Cellular reprogramming by single-cell fusion with mouse embryonic stem cells in pig

Fusion of differentiated somatic cells with pluripotent stem cells can be used for cellular reprogramming, but the efficiency to obtain hybrid cells is extremely low. Here, we explored a novel cell fusion system, termed single-cell fusion, the efficiency was significantly improved verified by fusion of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), comparing to traditional polyethylene glycol fusion. Then, we employed the optimized system to perform cell fusion of porcine embryonic fibroblasts (PEFs) and porcine pluripotent stem cells (pPSCs) with mESCs. The hybrid cells showed both red and green fluorescence and expressed species-specific genes of mouse and pig to evidence that the fusion was successful. The hybrid cells displayed characteristics similar with mESCs, including colony morphology, alkaline phosphatase positive and formation of embryoid body, and the expressions of core pluripotent factors OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2 of the pig were induced in the mESC/PEF hybrid cells. The results indicate PEFs and pPSCs could be reprogrammed by mESCs via the single-cell fusion. Taking advantage of the hybrid cells to investigate the signaling pathways depended on the pluripotency of pig, we suggest the transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways may play important roles. In summary, the single-cell fusion is highly efficient, and we believe in the future it will be widely used in the application and fundamental research.     

Small but significant: Insights and new perspectives of exosomes in cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major health problem worldwide, and health professionals are still actively seeking new and effective approaches for CVDs treatment. Presently, extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes, have gained its popularity for CVDs treatment because of their function as messengers for inter‐ and extra‐cellular communications to promote cellular functions in cardiovascular system. However, as a newly developed field, researchers are still trying to fully understand the role of exosomes, and their mechanism in mediating cardiac repair process. Therefore, a comprehensive review of this topic can be timely and favourable. In this review, we summarized the basic biogenesis and characterization of exosomes and then further extended the focus on the circulating exosomes in cellular communication and stem cell‐derived exosomes in cardiac disease treatment. In addition, we covered interactions between the heart and other organs through exosomes, leading to the diagnostic characteristics of exosomes in CVDs. Future perspectives and limitations of exosomes in CVDs were also discussed with a special focus on exploring the potential delivery routes, targeting the injured tissue and engineering novel exosomes, as well as its potential as one novel target in the metabolism‐related puzzle.     

猪鞭虫和斯氏鞭虫线粒体pnad4和pcox1基因的扩增与序列分析

以采自广东不同地区的猪鞭虫(Trichuris suis)和斯氏鞭虫(Trichuris skrjabini)为研究对象,扩增线粒体基因组的pnad4和pcox1基因,将扩增产物纯化后克隆至pMD18-T载体,对阳性菌落进行测序和序列分析。结果表明,来源于不同地区的鞭虫上述两个基因种内相对保守,差异性不大,但种间差异较大。猪鞭虫和斯氏鞭虫的pnad4长度均为468 bp,相互间有162个种间遗传标记位点;猪鞭虫和斯氏鞭虫的pcox1长度分别为600 bp与438 bp,相互间有156个种间遗传标记位点。两种鞭虫之间的pnad4基因差异率为45.1%-45.9%,pcox1基因差异率为44.1%-45.4%。上述线粒体两个基因均可作为区分两种线虫的种间遗传标记。     

Crystal Structures of the Scaffolding Protein LGN Reveal the General Mechanism by Which GoLoco Binding Motifs Inhibit the Release of GDP from Gαi

GoLoco (GL) motif-containing proteins regulate G protein signaling by binding to Gα subunit and acting as guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors. GLs of LGN are also known to bind the GDP form of Gα_i/o during asymmetric cell division. Here, we show that the C-terminal GL domain of LGN binds four molecules of Gα_i·GDP. The crystal structures of Gα_i·GDP in complex with LGN GL3 and GL4, respectively, reveal distinct GL/Gα_i interaction features when compared with the only high resolution structure known with GL/Gα_i interaction between RGS14 and Gα_i1. Only a few residues C-terminal to the conserved GL sequence are required for LGN GLs to bind to Gα_i·GDP. A highly conserved “double Arg finger” sequence (RΨ(D/E)(D/E)QR) is responsible for LGN GL to bind to GDP bound to Gα_i. Together with the sequence alignment, we suggest that the LGN GL/Gα_i interaction represents a general binding mode between GL motifs and Gα_i. We also show that LGN GLs are potent guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors.     

First Report of Leaf Spot Disease in Angelica dahurica Caused by Phoma bellidis in China

Angelica dahurica is a perennial herb belonging to the Umbelliferae family that has been used as a valuable traditional Chinese medicine. In August 2013, leaf spot disease in A. dahurica was first observed at the Medicinal Herb Garden in Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China. Morphological assessment, evaluation of culture characteristics, internal transcribed spacer and beta‐tubulin sequence analysis and pathogenicity identified the causal agent as Phoma bellidis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot disease in A. dahurica that was caused by P. bellidis.     

红脉穗螟寄生蜂寄主选择研究

[目的]优化红脉穗螟寄生蜂繁育技术,为该虫的生物防治提供参考。[方法]通过室内饲养研究了红脉穗螟幼虫寄生蜂褐带卷蛾茧蜂和蛹寄生蜂周氏啮小蜂(海南种)对4种昆虫的寄生效果,并对最佳接种比例进行筛选。[结果]褐带卷蛾茧蜂对大蜡螟幼虫寄生效果优于米蛾幼虫,且对黄粉虫和大麦虫幼虫不表现寄生特性,褐带卷蛾茧蜂和大蜡螟幼虫的最佳接种比例为1∶1和2∶1,其中在2∶1接种比例处理中的寄生率和单寄主产蜂量分别为76.67%和34.60头;4种昆虫蛹均可用于繁育周氏啮小蜂,从寄主的繁育成本和寄生效果分析,以黄粉虫蛹效果较最佳,接种蜂虫比以2∶1为宜,此时的单寄主产蜂量为148.60头。[结论]寄主和接种比例不同会影响寄生蜂的寄生效果,本研究中褐带卷蛾茧蜂适宜寄主为大蜡螟,最优蜂虫比为1∶1和2∶1,周氏啮小蜂(海南种)适宜寄主为黄粉虫,最优接种蜂虫比为2∶1。     

Screening for therapeutic targets of tumor angiogenesis signatures in 31 cancer types and potential insights

Tumor vessel normalization can increase pericyte coverage, perfusion efficiency and immune infiltration, while reducing hypoxia, vessel leakage, CTC and metastasis. In this study, we systemically presented the expression pattern of tumor angiogenesis gene signatures in 31 cancer types and its association with immune infiltration and cancer metastasis. Specifically, READ, COAD etc. have relatively similar expression patterns with low GPAGs and high PPAGs. Patients with this expression pattern may benefit from tumor vessel normalization. COAD was selected for further investigation and we found GPAG CXCL12 was downregulated while PPAG EPHB3 was overexpressed in COAD, which were further validated using two independent colon cancer dataset. Further study indicated that CXCL12 expression was positively correlated innate inflammation pathways such as NFκB and negatively correlated with metastasis, while EPHB3 had a reverse result. Moreover, CXCL12 was positively correlated with cancer immune infiltration while EPHB3 was negatively correlated with cancer immune infiltration. Besides, the association between CXCL12/EPHB3 and mutation/CNA landscape were also explored. We also discussed the potential application of gut microbiota in cancer treatment. In summary, blood vessel normalization could promote immune infiltration and repress cancer metastasis while immune cell infiltration can promote blood vessel normalization through a positive feedback loop.     

基于物种运动路径识别的动物通道选址——以武深高速为例

动物通道是缓解高速公路对其周边野生动物生境隔离的有效措施,通道的位置是影响其使用效率的关键因素,然而现有研究对通道的选址却甚少涉及。以武深高速为例,推荐一种基于物种运动路径识别的通道选址方法,选取影响动物生境选择的环境因子构建评价体系,借助GIS手段对公路周边野生动物生境适宜性进行分析,在此基础上借鉴水文分析原理快速准确地刻画出物种在生境中的潜在活动路径,从而确定了5处高速公路上建设动物通道的理想位置。结果表明,该方法能定量地反映出生境的质量格局对于物种运动的影响,准确定位出物种运动受到阻碍的关键区域,在景观层次上,提出的通道位置能有效地缓解栖息地破碎化造成的生态压力;研究不但能弥补目前研究的不足,同时亦为道路网设计、城市生态规划等相关领域研究提供科学参考。