Synthesis of novel steroidal agonists,partial agonists,and antagonists for the glucocorticoid receptor

Adverse effects of glucocorticoids could be limited by developing new compounds that selectively modulate anti-inflammatory activity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). We have synthesized a novel series of steroidal GR ligands, including potent agonists, partial agonists and antagonists with a wide range of effects on inhibiting secretion of interleukin-6. Some of these new ligands were designed to directly impact conformational stability of helix-12, in the GR ligand-binding domain (LBD). These compounds modulated GR activity and glucocorticoid-induced gene expression in a manner that was inversely correlated to the degree of inflammatory response. In contrast, compounds designed to directly modulate LBD epitopes outside helix-12, led to dissociated levels of GR-mediated gene expression and inflammatory response. Therefore, these new series of compounds and their derivatives will be useful to dissect the ligand-dependent features of GR signaling specificity.     

Molecular characterization of avian-like H1N1 swine influenza a viruses isolated in Eastern China, 2011

Currently, three predominant subtypes of influenza virus are prevalent in pig populations worldwide: H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2. European avian-like H1N1 viruses, which were initially detected in European pig populations in 1979, have been circulating in pigs in eastern China since 2007. In this study, six influenza A viruses were isolated from 60 swine lung samples collected from January to April 2011 in eastern China. Based on whole genome sequencing, molecular characteristics of two isolates were determined. Phylogenetic analysis showed the eight genes of the two isolates were closely related to those of the avian-like H1N1 viruses circulating in pig populations, especially similar to those found in China. Four potential glycosylation sites were observed at positions 13, 26, 198, 277 in the HA1 proteins of the two isolates. Due to the presence of a stop codon at codon 12, the isolates contained truncated PB1-F2 proteins. In this study, the isolates contained 591Q, 627E and 701N in the polymerase subunit PB2, which had been shown to be determinants of virulence and host adaptation. The isolates also had a D rather than E at position 92 of the NS1, a marker of mammalian adaptation. Both isolates contained the GPKV motif at the PDZ ligand domain of the 3′ end of the NS1, a characteristic marker of the European avian-like swine viruses since about 1999, which is distinct from those of avian, human and classical swine viruses. The M2 proteins of the isolates have the mutation (S31N), a characteristic marker of the European avian-like swine viruses since about 1987, which may confer resistance to amantadine and rimantadine antivirals. Our findings further emphasize the importance of surveillance on the genetic diversity of influenza A viruses in pigs, and raise more concerns about the occurrence of cross-species transmission events.     

Identification of the ryanodine receptor mutation I4743M and its contribution to diamide insecticide resistance in Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Insect ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are the targets of diamide insecticides. Two point mutations G4946E and I4790M (numbering according to Plutella xylostella, PxRyR) in the transmembrane domain of the insect RyRs associated with diamide resistance have so far been identified in three lepidopteran pests, P. xylostella, Tuta absoluta and Chilo suppressalis. In this study, we identified one of the known RyR target site resistance mutations (I4790M) in a field‐collected population of Spodoptera exigua. The field‐collected WF population of S. exigua exhibited 154 fold resistance to chlorantraniliprole when compared with the susceptible WH‐S strain. Sequencing the transmembrane domains of S. exigua RyR (SeRyR) revealed that the resistant WF strain was homozygous for the I4743M mutation (corresponding to I4790M in PxRyR), whereas the G4900E allele (corresponding to G4946E of PxRyR) was not detected. The 4743M allele was introgressed into the susceptible WH‐S strain by crossing WF with WH‐S, followed by three rounds of backcrossing with WH‐S. The introgressed strain 4743M was homozygous for the mutant 4743M allele and shared about 94% of its genetic background with that of the recipient WH‐S strain. Compared with WH‐S, the near‐isogenic 4743M strain showed moderate levels of resistance to chlorantraniliprole (21 fold), cyantraniliprole (25 fold) and flubendiamide (22 fold), suggesting that the I4743M mutation confers medium levels of resistance to all three diamides. Genetic analysis showed diamide resistance in the 4743M strain was inherited as an autosomal and recessive trait. Results from this study have direct implications for the design of appropriate resistance monitoring and management practices to sustainably control S. exigua.     

一株沙门氏菌拮抗菌的筛选及其在污染土壤原位修复中的应用

利用无菌滤纸片平板法从沙门氏菌(Salmonella)污染土壤中筛选到一株有效拮抗沙门氏菌的细菌A45,通过形态学、革兰氏染色和16SrDNA序列同源性分析鉴定为产碱杆菌(Alcaligenes sp.)。温室土培试验和田间原位试验结果都发现,利用该菌株制备的沙门氏菌拮抗菌剂能显著降低土壤中沙门氏菌数量(P0.05),与对照相比土壤中沙门氏菌数量下降2-3个数量级,表明该拮抗细菌可应用于沙门氏菌污染土壤的修复。     

抗IFITM1 单克隆抗体的制备及检测

目的：制备抗干扰素诱导的跨膜蛋白-1(interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1, IFITM1)的单克隆抗体,为检测IFITM1 及进一步研究其在结肠肿瘤发生过程中的作用提供实验基础。方法：以结肠癌患者的癌组织为材料,提取总RNA,以RT-PCR扩 增得到IFITM1 cDNA 序列,经ECoRⅠ和HindⅢ双酶切后,克隆入pGEX-4T-3 进行原核表达并纯化得IFITM1-GST;以该融合蛋 白免疫BALB/c 小鼠,淋巴细胞杂交瘤法制备单克隆抗体;采用ELISA、Western-blot及免疫组织化学法以制备的抗体检测结肠癌 患者结肠癌组织中的IFITM1。结果：成功构建了IFITM1 原核表达载体,获得了IFITM1-GST 重组蛋白;制备得到了1 株抗 IFITM1 单克隆抗体,腹水ELISA 效价为1:30000,抗体亚类为IgG1,可用于ELISA、Western-blot及免疫组织化学法检测结肠癌患 者结肠癌组织中的IFITM1。结论：获得了1 株可用于ELISA、Western-blot及免疫组织化学法的抗IFITM1 单克隆抗体2F-1,为进 一步研究IFITM1在结肠肿瘤发生过程中的作用提供了实验基础。     

水稻草矮病毒NS6基因在大肠杆菌中的表达及植物表达载体的构建

Large amount of disease-specific protein(SP) accumulated in the rice plant cells infected by rice grassy stunt virus(RGSV). It was deduced that the protein was encoded by NS6 gene on genomic vRNA6 and thus referred to as NS6 protein.But its function is unknown. In an effort to prove the above deduction and to elucidate the function of NS6 protein of RGSV, we constructed a bacterial expression plasmid pGTNS6 producing a fusion protein of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and NS6 protein, and a plant expression vector pCBTNSv6 containing NS6 gene. A recombinant plasmid pTNSv 6 containing the coding region of NS6 gene and the non-coding region at its 5' terminus, cloned by RT-PCR from purified RNAs of Shaxian isolate of RGSV, was used as the start point. Western blot analysis showed that the fusion protein reacted strongly with antisera raised against RGSV-SP, which served as evidence of the deduction.EHA105 of Agrobacterium tumefasciens containing pCBTNSv6 has been obtained and the transformation of rice is underway.     

Tumor-targeting Salmonella typhimurium, a natural tool for activation of prodrug 6MePdR and their combination therapy in murine melanoma model

The PNP/6-methylpurine 2′-deoxyriboside (6MePdR) system is an efficient gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy system with significant antitumor activities. In this system, Escherichia coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase (ePNP) activates nontoxic 6MePdR into potent antitumor drug 6-methylpurine (6MeP). The Salmonella typhimurium PNP (sPNP) gene has a 96-% sequence homology in comparison with ePNP and also has the ability to convert 6MePdR to 6MeP. In this study, we used tumor-targeting S. typhimurium VNP20009 expressing endogenous PNP gene constitutively to activate 6MePdR and a combination treatment of bacteria and prodrug in B16F10 melanoma model. The conversion of 6MePdR to 6MeP by S. typhimurium was analyzed by HPLC and the enzyme activity of sPNP was confirmed by in vitro (tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay) MTT cytotoxicity assay. After systemic administration of VNP20009 to mice, the bacteria largely accumulated and specifically delivered endogenous sPNP in the tumor. In comparison with VNP20009 or 6MePdR treatment alone, combined administration of VNP20009 followed by 6MePdR treatment significantly delayed the growth of B16F10 tumor and increased the CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration. In summary, our results demonstrated that the combination therapy of S. typhimurium and prodrug 6MePdR is a promising strategy for cancer therapy.