植物类过敏性蛋白(变应原)研究进展

据相关资料最新统计表明,全球大约有25%的人口受到I型变态反应疾病的影响。植物中的花粉、汁液和果实可以分别作为吸入性、接触性和食入性过敏原影响过敏体质的人群。目前,惟一有效的办法是应用特异性变应原进行脱敏治疗(脱敏治疗)。而在应用天然变应原提取物进行传统免疫治疗过程中存在一定的危险性。通过基因工程的方法合成的修饰后的高纯度特异变应原在保持过敏性蛋白完整的免疫活性的同时可降低其本身的过敏原性。这种修饰后的过敏性蛋白的应用将使免疫治疗更趋于标准化操作同时避免应用天然过敏性蛋白天然提取物时的危险性,最终可达到提高治疗的效果的目的。目前,重组这种新的过敏性蛋白已经成为过敏性疾病研究的新的热点。     

赤霉素(Gibberellin)对打破马铃薯块茎休眠的效应

近几年来,各国植物学工作者和农业科学工作者对赤霉素(Gibberellin)引起了极大的兴趣和注意,因而对其在植物各方面的生理效应进行了比较广泛的研究。据研究结果,发现它在许多种植物中具有促进植物营养性的生长、细胞的延长和分裂和种子的萌发;诱导长日照植物的开花     

迈入生物技术时代的印度植物生物学:现状和前景

印度拥有47 000种已知植物,至少有31 000名科学家从事植物学工作。印度的实验植物学研究已有近100年的历史。在悠久的印度文明史中,传统的植物学知识,从2000多年以前就开始积累。现今,印度的植物生物学研究已广布于印度的近200所大学,包括31所力量雄厚的农业大学、90个以上的研究所和研究中心,以及少数民间基金会和公司。这些单位几乎全部获得各种政府机构的资助。这些机构是:印度农业研究委员会(ICAR)、科学和技术部(DST)、生物技术部(DBT)、科学和工业研究委员会(CSIR)、原子能部(DAE)和大学资金委员会(UGC)。也在某种程度上获得…     

民族植物学认识的几个误区

民族植物学是研究一定地区的人群与植物界(包括所有在经济上、文化上和其他方面有重要价值的植物)之间的全面关系, 同时也研究社会结构、行为和植物之间的相互作用。民族植物学在寻找新资源、探索植物资源可持续利用和保护途径中已经发挥了非常重要的作用。但民族植物学在我国的发展还相对滞后, 其中对民族植物学在理解上存在的误区是导致民族植物学不为更多人所了解的主要因素之一。本文对容易导致对民族植物学产生误解的6个方面(包括“民族植物学就是研究少数民族利用植物的科学”、“民族植物学仅仅是文献考证的一门学科”、“民族植物学无定量方法”等) 进行了初步分析, 以期让更多的人了解民族植物学, 参与到民族植物学研究中来。     

民族植物学认识的几个误区

民族植物学是研究一定地区的人群与植物界(包括所有在经济上、文化上和其他方面有重要价值的植物)之间的全面关系,同时也研究社会结构、行为和植物之间的相互作用.民族植物学在寻找新资源、探索植物资源可持续利用和保护途径中已经发挥了非常重要的作用.但民族植物学在我国的发展还相对滞后,其中对民族植物学在理解上存在的误区是导致民族植物学不为更多人所了解的主要因素之一.本文对容易导致对民族植物学产生误解的6个方面(包括"民族植物学就是研究少数民族利用植物的科学"、"民族植物学仅仅是文献考证的一门学科"、"民族植物学无定量方法"等)进行了初步分析,以期让更多的人了解民族植物学,参与到民族植物学研究中来.     

中国古植物学十年来研究的新进展

我国自泥盆纪以后,陆相沉积颇为发育,植物化石和煤炭、油气资源非常丰富。我国幅员辽阔,是世界上具有称著于石炭、二叠纪的四大植物区系(即冈瓦纳或舌羊齿植物群、欧美植物群、安加拉植物群和华夏植物群)的唯一国家。这些得天独厚的自然条件,和新中国建立以来党和政府对科学的重视,是我国古植物学事业与研究蓬勃发展和具有美好前景的基础。建国后前三十年我国古植物学的迅速发展     

浅部真菌感染和变态反应性皮肤病相关性研究

目的 通过比较合并与未合并浅部真菌感染的变态反应性皮肤病对常用变应原的敏感性,综合从皮肤或指(趾)甲中分离出的菌种情况,评估浅部真菌感染在变态反应性皮肤病的病因学中的作用.方法 受试者包括353例慢性荨麻疹、湿疹及特应性皮炎患者.通过真菌直接镜检法将受试者分为两组.实验组:变态反应性皮肤病合并浅部真菌感染组(n =173);对照组:变态反应性皮肤病无浅部真菌感染组(n=180).对所有实验组及对照组受试者进行9种真菌变应原和9种非真菌变应原皮内试验.实验组患者进一步进行真菌培养以鉴定菌种.结果 慢性荨麻疹患者实验组须发癣菌、新月弯孢霉,特异青霉、烟曲霉变应原阳性率显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),慢性湿疹患者实验组须发癣菌变应原阳性率显著高于对照组(P ＜0.001).慢性湿疹、荨麻疹患者其他真菌变应原及粉尘螨、屋尘螨等非真菌变应原阳性率比较差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).134例患者皮肤或指(趾)甲分离鉴定主要为红色毛癣菌(52.86％)、须癣毛癣菌(14.18％)、絮状表皮癣菌(5.22％)、白念珠菌(6.72％),实验组须发癣菌变应原阳性率及皮肤分离皮肤癣菌阳性率比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 实验结果表明,须发癣菌变应原阳性的慢性荨麻疹、湿疹患者往往合并皮肤癣菌感染,皮肤癣菌感染可能在部分慢性荨麻疹、湿疹的病因学中起重要作用.     

京族民俗文化中的红树林民族植物学

红树林与京族传统民俗文化紧密相连,是京族作为海洋民族的重要标志,但这些民俗文化中的红树林知识面临严重丢失的危险。为了保存和延续京族民俗文化中的红树林民族植物学知识,采用民族植物学和植物分类学方法,调查京族民俗文化中的红树林植物种类,记录植物具体用法与文化意义。研究发现:京族民俗文化中使用的红树林植物共有14种,民俗信仰红树林植物有4种,社会民俗红树林植物有11种,物质民俗红树林植物有7种,同种植物常承担多种民俗功能;白骨壤(Avicennia marina)、老鼠簕(Acanthus ilicifolius)、红海榄(Rhizophora stylosa)是与京族民俗文化联系最紧密的三种红树林植物。研究既能深入诠释京族的海洋文化特征,还有助于补充丰富有关红树林的民族植物学知识。     

《植物学报》征稿简则

(一)《植物学报》是植物学的综合性学术期刊。主要刊登:植物细胞学、植物形态解剖学、植物生殖生物学、植物生理学与生物化学、植物化学与资源、植物生态学与地植物学、古植物学与孢粉学、系统与进化植物学、植物分子生物学以及生物技术等方面的原始研究论文,简报,专题评述(由本刊编委会约稿);植物学研究的新技术、新方法介绍;国内外有关植物学学术活动以及有关植物学研究动态等。(二)来稿注意事项1.文章力求简明扼要,文字通顺。研究论文(包括中、英文摘要、插图和表、参考文献)不超过8个印刷页,研究简报限3个印刷页内。研究论文所附图版一般不超过3版,研究简报限定一个图版。2.研究论文请按以下顺序书写:题目、作者姓名、作者单位、中文摘要、关键词、英文摘要、英文关键词、正文、参考文献、中文图版说明、英文图版说明。研究简报不要中文摘要。论文题目一般不要超过20个字。摘要,概述研究范围、     

《热带亚热带植物学报》征稿简则

《热带亚热带植物学报》是中国科学院华南植物园和广东省植物学会联合主办,在国内外公开发行的国家级学术性期刊(双月刊)。主要刊载植物学研究的论文报告、科研简报、综合述评等;介绍植物学研究领域中各分支学科的新发现、新理论、新方法和新技术等。为推动植物学研究的发展和开发植物资源,为国民经济建设和科学技术进步做出贡献。本刊为中国中文核心期刊。     

Aeroallergens, Allergic Disease, and Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptation

Recent research has shown that there are many effects of climate change on aeroallergens and thus allergic diseases in humans. Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration acts as a fertilizer for plant growth. The fertilizing effects of carbon dioxide, as well as increased temperatures from climate change, increase pollen production and the allergen content of pollen grains. In addition, higher temperatures are changing the timing and duration of the pollen season. As regional climates change, plants can move into new areas and changes in atmospheric circulation can blow pollen- and spore-containing dust to new areas, thus introducing people to allergens to which they have not been exposed previously. Climate change also influences the concentrations of airborne pollutants, which alone, and in conjunction with aeroallergens, can exacerbate asthma or other respiratory illnesses. The few epidemiological analyses of meteorological factors, aeroallergens, and allergic diseases demonstrate the pathways through which climate can exert its influence on aeroallergens and allergic diseases. In addition to the need for more research, there is the imperative to take preventive and adaptive actions to address the onset and exacerbation of allergic diseases associated with climate variability and change.     

The impact of plant biotechnology on food allergy

Concerns about food allergy and its societal growth are intertwined with the growing advances in plant biotechnology. The knowledge of plant genes and protein structures provides the key foundation to understanding biochemical processes that produce food allergy. Biotechnology offers the prospect of producing low-allergen or allergen null plants that could mitigate the allergic response. Modified low-IgE binding variants of allergens could be used as a vaccine to build immunotolerance in sensitive individuals. The potential to introduce new allergens into the food supply by biotechnology products is a regulatory concern.     

真菌与变态反应性皮肤病的相关性研究

真菌在自然界中分布广泛,部分是人体表面常驻的微生物之一。新近研究显示皮肤常驻真菌可通过影响皮肤屏障、调节皮肤免疫平衡和介导炎症反应等,在多种变态反应性疾病中起重要作用。本文就真菌与特应性皮炎、脂溢性皮炎、癣菌疹、荨麻疹等常见的变态反应性皮肤病的相关性研究进展作一综述,并介绍了国内外临床常见真菌变应原检测方法。     

Identification of an allergen related to Phl p 4, a major timothy grass pollen allergen,in pollens,vegetables, and fruits by immunogold electron microscopy

Group 4 grass pollen allergens represent 60 kDa glycoproteins recognized by 70% of patients sensitive to these pollens. An antiserum against purified Phl p 4 from timothy grass pollen was used to investigate various pollens, fruits, and vegetables for Phl p 4-related allergens by immunogold electron microscopy. In timothy grass, mugwort, and birch pollens, allergens were located in the wall, and in timothy grass and birch pollens additionally in the cytoplasm. In peanut, apple, celery root, and carrot root, only cytoplasmic areas were labeled. Group 4-related allergens thus occur in pollens of unrelated plants and in plant food and may therefore contribute to crossreactivities in patients allergic to various pollens and plant food.     

Molecular features of grass allergens and development of biotechnological approaches for allergy prevention

Allergic diseases are characterized by elevated allergen-specific IgE and excessive inflammatory cell responses. Among the reported plant allergens, grass pollen and grain allergens, derived from agriculturally important members of the Poaceae family such as rice, wheat and barley, are the most dominant and difficult to prevent. Although many allergen homologs have been predicted from species such as wheat and timothy grass, fundamental aspects such as the evolution and function of plant pollen allergens remain largely unclear. With the development of genetic engineering and genomics, more primary sequences, functions and structures of plant allergens have been uncovered, and molecular component-based allergen-specific immunotherapies are being developed. In this review, we aim to provide an update on (i) the distribution and importance of pollen and grain allergens of the Poaceae family, (ii) the origin and evolution, and functional aspects of plant pollen allergens, (iii) developments of allergen-specific immunotherapy for pollen allergy using biotechnology and (iv) development of less allergenic plants using gene engineering techniques. We also discuss future trends in revealing fundamental aspects of grass pollen allergens and possible biotechnological approaches to reduce the amount of pollen allergens in grasses.     

Domestic arthropods and their allergens

Allergy prevalence has increased worldwide over the last 25 years along with industrialization and westernized lifestyles. Indoor allergens are primarily responsible for the sensitization and development of atopic diseases. The main indoor allergens are known to be derived from various arthropods which account for up to 80% of the kingdom Animalia. The two classes of arthropods are Insecta, which includes cockroaches, flies, mosquitoes, ants and silverfishes, and Arachnida, which includes mites, spiders, ticks, and scorpions and are the main sources of the allergens. Excreted materials, cast-overs from skin-molting, and dead debris are sources of allergens that can sensitize genetically predisposed individuals and elicit allergic disorders. The use of molecular biology techniques has contributed to the identification and characterization of an ever-increasing number of allergens. However, key determinants and allergen properties that drive allergic responses are poorly understood. The biological characterization of allergens will provide an understanding of the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.     

Circular dichroism analysis of allergens

Recombinant allergens have gained a lot of importance lately for the diagnosis of allergic diseases and for specific immunotherapy. To characterize recombinant allergens and potential hypo-allergenic derivatives thereof circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy is used widely. It is a convenient, fast method to assess the structural integrity of the recombinant proteins, compare them with the allergens isolated from natural sources, and to determine the effects of mutations on the structural properties. In this paper, we will describe the techniques and the most useful applications of CD spectroscopy to the field of allergy research.     

In planta expression of a mature Der p 1 allergen isolated from an Italian strain of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

European (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) and American (Dermatophagoides farinae) house dust mite species are considered the most common causes of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide. Der p 1 protein, one of the main allergens of D. pteronyssinus, is found in high concentration in mites faecal pellets, which can became easily airborne and, when inhaled, can cause perennial rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Here we report the isolation of the Der p 1 gene from an Italian strain of D. pteronyssinus and the PVX-mediated expression of its mature form (I-rDer p 1) in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Human sera from characterized allergic patients were used for IgE binding inhibition assays to test the immunological reactivity of I-rDer p 1 produced in N. benthamiana plants. The binding properties of in planta produced I-rDer p 1 versus the IgE of patients sera were comparable to those obtained on Der p 1 preparation immobilized on a microarray. In this paper we provide a proof of concept for the production of an immunologically active form of Der p 1 using a plant viral vector. These results pave the way for the development of diagnostic allergy tests based on in planta produced allergens.     

Aeroallergens and pollinosis: Molecular and immunological characteristics of cloned pollen allergens

Affecting almost twenty percent of thepopulation in industrialized countries,allergic diseases such as asthma and seasonalrhinitis result from the development ofimmediate hypersensitivity to otherwiseinnocuous components of the environment. Pollen, the male gametophyte of flowering plantspecies, is one of the most predominant sourcesof environmental allergens, and a significantcause of allergic diseases. This reviewdiscusses the nature of pollen proteins asallergens, their effect on the human immunesystem and their mode of environmentaltransmission, including effects of theinteraction between pollen aeroallergens andair pollution. The influence of cross-reactivepollen allergens to the incidence of foodsensitivities is also discussed. Floweringplant species that possess allergenic pollen,identified with allergens cloned from thesespecies, are also discussed.