Complete genome sequence of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus containing a heterogeneic staphylococcal cassette chromosome element

Staphylococcus aureus is a common human bacterium that sometimes becomes pathogenic,causing serious infections.A key feature of S.aureus is its ability to acquire resistance to antibiotics.The presence of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome(SCC) element in serotypes of S.aureus has been confirmed using multiplex PCR assays.The SCC element is the only vector known to carry the mecA gene,which encodes methicillin resistance in S.aureus infections.Here,we report the genome sequence of a novel methicillin-sensitive S.aureus(MSSA) strain:SCC-like MSSA463.This strain was originally erroneously serotyped as methicillin-resistant S.aureus in a clinical laboratory using multiplex PCR methods.We sequenced the genome of SCC-like MSSA463 using pyrosequencing techniques and compared it with known genome sequences of other S.aureus isolates.An open reading frame(CZ049;AB037671) was identified downstream of attL and attR inverted repeat sequences.Our results suggest that a lateral gene transfer occurred between S.aureus and other organisms,partially changing S.aureus infectivity.We propose that attL and attR inverted repeats in S.aureus serve as frequent insertion sites for exogenous genes.     

Establishment of a highly efficient hematopoietic differentiation model from human embryonic stem cells for functional screening

Human embryonic stem cells(hESCs)have been successfully differentiated into hematopoietic progenitor cells with colony formation capacity and further into various kinds of blood cells including erythrocytes,megakaryocytes,neutrophils,nature killer cells and T lymphocytes[1 7].Nevertheless,the differentiation efficiency is extremely low.     

Prevalence and evolution of drug resistance HIV-1 variants in Henan, China

To understand the prevalence and evolution of drug resistant HIV strains in Henan China after the implementation of free antiretroviral therapy for AIDS patients. 45 drug naive AIDS patients, 118 AIDS patients who received three months antiretroviral therapy and 124 AIDS patients who received six months antiretroviral treatment were recruited in the southern part of Henan province. Information on general condition, antiretroviral medicines, adherence and clinical syndromes were collected by face to face interview. Meanwhile, 14ml EDTA anticoagulant blood was drawn. CD4/CD8 T cell count, viral load and genotypic drug resistance were tested. The rates of clinical improvement were 55.1% and 50.8% respectively three months and six months after antiretroviral therapy. The mean CD4 cell count after antiretroviral therapy was significantly higher than in drug naive patients. The prevalence rate of drug resistant HIV strains were 13.9%, 45.4% and 62.7% in drug naive patients, three month treatment patients and six month treatment patients, respectively. The number of resistance mutation codons and the frequency of mutations increased significantly with continued antiretroviral therapy. The mutation sites were primarily at the 103, 106 and 215 codons in the three-month treatment group and they increased to 15 codon mutations in the six-month treatment group. From this result, the evolution of drug resistant strains was inferred to begin with the high level NNRTI resistant strain, and then develop low level resistant strains to NRTIs. The HIV strains with high level resistance to NVP and low level resistance to AZT and DDI were highly prevalent because of the AZT＋DDI＋NVP combination therapy. These HIV strains were also cross resistant to DLV, EFV, DDC and D4T. Poor adherence to therapy was believed to be the main reason for the emergence and prevalence of drug resistant HIV strains. The prevalence of drug resistant HIV strains was increased with the continuation of antiretroviral therapy in the southern part of Henan province. Measures, that could promote high level adherence, provide new drugs and change ART regimens in failing patients, should be implemented as soon as possible.     

基于胆汁酸代谢网络分析绞股蓝总皂苷降脂作用的机制

绞股蓝总皂苷具有显著的降低血脂的作用,然而其机制尚未明确。课题组在前期研究的基础上,将33只C57BL/6J雄性小鼠随机分为3组,对照组(ND组)、模型组(HFD组)和绞股蓝皂苷组(HFD+GP组),分别给予维持饲料和高脂饲料,从16周开始,每日分别灌胃给予绞股蓝总皂250 mg/kg和等体积的空白溶剂,至38周,收集小鼠的血清和肝脏样本。通过HE染色观察肝脏组织的病理变化,检测血清总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白水平,利用UPLC-MS/MS技术对小鼠肝脏14种胆汁酸含量进行分析,采用实时荧光定量PCR检测Cyp7a1、Cyp8b1、Fxr、Shp、Lrh1、Hnf4α基因表达水平。与对照组比较,模型组有明显的脂肪泡结构,给予绞股蓝总皂苷可以明显减轻肝脏组织的病理改变。与模型组比较,绞股蓝总皂苷可以显著降低血清中TC和LDL-C含量,显著降低肝脏中牛磺熊去氧胆酸(TUDCA)、甘氨鹅去氧胆酸(GCDCA)和甘氨脱氧胆酸(GDCA)含量,显著升高肝脏中鹅去氧胆酸(CDCA)、脱氧胆酸(DCA)和牛磺脱氧胆酸(TDCA)含量,并在上调肝脏Cyp7a1、Cyp8b1、Fxr和Lrh1基因表达的同时下调Shp的基因表达。绞股蓝总皂苷降脂作用的潜在靶点可能与FXR介导的胆汁酸代谢通路有关,为进一步深入探讨绞股蓝总皂苷降脂作用及其机制提供了参考。     

中华眼镜蛇短链神经毒素cDNA的克隆及在大肠杆菌中的表达

利用RT-PCR 技术从中华眼镜蛇毒腺组织中成功地克隆了短链神经毒素cDNA。测序结果表明,该基因开放阅读框架编码83个氨基酸残基,其中21个为信号肽,成熟肽为62个氨基酸残基。该基因与GenBank 报道的相同物种的神经毒素基因有相当的同源性,不同物种之间的信号肽序列十分保守。将短链神经毒素cDNA再经PCR扩增除去信号肽序列,克隆到pT7ZZ表达质粒中,转化E. coli BL21(DE3)后,经IPTG诱导可高效表达分子量为23kDa②左右的融合蛋白。表达产物占菌体总蛋白的25%左右。 Abstract:A novel short-chain neurotoxin cDNA was cloned from Chinese cobra venom by RT-PCR. The cDNA was cloned into the pGEM-T vector and sequenced. It has a ORF encoding 83 amino acid residues and a 21 residues signal peptide. This neurotoxin gene of Chinese cobra was highly homogeneous to the short-chain neurotoxin gene of similar species reported in GenBank. Among the genes of neurotoxin from different species, the signal peptides were very conserved. The cDNA encoding the mature peptide was amplified by PCR and was cloned into pT7ZZ vector. The recombinant vector was transformed into E. coliBL2(DE3). The E. coli highly expressed the fusion protein whose mollecular weight is 23kDa, after induced by 0.1 mol/L IPTG. The expressed protein was accumulated up to more than 25% of total bacterial protein.     

小麦多小穗品系10-A单株籽粒产量染色体效应的研究

本文以不分枝普通多小穗品系10-A为被测材料,中国春和阿勃两套单体系列为测验系,对单株籽粒产量进行了单体分析。结果表明,被测系10-A单株籽粒产量受5A、7A、1B、2B、6B、2D和7D等染色体上的基因所控制。其中,5A、7A、2D和7D染色体上的基因表现为增效,1B、2B和6B染色体上的基因表现为减效。就作用强度而言,7A、1B、2D染色体上的基因表现为强效,5A、2B、6B和7D染色体上的基因表现为弱效。Abstract:Monosomic analysis of grain yield per plant was carried out in the common wheat (Triticum aestivam L.) multispikelet line 10-A, by using the monosomic series of the two regular lines, “Chinese Spring ” and “Abbondanza”. The grain yield per plant of the tested line 10-A was found to be controlled by seven pairs of genes, located on the chromosomes 5A、7A、2D、 7D (with increase effect) and 1B、2B、6B (with decrease effect). Of these, the chromosomes 7A、1B and 2D might carry major effect genes, and the chromosomes 5A、2B、6B and 7D might carry minor effect genes.According to analysis of the results in the past studies and the present, I was speculated that the new gene governing grain yield per plant was probably carried on the chromosome 1B of the tested line 10-A.     

Two New Saponins from Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl.

To investigate the saponins from whole plants of Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl., two new saponins, named capilliposide E (1) and capilliposide F (2), were isolated. The structures of the new sa ponins were elucidated as 3 β, 22α-dihydroxy- 16α-acetat-28→ 13 -lactone-oleanane-3 -O- [β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-α-L-arabinpyranoyl]-22-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 3 β, 22α-dihydroxy- 16α-acetat-28→ 13-1actone-oleanane-3-O- { [β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-arabinpyranoyl }-22-O-βD-glucopyranoside (2). The structures of these compounds were determined by 1D- and 2D-NMR, MS techniques, and chemical methods.     

HIV/AID Research in China： Chasing against Time

The spread of HIV in China has lasted for over 20 years,and is marked by three periods:sporadic period(1984-1988),localized epidemic period(1989-1994),     

小麦蛋白质组分含量的配合力和遗传力分析

利用5个小麦亲本,按Griffing方法4组配一套完全双列杂交,研究小麦籽粒蛋白质组分的配合力和遗传力。结果表明,同一性状不同亲本的一般配合力效应和不同组合间的特殊配合力效应差异都较大。球蛋白、醇溶蛋白和谷蛋白含量的遗传主要受加性基因控制,清蛋白含量的遗传不存在加性基因作用,以显性基因作用为主。 Abstract：　A set of diallel crosses involving 5 wheat parents, according to the random model of Griffing Method 4, was made to study the combining ability and heritability of grain protein components in wheat. The results indicated that GCA effects of different parents for the same trait varied significantly. And SCA effects of different combination studied varied obviously. The inheritance of globulin, gliadin and glutenin contents were mainly controlled by additive genes. Dominant genes functioned mainly on albumin content without additive gene.