A new role for PGRP-S (Tag7) in immune defense: lymphocyte migration is induced by a chemoattractant complex of Tag7 with Mts1

PGRP-S (Tag7) is an innate immunity protein involved in the antimicrobial defense systems, both in insects and in mammals. We have previously shown that Tag7 specifically interacts with several proteins, including Hsp70 and the calcium binding protein S100A4 (Mts1), providing a number of novel cellular functions. Here we show that Tag7–Mts1 complex causes chemotactic migration of lymphocytes, with NK cells being a preferred target. Cells of either innate immunity (neutrophils and monocytes) or acquired immunity (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes) can produce this complex, which confirms the close connection between components of the 2 branches of immune response.     

Volatile sensation: The chemical ecology of the earthy odorant geosmin

Geosmin may be the most familiar volatile compound, as it lends the earthy smell to soil. The compound is a member of the largest family of natural products, the terpenoids. The broad distribution of geosmin among bacteria in both terrestrial and aquatic environments suggests that this compound has an important ecological function, for example, as a signal (attractant or repellent) or as a protective specialized metabolite against biotic and abiotic stresses. While geosmin is part of our everyday life, scientists still do not understand the exact biological function of this omnipresent natural product. This minireview summarizes the current general observations regarding geosmin in prokaryotes and introduces new insights into its biosynthesis and regulation, as well as its biological roles in terrestrial and aquatic environments.     

吐鲁番市胃食管反流病发生相关危险因素分析（附280例报道）

目的：探讨280例胃食管反流病（GERD）的分布特点及危险因素。方法：对临床诊断和胃镜确诊的280例GERD患者进行临床和风险因子相关性分析。结果：不论汉族还是维族,男性患者比例均明显高于女性;汉族患者高发年龄段早于维族患者（z=-2．939,P=0．003,）;汉族和维族患者占反流性食管炎和Barrett食管比例分别为42．4％、81_3％及56．5％、18．8％,其中汉族患者Barrett食管比例较高（X2=14．358,P=0．000）;肥胖、习惯性便秘、重体力活动者、饮食习惯不良在维族患者中的比例较高（P〈0．001）。结论：GERD与性别、年龄密切相关,男性多于女性,汉族患者发病年龄高峰旱于维族患者;汉族患者Barrett食管发生比例高于维族患者;肥胖、习惯性便秘、重体力活动、饮食习惯不良可能是GERD尤其是维族人群GERD的危险因素。     

Effect of Temperature on the Taxonomic Structure of Soil Bacterial Communities during Litter Decomposition

Microbiology - Effect of temperature on succession changes of the saprotrophic bacterial community of gray forest soil in the course of decomposition of aspen leaves and branches was studied in...     

Autoimmune processes after long-term low-level exposure to electromagnetic fields (experimental results) part 3. The effect of long-term nonthermal RF EMF exposure on complement-fixation antibodies against homologenous tissue

The effect of long-term nonthermal EMF exposure of 2450 MHz (500 μW/cm²) on the level of antibodies against brain and liver tissues is studied on rats by the complement-fixation test (CFT) in the cold. It is found that a statistically significant increase in the level of antibodies against aqueous extracts of brain and liver tissues in blood serum is detected only on the 14th day after exposure is ended.     

Autoimmune processes after long-term low-level exposure to electromagnetic fields part 4. Oxidative intracellular stress response to the long-term rat exposure to nonthermal RF EMF

Forty eight male Wistar rats with initial weight of 200–220 g were exposed to EMF of 2450 MHz frequency and 500 μW/cm² intensity for 7 h daily over a period of 30 days. On the seventh and 14th days after completion of exposure to the long-term EMF, enzyme immunoassay revealed a significant increase in the amount of specific antibodies of the IgM and IgG classes against the compounds yielded by interaction of amino acids with nitric oxide and its derivatives; tryptophan metabolites; azelaic acid; small-chain fatty acids; small-chain hydroxylated fatty acids; and palmitic, myristic, and oleic acids.     

湖南省双季稻生产系统碳效率

提高农作物生产系统的碳效率是实现低碳农业的重要途径之一.本文采用2004—2012年农作物产量、农田作物生产系统农资投入等统计数据,利用生命周期法和投入产出法,对湖南省双季稻生产系统碳排放、碳吸收和碳效率特征及其动态进行估算.结果表明:湖南省2004—2012年双季稻生产系统年均碳排放总量为656.4×107kg CE,其中化肥和农药生产运输碳排放占农资投入碳排放总量的大部分,分别约占70.0%和15.9%,碳排放总量年际间持续降低,年均降低率为2.4%,碳排放强度则表现为增长趋势;湖南双季稻生产系统2004—2012年年均碳吸收总量为1547.0×107kg C,也呈现逐年降低的趋势,年降低率为1.2%,单位面积稻田碳吸收强度则表现为增长趋势;碳生产效率呈现缓慢增加的趋势,碳经济效率随着年份递进增加幅度较大,年均增长率为9.9%,碳生态效率则表现为稳定且较低,保持在2.4kg C·kg-1CE左右.表明湖南近几年双季稻生产系统碳综合效率提高缓慢,降低肥料和农药的投入量,提高利用效率是提高双季稻生产系统碳效率的关键.     

无症状吸烟者的肺功能改变情况分析

目的:探讨烟龄≥15年,日吸烟量≥15支的无症状男性吸烟者的肺功能改变情况。方法:选择男性无症状吸烟者190人及非吸烟者180人,进行肺功能测定,并比较两组人群的肺功能改变情况。结果:吸烟组与非吸烟组比较,肺活量(VC)、用力肺活量(FVC)、第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)、Tiffeneau 1秒率(FEV1/VC)结果改变不明显,而Gaensler 1秒率(FEV1/FVC)、最大分钟通气量(MVV)、用力呼气50%肺活量的呼气流量(FEF50%)、用力呼气75%肺活量的呼气流量(FEF75%)、呼出25%～75%肺活量时的平均流量(FEF25%～75%)、肺一氧化碳弥散量(DLCO)结果均有显著降低,有统计学意义。结论:通过对无症状吸烟人群肺功能测定结果进行分析。发现有些吸烟者虽无临床症状,但已经出现了小气道及肺弥散功能的损伤,提醒吸烟者应早期戒烟,关爱自身健康,净化生存环境,提高生活质量。     

Syk tyrosine kinase participates in beta1-integrin signaling and inflammatory responses in airway epithelial cells

The protein tyrosine kinase Syk is critically involved in immunoreceptor signaling in hematopoietic cells. Recent studies demonstrate Syk expression in nonhematopoietic cells, including fibroblasts, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, and breast epithelium. However, the role of Syk in these cells is uncertain. We hypothesized that Syk is expressed in respiratory epithelial cells (EC) and that it functions as a signaling molecule involved in inflammatory responses in the epithelium. With the use of immunohistochemistry, Western blot, PCR, and laser scanning confocal microscopy, Syk was detected in human, rat, and mouse bronchial epithelium in situ and in cultured human bronchial EC in primary cells and the cell lines HS-24 and BEAS-2B. Syk-dependent signaling pathways in EC were initiated by engagement of beta1-integrin receptors. Stimulation of beta1-integrin receptors by fibronectin or antibody cross-linking caused redistribution of Syk from a cytoplasmic to plasma membrane localization. In stimulated cells, Syk and beta1-integrin colocalized. In addition, following beta1-integrin receptor engagement, tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk was observed. Expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and production of IL-6, both important molecules in lung inflammation, was downregulated in EC treated with Syk small interfering RNA or Syk inhibitor piceatannol. We propose that Syk is involved in signaling pathways induced by integrin engagement in airway EC. Syk-mediated signaling regulates IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression and may be important in the pathophysiology of lung inflammation.     

The combined application of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of NS3 hepatitis C virus protein, DNA encoding granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and inhibitor of regulatory T cells induces effective immune response against hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C is related to the most important socially significant human infectious diseases; however, vaccine against this virus up to now has notbeen created. One of the possible components of vaccine is the nonstructural protein NS3 of hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is synthesized in the infected cells and displays protease, NTPase, and helicase enzymatic activities. The connection between the effectiveness ofT cellular response to NS3 epitopes and the spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C was shown. The purpose of this work was to compare the immune response of mice to the inoculation of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of HCV NS3 and their combination, to evaluate the adjuvant activity of the DNA encoding granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and the influence of regulatory T cells on the effectiveness of immune response. The maximum anti-HCV NS3 antibody level in the serum (to 1:640000) induced the recombinant protein rNS3 introduced with aluminum hydroxide. The most intensive cellular immune response was observed after the simultaneous administration of rNS3 and DNAs encoding full-size NS3 and GM-CSF. A high level of lymphocyte proliferation, accumulation of IFN-gamma-secreting cells and IFN-gamma, and IL-2 release in response to the stimulators--NS3 antigens of different composition were observed in this group of mice. It has been established that the suppression of regulatory T cells in vitro leads to the statistically significant increase in the secretion of IFN-gamma. Thus, simultaneous application of rNS3 along with the DNAs encoding full-size NS3 and GM-CSF is promising approach for development of hepatitis C vaccine. The expediency of inclusion in the vaccine composition of regulatory T cell inhibitors will be clear after special studies.