Hyphal morphogenesis in Aspergillus nidulans

The formation of hyphae that grow solely by apical extension is a defining feature of filamentous fungi. Hyphal morphogenesis involves several key steps, including the establishment and maintenance of a stable polarity axis, as well as cell division via the deposition of septa. Several filamentous fungi have been employed in attempts to decipher the mechanisms underlying these steps. Amongst these fungi, Aspergillus nidulans has proven to be a particularly valuable model. The genetic tractability of this fungus coupled with the availability of sophisticated post-genomics resources has enabled the identification and characterization of numerous genes involved in hyphal morphogenesis. Here, we summarize current progress towards understanding the function of these genes and the mechanisms involved in polarized hyphal growth and septation in A. nidulans. We also highlight important areas for future investigation.     

Cardiac Fibroblasts Contribute to Myocardial Dysfunction in Mice with Sepsis: The Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

Myocardial contractile dysfunction in sepsis is associated with the increased morbidity and mortality. Although the underlying mechanisms of the cardiac depression have not been fully elucidated, an exaggerated inflammatory response is believed to be responsible. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an intracellular platform that is involved in the maturation and release of interleukin (IL)-1β. The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether sepsis activates NLRP3 inflammasome/caspase-1/IL-1β pathway in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and whether this cytokine can subsequently impact the function of cardiomyocytes (cardiac fibroblast-myocyte cross-talk). We show that treatment of CFs with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces upregulation of NLRP3, activation of caspase-1, as well as the maturation (activation) and release of IL-1β. In addition, the genetic (small interfering ribonucleic acid [siRNA]) and pharmacological (glyburide) inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome in CFs can block this signaling pathway. Furthermore, the inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome in cardiac fibroblasts ameliorated the ability of LPS-chalenged CFs to impact cardiomyocyte function as assessed by intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responses in cardiomyocytes. Salient features of this the NLP3 inflammasome/ caspase-1 pathway were confirmed in in vivo models of endotoxemia/sepsis. We found that inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome attenuated myocardial dysfunction in mice with LPS and increased the survival rate in mice with feces-induced peritonitis. Our results indicate that the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in cardiac fibroblasts is pivotal in the induction of myocardial dysfunction in sepsis.     

Effect of adenovirus and influenza virus infection on obesity

The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the effects of adenovirus and influenza virus infections on obesity in various experimental models. We reviewed studies that were conducted within the past 10 years and were related to virus infection and obesity prevalence. Here, we discuss a different causal relationship between adenovirus and influenza infections with obesity. Adenovirus infection can cause obesity, whereas obesity can be a risk factor for increasing influenza virus infection and increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of obesity due to adenovirus infections may be due to an increase in glucose uptake and reduction in lipolysis caused by an increase in corticosterone secretion. Adenovirus infections may lead to increases in appetite by decreasing norepinephrine and leptin levels and also cause immune dysfunction. The relationship between obesity and influenza virus infection could be summarized by the following features: decreases in memory T-cell functionality and interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-β, and IFN-γ mRNA expression, increases in viral titer and infiltration, and impaired dendritic cell function in obese individuals. Moreover, leptin resistance may play an important role in increasing influenza virus infections in obese individuals. In conclusion, prevention of adenovirus infections could be a good approach for reducing obesity prevalence, and prevention of obesity could reduce influenza virus infections from the point of view of viral infections and obesity.     

Lactate from cultures of Lactobacillus casei recovered in a fluidized bed column using ion exchange resin

Summary Lactic acid produced by continuous culture of L.casei in an upflow packed bed reactor, was recovered with Amberlite IRA 400 in a fluidized bed column. Bed expansions of 1.25 and 2.25 were applied. Reutilization did not alter the capability of net recovery of 0.048 ± 0.01 g lactic acid/g resin. When 2200 cm/h of ascensional velocity was used, (bed expansion of 2.25), the resin adsorbed 39.3% of the initial lactic acid and 63.5% was eluted. This resin supported the highest exchange capacity of 0.126 g lactic acid/g resin. Applying high flow rates, the process has potential industrial applications due to the short time employed.     

药用植物肿节枫诱导前噬菌体有效组分的分析

在11种溶原性细菌系统中,以双层琼脂平板-纸片法检测药用植物肿节枫对前噬菌体的诱导作用,表明温和性噬菌体φ52 Ⅰ溶原化的金黄色葡萄球菌2009,对肿节枫的诱导反应最为敏感。其它溶原性菌株,包括曾用以筛选抗肿瘤药物的大肠杆菌K_(12)(λ)-K_(12)S系统都呈阴性反应。化学成分的进一步分析说明,仅肿节枫黄酮糖苷组分Ⅰ具有诱导活性。并与丝裂霉素C作了比较。     

鳜鱼的耗氧率及其池塘养殖

本文较详细地报道了鳜鱼的耗氧率和窒息点,并对鳜鱼和作其饲料的鱼同池饲养的可能性进行了探讨。结果表明,鳜鱼耗氧量和体重正相关（ｒ＝０．９９）,耗氧率与体重反相关（ｒ＝－０．９７）;在水温２０℃,鱼种耗氧率约为０．１４ｍｇ／ｇ．ｈ．,成鱼约为０．１２ｍｇ／ｇ．ｈ．;耗氧量和耗氧率均与水温正相关（ｒ＝０．９０,ｒ＝０．９４）,水温１３—３０℃时,体重２３０±１１．７ｇ的鳜鱼。耗氧量为１４．３１—４２．１３ｍｇ／尾。ｈ．,耗氧率为０．０５９—０．１７５ｍｇ／ｇ．ｈ．;鳜鱼耗氧率昼夜变化与家鱼相反,黄昏至凌晨是高峰期,为０．１２—０．１５ｍｇ／ｇ．ｈ．（Ｔ＝２０℃）,白天是低谷期,为０．０７—０．１０ｍｇ／ｇ．ｈ;;鳜鱼的窒息点与家鱼类较接近,变化范围为０．４５—０．７６ｍｇ／Ｌ;鳜鱼和作其饲料的鱼在同一池塘中饲养,既可持续不断地提供鳜鱼充足的适口饵料,又简单易行,成本低,效益高,有较大的价值。     

转移及非转移肿瘤移植后615小鼠血液流变学变化的研究

血道高转移瘤株FC、淋巴合并血道高转移瘤株U14、淋巴道高转移瘤株H22、非转移瘤株P615分别接种于336只纯系近交615小鼠.不同时间取血并处死动物,进行组织学及血液流变学检查.将转移瘤发展过程分为潜伏期、侵袭期、转移早、中、晚期,非转移瘤发展过程分为潜优期、增殖期、囊腔形成期及中心坏死期.本实验结果显示,不同转移能力及途径肿瘤发展的不同时期血液流变学变化规律不同,因而表明肿瘤侵袭、转移与血液流变学变化之间存在互为因果的紧密关系.其临床诊断及治疗意义被讨论.     

雪灾干扰后林冠开阔度对黄心树幼苗更新的影响

幼苗更新是森林更新的关键过程,而林窗对于植物幼苗更新、生长及最终存活具有重要影响。极端气候事件会使森林在短时间内形成大量林窗,从而显著影响林内幼苗更新和存活。本研究以2015年雪灾后云南省哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林优势种黄心树(Machilus bombycina)幼苗为对象,对194个1 m×1 m样方中的幼苗生长和死亡动态进行为期4年的监测,利用线性混合模型(LMM)和广义线性混合模型(GLMM),分析林冠开阔度对幼苗高度相对生长率、叶片相对增长率、新增率和死亡率的影响,研究了雪灾干扰后的林冠开阔度对植物幼苗更新的影响。结果表明:(1)林冠开阔度随时间推移逐渐变小(20.07%～9.97%),且速度由快到慢;(2) 2015—2016年,已有幼苗高度相对生长率与林冠开阔度呈显著正相关(P<0.05),其余年份两者间无显著相关性; 2016—2017年已有幼苗叶片相对增长率与林冠开阔度呈显著正相关(P<0.05),其余年份两者间无显著相关性;(3)林冠开阔度与幼苗新增率和死亡率均无显著相关性。本研究表明,雪灾后造成的林冠开阔度增加有利于黄心树幼苗生长。