采用半巢式RT-PCR检测兰州地区住院肺炎患儿下呼吸道分泌物中的RSV

从人呼吸道合胞病毒(hRSV)基因序列中高度保守的N基因处,设计了特异性半巢式引物,以反转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)方法随机检测了46份兰州地区2007年春季住院肺炎患儿下呼吸道分泌物样本。结果46份样本中有19份扩增出了预期目的片段,对所有扩增产物进行基因序列测定。结果表明19份样本均有RSV感染,其检出率为41%,而且序列分析结果显示,所有RSV阳性样本均与RSVA亚型的同源性高于B亚型。     

人博卡病毒2基因组扩增及序列分析

为获得人博卡病毒2(Human bocavirus 2,HBoV2)基因组序列,以2010年HBoV2单阳粪便标本为材料,PCR方法扩增HBoV2基因组不同区域,经序列拼接后得到5444bp的全基因组序列(HBoV2-NC)。系统进化分析显示,HBoV2-NC与兰州株HBoV2亲缘关系最近;DINAMelt末端回文结构预测证实,HBoV2-NC 5′末端存在反向互补序列,具有典型的细小病毒末端的茎环样结构;接头法PCR扩增得到HBoV2-NC部分末端侧翼序列。     

晚泥盆世腕足动物中国石燕(Sinospirifer)之修订

通过对保存在南京地质古生物研究所的弓石燕类模式标本(由葛利普最早研究)的再研究,作者认为,Sinospirifer Grabau,193l仍是一个有效属。它与Cyrtospirfer Nalivkin,1924的主要区别在于腹壳后部强烈加厚、假三角板中央具有肉茎管以及在壳褶及褶间均发育微瘤(whitneyi—subextensus型的微细纹饰)。Tien(1938)指定S．sinensis Grabau,1931作为Sinospirifer的模式种,因为它与S．subextensus(Martelli,1902)有着相同的形态构造,包括壳形、壳率、中槽壳线型式、中央肉茎管、微细纹饰及内部构造等,所以Ssinensis应是S．subextensus(Martelli,1902)的次同义名,Sinospirifer的模式种应更改为S．subextensus。此外,S．archiaciformis,S.wan-gleighi,S．vilis,S．subhavasakai,S．pellizzarii,S.pellizzariformis和S．heterosinosus几个种在外部及内部构造上也与Ssubextensus相同,同样被视作为S．subextensus的次同义名。葛利普文中所列举的所谓几个种之间的区分特征已在湖南中部同一地点同一层位所采集的同一样品的标本中观察到,它们仅仅是种内变异的现象。对于以往不同种的标本被归人同种的情况,作者均作了修订,例如,S．vilis Grabau,1931实际代表几个种标本的混合体,经修订,分别被归于Siplospirifer subextensus,“Sinospirifer”hayasakai,Tenticospirifer supervilis等。S．sub—hayasakai Grabau,1931仅限于正模为代表的特征,被归于Sinospirifer subextensus,而两个副模标本(NIGP 2736和2740)则应归人”Sinospirifer”gortanioides Grabau,1931。     

A computational proposal for designing structured RNA pools for in vitro selection of RNAs

Although in vitro selection technology is a versatile experimental tool for discovering novel synthetic RNA molecules, finding complex RNA molecules is difficult because most RNAs identified from random sequence pools are simple motifs, consistent with recent computational analysis of such sequence pools. Thus, enriching in vitro selection pools with complex structures could increase the probability of discovering novel RNAs. Here we develop an approach for engineering sequence pools that links RNA sequence space regions with corresponding structural distributions via a "mixing matrix" approach combined with a graph theory analysis. We define five classes of mixing matrices motivated by covariance mutations in RNA; these constructs define nucleotide transition rates and are applied to chosen starting sequences to yield specific nonrandom pools. We examine the coverage of sequence space as a function of the mixing matrix and starting sequence via clustering analysis. We show that, in contrast to random sequences, which are associated only with a local region of sequence space, our designed pools, including a structured pool for GTP aptamers, can target specific motifs. It follows that experimental synthesis of designed pools can benefit from using optimized starting sequences, mixing matrices, and pool fractions associated with each of our constructed pools as a guide. Automation of our approach could provide practical tools for pool design applications for in vitro selection of RNAs and related problems.     

Electrochemical study of the effect of nano-zinc oxide on microperoxidase and its application to more sensitive hydrogen peroxide biosensor preparation

Direct electron transfer reactions of microperoxidase were achieved with the help of semiconductive zinc oxide nanoparticles on a pyrolytic graphite electrode. The enzyme could also exhibit fine electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. Thereby, a hydrogen peroxide biosensor was constructed based on the electrocatalysis of microperoxidase. Further studies revealed that after irradiating the microperoxidase/zinc oxide nanoparticles co-modified electrode with UV light for 4h, the catalytic ability of microperoxidase could be greatly promoted, which could be beneficial to developing more sensitive hydrogen peroxide biosensors. As comparison, it was found that the catalytic activity of the enzyme would be depressed if microperoxidase/agarose co-modified electrode was irradiated. We supposed it was the photovoltaic effect of the zinc oxide nanoparticles that improved the catalytic ability of microperoxidase.     

RagPools: RNA-As-Graph-Pools--a web server for assisting the design of structured RNA pools for in vitro selection

SUMMARY: Our RNA-As-Graph-Pools (RagPools) web server offers a theoretical companion tool for RNA in vitro selection and related problems. Specifically, it suggests how to construct RNA sequence/structure pools with user-specified properties and assists in analyzing resulting distributions. This utility follows our recently developed approach for engineering sequence pools that links RNA sequence space regions with corresponding structural distributions via a 'mixing matrix' approach combined with a graph theory analysis of RNA secondary-structure space; the mixing matrix specifies nucleotide transition rates, and graph theory links sequences to simple graphical objects representing RNA motifs. The companion RagPools web server ('Designer' component) provides optimized starting sequences, mixing matrices and associated weights in response to a user-specified target pool structure distribution. In addition, RagPools ('Analyzer' component) analyzes the motif distribution of pools generated from user-specified starting sequences and mixing matrices. Thus, RagPools serves as a guide to researchers who aim to synthesize RNA pools with desired properties and/or experiment in silico with various designs by our approach. AVAILABILITY: The web server is accessible on the web at http://rubin2.biomath.nyu.edu     

Optimization of riboflavin production by recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> RH44 using statistical designs

A sequential optimization strategy, based on statistical experimental designs, was used to enhance the production of riboflavin by recombinant Bacillus subtilis RH44. In the first instance, the medium components were optimized in shake flask cultures. After preliminary experiments of nitrogen source selection, the two-level Plackett–Burman (PB) design was implemented to screen medium components that significantly influence riboflavin production. Among the 15 variables tested, glucose, NaNO₃, K₂HPO₄, ZnSO₄, and MnCl₂ were identified as the most significant factors (confidence levels above 95%) for riboflavin production. The optimal values of these five variables were determined by response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD). The validity of the model developed was verified, and the optimum medium led to a maximum riboflavin concentration of 6.65 g/l, which was 44.3 and 76.4% higher than the improved medium and the basal medium, respectively. A glucose-limited fed-batch culture profile in a 5-l fermentor was consequently designed according to the above optimum medium in shake flasks. A final riboflavin concentration of 16.36 g/l was obtained in 48 h, which further verified the practicability of this optimum strategy.     

Flagellin contamination of recombinant heat shock protein 70 is responsible for its activity on T cells

Heat shock proteins (Hsp) 60 and 70 have been intensively studied for their ability to activate innate immunity. Heat shock proteins had been shown to induce the activation of dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells. However, the possible contamination of endotoxin in heat shock protein preparations makes their function as an activator of immune system ambiguous. Here, we examined the ability of bacterial Hsp60 and Hsp70 to activate Jurkat T cells and primary T cells. We found that Burkholderia pseudomallei Hsp70 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Hsp70 could costimulate Jurkat T cells to make IL-2 and signal through TLR5. This costimulatory activity is not due to endotoxin or contaminants signaling via TLR2 nor TLR4. However, recombinant Hsp70 expressed in Escherichia coli DeltafliC strain completely lost its ability to costimulate T cells. Thus, the activation of T cells by recombinant Hsp70 is ascribed to flagellin contamination.