Eastern equine encephalitis virus rapidly infects and disseminates in the brain and spinal cord of cynomolgus macaques following aerosol challenge

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is mosquito-borne virus that produces fatal encephalitis in humans. We recently conducted a first of its kind study to investigate EEEV clinical disease course following aerosol challenge in a cynomolgus macaque model utilizing the state-of-the-art telemetry to measure critical physiological parameters. Here, we report the results of a comprehensive pathology study of NHP tissues collected at euthanasia to gain insights into EEEV pathogenesis. Viral RNA and proteins as well as microscopic lesions were absent in the visceral organs. In contrast, viral RNA and proteins were readily detected throughout the brain including autonomic nervous system (ANS) control centers and spinal cord. However, despite presence of viral RNA and proteins, majority of the brain and spinal cord tissues exhibited minimal or no microscopic lesions. The virus tropism was restricted primarily to neurons, and virus particles (~61–68 nm) were present within axons of neurons and throughout the extracellular spaces. However, active virus replication was absent or minimal in majority of the brain and was limited to regions proximal to the olfactory tract. These data suggest that EEEV initially replicates in/near the olfactory bulb following aerosol challenge and is rapidly transported to distal regions of the brain by exploiting the neuronal axonal transport system to facilitate neuron-to-neuron spread. Once within the brain, the virus gains access to the ANS control centers likely leading to disruption and/or dysregulation of critical physiological parameters to produce severe disease. Moreover, the absence of microscopic lesions strongly suggests that the underlying mechanism of EEEV pathogenesis is due to neuronal dysfunction rather than neuronal death. This study is the first comprehensive investigation into EEEV pathology in a NHP model and will provide significant insights into the evaluation of countermeasure.     

BMI1基因下调使宫颈癌和子宫内膜癌对紫杉醇敏感

目的 研究B细胞特异性莫洛尼鼠白血病病毒插入位点1（BMI1）基因对宫颈癌及子宫内膜癌增殖浸润及紫杉醇耐受的影响及其机制。方法 首先利用Cbioportal、TCGA和CPTAC数据库分析BMI1基因在宫颈癌和子宫内膜癌中的突变及表达情况。接着对人宫颈癌组织样本和人子宫内膜癌组织样本中BMI1的蛋白质表达水平进行免疫组化分析。采用蛋白质印迹法（Western blot)检测BMI1敲低后宫颈癌及子宫内膜癌细胞中BMI1下游调控因子的蛋白质水平变化。此外,通过细胞功能实验研究了BMI1在宫颈癌HeLa及子宫内膜癌HEC-1-A细胞中的功能。最后,通过实验评估siBMI1联合紫杉醇治疗的协同抗生长作用。结果 数据库分析结果显示,BMI1在1.5%的子宫颈癌患者及1.9%的子宫内膜癌的患者中存在不同程度的扩增、错义及剪接突变。此外,高mRNA水平的BMI1与宫颈癌的病理类型相关,且高蛋白质水平的BMI1与子宫内膜癌的病理类型和肿瘤分级及较低的生存率相关。进一步的免疫组化分析发现,与正常组织相比,宫颈癌和子宫内膜癌组织中BMI1蛋白水平表达升高,且与肿瘤的病理分化及浸润深度相关。药物敏感性实验显示,BMI1过表达导致HeLa及HEC-1-A细胞对多种抗癌药物的敏感性下降,其中包括紫杉醇。为了进一步分析BMI1与紫杉醇耐受的关系,通过Western blot检测BMI1敲除后HeLa及HEC-1-A细胞中BMI1下游因子的蛋白质水平变化。结果显示,抗凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2随着BMI1的敲低而表达水平下降,而促凋亡相关蛋白BAX则显著升高。此外,细胞功能实验结果显示,体外过表达BMI1可促进HeLa及HEC-1-A细胞的增殖和迁移,且BMI1低表达的HeLa及HEC-1-A细胞对紫杉醇更敏感。结论 BMI1在宫颈癌和子宫内膜癌患者的肿瘤组织中过表达,BMI1的下调通过调控凋亡通路使CC和EC细胞对紫杉醇更加敏感。     

纳米递送系统线粒体靶向策略在肿瘤诊疗中的应用

肿瘤是危害人类健康的重大疾病之一。目前用于肿瘤治疗的方法有手术治疗、化学药物治疗、放射治疗等。然而,传统的治疗方法存在治疗效果不佳、易引发多药耐药、毒副作用大等缺点,仍需进一步探索新的肿瘤治疗靶点和策略。线粒体作为细胞的能量转换器,被认为是肿瘤、心血管和神经性疾病新药设计的最重要靶点之一。纳米药物递送载体具有易被主动靶向基团修饰的特点,可实现细胞乃至细胞器的精准靶向给药。本文从抑制肿瘤细胞增殖、促进肿瘤细胞凋亡、抑制肿瘤复发与转移、诱导细胞自噬等方面综述了线粒体靶向纳米载体在肿瘤诊疗中的应用。     

Requirements for human‐induced pluripotent stem cells

‘Requirements for Human‐Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells’ is the first set of guidelines on human‐induced pluripotent stem cells in China, jointly drafted and agreed upon by experts from the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research. This standard specifies the technical requirements, test methods, and instructions for use, labeling, packaging, storage, transportation, and waste handling for human‐induced pluripotent stem cells, which apply to the production and quality control of human‐induced pluripotent stem cells. It was released by the Chinese Society for Cell Biology on 9 January 2021 and came into effect on 9 April 2021. We hope that the publication of these guidelines will promote institutional establishment, acceptance, and execution of proper protocols and accelerate the international standardization of human‐induced pluripotent stem cells for applications.     

Substrate-binding loop interactions with pseudouridine trigger conformational changes that promote catalytic efficiency of pseudouridine kinase PUKI

Pseudouridine, one major RNA modification, is catabolized into uracil and ribose-5′-phosphate by two sequential enzymatic reactions. In the first step, pseudouridine kinase (PUKI) phosphorylates pseudouridine to pseudouridine 5′-monophosphate. High-fidelity catalysis of pseudouridine by PUKI prevents possible disturbance of in vivo pyrimidine homeostasis. However, the molecular basis of how PUKI selectively phosphorylates pseudouridine over uridine with >100-fold greater efficiency despite minor differences in their K_m values has not been elucidated. To investigate this selectivity, in this study we determined the structures of PUKI from Escherichia coli strain B (EcPUKI) in various ligation states. The structure of EcPUKI was determined to be similar to PUKI from Arabidopsis thaliana, including an α/β core domain and β-stranded small domain, with dimerization occurring via the β-stranded small domain. In a binary complex, we show that Ser30 in the substrate-binding loop of the small domain mediates interactions with the hallmark N1 atom of pseudouridine nucleobase, causing conformational changes in its quaternary structure. Kinetic and fluorescence spectroscopic analyses also showed that the Ser30-mediated interaction is a prerequisite for conformational changes and subsequent catalysis by EcPUKI. Furthermore, S30A mutation or EcPUKI complexed with other nucleosides homologous to pseudouridine but lacking the pseudouridine-specific N1 atom did not induce such conformational changes, demonstrating the catalytic significance of the proposed Ser30-mediated interaction. These analyses provide structural and functional evidence for a pseudouridine-dependent conformational change of EcPUKI and its functional linkage to catalysis.     

Eudistomidin G,a new β-carboline alkaloid from the Okinawan marine tunicate Eudistoma glaucus and structure revision of eudistomidin B

A new β-carboline alkaloid, eudistomidin G (1), has been isolated from the Okinawan marine tunicate Eudistoma glaucus, and the structure was elucidated from spectroscopic data. Furthermore, the structure of eudistomidin B (2), which has been isolated from the same tunicate, was revised from 2a to 2b by detailed analyses of spectroscopic data. Asymmetric synthesis of the revised structure (2b) of eudistomidin B (2) and its (1S,10S)-diastereomer (2c) has been accomplished with the Noyori catalytic asymmetric hydrogen-transfer reaction. The absolute configuration of eudistomidin B (2) was confirmed to be 2b possessing (1R,10S)-configuration, from comparison of the ¹H NMR data, CD spectra, [α]_D values, and HPLC analysis of 2b, 2c, and natural eudistomidin B.     

The complete mitogenome of the hydrothermal vent crab Gandalfus yunohana (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura): a link between the Bythograeoidea and Xanthoidea

Yang, J.‐S., Nagasawa, H., Fujiwara, Y., Tsuchida, S. & Yang, W.‐J. The complete mitogenome of the hydrothermal vent crab Gandalfus yunohana (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura): a link between the Bythograeoidea and Xanthoidea. —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 621–630. Metazoan mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are often used for all‐level phylogenetic analyses and evolution modelling. Although mitochondrial fragments facilitate studying the occurrence and dispersal of hydrothermal‐vent species, few complete mitogenomes have been determined for comprehensive analyses. We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the bythograeid crab Gandalfus yunohana. The G. yunohana mitogenome is 15 567 bp in length and with an AT content of 69.9%. A putative control region of 625 bp was identified due to its position (between rrnS and trnI) and AT richness (72.8%), which exhibits high similarity with that of the Australian giant crab Pseudocarcinus gigas. The mitochondrial gene order is identical to the typical brachyuran mode. Codon usage, nucleotide composition and bias are well conserved as the Brachyura. Phylogenetic analyses from protein‐coding genes indicated its closest relationship with P. gigas. All the results support the close evolution distance between the Bythograeoidea and Xanthoidea, which might imply the possible origin that the only superfamily of vent crabs underwent. The G. yunohana mitogenome exhibits highly conserved characteristics with those of other decapods, especially its close relative brachyurans. A recent origin rather than the relic fauna was suggested. The present study will supply considerable data of use for both genomics and evolutionary research on hydrothermal vent ecosystems.     

Salt-assisted acid hydrolysis of starch to D-glucose under microwave irradiation

The effect of inorganic salts on the hydrolysis of starch in a microwave field was investigated and it was found that some inorganic salts can effectively accelerate the acid hydrolysis of starch. The yield of D-glucose reached 111 wt% (equal to the theoretical yield).     

Intrinsic double-stranded-RNA processing activity of Escherichia coli ribonuclease III lacking the dsRNA-binding domain.

The ribonuclease III superfamily represents a structurally related group of double-strand (ds) specific endoribonucleases which play key roles in diverse prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA maturation and degradation pathways. A dsRNA-binding domain (dsRBD) is a conserved feature of the superfamily and is important for substrate recognition. RNase III family members also exhibit a "catalytic" domain, in part defined by a set of highly conserved amino acids, of which at least one (a glutamic acid) is important for cleavage but not for substrate binding. However, it is not known whether the catalytic domain requires the dsRBD for activity. This report shows that a truncated form of Escherichia coli RNase III lacking the dsRBD (RNase III[DeltadsRBD]) can accurately cleave small processing substrates in vitro. Optimal activity of RNase III[DeltadsRBD] is observed at low salt concentrations (<60 mM Na(+)), either in the presence of Mg(2+) (>25 mM) or Mn(2+) ( approximately 5 mM). At 60 mM Na(+) and 5 mM Mn(2+) the catalytic efficiency of RNase III[DeltadsRBD] is similar to that of RNase III at physiological salt concentrations and Mg(2+). In the presence of Mg(2+) RNase III[DeltadsRBD] is less efficient than the wild-type enzyme, due to a higher K(m). Similar to RNase III, RNase III[DeltadsRBD] is inhibited by high concentrations of Mn(2+), which is due to metal ion occupancy of an inhibitory site on the enzyme. RNase III[DeltadsRBD] retains strict specificity for dsRNA, as indicated by its inability to cleave (rA)(25), (rU)(25), or (rC)(25). Moreover, dsDNA, ssDNA, or an RNA-DNA hybrid are not cleaved. Low (micromolar) concentrations of ethidium bromide block RNase III[DeltadsRBD] cleavage of substrate, which is similar to the inhibition seen with RNase III and is indicative of an intercalative mode of inhibition. Finally, RNase III[DeltadsRBD] is sensitive to specific Watson-Crick base-pair substitutions which also inhibit RNase III. These findings support an RNase III mechanism of action in which the catalytic domain (i) can function independently of the dsRBD, (ii) is dsRNA-specific, and (iii) participates in cleavage site selection.