Intra- and interbreed genetic variations of mitochondrial DNA major non-coding regions in Japanese native dog breeds [Canis familiaris)

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) major non-coding regions were amplified from 73 dogs of eight Japanese native dog breeds and from 21 dogs of 16 non-Japanese dog breeds by the polymerase chain reaction and their DNA sequences were determined. A total of 51 nucleotide positions within the non-coding region (969–972 base pairs) showed nucleotide variations of which 48 were caused by transition. These nucleotide substitutions were abundant in the region proximate to tRNA^Pro. In addition to the nucleotide substitutions, the dog mtDNA D-loop sequences had a heteroplasmic repetitive sequence (TACACGTÀCG) involving size variation. The DNA sequences of the non-coding region were classified into four different groups by phylogenetic analysis and the deepest branchpoints of this dog phylogeny was calculated to about 100 000 years before the present. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Japanese native dog breeds could not be clearly delimited as distinct breeds. Many haplotypes found in members of some clustering groups were seen in each dog breed, and interbreed nucleotide differences between Japanese dog breeds were almost the same as the intrabreed nucleotide diversities.     

Candidate Cancer Driver Mutations in Distal Regulatory Elements and Long-Range Chromatin Interaction Networks

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Stepwise sRNA targeting of structured bacterial mRNAs leads to abortive annealing

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The circulatory small non-coding RNA landscape in community-acquired pneumonia on intensive care unit admission

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of sepsis. Despite several clinical trials targeting components of the inflammatory response, no specific treatment other than antimicrobial therapy has been approved. This argued for a deeper understanding of sepsis immunopathology, in particular factors that can modulate the host response. Small non-coding RNA, for example, micro (mi)RNA, have been established as important modifiers of cellular phenotypes. Notably, miRNAs are not exclusive to the intracellular milieu but have also been detected extracellular in the circulation with functional consequences. Here, we sought to determine shifts in circulatory small RNA levels of critically ill patients with CAP-associated sepsis and to determine the influence of clinical severity and causal pathogens on small RNA levels. Blood plasma was collected from 13 critically ill patients with sepsis caused by CAP on intensive care unit admission and from 5 non-infectious control participants. Plasma small RNA-sequencing identified significantly altered levels of primarily mature miRNAs in CAP relative to controls. Pathways analysis of high or low abundance miRNA identified various over-represented cellular biological pathways. Analysis of small RNA levels against common clinical severity and inflammatory parameters indices showed direct and indirect correlations. Additionally, variance of plasma small RNA levels in CAP patients may be explained, at least in part, by differences in causal pathogens. Small nuclear RNA levels were specifically altered in CAP due to Influenza infection in contrast to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Pathway analysis of plasma miRNA signatures unique to Influenza or Streptococcus pneumoniae infections showed enrichment for specific proteoglycan, cell cycle, and immunometabolic pathways.     

乙型脑炎病毒表达载体的研究

用RT-PCR方法分段扩增了乙型脑炎病毒SA14—14—2疫苗株5′、3′NCR,利用融合PCR技术在5′、3′NCR之间引入BamHⅠ酶切位点,将5′NCR置于T7启动子控制之下,构建乙脑病毒微复制子表达载体pMR。分别将绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)和汉滩病毒核蛋门编码区基因插入到pMR中,构建两种表达外源基因的乙脑病毒微复制子表达载体：pMR—GFP和pMR-84FliS。绎荧光显微镜直接观察、Western blot、ELISA等方法检测,证实外源基因能够在辅助病毒SA14—14—2感染的BHK-21细胞中表达。