The locus encoding an oligomorphic family of <Emphasis Type="Italic">MHC-A</Emphasis> alleles (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mane-A</Emphasis>*06/<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mamu-A</Emphasis>*05) is present at high frequency in several macaque species

Several macaques species are used for HIV pathogenesis and vaccine studies, and the characterization of their major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes is required to rigorously evaluate the cellular immune responses induced after immunization and/or infection. In this study, we demonstrate that the gene expressing the Mane-A*06 allele of pig-tailed macaques is an orthologue of the locus encoding the Mamu-A*05 allele family in rhesus macaques. Analysis of the distribution of this locus in a cohort of 63 pig-tailed macaques revealed that it encodes an oligomorphic family of alleles, highly prevalent (90%) in the pig-tailed macaque population. Similarly, this locus was very frequently found (62%) in a cohort of 80 Indian rhesus macaques. An orthologous gene was also detected in cynomolgus monkeys originating from four different geographical locations, but was absent in two African monkey species. Expression analysis in pig-tailed macaques revealed that the Mane-A*06 alleles encoded by this locus are transcribed at 10- to 20-fold lower levels than other MHC-A alleles (Mane-A*03 or Mane-A*10). Despite their conservation and high prevalence among Asian macaque species, the alleles of the Mane-A*06 family and, by extension their orthologues in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys, may only modestly contribute to cellular immune responses in macaques because of their low level of expression.     

Association of APOE, GCPII and MMP9 polymorphisms with common diseases and lipid levels in an older adult/elderly cohort

Background and aims

The characterization of candidate gene polymorphisms in elderly populations is an important tool for the identification of risk factors for age-related diseases and conditions. We aimed to genotype the APOE polymorphisms (rs429358 and rs7412), rs61886492 (1561C>T) and rs202720 of GCPII gene and rs3918242 (− 1562C>T) of MMP9 gene in an older-adult/elderly cohort from Cuiabá city, Mato Grosso Brazil as well as to characterize risk factors for morbidities and conditions affecting this cohort.

Methods

The studied population consisted of 570 subjects from Cuiabá city, Brazil, who were subjected to clinical interviews and blood collection for laboratory examinations and DNA extraction. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Polymerase Chain Reaction (RFLP-PCR), sequence-specific primer PCR (SSP-PCR) and TaqMan® allelic discrimination assay were used for genotyping.

Results

The frequencies of APOE ε2 and ε4 were 6.6% and 14.8%, respectively, and the frequencies of GCPII rs61886492 T allele, GCPII rs202720 C allele and MMP9 rs3918242 T allele were, respectively, 3.0%, 26.6% and 10.1%. Significant associations between APOE ε2 allele with lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were found. In addition, MMP9 rs3918242 T allele was associated with higher LDL-cholesterol levels, suggesting a link between lipid metabolism alteration and cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions

The present findings contributed to characterize risk factors specific for the studied population and to better understand the molecular physiopathology of common morbidities and conditions affecting older-adult/elderly people.     

家蚕微粒子病原虫(Nosema bombycis)小亚基核糖体RNA全基因的克隆及其二级结构的构建

在用PCR技术扩增、克隆、测序了家蚕微粒子病原虫Nosema bombycis (镇江株)小亚基核糖体RNA基因核心序列(5'-端起1 200 bp)的基础上,用SSP-PCR技术克隆了核心序列3'-端下游序列,从而获得了家蚕微粒子病原虫小亚基核糖体RNA基因的全序列共1 233 bp。 用RnaViz 、Forcon、DCSE等生物软件构建了家蚕微粒子病原虫小亚基核糖体RNA的二级结构,与其它微孢子虫及真核生物小亚基核糖体RNA的二级结构相比,该二级结构缺乏螺旋10、E10-1、11、18、E23-n和43。     

启动子克隆方法研究进展

启动子是基因表达调控的重要顺式元件,也是基因工程表达载体的一个重要组成部分。启动子的克隆对于构建基因工程载体,表达目的蛋白有着重要的意义。启动子克隆的方法很多,从常用的利用启动子探针型载体筛选启动子到PCR方法的应用,此后相继问世的一些基于PCR法的克隆启动子技术,像I-PCR、P-PCR、SSP-PCR、YADE、TAIL-PCR等,为克隆启动子提供了更可靠,更合理的方法。对这几种方法进行了简要综述,比较了不同方法的优缺点,并展望了今后的研究前景。     

应用SSP-PCR/SSO方法进行中国辽宁汉族人HLA-DRB1基因的遗传多态性研究

对１５９名中国辽宁汉族个体的基因组ＤＮＡ进行分析,共检出４２种等位基因,其中以ＤＲＢ１０９０１２（１２．８％）、０７０１（１０．７％）、１５０１（１０．４％）最为常见,其次为ＤＲＢ１１２０１（７９％）、１２０２（７５％）、１１０１（６６％）、０３０１（５．０％）。并发现辽宁汉族人ＤＲＢ１等位基因频率与白种人间存在明显差异,揭示不同人种有其自己的主要等位基因。同时对本技术在ＨＬＡ－ＤＲＢ１分型应用中的优点进行了讨论     

4个HLA等位基因在5个民族中分布的多样性研究

应用ARMS-SSP结合的方法调查与AIDS相关的HLA等位基因,即HLA-A*02,B*35,B*27,B*57四个基因在五个民族群体（云南汉族、彝族、傣族、新疆维吾尔族、广西壮族）中的分布情况,并进行了相应的遗传学分析。结果显示,HLA-A*02在壮族和汉族中检出的阳性样本频率非常高,在另外几个民族中的分布频率偏低;B*35基因在各民族中分布差异不大;B*27在傣族中的分布频率较高,汉族、彝族和壮族中分布的频率差异不大;B*57则在各民族中的分布差异不大;保护性的等位基因即A*02,B*27,B*57的基因型频率在5个民族中有极显著的差异。此课题增进了对我国部分AIDS流行地区AIDS相关HLA等位基因型遗传背景的了解,是对HLA与AIDS相关性研究资料的有益补充。