Biologia

Se registra por vez primera la presencia del delfín de Fraser La-genodelphis hosei para el Golfo de Venezuela, mediante el hallazgo de restos óseos encontrados el 8 de agosto de 2002 en la Isla Zapara (10°59'30.80''N-71°34'28.20''O), ubicada entre el Golfo de Vene-zuela y la Bahía El Tablazo, Estado Zulia, costa occidental de Vene-zuela. La identificación se llevó a cabo a través de la comparación de las medidas morfométricas y merísticas con los valores ya estableci-dos para la especie. Este registro es el segundo de la especie en las cos-tas de Venezuela y el tercero para el Caribe suroriental. Palabras clave: Cetácea, distribución geográfica, Suramérica, vara-miento. Abstract For the first time, the presence of a Fraser's Dolphin (Lagenodel-phis hosei) (Fraser, 1956) is reported in the Gulf of Venezuela, through the finding of bone remains on 8 August 2012. The bones were found on Zapara Island (10°59'30.80 " N-71°34'28.20 " W), which...

Human tumor necrosis factor (hTNF) mediates a variety of biologic activities, which are dependent on the attachment of hTNF to cell-surface receptors. To identify regions of the hTNF protein involved in binding hTNF to its receptor, we prepared five synthetic peptides [hTNF-(1-15), hTNF-(1-31), hTNF-(65-79), hTNF-(98-111), and hTNF-(124-141)] and two hydroxylamine cleavage fragments [hTNF-(1-39) and hTNF-(40-157)] of hTNF. The hTNF-synthetic peptides and hTNF fragments were tested in hTNF receptor binding assays and in two biologic assays: cytolysis of tumor cells and suppression of lipoprotein lipase in adipocytes. Neither the synthetic peptides nor hTNF fragments were active agonists or antagonists in these assays. The synthetic peptides were also conjugated to thyroglobulin, and peptide-specific antisera were raised. All five peptide-thyroglobulin conjugates induced antibody responses to the immunizing peptide and to hTNF. Each antiserum was tested for antagonist activity in hTNF binding assays. Only antisera raised against hTNF-(1-15) or hTNF-(1-31) and antisera against whole hTNF blocked binding. IgGs purified from these three antisera also block hTNF-induced cytolysis and lipoprotein lipase suppression. We conclude that antibodies that recognize the N-terminus of hTNF block the attachment of hTNF to its cellular receptor and inhibit the biologic effects of hTNF.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for conserved viral antigens can respond to different strains of virus, in contrast to antibodies, which are generally strain-specific. The generation of such CTLs in vivo usually requires endogenous expression of the antigen, as occurs in the case of virus infection. To generate a viral antigen for presentation to the immune system without the limitations of direct peptide delivery or viral vectors, plasmid DNA encoding influenza A nucleoprotein was injected into the quadriceps of BALB/c mice. This resulted in the generation of nucleoprotein-specific CTLs and protection from a subsequent challenge with a heterologous strain of influenza A virus, as measured by decreased viral lung titers, inhibition of mass loss, and increased survival.

We have recently shown that direct injection of DNA can be an effective vaccine strategy eliciting both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Vectors were designed specifically for vaccination by direct DNA injection and refined to improve plasmid production in Escherichia coli. The vectors consist of a pUC-19 backbone with the cytomegalovirus (CMV) IE1 enhancer, promoter, and intron A transcription regulatory elements and the BGH polyadenylation sequences driving the expression of the reporter gene CAT or influenza A nucleoprotein (NP) or hemagglutinin (HA). The respective vectors expressed high levels of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and NP in tissue culture, and yielded 14-15 mg of purified plasmid per liter of Escherichia coli culture. Immunization of mice with the NP and HA expression vectors resulted in protection from subsequent lethal challenges of influenza using either heterologous or homologous strains, respectively.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) expressing the CD8 surface marker recognize peptides in association with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. Although most peptides expressed on MHC class I molecules are derived from self- or virally encoded proteins, delivery of exogenous proteins to the cytosol can result in their being processed for presentation to CTLs on MHC class I molecules. We describe two fusion proteins (PEMa and PENP), consisting of the binding and translocating domains of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE), fused to peptide epitopes from influenza A matrix protein and nucleoprotein, respectively. These fusion proteins were internalized and processed by MHC class I-positive target cells, resulting in sensitization of target cells for lysis by peptide-specific CTLs. A point mutation known to interfere with intoxication by wild-type PE also reduced the ability of PEMa to sensitize target cells. Fusion of peptide or polypeptide epitopes with PE provides a potential means of eliciting CTLs without the use of self-replicating agents, as well as a useful probe for studying MHC class I-restricted antigen processing.