Overlapping Genes May Control Reprogramming of Mouse Somatic Cells into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Recent findings suggest the possibility that tumors originate from cancer cells with stem cell properties. The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis provides an explanation for why existing cancer therapies often fail in eradicating highly malignant tumors and end with tumor recurrence. Although normal stem cells and CSCs both share the capacity for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation, suggesting that CSC may be derived from normal SCs, the cellular origin of transformation of CSCs is debatable. Research suggests that the tightly controlled balance of self-renewal and differentiation that characterizes normal stem cell function is dis-regulated in cancer. Additionally, recent evidence has linked an embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like gene signature with poorly differentiated high-grade tumors, suggesting that regulatory pathways controlling pluripotency may in part contribute to the somatic CSC phenotype. Here, we introduce expression profile bioinformatic analyses of mouse breast cells with CSC properties, mouse embryonic stem (mES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells with an emphasis on how study of pluripotent stem cells may contribute to the identification of genes and pathways that facilitate events associated with oncogenesis. Global gene expression analysis from CSCs and induced pluripotent stem cell lines represent an ideal model to study cancer initiation and progression and provide insight into the origin cancer stem cells. Additionally, insight into the genetic and epigenomic mechanisms regulating the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of somatic stem cells and cancer may help to determine whether different strategies used to generate iPSCs are potentially safe for therapeutic use.     

Human pathogenic fungus Trichophytonschoenleinii activates the NLRP3 inflammasome

The fungus Trichophyton schoenleinii (T. schoenleinii) is the causative agent of Trichophytosis and Tinea favosa of the scalp in certain regions of Eurasia and Africa. Human innate immune system plays an important role in combating with various pathogens including fungi. The inflammasome is one of the most critical arms of host innate immunity, which is a protein complex controlling maturation of IL-1β. To clarify whether T. schoenleinii is able to activate the inflammasome, we analyzed human monocytic cell line THP-1 for IL-1β production upon infection with T. schoenleinii strain isolated from Tinea favosa patients, and rapid IL-1β secretion from THP-1 cells was observed. Moreover, applying competitive inhibitors and gene specific silencing with shRNA, we found that T. schoenleinii induced IL-1β secretion, ASC pyroptosome formation as well as caspase-1 activation were all dependent on NLRP3. Cathepsin B activity, ROS production and K⁺ efflux were required for the inflammasome activation by T. schoenleinii. Our data thus reveal that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in host defense against T. schoenleinii, and suggest that manipulating NLRP3 signaling can be a novel approach for control of diseases caused by T. schoenleinii infection.     

Emericella qinqixianii, a new species from desert soil in China

Emericella qinqixianii, a new species isolated from desert soil from Sanchakou, Aksu, Qiemo, Yuli, Yutian, and the Taklimakan desert 100 km inland from Minfeng, Xinjiang Province, China, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by grayish yellow to olive brown, non-ostiolate ascomata surrounded by hyaline to pale yellowish brown hülle cells, membranaceous peridium, prototunicate asci, and violet-brown, lenticular ascospores with two equatorial crests, smooth convex surfaces, and long filiform appendages. It hasAspergillus anamorph with biseriate aspergilla.     

Effects of starvation on the fighting ability of invasive and autochthonous ants

Ants are widespread in all terrestrial habitats, and competitive interactions between species are common. Although redistribution of food within a colony may buffer the negative effects of temporary resource shortages, colony functionality can be compromised when famine is prolonged. One of the possible effects of famine is impairment of the fighting ability of species, with cascade effects on community. Here, we investigated whether food shortage alters the fighting ability of workers of three dominant species in the Mediterranean area: the invasive alien species, Lasius neglectus and Linepithema humile, and one highly polydomous autochthonous species belonging to the Tapinoma nigerrimum complex. We performed laboratory tests of interspecific one-on-one aggression and pairwise group contests between species, with all possible combinations of artificially satiated and starved groups. Results showed that starvation had a scarce effect on the individual aggressiveness in all three species. Similarly, the outcomes of the group fights were only lightly affected, but with an important exception. The positions of species in the fighting hierarchies were in most cases clear and linear, with L. neglectus at the top. However, we found that L. humile and L. neglectus showed equal mortality when one of the two species was starved and the other satiated. Although we investigated only one aspect of competition, that is, fighting ability, our results provide a piece of the complex jigsaw of competitive interactions of ants, and suggest that food deprivation can be a determinant that alters the relationships between ants and promotes or hampers the coexistence of dominant species.     

A Random Comparative Study of Terbinafine Versus Griseofulvin in Patients with Tinea Capitis in Western China

Objective  

To compare the efficacy and safety of terbinafine with griseofulvin in the treatment of tinea capitis in Western China.     

新疆18种木灵藓属(Orthotrichum Hedw.) 植物解剖结构研究

采用徒手切片法对新疆木灵藓属（Orthotrichum Hedw.）18种植物孢蒴上的气孔、茎和叶进行了比较解剖学观察。研究结果表明,木灵藓属植物茎横切结构形状稳定,由表皮和皮层组成,无中轴细胞分化;除半裸木灵藓（Orthotrichum hallii Sull.et Lesq.）外,其它种叶上部均为单层细胞;叶中部边缘外卷,叶细胞具有高度不同的分叉疣或单疣。在确定气孔显、隐型的基础上,茎和叶横切面的颜色、茎表皮和皮层细胞组成及细胞壁加厚程度、叶细胞疣的高度、叶中肋横切面的形状、中肋的宽度、细胞组成以及芽孢形态等特征可作为该属种间分类的依据。还根据18种木灵藓属植物孢蒴上的气孔显、隐型,及茎、叶的比较解剖学特征,编制了新疆木灵藓属植物的分种检索表。     

Overlapping niches between two co-occurring invasive fish: the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva and the common bleak Alburnus alburnus

Invasive fish species impact aquatic ecosystems and modify native communities, often leading to a decline in local species. These ecological impacts include the transmission of pathogens, predation, competition as well as hybridization. Two invasive fish species, the common bleak Alburnus alburnus and the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorabora parva, have both been recently found co-occurring in several regions of southern Europe, such as the Italian Arno River. Nonetheless, the trophic relationships among invasive fish species, especially cyprinids, remain poorly understood, and no studies have reported the trophic interaction between these two species. This study compared length–weight relationship and used stomach content and stable isotope analysis of two co-occurring populations in the Arno River to characterize the growth and overlap of potential trophic niches. It also found similar allometric growth in both species, a wider generalist trophic niche for P. parva and a more specialized niche for A. alburnus. A considerable niche overlap was found, suggesting that feeding competition can occur if resources were to be limited. Moreover, the niche of P. parva was more likely to overlap with that of A. alburnus than vice versa, suggesting that P. parva can be considered as a potential over competitor. Nonetheless, the authors found in the overlapping populations no evidence of realized competition, probably avoided through a combination of fine-scale mechanisms. They also highlighted that these two invasive species can co-exist and share resources, at least in an open ecosystem like a river, thus potentially doubling up their trophic impact on local communities.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neosartorya</Emphasis> from Amazonian soil,Brazil

Neosartorya indohii and N. tsurutae, two new Neosartorya species isolated from tropical rainforest soil in the Amazonian area, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Neosartorya indohii is characterized by its spreading growth on Czapeks and malt extract agars, light yellow cleistothecia, broadly lenticular ascospores with two conspicuously serrate-incised equatorial crests and tuberculate convex surfaces, and globose to subglobose conidia with a smooth wall. Neosartorya tsurutae is characterized by its spreading growth on Czapeks and malt extract agars, white cleistothecia, broadly lenticular ascospores with four equatorial crests and rugulose-ruminate convex surfaces, and ovoid to broadly ellipsoidal conidia with a smooth wall.     

多育赛多孢菌性鼻窦炎1例——致病菌的鉴定和体外抗真菌药物敏感性研究

目的报告国内首例多育赛多孢菌致鼻窦炎,并探讨致病菌的鉴定及其对抗真菌药物体外敏感性。方法取患者左侧上颌窦分泌物进行真菌培养和形态学鉴定,分离菌株β-球蛋白、rDNAITS序列分析确切鉴定,对分离菌进行7种抗真菌药体外药敏试验。结果根据菌株的形态学特点和基因序列结果鉴定为多育赛多孢菌。体外药敏试验显示该菌对7种抗真菌药物耐药。结论多育赛多孢菌所致的真菌病较少见,其确切鉴定靠形态学特征和基因分析。该菌株对多种抗真菌药物耐药。     

红湖水质对模型动物致突变性的研究

目的:以微核技术及精子畸变率为指示,探讨新疆大学红湖水质对模型动物致突变性作用。方法:采用小鼠嗜多染红细胞(PCE)微核率(MCN)及精子畸变率检测方法,研究红湖水质及其潜在的致突变性。结果:3个水样点的污水都能引起小白鼠嗜多染红细胞及精子细胞不同程度的遗传毒性。与对照组(自来水)喂养的小白鼠相比具有明显的差异(P<0.005)。结论:红湖水质已经被严重污染,对人体及动物具有潜在的危害。