Cryoprotective properties and preliminary characterization of exopolysaccharide (P-Arcpo 15) produced by the Arctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas elyakovii Arcpo 15

Twenty-two bacterial strains that secrete exopolysaccharides (EPS) were isolated from marine samples obtained from the Chukchi Sea in the Arctic Ocean; of these, seven strains were found to be capable of producing cryoprotective EPS. The ArcPo 15 strain was isolated based on its ability to secrete large amounts of EPS, and was identified as Pseudoalteromonas elyakovii based on 16S rDNA analysis. The EPS, P-ArcPo 15, was purified by protease treatment and gel filtration chromatography. The purified EPS (P-ArcPo 15) had a molecular mass of 1.7 × 10⁷ Da, and its infrared spectrum showed absorption bands of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. The principal sugar components of P-ArcPo 15 were determined to be mannose and galacturonic acid, in the ratio of 3.3:1.0. The cryoprotective properties of P-ArcPo 15 were characterized by an Escherichia coli viability test. In the presence of 0.5% (w/v) EPS, the survival percentage of E. coli cells was as high as 94.19 ± 7.81% over five repeated freeze–thaw cycles. These biochemical characteristics suggest that the EPS P-ArcPo 15 may be useful in the development of cryoprotectants for biotechnological purposes, and we therefore assessed the utility of this novel cryoprotective EPS.     

小桐子EST-SSR分子标记的开发与种质遗传多样性分析

小桐子（Jatrophacurcm）适应性强,不择土壤,种子油脂性能适宜生物柴油的生产,是重要的生物柴油植物。基于小桐子种子发育过程中的EST序列,采用生物信息学方法,从4640个EST非冗余序列上鉴别了1009个SSR位点并分析其分布特征;开发了11对多态的EST—SSR分子标记,并利用这些分子标记调查了24个不同地理种源的遗传多样性,从每个位点的等位基因数目（2—3,平均为2．45）、期望杂合度（He为0．0887—0．5128,平均是0．2736）、多态信息含量（PIC为0．0847～0．4031,平均是0．2313）等方面反映了小桐子种质的遗传多样性低。进一步分析显示不同地理种源的遗传关系缺乏明显的地理结构。作者开发的EST—SSR分子标记不仅有助于小桐子种质的遗传多样性研究,也有助于小桐子种质间的遗传关系鉴别。     

贯叶连翘总提取物对金黄色葡萄球菌的抗菌作用

以3株金黄色葡萄球菌为代表,分别探讨了经光照和未经光照处理后在培养24h的过程中贯叶连翘总提取物(TEHPL)对3株金黄色葡萄球菌的光密度(OD640mm)、活菌数(CFU)、总菌数(TCC)、最低杀菌浓度(MBC)的影响和对其中2株菌超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的影响。结果表明TEHPL对金黄色葡萄球菌有抑菌和杀菌作用,其抑菌或杀菌作用与其浓度有关,不需光照。并且TEHPL诱导菌体细胞内SOD活力增高。     

小鼠外胎盘锥细胞与层粘连蛋白相互作用机制的研究

本文用LN及含其活性位点序列的合成肽段cYIGSR和RGDS对小鼠EPC细胞与LN的相互作用机制进行研究。结果表明:合成肽段cYIGSR和RGDS能促进EPC粘附并具协同效应。cYIGSR还能促进EPC扩展与次生TGCs迁移。LNA链上RGD和B_1链上YIGSR两个活性位点协同地参与了LN对EPC的粘附、扩展以及次生TGCs的迁移的促进作用。cY R合用不能完全竞争性抑制EPC与LN的结合,说明还有其他作用位点存在。     

共培养的树突状细胞与CIK细胞的体外增殖和杀瘤活性研究

本文观察树突状细胞与同源CIK细胞共培养后培养物的表型、增殖活性变化,及DC对CIK细胞细胞毒活性的影响。提取健康供血者的PBMC,常规诱导出DC与CIK细胞,用A549肺腺癌细胞裂解液抗原冲击DC,并和CIK细胞共培养,动态观察DC-CIK培养物增殖活性和表型变化;定量检测细胞培养上清中的IFN-γ和IL-12;并用MTT法检测共培养细胞杀伤A549肺腺癌细胞和BEL-7404肝癌细胞的活性。结果表明DC与CIK细胞共培养,通过彼此的相互作用诱导出比CIK细胞增殖活性和杀伤活性更强的细胞群体。经A549肺腺癌细胞裂解液抗原冲击的DC活化的CIK,对A549肺腺癌细胞的杀伤活性高于单纯CIK细胞,差异显著(p<0.05)。二者对BEL-7404肝癌细胞的杀伤活性无显著差异。实验证明DC与CIK共培养细胞是一种增殖活性和细胞毒活性高于CIK细胞的免疫活性细胞,经肿瘤抗原冲击的DC能明显提高CIK对肿瘤细胞的杀伤活性,具有更广阔的应用前景。     

植物KCO基因密码子使用特性

以植物钾离子外排通道（K’channeloutward．rectifier,KCO）基因为研究对象,运用CodonW软件分析了75个植物KCO基因密码子的使用模式,探讨密码子的使用模式和影响密码子使用的各种可能因素。结果表明：碱基组成差异（r=0．961,P〈0．01）和自然选择（r=0．568,P〈0．01）是影响密码子使用的主要因素,并且高表达的基因强烈偏爱使用以G或C结尾的密码子。确定了UUC、CUC等26个均以G／C结尾的密码子为植物KcD基因的高表达优越密码子。     

Analysis of rhamnolipid biosurfactants by methylene blue complexation

Rhamnolipids, produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, represent an important group of biosurfactants having various industrial, environmental, and medical applications. Current methods for rhamnolipid quantification involve the use of strong hazardous acids/chemicals, indirect measurement of the concentration of sugar moiety, or require the availability of expensive equipment (HPLC-MS). A safer, easier method that measures the whole rhamnolipid molecules would significantly enhance strain selection, metabolic engineering, and process development for economical rhamnolipid production. A semi-quantitative method was reported earlier to differentiate between the rhamnolipid-producing and non-producing strains using agar plates containing methylene blue and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). In this study, a rapid and simple method for rhamnolipid analysis was developed by systematically investigating the complexation of rhamnolipids and methylene blue, with and without the presence of CTAB. The method relies on measuring the absorbance (at 638 nm) of the rhamnolipid−methylene blue complex that partitions into the chloroform phase. With P. aeruginosa fermentation samples, the applicability of this method was verified by comparison of the analysis results with those obtained from the commonly used anthrone reaction technique.     

Effects of Cystamine on antioxidant activities and regulatory T cells in lupus‐prone mice

Attenuated antioxidant activities, irregular cytokines expressions and reduced regulatory T cells, are strongly associated with the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Despite the well‐established beneficial effects of cystamine on lupus‐prone mice, the extent to which cystamine contributes to antioxidant activity and the reduction of regulatory T cells has seldom been investigated. Therefore, this study elucidates how cystamine affects anti‐oxidant activities in NZB/W F1 mice by performing assays of Glutathione (GSH), 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐ picryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH) and malondialdehyde thiobarbituric acid (MDA). In addition, investigations of the effects of cystamine on CD4⁺/CD25⁺ regulatory T cells and interleukin‐6 (IL6)/STAT‐3 signalling were performed with flow cytometry and immunoblots. Experimental results reveal more significantly reduced MDA and increased GSH and DPPH in NZB/W F1 mice receiving cystamine than in those mice receiving PBS. Meanwhile, CD4⁺/CD25⁺ regulatory T cells more significantly increase in NZB/W F1 mice receiving cystamine than in those mice receiving PBS, accompanied by significantly reduced IL‐6/phosphorylated STAT‐3 expression. The above findings suggest the beneficial effects of cystamine in terms of increasing antioxidant activities and CD4⁺/CD25⁺ regulatory T cells in lupus‐prone mice by suppressing IL‐6/STAT3 signalling.     

Molecular genetic characterization of H5N1 influenza virus strains isolated from poultry in the Kurgan region in 2005

In the second half of 2005, a large-scale outbreak of influenza in poultry and wild birds was caused by a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in Russia. The level of pathogenicity is a polygenic trait, and most individual genes contribute to the influenza A virus pathogenicity in birds, animals, and humans. The full-length nucleotide sequences were determined for H5N1 strains isolated in the Kurgan region (Western Siberia). The structure of viral proteins was analyzed using the deduced amino acid sequences. The receptor-binding site of hemagglutinin (HA) in strains A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 and A/duck/Kurgan/08/2005 was typical for avian influenza viruses and contained Glu and Gly at positions 226 and 228, respectively. The structure of the basic amino acid cluster located within the HA cleavage site was identical in all isolates: QGERRRKKR. According to the neuraminidase structure, all H5N1 isolates from the Kurgan region were assigned to the Z genotype. Amino acid residues typical for the avian influenza virus were revealed in 30 out of 32 positions of M1, M2, NP, PA, and PB2, determining the host range specificity. One of the strains contained Lys at position 627 of PB2. Isolates from the Kurgan region were shown to have a remantadine-sensitive genotype. Both strains contained Glu at position 92 of NS1, indicating that the virus is interferon-resistant. Phylogenetic analysis related the Kurgan isolates to subclade 2 of clade 2 of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses.     

Establishment and maintenance of human embryonic stem cell lines on human feeder cells derived from uterine endometrium under serum-free condition

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are usually established and maintained on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEFs) feeder layers. However, it is desirable to develop human feeder cells because animal feeder cells are associated with risks such as viral infection and/or pathogen transmission. In this study, we attempted to establish new hES cell lines using human uterine endometrial cells (hUECs) to prevent the risks associated with animal feeder cells and for their eventual application in cell-replacement therapy. Inner cell masses (ICMs) of cultured blastocysts were isolated by immunosurgery and then cultured on mitotically inactivated hUEC feeder layers. Cultured ICMs formed colonies by continuous proliferation and were allowed to proliferate continuously for 40, 50, and 55 passages. The established hES cell lines (Miz-hES-14, -15, and -9, respectively) exhibited typical hES cells characteristics, including continuous growth, expression of specific markers, normal karyotypes, and differentiation capacity. The hUEC feeders have the advantage that they can be used for many passages, whereas MEF feeder cells can only be used as feeder cells for a limited number of passages. The hUECs are available to establish and maintain hES cells, and the high expression of embryotrophic factors and extracellular matrices by hUECs may be important to the efficient growth of hES cells. Clinical applications require the establishment and expansion of hES cells under stable xeno-free culture systems.