Substance P-like immunoreactive nerve fibers in the pars distalis of the anterior pituitary in the dog

Summary The pars distalis of the anterior pituitary is known to be regulated by hypothalamic hormones. Recently, we have discovered the presence of substance P-like immunoreactive nerve fibers in the pars distalis of the monkeys. Substance P-like immunoreactivity in the pars distalis of the dog was investigated in this study. A substantial amount of substance P-like immunoreactive nerve fibers with a large amount of varicosities were found. They were widely distributed in the gland, more abundant along its periphery. Most of them were closely related to the glandular tissue, some were located on vascular walls. Substance P-like immunoreactive nerve fibers were also found in the meningeal sheath of the anterior pituitary. They could be followed into the parenchyma of the gland.     

Optimized fed-batch fermentation of L-β-hydroxy isobutyric acid by Yarrowia lipolytica

Yarrowia lipolytica KCCM50506, which transforms isobutyric acid to L-#-hydroxy isobutyric acid (L-#-HIBA), was screened. Chemostat cultures were carried out in jar fermentors at dilution rates of 0.02 h^у to 0.12 h^у. L-#-HIBA fermentation-regulating factors were determined to be specific growth rate, and concentrations of glucose and isobutyric acid in fermentor from analysis of steady-state data. The specific productivity of L-#-HIBA increased as the specific growth rate increased, apparently as a growth-associated type of product formation. A fed-batch culture was carried out under optimum conditions where the concentrations of glucose and isobutyric acid in the fermentor were maintained at 23 g l^у and 9 g l^у, respectively. The concentrations of cells and L-#-HIBA obtained at the end of fermentation were 20 g l^у and 49 g l^у, respectively, corresponding to 2.0 and 2.7 times more than concentrations in batch culture.     

Analysis of rhamnolipid biosurfactants by methylene blue complexation

Rhamnolipids, produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, represent an important group of biosurfactants having various industrial, environmental, and medical applications. Current methods for rhamnolipid quantification involve the use of strong hazardous acids/chemicals, indirect measurement of the concentration of sugar moiety, or require the availability of expensive equipment (HPLC-MS). A safer, easier method that measures the whole rhamnolipid molecules would significantly enhance strain selection, metabolic engineering, and process development for economical rhamnolipid production. A semi-quantitative method was reported earlier to differentiate between the rhamnolipid-producing and non-producing strains using agar plates containing methylene blue and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). In this study, a rapid and simple method for rhamnolipid analysis was developed by systematically investigating the complexation of rhamnolipids and methylene blue, with and without the presence of CTAB. The method relies on measuring the absorbance (at 638 nm) of the rhamnolipid−methylene blue complex that partitions into the chloroform phase. With P. aeruginosa fermentation samples, the applicability of this method was verified by comparison of the analysis results with those obtained from the commonly used anthrone reaction technique.     

利用假型反转录病毒对大部分胰腺切除后再生细胞的世系追踪

胰腺是一个重要的内外分泌混合腺, 胰腺发生损伤后能够再生。为了探讨胰腺活体细胞世系追踪的方法和胰腺损伤后再生细胞的来源,分别通过胰腺伤口涂抹并胰内注射、尾静脉注射及腹腔注射三种方法, 利用假型反转录病毒对成体小鼠大部分切除后胰腺的细胞进行世系追踪。结果发现在活体条件下, 与尾静脉注射及腹腔注射法相比, 胰腺伤口涂抹并胰腺内注射反转录病毒的方法能够更有效的标记胰腺细胞; 而且, 通过对标记细胞的世系追踪研究证明, 在胰腺损伤后, 胰腺腺泡细胞能够接受损伤信号刺激发生再生。为今后进一步利用反转录假病毒对活体胰腺进行细胞命运追踪研究奠定基础, 为利用反转录病毒载体进行胰腺疾病的基因治疗提供线索。     

Molecular genetic characterization of H5N1 influenza virus strains isolated from poultry in the Kurgan region in 2005

In the second half of 2005, a large-scale outbreak of influenza in poultry and wild birds was caused by a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in Russia. The level of pathogenicity is a polygenic trait, and most individual genes contribute to the influenza A virus pathogenicity in birds, animals, and humans. The full-length nucleotide sequences were determined for H5N1 strains isolated in the Kurgan region (Western Siberia). The structure of viral proteins was analyzed using the deduced amino acid sequences. The receptor-binding site of hemagglutinin (HA) in strains A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 and A/duck/Kurgan/08/2005 was typical for avian influenza viruses and contained Glu and Gly at positions 226 and 228, respectively. The structure of the basic amino acid cluster located within the HA cleavage site was identical in all isolates: QGERRRKKR. According to the neuraminidase structure, all H5N1 isolates from the Kurgan region were assigned to the Z genotype. Amino acid residues typical for the avian influenza virus were revealed in 30 out of 32 positions of M1, M2, NP, PA, and PB2, determining the host range specificity. One of the strains contained Lys at position 627 of PB2. Isolates from the Kurgan region were shown to have a remantadine-sensitive genotype. Both strains contained Glu at position 92 of NS1, indicating that the virus is interferon-resistant. Phylogenetic analysis related the Kurgan isolates to subclade 2 of clade 2 of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses.     

A Refined Model for the Structure of Acireductone Dioxygenase from Klebsiella ATCC 8724 Incorporating Residual Dipolar Couplings

Acireductone dioxygenase (ARD) from Klebsiella ATCC 8724 is a metalloenzyme that is capable of catalyzing different reactions with the same substrates (acireductone and O₂) depending upon the metal bound in the active site. A model for the solution structure of the paramagnetic Ni²⁺-containing ARD has been refined using residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) measured in two media. Additional dihedral restraints based on chemical shift (TALOS) were included in the refinement, and backbone structure in the vicinity of the active site was modeled from a crystallographic structure of the mouse homolog of ARD. The incorporation of residual dipolar couplings into the structural refinement alters the relative orientations of several structural features significantly, and improves local secondary structure determination. Comparisons between the solution structures obtained with and without RDCs are made, and structural similarities and differences between mouse and bacterial enzymes are described. Finally, the biological significance of these differences is considered.     

Genetic co-transfer of CCR7 ligands enhances immunity and prolongs survival against virulent challenge of pseudorabies virus

The CC chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) and cognate CCR7 ligands, CCL19 and CCL21, help establish microenvironments in lymphoid tissue that can facilitate encounters between naive T cells and mature dendritic cells (DCs). This study was conducted to determine if CCR7 ligands can augment the immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine that expresses glycoprotein B (gB) of the pseudorabies virus (PrV). The genetic co-transfer of CCR7 ligands along with a PrV DNA vaccine increased the levels of serum PrV-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G by 2- to 2.5-fold. In addition, the level of PrV-specific IgG2a isotype was significantly enhanced by co-injection of CCR7 ligand DNA, which indicates that CCR7 ligand biases the humoral immunity toward the Th1-type pattern. The co-injection of CCR7 ligand DNA consistently enhanced the level of Th1-type cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) produced by stimulated immune cells when compared with a group that was vaccinated with the PrV DNA vaccine. Also, the genetic co-transfer of CCR7 ligand DNAs with PrV DNA vaccine provided prolonged survival against a virulent challenge by PrV. Moreover, the co-administration of CCR7 ligand DNA increased the number of mature DCs into the secondary lymphoid tissues, which appeared to enhance the proliferation of PrV-immune CD4(+) T cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that CCR7 ligands are an attractive adjuvant for a PrV DNA vaccine that can offer protective immunity against the PrV.