Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques for metabolic flux analysis of the Bifido shunt pathway

The presence of the Bifido shunt in Bifidobacterium is predicted to lead to the uptake and metabolic conversion of fructose to acetate and lactate. We propose an approach to quantifying the carbon flux through the Bifido shunt by measuring specific ¹³C-labeled carbohydrate-derived isotopomers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The techniques described may provide an alternative approach for determining the in vitro prebiotic potential of dietary oligosaccharides.     

贝飞达治疗肠易激综合征289例临床观察

目的：探讨微生态制剂贝飞达对肠易激综合征的疗效。方法：采用中国预防医学科学院流研所海斯药业有限公司生产的双歧三联活菌胶囊贝飞达治疗怕易激综合征患者289例,分别观察临床症状改善情况,结果：此药对腹痛,腹泻,腹胀和便秘的有效率均在80%以上,结论：贝飞达可迅速,有效地缓减肠易激综合征的症状,无毒副作用,值得推广,是治疗肠易激综合征的一个有效新型微生态制剂。     

贝飞达治疗小儿迁延性腹泻的临床研究

目的评价贝飞达治疗小儿迁延性腹泻的临床疗效,为合理应用贝飞达治疗小儿迁延性腹泻提供科学依据。方法选取60例1个月～2岁的迁延性腹泻患儿为研究对象,把他们随机分为贝飞达组和常规组。另30例1个月-2岁的健康儿作为对照组;3组均进行治疗前后粪便中的4种常驻的正常菌群的测定和60例迁廷性腹泻患儿疗效、住院时间及费用的观察。结果贝飞达组总有效率明显高于常规组,且住院时间及费用也明显减少。治疗前60例迁延性腹泻患儿的粪便菌群中双歧杆菌、乳杆菌明显减少,肠球菌、肠杆菌增加,与健康同龄儿比t〈0．05,治疗后贝飞达组粪便菌群中的4种菌群数比常规组增加明显结论贝飞达具有调整肠道菌群失调的作用,从而提高疗效。     

Evaluation of in vitro antagonism and of in vivo immune modulation and protection against pathogenic experimental challenge of two probiotic strains of Bifidobacterium animalis var. lactis

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of intragastric administration with two strains of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (Bifido A and Bifido B), in gnotobiotic and conventional mice, challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium. In vitro antagonism test showed that the two strains were able to produce antagonistic substances against various pathogenic microorganisms. In an ex vivo antagonism test the production of antagonistic substances was observed only against three out ten pathogens tested. Both Bifidobacterium strains were able to colonize and to maintain high population levels in the digestive tract of gnotobiotic mice. In addition, the two strains had low and limited translocation ability and did not cause any histological lesion in any of the organs analyzed. Both strains were able to reduce the fecal number of Salmonella in gnotobiotic mice challenged with the pathogen, but only Bifido B was able to confer a protection as demonstrated by a lower mortality. Higher levels of sIgA and IL-10 were observed only in Bifido B mono-associated mice when compared to germ free group. We could conclude that, among the parameters analyzed, the strain Bifido B exhibited the more desirable characteristics to be used as a probiotic.     

微生态制剂(贝飞达)治疗非便秘型肠易激综合征

目的探讨微生态制剂贝飞达对肠易激综合征（IBS）的疗效。方法采用中国预防医学科学院流行病学研究所海斯药业有限公司生产的双歧三联活菌胶囊贝飞达（长双歧杆菌、嗜酸乳酸杆菌、粪肠球菌）治疗25例IBS患者,与服用安慰剂组25例进行疗效对比分析。结果IBS特征性症状评分治疗前后的差值,治疗组明显高于安慰剂组,各种症状的改善率明显优于对照组。结论贝飞达的短期疗法有望成为IBS治疗中的一个颇有前途的手段。     

丽珠肠乐治疗溃疡性结肠炎的临床疗效及病理变化的研究

目的:探讨溃疡性结肠炎的微生态学改变及双歧杆菌对溃疡性结肠炎的预防和治疗作用.方法:随机选取溃疡性结肠炎的患者60人,分成二组.治疗组:口服丽珠肠乐胶囊;对照组:口服氟哌酸胶囊,柳氮磺胺吡啶栓直肠给药.疗程一个月.结果:溃疡性结肠炎的肠道内细菌数量双歧杆菌、乳杆菌显著下降(P＜0.01),肠球菌显著增加(P＜0.01).经丽珠肠乐治疗后,肠道内主要细菌的数量恢复正常,与对照组相比差异有显著性(P＜0.01);肠道黏膜病理及组织学改变基本恢复正常;临床症状改善上治疗组疗效高于对照组(P＜0.01).结论:双歧杆菌活菌制剂治疗溃疡性结肠炎效果显著,值得临床推广使用.     

Inhibitory effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521 on colitis and its mechanism

Probiotics are known to be beneficial in preventing different diseases in model animals, including inflammatory bowel disease. However, there are few studies on probiotics related to miRNA regulation and disease status. In this article, the beneficial role and mechanisms of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521 have been studied in ulcerative colitis using dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) model. Male C57JBL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups (n=7): Normal group, dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) group, and Bifido group gavage with Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521 (2×10⁸ CFU/day). Our strain restored the DSS-caused damage by regulating the expression of immune markers and tight junction proteins (TJP) in the colon; briefly by up-regulating ROS-scavenging enzymes (SOD1, SOD2, CAT, and GPX2), anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, PPARγ, IL-6), TJP's (ZO-1, MUC-2, Claudin-3, and E Cadherin-1) and downregulating inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-1β) in Bifido group mice. Inflammatory markers appeared to be regulated by NF-κB nuclear P65 subunit, and its translocation was inhibited in Bifido group mice colon. In addition, the expression of inflammatory genes and colonic TJP were also associated with the restoration of miRNAs (miR-150, miR-155, miR-223) in B. bifidum ATCC 29521 treated Bifido group. The dysbiosis executed by DSS was restored in the Bifido group, demonstrating that B. bifidum ATCC 29521 possessed a probiotic role in our DSS colitis mouse model. B. bifidum ATCC 29521 exhibited its probiotic role through its anti-inflammatory role by modulating miRNA-associated TJP and NF-κB regulation and by partially restoring dysbiosis.     

双歧杆菌影响肌醇三磷酸的实验研究

本实验首次发现双歧杆菌可降低大肠癌细胞内肌醇三磷酸水平，且存在时间依赖关系，提示双歧杆影响脂代谢通路的信息传递过程，这种影响是通过关闭亚细胞器上钙离子通道实现的。     

Algorithm for application of Fourier analysis for biorhythmic baselines of pharmacodynamic indirect response models

The change of an indirect pharmacological response R(t) can be described by a periodic time-dependent production rate k_in (t) and a first-order loss constant k_out. If k_in(t) follows some biological rhythm (e.g., circadian), then the response R(t) also displays a periodic behavior. A new approach for describing the input function in indirect response models with biorhythmic baselines of physiologic substances is introduced. The present approach uses the baseline (placebo) response R_b(t) to recover the equation for k_in(t). Fourier analysis provides an approximate equation for R_b(t) that consists of terms (usually two or three) of the Fourier series (harmonics) that contribute most to the overall sum. The model differential equation is solved backward for k_in(t), yielding the equation involving R_b(t). A computer program was developed to perform the square L²-norm approximation technique. Fourier analysis was also performed based on nonlinear regression. Cortisol suppression after inhalation of fluticasone propionate (FP) was modeled based on the inhibition of the secretion rate k_in(t) using ADAPT II. The pharmacodynamic parameters k_out and IC₅₀ were estimated from the model equation with k_in(t) derived by the new approach. The proposed method of describing the input function needs no assumption about the behavior of k_in(t), is as efficient as methods used previously, and is more flexible in describing the baseline data than the nonlinear regression method. (Chronobiology International, 17(1), 77-93, 2000)     

Industrial production of (R)-1,3-butanediol by new biocatalysts

We have developed the economical and convenient biocatalytic process for the preparation of (R)-1,3-butanediol (BDO) by stereo-specific microbial oxido-reduction on an industrial scale. (R)-1,3-BDO is an important chiral synthon for the synthesis of various optically active compounds such as azetidinone derivatives lead to penem and carbapenem antibiotics.

We studied on two approaches to obtain (R)-1,3-BDO. The first approach was based on enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric reduction of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone; the second approach was based on enantio-selective oxidation of the undesired (S)-1,3-BDO in the racemate. As a result of screening for yeasts, fungi and bacteria, the enzymatic resolution of racemic 1,3-BDO by the Candida parapsilosis IFO 1396, which showed differential rates of oxidation for two enantiomers, was found to be the most practical process to produce (R)-1,3-BDO with high enantiomeric excess and yield.

We characterized the (S)-1,3-BDO dehydrogenase purified from a cell-free extract of C. parapsilosis. This enzyme was found to be a novel secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (CpSADH). We have attempted to clone and characterize the gene encoding CpSADH and express it in Escherichia coli. The CpSADH activity of a recombinant E. coli strain was more than two times higher than that of C. parapsilosis. The production yield of (R)-1,3-BDO from the racemate increased by using the recombinant E. coli strain. Interestingly, we found that the recombinant E. coli strain catalyzed the reduction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxo-butanoate to ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hyroxy-butanoate with high enantiomeric excess.     

Rapid identification of Leishmania species from formalin-fixed biopsy samples by polymorphism-specific polymerase chain reaction

The precise identification and classification of Leishmania species is important for public health surveillance since different species cause different clinical features of the disease. A highly specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel was developed to enable the identification of the five major Leishmania species that cause New World cutaneous leishmaniases. The primers used for this panel were designed to distinguish the polymorphism in sequences of commonly amplified DNA bands of the parasites produced by arbitrarily primed PCR. These polymorphism-specific PCR diagnoses were performed with formalin-fixed biopsy specimens of the leishmanial lesions from four patients in Ecuador and one hamster skin lesion, and these lesions were determined to be caused by Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis, L. (Leishmania) mexicana, and L. (L.) amazonensis. The PCR panel may offer an important and practical approach to the standardized identification of Leishmania species in field examinations.     

Unique organization of the 16S-23S intergenic spacer regions of strains of Acinetobacter baylyi provides a means for its identification from other Acinetobacter species

This paper extends an earlier report on rrn operon characteristics in members of the genus Acinetobacter. It describes a systematic approach towards developing and validating a protocol for elucidating how the intergenic spacer regions (ISR) in Acinetobacter baylyi strains are organized and allows the numbers of long and short ISRs to be determined. Experimental data confirmed the in silico predictions based on available A. baylyi rrn sequence data. All were shown to possess three long ISRs and 4 short ISRs, differing in most cases in length by about 90nt. However, the ISR arrangement in A. baylyi strain 93A2 was different. Although it also possessed 4 SISRs and three LISRs, their length difference was less (39nt) which was confirmed from its ISR sequence data. Primer sets for PCR identification of A. baylyi could then be determined. Applying the same approach to other species of Acinetobacter showed none shared the same ISR organization as A. baylyi. Its value in typing members of this genus is discussed.     

Biocontrol of broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk. and Orobanche foetida Poir. ) by Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate Bf7-9 from the faba bean rhizosphere

Bacteria of the faba bean (Vicia faba L.)/Orobanche spp. root environment were evaluated for their potential use as biocontrol agents for the parasitic weed. Bacteria were isolated mainly from the rhizosphere of faba bean as well as from diseased Orobanche underground structures and an Orobanche-suppressive soil from three districts of northern Tunisia. Out of 351 bacterial isolates, 337 were tested for pathogenicity in an inverted pyramidal-shape screening programme including a Lactuca sativa L. seedlings bioassay, root-chamber and pot experiments. In pre-selection screening on L. sativa seedlings, 37 isolates (11%) showed a strong growth inhibitory effect, of which 70 and 84% also had a significant suppressive activity on the pre-emergence structures of O. foetida and O. crenata, respectively, in root-chamber experiments. Among five bacterial isolates selected for pot trials, strain Bf7-9 of Pseudomonas fluorescens showed high biocontrol activity against both species of Orobanche and positively influenced faba bean growth. The bacterium reduced shoot emergence of O. crenata and O. foetida by 64 and 76% and their dry weight by 39 and 63%, respectively, compared with non-inoculated controls. Pseudomonas marginalis strain Nc1-2 exhibited also a tendency to reduce incidence of O. crenata and to improve faba bean performance. Results of the present study suggest that application of naturally occurring rhizosphere bacteria offers an additional approach for biocontrol of Orobanche spp. that can supplement current methods of control in an integrated weed management strategy.     

Pressure drops in a distensible model of end-to-side anastomosis in systemic-to-pulmonary shunts

The modified Blalock-Taussig shunt is a surgical procedure used as a palliation to treat complex congenital heart defects. It consists of an interposing prosthetic tube between the innominate/subclavian artery and the right pulmonary artery. Previous experience indicates that the pressure drop across the shunt is affected by the pulmonary pressure at the distal anastomosis combined with the distensibility of the anastomosis. In this study, a computational fluid-structure interaction approach is presented to investigate the haemodynamic behaviour. Steady-state fluid dynamics and structural analyses were carried out using commercial codes based on the finite element method (FIDAP and ABAQUS) coupled by means of a purposely-developed procedure to transfer boundary conditions. Both prosthetic tube and artery walls were characterised by non-linear material properties. Three different pulmonary pressures (2, 5 and 15 mmHg) and two volume flow rates (0.4 and 0.8 l/min) were investigated. Results indicate that the effects of distensibility at the distal anastomosis on the shunt pressure drop are relevant only when the distal anastomosis on the shunt pressure drop are relevant only when the distal anastomosis is not fully distended, which occurs when the pulmonary pressure is lower than 5 mmHg.     

Insights into the antineoplastic mechanism of Chelidonium majus via systems pharmacology approach

Background: The antineoplastic activity of Chelidonium majus has been reported, but its mechanism of action (MoA) is unsuspected. The emerging theory of systems pharmacology may be a useful approach to analyze the complicated MoA of this multi-ingredient traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Methods: We collected the ingredients and related compound-target interactions of C. majus from several databases. The bSDTNBI (balanced substructure-drug-target network-based inference) method was applied to predict each ingredient’s targets. Pathway enrichment analysis was subsequently conducted to illustrate the potential MoA, and prognostic genes were identified to predict the certain types of cancers that C. majus might be beneficial in treatment. Bioassays and literature survey were used to validate the in silico results. Results: Systems pharmacology analysis demonstrated that C. majus exerted experimental or putative interactions with 18 cancer-associated pathways, and might specifically act on 13 types of cancers. Chelidonine, sanguinarine, chelerythrine, berberine, and coptisine, which are the predominant components of C. majus, may suppress the cancer genes by regulating cell cycle, inducing cell apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation. Conclusions: The antineoplastic MoA of C. majus was investigated by systems pharmacology approach. C. majus exhibited promising pharmacological effect against cancer, and may consequently be useful material in further drug development. The alkaloids are the key components in C. majus that exhibit anticancer activity.     

Somatic hybridization between Lycopersicon peruvianum and L. pennellii: Regenerating ability and antibiotic resistance as selection systems

Somatic hybrids were obtained between the reproductively-isolated tomato species Lycopersicon peruvianum and L. pennellii. Leaf protoplasts of the former species and protoplasts from cell suspension cultures of the latter were fused with polyethylene glycol. A double selection scheme for fusion products was used on the basis of regeneration ability in L. peruvianum and resistance to the antibiotic G418 (2-deoxystreptamine) in an L. pennellii cell line. One tetraploid and four hexaploid hybrids were obtained from this fusion. The hexaploids might have originated by fusion of two L. pennellii protoplasts and one L. peruvianum protoplast. The hybrids were identified on the basis of isozymes (loci Prx-1, Prx-2, Prx-4, Prx-6, Prx-7, Pgi-1 and putative locus Mdh-1), leaf, flower morphology and epidermal hairs. The expression of antibiotic resistance and regeneration ability in the hybrids indicate that these are dominant or codominant traits. The sterility and subvitality of the resulting hybrids questions the value of somatic hybridization as a useful breeding approach in Lycopersicon.     

Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of an entomopathogenic Bacillus cereus strain WGPSB-2 (MTCC 7182) isolated from white grub, Anomala dimidiata (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

White grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are cosmopolitan and polyphagous insect pests of agricultural crops, forests and pastures around the world. The lack of an environmentally sound approach for white grub management has prompted the exploration and detection of a novel microbial biocontrol agent against these sub-terranean insect pests. In this study we describe the isolation, establishment of pathogenesis, biochemical characterization and phylogenetic analysis of an entomopathogenic Bacillus cereus strain WGPSB-2 (MTCC 7182), isolated from an atrophied pupa of Anomala dimidiata, collected from the N.W. Indian Himalayas. The sequencing and subsequent comparison of the 16S rDNA revealed that the strain has100% similarity with Bacillus cereus sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence revealed that the isolate is closely related to Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus sphaericus. In vitro bioassays showed that the isolate was able to infect and cause 92 and 67% mortality in second instar larvae of Anomala dimidiata and Holotrichia seticollis, respectively. The infected larvae exhibited bacterial septicemia like symptoms and mortality occurred between the third and ninth weeks after inoculation. The culture has been granted the accession number MTCC 7182 by the Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.     

Pressure Drops in a Distensible Model of End-to-side Anastomosis in Systemic-to-pulmonary Shunts

The modified Blalock-Taussig shunt is a surgical procedure used as a palliation to treat complex congenital heart defects. It consists of an interposing prosthetic tube between the innominate/subclavian artery and the right pulmonary artery. Previous experience indicates that the pressure drop across the shunt is affected by the pulmonary pressure at the distal anastomosis combined with the distensibility of the anastomosis. In this study, a computational fluid-structure interaction approach is presented to investigate the haemodynamic behaviour. Steady-state fluid dynamics and structural analyses were carried out using commercial codes based on the finite element method (FIDAP and ABAQUS) coupled by means of a purposely-developed procedure to transfer boundary conditions. Both prosthetic tube and artery walls were characterised by non-linear material properties. Three different pulmonary pressures (2, 5 and 15 mmHg) and two volume flow rates (0.4 and 0.8 l/min) were investigated. Results indicate that the effects of distensibility at the distal anastomosis on the shunt pressure drop are relevant only when the distal anastomosis on the shunt pressure drop are relevant only when the distal anastomosis is not fully distended, which occurs when the pulmonary pressure is lower than 5 mmHg.     

条形柄锈菌小麦专化型小种CYR29有性自交及毒性与无毒性基因的遗传分析

由条形柄锈菌小麦专化型(小麦条锈菌)Puccinia striiformisf.sp.tritici引起的条锈病是小麦上重大的生物灾害,严重威胁小麦安全生产.应用抗病品种是防治小麦条锈病最为经济有效的措施,但是条锈菌毒性的频繁变异,常常导致品种抗病性丧失,从而引发条锈病新的大流行.有性生殖是条锈菌毒性变异的重要途径,本...