An improved hybrid bream derived from a hybrid lineage of Megalobrama amblycephala (♀)×Culter alburnus (♂)

Science China Life Sciences - Distant hybridization is an important technique in fish genetic breeding. In this study, based on the establishment of an allodiploid fish lineage (BT, 2n=48,...     

Bioethics in China

Historically, the preconditions for the emergence of bioethics in China. were political reforms and their applications. The Hanzhong Euthanasia Case and the publication of Qiu Ren-zong's academic work Bioethics played a significant role in the development of bioethics in China. Other contributory factors include the establishment of the Chinese Society of Medical Ethics/Chinese Medical Association (C.M.A), the publication of the Journal of Chinese Medical Ethics, and the teaching and education of bioethics in China. Major achievements of bioethics in China include the establishment of ethics committee and ethics review system, active international communication and cooperation among the academic circles, and the successful management of the 8th World Congress of Bioethics in Beijing in 2006. Chinese bioethics focus on native Chinese realities and conditions, absorb the international research achievements in relevant fields, and combine international ideas with traditional Chinese doctrines. Admittedly, there are still some aspects to be improved, yet bioethics has attracted a lot of attention from the core leadership in China and has gained sound financial support, which augers well for its further development. This article also briefly introduces the development of bioethics in Hong Kong and Taiwan, China.     

我国器官移植中的伦理困境及解决思路

我国的器官移植近10年来有了发展,无论从技术层面、移植数量和质量、临床管理以及法规建设上都有了长足的进步。然而,由于我们在开展器官移植方面的先天不足,例如从事器官移植的技术队伍主要是来自海外学成归来的专家;技术主要靠引进西方的临床技术,在基础研究和创新方面相对薄弱;在法律和管理制度的建设方面相对滞后,没有建立一个从制度上保证器官移植健康开展的系统,使得在器官供体来源和器官的公正分配上存在许多欠缺。因此有必要对我国的器官移植历史进行回顾和总结,对我国在器官移植中存在的错误观念和伦理困境进行剖析,寻找适合我国开展器官移植的正确途径,促进我国的器官移植事业健康发展。     

我国生物物理学的奠基与交叉学科的建立

20世纪50年代上半叶,生物物理学作为一门新的独立学科应运而生.1958年,以中国科学院生物物理研究所的成立为主要标志,开始了我国生物物理学的发展历程.本文将介绍我国生物物理学科的奠基与前期发展,以及放射生物学、生物控制论、宇宙生物学和仿生学等交叉学科的建立过程.     

Independent emergence of Yersinia ruckeri biotype 2 in the United States and Europe

Biotype 2 (BT2) variants of the bacterium Yersinia ruckeri are an increasing disease problem in U.S. and European aquaculture and have been characterized as serovar 1 isolates that lack both peritrichous flagella and secreted phospholipase activity. The emergence of this biotype has been associated with an increased frequency of enteric redmouth disease (ERM) outbreaks in previously vaccinated salmonid fish. In this study, four independent specific natural mutations that cause the loss of both motility and secreted lipase activity were identified in BT2 strains from the United States, United Kingdom, and mainland Europe. Each of these was a unique mutation in either fliR, flhA, or flhB, all of which are genes predicted to encode essential components of the flagellar secretion apparatus. Our results demonstrate the existence of independent mutations leading to the BT2 phenotype; thus, this phenotype has emerged separately at least four times. In addition, BT2 strains from the United Kingdom were shown to have the same mutant allele found in U.S. BT2 strains, suggesting a common origin of this BT2 lineage. This differentiation of distinct BT2 lineages is of critical importance for the development and validation of alternative vaccines or other treatment strategies intended for the control of BT2 strains.     

Current state and prospects of biotechnology in Central and Eastern European countries. Part II: new and preaccession EU countries(CRO,RO, B&H,SRB)

Innovation holds the potential for economic prosperity. Biotechnology (BT) has proved to be a viable vehicle for the development and utilization of technologies, which has brought not only advances to society, but also career opportunities to nation-states that have enabling conditions. In this review, we assess the current state of BT-related activities within selected new and preaccession EU countries (NPA) of CEE region namely Croatia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, examining educational programs, research activity, enterprises, and the financing systems. The field of BT covers a broad area of activities, including medical, food and agriculture, aquaculture or marine, environmental, biofuels, bioinformatics, and many others. Under the European Commission (EC), member-states are to set their Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization (RIS3), to identify priorities or strengths in order to develop knowledge intensive economies. As the four countries highlighted in this review are in the early stages of implementing RIS3 or have not yet fully formulated, it presents an opportunity to learn from the successes and failures of those that have already received major structural funds from the EC. A critical point will be the ability of the public and private sectors’ actors to align, in the implementation of RIS3 as new investment instruments emerge, and to concentrate efforts on a few select target goals, rather than distribute funding widely without respect to a long-term vision.     

BT799玉米对亚洲玉米螟抗性研究

【目的】抗螟性鉴定是转基因抗虫玉米研发的重要一环。本文主要就转基因玉米BT799对亚洲玉米螟的抗性展开评价,同时测定了BT799植株组织中Cry1Ac蛋白的表达量。【方法】采用了酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)、室内生测和田间人工接虫鉴定3种方法。【结果】转基因抗虫玉米BT799组织中Cry1Ac蛋白含量分别为768.0 ng/g(蛋白/鲜叶重)和1 452.8~2 978.5 ng/g(蛋白/花丝、苞叶或幼嫩籽粒干重)。田间心叶期接虫条件下转基因抗虫玉米BT799和CC-2XBT799表现高抗亚洲玉米螟。室内取食转Cry1Ac基因玉米不同组织的亚洲玉米螟敏感幼虫7 d后的存活率为0~37.5%,取食非转基因对照的存活率为89.9%~100.0%。亚洲玉米螟不同抗性品系取食郑单958K组织的存活率以Cry1Ie抗性品系最低,其次是Cry1F抗性品系,均显著低于取食对照郑单958,Cry1Ac抗性品系最高,与对照差异不显著。【结论】转Cry1Ac基因玉米BT799对亚洲玉米螟有很高的杀虫作用和良好的田间抗螟性。     

结构生物学研究在中国

1970年代初期,中国科学工作者测定了亚洲地区第一个蛋白质晶体结构——猪胰岛素三方二锌晶体结构,成为中国结构生物学历史发展的起点.进入新世纪,该学科领域已进入国际前沿,展现出快速发展态势,正在迎来发展新时期.本篇评述包含"历史发展","现代化实验设施建设"和"深入生命世界,走进国际前沿——近年代表性研究成果集萃"三个主题节段,以较全视野反映结构生物学研究在中国的发展历程.     

Antibody-maytansinoid conjugates for the treatment of myeloma

Despite recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma, new agents are still needed to improve the outcome for patients. The established success of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of some cancers has promoted interest in developing antibody-based therapies for multiple myeloma. Efforts have included the development of antibodies conjugated to potent cytotoxic moieties that combine the specificity of anti-myeloma-targeting antibodies with highly active anti-tumor compounds. Two such immunoconjugates currently in clinical development are composed of antibodies that target cell surface proteins found on multiple myeloma cells, and are coupled to cytotoxic maytansinoids. IMGN901 targets the neural cell adhesion molecule, CD56, which is expressed on the majority of myeloma cells, as well as on other cancers, while BT062 targets CD138, a primary diagnostic marker for multiple myeloma. In this review, we discuss the preclinical and early clinical data for these two promising new antibody-based anti-myeloma agents.Key words: cancer, myeloma, antibody, immunoconjugate, CD56, CD138, maytansinoid, IMGN901, BT062     

Growth and development of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab-susceptible and Cry1Ab-resistant sugarcane borer on diet and conventional maize plants

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a dominant maize borer pest and a major target of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)‐maize in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast area of Texas (USA). Growth and development of D. saccharalis on non‐toxic diet, diet treated with three low concentrations (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 μg g^?1) of Cry1Ab toxin, and on non‐Bt maize plants were compared for five insect genotypes: a Bt‐susceptible strain (BT‐SS), a Cry1Ab‐resistant strain (BT‐RR), a back‐crossed and re‐selected resistant strain (BT‐R’R’), and two F₁ progeny of the BT‐SS and BT‐R’R’ strains. Fitness of the five genotypes was examined by infesting neonates on diet with/without Cry1Ab toxin in the laboratory and on intact non‐Bt maize plants in the greenhouse. Biological parameters measured were neonate‐to‐pupa development time and pupation rate, larval survival, larval and pupal weight, and sex ratio. Larvae of BT‐SS and BT‐R’R’ on non‐toxic diet and non‐Bt maize plants grew normally and there were no significant differences between the two strains in all measured parameters, suggesting a lack‐of‐fitness cost of the Cry1Ab resistance in D. saccharalis. Except for the development time on non‐Bt diet, all other parameters on both non‐Bt diet and non‐Bt maize plants were similar among the five genotypes. Larval development of BT‐SS was significantly affected on diet treated with Cry1Ab toxin at 0.05 and 0.1 μg g^?1, whereas the effect to BT‐RR and BT‐R’R’ was not significant. Pupal weight and sex ratio reared on Cry1Ab‐diet were similar and there were no significant differences among the five genotypes. Neonate‐to‐pupation rate decreased as Cry1Ab concentrations increased but the decrease was more significant for BT‐SS than for the other four genotypes. The lack‐of‐fitness costs of Bt resistance in D. saccharalis imply a greater challenge in managing Bt resistance for this maize borer species.     

Role of SCFAs in gut microbiome and glycolysis for colorectal cancer therapy

Increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with altered intestinal microbiota as well as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) reduction of output The energy source of colon cells relies mainly on three SCFAs, namely butyrate (BT), propionate, and acetate, while CRC transformed cells rely mainly on aerobic glycolysis to provide energy. This review summarizes recent research results for dysregulated glucose metabolism of SCFAs, which could be initiated by gut microbiome of CRC. Moreover, the relationship between SCFA transporters and glycolysis, which may correlate with the initiation and progression of CRC, are also discussed. Additionally, this review explores the linkage of BT to transport of SCFAs expressions between normal and cancerous colonocyte cell growth for tumorigenesis inhibition in CRC. Furthermore, the link between gut microbiota and SCFAs in the metabolism of CRC, in addition, the proteins and genes related to SCFAs-mediated signaling pathways, coupled with their correlation with the initiation and progression of CRC are also discussed. Therefore, targeting the SCFA transporters to regulate lactate generation and export of BT, as well as applying SCFAs or gut microbiota and natural compounds for chemoprevention may be clinically useful for CRCs treatment. Future research should focus on the combination these therapeutic agents with metabolic inhibitors to effectively target the tumor SCFAs and regulate the bacterial ecology for activation of potent anticancer effect, which may provide more effective application prospect for CRC therapy.     

Climate change and the spread of vector‐borne diseases: using approximate Bayesian computation to compare invasion scenarios for the bluetongue virus vector Culicoides imicola in Italy

Bluetongue (BT) is a commonly cited example of a disease with a distribution believed to have recently expanded in response to global warming. The BT virus is transmitted to ruminants by biting midges of the genus Culicoides, and it has been hypothesized that the emergence of BT in Mediterranean Europe during the last two decades is a consequence of the recent colonization of the region by Culicoides imicola and linked to climate change. To better understand the mechanism responsible for the northward spread of BT, we tested the hypothesis of a recent colonization of Italy by C. imicola, by obtaining samples from more than 60 localities across Italy, Corsica, Southern France, and Northern Africa (the hypothesized source point for the recent invasion of C. imicola), and by genotyping them with 10 newly identified microsatellite loci. The patterns of genetic variation within and among the sampled populations were characterized and used in a rigorous approximate Bayesian computation framework to compare three competing historical hypotheses related to the arrival and establishment of C. imicola in Italy. The hypothesis of an ancient presence of the insect vector was strongly favoured by this analysis, with an associated P ≥ 99%, suggesting that causes other than the northward range expansion of C. imicola may have supported the emergence of BT in southern Europe. Overall, this study illustrates the potential of molecular genetic markers for exploring the assumed link between climate change and the spread of diseases.     

Lazy ecologist's guide to water beetle diversity: Which sampling methods are the best?

Biodiversity surveys of aquatic macroinvertebrates in standing water rely on various methods, but a thorough comparison of the techniques is lacking. This hampers analyses across surveys and impedes development of efficient sampling schemes. We compare the selectivity and efficiency of four methods commonly used to collect aquatic insects – activity traps (ATs), box trap (BT), handnetting (HN) and light trap (LT) – using a large dataset on water beetles in a site with ～100 species. We propose to use time investment as a natural basis to compare efficiency, since it applies to any method. The results inherently differ from results based on samples or individuals because methods are neither equally demanding nor equally rewarding. Most differences between methods arise from their size selectivity: ATs select for larger species, while HN and BT seem least selective. Attraction to light is taxon-specific and LT yields more depauperate samples than ATs, BT and HN, limiting the use of LT in community studies. To boost the development of cost-effective protocols, we also identify the best designs for rapid bioassesment by simulating short surveys from the data. Combinations of ATs and BT give most species; the results are robust to partitioning of effort between both methods. However, these rapid surveys miss on average more than 40% of all species in our study. Our results therefore emphasize that long-term studies using multiple methods are vital for measuring diversity in species-rich freshwater habitats.     

Effect of ascorbic acid and acute heat exposure on heat shock protein 70 expression by young white Leghorn chickens

Dietary ascorbic acid (AA) and heat stress (HS) affect heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) and body temperature (BT) of strain cross white Leghorn chickens. At five weeks of age, chicks fed either no supplemental AA (N-AA) or 200 mg/kg AA (AA) were subjected to either HS (42 degrees C) or maintained in control (CN, 23 degrees C) ambient temperature (T(a)) for 1 h. Body temperature (BT) was recorded for each bird before collection of heart and liver for hsp70 assay. In the CN AA-fed groups, neither the lower constitutive hsc70 nor the decreased hsp70 response to HS in the heart and liver were sex-dependent. The BT was increased by HS, but neither AA nor sex of the bird affected BT response. A diet X T(a) interaction revealed that BT of CN AA-fed chickens was lower than in N-AA-fed chickens, but BT of HS AA-fed chicks was greater than BT in HS N-AA-fed chickens. The BT and hsp70 responses were positively correlated. A lower expression of hsp70 indicated less of a stress response in the AA-fed chickens.     

Genome‐wide DNA methylation analysis using next‐generation sequencing to reveal candidate genes responsible for boar taint in pigs

Boar taint (BT) is an offensive flavor observed in non‐castrated male pigs that reduces the carcass price. Surgical castration effectively avoids the taint but is associated with animal welfare concerns. The functional annotation of farm animal genomes for understanding the biology of complex traits can be used in the selection of breeding animals to achieve favorable phenotypic outcomes. The characterization of pig epigenomes/methylation changes between animals with high and low BT and genome‐wide epigenetic markers that can predict BT are lacking. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing of DNA methylation patterns based on next‐generation sequencing is an efficient technology to identify candidate epigenetic biomarkers associated with BT. Three different BT levels were analyzed using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing data to calculate the methylation levels of cytosine and guanine dinucleotide (CpG) sites. The co‐analysis of differentially methylated CpG sites identified by this study and differentially expressed genes identified by a previous study found 32 significant co‐located genes. The joint analysis of GO terms and pathways revealed that methylation and gene expression of seven candidate genes were associated with BT; in particular, FASN plays a key role in fatty acid biosynthesis, and PEMT might be involved in estrogen regulation and the development of BT. This study is the first to report the genome‐wide DNA methylation profiles of BT in pigs using next‐generation sequencing and summarize candidate genes associated with epigenetic markers of BT, which could contribute to the understanding of the functional biology of BT traits and selective breeding of pigs against BT based on epigenetic biomarkers.     

中国树鼩实验动物化研究进展和展望

该文回顾了我国树鼩驯养繁殖和研究的发展历史,介绍了树鼩实验动物化研究的最新进展,并结合我国目前的状况,提出了今后的工作建议:加强实验树鼩标准化(包括地方和国家标准)的研究、近交系动物的研制、达到商业化树鼩的基础分子与细胞生物学研究工具的研制、人类重大疾病树鼩动物模型研究和建设国家实验树鼩种源基地等。     

Bcl-2-regulated cell death signalling in the prevention of autoimmunity

Cell death mediated through the intrinsic, Bcl-2-regulated mitochondrial apoptosis signalling pathway is critical for lymphocyte development and the establishment of central and maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Defects in Bcl-2-regulated cell death signalling have been reported to cause or correlate with autoimmunity in mice and men. This review focuses on the role of Bcl-2 family proteins implicated in the development of autoimmune disorders and their potential as targets for therapeutic intervention.     

Current state and prospects of biotechnology in Central and Eastern European countries. Part I: Visegrad countries (CZ,H, PL,SK)

Innovation is a key determinant of sustainable growth. Biotechnology (BT) is one such industry that has witnessed a revolution in innovative ideas leading to the founding of many new companies based on providing products, solutions and services, stretching from the food industry to environmental remediation, and new medicines. BT holds much promise for the development of national and local economies, however, this requires a strategic approach involving actors within government, industry, and academia working in concert to maximize this potential. This first article reviews the current “state of play” in the field of BT within the Central Eastern European (CEE) countries. For the purposes of this article, CEE refers to the countries of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia (the so-called Visegrad – V4 countries). We examine the components that support the creation and development of a BT sector in CEE and also highlight the barriers to these objectives. Clearly setting priorities for the countries’ policy agenda, as well as the alignment of Smart Specialization Strategy will help to focus efforts. Recent investments in R&D infrastructure within CEE have been substantial, but conditions will need to be optimized to harness these largely European investments for effective use towards SME high-tech development.