结核分枝杆菌Rv1886c的原核表达及其免疫生物学特性

【目的】Rv1886c基因编码的Ag85B是结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis,M.tb)感染早期的分泌蛋白,本研究对其所诱导的免疫应答特性进行了探索。【方法】对Ag85B进行原核表达和鉴定,并通过夹心ELISA、间接ELISA及ELISPOT方法测定其诱导的细胞免疫和体液免疫应答水平。【结果】SDS-PAGE及Western blot鉴定结果表明,以包涵体形式表达的Ag85B蛋白,经变性、复性后能与结核病人的抗血清及免疫重组李斯特菌LM-Ag85B的小鼠抗血清发生特异性反应,表明His-Ag85B融合蛋白具有较好的免疫活性。将纯化的Ag85B蛋白皮下免疫C57BL/6小鼠,夹心ELISA的测定结果表明,Ag85B蛋白免疫组诱导小鼠产生的特异性IFN-γ水平显著高于IL-4的水平(P0.001),呈现Th1型细胞免疫应答趋势;以结核菌素PPD作为包被抗原,通过间接ELISA测定的血清抗体效价达到1∶6400,表明Ag85B也能诱导有效的体液免疫应答。此外,以尾静脉途径初次免疫小鼠42天时,ELISPOT测定结果显示,结核分枝杆菌H37Rv诱导小鼠产生Ag85B240-259特异性的IFN-γ水平极显著高于卡介苗(BCG)免疫组(P0.001)。【结论】Ag85B蛋白能激发小鼠产生较强的Th1型细胞免疫应答和较好的体液免疫应答;BCG单次免疫后诱导小鼠产生的Ag85B特异的细胞免疫应答水平较低。本研究为揭示结核分枝杆菌的致病机理、新型疫苗的研制和早期诊断试剂的开发奠定了基础。     

结核分枝杆菌Rv1886c的原核表达及其免疫生物学特性

摘要:【目的】Rv1886c基因编码的Ag85B是结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis,M．tb)感染早期的分泌蛋白,本研究对其所诱导的免疫应答特性进行了探索。【方法】对Ag85B进行原核表达和鉴定,并通过夹心ELISA、间接ELISA及ELISPOT方法测定其诱导的细胞免疫和体液免疫应答水平。【结果】SDS-PAGE及Western blot鉴定结果表明,以包涵体形式表达的Ag85B蛋白,经变性、复性后能与结核病人的抗血清及免疫重组李斯特菌LM-Ag85B的小鼠抗血清发生特异性反应,表明His-Ag85B融合蛋白具有较好的免疫活性。将纯化的Ag85B 蛋白皮下免疫C57BL/6小鼠,夹心ELISA的测定结果表明,Ag85B蛋白免疫组诱导小鼠产生的特异性IFN-γ水平显著高于IL-4的水平(P＜0.001),呈现Th1型细胞免疫应答趋势;以结核菌素PPD作为包被抗原,通过间接ELISA测定的血清抗体效价达到1∶6400,表明Ag85B也能诱导有效的体液免疫应答。此外,以尾静脉途径初次免疫小鼠42天时,ELISPOT测定结果显示,结核分枝杆菌H37Rv诱导小鼠产生Ag85B240－259特异性的IFN-γ水平极显著高于卡介苗(BCG)免疫组(P＜0.001)。【结论】Ag85B蛋白能激发小鼠产生较强的Th1型细胞免疫应答和较好的体液免疫应答;BCG单次免疫后诱导小鼠产生的Ag85B特异的细胞免疫应答水平较低。本研究为揭示结核分枝杆菌的致病机理、新型疫苗的研制和早期诊断试剂的开发奠定了基础。     

用小鼠模型分析表达牛结核分枝杆菌Ag85B重组腺病毒的细胞免疫特性

【目的】构建表达牛结核分枝杆菌抗原Ag85B重组腺病毒rAd-Ag85B,并用小鼠模型分析其细胞免疫特点。【方法】采用PCR方法,扩增结核分枝杆菌Ag85B的编码基因fbpB,测序后构建pDC516-Ag85B重组质粒。利用脂质体将pDC516-Ag85B与pBHGfrtΔE1,3FLP共转染Ad293细胞包装成重组病毒rAd-Ag85B。空斑纯化后用电镜负染、目的基因转录和蛋白表达进行rAd-Ag85B验证。同时将rAd-Ag85B和rAd(wtAd)分别经皮下注射免疫BALB/c小鼠,二免二周后取小鼠脾脏细胞,进行CD69表面分子表达、淋巴细胞增殖和ELISPOT实验分析。【结果】在电镜下能观察到包装的重组病毒粒子,且在转录和蛋白水平上验证了rAd-Ag85B构建成功。免疫试验结果显示,rAd-Ag85B能激活CD4+T和CD8+T细胞表面分子CD69的表达,并引起淋巴细胞增殖。ELISPOT表明rAd-Ag85B呈现Th1免疫特点。【结论】成功构建的rAd-Ag85B能引起机体针对PPD蛋白或Ag85B多肽的Th1免疫应答。     

结核分枝杆菌Ag85A DNA的克隆与原核表达

抗原85(Ag85)复合体是BCG合成分泌的可刺激机体产生细胞免疫和体液免疫应答。Ag85A是抗原85复合体组成成分之一,可显著刺激细胞免疫功能增强。研究构建了高效表达的pTrcHisB-Ag85A基因重组质粒,并将其转化至大肠埃希菌TOP10中进行重组蛋白的表达,筛选转化物,SDS-PAGE进行蛋白表达的分子量检测,并通过Western Blotting方法,应用抗Ag85A的单克隆抗体进一步确认重组Ag85A蛋白的表达,建立了Ag85A的原核表达体系,为进一步制备出有效的重组Ag85A疫苗奠定基础。     

结核分枝杆菌MPT83的免疫原性及其奶牛结核病血清学检测方法的建立

【目的】利用大肠杆菌系统表达并纯化结核分枝杆菌MPT83蛋白,通过小鼠模型评价其免疫原性,建立血清学间接ELISA方法用于牛结核病临床检测,评价其应用潜能。【方法】构建p ET30a(+)-mpt83重组质粒,转化BL21(DE3)诱导表达并纯化,经细胞表面分子的流式细胞术(Flow Cytometry,FCM)分析、ELISPOT试验等分析其在小鼠中的免疫原性,建立间接ELISA方法,检测临床奶牛血样,评价其用于牛结核病血清学检测的潜能。【结果】SDS-PAGE显示目的蛋白成功表达,Western blot证实其对兔抗H37Rv多抗血清具有良好免疫反应性;FCM结果显示其下调树突状细胞表面CD80分子的表达,上调小鼠脾脏CD4+和CD8+T细胞表面CD69的表达,ELISPOT结果表明其诱导的特异性IL-4分泌细胞数显著高于IFN-γ分泌细胞数,表现为Th2型免疫应答;建立了ELISA方法,检测临床奶牛血样200份,与牛结核外周血γ-干扰素体外释放试验结果的阳性符合率和阴性符合率分别为48.6%和90%。【结论】在大肠杆菌系统中高效可溶性表达MPT83蛋白,其在小鼠模型中主要呈现Th2型免疫应答,并以该蛋白为抗原建立了牛结核病血清学检测的间接ELISA方法。     

幽门螺杆菌Lpp20-IL2核酸疫苗免疫活性

【目的】观察pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2免疫C57BL/6小鼠后所产生的体液免疫和细胞免疫应答水平,为研制高效、新型的幽门螺杆菌核酸疫苗提供实验依据。【方法】构建pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2重组载体,并转染HeLa细胞,用Western-blot观察鉴定其在真核细胞得到表达后免疫C57BL/6小鼠,ELISA间接法测定小鼠血清中抗Lpp20IgG抗体水平,ELISA双抗体夹心法检测脾淋巴细胞培养上清中IFN-γ、IL4水平,MTT比色法检测脾淋巴细胞增殖反应,免疫荧光组化法检测Lpp20蛋白在小鼠肌肉组织中的表达情况。【结果】成功构建了pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2真核表达载体,且重组质粒能在HeLa细胞内有效表达目的蛋白;小鼠接种pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2核酸疫苗后能产生特异性IgG抗体,8w后ELISA测定血清抗体A450值明显升高。核酸疫苗pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2免疫组小鼠脾淋巴细胞经特异性抗原刺激后,培养上清中IFN-γ、IL4含量明显升高。pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2和pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20核酸疫苗组小鼠脾淋巴细胞经特异性抗原刺激后,刺激指数明显高于空质粒组和PBS组。Lpp20蛋白在小鼠肌肉组织中能够有效表达。【结论】幽门螺杆菌Lpp20-IL2融合基因核酸疫苗和Lpp20单基因核酸疫苗均能刺激机体产生较强细胞免疫应答和体液免疫应答,且前者能诱导更强的细胞免疫应答。     

A型肉毒毒素Hc结构域在大肠杆菌中的高水平表达及免疫原性

对A型肉毒毒素受体结合区Hc基因的全序列进行优化和人工合成,获得了全长1287bp,编码429aa的Hc基因。以pTIG-Trx为原核表达载体,实现了Hc在大肠杆菌中的高效可溶性表达及纯化,该表达水平可占可溶性全菌总蛋白的36%～53%,经一步亲和层析纯化可获得电泳级纯度的目的蛋白,在常规培养条件下,产量达到30mg/L以上。然后,纯化的重组蛋白Hc免疫小鼠后能够诱导产生高滴度特异性的抗体,也能诱导产生特异性的细胞免疫应答反应。小鼠体内A型肉毒毒素中和试验结果表明免疫组小鼠血清中含高滴度的体内中和抗体。结果表明,利用本实验的原核表达系统不仅能够高水平可溶性地表达A型肉毒毒素受体结合区Hc,而且重组Hc具有良好的免疫原性,可以用于制备治疗性抗毒素和作为亚单位候选疫苗用于预防A型肉毒毒素中毒。     

人乳头瘤病毒16型E7变异株免疫原性研究

采用分子克隆技术,构建E7变异株重组质粒[pcDNA3．1-(by)E7]和E7标准株重组质粒【pcDNA3．1．(ys)-E7】,并将两种质粒分别皮下免疫Balb／c小鼠,免疫后于不同时间提取小鼠血清和制备脾淋巴细胞悬液,分别用ELISA法和MTT比色法检测特异性抗体和特异性淋巴细胞增殖反应。基因免疫后,ELISA法显示,HPVl6E7变异株和标准株均能诱导特异性抗E7抗体;MTTT比色法显示,E7标准株免疫组脾淋巴细胞在体外受到变异株E7蛋白的再次刺激后出现特异性淋巴细胞增殖反应,变异株E7免疫组脾淋巴细胞经过同样处理后,出现非特异性淋巴细胞增殖反应。结果表明HPV16E7变异株能诱导特异性体液免疫应答而不能诱导特异性细胞免疫应答,HPVl6E7变异株无论在结构还是免疫原性上均与标准株有差异。由此推测,HPV16E7变异可能导致其逃逸机体自然感染或疫苗诱导的免疫应答。用基因免疫方法研究E7变异株免疫原性也为其它不能或难以进行体外培养的病毒变异研究提供借鉴。     

针对潜伏结核感染的 A39 DNA 疫苗构建及其免疫原性研究

选取结核分枝杆菌潜伏相关抗原Rv2029c、结核分枝杆菌优秀抗原Ag85A和Rv3425,构建针对潜伏感染的结核分枝杆菌DNA疫苗pVAX1／Ag85A-Rv3425-Rv2029c （A39）,并对其免疫原性进行研究。首先用聚合酶链反应（PCR）扩增Ag85A基因,构建重组质粒pVAX1／Ag85A （A）;PCR扩增 Ag85A-Rv3425连接片段,插入pVAX1载体,构建重组质粒pVAX1／Ag85A-Rv3425（A3）;PCR扩增Rv2029c基因,插入A3,构建重组质粒pVAX1／Ag85A-Rv3425-Rv2029c （A39）。将构建成功的重组质粒转入 HEK293T细胞,蛋白免疫印迹法验证质粒在真核细胞中得到表达。在大肠埃希菌BL21中成功表达和纯化去除信号肽的Ag85A、Rv3425和Rv2029c蛋白。用质粒免疫C57BL／6小鼠,共分为5组：PBS、pVAX1、A、A3和A39组,采用电脉冲导入免疫,每2周免疫1次,共3次,用酶联免疫斑点检测（ELISPOT）、酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）、流式细胞术等方法检测细胞免疫和体液免疫水平。结果显示,A39免疫小鼠后,能引发强烈的细胞免疫反应﹝γ干扰素（IFN-γ）、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）和白细胞介素2（IL-2）高水平分泌﹞,外周血CD4＋／CD8＋ T细胞比值增加,CD8＋穿孔素＋ T细胞比例增加。结果表明,构建的A39 DNA疫苗能引发强烈的免疫反应,显示出良好的抗结核潜力,可作为结核分枝杆菌新型候选疫苗。     

家蚕蚕蛹过敏原CPH30的表达、纯化、免疫学鉴定及B细胞抗原表位预测

【目的】克隆、表达纯化出家蚕Bombyx mori蚕蛹过敏原蛋白CPH30(cuticular protein hypothetical 30 precursor),并对其进行免疫学鉴定及B细胞抗原表位预测。【方法】通过蛋白组学方法分析CPH30蛋白的潜在过敏原性,人工化学合成该蛋白基因,将基因连接到p ET-28a载体上,重组质粒转化至大肠杆菌Escherichia coli BL21,IPTG诱导基因表达。通过镍亲和层析获取高纯度蛋白,用Western blot方法对蛋白进行免疫学鉴定。通过DNAStar软件分析其潜在的B细胞表位。【结果】成功构建出CPH30基因的表达载体;表达纯化出CPH30蛋白,SDS-PAGE电泳结果显示分子量为25 k Da左右;Western blot结果显示,CPH30蛋白与家蚕过敏患者血清具有Ig E结合性,证明CPH30具有免疫原性;利用DNAStar软件成功分析出氨基酸序列第57-69和150-158位为潜在的B细胞表位。【结论】成功克隆表达出CPH30蛋白,并成功鉴定出其免疫原性,为家蚕蚕蛹过敏反应性疾病的特异性诊断和疫苗治疗奠定理论基础。     

Systematic significance of mature embryo of bamboos

The mature embryo of seven species belonging to five genera of Indian bamboos is described. In all these the basic pattern of embryo organisation is same: the scutellar and coleoptilar bundles are not separated by an internode, the epiblast is absent, the lower portion of the scutellum and the coleorhiza are separated by a cleft and the margins of embryonic leaves overlap. The features unique to fleshy fruited bamboos are: presence of a massive scutellum, the juxtaposition of plumule and radicle and the occurrence of a bud in the axil of the coleoptile. The fleshy fruit bearing bamboos should be classified into one group, the tribeMelocanneae. Evidence is provided to recognise additional groups in the subfamilyBambusoideae.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Apoptotic Regulation of Caspase Activity

Intracellular cysteine aspartate-specific proteases (caspases) play both signaling and effector roles in realizing the program of cell death. Caspases function as proteolytic cascades unique for each cell type and signal triggering apoptosis. All parts of the proteolytic cascades are duplicated and controlled by feedback signals. Amplification cycles between pairs of caspases (the third and the sixth, the ninth and the third, the twelfth and the sixth, and others) help multiply the initial apoptotic signal. The presence of physiological inhibitors of apoptosis that directly interact with caspases creates a multilevel regulatory network of apoptosis in cell. The caspase proteolytic cascades are also regulated by sphingolipid secondary messengers, among them ceramide, sphingosine, and their phosphates. Moreover, an association of the caspase signaling with ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis is shown in cells. In particular, the use of extracellular activators and inhibitors of caspases allows irreversible activation of apoptosis in tumor cells or the prevention of apoptosis in cortical neurons under neurodegenerative diseases.     

Analysis of twin of eyeless regulation during early embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster

The Drosophila Pax6 homolog twin of eyeless (toy) is so far the first zygotically expressed gene involved in eye morphogenesis in Drosophila. The study of its expression during embryogenesis is therefore informative of the initial events of eye development in Drosophila. We have analyzed how the initial expression domain of toy at cellular blastoderm is regulated. We show that the three maternal patterning systems active in the cephalic region (the anterior, terminal and dorsal-ventral systems) cooperate with zygotically activated gap genes to shape the initial expression domain of toy. Whereas Bicoid, Dorsal and Torso signaling synergistically act as activators, Hunchback, Knirps and Decapentaplegic act as repressors.     

New species of Peruvian Orchidaceae III

Sixteen new species are proposed in the generaAckermania, Dressleria, Epidendrum, Maxillaria, Oncidium, Rodriguezia, Sigmatostalix, andTrigonidium. All new species are illustrated.Maxillaria vittariifolia L. O. Williams is newly recorded for Peru. A key is provided forTrigonidium of Peru.Trigonidium loretoense Schltr. andT. peruvianum Schltr. are lectotypified.     

Host plants of someRhinanthoideae (Scrophulariaceae) of eastern North America

Twenty three species in 11 genera were examined in the field to determine hosts. OnlyStriga asiatica andSeymeria cassioides have a narrow host range being restricted to grasses and pines, respectively. These are the only species which cause pronounced and sometimes serious host damage. The other species attach to a great diversity of hosts.     

广西青藓科分类学修订

通过对采自广西24个县(市)的1 147份青藓科植物标本的逐一鉴定及相关文献的查阅,确认有广西青藓科植物11属、44种,其中包括广西青藓科植物新记录属1属,即拟异叶藓属(Pseudokindbergia),新记录种7种,分别为匐枝青藓(Brachythecium procumbens)、阔叶尖喙藓(Oxyrrhynchium latifolium)、泛生尖喙藓(O. vagans)、拟异叶藓(Pseudokindbergia dumosa)、华东细喙藓(Rhynchostegiella sinensis)、长肋拟青藓(Sciurohypnum populeum)和弯叶拟青藓(S. reflexum)。该文提供了修订后的广西青藓科植物名录,并对其中的新记录属、种的主要形态学识别特征、生境和地理分布等进行了详细描述。     

Evaluation of antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activities of the resin glycosides and the other metabolites of Scrophularia cryptophila

Resin glycosides are secondary metabolites exclusive to the convolvulaceous plants. In this study, crypthophilic acids A–C (1–3), the first resin glycosides occurring in another family (Scrophulariaceae), and the other constituents of Scrophularia cryptophila were examined for in vitro antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial potentials. Except for crypthophilic acid B (2), all tested compounds exhibited growth-inhibitory effect against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, with l-tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7) being the most potent ones (IC₅₀'s 4.1 and 9.7 μg/ml). In contrast, the activity towards Trypanosoma cruzi was poor, and only crypthophilic acid C (3), 6 and 7 were trypanocidal at concentrations above 40 μg/ml. With the exception of 2 and 6, all compounds were active against Leishmania donovani. Harpagide (4) and 3 emerged as the best leishmanicidal agents (IC₅₀'s 2.0 and 5.8 μg/ml). Only compounds 3, 6 and 7 showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC₅₀ values of 4.2, 16.6 and 22.4 μg/ml. Overall the best and broadest spectrum activity was presented by compounds 3 and 7, as they inhibited all four parasitic protozoa. None of the isolates had significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MICs >100 μg/ml) or were toxic towards mammalian (L6) cells. This is the first report of antiprotozoal activity for natural resin glycosides, as well as for harpagide (4), acetylharpagide (5), tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7).     

Five additional genera of conidial lichen-forming fungi from Europe

Three remarkable new genera of conidial lichen-forming fungi, with pycnidial or acervular conidiomata are described and illustrated.Hastifera tenuispora gen. et spec. nov. from the South-Tyrol, Italy, is characterized by very long and narrow hyaline conidia produced in pycnidial conidiomata immersed in thalline warts.Lichingoldia gyalectiformis gen. et spec. nov. from rocks subject to inundation by freshwater in Norway has long sigmoidly curved conidia which appear to be adapted to dispersal in water.Woessia fusarioides gen. et spec. nov. from aQuercus stump in the Burgenland, Austria, has a finely granular thallus and disc-like conidiomata producing falcate conidia; this species is also of interest in that it hasChlorella as the photobiont. The recently described hyphomyceteCheiromycina flabelliformis B. Sutton is reported from Austria for the first time, and is also lichenized. Recent collections ofNigropuncta rugulosa D. Hawksw. from Austria and Italy also show that this species is lichenized rather than parasymbiotic. In all five cases the fungal hyphae of the conidiogenous structures are continuous with those in intimate contact with cells of the algal partners and the biological relationship appears to be mutualistic giving rise to stable crustose lichen thalli.