ATTACHMENT OF ANTIGENIC VARIANTS OF LEPTOSPIRAS TO MOUSE FIBROBLASTS RESISTING INHIBITORY EFFECT OF ANTI-PARENT ANTISERUM

Antigenic variants of Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola Moulton and hebdomadis Hebdomadis, which were isolated from the parental population by selection with monoclonal antibodies, were shown to attach to mouse skin fibroblast cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). The attachment of the variants occurred in the presence of anti-parent antiserum. Resistance of the variants to the effect of anti-parent antiserum in the attachment was in accord with their serological remoteness from the parent

Abnormal Corrosion of Carbon Steels Caused by Cathodic Polarization

We have observed the cathodically polarized specimen surface of S25C and S50C carbon steels, SUS304 stainless steel and pure platinum by using scanning electron microscope. The carbon steel specimens were heat-treated at 100～900℃ after cold-rolling. When these carbon steel specimens were polarized cathodically in an aqueous solution of 0.5kmol/m3 H2SO4, needle-shaped deposits were observed on the specimen surface regardless of heat-treatment temperature. In the specimen of SUS304 stainless steel, slight corrosion was observed, but the deposits were not observed. In the specimen of platinum, a change of the specimen surface was not observed. These experimental results indicate that the deposits observed in the carbon steel specimens are corrosion products, and less noble metals corrode even when they are polarized cathodically

Clinical implications of elevated serum interleukin-6 in IgG4-related disease.

INTRODUCTION:Some patients with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) exhibit elevated serum interleukin (IL)-6 with excessive inflammatory reactions or with repeating relapse. To date few reports pertaining to clinical implications of elevated serum IL-6 in IgG4-RD patients have been published. The aims of the current retrospective study were to investigate the clinical implications of elevated serum IL-6 in IgG4-RD patients, and to examine whether IL-6 can predict the activity and/or relapse of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We examined the clinical picture at the onset of 43 patients who were diagnosed with IgG4-RD in our hospital and were able to measure serum IL-6 before steroid treatment. RESULTS:The median level of serum IL-6 was 2.2 pg/mL. There was a significant correlation between IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) level (r = 0.397, p = 0.008), hemoglobin level (r = -0.390, p = 0.010) and albumin level (r = -0.556, p < 0.001). When 43 patients were divided into two groups by using a cut-off IL-6 of 4 pg/mL, the high IL-6 group showed higher age, lower albumin, higher CRP and higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (age p = 0.014, albumin p = 0.006, CRP p <0.001, AST p = 0.009). Hepatic swelling and splenomegaly were significantly more prevalent in the high IL-6 group than it was in the low IL-6 group (liver p < 0.001, spleen p = 0.020). Biliary tract involvement tended to admit more in the high IL-6 group (p = 0.060). CONCLUSION:Serum IL-6 level at the onset of IgG4-RD may be significantly correlated with clinical inflammatory parameters and it may also be associated with involvement of the bile duct, liver, and spleen

NF9 peptide specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone cross react to Y453F mutation of SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein

The recognition by cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) is essential for the clearance of SARS-CoV-2 virus-infected cells. Several viral proteins have been described to be recognized by CTLs. Among them, the spike (S) protein is one of the immunogenic proteins. The S protein acts as a ligand for its receptors, and several mutants with different affinities for its cognate receptors have been reported, and certain mutations in the S protein, such as L452R and Y453F, have been found to inhibit the HLA-A24-restricted CTL response. In this study, we conducted a screening of candidate peptides derived from the S protein, specifically targeting those carrying the HLA-A24 binding motif. Among these peptides, we discovered that NF9 (NYNYLYRLF) represents an immunogenic epitope. CTL clones specific to the NF9 peptide were successfully established. These CTL clones exhibited the ability to recognize endogenously expressed NF9 peptide. Interestingly, the CTL clone demonstrated cross-reactivity with the Y453F peptide (NYNYLFRLF) but not with the L452R peptide (NYNYRYRLF). The CTL clone was able to identify the endogenously expressed Y453F mutant peptide. These findings imply that the NF9-specific CTL clone possesses the capability to recognize and respond to the Y453F mutant peptide.</p

医療・農業応用のための温度制御マルチガスプラズマの特性評価

identifier:oai:t2r2.star.titech.ac.jp:5046075

Development and characteristic measurements of multi-gas temperature controllable plasma for medical/agricultural applications

identifier:oai:t2r2.star.titech.ac.jp:5046073