Analysis of the serotype-specific epitopes of avian infectious bronchitis virus strains Ark99 and Mass41.

The Ark and Mass serotype-specific epitopes of infectious bronchitis virus were studied by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation of mutant and recombinant spike glycoproteins (S protein) expressed in mouse L cells. Serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies could bind to the recombinant proteins of Ark99 and Mass41 expressed from the chimeras in which the N-terminal thirds of the S1 sequences were reciprocally exchanged. Therefore, it appears that the respective serotype-specific epitopes of both strains were localized within the C-terminal two-thirds of the S1 proteins. Deletion and insertion of a five-amino-acid fragment on the S1 proteins of Ark99 and Mass41, altered the serotype-specific epitopes. This result implies that the five-amino-acid insertion on the S1 protein of the Ark serotype was involved in determining the conformation of the protein, probably acting as a spacer. In addition, it appears that an interaction between sequences of the N-terminal third and the remaining portion of the S1 protein determines the tertiary structure of the protein as well as the conformation of the serotype-specific epitope.     

RFLP-based maps of the homoeologous group-6 chromosomes of wheat and their application in the tagging of Pm12, a powdery mildew resistance gene transferred from Aegilops speltoides to wheat

Genetic maps of the homoeologous group-6 chromosomes of bread wheat, Triticum aestivum, have been constructed spanning 103 cM on 6A, 90 cM on 6B and 124 cM on 6D. These maps were transferred to a Chinese Spring (CS) x line #31 cross to locate a dominant powdery mildew resistance gene, Pm12, introgressed into line #31 from Aegilops speltoides. Pm12 was shown to lie on the short arm of translocation chromosome 6BS-6SS.6SL in line #31, but could not be mapped more precisely due to the lack of recombination between the 6S Ae. speltoides segment and chromosome 6B. Possible strategies to reduce the size of the alien segment, which probably encompasses the complete long arm and more than 82% of the short arm of chromosome 6B, are discussed.     

On the existence of stable pairing distributions

We formulate and analyze pair-formation models for multiple groups with general pairing rates and arbitrary mixing probabilities. Under the assumption of constant recruitment rates and equal average duration of all types of partnerships, we have shown that the dynamics are relatively simple because of the monotonicity properties of the dynamical system associated with the pairing/mixing of heterogeneous populations of male and female individuals. In fact, we have shown that the corresponding asymptotic stable paired distribution is given precisely by the asymptotic values of the matrices that prescribe the mixing/contact structure. In other words, if the sizes of the mixing subpopulations of males and females are asymptotically constant and if the average durations of partnerships are about the same regardless of type, then the matrices that describe the mixing between subpopulations also characterize the distribution of paired types. Alternatively, if the distribution of the average duration of relationships between individuals has a large variance then it may be impossible to detect any relationship between the mixing/contact structure and the observed distribution of paired types. The study of models with constant per-capita recruitment rates give rise to homogeneous systems of degree one. The analysis of the dynamics of pairs for models with exponentially growing populations of singles is complicated. So far, we are only able to classify the stability of all non-strictly positive boundary exponential solutions. From our incomplete analysis, it is not possible to detect necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence and stability of strictly interior exponential solutions. We cannot rule out the possibility of oscillations. The mathematical problems associated with the stability of exponential solutions of dynamical systems of degree one are of relevance in demography, epidemiology, and population dynamics.On leave from University of Alabama in Huntsville     

SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like pathological damages and constitutes an antiviral target

Cytokine storm and multi-organ failure are the main causes of SARS-CoV-2-related death. However, the origin of excessive damages caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (2-E) protein alone is able to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like damages in vitro and in vivo. 2-E proteins were found to form a type of pH-sensitive cation channels in bilayer lipid membranes. As observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, heterologous expression of 2-E channels induced rapid cell death in various susceptible cell types and robust secretion of cytokines and chemokines in macrophages. Intravenous administration of purified 2-E protein into mice caused ARDS-like pathological damages in lung and spleen. A dominant negative mutation lowering 2-E channel activity attenuated cell death and SARS-CoV-2 production. Newly identified channel inhibitors exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and excellent cell protective activity in vitro and these activities were positively correlated with inhibition of 2-E channel. Importantly, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of the channel inhibitor effectively reduced both the viral load and secretion of inflammation cytokines in lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE-2). Our study supports that 2-E is a promising drug target against SARS-CoV-2.Subject terms: Cell death, Molecular biology     

转Bt基因棉花对烟粉虱天敌昆虫龟纹瓢虫的影响

在实验室控制条件下,以转Bt基因棉花GK12、33B、SGK321上的烟粉虱为食料饲养龟纹瓢虫,研究转Bt基因棉花上的烟粉虱对龟纹瓢虫生长发育及捕食的影响,同时利用Y型嗅觉仪,观察龟纹瓢虫对来自不同类型棉花的棉叶及其烟粉虱的嗅觉反应和视觉反应。结果表明,转Bt基因棉花和对应的常规棉亲本上的烟粉虱对龟纹瓢虫的发育历期和存活率没有明显的影响。龟纹瓢虫对棉花叶片、烟粉虱若虫、蜜露、蜕等4种物质的视觉反应之间没有明显的差异。对4种嗅源物质的嗅觉选择性的大小依次为：烟粉虱若虫＞蜕＞棉花＞蜜露;在两类不同的棉花之间,转基因棉花和常规棉,龟纹瓢虫对GK12、33B、SGK321等三种转基因棉花上的烟粉虱若虫的嗅觉选择性明显较对应的常规棉亲本SM3、33、SY321上的烟粉虱若虫小;对烟粉虱若虫的蜕,两种转单价基因棉花GK12、33B较对应的常规棉亲本上的小,而转双价基因的棉花SGK321上与对应的常规棉之间没有明显的差异。烟粉虱密度大于200头.皿_-1时,龟纹瓢虫捕食转基因棉花上烟粉虱的数量大于对应的常规棉花亲本,但烟粉虱密度小于200头.皿_-1时,龟纹瓢虫捕食转基因棉花上烟粉虱的数量小于对应的常规棉花亲本。龟纹瓢虫对烟粉虱的捕食符合HollingⅡ型反应。龟纹瓢虫取食转基因棉花上的烟粉虱的理论极限值、瞬间攻击率均大于常规棉花。     

shRNA‑mediated knockdown of KNTC1 inhibits non-small-cell lung cancer through regulating PSMB8

In view of the important roles played by Kinetochore proteins in mitosis, we believed that they may contribute to the development and progression of human cancers, which has been reported recently elsewhere. Kinetochore-associated 1 (KNTC1) participates in the segregation of sister chromatids during mitosis, the effects of which on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. Here, we sought to identify the biological significance of KNTC1 in NSCLC. KNTC1 protein expression in NSCLC tissues was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Lentivirus delivered short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was utilized to establish KNTC1 silence NSCLC cell lines. The effects of KNTC1 depletion on NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and tumor formation were analyzed by MTT assay, wound-healing assay, transwell assay, flow cytometry assay, and in nude mouse models in vivo. After KNTC1 reduction, NSCLC cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion were restrained. A xenograft tumor model was also provided to demonstrate the inhibited tumorigenesis in NSCLC. In addition, the downstream mechanism analysis indicated that KNTC1 depletion was positively associated with PSMB8. The findings of the present study suggested that KNTC1 may have a pivotal role in mediating NSCLC progression and may act as a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC.Subject terms: Non-small-cell lung cancer, Cell migration     

Quantitative regulation of the thermal stability of enveloped virus vaccines by surface charge engineering to prevent the self-aggregation of attachment glycoproteins

The development of thermostable vaccines can relieve the bottleneck of existing vaccines caused by thermal instability and subsequent poor efficacy, which is one of the predominant reasons for the millions of deaths caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. Research into the mechanism of viral thermostability may provide strategies for developing thermostable vaccines. Using Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as model, we identified the negative surface charge of attachment glycoprotein as a novel determinant of viral thermostability. It prevented the temperature-induced aggregation of glycoprotein and subsequent detachment from virion surface. Then structural stability of virion surface was improved and virus could bind to and infect cells efficiently after heat-treatment. Employing the approach of surface charge engineering, thermal stability of NDV and influenza A virus (IAV) vaccines was successfully improved. The increase in the level of vaccine thermal stability was determined by the value-added in the negative surface charge of the attachment glycoprotein. The engineered live and inactivated vaccines could be used efficiently after storage at 37°C for at least 10 and 60 days, respectively. Thus, our results revealed a novel surface-charge-mediated link between HN protein and NDV thermostability, which could be used to design thermal stable NDV and IAV vaccines rationally.     

草鱼血液学的研究 Ⅰ.九项血液常数的周年变化

用741尾健康草鱼种作红细胞、血红蛋白、红细胞比积、红细胞平均体积、红细胞平均血红蛋白量、红细胞平均血红蛋白浓度、红细胞沉降率、血浆总蛋白和血浆葡萄糖浓度等九项血液常数的测定。所得的年均值经变异系数分析,除红细胞沉降率和血浆葡萄糖浓度外,其余各项常数的可靠性基本一致。另从周年变动的规律分析,高值出现在冬夏季,低值出现的月份较为分散。水温仅对总蛋白含量的变动呈现显著的负相关(P<0.01)。而体重与血液常数存在着一定的相关因素,在10—90克之间的鱼种中,血红蛋白、红细胞比积、红细胞平均体积、红细胞平均血红蛋白量与体重呈现直线正相关;红细胞沉降率为负相关。     

中国水仙(Narcissus tazetta var.chinensis)的组织培养

以栽培的中国水仙Narcissus tazetta var.Chinensis鳞茎为实验材料,采取“无液处理”的简捷方法获取外植体,并筛选出中国水仙离体鳞茎培养的最佳培养基。