硫化镉纳米粒子对原核生物的毒理作用

硫化镉纳米粒子（cadmium sulfide nanoparticles,CdS NPs）是一种重要的半导体,具有突出的光电特性、可调带隙和化学稳定性,在分析化学、生物医学、荧光成像和生物传感器等方面具有潜在应用价值。生物合成CdS NPs具有可控、低成本、环境友好等优势而被广泛研究。然而CdS NPs本身兼具纳米材料毒性及重金属硫化物毒性,其对原核微生物的毒性研究受到广泛关注。本文以大肠杆菌为例,对CdS NPs在原核生物细胞内的毒性机理研究进展进行了综述,包括CdS NPs的生物合成机制、CdS NPs对大肠杆菌的毒害作用以及大肠杆菌对该毒害作用的防御机制,着重论述了细菌在合成CdS NPs过程中Cd²⁺及CdS对合成细菌本身的毒理作用及该细菌所产生的相应应激机制。本文旨在更好、更全面地评估CdS NPs的毒性,促进抗CdS NPs的原核生物在相关领域的发展和应用。     

Ligand binding and conformational changes of SUR1 subunit in pancreatic ATP-sensitive potassium channels

ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K_ATP) are energy sensors on the plasma membrane. By sensing the intracellular ADP/ATP ratio of β-cells, pancreatic K_ATP channels control insulin release and regulate metabolism at the whole body level. They are implicated in many metabolic disorders and diseases and are therefore important drug targets. Here, we present three structures of pancreatic K_ATP channels solved by cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM), at resolutions ranging from 4.1 to 4.5 Å. These structures depict the binding site of the antidiabetic drug glibenclamide, indicate how Kir6.2 (inward-rectifying potassium channel 6.2) N-terminus participates in the coupling between the peripheral SUR1 (sulfonylurea receptor 1) subunit and the central Kir6.2 channel, reveal the binding mode of activating nucleotides, and suggest the mechanism of how Mg-ADP binding on nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) drives a conformational change of the SUR1 subunit.     

Ectoparasites of Chevrier's field mouse, Apodemus chevrieri, in a focus of plague in southwest China

Chevrier's field mouse, Apodemus chevrieri Milne-Edwards (Rodentia: Muridae), has been identified as the main wild reservoir of plague in the sylvatic plague focus of Yunnan Province, southwest China. Here, the ectoparasite communities of A. chevrieri and the potential medical and veterinary importance of these ectoparasites are described. A high proportion (66%) of 321 mice were found to be infested with ectoparasites. A total of 81 species of ectoparasite, including 48 species of chigger mite, 25 species of mesostigmatid (gamasid) mite, six species of flea and two species of sucking louse were collected. Most species of ectoparasite were relatively uncommon, but a few were abundant. Within this ectoparasite complex, 16 species have previously been reported to be vectors of human disease agents. Apodemus chevrieri would appear therefore to be a natural reservoir for plague bacilli and epidemic haemorrhagic fever (Korean haemorrhagic fever) viruses.     

CD64 and Group II Secretory Phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IIA) as Biomarkers for Distinguishing Adult Sepsis and Bacterial Infections in the Emergency Department

Introduction

Early diagnosis of sepsis and bacterial infection is imperative as treatment relies on early antibiotic administration. There is a need to develop new biomarkers to detect patients with sepsis and bacterial infection as early as possible, thereby enabling prompt antibiotic treatment and improving the survival rate.

Methods

Fifty-one adult patients with suspected bacterial sepsis on admission to the Emergency Department (ED) of a teaching hospital were included into the study. All relevant cultures and serology tests were performed. Serum levels for Group II Secretory Phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IIA) and CD64 were subsequently analyzed.

Results and Discussion

Sepsis was confirmed in 42 patients from a total of 51 recruited subjects. Twenty-one patients had culture-confirmed bacterial infections. Both biomarkers were shown to be good in distinguishing sepsis from non-sepsis groups. CD64 and sPLA2-IIA also demonstrated a strong correlation with early sepsis diagnosis in adults. The area under the curve (AUC) of both Receiver Operating Characteristic curves showed that sPLA2-IIA was better than CD64 (AUC = 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.83–0.97 and AUC = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.82–0.99, respectively). The optimum cutoff value was 2.13μg/l for sPLA2-IIA (sensitivity = 91%, specificity = 78%) and 45 antigen bound cell (abc) for CD64 (sensitivity = 81%, specificity = 89%). In diagnosing bacterial infections, sPLA2-IIA showed superiority over CD64 (AUC = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.85–0.96, and AUC = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93–1.00, respectively). The optimum cutoff value for bacterial infection was 5.63μg/l for sPLA2-IIA (sensitivity = 94%, specificity = 94%) and 46abc for CD64 (sensitivity = 94%, specificity = 83%).

Conclusions

sPLA2-IIA showed superior performance in sepsis and bacterial infection diagnosis compared to CD64. sPLA2-IIA appears to be an excellent biomarker for sepsis screening and for diagnosing bacterial infections, whereas CD64 could be used for screening bacterial infections. Both biomarkers either alone or in combination with other markers may assist in decision making for early antimicrobial administration. We recommend incorporating sPLA2-IIA and CD64 into the diagnostic algorithm of sepsis in ED.     

中国云南洱海周边小兽体表吸虱多样性

在2003—2004年对云南大理洱海周边小兽体表寄生吸虱进行了调查,诱捕小兽3303只,隶属4目7科、15属、21种,共收集14635只吸虱,共计5科、6属、21种。调查点位于洱海周边3个不同方位,恰好处于无量山（洱海东部）、哀牢山（洱海南部）和苍山（洱海西部）3座山的连接地段,由于洱海的天然隔离使这3个方位形成了同地域（经度、纬度、海拔和动物地理区划相同）异生境的地理景观。此项研究的目的是调查同地域异生境里小兽体表吸虱在物种多样性、丰富度、群落结构、相似性和分布。结果表明吸虱的物种多样性低,群落结构简单。吸虱的丰富度、分布和物种多样性随着宿主和生境的不同而存在着显著的差异,这可能暗示着生态环境影响着吸虱和它相对应的小兽宿主的构成和分布。某种宿主经常有某种固定的吸虱,在动物分类上近缘关系较近的小兽宿主,其体表昆虫群落相似性较高。洱海周边不同方位同种小兽宿主上的吸虱物种相同,这个结果强烈暗示着吸虱与其对应宿主之间有明显的协同进化关系。     

Identification of Potential Probiotics in the Midgut of Mulberry Silkworm,Bombyx mori Through Metagenomic Approach

Microorganisms play an important role in the growth and development of numerous insect species. The mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera), harbors several bacteria in its midgut aiding the metabolic processes; however, the variability of bacterial spp. present in the midgut and their role(s) in the growth and development of the silkworm are poorly understood. The present work compares the diversity of midgut bacterial communities in silkworms of variable voltinism (Pure Mysore, PM: multivoltine; CSR2: bivoltine and PM × CSR2: crossbreed) through metagenomics. The predominance of Enterococcus (30.30%) followed by Bacillus (16.96%) was observed in PM, whereas Lactobacillus (56.56%) followed by Enterococcus (10.58%) was seen only in CSR2. Interestingly, crossbreed midgut harbored diverse bacterial communities (36.21% Lactobacillus, 25.94% Bacillus, 8.1% Enterococcus, and 18.37% uncultured bacteria). Metagenomic profiles indicate variability in the gut bacterial population in different kinds of silkworms influencing the physiological activities accordingly. The dominant bacteria, particularly lactobacilli, bacilli, and enterococci could be further explored for identifying the potential probiotic consortia based on a literature survey and potential involvement in nutrient absorption, disease/stress tolerance, and improved economic traits.

     

Demographic Structure and its implications among two breeding isolates of Mali Tribe from Andra Pradesh,India

In the present work, DNA was extrated from 63 skeletal samples recovered at the Neolithic site of San Juan ante Portam Latinam (SJAPL) (Araba, Basque Country). These samples have proved useful as genetic material for the performance of population studies. To achieve this it was necessary to overcome the methodological problems arising when working with damaged DNA molecules. We succeeded in performing an amplification and restriction analysis of the polymorphisms present in the mtDNA. Ninety seven percent of the samples were classified as belonging to one of the nine mtDNA haplogroups described in Caucasians. This work shows that restriction analysis is a useful methodological tool to perform reliable population genetic analysis on archaeological remains. Tha analysis of ancient and modern haplogroup distribution can shed more light on the genetic evolution of human populations. Moreover, a more exhaustive data on prehistoric populations will allow to build stronger hypothesis on the genetic relationships among human populations.