微量液基稀释法测定中药活性成分的体外抗曲霉菌活性*

通过测定中药活性成分肉桂醛和柠檬醛对常见深部条件致病性真菌黄曲霉、烟曲霉的抗菌活性,为建立中药抗曲霉菌药敏试验标准提供参考依据。参照美国国家临床试验标准化委员会(National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards,NCCLS)提出的标准,用微量液基稀释法分别测定肉桂醛和柠檬醛对黄曲霉、烟曲霉的抗菌活性。肉桂醛对黄曲霉、烟曲霉最低抑菌浓度(Minimal inhibitory concentration,MIC)分别为：0.100μg/mL,0.050μg/mL,柠檬醛对黄曲霉、烟曲霉的MIC分别为：2．600μg/mL、0．650μg/mL。中药活性成分肉桂醛和柠檬醛具有高效抗曲霉作用。该研究可为制定中药抗曲霉作用评价标准提供参考依据。     

肉桂醛、柠檬醛抑制黑曲霉生长的比较研究

黑曲霉是一类极易通过饲料、食品、粮油霉变而具致病性的有害真菌。与物理和化学方法抑制黑曲霉生长相比,生物抑菌剂抗黑曲霉生长具有药效久、无抗药性并安全健康的优点。本实验采用天然肉桂醛、柠檬醛作为抑菌剂,以正常生长的黑曲霉为对照,分别采用牛津杯法、气体扩散法比较对黑曲霉生长效果的影响。结果表明,柠檬醛作用所形成的抑菌圈显著大于肉桂醛作用所形成的抑菌圈,且在同一浓度下柠檬醛对菌丝体形态和孢子囊形态的抑制比肉桂醛显著,而气体扩散法抗黑曲霉效果优于牛津杯法。     

原儿茶酸与原儿茶醛对小鼠肝脏细胞色素P450表达的影响

目的:研究原儿茶酸和原儿茶醛对小鼠肝脏细胞色素P450酶主要亚型表达水平的影响。方法:将C57BL/6小鼠随机分为正常对照组(0.9%生理盐水)、原儿茶酸与原儿茶醛给药组(6 mg/kg),苯巴比妥诱导组(80mg/kg),每24 h给药一次,连续给药2周。提取肝脏中总RNA,RT-PCR技术考察药物对CYP450主要亚型mRNA表达的影响;制备肝微粒体,用Western blot技术考察P450酶主要亚型的表达。结果:RT-PCR结果显示,在mRNA水平上,与正常对照组相比,原儿茶酸可诱导Cyp1a2基因的表达(P0.05),对Cyp2c37、Cyp2d9的mRNA表达无诱导作用。原儿茶醛对Cyp1a2的mRNA的表达有诱导作用(P0.05),对Cyp2c37和Cyp2d9的mRNA的表达无诱导作用。Western blot结果显示原儿茶酸对CYP1A2,CYP2E1表达有显著诱导作用,对其他几种亚型无影响。原儿茶醛对CYP1A2表达有显著诱导作用,对其他几种亚型无影响。Western blot结果与RT-PCR结果基本一致。结论:原儿茶酸与原儿茶醛均可以显著诱导CYP1A2的mRNA以及蛋白表达,并且原儿茶酸可以显著诱导CYP2E1的蛋白表达。     

烟酰胺及联合伊曲康唑体外抗烟曲霉活性研究CSCD

目的检测烟酰胺及联合伊曲康唑的抗烟曲霉活性。方法采用CLSI推荐的M38-A2肉汤稀释法及棋盘式微量液基稀释法检测烟酰胺与伊曲康唑对15株烟曲霉的最低抑菌浓度(MIC)和协同指数(FICI),通过荧光定量PCR检测加药后烟曲霉的相关基因表达水平。结果烟酰胺对烟曲霉具有抑制作用,MIC为12.8~25.6 mg/mL;烟酰胺与伊曲康唑具有协同抗菌作用,协同指数<0.5;膜蛋白相关基因与外排泵相关基因在烟酰胺单用及联合用药下,表达下调。结论烟酰胺具有抑制烟曲霉及增强伊曲康唑抗烟曲霉的作用,抑菌及增效作用与下调烟曲霉膜蛋白基因和外排泵基因表达有关。     

D-柠檬烯对衣霉素诱导的胰腺MIN6细胞损伤的保护作用

本研究主要探讨D-柠檬烯对衣霉素(Tm)诱导胰腺MIN6细胞损伤的保护作用。设置溶剂对照组、Tm组、4-苯基丁酸(PBA)组和不同浓度的D-柠檬烯组,用Griess试剂检测Tm刺激胰岛β细胞产生的NO水平;Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法流式检测细胞凋亡; RT-PCR法检测mRNA的表达水平; Western Blot法检测相关蛋白的表达。结果显示,D-柠檬烯组与Tm组相比,NO产生量减少、细胞凋亡率降低、内质网应激相关基因sXbp1和CHOP的mRNA表达量显著降低、p-eIF2α的蛋白表达量显著下降。结果表明D-柠檬烯对衣霉素(Tm)诱导的胰腺MIN6细胞损伤具有显著的保护作用。     

Ets-1在姜黄素抑制心脏纤维化的表达研究

目的:研究姜黄素的抗增殖作用是否依赖于其对Ets-1表达的下调。方法:使用Ets-1 siRNA对CFs细胞Ets-1基因进行沉默;Real-time PCR和western-blot法测定各组细胞Ets-1 mRNA和蛋白的表达水平。结果:在mRNA和蛋白水平上,AngⅡ明显增加CFs细胞内Ets-1的表达;使用siRNA技术对Ets-1进行沉默后,随着Ets-1表达的降低及转录调节能力的下降,由AngⅡ诱导的CFs细胞的增殖能力及增殖相关细胞因子分泌减少;姜黄素可以显著降低AngⅡ诱导的Ets-1表达升高,并具有浓度依赖性(P0.05)。说明姜黄素对AngⅡ诱导的CFs增殖的抑制作用可能依赖于其对Ets-1表达的抑制作用。结论:Ets-1 siRNA对Ets-1进行基因沉默后,显示出抗增殖效用;姜黄素能够有效地抑制AngⅡ诱导的CFs细胞Ets-1 mRNA和蛋白的过表达;姜黄素的抗增殖作用可能依赖于其对Ets-1基因的表达下调而得以实现的。     

桂皮醛衍生物的合成及其对CVB_3的作用

目的：合成桂皮醛衍生物,观测其对心肌细胞的毒性及抗CVB3病毒的作用。方法：化学合成6种桂皮醛衍生物,其中3种进行了红外、质谱等结构表征;MTT法检测被CVB3病毒感染和用桂皮醛衍生物治疗后的心肌细胞活性。结果：α-溴代对氯肉桂醛、α-溴代对甲基肉桂醛、对氯肉桂醛3种桂皮醛衍生物对心肌细胞的半数毒性浓度（TC50）分别为2151.28μg·mL-1,1475.32μg·mL-1,22460.32μg·mL-1;对CVB3病毒的半数抑制浓度（IC50）分别为178.94μg·mL-1、173.35μg·mL-1、6045.25μg·mL-1;对CVB3病毒的治疗指数（TI）分别为12.02,8.51,3.71。结论：桂皮醛3种衍生物具有直接抑制CVB3病毒作用,但对病毒的细胞合成和吸附无明显作用。     

烟曲霉对人支气管上皮细胞作用及机制的初步研究

目的建立烟曲霉与人支气管上皮细胞的共培养模型,观察不同感染时间人支气管上皮细胞生理特性的变化规律,探讨烟曲霉对人支气管上皮细胞的作用机制。方法用烟曲霉在体外感染人支气管上皮细胞,观察人支气管上皮细胞细胞形态改变,用流式细胞仪测支气管上皮细胞的凋亡率及用real-time PCR测人支气管上皮细胞凋亡基因的表达。结果随烟曲霉作用于人支气管上皮细胞时间的延长,人支气管上皮细胞的生物学形态发生改变,其回缩、变圆量逐渐增加,凋亡率亦逐渐增加,凋亡基因BaK表达明显上调。结论烟曲霉与人支气管上皮细胞共培养可以影响人支气管上皮细胞的形态,诱导细胞凋亡、影响凋亡基因的表达。共培养模型可进一步用于烟曲霉的致病机制研究。     

桂皮醛衍生物的合成及其对CVB3的作用

目的:合成桂皮醛衍生物,观测其对心肌细胞的毒性及抗CVB3病毒的作用.方法:化学合成6种桂皮醛衍生物,其中3种进行了红外、质谱等结构表征;MTT法检测被CVB3病毒感染和用桂皮醛衍生物治疗后的心肌细胞活性.结果:α-溴代对氨肉桂醛、α-溴代对甲基肉桂醛、对氯肉桂醛3种桂皮醛衍生物对心肌细胞的半教毒性浓度(TC50)分别为2151.28μ g·mL-1,1475.32μg·mL-1,22460.32μ g·mL-1;对CVB3病毒的半数抑制浓度(IC50)分别为178.94μg·mL-1、173.35μg·mL-1,6045.25μg·mL-1;对CVB3病毒的治疗指数(TI)分别为12.02,8.51,3.71.结论:桂皮醛3种衍生物具有直接抑制CVB3病毒作用,但对病毒的细胞合成和吸附无明显作用.     

A Developmentally Regulated Gene Cluster Involved in Conidial Pigment Biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus

Aspergillus fumigatus, a filamentous fungus producing bluish-green conidia, is an important opportunistic pathogen that primarily affects immunocompromised patients. Conidial pigmentation of A. fumigatus significantly influences its virulence in a murine model. In the present study, six genes, forming a gene cluster spanning 19 kb, were identified as involved in conidial pigment biosynthesis in A. fumigatus. Northern blot analyses showed the six genes to be developmentally regulated and expressed during conidiation. The gene products of alb1 (for "albino 1"), arp1 (for "aspergillus reddish-pink 1"), and arp2 have high similarity to polyketide synthases, scytalone dehydratases, and hydroxynaphthalene reductases, respectively, found in the dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin pathway of brown and black fungi. The abr1 gene (for "aspergillus brown 1") encodes a putative protein possessing two signatures of multicopper oxidases. The abr2 gene product has homology to the laccase encoded by the yA gene of Aspergillus nidulans. The function of ayg1 (for "aspergillus yellowish-green 1") remains unknown. Involvement of the six genes in conidial pigmentation was confirmed by the altered conidial color phenotypes that resulted from disruption of each gene in A. fumigatus. The presence of a DHN-melanin pathway in A. fumigatus was supported by the accumulation of scytalone and flaviolin in the arp1 deletant, whereas only flaviolin was accumulated in the arp2 deletants. Scytalone and flaviolin are well-known signature metabolites of the DHN-melanin pathway. Based on DNA sequence similarity, gene disruption results, and biochemical analyses, we conclude that the 19-kb DNA fragment contains a six-gene cluster which is required for conidial pigment biosynthesis in A. fumigatus. However, the presence of abr1, abr2, and ayg1 in addition to alb1, arp1, and arp2 suggests that conidial pigment biosynthesis in A. fumigatus is more complex than the known DHN-melanin pathway.     

Characterization of a polyketide synthase in Aspergillus niger whose product is a precursor for both dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin and naphtho-γ-pyrone

The genome sequencing of the fungus Aspergillus niger uncovered a large cache of genes encoding enzymes thought to be involved in the production of secondary metabolites yet to be identified. Identification and structural characterization of many of these predicted secondary metabolites are hampered by their low concentration relative to the known A. niger metabolites such as the naphtho-γ-pyrone family of polyketides. We deleted a non-reducing PKS gene in A. niger strain ATCC 11414, a daughter strain of A. niger ATCC strain 1015 whose genome was sequenced by the DOE Joint Genome Institute. This PKS encoding gene we name albA is a predicted ortholog of alb1 from Aspergillus fumigatus which is responsible for production of the naphtho-γ-pyrone precursor for the 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin/spore pigment. Our results show that the A. nigeralbA PKS is responsible for both the production of the spore pigment precursor and a family of naphtho-γ-pyrones commonly found in significant quantity in A. niger culture extracts. The generation of an A. niger strain devoid of naphtho-γ-pyrones will greatly facilitate the elucidation of cryptic biosynthetic pathways in this organism.     

The Aspergillus fumigatus cellobiohydrolase B (cbhB) promoter is tightly regulated and can be exploited for controlled protein expression and RNAi

The utility of the Aspergillus fumigatus cellobiohydrolase cbhB promoter for controlled gene expression has been investigated. cbhB message was present at high levels in the presence of carboxymethylcellulose and undetected in the presence of glucose. A reporter construct using the cbhB promoter showed similar behaviour and gave lower message levels than the Aspergillus nidulans alcA promoter under repressing conditions. An RNAi construct driven by the cbhB promoter was used to down-regulate the alb1 gene; transformants showed low alb1 message levels and a loss-of-function phenotype with carboxymethylcellulose, while both wild-type message levels and phenotype were seen with glucose. The cbhB promoter is therefore tightly controlled and can be exploited for the study of A. fumigatus.     

Efficient downregulation of alb1 gene using an AMA1-based episomal expression of RNAi construct in Aspergillus fumigatus

An episomal RNAi silencing construct containing the inducible cbhB promoter and a hairpin structure has been made to downregulate the alb1 gene in the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Transformation of fungal protoplasts resulted in a high number of transformants with an inducible silenced phenotype (white spores). Efficient downregulation of the alb1 gene using this system suggests that this approach may overcome the variable downregulation observed with integrative constructs.     

NODs信号通路在RAW264.7细胞抗烟曲霉菌刺激中的作用

【目的】通过培养RAW264.7细胞,并运用siRNA沉默NOD2基因来研究NODs信号通路在体外抗烟曲霉中的作用。【方法】体外培养RAW264.7细胞,接种2×105个/孔细胞于六孔板中,分为正常对照组(N)和正常沉默组[NOD2(RNAi),正常+烟曲霉孢子刺激组(N+Af)和正常沉默+烟曲霉孢子刺激组[NOD2(RNAi)+Af],每组三复孔。通过RT-PCR法检测细胞中NOD1、NOD2、RIP2 mRNA表达;Western blot法检测细胞中分泌蛋白TNF-α表达。【结果】与N组比较,N+Af组NOD1、NOD2 mRNA和TNF-α蛋白表达显著上升。与阴性对照组(Nctrol)相比,NOD2(RNAi)组NOD2 mRNA表达明显受到抑制,沉默效果达到80%以上,说明RAW264.7细胞中NOD2基因被成功沉默。与NOD2(RNAi)组比较,NOD2(RNAi)+Af组NOD1、RIP2 mRNA和TNF-α蛋白表达小幅上升,但无显著性差异(P>0.05)。与NOD2基因沉默前比较发现:与N组比较,NOD2(RNAi)组,TNF-α蛋白表达显著性升高(P<0.05)。与N+Af组比较,NOD2(RNAi)+Af组,TNF-α蛋白显著性降低(P<0.05);NOD1、RIP2 mRNA在各组中表达均未见显著性差异。【结论】NODs信号通路在RAW264.7细胞抗烟曲霉中发挥作用,尤以NOD2的作用较突出。     

TheAspergillus parasiticus polyketide synthase genepksA, a homolog ofAspergillus nidulans wA, is required for aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis

Aflatoxins comprise a group of polyketide-derived carcinogenic mycotoxins produced byAspergillus parasiticus andAspergillus flavus. By transformation with a disruption construct, pXX, we disrupted the aflatoxin pathway inA. parasiticus SRRC 2043, resulting in the inability of this strain to produce aflatoxin intermediates as well as a major yellow pigment in the transformants. The disruption was attributed to a single-crossover, homologous integration event between pXX and the recipientA. parasiticus genome at a specific locus, designatedpksA. Sequence analysis suggest thatpksA is a homolog of theAspergillus nidulans wA gene, a polyketide synthase gene involved in conidial wall pigment biosynthesis. The conserved-ketoacyl synthase, acyltransferase and acyl carrier-protein domains were present in the deduced amino acid sequence of thepksA product. No-ketoacyl reductase and enoyl reductase domains were found, suggesting thatpksA does not encode catalytic activities for processing-carbon similar to those required for long chain fatty acid synthesis. ThepksA gene is located in the aflatoxin pathway gene cluster and is linked to thenor-1 gene, an aflatoxin pathway gene required for converting norsolorinic acid to averantin. These two genes are divergently transcribed from a 1.5 kb intergenic region. We propose thatpksA is a polyketide synthase gene required for the early steps of aflatoxin biosynthesis.     

The role of initial spore adhesion in pellet and biofilm formation in Aspergillus niger

Fungi grow on a great variety of organic and inorganic materials. Colony establishment and growth on solid surfaces require adhesion of spores and hyphae to the substrate, while cell-to-cell interactions among spores and/or hyphae are a prerequisite for the development of three-dimensional mycelial structures such as pellets or biofilms. Surface adherence has been described as a two-step process, comprised of the initial attachment of ungerminated conidia followed by further adhesion of the forming germ tubes and growing hyphae. In the present study, we analyzed the contribution of adhesion of ungerminated spores to pellet and biofilm formation in Aspergillus niger. Mutants deficient in melanin biosynthesis were constructed by the deletion of the alb1 gene, encoding a polyketide synthase essential for pigment biosynthesis. Δalb1 conidia have an altered surface structure and changed physicochemical surface properties. Spore aggregation in liquid culture as well as spore surface attachment differ between the wild type and the mutant in a pH-dependent manner. In liquid culture further pellet formation is unaffected by altered spore-spore interactions, indicating that germ tube and hyphal adherence can compensate for deficiencies in the initial step of spore attachment. In contrast, under conditions promoting adhesion of Δalb1 conidia to polymer surfaces the mutant forms more stable biofilms than the wild type, suggesting that initial spore adhesion supports sessile growth.     

Identification, cloning and analysis of theAspergillus niger genepacC, a wide domain regulatory gene responsive to ambient pH

A wide domain regulatory gene implicated in modulating gene expression in response to ambient pH has been cloned and sequenced from the industrially useful filamentous fungusAspergillus niger. This gene,pacC, is able to restore apacC ⁺ phenotype toA. nidulans pacC ^c 11 andpacC ^c 14 mutants with respect to extent of conidiation, conidial pigment intensity and acid phosphatase regulation. ThepacC gene ofA. niger comprises three exons, encodes a three-zinc-finger protein of 677 amino acids, and shows pH-dependent regulation of expression: mRNA levels are elevated under alkaline conditions and considerably reduced under acidic conditions. The occurrence of PacC consensus binding targets within the sequences upstream ofpacC may indicate autoregulation.