Monoclonal antibodies to Legionella pneumophila cytolysin

The fusion of spleen cells, taken from BALB/c mice immunized with the purified preparation of L. pneumophila cytolysin, with cells Sp2/0 and NP has been carried out. As a result, hybridoma cells producing IgG1, IgG3 and IgM antibodies to this protein have been obtained. All monoclonal antibodies (McAb) thus obtained react with L. pneumophila strain lysates in the precipitation test, while IgG3 and IgM antibodies react with erythrocyte diagnostic agents prepared from the lysate of L. pneumophila cells in the hemagglutination test. In the Western blot assay, McAb react with the 37 KD protein (cytolysin) and a number of other proteins from L. pneumophila cultures and L. pneumophila cell lysate, but do not react with the species-specific protein with a molecular weight of 29 KD, contained in the outer membrane of L. pneumophila, as well as with other species: L. bozemanii, L. dumoffii, L. longbeachae, L. micdadei. The possibility of using these McAb conjugated with FITC and peroxidase for the rapid diagnosis of Legionella infection is shown.     

Goldfish exposure to cobalt enhances hemoglobin level and triggers tissue-specific elevation of antioxidant defenses in gills, heart and spleen

Cobalt ions can enhance the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may be the reason for cobalt toxicity. This study aimed to determine whether Co(2+) toxicity in goldfish is related to induced oxidative stress in gills, heart and spleen, and to assess responses of antioxidant systems. Exposure of goldfish to 50, 100 and 150 mg L(-1) of Co(2+) for 96 h elevated total hemoglobin in blood by 23, 44 and 78%, respectively. In gills, cobalt exposure enhanced lipid peroxide levels and activities of primary antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD) rose by 125% and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) increased by 53-296%. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity also increased by 117-157% and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) enhanced by 46-96%. Heart showed limited effects of fish exposure to 50 or 100 mg L(-1) of Co(2+), but the exposure to 150 mg L(-1) of Co(2+) elevated concentrations of lipid peroxides by 123% and activities of GPx by 98% and SOD by 208%. The most substantial effects of goldfish exposure to Co(2+) were observed in spleen: a decrease in total protein concentration by 44-60% and high molecular mass thiols by 59-82%, reduced activities of catalase by 24-58% and GR by 25-68%, whereas the level of low molecular mass thiols increased by 153-279% and activities of GPx, GST, G6PDH were enhanced by 114-120%, 192-769%, and 256-581%, respectively. The data show that fish exposure to 50-150 mg L(-1) of Co(2+) elevates blood hemoglobin level, mimicking effects of hypoxia, and causes the activation of defense systems against ROS.     

Determination of metabolic resistance mechanisms in pyrethroid‐resistant and fipronil‐tolerant brown dog ticks

Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is a three‐host dog tick found worldwide that is able to complete its' entire lifecycle indoors. Options for the management of R. sanguineus are limited and its' control relies largely on only a few acaricidal active ingredients. Previous studies have confirmed permethrin resistance and fipronil tolerance in R. sanguineus populations, commonly conferred by metabolic detoxification or target site mutations. Herein, five strains of permethrin‐resistant and three strains of fipronil‐tolerant ticks were evaluated for metabolic resistance using synergists to block metabolic enzymes. Synergist studies were completed with triphenyl phosphate (TPP) for esterase inhibition, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) for cytochrome P450 inhibition, and diethyl maleate (DEM) for glutathione‐S‐transferase inhibition. Additionally, increased esterase activity was confirmed using gel electrophoresis. The most important metabolic detoxification mechanism in permethrin‐resistant ticks was increased esterase activity, followed by increased cytochrome P450 activity. The inhibition of metabolic enzymes did not have a marked impact on fipronil‐tolerant tick strains.     

TGF-β_2在低氧条件下诱导骨髓基质干细胞向软骨细胞分化的研究

目的：探讨转化生长因子β2（TGF-β2）在低氧条件下诱导骨髓基质干细胞（BMSCs）向软骨细胞分化的作用。方法：无菌条件下分离Wistar大鼠股骨骨髓,采用全贴壁培养法纯化BMSCs。传6代后,将细胞随机分为3组,A组加入25 ng/mL TGF-β2在1%氧浓度条件下培养;B组加入25 ng/mL TGF-β2在21%氧浓度条件下培养;C组仅加入含10%胎牛血清的DMEM-α培养液在1%氧浓度条件下培养。3周后,通过甲苯胺蓝染色检测细胞糖胺多糖,聚合酶链反应检测Ⅱ型胶原和蛋白聚糖（Aggrecan）的表达水平。结果：骨髓细胞经换液后贴壁聚集生长,形态均一,连续传代后形态无明显改变。分组培养第1周,A、C组生长速度低于B组;第2周各组均出现不规则形态细胞,A、C组细胞形态小于B组;第3周各组均可见透明样基质,以A组最明显。3周后行甲苯胺蓝染色,A组细胞内外均可见丰富的蓝染颗粒,B、C组染色较A组略浅。A组Ⅱ型胶原的表达相对量（1.246±0.287）高于B组（0.973±0.365）、C组（0.802±0.196）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;B、C组比较无明显差异（P〉0.05）。A组Aggrecan的表达相对量（0.833±0.375）高于B组（0.724±0.173）、C组（0.602±0.091）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;B、C组比较无明显差异（P〉0.05）。结论：TGF-β2联合低氧环境可明显促进骨髓基质干细胞分化为软骨细胞。     

胃癌组织中Tenascin、MVD、Ki-67的表达及其临床意义

目的：探讨胃癌组织中Tenascin蛋白、微血管密度（microvascular density,MVD）、Ki-67的表达及其与临床病理特征的关系。方法：采用免疫组化Elivision法检测70例胃癌组织和20例癌旁正常组织中Tenascin、CD34和Ki-67的表达。结果：①正常胃黏膜上皮Tenascin阴性,胃癌中的Tenascin主要表达于肿瘤相关纤维母细胞的胞质中,且与胃癌的Lauren分型、分化程度、临床分期、淋巴结转移显著相关（P〈0．05）;②胃癌中MVD和Ki-67-LI（标记指数）均高于正常胃黏膜（P〈0．001）,且均与胃癌的临床分期、浸润深度、淋巴结转移显著相关（P〈0．05）;结论：胃癌组织中Tenascin可抑制胃癌的演进,MVD及Ki-67可作为胃癌患者预后的预测指标,联合检测胃癌组织Tenascin、MVD、Ki-67的表达情况,对于进一步了解胃癌的生物学行为和判断预后具有一定的临床价值与意义。     

Goldfish can recover after short-term exposure to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate: Use of blood parameters as vital biomarkers

This study investigated the effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), a widely used herbicide, on the metabolism of goldfish, Carassius auratus, using only vital (non-lethal) approaches. After 96 h exposure to 1, 10 or 100 mg/L of 2,4-D selected hematological (total hemoglobin and hematocrit) and biochemical (glucose content, aspartate transaminase and acetylcholinesterase activities) parameters were unchanged in blood of exposed fish. At 100 mg/L of 2,4-D lymphocyte numbers decreased by 8%, whereas promyelocyte and metamyelocyte numbers increased by 7- and 2-fold, respectively. Exposure to 100 mg/L of 2,4-D also elevated carbonyl protein levels (by 2-fold), triglyceride content (by 43%) and alanine transaminase activity (by 46%) in goldfish plasma. All of these hematological and biochemical parameters reverted to control values after a 96 h recovery period. These data indicate that 2,4-D has toxicological effects on goldfish that can be monitored with multiple diagnostic tests using non-lethal blood testing.     

Molecular characterisation and genetic mapping of candidate genes for qualitative disease resistance in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Background  

Qualitative pathogen resistance in both dicotyledenous and monocotyledonous plants has been attributed to the action of resistance (R) genes, including those encoding nucleotide binding site – leucine rich repeat (NBS-LRR) proteins and receptor-like kinase enzymes. This study describes the large-scale isolation and characterisation of candidate R genes from perennial ryegrass. The analysis was based on the availability of an expressed sequence tag (EST) resource and a functionally-integrated bioinformatics database.     

中国云南白族和新疆维族7个Y-STR基因座的遗传多态性

利用AB I3100遗传分析仪, 我们调查了7个Y-STR基因座构成的单体型在中国云南白族133例和新疆维族105例无关男性个体中的分布。7个Y-STR基因座包括DYS456、DYS464 a/b/c/d、DYS527 a/b、DYS531、DYS709、DYS448和DYS522。结果显示,云南白族和新疆维族2个民族男性群体中,分别观察到133、105种单体型, 均为仅观察到1次的单体型,单体型多样性(HD)均趋近于1, 比较这种单体型在两个群体中的分布差异,显示有统计学显著意义(秩和检验: P<0.001)。中国云南白族和新疆维族7个Y-STR基因座具有较高的多态性, 为法医学实践和群体遗传学的研究提供了有用的基础资料。