Kinetic Analysis of the Multivalent Ligand Binding Interaction between Protein A/G and IgG: A Standard System Setting

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from American Chemical Society via the DOI in this record.Recombinant protein A/G (PAG) has a sequence coding for eight IgG binding sites and has enhanced interspecies affinity. High-frequency sampling of a PAG titration with IgG produces concentration profiles that are sensitive to the kinetic availability of the binding sites. The full kinetic model developed here for IgG binding sequentially to PAG shows only two distinct kinetic processes, describing an initial rapid association of two antibodies to PAG with a rate constant k-fast = (1.86 ± 0.08) × 106 M-1 s-1 and a slower antibody binding process to all remaining sites, k-slow = (1.24 ± 0.05) × 104 M-1 s-1. At equilibrium (after 1 h), the maximum IgG occupancy of PAG is 2.8 ± 0.5, conflicting with the genetic evidence of eight binding sites and suggesting significant steric hindrance of the neighboring IgG binding sites. The phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution defines a standard system setting, and this may be compared with other settings. The mean association rate of PAG-IgGn in the standard setting is 282 ± 20% higher than when PAG is tethered to a surface. A systems biology approach requires that a model parameter set that defines a system in a standard setting should be transferable to another system. The transfer of parameters between settings may be performed using activity coefficients characterizing an effective concentration of species in a system, ai = γici. The activity correction, γ, for the eight-site occupancy is γ = 0.35 ± 0.06, and mapping from the standard setting to the solution setting suggests γPAG-IgG = 0.4 ± 0.03. The role of activity coefficients and transferability of kinetic parameters between system settings is discussed. (Graph Presented).EPSR

Towards salivary C-reactive protein as a viable biomarker of systemic inflammation

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.C-reactive protein (CRP) is a commonly used marker of systemic inflammation, routinely measured in serum blood samples. However salivary samples offer a non-invasive and easily accessible alternative which would improve point of care (POC) testing for inflammation. Two major challenges restrict the use of saliva: the influence of the oral environment on CRP and its local production; and collecting a standardised sample given patient-dependent salivary flow rates. Here we review the reported studies of salivary CRP in humans as a potential marker of systemic inflammation and how the challenges can be overcome. Salivary CRP currently poorly reflects systemic inflammation as it does not consistently and strongly correlate with serum CRP. The mean and one standard deviation reported R2 values are 0.53 ± 0.23 from 14 studies. An improved understanding of the key challenges and implemented solutions are needed to optimise salivary CRP use. Firstly, control for the effects of local oral inflammation. Screening for oral trauma is one option, however this could drastically limit the number of patients suitable for salivary CRP testing and the number of professionals able to use the POC test. Secondly, the role of a dilution biomarker is considered controlling for salivary flow rate which dilutes serum CRP by ~104; a variable and likely-patient specific factor. The ideal dilution biomarker should have many of the pharmacokinetic, sensitivity and specificity characteristics of CRP. The potential for positive acute phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) and negative acute phase protein albumin is considered and the characteristics of any correction function discussed. Currently, however, there are no available strategies to make salivary CRP a reliable quantitative measure of serum CRP and hence POC systemic inflammation testing

Whole blood screening of antibodies using label-free nanoparticle biophotonic array platform.

Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tCopyright © 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V.A gold nanoparticle, localised plasmon array biosensor using light scattering has been employed in the detection of allergen-specific antibodies in whole blood and sera. The array sensor was functionalized with four different allergens, cat dander (Fel d1), dust mite (Der p1), peanut allergen (Ara h1) and dog dander (Can f1) and immuno-kinetic assay was performed to detect their respective anti-allergen IgG antibodies. Specific positive responses to antibodies at a concentration of 25 nM were observed for Fel d1, Der p1, and Ara h1 allergens, while the Can f1 channel served as a reference control. The sensitivity was further enhanced using a secondary anti-IgG detection antibodies to give a limit of detection of 2 nM. The results indicate the potential for nanoparticle scattering multiplexed arrays to screen unprepared blood samples at point-of-care for assays of complex samples such as the whole blood.BBSR

Differential immuno-kinetic assays of allergen-specific binding for peanut allergy serum analysis.

Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tCopyright © Springer-Verlag 2012A label-free nanoparticle array platform has been used to detect total peanut allergen-specific binding from whole serum of patients suffering from peanut allergy. The serum from 10 patients was screened against a four-allergen panel of cat and dog dander, dust mite and peanut allergen protein Ara h1. The IgE and IgG contributions to the total specific-binding protein load to Ara h1 were identified using two secondary IgG- and IgE-specific antibodies and were found to contribute less than 50 % of the total specific protein load. The total mass of IgE, IgE and the unresolved specific-binding protein ΔsBP for Ara h1 provides a new serum profile for high-RAST-grade patients 5 and 6 with the IgG/IgE ratio of 4 ± 2 and ΔsBP/IgE ratio of 17 ± 11, neither of which is protective for the small patient cohort.BBSRCEPSR

Growth phenotype screening of Schizosaccharomyces pombe using a Lensless microscope.

Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tCopyright © 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.The Lensless microscope has a large field of view and allows the capture of the diffraction pattern from a large number of cells simultaneously. A simple algorithm to measure intensity changes in the Airy Disc First Fringe (ADFF) has been derived to follow the growth characteristics of the unicellular yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The performance of the algorithm is calibrated using comparison between optical image and ADFF analysis of polystyrene microspheres with known dimensions and has an accuracy of 5% over all lengths above the diffraction-limited measurements. We have observed the growth characteristics of S. pombe for N=100 cells to determine the growth phenotype distributions of Length (L(t=0)) and width (W(t=0)) on arrival at the surface, lag phase adjustment to the new growth conditions (B), the length at birth, LB, and cell cycle length, tcell. The observed cell width distribution has a median width of 3.9 (±0.1) µm, as expected, but a non-normal distribution. Similarly, all growth parameters studied, L(t=0), LB and cell cycle time are phenotypes with non-normal distributions but with medians consistent with the literature values.The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 185

Modelling fibroblast dependent wound healing and scarring in the injured heart

The most common cause of deaths worldwide is cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease (CHD) which is responsible for over 7 million deaths per year. CHD often leads to myocardial infarction (MI), more commonly referred to as a heart attack. MI restricts blood flow to the heart, causing death of a large number of muscle and blood vessel cells in the surrounding cardiac tissue. A collagen-rich scar is formed post-MI to patch up the area of injury and compensate for the lost tissue. However, the scarring can be excessive (a condition termed fibrosis), which can itself cause further complications such as ventricular remodelling and ultimately heart failure. A relatable agent-based cardiac healing model was developed to improve the understanding of the complex cardiac healing process and predict the effects of pharmacological interventions on scarring. The model focuses on the interplay between fibroblast cells present in the cardiac tissue and the collagen matrix that constitutes the scar. The dynamics of these interactions dictate the remodelling outcomes post-MI. The model simulates a wide range of cell behaviours thought to play a role in cardiac remodelling, including migration, proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Crucially, the implementation of these behaviours was informed by in-vitro experiments carried out using primary cardiac fibroblasts cells in a setting mimicking a cardiac wound. Local collagen alignment, a property differentiating healthy and scar tissue, was systematically and quantitatively determined using a novel metric that could be applied to both simulation outcomes and fluorescence microscopy images of collagen in tissue sections from intact and post-MI murine hearts. This metric enabled the comparison between model predictions and in-vivo experimental data. The model was used to simulate cardiac wound healing in a wide range of conditions, including those mimicking the administration of pharmacological compounds aiming at manipulating scarring by targeting various cell behaviours

Neutrophil and Monocyte Bactericidal Responses to 10 Weeks of Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval or Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Sedentary Adults.

Neutrophils and monocytes are key components of the innate immune system that undergo age-associated declines in function. This study compared the impact of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on immune function in sedentary adults. Twenty-seven (43 ± 11 years) healthy sedentary adults were randomized into ten weeks of either a HIIT (>90% maximum heart rate) or MICT (70% maximum heart rate) group training program. Aerobic capacity (VO2peak), neutrophil and monocyte bacterial phagocytosis and oxidative burst, cell surface receptor expression, and systemic inflammation were measured before and after the training. Total exercise time commitment was 57% less for HIIT compared to that for MICT while both significantly improved VO2peak similarly. Neutrophil phagocytosis and oxidative burst and monocyte phagocytosis and percentage of monocytes producing an oxidative burst were improved by training similarly in both groups. Expression of monocyte but not neutrophil CD16, TLR2, and TLR4 was reduced by training similarly in both groups. No differences in systemic inflammation were observed for training; however, leptin was reduced in the MICT group only. With similar immune-enhancing effects for HIIT compared to those for MICT at 50% of the time commitment, our results support HIIT as a time efficient exercise option to improve neutrophil and monocyte function

Lipid droplet remodelling and reduced muscle ceramides following sprint interval and moderate-intensity continuous exercise training in obese males.

BACKGROUND: In obesity, improved muscle insulin sensitivity following exercise training has been linked to the lowering of diacylglycerol (DAG) and ceramide concentrations. Little is known, however, about how improved insulin action with exercise training in obese individuals relates to lipid droplet (LD) adaptations in skeletal muscle. In this study we investigated the hypothesis that short-term sprint interval training (SIT) and moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) in obese individuals would increase perilipin (PLIN) expression, increase the proportion of LDs in contact with mitochondria and reduce muscle concentrations of DAGs and ceramides. METHODS: Sixteen sedentary obese males performed 4 weeks of either SIT (4-7 × 30 s sprints at 200% Wmax, 3 days.week(-1)) or MICT (40-60 min cycling at ~65% VO2peak, 5 days.week(-1)), and muscle biopsies were obtained pre- and post-training. RESULTS: Training increased PLIN2 (SIT 90%, MICT 68%) and PLIN5 (SIT 47%, MICT 34%) expression in type I fibres only, and increased PLIN3 expression in both type I (SIT 63%, MICT 67%) and type II fibres (SIT 70%, MICT 160%) (all P<0.05). Training did not change LD content but increased the proportion of LD in contact with mitochondria (SIT 12%, MICT 21%, P<0.01). Ceramides were reduced following training (SIT -10%, MICT -7%, P<0.05), but DAG was unchanged. No training × group interactions were observed for any variables. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the hypothesis that SIT and MICT results in remodelling of LDs and lowers ceramide concentrations in skeletal muscle of sedentary obese males.International Journal of Obesity accepted article preview online, 24 July 2017. doi:10.1038/ijo.2017.170