Cytotoxic T lymphocytes generated by short-term in vitro TCR stimulation in the presence of IL-4 are therapeutically effective against B16 melanoma

P14 TCR transgenic CD8+ T cells (LCMV gp33-specific) were activated by antigen in the presence of either IL-2 or IL-2+IL-4 to generate effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). The therapeutic effectiveness of such IL-2- or IL-2+IL-4-grown CTLs was tested in mice that had received intravenous inoculations of B16.gp33 melanoma cells 7 days previously. Administration of P14 CTLs activated by antigen +IL-2+IL-4 was significantly more effective at reducing melanoma colony formation in the lung than those grown in the presence of antigen +IL-2. Highly significant improvement in survival was observed with 80% of B16.gp33-inoculated mice showing long-term survival after therapy with 10×10⁶ antigen +IL-2+IL-4-activated P14 CTLs. Similar therapeutic effectiveness of antigen +IL-2+IL-4-activated P14 CTLs against subcutaneously inoculated B16.gp33 melanoma cells was also found. There was significant reduction in P14 CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of B16.gp33-inoculated mice than in mice that did not receive B16.gp33 melanoma cells, indicating possible homing of P14 CD8+ T cells to the site of tumor growth or antigen-induced apoptotic cell death. These results may have implications in tumor therapy using CTLs grown ex vivo, especially during early stages of tumor formation. They also support the concept that the therapeutic effectiveness of CTLs can be governed by the cytokine context in which they are activated.     

以人工合成多肽为抗原的戊型肝炎病毒抗体检测方法的建立和评价

酶联法是ＨＥＶ感染的主要检测方法,多采用基因表达产物为抗原。近来由于人工合成多肽抗原克服了基因重组抗原制备复杂、非特异结构多、难以纯化的缺点,已广泛用于多种病毒感染的检测。根据已发表的ＨＥＶ氨基酸序列的保守性及亲水性等特点,设计合成了两个多肽ＥＳＰ１和ＥＳＰ２,分别位于ＯＲＦ２和ＯＲＦ３区,以此为混合抗原建立了检测ＨＥＶ抗体的间接ＥＬＬＳＡ法,与市售优质试剂比较,其阳性符合率为９７．７５％,阴性符合率为９９．４３％,总符合率为９８．８６％。该方法灵敏度高、特异性强、安全快速,是检测ＨＥＶ感染和流行病学调查的理想方法。     

红藻氨酸致敏癫痫大鼠海马内AP-1 DNA结合活性和成分的改变

一次皮下注射惊厥剂量（７．５ｍｇ／ｋｇ）的红藻氨酸（ｋａｉｎｉｃ ａｃｉｄ,ＫＡ）诱发Ｆｉｓｈｅｒ３４４大鼠出现急性癫痫发作,７ｄ后即可形成癫痫敏感大鼠,继用Ｇｅｌ ｓｈｉｆｔ、Ｓｕｐｅｒ－ｓｈｉｆｔ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｍ ｂｌｏｔ方法测定大鼠海马内ＡＰ－１ ＤＮＡ结合活性及其组成成分。Ｇｅｌ ｓｈｉｆｔ结合显示,癫痫敏感大鼠海马内ＡＰ－１ ＤＮＡ结合活性的基础水平较对照组为高;Ｓｕｐｅｒ－ｓｈｉｆｔ实研     

Baicalein Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation and the Quorum Sensing System In Vitro

Biofilm formed by Staphylococcus aureus significantly enhances antibiotic resistance by inhibiting the penetration of antibiotics, resulting in an increasingly serious situation. This study aimed to assess whether baicalein can prevent Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and whether it may have synergistic bactericidal effects with antibiotics in vitro. To do this, we used a clinically isolated strain of Staphylococcus aureus 17546 (t037) for biofilm formation. Virulence factors were detected following treatment with baicalein, and the molecular mechanism of its antibiofilm activity was studied. Plate counting, crystal violet staining, and fluorescence microscopy revealed that 32 μg/mL and 64 μg/mL baicalein clearly inhibited 3- and 7-day biofilm formation in vitro. Moreover, colony forming unit count, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy showed that vancomycin (VCM) and baicalein generally enhanced destruction of biofilms, while VCM alone did not. Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses (RTQ-PCR) confirmed that baicalein treatment reduced staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and α-hemolysin (hla) levels. Most strikingly, real-time qualitative polymerase chain reaction data demonstrated that 32 μg/mL and 64 μg/mL baicalein downregulated the quorum-sensing system regulators agrA, RNAIII, and sarA, and gene expression of ica, but 16 μg/mL baicalein had no effect. In summary, baicalein inhibited Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation, destroyed biofilms, increased the permeability of vancomycin, reduced the production of staphylococcal enterotoxin A and α-hemolysin, and inhibited the quorum sensing system. These results support baicalein as a novel drug candidate and an effective treatment strategy for Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-associated infections.     

Sequential and compartmentalized action of Rabs,SNAREs, and MAL in the apical delivery of fusiform vesicles in urothelial umbrella cells

Uroplakins (UPs) are major differentiation products of urothelial umbrella cells and play important roles in forming the permeability barrier and in the expansion/stabilization of the apical membrane. Further, UPIa serves as a uropathogenic Escherichia coli receptor. Although it is understood that UPs are delivered to the apical membrane via fusiform vesicles (FVs), the mechanisms that regulate this exocytic pathway remain poorly understood. Immunomicroscopy of normal and mutant mouse urothelia show that the UP-delivering FVs contained Rab8/11 and Rab27b/Slac2-a, which mediate apical transport along actin filaments. Subsequently a Rab27b/Slp2-a complex mediated FV–membrane anchorage before SNARE-mediated and MAL-facilitated apical fusion. We also show that keratin 20 (K20), which forms a chicken-wire network ∼200 nm below the apical membrane and has hole sizes allowing FV passage, defines a subapical compartment containing FVs primed and strategically located for fusion. Finally, we show that Rab8/11 and Rab27b function in the same pathway, Rab27b knockout leads to uroplakin and Slp2-a destabilization, and Rab27b works upstream from MAL. These data support a unifying model in which UP cargoes are targeted for apical insertion via sequential interactions with Rabs and their effectors, SNAREs and MAL, and in which K20 plays a key role in regulating vesicular trafficking.     

Systematic position of Gyrocheilos and some odd species of Didymocarpus (Gesneriaceae) inferred from molecular data,with reference to pollen and other morphological characters

A phylogenetic analysis was carried out to clarify the systematic position of Gyrocheilos and Didymocarpus, particularly the species placed in Didymocarpus sect.Heteroboea by Wang et al. Based on sequencing the internal transcribed spacer and the chloroplast spacer trnL-F, parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses were carried out using separate nuclear and chloroplast datasets, as well as a combined dataset. Our results showed that the two sections of Didymocarpus in China andGyrocheilos did not form separate monophyletic subclades, but turned up in three different places in the phylogenetic trees. In the frame of the present study, the pollen morphology of the species included in the analysis was studied. It proved inconsistent with the delimitation between Didymocarpus and Gyrocheilos. Furthermore, pollen and other morphological characters indicate that Gyrocheilos and some taxa of Didymocarpus should be placed within Didymocarpus.     

Comprehensive identification of LMW-GS genes and their protein products in a common wheat variety

Although it is well known that low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) from wheat affect bread and noodle processing quality, the function of specific LMW-GS proteins remains unclear. It is important to find the genes that correspond to individual LMW-GS proteins in order to understand the functions of specific proteins. The objective of this study was to link LMW-GS genes and haplotypes characterized using well known Glu-A3, Glu-B3, and Glu-D3 gene-specific primers to their protein products in a single wheat variety. A total of 36 LMW-GS genes and pseudogenes were amplified from the Korean cultivar Keumkang. These include 11 Glu-3 gene haplotypes, two from the Glu-A3 locus, two from the Glu-B3 locus, and seven from the Glu-D3 locus. To establish relationships between gene haplotypes and their protein products, a glutenin protein fraction was separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE) and 17 protein spots were analyzed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). LMW-GS proteins were identified that corresponded to all Glu-3 gene haplotypes except the pseudogenes. This is the first report of the comprehensive characterization of LMW-GS genes and their corresponding proteins in a single wheat cultivar. Our approach will be useful to understand the contributions of individual LMW-GS to the end-use quality of flour.     

应用40对微卫星引物对6种近交系小鼠遗传背景进行监测的研究

采用40对引物的微卫星DNA PCR遗传质量符合要求的BALB／C－nu0nu-,DBA/2,SCID,T739,TA2,615等6种近交系小鼠进行遗传监测,结果26对引物有稳定的扩增结果,5对引物表现为单态性,21对引物表现出多态性,其中D2Nds3,D3Mitl5,D3Mitl7,D3Mit18,D16Mit7等6对引物表现出显著的多态性,反映了各品系小鼠独特的遗传背景,可应用于区别小鼠品系,监测系间的遗传污染,为有关小鼠品系积累了遗传背景资料,有助于将实验动物的遗传监测从表墼这度到DNA水平。     

辽东栎林下和开阔地上短柄五加(Acanthopanax brachpus)无性系种群生长的比较研究

研究了分布于开阔地和辽东栎林下短柄五加无性系种群拆散方式、无性系的形态可塑性和分株的死亡年龄,研究结果表明,开阔地上无性系分株的扩散方式为稀疏线型,根茎长度、无性系分株数目,林下和开阔地差异显著,根茎分枝角度、无性系根茎总长无显著性差异。林下分株的死亡年龄显著小于开阔地上无性系分株的死亡年龄。