Developmental Dynamics of Post-Selection Thymic DN iNKT

Background

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells develop in the thymus and branch off from the maturation pathway of conventional T cell at the DP stage. While different stages of iNKT cellular development have been defined, the actual time that iNKT cell precursors spend at each stage is still unknown.

Methodology/Principal Finding

Here we report on maturation dynamics of post-selection DN iNKT cells by injecting wild-type DP^dim thymocytes into the thymus of TCRα^−/− mice and using the Vα14-Jα18 rearrangements as a molecular marker to follow the maturation dynamics of these cells.

Conclusion/Significance

This study shows that the developmental dynamics of DN iNKT cells in DP^dim are very rapid and that it takes less than 1 day to down-regulate CD4 and CD8 and become DN. These DN cells are precursors of peripheral DN iNKT cells and appear in the spleen in 1–2 days. Thymic DN iNKT residents are predominantly derived from cells that quickly return from the periphery. The expansion of a very small subset of DN iNKT precursors could also play a small role in this process. These data are an example of measuring T cell maturation in the thymus and show that the maturation dynamics of selected DN iNKT cells fall within the same general time frame as conventional αβ T cells.     

烟碱降解细菌的分离、鉴定及其降解性能的初步研究

从福建三明地区的土壤中分离得到一株能够高效降解烟碱的菌株 ,编号为DN2。该菌经常规的形态、生理生化分析以及 16SrDNA序列同源性分析 ,鉴定为Ochrobactrumintermedium ,属于α_变形杆细菌纲。该菌在 30℃～4 0℃和pH 6 . 0～ 9. 0范围内具有较高的降解活性 ,其最适值分别为 30℃和 6 5 ,烟碱的耐受浓度在无机盐培养基中可达到 4 0 0 0mg L。该菌能够以烟碱为唯一碳源生长 ,对于 5 0 0mg L烟碱的降解速率为 15mg L·h ,36h烟碱降解率为97. 6 5 %。该菌在烟草工业和环境保护上可能具有应用前景。     

基于转录组分析铜绿假单胞菌DN1降解荧蒽特性

[背景]铜绿假单胞菌DN1是一株从石油污染土壤中分离筛选到的具有广谱降解功能的菌株。[目的]深入了解荧蒽胁迫条件下铜绿假单胞菌DN1降解污染物过程中重要的降解相关基因信息。[方法]通过高通量测序技术对铜绿假单胞菌DN1进行转录组测序,对其所有的转录本进行KEGG (kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes)分类和Pathway注释、GO (gene ontology)分类和富集分析。[结果]转录组测序显示:与对照组相比,荧蒽诱导组检测到6 189个基因,其中1 919个基因上调表达,1 603个基因下调表达。KEGG注释分析显示差异上调表达基因匹配到了112个KEGG代谢途径,注释到"代谢途径"的1 408个基因(约占总差异基因的73.4%)中有317个基因参与了碳氢化合物代谢及含有苯环结构的异源生物质的生物降解,占"代谢途径"的16.53%,暗示了菌株DN1降解荧蒽可能与这些途径有密切关系。另外,主要代谢途径中的差异表达基因主要集中在ABC转运系统、氨基酸生物合成、双组分系统及碳代谢,这些途径大多数参与了底物的识别转运、信号转导及基因表达调控。[结论]进一步拓展了铜绿假单胞菌DN1在荧蒽胁迫条件下的代谢途径和逆境反应,也为微生物修复环境污染物研究夯实了理论基础。     

DN2菌降解烟碱的动力学及其应用研究

研究了菌株DN2降解烟碱的特性和对烟草废弃物中烟碱的降解情况。结果表明,该菌降解烟碱的最适条件为接种量为5 %,温度30 ℃,初始pH值为6.5。在该条件下,对初始烟碱浓度为500 mg/L的降解过程进行考察。结果表明,未经烟碱诱导的降解曲线呈倒S曲线,半衰期为17.43 h;经烟碱诱导的降解曲线符合Eckenfelder动力学模型,半衰期为4.10 h。添加0.1 %(质量分数)葡萄糖,可提高菌株DN2的烟碱耐受浓度,达5000 mg/L。菌株DN2能够降解烟草废弃物水提液中的烟碱（烟碱含量约为2220 mg/L）,60 h时烟碱的降解率为95.22 %,表明该菌在治理烟碱污染环境方面具有应用价值。     

香椿子正丁醇提取物改善糖尿病肾病肾小球内皮细胞炎症及机制研究

为研究香椿子正丁醇提取物(n-butyl alcohol extract of Toona sinensis,NBAE)对糖尿病肾病肾小球内皮细胞炎症的作用及机制,采用Wistar雄性大鼠,STZ注射造模,成功后分为DN组、DN+NBAE干预组,另设对照组。8周后取血测生化指标,取肾脏行HE和PAS染色,并行免疫组化检测MCP-1、ICAM-1、磷酸化p65的表达。以高糖(HG)、HG+NBAE、HG+NF-κB阻断剂吡咯烷二硫基甲酸盐(pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate,PDTC)刺激肾小球内皮细胞,采用Western blot法检测相关蛋白的表达。结果显示,与DN组大鼠相比,DN+NBAE组大鼠血糖明显降低,肾脏损伤减轻,相关蛋白表达均减少。细胞水平,NBAE明显降低MCP-1、ICAM-1的表达,差异具有统计学意义(P <0. 01),各指标改变情况与PDTC处理组类似。这表明NBAE明显改善DN肾小球内皮细胞的炎症,推测可能与抑制NF-κB信号通路有关。     

好氧反硝化菌Defluvibacter lusatiensis str.DN7的分离鉴定和异养硝化性能

从稳定运行处理竹子加工废水的生物接触氧化反应器中分离得到一株好氧反硝化菌DN7,其72 h NO3-降解率达99.4％.细胞显微镜观察显示,菌株为革兰氏阴性小杆菌,大小为0.5 μm×1.5 μm,菌落为乳白色.通过生理生化特性及16S rDNA同源性分析,初步推断该菌株为根瘤菌中的Defluvibacter lusatiensis str.碳源、C/N、硝酸盐初始浓度、溶解氧(DO)、pH对DN7反硝化性能影响的结果表明:菌株对柠檬酸钠、葡萄糖等小分子有机物的利用较好;C/N为9时,脱氮率达99.0％;硝酸盐浓度低于138.48 mg·L-1情况下,DN7脱氮率在96％以上,且亚硝酸盐浓度均在1.0mg·L-1以下;菌株DN7对DO不敏感,中性偏碱性环境有利于DN7反硝化反应的进行;DN7具有良好的异养硝化性能,72 h铵氮降解率达84.7％.     

Optimization of a medium for enhancing nicotine biodegradation by Ochrobactrum intermedium DN2

AIMS: To optimize a medium for nicotine degradation by Ochrobactrum intermedium DN2 in presence of yeast extract, glucose and Tween 80 using response surface methodology (RSM). METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, the effects of yeast extract, glucose and Tween 80 on nicotine degradation were investigated in flasks using a novel nicotine-degrading bacterium, O. intermedium DN2. A full factorial central composite design was applied in the design of experiments and in the analysis of the experimental data. The results showed that the most significant variable influencing nicotine degradation was yeast extract, followed by glucose, and then Tween 80. Moreover these three factors interacted with each other and combined to produce positive effects on nicotine degradation. The experimental data also allowed the development of an empirical model (P < 0.0001) describing the inter-relationship between independent and dependent variables. By solving the regression equation, the optimal values of the variables were determined as: yeast extracts 0.094%, glucose 0.101% and Tween 80 0.080%. Using the medium obtained, about 1,220 mg l(-1) of nicotine was degraded (95.55%) within 10 h at the specific biodegradation of 116.59 mg l(-1) h(-1) in 30-l bioreactor containing 25-l tobacco extract. CONCLUSIONS: An optimal medium of nicotine degradation by the strain DN2 was obtained. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: RSM proved to be reliable in developing the model, optimizing factors and analysing interaction effects. The results provide better understanding on the interactions between yeast extract, glucose and Tween 80 for nicotine biodegradation.     

Mineralization of s-triazine herbicides by a newly isolated Nocardioides species strain DN36

A novel s-triazine-mineralizing bacterium—Nocardioides sp. strain DN36—was isolated from paddy field soil treated with ring-U-¹⁴C-labeled simetryn ([¹⁴C]simetryn) in a model paddy ecosystem (microcosm). In a tenfold-diluted R2A medium, strain DN36 liberated ¹⁴CO₂ from not only [¹⁴C]simetryn but also three ring-U-¹⁴C-labeled s-triazines: atrazine, simazine, and propazine. We found that DN36 mineralized ring-U-¹⁴C–cyanuric acid added as an initial substrate, indicating that the bacterium mineralized s-triazine herbicides via a common metabolite, namely, cyanuric acid. Strain DN36 harbored a set of genes encoding previously reported s-triazine-degrading enzymes (TrzN-AtzB-AtzC), and it also transformed ametryn, prometryn, dimethametryn, atraton, simeton, and prometon. The findings suggest that strain DN36 can mineralize a diverse range of s-triazine herbicides. To our knowledge, strain DN36 is the first Nocardioides strain that can individually mineralize s-triazine herbicides via the ring cleavage of cyanuric acid. Further, DN36 could not grow on cyanuric acid, and the degradation seemed to occur cometabolically.     

菌株DN2对烟草薄片制备液中烟碱的降解

使用O.intermedium DN2降解烟草薄片制备液中的烟碱。研究了各种工艺参数对烟碱降解的影响,单因素考察结果表明烟草薄片制备液中烟碱降解的最适条件是:添加0.1%的酵母膏,使用氨水将pH调节到7.0,接种15%种子液,培养温度30oC。在上述条件下,采用30L发酵罐对烟草薄片制备液进行3个批次的半连续发酵,烟碱的平均降解速率为140.55mg/L/h,高于其他烟碱降解菌株。该结果表明菌株DN2可以用来降低烟草薄片中的烟碱含量。     

Lymphoid EVA1 Expression Is Required for DN1-DN3 Thymocytes Transition

Background

Thymus organogenesis and T lymphocyte development are accomplished together during fetal life. Proper development and maintenance of thymus architecture depend on signals generated by a sustained crosstalk between developing thymocytes and stromal elements. Any maturation impairment occurring in either cellular component leads to an aberrant thymic development. Gene expression occurring during T lymphocyte differentiation must be coordinated in a spatio-temporal fashion; one way in which this is achieved is through the regulation by cell-cell adhesion and interactions.

Principal Findings

We examined the role played by Epithelial V-like Antigen 1 (EVA1), an Ig adhesion molecule expressed on thymus epithelial cells (TEC) and immature thymocytes, in T cell development by employing RNA interference in vitro and in vivo models. Fetal liver derived haematopoietic progenitors depleted of Eva1, displayed a delayed DN1-DN3 transition and failed to generate CD4CD8 double positive T cells in OP9-DL1 coculture system. In addition, we could observe a coordinated Eva1 up-regulation in stromal and haematopoietic cells in coculture control experiments, suggesting a possible EVA1 involvement in TEC-haematopoietic cells crosstalk mechanisms. Similarly, Rag2-γc double knock out mice, transplanted with Eva1 depleted haematopoietic progenitors displayed a 10-fold reduction in thymus reconstitution and a time delayed thymocytes maturation compared to controls.

Conclusions

Our findings show that modulation of Eva1 expression in thymocytes is crucial for lymphocyte physiological developmental progression and stromal differentiation.     

细菌脱色酶TpmD对三苯基甲烷类染料脱色的酶学特性研究

从嗜水气单胞菌DN322中分离纯化出能够对三苯基甲烷类染料结晶紫、碱性品红、灿烂绿及孔雀绿进行有效脱色的脱色酶,命名为TpmD。该酶的亚基分子量为29.4kDa,等电点为5.6。该酶催化上述4种三苯基甲烷类染料脱色反应的适合温度为40~60℃,适合pH范围为5.5~9.0。动力学参数测定结果显示TpmD对结晶紫、碱性品红、灿烂绿及孔雀绿的Km值分别为24.3、40.65、4.2、68.5μmol-1.L-1,Vmax值分别为19.6、74.1、82.8、115.6μmol.L-1.s-1。结晶紫为该酶的最适反应底物。TpmD催化的脱色反应依懒于NADH/NADPH及分子氧的存在,显示该酶属于NADH/NADPH依赖型的氧化酶类。这是国内外首次关于细菌中三苯基甲烷类染料脱色酶酶学性质的描述。     

好氧反硝化菌Defluvibacter lusatiensis str. DN7的分离鉴定和异养硝化性能

从稳定运行处理竹子加工废水的生物接触氧化反应器中分离得到一株好氧反硝化菌DN7,其72 h NO₃^-降解率达99.4%.细胞显微镜观察显示,菌株为革兰氏阴性小杆菌,大小为0.5 μm×1.5 μm,菌落为乳白色.通过生理生化特性及16S rDNA同源性分析,初步推断该菌株为根瘤菌中的Defluvibacter lusatiensisstr.碳源、C/N、硝酸盐初始浓度、溶解氧(DO)、pH对DN7反硝化性能影响的结果表明:菌株对柠檬酸钠、葡萄糖等小分子有机物的利用较好;C/N为9时,脱氮率达99.0%;硝酸盐浓度低于138.48 mg·L^-1情况下,DN7脱氮率在96%以上,且亚硝酸盐浓度均在1.0 mg·L^-1以下;菌株DN7对DO不敏感,中性偏碱性环境有利于DN7反硝化反应的进行;DN7具有良好的异养硝化性能,72 h铵氮降解率达84.7%.     

Growth rate and nutrient limitation affect the transport of Rhodococcus sp. strain DN22 through sand

Rhodococcus strain DN22 grows on the nitramine explosive RDX as a sole nitrogen source, and is potentially useful for bioremediation of explosives-contaminated soil. In order for strain DN22 to be effectively applied in situ, inoculum cells must reach zones of RDX contamination via passive transport, a process that is difficult to predict at field-scale. We examined the effect of growth conditions on the transport of DN22 cells through sand columns, using chemostat-grown cultures. Strain DN22 formed smaller coccoid cells at low dilution rate (0.02 h⁻¹) and larger rods at high dilution rate (0.1 h⁻¹). Under all nutrient limitation conditions studied, smaller cells grown at low dilution rate were retained more strongly by sand columns than larger cells grown at high dilution rate. At a dilution rate of 0.05, cells from nitrate-limited cultures were retained more strongly than cells from RDX-limited or succinate-limited cultures. Breakthrough concentrations (C/C ₀) from sand columns ranged from 0.04 (nitrate-limited, D=0.02 h⁻¹) to 0.98 (succinate-limited, D=0.1 h⁻¹). The observed strong effect of culture conditions on transport of DN22 cells emphasizes the importance of physiology studies in guiding the development of bioremediation technologies.