组蛋白去乙酰化酶3对外周CD4+ T细胞分化的影响

目的 探讨组蛋白去乙酰化酶3（HDAC3）对外周CD4⁺ T细胞分化及功能的调控作用。方法 采用CD4cre酶介导Hdac3杂合基因缺失小鼠（Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-）及其野生型正常对照小鼠（Hdac3^fl/fl，WT），流式细胞术检测HDAC3缺失对外周CD4⁺和CD8⁺ T细胞比例和数量的影响；在体外佛波酯（PMA）和离子霉素（Ionomycin）刺激条件下，流式细胞术检测HDAC3缺失对CD4⁺ T细胞中IFN-γ、IL-4和IL-17A的表达以及Tfh细胞产生的影响；采用ELISA检测HDAC3缺失对小鼠血清IFN-γ、IL-4和IL-17表达的影响；分选Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-和WT小鼠外周初始CD4⁺ T细胞，分别在Th1和Th2分化条件下培养，细胞内染色检测HDAC3缺失对Th1、Th2以及Th17相关细胞因子及其特异转录因子表达的影响；采用Microarray检测HDAC3缺失对CD4⁺ T细胞分化亚群相关基因表达的影响；采用链脲佐菌素（STZ）处理小鼠构建I型糖尿病（TIDM）疾病模型，检测HDAC3缺失对T1DM发病的影响。结果 与WT小鼠相比，Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-小鼠外周CD4⁺和CD8⁺ T细胞的比例和数量显著降低。Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-小鼠CD4⁺ T细胞及血清中IFN-γ的表达显著降低，而IL-4和IL-17A的表达显著增加，Tfh细胞比例也显著增加；HDAC3缺失抑制体外培养CD4⁺ T细胞向Th1分化但促进其向Th2分化；Microarray检测发现HDAC3缺失导致Th1型细胞谱系基因表达降低，而Th2、Th17以及Tfh细胞谱系基因表达增加；在STZ诱导条件下，HDAC3缺失抑制小鼠T1DM的发生和CD4⁺ T细胞向Th1分化。结论 HDAC3促进外周CD4⁺ T细胞向Th1细胞分化并加重T1DM的发生。     

四川地区猪源艰难梭菌分子分型调查

[背景] 艰难梭菌是一种重要的人畜共患肠道病原菌,可引起人和多种动物抗生素相关性腹泻或假膜性肠炎。四川作为我国主要的生猪产区,还未有猪源艰难梭菌流行病学调查的相关报道,对猪源艰难梭菌的防控及保障猪肉安全带来挑战。[目的] 调查四川地区猪源艰难梭菌的感染、流行情况,并对分离出的艰难梭菌进行分子分型研究。[方法] 收集来自四川生猪主要产区6个养殖场中猪的粪便标本（n=110）,采用厌氧培养技术在艰难梭菌鉴别培养基上进行分离培养;采用PCR方法扩增艰难梭菌4个毒素基因（tcdA、tcdB、cdtA、cdtB）和7个管家基因（adk、atpA、dxr、glyA、recA、sodA、tpi）,对分离株进行毒素基因分型和多位点序列分型。[结果] 从110份样品中,经革兰氏染色镜检及PCR鉴定,共分离出20株艰难梭菌,分离率高达18.18%;毒素基因分型结果显示共获得3种毒素基因型,包括tcdA⁺tcdB⁺cdtA/cdtB⁺（n=3）、tcdA⁺tcdB⁺cdtA/cdtB^—（n=6）、tcdA^—tcdB^—cdtA/cdtB^—（n=11）;多位点序列分型结果显示获得5个ST型,包括ST11（n=3）、ST3（n=1）、ST35（n=2）、ST36（n=4）、ST109（n=10）;进化树结果显示,所有分离株聚集为2个大群,分别为3个分支和17个分支。[结论] 四川主要生猪产区猪群存在艰难梭菌感染,分离株的分子分型呈多样性,主要流行型为ST11、ST3、ST35、ST36、ST109型,并且存在ST11型高毒力菌株流行的风险。     

一株高效甘蔗内生固氮细菌GXS16的鉴定及其对甘蔗的促生长作用

[背景] 我国甘蔗生产中氮肥过量施用严重,导致生产成本居高不下,充分发挥甘蔗与内生固氮菌的联合固氮作用,减少氮肥施用量,对促进我国甘蔗产业可持续发展具有重要意义。[目的] 筛选优势甘蔗内生固氮菌,对其基本特性、联合固氮效率及促生长功能进行评价。[方法] 从甘蔗根系分离到一株内生固氮菌GXS16,利用乙炔还原法测定固氮酶活性,通过PCR扩增nifH基因确定菌株为固氮菌;通过形态观察、Biolog检测和16S rRNA基因序列分析等对菌株进行分类;通过接种盆栽甘蔗检测菌株的促生长作用,采用¹⁵N同位素稀释法检测菌株相对固氮效率。[结果] 菌株GXS16固氮酶活性为2.42μmol-C₂H₄/（h·mL）,根据菌株培养性状和菌体形态观察、Biolog检测、16S rRNA、nifH、acdS基因序列分析结果,菌株GXS16属于伯克氏菌属（Burkholderia）;菌株GXS16还具有1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸脱氨酶（1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Deaminase,ACC）活性及合成生长素吲哚乙酸（Indoleacetic Acid,IAA）、降解无机磷的功能;接种GXS16处理甘蔗植株的株高比对照增长15%以上,干重增长20%以上,¹⁵N同位素测定显示甘蔗根、茎、叶从空气中获得氮的百分比分别为7.69%、15.64%和8.72%,效率显著优于模式菌株G.diazotrophicus PAL5。[结论] Burkholderia sp.GXS16是一株高效甘蔗内生固氮菌,具有良好应用前景。     

葡萄糖酸锌颗粒联合消旋卡多曲颗粒对轮状病毒性肠炎患儿血浆炎性因子、心肌酶指标及免疫功能的影响

摘要 目的：探讨葡萄糖酸锌颗粒联合消旋卡多曲颗粒对轮状病毒性肠炎患儿血浆炎性因子、心肌酶指标及免疫功能的影响。方法：选取2017年2月~2019年7月期间于我院门诊就诊的轮状病毒性肠炎患儿97例,根据随机数字表法分为对照组（n=48）和研究组（n=49）,在常规治疗的基础上对照组患儿给予消旋卡多曲颗粒治疗,研究组在对照组的基础上联合葡萄糖酸锌颗粒治疗,比较两组患儿疗效、血浆炎性因子[白介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）]、血清心肌酶指标[乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、磷酸肌酸激酶同工酶（CK-MB）和磷酸肌酸激酶（CK）]及免疫功能指标（CD4⁺、CD8⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺）的变化情况,记录两组治疗期间不良反应发生情况。结果：研究组治疗7 d后的临床总有效率为91.84%（45/49）,高于对照组的75.00%（36/48）（P<0.05）。两组治疗7 d后血浆IL-6、TNF-α水平均下降,且研究组低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组治疗7d后血清LDH、CK、CK-MB水平均下降,且研究组低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组治疗7 d后CD8⁺下降,且研究组低于对照组（P<0.05）;CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺升高,且研究组高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率对比未见统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论：葡萄糖酸锌颗粒联合消旋卡多曲颗粒治疗轮状病毒性肠炎患儿疗效显著,可改善患儿炎性因子、心肌酶指标,提升患儿免疫功能,且未见严重不良反应发生。     

顺铂联合VEGF抗体对食管癌移植瘤小鼠免疫调节以及癌细胞增殖和肺转移的影响

摘要 目的：研究顺铂联合血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF）治疗对食管癌移植瘤小鼠免疫功能、癌细胞增殖以及肺转移的影响。方法：30只BALB/c小鼠通过皮下注射食管癌移植瘤模型。一周后,30只食管癌移植瘤模型小鼠被随机均分为3组,即模型组、顺铂组和联合组。模型组不进行治疗,顺铂组腹腔注顺铂治疗,联合组腹腔注射顺铂联合尾静脉注射VEGF抗体进行治疗,共治疗7周。比较各组小鼠体重,食管癌移植瘤体积和重量,卵巢癌细胞肺组织转移结节数、癌细胞转移面积和转移病灶总数,以及食管癌移植瘤外周血CD4⁺、CD8⁺以及CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T淋巴细胞比例。结果：（1）顺博组和联合组小鼠体重均显著高于对照组,而联合组小鼠体重显著高于顺铂组（P<0.05）;（2）顺铂组和联合组小鼠CD4+和CD8+细胞比例均显著低于对照组（P<0.05）,而CD4⁺/CD8⁺却显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;（3）联合组小鼠CD4⁺和CD8⁺细胞比例均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,而CD4⁺/CD8⁺却显著低于顺铂组（P<0.05）;（4）顺铂组和联合组小鼠食管癌肿瘤组织体积和重量,肺转移结节数、转移面积和转移病灶数均显著低于对照组（P<0.05）,而联合组小鼠显著低于顺铂组（P<0.05）。结论：VEGF抗体可以显著增强顺铂在体内对食管癌的抗癌特性,并有助于增强食管癌移植瘤小鼠免疫功能、抑制癌细胞体内增殖和肺部转移。     

稻田除草剂二氯喹啉酸降解菌15#的分离、鉴定及降解特性

[背景] 二氯喹啉酸（Quinclorac,QNC）是一种高选择性、激素类、低毒性除草剂,主要用于防治稻田稗草,持效期长,易于在土壤中积累而影响后茬作物的生长发育,而且环境中残留的QNC可对动物生长发育产生不良影响,并影响微生物的群落结构和丰度。[目的] 从稻田土壤中分离筛选出一株可降解除草剂QNC的菌株,鉴定并明确其降解特性。[方法] 通过形态学、生理生化试验、磷脂脂肪酸（Phospholipid Fatty Acid,PLFA）微生物鉴定、16S rRNA基因测序及分析鉴定菌株。通过单因素实验探究菌株的降解特性。[结果] 筛选得到一株编号为15^#的QNC降解菌,被鉴定为无色杆菌属菌株（Achromobacter sp.）。降解特性研究结果表明,菌株15^#的最佳培养条件为：30℃、pH为6.0、初始QNC浓度为100 mg/L、接种量为7%、添加质量分数为0.1%的酵母浸粉、氮源为蛋白胨,在此条件下培养21 d后QNC的降解率可达43.0%。[结论] 筛选到降解QNC新菌株并为该菌株的进一步研究提供理论基础。     

扶正方对Lewis肺癌小鼠免疫功能、PI3K/AKT信号通路和外周血IL-2、IL-6、INF-γ的影响

摘要 目的：观察扶正方对Lewis肺癌小鼠免疫功能、磷脂酰肌醇3激酶（PI3K）/蛋白激酶B（AKT）信号通路和外周血白细胞介素（IL）-2、IL-6、γ干扰素（INF-γ）的影响。方法：将40只Lewis肺癌小鼠随机分为模型组（M组）、扶正方低剂量组（A组）、扶正方高剂量组（B组）、顺铂组（S组）,每组10只,A组、B组分别给予扶正方0.4 mL/20 g、0.8 mL/20 g灌胃,M组给予生理盐水0.4 mL/20 g灌胃,S组给予顺铂1 mg/mL,0.4 mL灌胃,连续14d,比较各组小鼠一般情况、肿瘤重量,胸腺指数、脾脏指数、脾脏CD3⁺细胞、CD4⁺细胞、CD8⁺细胞比例细胞百分比,鼠肿瘤组织PI3K/AKT信号通路蛋白表达水平及外周血IL-2、IL-6、INF-γ水平。结果：A组、B组、S组小鼠肿瘤重量低于M组,S组小鼠肿瘤重量低于A组、B组（P<0.05）,治疗前各组小鼠体重比较无统计学差异（P>0.05）,治疗后A组、B组小鼠体重高于S组、M组（P<0.05）。A组、B组小鼠胸腺指数显著高于M组、S组（P<0.05）。A组、B组CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺显著高于M组、S组,CD8⁺显著低于M组、S组（P<0.05）,B组CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺显著高于A组,CD8⁺低于A组（P<0.05）。A组、B组、S组小鼠肿瘤组织PI3K蛋白、AKT蛋白表达水平显著低于M组（P<0.05）。A组、B组、S组小鼠外周血IL-2、INF-γ水平显著高于M组,IL-6水平显著低于M组（P<0.05）。结论：扶正方可以提升Lewis肺癌小鼠免疫功能,调节IL-2、IL-6、INF-γ细胞因子水平,抑制PI3K/AKT信号通路起到抗肺癌的作用。     

复方苦参注射液腔内灌注治疗对恶性胸腔积液患者机体免疫功能及肿瘤标志物水平的影响

摘要 目的：探讨复方苦参注射液腔内灌注治疗对恶性胸腔积液患者机体免疫功能及肿瘤标志物水平的影响。方法：选取河北北方学院附属第一医院2020年12月到2022年12月期间收治的52例恶性胸腔积液患者,将每位患者随机进行编号,获得1～52个编号,按照奇偶法将患者分为对照组（n=26）和观察组（n=26）。对照组采用顺铂腔内灌注治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上联用复方苦参注射液腔内灌注治疗,比较两组患者的治疗效果、T淋巴细胞亚群（CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺）、癌胚抗原（CEA）、糖类抗原125（CA125）、生活质量改善率以及毒副反应。结果：观察组治疗总有效率73.08%高于对照组的42.31%（P＜0.05）。治疗后观察组的CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺与治疗前比较明显升高,且高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后两组患者的血清CEA、CA125水平与治疗前比较均明显降低,且观察组低于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组生活质量改善率76.92%高于对照组46.15%（P<0.05）。观察组的骨髓抑制、胃肠道反应明显轻于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：复方苦参注射液腔内灌注治疗对恶性胸腔积液患者具有较好的疗效,且可以改善患者机体免疫功能及生活质量,降低血清肿瘤标志物水平和毒副反应。     

烟草根际可培养微生物多样性及防病促生菌的筛选

[背景] 根际微生物在植物根部生态系统中扮演着重要角色,影响着植物的营养吸收和健康生长。[目的] 了解常年不发病烟田烤烟品种K326根际可培养微生物的多样性,筛选具有防病促生功能的菌株,为烟草病害绿色防控提供资源。[方法] 采用传统培养方法对烟草根际土壤中的细菌和真菌进行分离鉴定,评价菌株的促生特性及病原菌拮抗能力,并进一步验证典型菌株对盆栽烟苗的促生效果。[结果] 共获得261株微生物菌株,包括160株细菌和101株真菌。经分子鉴定,细菌中以变形菌门（Proteobacteria）和厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）为主要类群;真菌中以子囊菌门（Ascomycota）和毛霉菌门（Mucoromycota）为主要类群。在属水平上,细菌以假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）和芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）为主,真菌以曲霉属（Aspergillus）和青霉属（Penicillium）为主。从不同种水平上进一步选择44株细菌为代表菌株,发现它们均具有不同程度的吲哚-3-乙酸（Indole-3-Acetic Acid,IAA）产生能力,9株能够溶解有机磷,16株能够溶解无机磷,13株产生铁载体,14株产生生1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸（1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate,ACC）脱氨酶。从160株细菌中筛选得到抑制青枯病菌和黑胫病菌的菌株数目分别为25、26株。经盆栽试验发现韩国假单胞菌（P. koreensis） HCH2-3、浅黄绿假单胞菌（P. lurida） FGD5-2和贝莱斯芽孢杆菌（B. velezensis） EM-1对烟苗呈现不同程度的促生作用,其中3株菌联合施加对烟苗的促生效果最明显。[结论] 烟草根际存在着丰富多样的具有防病促生潜力的微生物,并且合成菌群或功能互补的菌株联合施用是未来微生物菌剂研发的重要方向。     

老年2型糖尿病患者人巨细胞病毒感染与脂糖代谢、胰岛素抵抗及免疫失衡的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨老年2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者人巨细胞病毒（HCMV）感染与脂糖代谢、胰岛素抵抗及免疫失衡的关系。方法：选取2021年2月~2022年3月长沙市第三医院收治的老年T2DM患者100例为研究组,选取同期来体检健康的志愿者60例作为对照组。根据HCMV-脱氧核糖核酸（DNA）检测结果将研究组分为阳性组41例和阴性组59例。检测并比较对照组、研究组HCMV-DNA载量、T淋巴细胞亚群（CD4⁺、CD8⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺）、脂糖代谢[高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）、总胆固醇（TC）、空腹血糖（FBG）、三酰甘油（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）]、胰岛素抵抗[空腹胰岛素（FINS）、胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）]。采用Pearson相关性分析老年T2DM患者HCMV感染与脂糖代谢、胰岛素抵抗及免疫失衡的关系。结果：研究组的HCMV-DNA阳性率、HCMV-DNA载量高于对照组,阴性率低于对照组（P<0.05）。阳性组、阴性组的CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺低于对照组,且阳性组低于阴性组（P<0.05）。阳性组、阴性组的CD8⁺高于对照组,且阳性组高于阴性组（P<0.05）。阳性组、阴性组的HbA1c、FBG、TC、TG、LDL-C高于对照组,且阳性组高于阴性组（P<0.05）。阳性组、阴性组的HDL-C低于对照组,且阳性组低于阴性组（P<0.05）。阳性组、阴性组的HOMA-IR、FINS高于对照组,且阳性组高于阴性组（P<0.05）。Pearson相关性分析结果显示,HCMV-DNA载量与CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺、HDL-C呈负相关（P<0.05）,而与CD8⁺、HbA1c、FBG、TC、TG、LDL-C、FINS、HOMA-IR呈正相关（P<0.05）。结论：HCMV病毒感染可导致老年T2DM患者脂糖代谢紊乱,促进胰岛素抵抗,加重免疫失衡,加速疾病进展。     

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.     

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.     

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。     

The effect of cyanobacteria and azolla on the performance of rice under different levels of fertilizer nitrogen

Cyanobacteria and/or azolla were inoculated, with urea at 0, 72 or 144 kg N/ha, in plots in which azolla-free Indica rice var. IR 28 was grown. Productive tillers, yield and nitrogen contents of grain and straw positively responded to inoculation with cyanobacteria or azolla, even with fertilizer-N up to 144 kg N/ha. Inoculation improved colonization by cyanobacteria. Azolla were superior to the asymbiotic cyanobacteria in enhancing rice performance. Urea at a rate of 72 kg N/ha was found to support the best colonizations when applied with cyanobacteria or azolla or, to give maximum rice yields, both inoculants.     

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).     

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.     

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.     

Anti-fungal effects of phenolic amides isolated from the root bark of Lycium chinense

Four phenolic amides, dihydro-N-caffeoyltyramine (1), trans-N-feruloyloctopamine (2), trans-N -caffeoyltyramine (3), and cis-N-caffeoyltyramine (4), were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the root bark of Lycium chinense Miller. All had an anti-fungal effect; compounds 1-3 were potent at 5-10 microg ml(-1) and were without hemolytic activity against human erythrocyte cells. Compound 4 was active at 40 microg ml(-1). All four compounds impeded the dimorphic transition of pathogen, Candida albicans.