Production and Analytical Properties of Antibodies with High Specificity to Zearalenone

The time course of production, specificity, and analytical potential of antizearalenone polyclonal rabbit antibody synthesized by formaldehyde condensation and conjugated to bovine serum albumin were investigated. The relative cross-reactivities with natural analogues were: zearalenone, 100%; -zearalenole, 0.15%; and -zearalenole, <0.02%. With synthetic analogues: zearalanone, 31.7% and -zearalanone, 0.12%. An enzyme immunoassay for zearalenone with a sensitivity of 0.1 ng/ml was developed on the basis of these antibodies and solid-phase conjugates homologous to the immunogen in the method of synthesis.     

Genes expression of metalloproteinases (<Emphasis Type="Italic">MMP</Emphasis>-1, <Emphasis Type="Italic">MMP</Emphasis>-2, <Emphasis Type="Italic">MMP</Emphasis>-9, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">MMP</Emphasis>-12) associated with psoriasis

Using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we measured mRNA amounts of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs): MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-12 genes in psoriatic lesions and unaffected skin of the same patients. We observed significant (about 15-fold) increase in the expression level of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1 and MMP-12 genes associated with psoriasis. The results of our studies of MMP gene expression in cultured primary human keratinocytes treated with interleukin (IL)-17 have shown upregulation of MMP gene expression both in cultured keratinocytes and in psoriatic skin lesions. Therefore, upregulation of MMP genes in the skin affected by psoriasis could result from IL-17 effects on skin cells.     

Dependence of the intracellular concentrations of univalent ions and hydrogenase activity on the salt composition and pH of the medium in the haloalkaliphilic sulfate-reducing bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Desulfonatronum thiodismutans</Emphasis>

It has been shown that the intracellular concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^? ions in Desulfonatronum thiodismutans depend on the extracellular concentration of Na⁺ ions. An increase in the extracellular concentration of Na⁺ results in the accumulation of K⁺ ions in cells, which points to the possibility that these ions perform an osmoprotective function. When the concentration of the NaCl added to the medium was increased to 4%, the concentration gradient of Cl^? ions changed insignificantly. It was found that D. thiodismutans contains two forms of hydrogenase—periplasmic and cytoplasmic. Both enzymes are capable of functioning in solutions with high ionic force; however they exhibit different sensitivities to Na⁺, K⁺, and Li⁺ salts and pH. The enzymes were found to be resistant to high concentrations of Na⁺ and K⁺ chlorides and Na⁺ bicarbonate. The cytoplasmic hydrogenase differed significantly from the periplasmic one in having much higher salt tolerance and lower pH optimum. The activity of these enzymes depended on the nature of both the cationic and anionic components of the salts. For instance, the inhibitory effect of NaCl was less pronounced than that of LiCl, whereas Na⁺ and Li⁺ sulfates inhibited the activity of both hydrogenase types to an equal degree. The highest activity of these enzymes was observed at low Na⁺ concentrations, close to those typical of cells growing at optimal salt concentrations.     

Clarification of the role of N-glycans on the common beta-subunit of the human IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF receptors and the murine IL-3 beta-receptor in ligand-binding and receptor activation

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-3 and IL-5 are related cytokines that play key roles in regulating the differentiation, proliferation, survival and activation of myeloid blood cells. The cell surface receptors for these cytokines are composed of cytokine-specific alpha-subunits and a common beta-receptor (betac), a shared subunit that is essential for receptor signaling in response to GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-5. Previous studies have reached conflicting conclusions as to whether N-glycosylation of the betac-subunit is necessary for functional GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-5 receptors. We sought to clarify whether betac N-glycosylation plays a role in receptor function, since all structural studies of human betac to date have utilized recombinant protein lacking N-glycosylation at Asn(328). Here, by eliminating individual N-glycans in human betac and the related murine homolog, beta(IL-3), we demonstrate unequivocally that ligand-binding and receptor activation are not critically dependent on individual N-glycosylation sites within the beta-subunit although the data do not preclude the possibility that N-glycans may exert some sort of fine control. These studies support the biological relevance of the X-ray crystal structures of the human betac domain 4 and the complete ectodomain, both of which lack N-glycosylation at Asn(328).     

内蒙古阿鲁科尔沁国家级自然保护区景观动态及保护成效

快速评估自然保护区的保护成效,对科学地制定管理决策具有重要意义.本文通过遥感解译进行景观分类和景观动态变化分析,使用保护性景观质量指数、人工景观干扰指数和景观保护成效综合指数等开展内蒙古阿鲁科尔沁国家级自然保护区2004—2014年的保护成效研究.结果表明: 2004—2014年,该自然保护区内自然景观所占比例由92.2%增加到92.8%,天然草地和灌木林面积显著增加,但湖泊、河流快速减少;景观格局变化较大,主要景观类型面积转出率和转入率高,景观转类指数为0.33.自然保护区内各功能区的保护性景观及其占比均明显增加,保护性景观质量指数由24.37增长为25.36,景观质量得到提升.各功能区均存在不同程度的人工干扰,人工干扰景观面积增大;2004和2014年人工景观干扰指数分别为-0.79和-0.96,人工干扰强度变大.研究期间,内蒙古阿鲁科尔沁自然保护区的景观保护成效综合指数为3.5%,其景观保护成效达到“很好”,野生动植物生境趋于好转.     

Cloning of region-specific genetic markers of planaria using a new method--ordered differential display

A new method for finding differentially expressed genes, termed ordered differential display of mRNAs (ODD), was used in the search for region-specific molecular markers of freshwater planarian Dugesia tigrina. In this method, the effect of selective suppression of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used for the differential amplification of a pool of 3'-terminal cDNA fragments generated by digestion of cDNAs with a restriction endonuclease. In the resulting amplified cDNAs, every mRNA is represented by a cDNA fragment whose length is determined by the position of the restriction site nearest to the 3'-terminus. Subsequent PCR with primers 3'-extended by two random nucleotides allowed the amplification of 1/192 part of all cDNA molecules present in the sample. The comparison of the generated pools of cDNA molecules separated by PAGE leads to the identification of differentially expressed sequences. The systematic study of the total mRNA pool is achieved by the successive use of all possible combinations of extended primers. Some sequences preferentially expressed along the anterior-posterior axis of planarian were identified using ODD.     

Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠模型的建立及生物学特征

目的:建立Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠模型,从分子生物学、行为学及病理学角度研究其生物学特征。方法:将自行建立的Tau转基因小鼠与Jackson实验室引种的APP/PS1双转基因小鼠杂交、传代;PCR鉴定小鼠基因型;RT-PCR检测外源基因的转录;Western blot测定外源基因的蛋白表达;Bielschowsky氏染色法和ABC免疫组化法观察大脑神经纤维缠结和老年斑等病理改变;Morris水迷宫观测学习记忆的改变。结果:Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠的大脑可转录和表达Tau、APP和PS1三种外源基因,6~8月龄时大脑皮层和海马可见神经元纤维缠结和老年斑,其学习记忆获得能力在6月龄开始受损。结论:建立的Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠具有Tau和Aβ两种病理改变和学习记忆障碍,为深入探究Tau与Aβ的关系、阐明AD的发病机制以及研发靶点治疗药物提供实验工具。     

紫茎泽兰提取物对四种储粮害虫的杀虫活性

紫茎泽兰提取物对米象、玉米象、绿豆象和蚕豆象等 4种储粮害虫成虫具有强烈的熏杀活性 ,用 4 4.4 4mg L的浓度熏蒸处理 4 8小时后 ,每种成虫死亡率均达到 1 0 0 .0 0 %。熏蒸毒力测定结果表明 ,紫茎泽兰提取物对上述 4种成虫 2 4小时的LC50 分别为 1 4 .65,1 2 .80 ,2 5.0 7和 1 2 .2 0mg L ,4 8小时的LC50 分别为 1 1 .79,9.67,1 3 .2 9和 9.76mg L。     

双斑蟋触角传入神经纤维在脑内投射分布研究

目的:研究昆虫触角感受器传入神经末梢在脑内投射的空间布局,揭示触角感觉信息传入的神经结构.方法:使用氯化镍神经元示踪标记技术,对双斑蟋触角感受嚣传入神经纤维进行可视化标记,观察研究触角传入神经末梢在脑内的走行形态及分布规律.结果:双斑蟋触角感受器传入神经纤维进入中脑后大量的神经末梢终止在同侧的触角叶和触角机械感觉运动中枢,部分神经纤维向前走行,其神经末梢终止在前脑,还有部分神经纤维向后下行,经同侧神经索,其神经末梢终止在食道下神经节.结论:双斑蟋触角感受器传入神经纤维进入脑后主要投射到触角叶和触角机械感觉运动中枢,少部分投射到前脑和食道下神经节.这种多重投射模式可能在双斑蟋嗅觉信息传递整合、触角运动调节、味觉和摄食活动等方面发挥重要作用.