Complete genome sequence of the bacterium Ketogulonicigenium vulgare Y25

Ketogulonicigenium vulgare is characterized by the efficient production of 2KGA from L-sorbose. Ketogulonicigenium vulgare Y25 is known as a 2-keto-L-gulonic acid-producing strain in the vitamin C industry. Here we report the finished, annotated genome sequence of Ketogulonicigenium vulgare Y25.     

曲美他嗪对大鼠放射性心肌损伤后TNF-α表达的影响

目的:放射性心肌损伤是纵膈及胸腔等部位恶性肿瘤放射治疗后发生的严重并发症,目前尚无有效防治方法,而本实验拟探索曲美他嗪对放射性心肌损伤的保护作用。方法:将45只SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组(C组)、单纯照射组(X组)、曲美他嗪治疗组(T组),每组15只,其中X组、T组予以10 Gy/d,共3天。大鼠照射完毕处死后测定血清cTnI浓度,心肌组织TNF-αmRNA及蛋白的表达。结果:1.X组与C组相比,血清cTnI浓度,心肌组织TNF-αmRNA及蛋白的表达均明显升高(P0.05);2.T组与C组相比,血清cTnI浓度,心肌组织TNF-αmRNA及蛋白的表达均明显升高(P0.05);3.T组与X组相比,血清cTnI浓度,心肌组织TNF-αmRNA及蛋白的表达均明显降低(P0.05)。结论:曲美他嗪能够通过减少心肌组织TNF-αmRNA及蛋白的表达,从而有效减轻大鼠放射后心脏炎症反应,以减轻心肌损伤。     

三种杀虫剂对皂角豆象的致死效果

【目的】筛选对皂角豆象Megabruchidius dorsalis(Fahraeus)致死效果最好的杀虫剂。【方法】采用氟啶脲、毒死蜱和灭多威3种常用类型杀虫剂的常规剂量对皂角豆象成虫、初孵幼虫和卵进行防治试验。【结果】3种杀虫剂都可以有效的杀死皂角豆象初孵幼虫,接触氟啶脲、毒死蜱和灭多威3种杀虫剂后皂角豆象幼虫72 h死亡率分别为96.59%、100.00%和100.00%,灭多威和毒死蜱对皂角豆象成虫致死效果72 h为100.00%,灭多威对皂角豆象卵的效果最为明显,致死率达94.38%,氟啶脲对皂角豆象卵和成虫无明显致死效果。【结论】灭多威对皂角豆象的致死效果最好。     

高山被孢霉产花生四烯酸及其遗传改造的研究进展

花生四烯酸作为一种重要的多价不饱和脂肪酸,因其具有多种生理功能而被认为是潜在的食品添加剂和药物。近年来,利用高山被孢霉合成花生四烯酸已成为研究热点。前期相关研究主要集中在菌种选育及发酵调控方面。随着研究的不断深入,关于高山被孢霉合成花生四烯酸的代谢途径的研究取得了较大进展。以下简要概述前期工作进展,着重论述花生四烯酸合成途径的关键酶及其高山被孢霉的遗传改造的研究情况,包括生物合成花生四烯酸代谢途径、关键酶及其应用、高山被孢霉的遗传操作系统的构建以及遗传改造的应用,并对其研究前景进行了展望。     

MicroRNAs and their role in viral infection

Recently, a class of about 22 nucleotides (nt) small RNA has been discovered in many eukaryotes, termed microRNAs (miRNAs), which have a variety of functions. Many recent findings have demonstrated that viruses can also encode their own miRNAs. Meanwhile, other findings reveal a relationship between host miRNA and viral infection. These findings suggest a tight relationship between host and viral infection via miRNA pathway. This article introduces the miRNAs encoded by viruses and reviews the advances of the interaction of the mammalian host miRNAs and viral infection.     

In Vitro Activity of Sodium New Houttuyfonate Alone and in Combination with Oxacillin or Netilmicin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Background

Staphylococcus aureus can cause severe infections, including bacteremia and sepsis. The spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) highlights the need for novel treatment options. Sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH) is an analogue of houttuynin, the main antibacterial ingredient of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro activity of SNH and its potential for synergy with antibiotics against hospital-associated MRSA.

Methodology

A total of 103 MRSA clinical isolates recovered in two hospitals in Beijing were evaluated for susceptibility to SNH, oxacillin, cephalothin, meropenem, vancomycin, levofloxacin, minocycline, netilmicin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole by broth microdilution. Ten isolates were evaluated for potential for synergy between SNH and the antibiotics above by checkerboard assay. Time-kill analysis was performed in three isolates to characterize the kill kinetics of SNH alone and in combination with the antibiotics that engendered synergy in checkerboard assays. Besides, two reference strains were included in all assays.

Principal Findings

SNH inhibited all test strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 16 to 64 µg/mL in susceptibility tests, and displayed inhibition to bacterial growth in concentration-dependent manner in time-kill analysis. In synergy studies, the combinations of SNH-oxacillin, SNH-cephalothin, SNH-meropenem and SNH-netilmicin showed synergistic effects against 12 MRSA strains with median fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices of 0.38, 0.38, 0.25 and 0.38 in checkerboard assays. In time-kill analysis, SNH at 1/2 MIC in combination with oxacillin at 1/128 to 1/64 MIC or netilmicin at 1/8 to 1/2 MIC decreased the viable colonies by ≥2log₁₀ CFU/mL.

Conclusions/Significance

SNH demonstrated in vitro antibacterial activity against 103 hospital-associated MRSA isolates. Combinations of sub-MIC levels of SNH and oxacillin or netilmicin significantly improved the in vitro antibacterial activity against MRSA compared with either drug alone. The SNH-based combinations showed promise in combating MRSA.     

稀土离子与Ca~(2 )在生物体内的相互作用机制及应用

稀土元素在生物领域内的研究,可以分为两个方面：稀土的生物效应和稀土在其它研究中的应用．稀土元素的生物效应,主要集中在动物和医学领域．由于稀土元素的离子半径及化学性质和钙离子很相似,因此在研究稀土的生物效应时,对稀土离子与钙离子的关系颇为重视．稀土作为一种特殊的研究工具,在许多生物学研究领域中,克服了一些因其它方法的局限而不能得到的结果或简化了其中的过程．     

The freshwater planarian Dugesia (G.) tigrina contains a great diversity of homeobox genes

To identify potential pattern control and cell determination and/or differentiation genes in the freshwater planarian Dugesial (G.) tigrina, we searched for homeobox genes of different types in the genome of this primitive metazoan. We applied two basic approaches: 1) Screening the cDNA library with degenerate oligonucleotides corresponding to the most conserved amino acid sequence from helix-3 of the homeodomain of each family; and 2) PCR amplification of genomic DNA or cDNA, using two sets of degenerated oligonucleotides corresponding to helices 1 and 3 of the homeodomain or two specific domains of the POU family. Using the first strategy we have identified and characterized two tissue-specific cell determination and/or differentiation NK-type homeobox genes. Using the second strategy we have identified several homeobox genes that belong to the HOM/Hox, paired (prd) or POU families.     

非水介质中辣根过氧化物酶（HRP）荧光活性测定法

建立了一种分析ＨＲＰ催化活力的新方法。该方法基于单体（底物）、聚合物（产物）的荧光发射光谱不重叠,使用荧光光谱仪,通过测量底物荧光淬灭来检测ＨＲＰ在非水介质中（二氧六环－水、乙醇－水、丙酮－水体系）催化酚类、芳香胺类物质聚合的活力。此方法迅速、简便,结果是定量并可重复的,并能定量地计算底物转化率。     

A systematic review of metabolomics biomarkers for Bisphenol A exposure

Introduction

Bisphenol A (BPA), 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, a common industrial chemical which has extremely huge production worldwide, is ubiquitous in the environment. Human have high risk of exposing to BPA and the health problems caused by BPA exposure have aroused public concern. However, the biomarkers for BPA exposure are lacking. As a rapidly developing subject, metabolomics has accumulated a large amount of valuable data in various fields. The secondary application of published metabolomics data could be a very promising field for generating novel biomarkers whilst further understanding of toxicity mechanisms.

Objectives

To summarize the published literature on the use of metabolomics as a tool to study BPA exposure and provide a systematic perspectives of current research on biomarkers screening of BPA exposure.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE (PubMed) up to the end of June 25, 2017 with the key term combinations of ‘metabolomics’, ‘metabonomics’, ‘mass spectrometry’, ‘nuclear magnetic spectroscopy’, ‘metabolic profiling’ and ‘amino acid profile’ combined with ‘BPA exposure’. Additional articles were identified through searching the reference lists from included studies.

Results

This systematic review included 15 articles. Intermediates of glycolysis, Krebs cycle, β oxidation of long chain fatty acids, pentose phosphate pathway, nucleoside metabolism, branched chain amino acid metabolism, aromatic amino acids metabolism, sulfur-containing amino acids metabolism were significantly changed after BPA exposure, suggesting BPA had a highly complex toxic effects on organism which was consistent with existing studies. The biomarkers most consistently associated with BPA exposure were lactate and choline.

Conclusion

Existing metabolomics studies of BPA exposure present heterogeneous findings regarding metabolite profile characteristics. We need more evidence from target metabolomics and epidemiological studies to further examine the reliability of these biomarkers which link to low, environmentally relevant, exposure of BPA in human body.