猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌感染小鼠所致炎症中TLR-4信号通路涉及细胞焦亡

摘要:【目的】探讨革兰氏阴性菌胸膜肺炎放线杆菌(Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae,APP)感染小鼠致肺病变的分子细胞机制,以改善猪传染性胸膜肺炎的防治。【方法】滴鼻法感染小鼠,观察肺部眼观病变,石蜡切片HE染色观察肺组织病变。RT-PCR和qPCR方法检测小鼠肺部的Caspase-1、Caspase-3、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6、IL-18、TLＲ-4表达量的变化。【结果】小鼠在感染后48h内死亡,解剖后观察小鼠肺部有严重出血和炎症。实验组小鼠肺组织IL-1β、IL-6、IL-18 和TNF-α的表达水平显著增加;TLR-4的表达量显著上调;肺部组织Caspase-1的表达水平明显升高,而Caspase-3的表达水平未见明显变化。【结论】TLR-4信号通路可能参与APP感染引起的肺部炎症的发生,APP感染后激活TLR-4信号通路使有关细胞释放炎症因子,引起的肺部炎症。炎症可能涉及Caspase-1参与的细胞焦亡。     

猪苓菌丝形成菌核的MAPK基因克隆及表达分析

【目的】克隆药用真菌猪苓MAPK基因并进行生物信息学分析及表达模式研究。【方法】利用5′-RACE-PCR技术从猪苓菌丝中克隆得到MAPK基因全长,利用生物信息学软件推测蛋白的理化性质、结构域;DNA Star对氨基酸进行多序列比对;用MEGA 5.0做进化关系分析;借助实时定量PCR检测基因表达模式。【结果】猪苓MAPK基因的全长cDNA为1 293 bp,其中编码区占1 161 bp,共编码386个氨基酸,推测分子量为43.872 kD,理论等电点为6.68。猪苓的MAPK有MAPK中ERK1/2类型的保守区。系统进化树结果显示猪苓MAPK蛋白属于担子菌类群。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明猪苓菌核形成初期,菌核中的MAPK表达量显著高于菌丝组织,随着菌核的快速生长而减少。【结论】猪苓MAPK基因PuMAPK的分子特征为进一步研究其在猪苓菌丝形成菌核过程中的作用奠定基础。     

柑橘青霉菌CYP51B基因和上游调控区克隆及生物信息学分析

【目的】克隆柑橘青霉菌(意大利青霉菌,Penicillium italicum)CYP51的同源基因,并对基因序列进行生物信息学分析。【方法】通过PCR及染色体步移技术得到基因的完整序列及上下游调控序列。通过生物信息学手段对基因的结构进行分析:使用NNPP分析软件预测转录起始位点,并利用TFSEARCH1.3软件分析转录因子结合位点。利用SWISS-MODEL在线软件对蛋白进行同源模建。【结果】克隆得到了意大利青霉菌CYP51的同源基因,命名为Pi CYP51B。获得的Pi CYP51B及上下游调控区序列总长为3 496 bp,包括上游910 bp和下游834 bp的序列。Pi CYP51B基因的开放阅读框全长1 575 bp,编码524个氨基酸。该基因含有3个分别为74、51、52 bp的内含子,分别位于247 bp与320 bp之间,519 bp与569 bp之间,1 635 bp与1 686 bp之间。Pi CYP51B 5′上游调控区序列的总长为579 bp。生物信息学分析结果显示:转录起始位点位于上游458 bp处;上游调控区不仅包含启动子的核心结构序列TATA盒(位于-25 bp处),也包含多个转录因子结合位点,如Abd-B、ADR1、AP-4、GATA-1、Cdx A、Clox和Oct-1等。在上游调控序列中嘌呤含量高,而且从+387 bp处开始存在4个连续高嘌呤含量的热激转录因子特异性结合位点(HSF);在+106 bp处开始存在3个连续的Cdx A转录因子结合位点。选用人CYP51晶体结构(PDB ID:3LD6)为模板,利用SWISS-MODEL在线软件构建了意大利青霉菌CYP51B蛋白的结构模型。【结论】克隆了意大利青霉Pi CYP51B基因,其上游含有多个热激应答转录因子特异性结合位点(HSF)表明其参与逆境应答。该基因作为意大利青霉菌CYP51的同源基因,可能与青霉菌对真菌药物的抗药性密切相关。     

小麦条锈菌PsNCS1基因的克隆及转录表达特征

摘要：【目的】克隆小麦条锈菌神经钙离子感应蛋白基因PsNCS1,分析其在病菌不同发育时期的表达水平。【方法】利用文库筛选和RT-PCR技术克隆PsNCS1的cDNA序列,采用生物信息学技术预测分析该基因编码蛋白的保守结构域及基本特性,构建系统发育树;运用实时荧光定量RT-PCR技术分析PsNCS1在病菌不同生长发育时期的表达水平。【结果】PsNCS1全长cDNA为1007 bp（GenBank登录号GU134621）,开放阅读框为573 bp,编码190个氨基酸,分子量为22.17 kDa, 等电点为4.     

金黄色葡萄球菌黏附素ClfA，FnBPA-A，FnBPA-BCD联合免疫的免疫生物学特性

摘要:【目的】为比较金黄色葡萄球菌黏附素分子聚集因子(ClfA)与纤连蛋白结合蛋白A(FnBPA)A区(FnBPA-A)及BCD区(FnBPA-BCD)的抗原性、抗体的黏附抑制特性及其免疫保护力。【方法】分别表达了ClfA蛋白、FnBPA-A和FnBPA-BCD蛋白,并将表达纯化后得到ClfA、FnBPA-A和FnBPA-BCD重组蛋白单独或联合免疫小鼠,收集免疫血清对其进行抗原性及免疫保护力的比较分析。【结果】结果显示,重组蛋白FnBPA-BCD对Fn的结合能力高于其对Fg的结合,而重组蛋白ClfA及FnBPA-A对Fg的结合能力高于FnBPA-BCD。血清抗体的检测结果表明,ClfA蛋白及FnBPA-A蛋白免疫组诱导抗体的水平均优于FnBPABCD组。3种蛋白联合免疫组的血清抗体效价及抗体抗黏附能力明显优于单一蛋白免疫组(P＜0.05)。3种蛋白联合免疫组与ClfA蛋白免疫组免疫保护率为100%,FnBPA-A组与FnBPA-BCD组免疫保护率分别为80%与50%。【结论】重组蛋白ClfA及FnBPA-A的免疫原性优于FnBPA-BCD,三者联合免疫较单一蛋白免疫在抗细菌的黏附、抗体诱导和免疫保护方面具有优势,提示这3种蛋白联合免疫有利于达到更好的免疫效果。     

表达PEDV S和PoRV VP7蛋白的重组伪狂犬毒株构建

【背景】猪流行性腹泻、猪轮状病毒病与猪伪狂犬病是严重危害全球养猪业的3种重要传染病,混合感染往往导致猪场更严重的损失。【目的】利用同源重组技术构建共表达猪流行性腹泻病毒(Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,PEDV) S蛋白和猪轮状病毒(Rotavirus,PoRV) VP7蛋白的猪伪狂犬三联基因工程疫苗株,并研究其部分生物学特性。【方法】通过序列比对、蛋白结构分析筛选s基因的475?804 aa和vp7基因的17?339 aa作为毒株构建的目的片段,依次构建了pMD-S、pMD-VP7、pMD-VP7.S克隆载体和pEGFP-VP7.S转移载体。将质粒pEGFP-VP7.S和PRV XJ亲本株同源重组,空斑纯化得到重组毒株PRV (CM),对其稳定性和增殖特性进行研究。【结果】构建了共表达S蛋白和VP7蛋白的伪狂犬基因工程病毒,连续传代20次,均能检测到vp7和s基因,而gE基因阴性;Western blotting证实2种外源基因在重组病毒中均能实现良好的表达;测定亲本毒株和重组毒株的TCID50分别是10?7.59/0.1 mL和10?7.25/0.1 mL。【结论】获得了伪狂犬基因工程重组弱毒株PRV (CM),外源基因稳定存在,毒力基因稳定缺失,增殖特性差异不大,为PRV、PEDV和PoRV基因工程三联苗研究奠定了基础。     

在大肠杆菌中高效表达可用于检测人源Rap1活性RapBD蛋白方法的建立

【背景】Rap1是一种小GTP酶,其活性的检测方法少,目前主要依赖试剂盒,检测成本太高。而Rap1下游效应蛋白RalGDS具有Rap1结合结构域(Rap binding domain,RapBD),该结构域能与有活性的GTP-Rap1特异性结合。【目的】利用大肠杆菌外源表达GST-RapBD融合蛋白,建立经济的检测人源Rap1活性的方法。【方法】合成RapBD基因序列,插入pGEX-4T-1载体,使该质粒表达GST-RapBD融合蛋白,再利用GST亲和树脂结合大肠杆菌中表达的GST-RapBD融合蛋白,最后利用GST-RapBD融合蛋白Pulldown检测GTP-Rap1。【结果】建立了检测人源Rap1活性的方法。【结论】序列优化使得pGEX-4T-1载体在大肠杆菌中高效表达能特异性结合人源GTP-Rap1且带有GST标签的RapBD蛋白,提高了Pulldown实验检测GTP-Rap1的效率,降低了检测人源小G蛋白Rap1活性的成本。     

版纳微型猪近交系 GHR 基因克隆及生物信息学分析简

目的 获得版纳微型猪近交系（BMI）生长激素受体基因（GHR）序列,通过生物信息学分析预测GHR功能并进行GHR mRNA多组织表达谱分析.方法 以版纳微型猪近交系的肝脏组织为材料提取RNA,RT-PCR方法扩增GHR基因编码区序列,将序列连接至pMD18-T载体进行克隆、测序和生物信息学分析;半定量PCR检测GHR mRNA在BMI不同组织中表达量的差异.结果克隆出了BMI GHR 编码区序列,提交GenBank获得登录号KC999114.该基因CDS长1917 bp,编码638个氨基酸.生物信息学分析表明,与长白猪的GHR序列相比BMI存在4处氨基酸替换,分别为p.E381D、p.A409S、p.L556V和p.A580G,均发生在胞内域.GHR基因多组织表达谱分析显示：GHR mRNA几乎在各组织中均有表达,在肌肉中表达量最高,在小肠、心、肝、神经纤维、脾、卵巢中表达量较高,在肺、胃、大脑、胰和肾中的表达量较低.结论 成功克隆了版纳微型猪近交系GHR全长编码区序列,进行了生物信息学功能分析和组织表达谱分析,为进一步阐明版纳微型猪近交系生长矮小机理奠定了基础.     

版纳微型猪近交系GHR基因克隆及生物信息学分析

目的获得版纳微型猪近交系(BMI)生长激素受体基因(GHR)序列,通过生物信息学分析预测GHR功能并进行GHR mRNA多组织表达谱分析。方法以版纳微型猪近交系的肝脏组织为材料提取RNA,RTPCR方法扩增GHR基因编码区序列,将序列连接至pMD18-T载体进行克隆、测序和生物信息学分析;半定量PCR检测GHR mRNA在BMI不同组织中表达量的差异。结果克隆出了BMI GHR编码区序列,提交GenBank获得登录号KC999114。该基因CDS长1917 bp,编码638个氨基酸。生物信息学分析表明,与长白猪的GHR序列相比BMI存在4处氨基酸替换,分别为p.E381D、p.A409S、p.L556V和p.A580G,均发生在胞内域。GHR基因多组织表达谱分析显示:GHR mRNA几乎在各组织中均有表达,在肌肉中表达量最高,在小肠、心、肝、神经纤维、脾、卵巢中表达量较高,在肺、胃、大脑、胰和肾中的表达量较低。结论成功克隆了版纳微型猪近交系GHR全长编码区序列,进行了生物信息学功能分析和组织表达谱分析,为进一步阐明版纳微型猪近交系生长矮小机理奠定了基础。     

家蚕微孢子虫丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂蛋白serpin基因NbSPN106的鉴定

摘要：【目的】Serpin在病原与宿主互作中起着重要的作用。本研究旨在分析在家蚕微孢子虫中的丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂蛋白（Serpin）的结构特征,原核克隆表达以及Western blotting检测。【方法】 基于家蚕微孢子虫全基因组序列,同源序列比对搜索获得serpin基因序列。利用在线软件分析基因的序列特征,ClustalX对氨基酸序列进行多重序列比对。构建含有GST标签的pGEX4T1-NbSPN106原核重组表达载体,在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）诱导表达并进行纯化。纯化的重组蛋白免疫小鼠,制备抗体,并与家蚕微孢子虫总蛋白进行Western blotting免疫杂交。【结果】比对搜索在家蚕微孢子虫基因组中发现一个新的serpin基因NbSPN106。NbSPN106蛋白序列长度为384 aa,N端具有信号肽,编码一个42 kDa左右的成熟蛋白。多重序列比对说明NbSPN106具有保守的serpin位点,可能具有抑制功能。免疫杂交在家蚕微孢子虫总蛋白检测到一条45 kDa左右的特异条带。【讨论】生物信息学分析以及免疫杂交结果说明在家蚕微孢子虫中存在NbSPN106。这是在微孢子虫中首次报道发现serpin基因。对研究家蚕微孢子虫与宿主家蚕的互作具有一定的参考价值。     

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.