Effect of water molecules on the fluorescence enhancement of Aflatoxin B1 mediated by Aflatoxin B1:beta-cyclodextrin complexes. A theoretical study.

In order to explain the observed fluorescence enhancement of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) when forming AFB1:beta-cyclodextrin (AFB1:beta-CD) inclusion complexes, we have performed a theoretical (quantum chemistry calculations) study of AFB1 and AFB1:beta-CD in vacuum and in the presence of aqueous solvent. The AM1 method was used to calculate the absorption and emission wavelengths of these molecules. With the help of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) vibrational frequencies and related excitation energies of AFB1 and AFB1.(H2O)m = 4,5,6,11 were calculated. On the basis of these calculations we propose a plausible mechanism for the fluorescence enhancement of AFB1 in the presence of beta-CD: (1) before photoexcitation of AFB1 to its S1 excited state, there is a vibrational coupling between the vibrational modes involving the AFB1 carbonyl groups and the bending modes of the nearby water molecules (CG + WM); (2) these interactions allow a thermal relaxation of the excited AFB1 molecules that results in fluorescence quenching; (3) when the AFB1 molecules form inclusion complexes with beta-CD the CG + WM interaction decreases; and (4) this gives rise to a fluorescence enhancement.     

Effect of Coronatine on Plant Cell Cultures

The effect of the phytotoxin coronatine, formed by pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae, on the plant cell cultures of Lycopersicon peruvianum, Lycopersicon esculentum, Chenopodium album and Solanum tuberosum was investigated. The parameters studied were growth, triphenyltetrazolium chloride activity (test for reductases), cell protein content and activities of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, both within the cells and in the culture liquid. The cultures of Lycopersicon peruvianum and Lycopersicon esculentum cultures were more sensitive than Chenopodium album and Solanum tuberosum. The more resistant cultures possess a high level of extracellular polyphenol oxidase.     

Aflatoxin B1 effect on beta-D-galactosidase in some starter cultures.

Six starter cultures were examined for their ability to induce beta-D-Galactosidase activity. The maximum (713 x 10(-4) units/ml) and minimum (140 x 10(-4) units/ml) enzyme activity was shown by Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptomyces thermophilus, respectively. The maximum inhibition by aflatoxin B1 of induction and activity of enzyme in vitro was observed at 60 micrograms/ml in all cultures. However, low levels of the toxin stimulated induction of the enzyme in Streptococcus lactis and S. thermophilus.     

Protective Effect of Selenium on Aflatoxin B1-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Mice

Aflatoxins have been considered as one of the major risk factors of male infertility, and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most highly toxic and prevalent member of the aflatoxins family. Selenium (Se), an essential nutritional trace mineral for normal testicular development and male fertility, has received extensive intensive on protective effects of male reproductive system due to its potential antioxidant and activating testosterone synthesis. To investigate the protective effect of Se on AFB1-induced testicular toxicity, the mice were orally administered with AFB1 (0.75 mg/kg) and Se (0.2 mg/kg or 0.4 mg/kg) for 45 days. We found that that Se elevated testes index, sperm functional parameters (concentration, malformation, and motility), and the level of serum testosterone in AFB1-exposed mice. Moreover, our results showed that Se attenuated the AFB1-induced oxidative stress and the reduction of testicular testosterone synthesis enzyme protein expression such as steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc), and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) in AFB1-exposed mice. These results demonstrated that Se conferred protection against AFB1-induced testicular toxicity and can be attributed to its antioxidant and increased testosterone level by stimulating protein expression of StAR and testosterone synthetic enzymes.     

Aflatoxin B1 Up-Regulates Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 and Stimulates Hepatoma Cell Migration

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent carcinogen that can induce hepatocellular carcinoma. AFB1-8,9-exo-epoxide, one of AFB1 metabolites, acts as a mutagen to react with DNA and induce gene mutations, including the tumor suppressor p53. In addition, AFB1 reportedly stimulates IGF receptor activation. Aberrant activation of IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) signaling is tightly associated with various types of human tumors. In the current study, we investigated the effects of AFB1 on key elements in IGF-IR signaling pathway, and the effects of AFB1 on hepatoma cell migration. The results demonstrated that AFB1 induced IGF-IR, Akt, and Erk1/2 phosphorylation in hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and SMMC-7721, and an immortalized human liver cell line Chang liver. AFB1 also down-regulated insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1 but paradoxically up-regulated IRS2 through preventing proteasomal degradation. Treatment of hepatoma cells and Chang liver cells with IGF-IR inhibitor abrogated AFB1-induced Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation. In addition, IRS2 knockdown suppressed AFB1-induced Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation. Finally, AFB1 stimulated hepatoma cell migration. IGF-IR inhibitor or IRS2 knockdown suppressed AFB1-induced hepatoma cell migration. These data demonstrate that AFB1 stimulates hepatoma cell migration through IGF-IR/IRS2 axis.     

Aflatoxin B1 induced hepatocarcinogenesis in neonatal rats.

Role of cell replication on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) induced hepatocarcinogenesis was investigated in neonatal rats showing persistence of cell replication in the liver for 21 days of post natal life. Adult (8-10 weeks old) rats displaying no hepatocytic proliferation served as controls. Three doses of AFB1 were administered to both the groups at intervals of 48 hr with the doses starting on 10th day of age in the neonatal group. Appearance of phenotypically altered preneoplastic hepatocytes was quantitated in both the groups. A significantly higher incidence of preneoplastic foci was recorded in neonatal rats as compared to adult animals. The results suggest that presence of cell replication in neonatal rats at the time of AFB1 administration enhances the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Protective Effect of Selenomethionine on Aflatoxin B1-Induced Oxidative Stress in MDCK Cells

AFB1 is a mycotoxin which exerts their cytotoxicity through increasing oxidative damage in target organ. Kidney is one of target organs vulnerable to damage caused by AFB1. In this study, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were used to evaluate the AFB1-induced cell damage by the MTT assay. The results revealed that the toxic effect of AFB1 on MDCK cells is both dose and time dependent. Half maximal toxic concentration (IC₅₀) was noted at 0.25 μg/ml of AFB1. Further, protective effect of six different concentrations (0.2, 0.8, 1, 2, 4, and 8 μM) of selenomethionine (SeMet) was observed against 0.25 μg/ml of AFB1-induced damage. The results showed that 0.25 μg/ml of AFB1 caused significant increase in oxidative stress, which was demonstrated by significant increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) level, reduction of intracellular GSH level, as well as GPX1 activity and mRNA level in MDCK cells when compared with control. SeMet protected the cells from AFB1-induced oxidative damage in a dose-dependant manner. Good protection could be achieved between 1 and 4 μM of concentration. Amid this range, MDA level significantly decreased while intracellular GSH level and GPX1 activity in addition to mRNA level significantly increased. Moreover, cell viability was significantly improved. It could be concluded that SeMet is a potential antioxidative agent to alleviate AFB1-induced oxidative stress.     

Aflatoxin B1 dihydrodiol antibody: production and specificity.

A specific antibody for 2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxyaflatoxin B1 (AFB1-diol) was prepared, and its reactivity was characterized for the major aflatoxin (AF) B1 (AFB1) metabolites. Reductive alkylation was used to conjugate AFB1-diol to ethylenediamine-modified bovine serum albumin (EDA-BSA) and horseradish peroxidase for use as an immunogen and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) marker, respectively. High reactant ratios, 1:5 and 1:10, for AFB1-diol-EDA-BSA (wt/wt) resulted in precipitated conjugates which were poorly immunogenic. However, a soluble conjugate obtained by using a 1:25 ratio of AFB1-diol to EDA-BSA could be used for obtaining high-titer AFB1-diol rabbit antibody within 10 weeks. Competitive ELISAs revealed that the AFB1-diol antibody detected as little as 1 pmol of AFB1-diol per assay. Cross-reactivity of AFB1-diol antibody in the competitive ELISA with AF analogs was as follows: AFB1-diol, 100%; AFB1, 200%; AFM1, 130%; AFB2a, 100%; AFG1, 6%; AFG2, 4%; aflatoxicol, 20%; AFQ1, 2%; AFB1-modified DNA, 32%; and 2,3-dihydro-2-(N7-guanyl)-3-hydroxy AFB1, 0.6%. These data indicated that the cyclopentanone and methoxy moieties of the AF molecule were the primary epitopes for the AFB1-diol antibody. The AFB1-diol competitive ELISA was subject to substantial interference by human, rat, and mouse serum albumins but not by BSA, Tris, human immunoglobulin G, or lysozyme. By using a noncompetitive, indirect ELISA with an AFB1-modified DNA solid phase, a modification level of one AFB1 residue for 200,000 nucleotides could be determined.     

Aflatoxin B1 Induction of Lysogenic Bacteria

A technique for biological verification of aflatoxin B(1) was developed based on toxin-mediated induction of lysis in a lysogenic strain of Bacillus megaterium NNRL B-3695. Reduction of culture turbidity was determined at various concentrations of toxin. Incubation of 1.1 x 10(-4) g (dry weight) of cells/ml of growth medium containing 25 mug of B(1) per ml at 37 C reduced initial turbidity 0.20 absorbance units in 4 hr. If the bacterial lysate of the lysogenic strain, after a 2-hr incubation with 25 mug of B(1) per ml, was plated with a sensitive B. megaterium strain (NRRL B-3694), plaque-forming units increased approximately 150 times relative to the control. Comparable testing of the effects of aflatoxin on the nonlysogenic, sensitive strain demonstrated that 75 mug of B(1) per ml neither induced lysis nor plaque-forming units. Although induction is not an exclusive property of aflatoxin B(1), the differential response of the lysogenic and sensitive Bacillus strains to B(1) offers a unique and rapid technique for biological verification of the toxin.     

Aflatoxin B(1): Cytotoxic mode of action evaluated by mammalian cell cultures

Aflaxton B(1) rapidly inhibits RNA synthesis in rat liver cells, slices or liver in vivo. Established human cells lines (kidney T-cells, HeLa S(3), Chang liver) and mouse fibroblast 3t3 are more slowly affected. Prolonged exposure of synchronized cell cultures to the agent show that cells are retarded in their passage through the S-phase and exhibit a decreased rate of DNA synthesis. Consequent to this, mitosis is also inhibited. Liver cells appear to convert aflatoxin B(1) to a more potent cytotoxin which can then affect normally non-susceptible cells. This may explain the susceptibility of liver to tumorogenesis by this carcinogen.     

Bioconversion of Aflatoxin G1 to Aflatoxin B3 by selected fungi

Aflatoxin G₁ (AFG₁) was transformed into aflatoxin B₃ (AFB₃) by the fungiRhodotorula sp,Sporobolomyces sp,Rhizopus oryzae NRRL395,Pythium ultimum, Aspergillus terreus, A clavatus and Penicillium frequentans grown in a medium containing AFG₁, Difco potato dextrose broth, yeast extract, and peptone both in liquid shaken cultures and in solid static cultures at 25°C in the dark. A maximum rate of transformation of 10 % was obtained after 2 to 3 weeks of incubation. The transformation was correlated with an increase in the pH of the media from 5.7 –5.9 to 8.3 – 8.8.Saccharomyces cerevisiae also transformed AFG₁ into AFB₃, but at a slower rate; the pH of the media did not reach above 8.0 until 5 weeks after incubation. No transformation was observed whenA niger andP chrysogenum were tested; in both cases, no increase in pH was noticed. However, some transformation of AFG₁ to AFB₃ by both fungi was observed when the initial pH of the media was adjusted to 9.0. The rate of transformation increased to 15 – 20% in the static culture where the same medium was adsorbed onto vermiculite andRhizopus andAspergilli gave the highest increase in AFB₃ yield.     

狂犬病毒CTN—1株在Vero细胞上的适应传代研究

本文报导了用我国狂犬病毒固定毒人二倍体细胞适应株（ＣＴＮ－１）进行Ｖｅｒｏ细胞适应传代研究。通过连续传代培养,滴度可达８．０１ｏｇＬＤ５０／ｍｌ,达到了ＷＨＯ规定的不需浓缩的标准。病毒用０．０１ＭＯＩ感染细胞其产量与１Ｍｏｌ感染量相仿。病毒增殖高峰在４－５天,维持达１５天无明显下降,且可连续收获４－５次。因此,该毒种符合ＷＨＯ提出的疫苗生产毒种要求,可用于狂犬病疫苗生产。     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白结合蛋白（HBXIP）对细胞周期的影响

与乙肝病毒X蛋白（HBX）的C端结合,它具有抑制HBX活性的作用. 为进一步阐明HBXIP对细胞增殖的作用及其分子机制,构建了HBXIP的真核表达载体,并将其稳定转染至正常人肝细胞系L-O2细胞中,建立了稳定表达HBXIP蛋白的肝细胞系,命名为L-O2-hbxip. 然后,应用MTT、BrdU标记实验和流式细胞术等方法,发现HBXIP过表达后,L-O2细胞的生长速度明显加快,可促进细胞由G₁期进入到S期,表明HBXIP具有促进L-O2-hbxip细胞增殖的作用.应用免疫印迹对有关细胞周期相关蛋白进行了检测. 结果显示,HBXIP过表达时可上调细胞周期蛋白D₁、细胞周期蛋白E的表达,并下调p21和p27的表达,从而调节细胞周期,产生对细胞增殖的影响.     

黄曲霉毒素B1生物脱毒的研究进展

黄曲霉毒素是一组由黄曲霉、寄生曲霉等多种真茵产生的次级代谢产物,具有强烈的毒性,可以引起动物肝脏肿大、病变甚至癌变,对人和家畜的健康产生极大的威胁。本文简介了黄曲霉毒素B_1的分子结构、理化性质、污染现状,综述了黄曲霉毒素B_1生物脱毒方面及其应用的研究进展,重点讲述通过微生物降解黄曲霉毒素B_1的研究近况。     

Mouse Epidermal Neural Crest Stem Cell (EPI-NCSC) Cultures

EPI-NCSC are remnants of the embryonic neural crest in an adult location, the bulge of hair follicles. They are multipotent stem cells that have the physiological property to generate a wide array of differentiated cell types, including neurons, nerve supporting cells, smooth muscle cells, bone/cartilage cells and melanocytes. EPI-NCSC are easily accessible in the hairy skin and can be isolated as a highly pure population of stem cells. This video provides a detailed protocol for preparing mouse EPI-NCSC cultures from whisker follicles. The whisker pad of an adult mouse is removed, and whisker follicles dissected. The follicles are then cut longitudinally and subsequently transversely above and below the bulge region. The bulge is removed from the collagen capsule and placed in a culture plate. EPI-NCSC start to emigrate from the bulge explants 3 to 4 days later.Download video file.^{(94M, mp4)}     

Cryopreservation of Alkaloid-Producing Cell Cultures of Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)

A procedure for cryogenic storage of alkaloid producing cell lines of periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don., has been developed. The procedure differs from established cryopreservation protocols in several aspects. Specifically, 4-day-old suspension subcultures of three cell lines were precultured in nutrient media supplemented with 1 molar sorbitol for 6 to 20 hours. The cells were then incubated in nutrient media with 1 molar sorbitol plus 5% DMSO in an ice bath for 1 hour and, thereafter, were frozen in this solution at a cooling rate of 0.5°C per minute to −40°C prior to immersion in liquid nitrogen (LN). After rapid thawing in a 40°C water bath, the regrowth of LN stored cells was achieved by transferring them without washing onto filter paper discs over nutrient media solidified with agar for a period of 4 to 5 hours. The filter paper discs with the cells were then transferred to fresh media of the same composition for regrowth. The viability immediately after thawing as evaluated by the 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride method was about 60% of controls. Suspension cultures established from LN stored cells retained the capability for alkaloid synthesis and accumulation.     

乙型肝炎病毒和黄曲霉素协同作用诱发人肝细胞癌细胞株的建立

为了研究人乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）和黄曲霉素（AFB1）在肝癌发生过程中的作用,我们用HBV感染的人胚胎肝细胞移植至裸鼠背部皮下,以后每周皮下注射AFB1,在裸鼠体内成功地诱发了人肝细胞癌。选3只裸鼠所形成的肿瘤组织,分别再接种裸鼠传代。在裸鼠体内传至5代后,将瘤组织在体外培养、传代,建立了3个肝癌细胞株,分别为CBH－1a、CBH－1b和CBH－2。对3个细胞株进行生物学特性分析发现,细胞生长迅速,接触抑制消失,细胞增殖核主数Ki67阳性细胞占38．2％,用EMA单抗检测证实为人来源细胞,核酸原位杂交显示,细胞中HBV－X和HBV－S基因阳性,PCR可扩增出X基因,证明HBV基因已到瘤细胞中,3个细胞株细胞再接种裸鼠皮下,可再生成肿瘤,此实验证明了HBV协同AFB1在个肝细胞癌发生过程中的病因作用。同时,为进一步研究HBV和AFB1在肝癌发生过程中的分子机制提供了细胞水平的模型。     

Caryocyst-Like Host Cell Formation by Caryospora duszynskii (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in Human Fetal Lung Cell Cultures1

ABSTRACT. Sporozoites of the coccidium, Caryospora duszynskii, penetrated human fetal lung cell cultures but did not undergo asexual or sexual multiplication during a 29-day observation period. Beginning three days postinoculation (PI), infected host cells lost their normal elongated fibroblast-like shape and became ellipsoidal in appearance and resembled caryocysts. These caryocyst-like infected cells were observed from 3 through 29 days PI. Sporozoites remained viable throughout the study as evidenced by motility of extracellular sporozoites in infected human fetal lung cell cultures. Results of this in vitro study suggest that some species of Caryospora may form caryocysts in secondary hosts without undergoing asexual or sexual multiplication in these hosts.