百日咳杆菌粘附素对猪源支气管败血波氏杆菌的保护性抗原的筛选

摘要：【目的】本研究通过百日咳杆菌黏附素(PRN)基因的分段克隆表达及其在BALB/c小鼠的主动和被动免疫保护试验筛选PRN中的保护性抗原肽。【方法和结果】利用大肠杆菌进行PRN的完整蛋白、N端和C端多肽及其RI和RII区域多肽（双拷贝）的表达,命名为GST-PRN、GST-PN、GST-PC、GST-2PRI和GST-2PRII。Western blot检测证实5种表达产物均具有良好的反应原性。在主动免疫保护试验中,5种表达产物均能诱导小鼠产生较高的PRN抗体水平;当使用3 LD50的支气管败血波氏杆菌     

Regulatory effect of IFN-kappa,a novel type I IFN,on cytokine production by cells of the innate immune system

IFN-kappa is a recently identified type I IFN that exhibits both structural and functional homology with the other type I IFN subclasses. In this study, we have investigated the effect of IFN-kappa on cells of the innate immune system by comparing cytokine release following treatment of human cells with either IFN-kappa or two recombinant IFN subtypes, IFN-beta and IFN-alpha2a. Although IFN-alpha2a failed to stimulate monocyte cytokine secretion, IFN-kappa, like IFN-beta, induced the release of several cytokines from both monocytes and dendritic cells, without the requirement of a costimulatory signal. IFN-kappa was particularly effective in inhibiting inducible IL-12 release from monocytes. Unlike IFN-beta, IFN-kappa did not induce release of IFN-gamma by PBL. Expression of the IFN-kappa mRNA was observed in resting dendritic cells and monocytes, and it was up-regulated by IFN-gamma stimulation in monocytes, while IFN-beta mRNA was minimally detectable under the same conditions. Monocyte and dendritic cell expression of IFN-kappa was also confirmed in vivo in chronic lesions of psoriasis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. Finally, biosensor-based binding kinetic analysis revealed that IFN-kappa, like IFN-beta, binds strongly to heparin (K(d): 2.1 nM), suggesting that the cytokine can be retained close to the local site of production. The pattern of cytokines induced by IFN-kappa in monocytes, coupled with the unique induction of IFN-kappa mRNA by IFN-gamma, indicates a potential role for IFN-kappa in the regulation of immune cell functions.     

银杏叶提取物对糖尿病大鼠心肌损伤的防护作用

目的:研究银杏叶提取物(EGb)对糖尿病大鼠心肌的防护作用.方法:用光镜和透射电镜观察EGb对糖尿病大鼠心肌的形态学改变,并测定心肌组织内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、一氧化氮合酶(NOS)、结构型一氧化氮合酶(cNOS)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)的活性及一氧化氮(NO)、丙二醛(MDA)的含量.结果:糖尿病大鼠心肌光镜下主要表现为心肌细胞空泡变性及心肌纤维局灶性溶解;电镜下主要表现为心肌线粒体肿胀,嵴变短,肌原纤维溶解;SOD活性下降,NOS、iNOS活性及MDA、NO含量增高.EGb治疗组病变明显减轻,EGb治疗组心肌组织内SOD活性明显高于糖尿病组,NOS、iNOS活性及MDA、NO含量低于糖尿病组.结论:EGb可能通过抗脂质过氧化作用和降低NO水平而对糖尿病心肌产生保护作用.     

Efficient assembly of a large fragment of monkeypox virus genome as a qPCR template using dual-selection based transformation-associated recombination

Transformation-associated recombination (TAR) has been widely used to assemble large DNA constructs. One of the significant obstacles hindering assembly efficiency is the presence of error-prone DNA repair pathways in yeast, which results in vector backbone recircularization or illegitimate recombination products. To increase TAR assembly efficiency, we prepared a dual-selective TAR vector, pGFCS, by adding a P_ADH1-URA3 cassette to a previously described yeast-bacteria shuttle vector, pGF, harboring a P_HIS3-HIS3 cassette as a positive selection marker. This new cassette works as a negative selection marker to ensure that yeast harboring a recircularized vector cannot propagate in the presence of 5-fluoroorotic acid. To prevent pGFCS bearing ura3 from recombining with endogenous ura3-52 in the yeast genome, a highly transformable Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, VL6-48B, was prepared by chromosomal substitution of ura3-52 with a transgene conferring resistance to blasticidin. A 55-kb genomic fragment of monkeypox virus encompassing primary detection targets for quantitative PCR was assembled by TAR using pGFCS in VL6-48B. The pGFCS-mediated TAR assembly showed a zero rate of vector recircularization and an average correct assembly yield of 79% indicating that the dual-selection strategy provides an efficient approach to optimizing TAR assembly.     

Hepatitis C virus 3′UTR regulates viral translation through direct interactions with the host translation machinery

The 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) messenger RNA stimulates viral translation by an undetermined mechanism. We identified a high affinity interaction, conserved among different HCV genotypes, between the HCV 3′UTR and the host ribosome. The 3′UTR interacts with 40S ribosomal subunit proteins residing primarily in a localized region on the 40S solvent-accessible surface near the messenger RNA entry and exit sites. This region partially overlaps with the site where the HCV internal ribosome entry site was found to bind, with the internal ribosome entry site-40S subunit interaction being dominant. Despite its ability to bind to 40S subunits independently, the HCV 3′UTR only stimulates translation in cis, without affecting the first round translation rate. These observations support a model in which the HCV 3′UTR retains ribosome complexes during translation termination to facilitate efficient initiation of subsequent rounds of translation.     

Coexistence of diploid, triploid and tetraploid crucian carp (Carassius auratus) in natural waters

Background

Crucian carp (abbreviated CC) belongs to the genus of Carassius within the family of Cyprinidae. It has been one of the most important freshwater species for Chinese aquaculture and is especially abundant in the Dongting water system of Hunan province. CC used to be considered as all diploid forms. However, coexistence of diploid (abbreviated 2nCC), triploid (abbreviated 3nCC) and tetraploid crucian carp (abbreviated 4nCC) population of the Dongting water system was first found by our recently researches.

Results

We examined the ploidy level and compared biological characteristics in different ploidy CC. In reproductive mode, 2nCC was bisexual generative and 4nCC generated all-female offspring by gynogenesis. However, 3nCC generated progenies in two different ways. 3nCC produced bisexual triploid offspring fertilized with 3nCC spermatozoa, while it produced all-female triploid offspring by gynogenesis when its ova were activated by heterogenous spermatozoa. The complete mitochondrial DNA of three different ploidy fishes was sequenced and analyzed, suggesting no significant differences. Interestingly, microchromosomes were found only in 3nCC, which were concluded to be the result of hybridization. Allogenetic DNA fragments of Sox genes were obtained in 3nCC and 4nCC, which were absent in 2nCC. Phylogenetics analysis based on Sox4 gene indicated 3nCC and 4nCC formed a separate group from 2nCC.

Conclusions

In summary, this is the first report of the co-existence of three types of different ploidy crucian carps in natural waters in China. It was proved that the coexistence of different ploidy CC was reproductively maintained. We further hypothesized that 3nCC and 4nCC were allopolyploids that resulted from hybridization. The different ploidy CC population we obtained in this study possesses great significance for the study of polyploidization and the evolution of vertebrates.     

Enhanced sophorolipid production by feeding-rate-controlled fed-batch culture

To develop the easier control method for fed-batch culture of sophorolipid production, we chose rapeseed oil as the most productive oil and compared their productivities in relation to different concentrations of glucose. The optimal concentration of glucose was 30 g/L for sophorolipid production. A fed-batch method was conducted using Candida bombicola ATCC 22214 with rapeseed oil as a secondary substrate. The feeding rate of rapeseed oil was dependent on pH and was calculated by the consumption rate of NaOH and rapeseed oil. The glucose concentration was constantly maintained between 30 and 40 g/L. As a result, we have produced a crude sophorolipid up to 365 g/L for 8 days through a feeding-rate-controlled fed-batch process.     

Protective effects of MLIF analogs on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

The monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor (MLIF) is an anti-inflammatory oligopeptide produced by Entamoeba histolytica. Among its different effects, it inhibits locomotion of human monocytes, hence its original name. The carboxyl-terminal end group Cys-Asn-Ser is the pharmacophore of anti-inflammatory peptide Met-Gln-Cys-Asn-Ser. In this study, the N-terminal of Cys-Asn-Ser was modified. With the aim to enhance the antioxidant ability and penetrability of Cys-Asn-Ser, we designed and synthesized two tetrapeptides Tyr-Cys-Asn-Ser and His-Cys-Asn-Ser. The neuroprotective effects of Tyr-Cys-Asn-Ser and His-Cys-Asn-Ser on focal ischemia reperfusion were investigated, and their pharmacological activities compared with Cys-Asn-Ser were studied. In order to study the mechanism of neuroprotective effect of these peptides, the level of oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and pro-inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were detected in brain tissue homogenate.     

Collagen-binding motif peptide, a cleavage product of osteopontin, stimulates human neutrophil chemotaxis via pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein-mediated signaling

The collagen-binding motif (CBM) peptide, a cleavage product of osteopontin (OPN), stimulated intracellular calcium increase in human neutrophils. CBM peptide-stimulated calcium was inhibited by pertussis toxin (PTX), suggesting the influence of PTX-sensitive G-proteins. In addition CBM peptide stimulated the chemotactic migration of human neutrophils and human monocytes. CBM peptide-induced neutrophil chemotaxis was completely inhibited by PTX, once again indicating the influence of Gi proteins. CBM peptide was also found to induce mitogen activated protein kinase activation. CBM peptide-induced neutrophil chemotaxis was mediated by p38 kinase as well as an extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase. Taken together, the results suggest that a cleavage product of OPN, CBM peptide, initiates immune responses by inducing neutrophil trafficking via certain PTX-sensitive cell surface receptors.