and 67.15% vertically, <i>p</i> < 0.001), lower stiffness (10–1000 fold lower, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and lower anisotropic behavior (λ = 0.32, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In a rat model of large abdominal hernia repair, our mesh facilitated effective hernia repair with minimal chronic inflammation which gradually decreased from 15 to 60 days postoperation, as well as lower adhesion formation rate and scores compared to control meshes. There was more abundant and organized collagen deposition, together with more pronounced neovascularization in the repaired tissue treated with silk fibroin mesh as compared to that treated with synthetic meshes. Besides, the silk fibroin mesh gradually transferred load-bearing responsibilities to the repaired host tissue as it was bioresorbed after implantation. Its isotropic architecture favored an ease of use during operations. In summary, our findings indicate that the use of knitted silk fibroin mesh provides a safe and effective alternative solution for large abdominal hernia repairs as it overcomes the prevailing limitations associated with synthetic meshes