Incidence and survival of non-O157 verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli in soil

Aims: This study estimated the incidence of non‐O157 verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in farm pasture soils and investigated the survival of non‐O157 VTEC in clay and sandy loam soils. Methods and Results: Twenty farms were tested over a 12‐month period by sample enrichment in tryptone soya broth plus vancomycin, followed by PCR screening for the presence of vt1 and vt2 genes. Of the 600 soil samples, 162 (27%), across all farms, were found to contain vt1 and/or vt2 genes. The enrichment cultures from the 162 PCR‐positive samples were plated onto Chromocult tryptone bile X‐glucuronide agar (TBX), presumptive VTEC colonies recovered, confirmed as VTEC by PCR and serotyped. Samples of the two predominant soil types in Ireland (clay and sandy) were homogenized, characterized in terms of pH, boron, cobalt, copper, potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc and organic matter content, inoculated with washed suspensions of eight non‐O157:H7 soil isolates and six bovine faecal isolates and stored at 10°C for up to 201 days. Inoculum survival rates were determined at regular intervals by recovering and plating soil samples on TBX. All inoculated non‐O157 serotypes had highest D‐values in the sandy loam soil with D‐values ranging from 50·26 to 75·60 days. The corresponding range in clay loam soils was 31·60–48·25 days. Conclusions: This study shows that non‐O157 VTEC occur widely and frequently in pasture soils and can persist in such environments for several months, with considerable opportunity for recycling through farm environments, and cattle, with clear potential for subsequent transmission into the human food chain. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first such study of non‐O157 VTEC in farm soils and found that these VTEC are frequent and persistent contaminants in farm soils. In light of recent epidemiological data, non‐O157 VTEC should be seen as an emerging risk to be controlled within the food chain.     

Callus formation and plantlet regeneration from protoplasts derived from suspension cultures of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Protoplasts were isolated from anther-derived suspension cultures of commercial wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chris). The protoplasts were released enzymatically and isolated by centrifugation on a sucrose cushion. The isolated protoplasts were initially cultured in a liquid medium in the dark. Numerous microcalli were produced under these conditions, some of which differentiated into globular embryos. Upon transfer to a solid medium and exposure to 16h/8h light/dark cycle, the protocalli proliferated and many of the somatic embryos matured. Complete plantlets were obtained and maintained in sterile culture.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - MES 2-[N-morpholino] ethanesulfonic acid     

The in vitro and in vivo effects of anti-galactose antibodies on endothelial cell activation and xenograft rejection

We have previously produced a series of antigalactose (anti-Gal) hybridomas and characterized their heavy chain gene usage. Here we have quantified the affinity of these Abs for the alpha-Gal epitope and characterized their in vitro effects on endothelial cell activation and apoptosis. We report that anti-Gal mAbs derived from Gal(-/-) mice show a range of affinity for the alpha-Gal epitope, and that affinity was generally increased as the V(H) gene usage transitioned from germline sequences to sequences exhibiting somatic maturation. Despite an 85-fold range in affinity, all the anti-Gal mAbs examined induced alpha-Gal-specific endothelial cell activation, and after prolonged exposure induced endothelial cell apoptosis in a complement-independent manner. Only murine anti-Gal mAbs of the IgM or IgG3 subclass, but not IgG1, were effective at initiating complement-dependent cell lysis. Using a novel rat to mouse xenograft model, we examined the in vivo ability of these mAbs to induce xenograft rejection and characterized the rejection using histology and immunohistochemistry. Infusion of complement-fixing IgG3 mAbs resulted in either hyperacute rejection or acute vascular rejection of the xenograft. Surprisingly, infusion of an equal amount of a high affinity anti-Gal IgG1 mAb, that fixed complement poorly also induced a rapid xenograft rejection, which we have labeled very acute rejection. These studies emphasize the importance of in vivo assays, in addition to in vitro assays, in understanding the role of anti-Gal IgG-mediated tissue injury and xenograft rejection.     

运动应激介导线粒体DAMP对先天性免疫的调控作用研究进展

线粒体是先天性免疫的关键调控者,具体表现为:线粒体可以通过释放多种线粒体损伤相关分子模式(damage-associated molecular patterns,DAMPs)来诱发先天性免疫应答,如线粒体DNA(mitochondrial DNA,mtDNA)、线粒体转录因子 A(mitochondrial tran...     

佐剂增强的肿瘤细胞裂解物疫苗抗小鼠H22肝癌作用

以鼠源肝癌H22全细胞裂解物为抗原,通过化学偶联白喉毒素(DT)和串联重复的T辅助表位mH-SP70407-426肽段,混合OK432(链球菌A群)制成肿瘤全细胞疫苗H22-DT-M2-OK432(HDTMOK)。治疗性免疫结果显示,疫苗激发的免疫应答对H22肿瘤起到了有效的抑制作用。为进一步提高该疫苗的抗肿瘤效果,用偶联的疫苗制备免疫刺激复合物(ISCOM),并验证其抑瘤效果。治疗性免疫结果显示,与PBS组相比,ISCOM疫苗组平均瘤重和瘤体积显著降低(P<0.01),同时有效地抑制了小鼠皮内肿瘤模型中的血管新生(P<0.01);ELISA法从血清中检测到高滴度的抗体。且与HDTMOK疫苗相比,ISCOM疫苗抑瘤作用提升显著(P<0.05)。HDTMOK能有效抑制小鼠肝癌实体瘤生长,佐剂配伍后的疫苗对H22的抑制更为显著,能够有效提升肿瘤全细胞疫苗的抗肿瘤能力。     

低温胁迫对辣子草水浸提液化感作用的影响

采用蚕豆根尖细胞微核技术,研究了低温胁迫下辣子草（Gatinsoga parviflora Cav．）水浸提液的化感作用。结果表明：常温条件下,辣子草水浸提液使蚕豆根尖细胞有丝分裂指数下降,微核率和畸变率增大;低温处理后辣子草水浸提液对有丝分裂指数表现为“低浓度促进,高浓度抑制”效应,但显著提高了微核率和畸变率。这说明低温胁迫改变了辣子草的化感作用。     

小鼠Daintain/AIF-1 基因启动子的克隆及其荧光素酶报告基因 载体的构建

目的:对Daintain/AIF-1(大炎肽/同种异体移植炎症因子-1)基因启动子进行克隆并构建荧光素酶报告基因载体,为进一步研究Daintain/AIF-1的转录调控作用提供了质粒资源。方法:提取单核巨噬细胞系RAW264.7基因组DNA,以其为模板采用PCR方法克隆出Daintain/AIF-1基因5’端UTR区1.6 kb DNA序列,将该序列同源重组到pGL3-Basic载体上,转化感受态DH5α并酶切鉴定和测序。结果:PCR产物片段与预期结果一致,Daintain/AIF-1基因5’端UTR区1.6 kb DNA序列连接到pGL3-Basic载体上,构建成pGL3-Basic-Daintain/AIF-1(pGL3-Basic-DT)载体,酶切结果与理论预测值一致,经测序证实无碱基突变。结论:Daintain/AIF-1基因报告基因载体的构建为进一步研究Daintain/AIF-1转录调控作用提供了载体资源。     

The impacts of geometry and binding on CaMKII diffusion and retention in dendritic spines

We used a particle-based Monte Carlo simulation to dissect the regulatory mechanism of molecular translocation of CaMKII, a key regulator of neuronal synaptic function. Geometry was based upon measurements from EM reconstructions of dendrites in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Three types of simulations were performed to investigate the effects of geometry and other mechanisms that control CaMKII translocation in and out of dendritic spines. First, the diffusional escape rate of CaMKII from model spines of varied morphologies was examined. Second, a postsynaptic density (PSD) was added to study the impact of binding sites on this escape rate. Third, translocation of CaMKII from dendrites and trapping in spines was investigated using a simulated dendrite. Based on diffusion alone, a spine of average dimensions had the ability to retain CaMKII for duration of ~4 s. However, binding sites mimicking those in the PSD controlled the residence time of CaMKII in a highly nonlinear manner. In addition, we observed that F-actin at the spine head/neck junction had a significant impact on CaMKII trapping in dendritic spines. We discuss these results in the context of possible mechanisms that may explain the experimental results that have shown extended accumulation of CaMKII in dendritic spines during synaptic plasticity and LTP induction.     

我国人粒细胞无形体病的研究进展

人粒细胞无形体病是由嗜吞噬细胞无形体引起的一种经蜱传播的人畜共患病。近年来,在美国、欧洲、非洲等地均有相关病例报道,我国也有病例发现。该病主要引起发热,血小板减少,严重可引起多脏器损害,甚至死亡。因此日益受到研究者们的关注与重视。本文分别从HGA的发现,临床特点,治疗,预防等方面介绍人粒细胞无形体病的研究进展。