An Allele-specific PCR Assay for Detecting Azoxystrobin-resistant Alternaria Isolates from Pistachio in California

Alternaria late blight caused by Alternaria spp. in the alternata, tenuissima and arborescens species‐groups is one of the most common fungal diseases of pistachio in California. A single point mutation resulting in the replacement of a glycine by an alanine at codon 143 (G143A) in the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) has been found in all azoxystrobin‐resistant isolates of these three species from California pistachio. In this study, a pair of allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers was developed to detect this point mutation. The allele‐specific PCR assay coupled with a rapid DNA extraction method could detect azoxystrobin‐resistant Alternaria isolates in a few hours. The allele‐specific PCR method was also reliable for detecting azoxystrobin‐resistant Alternaria directly in both laboratory‐inoculated and naturally infected pistachio leaves.     

Bovine and human insulin activate CD8+-autoreactive CTL expressing both type 1 and type 2 cytokines in C57BL/6 mice

CD8+ T cells down-regulate a variety of immune responses. For example, porcine and human insulin do not stimulate Abs in C57BL/6 mice because CD8+ T cells inhibit CD4+ helper T cells. By contrast, bovine insulin induces Ab in C57BL/6 mice, and removal of CD8+ T cells does not alter this response. This raises the question of whether porcine, but not bovine, insulin activates CD8+ T cells or whether both insulins activate CD8+ T cells but CD4+ helper T cells are differentially inhibited by them. In this study, we show that insulin-specific CD8+ CTL can be cultured from C57BL/6 mice primed with either bovine or human insulin in CFA. Thus, exogenous Ags, besides OVA, induce CD8+ CTL when administered in an adjuvant, suggesting this is a typical response. These CTL are H-2Kb restricted and produce IL-5, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and small amounts of IL-4, which is distinct from IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha that are typically secreted by virus-specific CTL. Moreover, the CTL primed with either bovine or human insulin recognize an A-chain peptide that is identical to the mouse insulin sequence. That foreign proteins, which are closely related to self-proteins, activated autoreactive, CD8+ T cells in vivo is a novel finding. It raises the possibility that self-reactive CTL may be activated by cross-reacting Ags and once activated they might participate in autoimmunity. These results also suggest that down-regulation of insulin-specific responses by autoreactive CD8+ T cells is most likely due to the differential sensitivity of bovine and human insulin-specific CD4+ T cells.     

家兔发热过程中单核细胞HSF1聚合与IL-1β、TNF-αmRNA表达的关系

目的：探讨热休克因子1（HSF1）参与体温调控的作用及其生物学机制。方法：在复制家兔LPS发热模型基础上,检测在发热过程中单核细胞HSF1的表达与IL-1α、TNF-α mRNA表达之间的关系。结果：注射LPS0．5μg／kg后家兔体温明显升高,在60min和180min时出现两个体温高峰;由LPS引起发热过程中单核细胞TNF-α、IL-1βmRNA表达量分别在80min和160min达高峰,400min以内降至基础水平;单核细胞HSF1三聚体含量在体温上升到一定水平,即从注射LPS后160min开始逐渐增多。LPS致发热时单核细胞HSF1三聚体含量与单核细胞IL-1β、TNF-αmRNA表达量之间呈现负相关关系;而体温与单核细胞IL-1βmRNA表达量呈现正相关动态变化。结论：在LPS致发热时HSF1可能通过抑制IL-1β、TNF-α等内生性致热原基因的表达而限制体温升高。     

The intrinsic mechanisms underlying the maturation of programming sequential spikes at cerebellar Purkinje cells

Cerebellum is involved in the motion coordination and working memory, to which the programming of sequential spikes at Purkinje cells is essential. It is not clear about the intrinsic mechanisms underlying spike capacity and timing precision as well as their postnatal maturation. We investigated the programming and intrinsic property of sequential spikes at Purkinje neurons during postnatal development by whole-cell recording in cerebellar slices. Cerebellar Purkinje neurons demonstrate the increasing of spike capacity and timing precision, as well as the lowering of refractory periods and threshold potentials during the postnatal maturation. In addition, the correlation between spike parameters and intrinsic properties converts to be more linear. This postnatal plasticity of neuronal intrinsic properties improves the timing precision and capacity of spike programming at cerebellar Purkinje neurons.     

Lipolysis drives expression of the constitutively active receptor GPR3 to induce adipose thermogenesis

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