A new cost‐effective and fast direct PCR protocol for insects based on PBS buffer

Insect DNA barcoding is a species identification technique used in biodiversity assessment and ecological studies. However, DNA extraction can result in the loss of up to 70% of DNA. Recent research has reported that direct PCR can overcome this issue. However, the success rates could still be improved, and tissues used for direct PCR could not be reused for further genetic studies. Here, we developed a direct PCR workflow that incorporates a 2‐min sample preparation in PBS‐buffer step for fast and effective universal insect species identification. The developed protocol achieved 100% success rates for amplification in six orders: Mantodea, Phasmatodea, Neuroptera, Odonata, Blattodea and Orthoptera. High and moderate success rates were obtained for five other species: Lepidoptera (97.3%), Coleoptera (93.8%), Diptera (90.5%), Hemiptera (81.8%) and Hymenoptera (75.0%). High‐quality sequencing data were also obtained from these amplifiable products, allowing confidence in species identification. The method was sensitive down to 1/4th of a 1‐mm fragment of leg or body and its success rates with oven‐dried, ethanol‐preserved, food, bat guano and museum specimens were 100%, 98.6%, 90.0%, 84.0% and 30.0%, respectively. In addition, the pre‐PCR solution (PBS with insect tissues) could be used for further DNA extraction if needed. The workflow will be beneficial in the fields of insect taxonomy and ecological studies due to its low cost, simplicity and applicability to highly degraded specimens.     

Minimizing the Influence of Fluorescent Tags on IgG Partition in PEG–Salt Aqueous Two‐Phase Systems for Rapid Screening Applications

Aqueous two‐phase extraction (ATPE) has been showing significant potential in the biopharmaceutical industry, allowing the selective separation of high‐value proteins directly from unclarified cell culture supernatants. In this context, effective high‐throughput screening tools are critical to perform a rapid empirical optimization of operating conditions. In particular, microfluidic ATPE screening devices, coupled with fluorescence microscopy to continuously monitor the partition of fluorophore‐labeled proteins, have been recently demonstrated to provide short diffusion distances and rapid partition, using minimal reagent volumes. Nevertheless, the currently overlooked influence of the labeling procedure on partition must be carefully evaluated to validate the extrapolation of results to the unlabeled molecule. Here, three fluorophores with different global charge and reactivity selected to label immunoglobulin G (IgG) at degrees of labeling (DoL) ranging from 0.5 to 7.6. Labeling with BODIPY FL maleimide (DoL = 0.5), combined with tris(2‐carboxyethyl) phosphine (TCEP) to generate free thiol groups, is the most promising strategy to minimize the influence of the fluorophore on partition. In particular, the partition coefficient (K_p) measured in polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350–phosphate systems with and without the addition of NaCl using microtubes (batch) or microfluidic devices (continuous) is comparable to those quantified for the native protein.     

Effect of the Photodynamic Therapy Applications with Potent Microalgae Constituents on Several Types of Tumor

Background

In recent years, microalgae (MA) have attracted much interest considering their possible therapeutic application. They contain active natural compounds or derivatives (extracts, pure or chemically modified compounds) that have increasing applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

海藻多糖的单糖组成对体外抗氧化活性的影响

比较广西北部湾石莼(Ulva lactuca L.)、海带(Laminaria japonica)、裙带菜(Undaria pinnatifida Surin-gar)、紫菜(Porphyra)的单糖组成及抗氧化活性的差异,揭示多糖结构与其体外抗氧化活性的关系。利用PMP柱前衍生化HPLC分析海藻多糖的单糖组成,采用羟自由基清除试验、超氧阴离子自由基清除试验及DPPH自由基清除试验指征其体外抗氧化活性,结果表明,4种海藻多糖的单糖组成在主成分空间分布离散,石莼及紫菜主要由葡萄糖组成,海带主要由甘露糖组成,裙带菜则主要由半乳糖组成;其体外抗氧化活性存在显著差异,裙带菜多糖对DPPH的清除能力(半抑制浓度IC₅₀值为0. 56±0. 02 mg/mL)显著高于其他3种海藻多糖;石莼、裙带菜与海带对羟自由基均有较强的清除活性,而紫菜多糖对羟自由基的清除能力较差(IC₅₀值为26. 59±0. 98mg/mL);石莼与裙带菜对超氧阴离子的清除活性较强,显著高于海带与紫菜,其中石莼显著高于裙带菜,IC₅₀值分别为1. 61±0. 17、2. 73±0. 06 mg/mL。相关性分析及冗余分析结果表明,对抗氧化活性影响较为显著的因子为葡萄糖(Glc)、核糖(Rib)、木糖(Xyl)(P <0. 01)。     

发酵麸皮多糖酶辅助提取工艺优化及其生物活性研究

通过响应面法优化提取发酵麸皮多糖的工艺,并评价其体外益生和抗氧化活性。以发酵麸皮多糖的得率为响应值,采用纤维素酶酶解与水浴浸提相结合的方法提取发酵麸皮多糖,以纤维素酶添加量、料液比、水浴浸提温度、水浴浸提时间为试验因素建立数学模型,筛选最佳提取工艺条件。通过测定还原力、DPPH和·OH自由基的清除能力对比发酵和未发酵麸皮多糖的体外抗氧化活性,并通过测定嗜酸乳杆菌、植物乳杆菌、两歧双歧杆菌的生长对比发酵和未发酵麸皮多糖的体外益生活性。结果表明,发酵麸皮多糖最佳提取工艺为:料液比1∶16(w/v),酶添加量1 000 U/g,水浴浸提温度90℃,水浴浸提时间60 min,在此条件下发酵麸皮多糖的得率实测值为73. 35%。发酵麸皮多糖具有较强的DPPH和·OH自由基的清除能力,可促进嗜酸乳杆菌、植物乳杆菌和两歧双歧杆菌的生长。     

银杏叶多酚的机械力辅助提取及其体外抗氧化活性研究

为优化银杏叶多酚提取工艺,通过单因素试验考察填充率、球磨转速、球磨时间、乙醇浓度、料液比、提取温度、提取时间七个因素对机械力辅助提取银杏叶多酚得率的影响,以银杏叶多酚得率为响应值,采用Box-Benhnken三因素三水平响应面设计优化工艺,同时比较了4种提取方法对银杏叶多酚提取得率和抗氧化活性的差异。结果表明,机械力辅助提取银杏叶多酚的最佳工艺条件为:填充率26%、球磨转速为400rpm、球磨时间为15min。在此条件下,银杏叶多酚的得率为7.33%。机械力辅助乙醇提取银杏叶多酚得率低于碱水提取法,但是抗氧化活性高于碱水法提取的银杏叶多酚;抗氧化活性与乙醇回流法提取的银杏叶多酚相当,但是提取得率高于乙醇回流法。此提取工艺高效可行,具有一定的参考价值。     

茯神挥发性成分及其生物活性研究

为研究茯神挥发性成分含量、构成及其生物活性,本实验采用二氧化碳超临界的方法提取茯神低极性成分,以提取率作为响应值,在单因素试验的基础上采用响应曲面法考察提取压力、温度、二氧化碳流速对提取效果的影响,优化提取工艺。运用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)对其主要化学成分进行鉴定,并采用生长速率法测定了挥发油对5种真菌的生物活性。得到提取模型极值点,即提取压力27.26MPa、提取温度55.97℃、提取流速10.68L/min时,提取率达到最大,提取率预测值为1.66mg/g。通过NIST14质谱库检索,鉴定了其中17个主要化合物,运用峰面积归一法确定各个组分的含量,占挥发油总量的84.5%。抗菌实验表明茯神挥发油对采绒革盖菌菌株有低浓度促进高浓度抑制的活性。     

大鲵皮肤色素提取工艺及抗氧化研究

为优化大鲵皮肤黑色素的提取工艺条件,探讨大鲵皮肤黑色素组成成分及体外抗氧化活性,采用酶法和碱溶酸沉法提取大鲵皮肤黑色素,以氢氧化钠浓度、液料比、提取温度为影响色素提取率因素,优化黑色素提取工艺条件,用紫外-可见光谱仪、红外光谱仪和超高效液相质谱仪测定黑色素的光谱特性,测定其抗氧化性。结果表明:大鲵皮肤黑色素最佳提取工艺条件为氢氧化钠浓度1.5 mol/L、液料比1∶15、提取温度45℃,黑色素提取率达0.65%。大鲵皮肤黑色素的紫外最大吸收波长为214 nm,由真黑色素和脱黑色素两种色素组成,其对超氧阴离子自由基的清除率为30.51%,对羟基自由基的清除率为54.17%。大鲵皮肤黑色素具有一定的体外抗氧化能力。