Identification of novel proteins in Neospora caninum using an organelle purification and monoclonal antibody approach

Neospora caninum is an important veterinary pathogen that causes abortion in cattle and neuromuscular disease in dogs. Neospora has also generated substantial interest because it is an extremely close relative of the human pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, yet does not appear to infect humans. While for Toxoplasma there are a wide array of molecular tools and reagents available for experimental investigation, relatively few reagents exist for Neospora. To investigate the unique biological features of this parasite and exploit the recent sequencing of its genome, we have used an organelle isolation and monoclonal antibody approach to identify novel organellar proteins and develop a wide array of probes for subcellular localization. We raised a panel of forty-six monoclonal antibodies that detect proteins from the rhoptries, micronemes, dense granules, inner membrane complex, apicoplast, mitochondrion and parasite surface. A subset of the proteins was identified by immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry and reveal that we have identified and localized many of the key proteins involved in invasion and host interaction in Neospora. In addition, we identified novel secretory proteins not previously studied in any apicomplexan parasite. Thus, this organellar monoclonal antibody approach not only greatly enhances the tools available for Neospora cell biology, but also identifies novel components of the unique biological characteristics of this important veterinary pathogen.     

SPL7013 Gel (VivaGel?) Retains Potent HIV-1 and HSV-2 Inhibitory Activity following Vaginal Administration in Humans

SPL7013 Gel (VivaGel^®) is a microbicide in development for prevention of HIV and HSV. This clinical study assessed retention and duration of antiviral activity following vaginal administration of 3% SPL7013 Gel in healthy women. Participants received 5 single doses of product with ≥5 days between doses. A cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) sample was collected using a SoftCup™ pre-dose, and immediately, or 1, 3, 12 or 24 h post-dose. HIV-1 and HSV-2 antiviral activities of CVF samples were determined in cell culture assays. Antiviral activity in the presence of seminal plasma was also tested. Mass and concentration of SPL7013 in CVF samples was determined. Safety was assessed by reporting of adverse events. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni adjustment; p≤0.003 was significant. Eleven participants completed the study. Inhibition of HIV-1 and HSV-2 by pre-dose CVF samples was negligible. CVF samples obtained immediately after dosing almost completely inhibited (median, interquartile range) HIV-1 [96% (95,97)] and HSV-2 [86% (85,94)], and activity was maintained in all women at 3 h (HIV-1 [96% (95,98), p = 0.9]; HSV-2 [94% (91,97), p = 0.005]). At 24 h, >90% of initial HIV-1 and HSV-2 inhibition was maintained in 6/11 women. SPL7013 was recovered in CVF samples obtained at baseline (46% of 105 mg dose). At 3 and 24 h, 22 mg and 4 mg SPL7013, respectively, were recovered. More than 70% inhibition of HIV-1 and HSV-2 was observed if there was >0.5 mg SPL7013 in CVF samples. High levels of antiviral activity were retained in the presence of seminal plasma. VivaGel was well tolerated with no signs or symptoms of vaginal, vulvar or cervical irritation reported. Potent antiviral activity was observed against HIV-1 and HSV-2 immediately following vaginal administration of VivaGel, with activity maintained for at least 3 h post-dose. The data provide evidence of antiviral activity in a clinical setting, and suggest VivaGel could be administered up to 3 h before coitus.

Trial Registration

The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00740584","term_id":"NCT00740584"}}NCT00740584     

Two TPX2-dependent switches control the activity of Aurora A

Aurora A is an important oncogenic kinase for mitotic spindle assembly and a potentially attractive target for human cancers. Its activation could be regulated by ATP cycle and its activator TPX2. To understand the activation mechanism of Aurora A, a series of 20 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on both the wild-type kinase and its mutants. Analyzing the three dynamic trajectories (Aurora A-ATP, Aurora A-ADP, and Aurora A-ADP-TPX2) at the residue level, for the first time we find two TPX2-dependent switches, i.e., switch-1 (Lys-143) and switch-2 (Arg-180), which are tightly associated with Aurora A activation. In the absence of TPX2, Lys-143 exhibits a "closed" state, and becomes hydrogen-bonded to ADP. Once TPX2 binding occurs, switch-1 is forced to "open" the binding site, thus pulling ADP away from Aurora A. Without facilitation of TPX2, switch-2 exits in an "open" conformation which accompanies the outward-flipping movement of P·Thr288 (in an inactive conformation), leading to the crucial phosphothreonine exposed and accessible for deactivation. However, with the binding of TPX2, switch-2 is forced to undergo a "closed" movement, thus capturing P·Thr288 into a buried position and locking its active conformation. Analysis of two Aurora A (K143A and R180A) mutants for the two switches further verifies their functionality and reliability in controlling Aurora activity. Our systems therefore suggest two switches determining Aurora A activation, which are important for the development of aurora kinase inhibitors.     

瑞舒伐他汀对兔心肌梗死后心室重构及细胞凋亡的影响

目的:观察瑞舒伐他汀对新西兰大白兔心肌梗死后左室重构及心肌细胞凋亡的影响。方法:45只雄性新西兰大白兔随机分成三组,即:假手术组(S,n=15),心肌梗死对照组(MI,n=15),心肌梗死瑞舒伐他汀干预组(R,n=15)MI组和R组大鼠结扎左冠状动脉前降支建立AMI模型。心肌梗死对照组及假手术组术后24h灌等量的生理盐水。瑞舒伐他汀干预组于术后24h直接灌胃法给药,给药剂量以10mg/kg*d计算。干预2周后,进行心脏超声测定,随即处死新西兰大白兔、取出心脏,观察病理组织形态,并通过Western blot方法检测Bcl-2,Bax在心肌梗死边缘区的蛋白表达。结果:①心脏超声检测表明干预组左室舒张末内径(LVEDD)、左室收缩末内径(LVESD)较心肌梗死对照组降低而左室射血分数(LVEF)较心肌梗死对照组增高②干预组心肌梗死边缘区Bax表达与心肌梗死对照组比较未见统计学差异,而Bcl-2表达高于心肌梗死对照组。结论:瑞舒伐他汀上调Bcl-2的表达,改善心室重构     

冠状动脉介入治疗对冠心病患者Caspase-3,9 水平的影响

目的:通过对冠心病患者经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)前后血清Caspase-3,9水平变化的观察,探讨冠状动脉介入治疗对冠心病患者血清Caspase-3,9水平的影响。方法:冠状动脉介入组(PCI组)30例和单纯造影组(CAG组)29例,在术前0.5h,术后3h,术后6h,术后12h,术后24h,术后48h分别测定血清Caspase-3,9水平。结果:CAG组术前与术后的血清Caspase-3,9水平差异均无统计学意义,PCI组术后3h、6h的Caspase-3水平较术前0.5h均有降低趋势,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),PCI组术后48h的Caspase-9水平与术后3h、6h相比均有升高趋势,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:PCI术后狭窄或闭塞的冠状动脉血管重新恢复血供,血清中Caspase-3,9水平在PCI术后先降低后又逐渐升高,提示再灌注后可出现细胞的凋亡程度加重,血清中Caspase-3,9的水平可作为心肌再灌注损伤后细胞凋亡程度的评估指标并可作为诊断临床症状不典型的再灌注损伤的一个指标。PCI术可有效改善心肌血供,减少因术前缺血缺氧造成的细胞凋亡,但PCI术后再灌注损伤可进一步加重细胞凋亡。     

瑞舒伐他汀对糖尿病大鼠早期动脉粥样硬化形成的影响

目的:观察他汀类调脂药物瑞舒伐他汀(Rosuvastatin)对2型糖尿病(type2diabetesmellitus,T2DM)大鼠早期动脉粥样硬化形成的影响,并探讨其可能的机制。方法:将45只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组(NC组)、2型糖尿病组(DM组)、2型糖尿病瑞舒伐他汀治疗组(DR组),每组15只。以喂高糖高脂饮食方法建立SD大鼠糖尿病模型,DM组、DR组给予高糖高脂饮食1个月后腹腔注射25mg/kg链脲佐菌素;NC组给予普通饮食,注射枸橼酸缓冲液作为对照。在此基础上,DR组给予瑞舒伐他汀5mg/(kg.d)灌胃,NC组、DM组给予生理盐水灌胃。16周后测定各组大鼠总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平与稳态血糖(BG)、稳态胰岛素(PGI)浓度,用免疫组化法检测主动脉血管壁白细胞分化抗原40(clusterofdifferentiation 40,CD40)及基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)、激活蛋白-1(activator protein-1,AP-1)的表达水平。结果:DM组、DR组TC、TG、LDL-C与BG水平较NC组均显著升高(F=33.71~426....     

Genetic characteristics of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza a viruses isolated from Mainland China

A total of 100 HIN1 flu real-time-PCR positive throat swabs collected from fever patients in Zhejiang,Hubei and Guangdong between June and November 2009,were provided by local CDC laboratories.After MDCK cell culture,57 Influenza A Pandemic (H1N1) viruses were isolated and submitted for whole genome sequencing.A total of 39 HA sequences,52 NA sequences,36 PB2 sequences,31 PB1 sequences,40 PA sequences,48 NP sequences,51 MP sequences and 36 NS sequences were obtained,including 20 whole genome sequences.Sequence comparison revealed they shared a high degree of homology (96％～99％) with known epidemic strains (A/Califomia/04/2009(H1N1).Phylogenetic analysis showed that although the sequences were highly conserved,they clustered into a small number of groups with only a few distinct strains.Site analysis revealed three substitutions at loop 220 (221-228) of the HA receptor binding site in the 39 HA sequences:A/Hubei/86/2009 PKVRDQEG→PKVRDQEA,A/Zhejiang/08/2009 PKVRDQEG→PKVRDQER,A/Hubei/75/2009PKVRDQEG→PKVRDQGG,the A/Hubei/75/2009 was isolated from an acute case,while the other two were from patients with mild symptoms.Other key sites such as 119,274,292 and 294 amino acids of NA protein,627 of PB2 protein were conserved.Meanwhile,all the M2 protein sequences possessed the Ser32Asn mutation,suggesting that these viruses were resistant to adamantanes.Comparison of these sequences with other H1N1 viruses collected from the NCBI database provides insight into H1N1 transmission and circulation patterns.     

成团泛菌低分子脂多糖的急性毒性、刺激性、致敏性及遗传毒性评估

本研究对成团泛菌低分子脂多糖(Pantoea agglomerans lipopolysaccharide,LPSp)的安全性进行初步评估.本研究采用一次限量法,用昆明种小鼠进行LPSp急性经口毒性试验,了解LPSp的急性毒性;采用新西兰兔分别进行LPSp急性和多次皮肤刺激性试验以及急性眼刺激性试验,了解LPSp的皮肤和粘膜刺激性;采用豚鼠进行LPSp皮肤变态反应试验,了解LPSp的致敏性;应用平板掺入法进行鼠伤寒沙门氏菌/回复突变试验和小鼠骨髓细胞微核试验考察LPSp的遗传危害.急性毒性试验结果显示,LPSp对小鼠经口一次灌胃的LD50大于5 000 mg/kg体重,属实际无毒级别;LPSp急性和多次皮肤刺激性试验以及急性眼刺激性试验结果显示,皮肤刺激和眼刺激积分均为0分,LPSp对皮肤无刺激性、对眼睛无急性刺激性;在皮肤变态反应试验中,LPSp在各观察时间点的皮肤变态反应积分均为0分,其致敏率均为0%,说明LPSp对豚鼠无致敏性; LPSp的鼠伤寒沙门氏菌/回复突变试验结果呈阴性(P>0.05);LPSp的小鼠骨髓细胞微核试验结果亦呈阴性,LPSp 各剂量组的微核发生率与阴性对照组未见统计学差异(P>0.05),而与阳性对照组有明显差异(P<0.01).本研究结果表明,在本实验剂量范围内,LPSp对小鼠经口毒性极低,属实际无毒级别,对家兔皮肤和眼睛无明显刺激性,对豚鼠无致敏性,对所试菌株和小鼠体细胞无诱变性和致突变性.