Differentially expressed aqueous soluble proteins between Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra and H37Rv were identified. The protein extracts were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by tandem mass spectrometric analysis. Twelve proteins were detected to be differentially expressed significantly between virulent strain H37Rv and attenuated strain H37Ra. The differentially expression of these proteins was validated by a recently isolated clinical virulent strains of M. tuberculosis, TB138. Out of the 12 proteins identified, which consisted of ten upregulated and two downregulated proteins, nine were belonged to intermediate metabolism and respiration protein group, two were in lipid metabolism, and one protein was involved in information pathways and virulence. Among these proteins, two of the upregulated proteins, namely, mmsA and pntAa, showed a consistent expression pattern in both virulent mycobacterium strains. These proteins can serve as potential biomarkers for the intervention treatment of TB.
Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a prevalent condition among the Malay population of Malaysia, where carriage risk of conventional hereditary thrombophilia factors has been generally ruled out. The contribution of M2/ANXA5, a common haplotype in the annexin A5 gene promoter, was evalauted for RSA in Malay. Seventy-seven women who had experienced two or more unexplained RSA and 41 available male partners were selected for study, with 360 population controls recruited from healthy Malay individuals. Incidence of M2 carriage and odds ratios were calculated between control and patient groups, and clinically defined subgroups and RSA risk was evaluated. M2/ANXA5, found in 42.2% of the general Malay population, was associated with greater risks for women with primary and secondary RSA with early (gestational week 5-15) losses. The risk was somewhat higher in Malay couples when both partners were carriers and a trend of higher prevalence was seen for the male partners patients who had experienced RSA. M2 carriage seems to be a risk factor with unusually high incidence in Malay women and couples with primary and secondary RSA with 'early' spontaneous abortions. The associated male partner risk confirms the proposed role of M2/ANXA5 as a genetic trait impeding embryonic anticoagulation.