Epithelial cell penetration as an essential step in the pathogenesis of bacillary dysentery. J. Bacteriol. 88:1503-1518. 1964.-A parent strain of Shigella flexneri 2a and a colonial mutant derived from it were studied in three animal models. Both strains were equally virulent for mice when living cells suspended in hog gastric mucin were injected by the intraperitoneal route. Feeding the parent strain to starved guinea pigs, followed by the intraperitoneal injection of opium, resulted in the formation of ulcerative lesions in the intestinal tract and in the death of these animals. When the colonial variant was fed to similarly prepared

The activation of NF-kappaB and the transcription of certain pro-inflammatory chemokines in tubular epithelial cells are markers of progressive DN. Proteinuria might be one of the main factors inducing the observed pro-inflammatory phenotype.

Summal~To learn how lipooligosaccharide (LOS) phase variations affect pathogenesis, we studied two male volunteers who were challenged intraurethrally with Neisseria gonorrhoeae that make a single LOS of 3,600 daltons and sequentially followed LOS expression by gonococci as urethritis developed. LOS variation occurred in vivo. Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea began with the appearance of variants making 4,700-dalton LOS that are immunochemically similar to glycosphingolipids of human hematopoietic cells (Man&ell, R. E., J. M. Griffiss, and B. A. Macher. 1989. J. Exp. Med. 168:107) and that have acceptors for sialic acid. A variant that appeared at the onset of leukorrhoea was shed by 34/36 men with naturally acquired gonorrhea at the time they sought medical attention; the other two shed the variant associated with dysuria. None shed the challenge variant. These data show that in vivo phase shifts to higher molecular mass LOS that mimic human cell membrane glycolipids are associated with the development of gonococcal leukorrhea. Outer membrane glycolipids of Gram-negative bacteria that cause disease along the respiratory or genital mucosae are relatively small (<7,000-dalton) lipooligosaccharides (LOS) 1 whose multiantennary oligosaccharide structures mimic those of human cell membrane glycosphingolipids (GSL) (1-4). During a study of the effect of piliation on infectivity, human volunteers developed gonorrhea after intraurethral challenge with a piliated Ndsseria gonorrhoeae strfm (5) that made a single LOS of 3,600 daltons. We made serial analyses of the LOS made by the organisms infecting two of the volunteers to learn whether LOS phase variations occurred during infection. We then confirmed the results by studying men with naturally acquired gonorrhea.

The timing of sexual intercourse in relation to ovulation strongly influences the chance of conception. Daily serum LH measurements or transvaginal ultrasonography are not practical to determine ovulation in consecutive cycles for an individual. A prospective study was initiated to test the home use performance of the ClearPlan Fertility Monitor (CPFM) in ovulation prediction compared with transvaginal ultrasonography and serum hormone measurements. A total of 53 women aged 18-39 years with a normal uterus and at least one ovary, cycle length between 21-42 days and not using medication which interferes with ovarian function contributed 150 cycles for analysis. One cycle was anovulatory and no LH surge, indicating peak fertility, was detected by the monitor. Of the remaining 149 cycles, 135 (90.6%) had a monitor LH surge and ultrasonographically confirmed ovulation. Ovulation was detected in 91.1% of cycles during the 2 days of CPFM peak fertility. Ovulation was observed in 51.1% of cycles 1 day and in 43.2% of cycles 2 days after the surge in serum LH. Ovulation never occurred before CPFM peak fertility or the serum LH surge day. CPFM can help women who desire pregnancy to time intercourse. It may also have potential as a diagnostic aid and for monitoring the treatment of infertility.

F62 LOS of Neisseria gonorrhoeae consists of two major LOS components; the higher and smaller molecular weight (MW) components were recognized by MAbs 1-1-M and 3F11 respectively. Base-line separation of the two major oligosaccharide (OS) components from F62 LOS was achieved by Bio-Gel P-4 chromatography after dephosphorylation of the OS mixture. The structures of the two major OSs were studied by chemical, enzymatic, and 2D NMR methods [double quantum filtered COSY (DQF-COSY), delayed COSY (D-COSY), homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy (HOHAHA), pure-absorption 2D NOE NMR] as well as methylation followed by GC/MS analysis. The OS component derived from the MAb 1-1-M defined LOS component was determined to have a V3-(beta-N-acetylgalactosaminyl)neolactotetraose structure (GalNAc is beta 1----3-linked to a neolactotetraose) at one of its nonreducing termini as shown below. The above pentaose is linked to a branched diheptose-KDO core in which a GlcNAc is alpha-linked. The OS component derived from the MAb 3F11 defined LOS component did not have a GalNAc residue. The rest of its structure was identical to that of the OS-1, and a neolactotetraose is exposed at its nonreducing terminus. [formula: see text]