Antibody Profiling by Proteome Microarray with Multiplex Isotype Detection Reveals Overlap between Human and Aotus nancymaae Controlled Malaria Infections

The development of vaccines against malaria and serodiagnostic tests for detecting recent exposure requires tools for antigen discovery and suitable animal models. The protein microarray is a high‐throughput, sample sparing technique, with applications in infectious disease research, clinical diagnostics, epidemiology, and vaccine development. We recently demonstrated Qdot‐based indirect immunofluorescence together with portable optical imager ArrayCAM using single isotype detection could replicate data using the conventional laser confocal scanner system. We developed a multiplexing protocol for simultaneous detection of IgG, IgA, and IgM and compared samples from a controlled human malaria infection model with those from controlled malaria infections of Aotus nancymaae, a widely used non‐human primate model of human malaria. IgG profiles showed the highest concordance in number of reactive antigens; thus, of the 139 antigens recognized by human IgG antibody, 111 were also recognized by Aotus monkeys. Interestingly, IgA profiles were largely non‐overlapping. Finally, on the path toward wider deployment of the portable platform, we show excellent correlations between array data obtained in five independent laboratories around the United States using the multiplexing protocol (R²: 0.60–0.92). This study supports the use of this platform for wider deployment, particularly in endemic areas where such a tool will have the greatest impact on global human health.     

广东楝科植物分类的初步研究

本文是对广东楝科植物种类的初步整理、研究,记载了16属33种7交种,包括本省产的13属27种7变种和外来引种的3属6种。其中有1个新变种(封开地黄连Munronia hainanensis How et T. Chen var. microphyllina X. M. Chen),3个新组合(曾椤Amoora tsangii (Merr.) X. M. Chen, 雷楝Reinwardtiodendron dubium (Merr.) X. M. Chen, 毛香椿Toona sinensis (A. Juss.) M. J. Roem. var. schensiana (C. DC.) X. M. Chen), 3个分布新记录[雷楝属Reinwardtiodendron (我国新记录),鹧鸪花Trichilia connaroides (W. et A.) Bentv. var. connaroides(广东新记录),海南(木坚)木Dysoxylvm hainanense Merr. var. hainanense(广东大陆新记录)].     

基因工程FR-008/杀念菌素脱羧衍生物CS103的分离提取及毒性和抗白色念珠菌活性研究

本文在建立了基因工程FR-008/杀念菌素脱羧衍生物CS103分离提取工艺的基础上, 经进一步纯化, 获得一定供试样品。通过对比脱羧FR-008/杀念菌素CS103、FR-008/杀念菌素和两性霉素B三种化合物对人胚肾细胞毒性、对人血红细胞的溶血活性和对白色念珠菌的抗菌效果, 发现脱羧FR-008/杀念菌素CS103的毒性较FR-008/杀念菌素和两性霉素B大大降低, 且保持了较高的抗真菌(Candida albicans)活性。     

北京城市生态占水研究

在前人研究的基础上,提出了生态占水的概念及计算方法,构建了生态占水驱动因素分析模型,计算各因素对生态占水变动的贡献率,并采用灰色关联分析法对生态占水-水生态因子进行关联分析。以北京市为例计算1999-2009年的生态占水量,结果显示水量型占水和水质型占水均呈现波动式逐年下降趋势,分别由1999年的25.56亿m³和12.55亿m³减少到2009年的15.65亿m³和4.58亿m³;2003-2005年北京市生态占水率明显高于其它时期,达到80%以上,2006年以后逐步下降,但仍然高于50%;水量型占水是过去10 a中最主要的占水类型。生态占水驱动因素分析结果得出,1999-2009年的总体变动中人均消费水平的提高是促使北京市生态占水增加的关键驱动因素,其次是第二产业增加值。占水-水生态因子关联分析显示,地表取水和污水处理率两个因素与水生境因子的变化有着较强的关联性;退水和地下取水与水环境因子有较强的关联性,地下水埋深和人口两大因素与水安全有着较强的关联性。     

NPM1突变基因表达抑制K562白血病细胞体外增殖和侵袭

核仁磷酸蛋白(nucleophosmin,NPM1)突变是近年发现的在急性髓系白血病中发挥重要作用的基因改变,为探讨NPM1突变对K562白血病细胞体外增殖和侵袭能力的影响,将载体pEGFPC1-NPM1-mA转染K562细胞系,构建稳定表达NPM1突变蛋白的白血病细胞株(K562-mA)。利用细胞生长曲线观察细胞体外增殖能力;流式细胞仪检测细胞周期进程改变;细胞粘附、Transwell实验分别用以观察细胞体外粘附、迁移及侵袭能力。结果发现,NPM1突变转染后K562细胞体外增殖能力明显减弱;同时G1期细胞比例明显增高,S期细胞比例显著减低。与未处理组和空载体转染组细胞相比,K562-mA细胞体外迁移能力有所增加,但细胞粘附及侵袭能力却明显减弱。提示NPM1突变基因的表达能够抑制白血病细胞体外增殖和侵袭能力,为进一步深入探讨NPM1突变在白血病发生发展中的调控机制奠定了良好的基础。     

The altered activity of complex III may contribute to the high penetrance of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy in a Chinese family carrying the ND4 G11778A mutation

The ND4 G11778A mutation is the most common mitochondrial DNA mutation leading to Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Despite considerable clinical evidences, the modifier role of nuclear background and mitochondrial haplotypes in phenotypic manifestation of LHON remains poorly understood. We investigated the effect of these modifiers on bioenergetics in lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from five affected subjects of one Chinese family carrying the G11778A mutation and five Chinese controls. Significant reductions in the activities of complexes I and III were observed in mutant cell lines from the Chinese family, whereas the mutant cell lines from other families carrying the same mutation exhibited only reduced activity of complex I. The reduced activities of complexes I and III caused remarkably higher reductions of ATP synthesis in mutant cell lines from the Chinese family than those from other families. The deficient respiration increased generation of reactive oxygen species. The defect in complex III activity, likely resulting from the mitochondrial haplotype or nuclear gene alteration, worsens mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the G11778A mutation, thereby causing extremely high penetrance and expressivity of optic neuropathy in this Chinese family. Our data provide the first experimental evidence that altered activity of complex III modulates the phenotypic manifestation of LHON-associated G11778A mutation. Thus, our findings may provide new insights into the pathophysiology of LHON.     

窝雏数处理对两种雀形目幼鸟生长的影响

基于 1 997～ 1 999年野外实验 ,对高寒草甸小云雀和黄嘴朱顶雀两种雀形目鸟的窝雏数进行增减处理。结果表明 ,对照组的幼鸟生长率和离巢体重都大于增加组 ,说明窝雏数增加后 ,幼鸟质量下降。随着窝雏数增加 ,这两种幼鸟生长率显著下降 (小云雀 :r =-0 965 ,P =0 0 3 5 <0 0 5 ;朱顶雀 :r =-0 82 8,P =0 0 2 2 <0 0 5 )。窝雏数改变对小云雀幼鸟出飞重影响不显著 (r =-0 41 8,P =0 5 2 8>0 0 5 ) ,而对黄嘴朱顶雀有显著的影响 (r=-0 90 1 ,P =0 0 1 4<0 0 5 )。     

Amazonian Anthrosols Support Similar Microbial Communities that Differ Distinctly from Those Extant in Adjacent, Unmodified Soils of the Same Mineralogy

We compared the microbial community composition in soils from the Brazilian Amazon with two contrasting histories; anthrosols and their adjacent non-anthrosol soils of the same mineralogy. The anthrosols, also known as the Amazonian Dark Earths or terra preta, were managed by the indigenous pre-Colombian Indians between 500 and 8,700 years before present and are characterized by unusually high cation exchange capacity, phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) contents, and soil carbon pools that contain a high proportion of incompletely combusted biomass as biochar or black carbon (BC). We sampled paired anthrosol and unmodified soils from four locations in the Manaus, Brazil, region that differed in their current land use and soil type. Community DNA was extracted from sampled soils and characterized by use of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. DNA bands of interest from Bacteria and Archaea DGGE gels were cloned and sequenced. In cluster analyses of the DNA fingerprints, microbial communities from the anthrosols grouped together regardless of current land use or soil type and were distinct from those in their respective, paired adjacent soils. For the Archaea, the anthrosol communities diverged from the adjacent soils by over 90%. A greater overall richness was observed for Bacteria sequences as compared with those of the Archaea. Most of the sequences obtained were novel and matched those in databases at less than 98% similarity. Several sequences obtained only from the anthrosols grouped at 93% similarity with the Verrucomicrobia, a genus commonly found in rice paddies in the tropics. Sequences closely related to Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria sp. were recovered only from adjacent soil samples. Sequences related to Pseudomonas, Acidobacteria, and Flexibacter sp. were recovered from both anthrosols and adjacent soils. The strong similarities among the microbial communities present in the anthrosols for both the Bacteria and Archaea suggests that the microbial community composition in these soils is controlled more strongly by their historical soil management than by soil type or current land use. The anthrosols had consistently higher concentrations of incompletely combusted organic black carbon material (BC), higher soil pH, and higher concentrations of P and Ca compared to their respective adjacent soils. Such characteristics may help to explain the longevity and distinctiveness of the anthrosols in the Amazonian landscape and guide us in recreating soils with sustained high fertility in otherwise nutrient-poor soils in modern times.