结核分枝杆菌持续感染相关基因及其调控网络分析

结核分枝杆菌是结核病的致病菌, 也是迄今最成功的人类致病菌之一. 结核分枝杆菌能逃避宿主免疫攻击, 在人体内持续感染或呈休眠状态. 当人体免疫功能低下时, 持续感染或休眠的致病菌可能被重新激活. 结核分枝杆菌的持续感染是制约结核病控制计划成功的主要障碍之一. 揭示结核分枝杆菌持续感染的分子机制、寻找其中薄弱环节、发现适当的药物靶标并开发全新药物及免疫干预措施, 被认为是遏制结核病蔓延的关键. 结核分枝杆菌持续感染和再激活是众多基因协同的系统适应过程. 本文在全面分析全球结核分枝杆菌持续感染相关基因研究文献的基础上, 通过文本挖掘, 综合本实验室前期研究结果, 提出了结核分枝杆菌持续感染相关基因的调控网络, 为揭示结核分枝杆菌持续感染的机制, 筛选控制结核病的新靶标和免疫干预节点提供研究基础.     

结核分枝杆菌毒素-抗毒素系统与生物膜

结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis)是引起结核病的病原菌。其处于持续生存的休眠状态时,可导致长期无症状感染,称为结核潜伏感染。研究显示,结核分枝杆菌染色体中存在大量 “毒素-抗毒素系统”(toxin-antitoxin system,TAS),某些TAS在潜伏感染中发挥作用,可调节细菌生长和诱导细菌进入休眠状态;某些TAS参与生物膜形成和应激反应,但其影响生物膜形成的机制尚未阐明。生物膜中的结核分枝杆菌对多种抗结核药物耐药,且能抵抗宿主免疫系统防御;休眠状态的结核分枝杆菌对抗结核药物通常也是耐受的,给结核病治疗带来了巨大挑战。本文就近年来结核分枝杆菌TAS与生物膜的研究及抗结核药物对生物膜形成的影响进行综述。     

中性粒细胞在抗结核免疫中的作用

结核病是世界范围内的重要传染性疾病之一,严重威胁人类健康。免疫细胞在抗结核免疫过程中起重要作用,各细胞亚群通过不同作用机制影响结核病的病程及转归。中性粒细胞为机体应对结核分枝杆菌感染的第一道防线,在宿主免疫应答过程中是一把双刃剑。一方面,机体感染结核分枝杆菌后,中性粒细胞于第一时间向感染部位聚集,通过多种方式对抗感染：中性粒细胞吞噬结核分枝杆菌后,通过自身凋亡而杀菌;参与形成肉芽肿,形成胞外陷阱来限制结核分枝杆菌的生长和传播;产生功能性细胞因子,调控宿主的抗结核免疫反应。另一方面,中性粒细胞还参与机体的病理损伤过程,甚至促进体内结核分枝杆菌的生长。本文综述了中性粒细胞在抗结核免疫中作用的最新研究进展。     

表观遗传修饰在结核病发生发展中的作用

表观遗传学作为生命科学领域的研究热点之一,已有大量的研究证实表观遗传机制在肿瘤、自身免疫疾病等疾病中起着关键作用.表观遗传修饰在结核病中的研究刚刚起步,但已发现表观遗传修饰在结核分枝杆菌、宿主,以及结核分枝杆菌与宿主相互作用中均起着重要作用.表观遗传修饰能通过调控结核分枝杆菌基因表达或调控宿主表观基因组转录和免疫应答来影响结核分枝杆菌的生长和复制,进而影响结核病发生发展和转归.本文将对表观遗传修饰在结核分枝杆菌生长复制以及结核病发生发展中的作用进行综述,为寻找新的药物靶点、研发新型治疗策略提供科学依据.     

耐药结核分枝杆菌潜伏-复发感染动物模型的研究进展

潜伏结核感染(latent tuberculosis infection,LTBI)复发是新发结核病的主要来源,其中耐药结核病所占比例较大,使耐药LTBI复发的防控成为结核病研究的重点。耐药结核分枝杆菌潜伏-复发感染动物模型是开展耐药结核病防控相关机制研究、抗耐药结核分枝杆菌药物和疫苗研究的基础。目前耐药结核分枝杆菌感染动物模型缺乏,而已有的结核分枝杆菌标准株H37Rv潜伏-复发感染模型存在缺陷,如小鼠模型的潜伏期荷菌量偏高、复发期变异大,而猴模型的潜伏期和复发期不可预测。模型的可控性差使其应用困难,且缺乏可用的免疫学评价指标,导致远期复发无法预测。因此,基于现有H37Rv潜伏-复发感染动物模型的制备方法,展望耐药结核分枝杆菌潜伏-复发感染动物模型可能存在的缺陷,通过选用新的抑菌剂和诱导剂,制备有稳定潜伏期、潜伏时长适中、复发起点和复发水平变异小的动物模型,是未来耐药结核分枝杆菌潜伏-复发感染动物模型研究的方向。     

治疗性结核病疫苗研究进展

治疗性结核病疫苗主要用于接种已感染结核分枝杆菌的个体,包括化学药物治疗的患者和潜伏感染者。治疗性疫苗可逆转发生在疾病进展期的非保护性免疫反应,使其向Th1型反应发展;能打破机体的免疫耐受,有效激发宿主针对结核分枝杆菌的以抗原为基础的细胞免疫反应,诱发抗原特异性的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞免疫反应,来清除胞内寄生的结核分枝杆菌。治疗性疫苗将有助于防止潜伏结核病的复发;与药物联合使用以提高药物的治疗效果,尤其是针对耐药结核病的治疗。     

结核分枝杆菌耐氟喹诺酮类药物的分子机制研究进展

结核病是由结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis)通过空气传播引起人类感染的慢性传染病,耐药结核分枝杆菌的流行是目前结核病防治的世界难题。氟喹诺酮类药物是人工合成药物,应用于耐药结核的临床治疗中,在治疗中起着核心的作用。但近年来,氟喹诺酮类药物的抗性菌株不断出现,愈发增加了结核病治疗的困难与治疗失败风险。在临床中氟喹诺酮药物的靶点比较清楚,是结核分枝杆菌的DNA旋转酶。目前发现结核分枝杆菌耐氟喹诺酮类药物的机制主要包括药物靶点DNA旋转酶的关键氨基酸改变、药物外排泵系统、细菌细胞壁厚度的增加以及喹诺酮抗性蛋白MfpA介导的DNA旋转酶活性调控。其中在氟喹诺酮靶标DNA旋转酶功能活性改变的耐药机制方面,编码DNA旋转酶基因突变一直是研究的热点,但近年来发现DNA旋转酶的调控蛋白MfpA以及DNA旋转酶的修饰在细菌耐药性中起着重要的作用,相关机制还亟待发现。本文综述了当前结核分枝杆菌耐氟喹诺酮类药物的作用机制,旨在为研发精准诊断技术和药物发掘提供科学理论基础和参考。     

结核分枝杆菌诱导IFN-β产生在免疫调控中的作用

结核分枝杆菌是导致结核病的病原体,也是影响全球数百万人健康的病原体之一。机体中多种模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptor,PRR)可识别入侵的结核分枝杆菌,如DNA和RNA传感器,从而激活天然免疫系统并诱导干扰素-β(interferon-β, IFN-β)产生。虽然IFN-β是先天抗病毒应答的主要效应因子,但其在结核分枝杆菌感染中的作用仍具有争议。结核分枝杆菌感染诱导的IFN-β产生可以促进细菌生长,并增强细菌在宿主中的存活率,但用IFN-β处理细胞后再感染结核分枝杆菌,则可增强抗菌作用,保护宿主。因此,本综述将重点关注可识别结核分枝杆菌并诱导的IFN-β产生的PRR及其下游信号通路,并着重探讨IFN-β在介导结核分枝杆菌调控免疫功能中的作用,尤其是IFN-β与IL-1β之间的相互抑制性调节,旨在为进一步揭示结核分枝杆菌致病机制及结核病治疗药物研发提供新思路。     

巨噬细胞凋亡对结核分枝杆菌感染的机制研究进展

结核病是一种严重危害人类健康的慢性传染性疾病,主要由结核分枝杆菌感染导致,结核分枝杆菌进入人体后,与免疫防御的第一道屏障—巨噬细胞发生反应,部分菌株在细胞内长期生存、繁殖,是导致结核病转归的决定性因素。感染早期,结核分枝杆菌的繁殖受到巨噬细胞凋亡的抑制,随着高效价、高毒力菌株繁殖速度的增加,抗巨噬细胞凋亡作用不断增强,使自身繁殖得到有效保护,为菌株的生长提供了充足、适宜的胞内环境。因此,调控结核分枝杆菌对巨噬细胞凋亡进程的抑制作用,是预防和治疗结核病的关键。     

结核分枝杆菌酸抗性基因及其调控网络

病原菌在宿主细胞内的持留分子机理是目前研究的热点和难点。病原菌的抗酸能力与此密切相关。结核分枝杆菌感染导致的结核病仍然是全球公共卫生的重大威胁,这与结核分枝杆菌抗酸并在宿主巨噬细胞内持留有关。结核分枝杆菌抗酸主要通过调控质子进出、代谢调控胞内酸碱平衡和双组份信号系统调控。本文综述了结核分枝杆菌在酸胁迫下的整体调控网络,阐述了在酸性环境中结核分枝杆菌的具体调控机理,旨在为持留结核分枝杆菌的治疗提供新的全局性思路,寻找新的结核病防控靶标。     

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.