大绒鼠冷驯化和脱冷驯化能量代谢特征的变化

通过测定冷驯化(5℃)到脱冷驯化(30℃)条件下,大绒鼠(Eothenomys miletus)的体重、摄入能、静止代谢率(RMR)、非颤抖性产热(NST)和血清瘦素含量等参数,探讨了血清瘦素浓度与能量收支的关系。结果表明,冷驯化可致大绒鼠体重下降,RMR、NST、摄入能升高,血清瘦素浓度降低;脱冷驯化后大绒鼠体重增加,RMR、NST、摄入能降低,血清瘦素浓度增加。血清瘦素含量与体重呈正相关,与RMR、NST、摄入能呈负相关。表明大绒鼠的体重、摄入能和产热能力具有较强的可塑性,且瘦素可能参与了大绒鼠适应冷驯化及恢复过程中的能量平衡和体重的调节。     

大绒鼠在不同驯化温度下产热和能量代谢的变化

为研究不同温度驯化条件下大绒鼠体重、体温和能量代谢水平的可塑性变化,本实验测定了热驯化(30℃ ;12L∶ 12D)转脱热驯化(5℃ ;12L∶ 12D)和冷驯化(5℃ ;12L∶ 2D) 转脱冷驯化(30℃ ;12L∶ 12D)条件下,大绒鼠体重、体温、能量收支、静止代谢率和非颤抖性产热的变化。结果表明:大绒鼠在热驯化转脱热驯化过程中,随着热驯化时间的延长,大绒鼠体重和体温增加,摄入能、静止代谢率和非颤抖性产热逐渐降低,在28 d 时降到最低;转到脱热驯化条件下,表现出相反的趋势。冷驯化转入脱冷驯化过程中,随着冷驯化时间的延长,大绒鼠的体重和体温降低,摄入能、静止代谢率和非颤抖性产热逐渐升高,28 d 时达到最高;转移到脱冷驯化条件时,表现出相反的趋势。以上结果说明大绒鼠在不同温度驯化条件下,其体重、能量代谢和产热具有可塑性变化,即通过调节体重、体温和能量代谢来适应不同温度变化。     

冷驯化对大绒鼠和高山姬鼠肝脏线粒体呼吸的影响

大绒鼠Eothenomys miletus和高山姬鼠Apodemus chevrieri为横断山地区小型哺乳动物的代表.分别测定大绒鼠和高山姬鼠冷驯化组(7 d、14 d、21 d、28 d)与对照组(0 d)中肝脏线粒体蛋白含量、呼吸状态Ⅲ和状态Ⅳ、呼吸磷氧比的变化以及较大绒鼠和高山姬鼠的相应项,探讨大绒鼠和高山姬鼠对不同冷环境的适应情况以及肝脏产热的机理.结果 表明:在冷驯化条件下,大绒鼠和高山姬鼠的产热显著增加,无论是大绒鼠还是高山姬鼠实验组比对照组肝脏线粒体蛋白含量、呼吸状态Ⅲ和状态Ⅳ、呼吸磷氧比有着显著的提高,在两者的比较中,在同等冷驯化条件下高山姬鼠增加的程度高于大绒鼠.     

冷驯化条件下高山姬鼠能量对策的初步研究

为进一步了解横断山区小型哺乳动物的能量代谢对策,本文主要研究了横断山的外来物种——高山姬鼠(Apodemus chevrieri)持续冷暴露28d的能量变化。结果表明,随着冷驯化时间延长,体重和体温降低;摄入能、消化能和可代谢能增加,至21d后这3项指标又下降;BMR和NST增加,并且28d后它们分别是对照组的187.19%和155.97%;(NST-BMR)/BMR比值7d时增加到1.02,21d后下降至0.53,并保持稳定。因此,在持续冷暴露下,高山姬鼠采取适当降低体重和体温、增加能量摄入、增加BMR和NST产热等途径来维持能量代谢平衡,但是NST在产热中的作用逐渐降低。这种能量模式很可能代表了一种外来小型啮齿动物对于在横断山生存独特的能量适应策略。     

光照和温度对大绒鼠产热特征的影响

为了解横断山地区大绒鼠对光照和温度两个因子的适应性特征,将大绒鼠分为4组,分别于5±1℃,6L:18D:5±1℃,18L:6D;30±1℃,6L:18D和30±1℃,18L:6D 4个条件下驯化28 d.分别测定了对照组(0 d)和驯化28 d后,每一个体的体重、体温和产热能力;并测定驯化28 d后4组大绒鼠个体的肝脏和褐色脂肪组织的产热活性变化.结果显示,在低温诱导下大绒鼠体重下降,体温降低,静止代谢率升高,非颤抖性产热能力增加,肝脏和褐色脂肪组织的产热活性也出现相应提升;在高温下出现与低温时相反的现象;但光照周期对大绒鼠的体重、体温、产热能力及肝脏和褐色脂肪组织的产热活性均没有显著影响.推测由于横断山的低纬度、高海拔特征可能导致大绒鼠在季节适应过程中对温度的敏感程度高于光照.     

外源瘦素注射对昆明和大理地区大绒鼠适应性产热的影响

小型哺乳动物通过产热能力的调整来应对环境的胁迫。为探究外源瘦素对不同地区大绒鼠(Eothenomys miletus)适应性产热的影响,选取云南昆明和大理地区捕获的大绒鼠各14只,置于25℃±1℃,光周期为12L∶12D的环境中,每日腹腔注射瘦素,持续28 d。以LT502电子天平每两天测定大绒鼠的体重,采用食物平衡法每两天测定大绒鼠摄食量,以便携式呼吸代谢测量系统每7天测定静止代谢率(RMR)、非颤抖性产热(NST)。第28天处死动物后,采用酶联免疫吸附法测定线粒体蛋白含量、线粒体细胞色素c氧化酶(COX)活性、解偶联蛋白1(UCP1)含量、血清三碘甲状腺原氨酸(T3)、甲状腺素(T4)、瘦素水平以及促甲状腺激素释放激素(TRH)和促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素(CRH)水平。结果表明,注射瘦素后昆明和大理地区大绒鼠的体重和摄食量显著降低,RMR和NST增强,肝脏中线粒体蛋白含量和COX活性,褐色脂肪组织(BAT)中COX活性和UCP1含量,及血清T3、T4、T3/T4比值、TRH和CRH浓度均增加。瘦素水平与体重、摄食量呈负相关,血清T3水平与NST和UCP1含量呈正相关。此外,注射前昆...     

冷驯化对中缅树qu产热能力的影响

在(5±1)℃条件下对中缅树qu(Tupaia belangeri)进行低温胁迫处理(0-28 d)，测定其冷驯化过程中的静止代谢率(RMR)、非颤抖性产热(NST[max])、冷诱导最大产热(CIRMR)、体重、体温等生理指标，探讨低温对中缅树qu产热能力的影响。结果表明：①冷驯化期间中缅树qu体重增加，体温降低，产热能力显著增强；②在冷驯化过程中，增加RMR和CIRMR是中缅树qu抵抗低温胁迫的主要产热模式。     

大绒鼠幼仔的生长发育和产热特征

为阐明大绒鼠幼仔的生长发育和代谢产热特征,本实验测定了1-49 日龄大绒鼠幼仔的体重、体温、静止代谢率(RMR)和非颤抖性产热(NST)。依据逻辑斯蒂曲线的拐点(24 d),大绒鼠的体重生长可划分为加速生长相和减速生长相,幼仔的体温在19 日龄前逐渐升高,22 日龄时接近成体水平;RMR 和NST分别在28日龄、19日龄前随日龄逐渐增加,RMR 在28日龄时接近成体水平,BAT 产热活性在7 日龄内被激活。结果表明,大绒鼠胎后发育及产热能力符合晚成性动物的一般特征,即具有短的妊娠期,较少的胎仔数,较长的哺乳期,这些特征对适应横断山特殊多变的环境条件具有重要意义。     

被毛在黑线仓鼠能量代谢、产热和体温调节中的作用

为阐明小型哺乳动物被毛的季节性变化及其在能量代谢和体温调节中的作用,测定了季节性驯化,以及不同光周期和温度驯化的黑线仓鼠的被毛重量、体温和能量收支。结果显示: (1)冬季黑线仓鼠的被毛重量和产热显著高于夏季;(2)短光照(8L∶16D)和低温(5℃ ) 对被毛生长的影响不显著; (3)与室温组(21℃ )相比,低温组(5℃ )摄入能、基础代谢率(BMR)、非颤抖性产热(NST) 、褐色脂肪组织细胞色素c 氧化酶活性和热传导率显著增加,而暖温组(30℃ )显著降低; (4)室温和低温下,剃毛导致摄入能、BMR、NST 和热传导率显著增加;结果表明:被毛的作用与环境温度有关,低温下被毛降低了能量需求,增强了动物应对低温环境的适应能力;被毛的适应性变化是独居的野生小型哺乳动物应对环境温度季节性波动的主要适应策略之一,在其能量代谢和体温调节中具有重要作用和意义。     

高原鼠兔冷驯化和脱冷驯化中的产热变化

本文探讨了冷驯化和脱冷驯化对高原鼠兔代谢产热的影响。在冷驯化中，鼠兔的静止代谢率逐渐增加，血清Ｔ３‘／Ｔ４比率上升，肝线粒体状态３呼吸明显增加，线粒体细胞色素Ｃ氧化酶激活，而肝脏线粒体蛋白含量没有明显变化。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.