应用体内外实验筛选可降低牛乳β-乳球蛋白过敏的乳杆菌

【目的】通过体内外实验评估5种乳杆菌缓解牛乳β-乳球蛋白(BLG)过敏的作用,为今后筛选具有抗过敏活性的乳杆菌提供参考。【方法】首先体外分析5种活的/热致死的乳杆菌促进小鼠原代淋巴细胞分泌细胞因子(CK)IFN-γ和IL-4的水平,随后应用小鼠BLG过敏模型评估这5种乳杆菌抑制过敏的能力。将实验动物随机分为空白组、BLG致敏组和5种活的/热致死乳杆菌组。采用ELISA法检测各组小鼠淋巴细胞分泌Thl/Th2型CK的水平,并测定小鼠血清中总IgE和BLG特异性IgE的含量。【结果】在体外可促进淋巴细胞分泌IFN-γ、抑制IL-4,使其IFN-γ/IL-4比值(代表Thl/Th2细胞平衡)显著高于正常对照组(P<0.05)的乳杆菌,在体内实验中也能有效提高致敏小鼠淋巴细胞的IFN-γ/IL-4分泌率,并显著降低致敏小鼠血清中总IgE和BLG特异性IgE的水平(P<0.05)。相反,在体外的IFN-γ/IL-4比值较低的乳杆菌,不能缓解特异性IgE抗体介导的食物过敏反应。【结论】基于乳杆菌体外刺激小鼠原代淋巴细胞分泌Th1/Th2型CK的结果,可以预测菌株在体内具有可通过纠正Th2占优势的Th1/Th2细胞失衡,下调抗体分泌量,缓解小鼠BLG过敏症状的能力。     

Human Parainfluenza Virus-Associated Respiratory Tract Infection among Children and Genetic Analysis of HPIV-3 Strains in Beijing, China

The relevance of human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) to the epidemiology of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in China is unclear. From May 2008 to September 2010, 443 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) from hospitalized pediatric patients (age from 1 to 93 months) in Beijing were collected and screened for HPIVs and other common respiratory viruses by real-time RT-PCR. Sixty-two of 443 samples were positive for HPIVs with 4 positive for HPIV-2 and 58 positive for HPIV-3, indicating that HPIV-3 was the predominant virus present during the study period. A phylogenetic tree based on all the available HN (hemagglutinin-neuraminidase) sequences of HPIV-3 indicated that three distinct clusters (A,B, and C) were circulating with some temporal and regional clustering. Cluster C was further divided into sub-clusters, C1, C2, C3 and C4. HPIV-3 from Beijing isolates belonged to sub-cluster C3, and were grouped with the isolates from two Provinces of China and the neighboring country of Japan. Genetic analysis based on entire HN gene revealed that the HPIV-3 isolates from Beijing were highly similar with 97.2%-100% identity at the nucleotide level and these could be divided into two closely related lineages, C3a and C3b. These findings suggested that there was co-circulation of multiple lineages of HPIV-3 in the Beijing region during the study period. This is the first study to describe the epidemiology and molecular characterization of HPIVs in China.     

A novel family of antimicrobial peptides from the skin of Amolops loloensis

While conducting experiments to investigate antimicrobial peptides of amphibians living in the Yunnan-Sichuan region of southwest China, a new family of antimicrobial peptides was identified from skin secretions of the rufous-spotted torrent frog, Amolops loloensis. Members of the new peptide family named amolopins are composed of 18 amino acids with a unique sequence, for example, NILSSIVNGINRALSFFG. By BLAST search, amolopins did no show similarity to any known peptides. Among the tested microorganisms, native and synthetic peptides only showed antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC2592 and Bacillus pumilus, no effects on other microorganisms. The CD spectroscopy showed that it adopted a structure of random combined with beta-sheet in water, Tris-HCl or Tris-HCl-SDS. Several cDNAs encoding amolopins were cloned from the skin cDNA library of A. loloensis. The precursors of amolopin are composed of 62 amino acid residues including predicted signal peptides, acidic propieces, and mature antimicrobial peptides. The preproregion of amolopin precursor comprises a hydrophobic signal peptide of 22 residues followed by an 18 residue acidic propiece which terminates by a typical prohormone processing signal Lys-Arg. The preproregions of precursors are very similar to other amphibian antimicrobial peptide precursors but the mature amolopins are different from other antimicrobial peptide families. The remarkable similarity of preproregions of precursors that give rise to very different antimicrobial peptides in distantly related frog species suggests that the corresponding genes form a multigene family originating from a common ancestor.     

Further studies on an intermediate host murine model showing that a primary Echinococcus granulosus infection is protective against subsequent oncospheral challenge

We describe the use of a murine model to evaluate resistance against subsequent challenge following a primary infection with oncospheres of Echinococcus granulosus. Mice (Kunming strain) were infected with hatched oncospheres of Echinococcus granulosus; 21 days later a second challenge was given by a different route of infection. A primary infection by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection stimulated 100 and 90.5% protection in terms of reduced cyst numbers against a secondary infection given subcutaneously (s.c.) or intravenously (i.v.), respectively. A primary infection given s.c. followed by i.p. or i.v. challenge resulted in 84.0 and 100% protection, respectively. Intravenous infection followed by i.p. or s.c. challenge resulted in 98.5 and 69.4% protection, respectively. With the i.v. route of infection, almost all resultant cysts were present in the lungs. The data show that a primary infection with oncospheres can induce total or a high degree of protection against a subsequent challenge and confirms that natural (concomitant) immunity can be stimulated in the intermediate host as the result of a primary infection. This may explain the decline in hydatid infection in sheep older than 2 years in hyper-endemic areas such as those found in Xingjiang, China. These older sheep may have been earlier infected and have subsequently self-cured, with the primary infection stimulating an immune response that protects the intermediate host animals from further infection.     

In vivo measurement of protein functional changes

Conformational changes in proteins are fundamental to all biological functions. In protein science, the concept of protein flexibility is widely used to describe protein dynamics and thermodynamic properties that control protein conformational changes. In this study, we show that urea, which has strong sedative potency, can be administered to fish at high concentrations, and that protein functional changes related to anesthesia induction can be measured in vivo. Ctenopharyngodon idellus (the grass carp) has two different types of N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, urea-insensitive and urea-sensitive, which are responsible for the heat endurance of fish. The urea-sensitive NMDA receptor showed high protein flexibility, the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor showed less flexibility, and the protein that is responsible for ethanol anesthesia showed the lowest flexibility. The results suggest that an increase in protein flexibility underlies the fundamental biophysical mechanisms of volatile general anesthetics.     

‘章姬’草莓茎段愈伤组织诱导及高频植株再生体系的建立

该研究以‘章姬’脱毒苗带节匍匐茎段为外植体,以MS为基本培养基,进行单因素预实验,选取适合‘章姬’草莓生长的植物激素种类和质量浓度范围,进而通过L_9(3~4)正交实验研究不同植物激素种类及其质量浓度对愈伤组织诱导、丛芽发生及植株再生的影响。结果表明:采用的3种基本培养基中,B_5和1/2MS对抑制培养过程中的褐化现象明显优于MS,而附加20 g·L~(-1)Na_2S_2O_3在保证材料存活的前提下,大大降低了褐化率;去除褐化的材料在MS+0.1 mg·L~(-1)6-BA+0.05 mg·L~(-1)2,4-D+0.1 mg·L~(-1)NAA中可同步进行愈伤组织诱导和丛芽发生;丛芽增殖培养基为MS+0.1 mg·L~(-1)6-BA+0.1 mg·L~(-1)NAA,30 d后繁殖系数可达12.86;试管苗生根则在1/2MS+1.0 g·L~(-1)AC中进行,35 d后可获得生长健壮的再生植株,生根率92.50%。再生苗移栽成活率在95%以上。该研究建立了‘章姬’草莓体外高效快速繁殖体系,对短期内为‘章姬’草莓栽培提供大量种性稳定、质量优良的种苗具有重要意义,同时为其他草莓品种的体外快繁提供了技术参考。     

Molecular cloning, heterologous expression, and phylogenetic analysis of a novel y-type HMW glutenin subunit gene from the G genome of Triticum timopheevi.

A novel y-type high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunit gene from the G genome of Triticum timopheevi (2n=4x=28, AAGG) was isolated and characterized. Genomic DNA from accession CWI17006 was amplified and a 2200 bp fragment was obtained. Sequence analysis revealed a complete open reading frame including N- and C-terminal ends and a central repetitive domain encoding 565 amino acid residues. The molecular weight of the deduced subunit was 77,031, close to that of the x-type glutenin subunits. Its mature protein structure, however, demonstrated that it was a typical y-type HMW subunit. To our knowledge, this is the largest y-type subunit gene among Triticum genomes. The molecular structure and phylogenetic analysis assigned it to the G genome and it is the first characterized y-type HMW glutenin subunit gene from T. timopheevi. Comparative analysis and secondary structure prediction showed that the subunit possessed some unique characters, especially 2 large insertions of 45 (6 hexapeptides and a nonapeptide) and 12 (2 hexapeptides) amino acid residues that mainly contributed to its higher molecular weight and allowed more coils to be formed in its tertiary structure. Additionally, more alpha-helixes in the repeat domain of the subunit were found when compared with 3 other y-type subunits. We speculate that these structural characteristics improve the formation of gluten polymer. The novel subunit, expressed as a fusion protein in E. coli, moved more slowly in SDS-PAGE than the subunit Bx7, so it was designated Gy7*. As indicated in previous studies, increased size and more numerous coils and alpha-helixes of the repetitive domain might enhance the functional properties of HMW glutenins. Consequently, the novel Gy7* gene could have greater potential for improving wheat quality.     

Foxtail Millet CBL4 (SiCBL4) Interacts with SiCIPK24, Modulates Plant Salt Stress Tolerance

The calcineurin B-like (CBL) protein and the CBL-interacting protein kinase (CIPK) signaling pathway play important roles in plant abiotic stress tolerance. To investigate the molecular mechanism of salt stress tolerance of foxtail millet, SiCBL4 and SiCIPK24 were identified and functionally characterized. Both SiCBL4 and SiCIPK24 were induced by salt, abscisic acid (ABA), methyl viologen (MV), and heat shock stress in foxtail millet seedlings. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay showed that SiCBL4 interacted with SiCIPK24. The mutation of the N-myristoylation site of SiCBL4 changed the sub-cellular localization of SiCBL4 and directed the SiCBL4-SiCIPK24 protein complex from plasma membrane to cytoplasm, and disrupted its function in plant salt stress tolerance. Overexpression of SiCBL4 or SiCIPK24 in Arabidopsis sos3-1 or sos2-1 mutant plants rescued the mutant salt hypersensitivity phenotype. In addition, overexpression of SiCIPK24 also enhanced the salt stress tolerance of Arabidopsis wild-type plants. This work helps to understand the structure and function of the foxtail millet CBL and CIPK genes and confirmed that the foxtail millet CBL-CIPK pathway can be manipulated to enhance the plant salt stress tolerance.     

Mutation on Gly115 and Tyr205 of the cyclic dipeptide C2-prenyltransferase FtmPT1 increases its catalytic activity toward hydroxynaphthalenes

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - The fungal cyclic dipeptide prenyltransferase FtmPT1 from Aspergillus fumigatus catalyzes a regular C2-prenylation of brevianamide F (cyclo-l-Trp-l-Pro) and...     

Novel x-type high-molecular-weight glutenin genes from Aegilops tauschii and their implications on the wheat origin and evolution mechanism of Glu-D1-1 proteins

Two new x-type high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits with similar size to 1Dx5, designated 1Dx5*t and 1Dx5.1*t in Aegilops tauschii, were identified by SDS-PAGE, RP-HPLC, and MALDI-TOF-MS. The coding sequences were isolated by AS-PCR and the complete ORFs were obtained. Allele 1Dx5*t consists of 2481 bp encoding a mature protein of 827 residues with deduced Mr of 85,782 Da whereas 1Dx5.1*t comprises 2526 bp encoding 842 residues with Mr of 87,663 Da. The deduced Mr's of both genes were consistent with those determined by MALDI-TOF-MS. Molecular structure analysis showed that the repeat motifs of 1Dx5*t were correspondingly closer to the consensus compared to 1Dx5.1*t and 1Dx5 subunits. A total of 11 SNPs (3 in 1Dx5*t and 8 in 1Dx5.1*t) and two indels in 1Dx5*t were identified, among which 8 SNPs were due to C-T or A-G transitions (an average of 73%). Expression of the cloned ORFs and N-terminal sequencing confirmed the authenticities of the two genes. Interestingly, several hybrid clones of 1Dx5*t expressed a slightly smaller protein relative to the authentic subunit present in seed proteins; this was confirmed to result from a deletion of 180 bp through illegitimate recombination as well as an in-frame stop codon. Network analysis demonstrated that 1Dx5*t, 1Dx2t, 1Dx1.6t, and 1Dx2.2* represent a root within a network and correspond to the common ancestors of the other Glu-D-1-1 alleles in an associated star-like phylogeny, suggesting that there were at least four independent origins of hexaploid wheat. In addition to unequal homologous recombination, duplication and deletion of large fragments occurring in Glu-D-1-1 alleles were attributed to illegitimate recombination.