Screening and Identification of Marburg Virus Entry Inhibitors Using Approved Drugs

正Dear Editor,Marburg virus(MARV) belongs to the Filoviridae family,along with the related Ebola virus(EBOV). Although MARV is less renowned than EBOV, it causes an equally devastating disease, with clinical symptoms similar to EBOV infection and a remarkably high mortality rate. To     

Identification of differential genes in the ovary relative to the testis and their expression patterns in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)

Half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) is a rare marine flatfish whose mature ovary and testis greatly differ in volume and weight. The length and weight of mature females are over twice greater than those of mature males. To obtain sufficient information on gonad differentiation and the relationship between gonad development and growth in the fish, we compared gene expression between the ovary and testis using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). Testis cDNAs are subtracted from...     

Zebrafish Tyrosine Hydroxylase 2 Gene Encodes Tryptophan Hydroxylase

The primary pathological hallmark of Parkinson disease (PD) is the profound loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. To facilitate the understanding of the underling mechanism of PD, several zebrafish PD models have been generated to recapitulate the characteristics of dopaminergic (DA) neuron loss. In zebrafish studies, tyrosine hydroxylase 1 (th1) has been frequently used as a molecular marker of DA neurons. However, th1 also labels norepinephrine and epinephrine neurons. Recently, a homologue of th1, named tyrosine hydroxylase 2 (th2), was identified based on the sequence homology and subsequently used as a novel marker of DA neurons. In this study, we present evidence that th2 co-localizes with serotonin in the ventral diencephalon and caudal hypothalamus in zebrafish embryos. In addition, knockdown of th2 reduces the level of serotonin in the corresponding th2-positive neurons. This phenotype can be rescued by both zebrafish th2 and mouse tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1) mRNA as well as by 5-hydroxytryptophan, the product of tryptophan hydroxylase. Moreover, the purified Th2 protein has tryptophan hydroxylase activity comparable with that of the mouse TPH1 protein in vitro. Based on these in vivo and in vitro results, we conclude that th2 is a gene encoding for tryptophan hydroxylase and should be used as a marker gene of serotonergic neurons.     

In Situ Measurement of Some Soil Properties in Paddy Soil Using Visible and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

In situ measurements with visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (vis-NIR) provide an efficient way for acquiring soil information of paddy soils in the short time gap between the harvest and following rotation. The aim of this study was to evaluate its feasibility to predict a series of soil properties including organic matter (OM), organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK) and pH of paddy soils in Zhejiang province, China. Firstly, the linear partial least squares regression (PLSR) was performed on the in situ spectra and the predictions were compared to those with laboratory-based recorded spectra. Then, the non-linear least-square support vector machine (LS-SVM) algorithm was carried out aiming to extract more useful information from the in situ spectra and improve predictions. Results show that in terms of OC, OM, TN, AN and pH, (i) the predictions were worse using in situ spectra compared to laboratory-based spectra with PLSR algorithm (ii) the prediction accuracy using LS-SVM (R²>0.75, RPD>1.90) was obviously improved with in situ vis-NIR spectra compared to PLSR algorithm, and comparable or even better than results generated using laboratory-based spectra with PLSR; (iii) in terms of AP and AK, poor predictions were obtained with in situ spectra (R²<0.5, RPD<1.50) either using PLSR or LS-SVM. The results highlight the use of LS-SVM for in situ vis-NIR spectroscopic estimation of soil properties of paddy soils.     

The Internal Organization of Mycobacterial Partition Assembly: Does the DNA Wrap a Protein Core?

Before cell division in many bacteria, the ParBs spread on a large segment of DNA encompassing the origin-proximal parS site(s) to form the partition assembly that participates in chromosome segregation. Little is known about the structural organization of chromosomal partition assembly. We report solution X-ray and neutron scattering data characterizing the size parameters and internal organization of a nucleoprotein assembly formed by the mycobacterial chromosomal ParB and a 120-meric DNA containing a parS-encompassing region from the mycobacterial genome. The cross-sectional radii of gyration and linear mass density describing the rod-like ParB-DNA assembly were determined from solution scattering. A “DNA outside, protein inside” mode of partition assembly organization consistent with the neutron scattering hydrogen/deuterium contrast variation data is discussed. In this organization, the high scattering DNA is positioned towards the outer region of the partition assembly. The new results presented here provide a basis for understanding how ParBs organize the parS-proximal chromosome, thus setting the stage for further interactions with the DNA condensins, the origin tethering factors and the ParA.     

Stilbene Glycoside Oligomers from the Roots of Polygonum multiflorum

Five new trans‐2,3,5,4′‐tetrahydroxystilbene 2‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside (TSG)‐based stilbene glycoside oligomers ( 1 – 5 ) were isolated from the roots of Polygonum multiflorum. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and chemical evidences. The absolute configurations of 1 , 2 , 4 , and 5 were established by quantum‐chemical electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Putative biosynthetic pathways of 1–5 were proposed using TSG as the key precursor. In addition, compounds 1 (multiflorumiside H) and 3 (multiflorumiside J) exhibited moderate inhibitory activities against NO production in LPS‐stimulated RAW264.7 cells.     

谷氨酸棒状杆菌异源合成萜类化合物的研究进展

萜类化合物具有可观的商业价值,但生产过程复杂,产量低,利用微生物异源合成萜类化合物已成为热点。谷氨酸棒状杆菌内含合成萜类色素的途径,具有异源合成萜类化合物的天然优势和研究前景。首次对谷氨酸棒状杆菌合成萜类化合物进行了综述,从萜类合成途径、关键酶和全局调控机制三个方面进行了途经介绍。概述了谷氨酸棒状杆菌中单萜、倍半萜、四萜类化合物的异源合成,并对利用谷氨酸棒状杆菌高效合成萜类化合物所需解决的问题进行讨论,为谷氨酸棒状杆菌高效合成萜类化合物提供建议。     

小鼠哮喘发作过程中相关炎症因子的动态变化

目的:研究实验性哮喘小鼠模型在诱导哮喘发作不同时间点外周血中细胞因子IL-13、Eotaxin、MCP-1和TNF-α以及肺部浸润的炎症细胞数量变化。方法:将25只健康6-8周龄的雌性BALB/c小鼠随机分成模型组和对照组。利用卵清蛋白(OVA)诱导建立小鼠哮喘模型,模型组(Asthma)小鼠于第0、7天经腹腔注射卵清蛋白(OVA)致敏小鼠。第14-20天连续7天用1%OVA雾化激发小鼠哮喘发作,每次20 min,观察临床症状。正常对照组(Control)小鼠以0.9%NaCL代替0VA进行腹腔注射和雾化吸入。比较两组小鼠肺组织病理切片HE染色结果、肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中炎性细胞分类计数及细胞因子IL-13、Eotaxin、MCP-1和TNF-α的浓度变化。结果:模型组小鼠BALF中IL-13的水平在试验早期(致敏2天)即开始上升达68.9±4.34,此时Eotaxin和MCP-1未见明显升高;致敏7天时IL-13、Eotaxin和MCP-1均明显高于对照组,分别为88.3±3.39、67.4±4.24和38.9±3.1;激发1天组小鼠BALF中IL-13、Eotaxin和MCP-1浓度持续增高至最后一次激发后1天;而TNF-α在激发1天时出现明显升高达136.9±11.9,持续到最后一次激发后1天;从激发1天肺泡灌洗液染色显微镜下观察明以淋巴细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞浸润为主。肺组织HE染色显示哮喘组小鼠气道上皮有不同程度脱落,支气管平滑肌显著增厚,血管周围水肿,炎性细胞浸润。结论:在哮喘发生过程中,IL-13水平在致敏初期即开始升高,随着继续给予OVA,Eotaxin和MCP-1水平呈现显著增高;并伴随越来越多炎症细胞在肺部浸润,TNF-α水平出现缓慢增高,进而加重哮喘发作。