Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Also available in print.

Thesis (D.PT.)--Sage Colleges, 2010. / "May 2010." "A Capstone project for PTY 768 presented to the faculty of The Department of Physical Therapy Sage Graduate School in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Physical Therapy." Includes bibliographical references.

Regensburg, Univ., Diss., 2009.

Adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) is a key virulence factor of Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough. The toxin targets primarily myeloid phagocytes expressing CD11b/CD18 (αMβ2, CR3, Mac-1) and by elevation of cytosolic cAMP levels it paralyses their macropinocytic and opsono-phagocytic functions. Here, we dissected the cAMP-regulated pathway responsible for the block of macrophage macropinocytosis and characterized the capacity of CyaA-treated macrophages to shut- down Akt (protein kinase B, PKB) signaling; that controls nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophages. By using specific activators of protein kinase A (PKA) and for the exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac), we show that activation of the cAMP effector Epac inhibits macropinocytosis in macrophages. Moreover, upon transfection of macrophages by the constitutively active and dominant negative variants of a downstream effector of Epac, the small GTPase Rap1, inhibition or upregulation of macrophage macropinocytosis was observed, respectively. It was reported previously that the Epac/Rap1 pathway regulates activity of tyrosin phosphatase SHP-1 as well as of protein phosphatase 2 A (PP2A). We show that inhibition of both tyrosin phosphatases and PP2A interferes with CyaA-mediated block of macropinocytosis. These...

In recent years a number of therapeutically useful immunotoxins have been produced using recombinant gene technology. In general, this involves fusion of a toxin gene with sequence encoding a variety of clinically relevant proteins or peptides. Using these techniques a recombinant immunotoxin has been engineered by fusing the genes encoding an antibody fragment with the sequence of a small cytolytic peptide, melittin. The antibody fragment consists of the antigen binding site derived from a murine monoclonal antibody K- 1-21, which binds to human free kappa light chains and recognises a specific epitope (KMA) expressed on the surface of human myeloma and lymphoma cells. The toxic portion of the molecule is melittin, a 26 amino acid, membrane lytic peptide which is a major component of bee venom. Using PCR a single chain Fv (scFv) was constructed by linking VH and VL genes with an oligonucleotide encoding a flexible, hydrophilic peptide. The melittin gene was synthesised as an oligonucleotide and extended by PCR. Nucleotide sequence encoding a linker peptide was added to the 5' end and a primer encoding a FLAG peptide was used to extend the 3' end. This gene construct was then ligated into the recombinant expression vector, pPOW scFv, to create the fusion gene encoding the recombinant immunotoxin. The gene construct was expressed in the periplasm of E.coli (TOPP2) using the secretion signal pelB . Expression of the foreign protein was monitored by western blot using a monoclonal antibody which recognises the FLAG peptide encoded at the carboxy terminal region of the gene construct. Expression of the recombinant immunotoxin was optimised and the resulting protein was purified using anti-FLAG M2 affinity chromatography. Antigen binding activity was assessed by ELISA and flow cytometry using a human myeloma cell line, HMy2, which expresses the KMA antigen.Binding of the immunotoxin to a control human cell line, K562, which does not express KMA on the cell surface was also assessed. The results indicated that the recombinant immunotoxin retained antigen binding specificity and it was cytotoxic towards the target cell line (HMy2).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-141).

In recent years a number of therapeutically useful immunotoxins have been produced using recombinant gene technology. In general, this involves fusion of a toxin gene with sequence encoding a variety of clinically relevant proteins or peptides. Using these techniques a recombinant immunotoxin has been engineered by fusing the genes encoding an antibody fragment with the sequence of a small cytolytic peptide, melittin. The antibody fragment consists of the antigen binding site derived from a murine monoclonal antibody K- 1-21, which binds to human free kappa light chains and recognises a specific epitope (KMA) expressed on the surface of human myeloma and lymphoma cells. The toxic portion of the molecule is melittin, a 26 amino acid, membrane lytic peptide which is a major component of bee venom. Using PCR a single chain Fv (scFv) was constructed by linking VH and VL genes with an oligonucleotide encoding a flexible, hydrophilic peptide. The melittin gene was synthesised as an oligonucleotide and extended by PCR. Nucleotide sequence encoding a linker peptide was added to the 5' end and a primer encoding a FLAG peptide was used to extend the 3' end. This gene construct was then ligated into the recombinant expression vector, pPOW scFv, to create the fusion gene encoding the recombinant immunotoxin. The gene construct was expressed in the periplasm of E.coli (TOPP2) using the secretion signal pelB . Expression of the foreign protein was monitored by western blot using a monoclonal antibody which recognises the FLAG peptide encoded at the carboxy terminal region of the gene construct. Expression of the recombinant immunotoxin was optimised and the resulting protein was purified using anti-FLAG M2 affinity chromatography. Antigen binding activity was assessed by ELISA and flow cytometry using a human myeloma cell line, HMy2, which expresses the KMA antigen.Binding of the immunotoxin to a control human cell line, K562, which does not express KMA on the cell surface was also assessed. The results indicated that the recombinant immunotoxin retained antigen binding specificity and it was cytotoxic towards the target cell line (HMy2).

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1937.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1937.

Yes / Negotiations to find a legally binding way to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) of 1972 [1]are in danger of failing. The crisis was precipitated during the current round of talks, now in its final week in Geneva, when the US, alone amongst the negotiating States, rejected the text of a protocol that has taken six and a half years to negotiate.