动物病原大肠杆菌K88的绿色荧光蛋白基因标记及其稳定性研究

成功地将gfp/luxAB双标记基因整合到K88染色体上,得到绿色荧光蛋白基因标记的大肠杆菌K88∶gfp/lux,其菌体和菌落形态与原始菌株K88完全一致,引入的新质粒不影响菌株的基本形态。从含gfp基因的质粒DNA和K88∶gfp/lux基因组DNA上均可扩增出大小约700 bp的gfp基因片段。大肠杆菌特异性基因检测结果表明,从大肠杆菌K88和K88∶gfp/lux基因组DNA上均扩增出大小约260 bp的大肠杆菌特异性基因片段,说明gfp基因标记后的菌株均为大肠杆菌。在相同的培养条件下,K88∶gfp/lux和K88的生长曲线的变化趋势基本相同。通过检测肠毒性基因(estA)发现,从大肠杆菌K88和K88∶gfp/lux基因组DNA上均扩增出大小约158 bp的肠毒性基因片段,说明gfp基因标记后的菌株在肠毒性方面未发生变化。在无选择压力条件下将K88∶gfp/lux菌株每隔12 h连续转接10次后,所有菌落均保持着均匀并且强烈的绿色荧光,说明标记基因在K88∶gfp/lux中的表达稳定性很高。K88∶gfp/lux和K88在中性偏酸性的环境中生长较好,当初始pH值偏碱性时,生长较差。     

Vaccine design of hemagglutinin glycoprotein against influenza

Influenza viruses continue to cause annual epidemics and pose the threat of a deadly global pandemic. Vaccination has remained the best approach for prevention and control of influenza infection. However, current influenza vaccines are only effective against closely-matched circulating strains, and therefore must be updated and administered every year. In this review, we discuss recent developments in the search for better influenza vaccines, especially using the major virus surface glycoprotein hemagglutinins (HAs). Understanding how glycans on HAs affect the immune response and knowledge of how broadly neutralizing antibodies are induced will pave the way for a cross-protective influenza vaccine that does not require frequent updates or annual immunizations.     

沈阳市大气微生物的研究Ⅲ．大气真菌粒子浓度及其分布

本研究用ＡＮＤＥＲＳＥＮ生物粒子采样器在沈阳市对大气真菌粒子浓度及其分布进行了一年的观测。结果表明,沈阳市大气真菌粒子年平均浓度为１７９７个／ｍ￣３。四季中,秋季大气真菌粒子浓度高,为２８５８个／ｍ３;春季低,为１０９４个／ｍ￣３。在不同地点中,造纸厂大气真菌粒子浓度明显高,为５７８０个／ｍ￣３。一天中的７：００,１９：００为大气真菌粒子浓度的高峰时,１３：００为低谷时。大气真菌粒子的浓度分布是单峰型,高峰在第３、４级,峰值为５３５个／ｍ￣３。造纸厂大气真菌粒子浓度分布的高峰在第５级,小粒子浓度比其余地点明显高。     

Morris water maze: a versatile and pertinent tool for assessing spatial learning and memory

Since its development about 40 years ago (1981–2021), Morris water maze has turned into a very popular tool for assessing spatial learning and memory. Its many advantages have ensured its pertinence to date. These include its effectiveness in evaluating hippocampal-dependent learning and memory, exemption from motivational differences across diverse experimental manipulations, reliability in various cross-species studies, and adaptability to many experimental conditions with various test protocols. Nonetheless, throughout its establishment, several experimental and analysis loopholes have galvanized researchers to assess ways in which it could be improved and adapted to fill this gap. Therefore, in this review, we briefly summarize these developments since the early years of its establishment through to the most recent advancements in computerized analysis, offering more comprehensive analysis paradigms. In addition, we discuss the adaptability of the Morris water maze across different test versions and analysis paradigms, providing suggestions with regard to the best paradigms for particular experimental conditions. Hence, the proper selection of the experimental protocols, analysis paradigms, and consideration of the assay’s limitations should be carefully considered. Given that appropriate measures are taken, with various adaptations made, the Morris water maze will likely remain a relevant tool to assess the mechanisms of spatial learning and memory.     

Revision of the genus Salganea St?l (Blattodea,Blaberidae, Panesthiinae) from China,with descriptions of three new species

Three new species of Salganea Stål, 1877 are described and illustrated: S. quinquedentata sp. n., S. anisodonta sp. n. and S. flexibilis sp. n. S. taiwanensis Roth, 1979, S. guangxiensis (Feng & Woo, 1990), S. incerta (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893) and S. raggei Roth, 1979 are redescribed. Panesthia concinna Feng & Woo, 1990 is synonymized with S. taiwanensis Roth, 1979 and Panesthia guangxiensis Feng & Woo, 1990 is transferred to the genus Salganea for the first time. As well, a key to species from China is presented.     

Retracted: Downregulation of long noncoding RNA H19 rescues hippocampal neurons from apoptosis and oxidative stress by inhibiting IGF2 methylation in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus

The diabetes mellitus (DM)-induced reduction of neurogenesis in the hippocampus is consequently accompanied by cognitive decline. The present study set out to define the critical role played by long noncoding RNA H19 (lncRNA H19) in the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons, as well as oxidative stress (OS) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DM mice through regulation of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) methylation. The expression of lncRNA H19 in the hippocampal neurons and surviving neurons were detected. Hippocampal neurons were cultured and transfected with oe-H19, sh-H19, oe-IGF2, or sh-IGF2, followed by detection of the expressions of IGF2 and apoptosis-related genes. Determination of the lipid peroxide and glutathione levels was conducted, while antioxidant enzyme activity was identified. The IGF2 methylation, the binding of lncRNA H19 to DNA methyltransferase, and the binding of lncRNA H19 to IGF2 promoter region were detected. DM mice exhibited high expressions of H19, as well as a decreased hippocampal neurons survival rate. Higher lncRNA H19 expression was found in DM. Upregulated lncRNA H19 significantly increased the expression of Bax and caspase-3 but decreased that of Bcl-2, thus promoting the apoptosis of hippocampal neuron. Besides, upregulation of lncRNA H19 induced OS. LncRNA H19 was observed to bind specifically to the IGF2 gene promoter region and promote IGF2 methylation by enriching DNA methyltransferase, thereby silencing IGF2 expression. Taken together, downregulated lncRNA H19 reduces IGF2 methylation and enhances its expression, thereby suppressing hippocampal neuron apoptosis and OS in STZ-induced (DM) mice.     

Populational Heterogeneity vs. Temporal Fluctuation in Escherichia coli Flagellar Motor Switching

The dynamic switching of the bacterial flagellar motor regulates cell motility in bacterial chemotaxis. It has been reported under physiological conditions that the switching bias of the flagellar motor undergoes large temporal fluctuations, which reflects noise propagating in the chemotactic signaling network. On the other hand, nongenetic heterogeneity is also observed in flagellar motor switching, as a large group of switching motors show different switching bias and frequency under the same physiological condition. In this work, we present simultaneous measurement of groups of Escherichia coli flagellar motor switching and compare them to long time recording of single switching motors. Consistent with previous studies, we observed temporal fluctuations in switching bias in long time recording experiments. However, the variability in switching bias at the populational level showed much higher volatility than its temporal fluctuation. These results suggested stable individuality in E. coli motor switching. We speculate that uneven expression of key regulatory proteins with amplification by the ultrasensitive response of the motor can account for the observed populational heterogeneity and temporal fluctuations.     

Stimulation of photosynthesis and growth of photoautotrophically cultured plant cells by choline and its analogs

The effects of choline and its analogs, allylcholine and benzylcholine, on the photosynthesis and on the cell growth were examined using photoautotrophically, photomixotrophically and heterotrophically cultured cells. The addition of choline and its analogs stimulated the cellular photosynthetic activity and enhanced the dry weight increase in both photoautotrophic and photomixotrophic cells. However, the growth of heterotrophic cells did not increase by the addition of choline and choline analogs. The photosynthetic electron transport activity in thylakoid membrane was enhanced when cells were treated with choline and choline analogs, suggesting that thylakoid membranes are the initial site of the stimulation of cellular photosynthesis. The stimulatory effect of choline and choline analogs was sustained even after 3 week-culture. Among the choline analogs tested, benzylcholine showed the most quick effect and was effective at a lower concentration (1 mg/l) than choline (10 mg/l).Abbreviations GA₃ gibberellin A₃