Leucocytosis in Biomphalaria glabrata sensitized and resensitized to Echinostoma lindoense

Leucocytosis was shown to occur in the pulmonate gastropod Biomphalaria glabrata exposed to the trematode Echinostoma lindoense. In these sensitized snails, the leukocyte count in the hemolymph was elevated 3 to 5 days postexposure to miracidia, and prior to complete encapsulation of sporocysts. This increase continued 1 to 5 days after destruction of sensitizing, irradiated E. lindoense sporocysts. Counts returned to normal levels after this period. A significant and more rapid increase in numbers of circulating leukocytes occurred 1 to 6 hr after reexposure of snails to a sensitizing dose of nonirradiated E. lindoense sporocysts. The leukocyte counts usually returned to normal levels after this period, except in snails in which some resensitizing sporocysts remained alive.     

Immunoglobulin somatic hypermutation in a defined biochemical system recapitulates affinity maturation and permits antibody optimization

We describe a purified biochemical system to produce monoclonal antibodies (Abs) in vitro using activation-induced deoxycytidine deaminase (AID) and DNA polymerase η (Polη) to diversify immunoglobulin variable gene (IgV) libraries within a phage display format. AID and Polη function during B-cell affinity maturation by catalyzing somatic hypermutation (SHM) of immunoglobulin variable genes (IgV) to generate high-affinity Abs. The IgV mutational motif specificities observed in vivo are conserved in vitro. IgV mutations occurred in antibody complementary determining regions (CDRs) and less frequently in framework (FW) regions. A unique feature of our system is the use of AID and Polη to perform repetitive affinity maturation on libraries reconstructed from a preceding selection step. We have obtained scFv Abs against human glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), a target in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and VHH nanobodies targeting Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH), involved in chronic pain, and artemin, a neurotropic factor that regulates cold pain. A round of in vitro affinity maturation typically resulted in a 2- to 4-fold enhancement in Ab-Ag binding, demonstrating the utility of the system. We tested one of the affinity matured nanobodies and found that it reduced injury-induced cold pain in a mouse model.     

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae oil as an alternative fat ingredient to soybean oil in laying hen diets

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine whether dietary black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI) larvae oil (HILO) could serve as an alternative fat source to soybean oil (SBO) in laying hen diets.MethodsWe randomly assigned 25-week-old Hy-line Brown laying hens (n = 144) to receive (n = 6 hens/group; eight replicates) a control or an experimental diet in which SBO was replaced with 50% (50HILO) or 100% HILO (100HILO).ResultsDietary HILO did not negatively affect body weight or productive performance during the study. The eggs also had similar quality parameters, proximate composition, and cholesterol levels. However, the yolk color index was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the 100HILO than in the other groups. Dietary HILO significantly altered the composition of fatty acids (FAs) in abdominal fat and eggs. Total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) were significantly increased and decreased in the 50HILO and 100HILO groups, respectively, compared with those in the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Specifically, the medium-chain FAs lauric and myristic acids were remarkably increased in the abdominal fat of laying hens fed HILO (p<0.0001), whereas only myristic acid increased in eggs (p<0.0001). Undesirable heavy metal (aluminum, fluorine, arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium) concentrations were below permissible limits in eggs.ConclusionWe considered that HILO could be an alternative dietary fat to SBO for laying hens with maintained productive performance and good egg quality.     

Multiplex TaqMan qPCR Assay for Detection,Identification, and Quantification of Three Sclerotinia Species

White mold (or Sclerotinia stem rot), caused by Sclerotinia species, is a major air, soil, or seed-transmitted disease affecting numerous crops and wild plants. Microscopic or culture-based methods currently available for their detection and identification are time-consuming, laborious, and often erroneous. Therefore, we developed a multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the discrimination, detection, and quantification of DNA collected from each of the three economically relevant Sclerotinia species, namely, S. sclerotiorum, S. minor, and S. nivalis. TaqMan primer/probe combinations specific for each Sclerotinia species were designed based on the gene sequences encoding aspartyl protease. High specificity and sensitivity of each probe were confirmed for sclerotium and soil samples, as well as pure cultures, using simplex and multiplex qPCRs. This multiplex assay could be helpful in detecting and quantifying specific species of Sclerotinia, and therefore, may be valuable for disease diagnosis, forecasting, and management.     

草地贪夜蛾幼虫在玉米和小麦上的取食和生长发育特性比较

【目的】评估草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda转移至小麦上为害和暴发的风险。【方法】采用室内饲养观察与调查统计的方法,测定和比较了23℃下草地贪夜蛾在玉米和小麦上的取食和生长发育特性及种群生命表参数。【结果】草地贪夜蛾在小麦上可以完成世代,其3龄后幼虫取食小麦的取食量及体重指标显著地高于同处理后时间在玉米上取食的;而食物利用效率、幼虫存活率、幼虫发育历期、卵孵化率均显著低于取食玉米的。取食玉米和取食小麦的草地贪夜蛾的平均蛹重、产卵前期、单雌产卵量等指标间无显著差异。另外,生命表参数比较结果表明,取食玉米和取食小麦的草地贪夜蛾的平均世代周期(T)、内禀增长率(r_m)和周限增长率(λ)间均无显著差异,取食玉米的草地贪夜蛾的净增殖率(R₀)为303.55±2.04,显著高于取食小麦的。【结论】草地贪夜蛾取食小麦时,生长发育速度快,能够完成世代生活史,但其食物利用效率、种群繁殖能力等却均低于取食玉米时,说明草地贪夜蛾更适宜在玉米上取食为害,存在转移至小麦为害的风险,但考虑到虫源、自然温度等条件,草地贪夜蛾在小麦上暴发的风险较小。本研...     

20世纪90年代以来中国生态空间演化的时空格局和梯度效应

改革开放以来中国经济和城市化的快速发展促使生产和生活空间挤占大量生态空间,系统认识和评估我国生态空间演化的宏观格局和过程对于生态文明建设具有重要的理论和现实意义。为揭示全国生态空间变化的时空过程,在对生态空间内涵进行界定的基础上,结合全国尺度时序土地利用数据构建生态空间分类体系,并评估1990—2015年中国生态空间演化特征。结果表明:1990—2015年中国生态用地面积持续减少,主要向半生态用地转变,发生在重要的粮食生产区域及周边;半生态用地面积波动明显,前期主要表现为不断扩张,后期大量转换为弱生态用地,发生在主要城市群地区;弱生态用地持续扩张,与城镇化进程不断加速相关。中国生态空间演变过程表现出一定的区域差异和梯度效应,不同区域生态空间变化发生的拐点时间有所不同,呈现"自东向西、由南到北"的3级梯度特征,区域生态空间状况与经济发展战略及生态空间管控具有较强的相关性。本研究对于国家生态空间管控近远期战略方案制订具有一定启示,建议处于不同梯度的各地区应基于区域生态空间演化所处阶段和不同驱动机制,确定分区域生态空间安全红线目标和生态空间管控方案。     

超声技术在抑郁症诊疗中的作用研究及应用进展

超声波作为一种机械振动波,兼具波动效应、力学效应和热效应.这3种效应在临床中均有较大应用价值,可用于疾病的成像诊断、辅助给药、调控以及热消融治疗等.超声技术所具有的非侵入性、穿透力强、空间分辨率高等特性,使其在神经系统疾病的诊断和治疗中具有广泛的应用前景.而抑郁症作为一种常见的精神疾病,其诊断和治疗都面临很大的困难.因此,大量学者将超声技术应用于抑郁症诊疗.本文主要从超声成像、超声定点给药、超声调控、超声诱导抑郁几个方面总结近十年来超声技术在抑郁症中的应用,以期为研究抑郁症发病机制及诊疗提供一定的参考和帮助.     

IL1RN promotes osteoblastic differentiation via interacting with ITGB3 in osteoporosis

The occurrence and progress of osteoporosis(OP)are partially caused by impaired osteoblast differentiation.Interleukin-I receptor antagonist(IL1RN)is an immune ...