A decaepitope polypeptide primes for multiple CD8+ IFN-gamma and Th lymphocyte responses: evaluation of multiepitope polypeptides as a mode for vaccine delivery

Proteins are generally regarded as ineffective immunogens for CTL responses. We synthesized a 100-mer decaepitope polypeptide and tested its capacity to induce multiple CD8(+) IFN-gamma and Th lymphocyte (HTL) responses in HLA transgenic mice. Following a single immunization in the absence of adjuvant, significant IFN-gamma in vitro recall responses were detected for all epitopes included in the construct (six A2.1-, three A11-restricted CTL epitopes, and one universal HTL epitope). Immunization with truncated forms of the decaepitope polypeptide was used to demonstrate that optimal immunogenicity was associated with a size of at least 30-40 residues (3-4 epitopes). Solubility analyses of the truncated constructs were used to identify a correlation between immunogenicity for IFN-gamma responses and the propensity of these constructs to form particulate aggregates. Although the decaepitope polypeptide and a pool of epitopes emulsified in IFA elicited similar levels of CD8(+) responses using fresh splenocytes, we found that the decaepitope polypeptide more effectively primed for in vitro recall CD8(+) T cell responses. Finally, immunogenicity comparisons were also made between the decaepitope polypeptide and a corresponding gene encoding the same polypeptide delivered by naked DNA immunization. Although naked DNA immunization induced somewhat greater direct ex vivo and in vitro recall responses 2 wk after a single immunization, only the polypeptide induced significant in vitro recall responses 6 wk following the priming immunization. These studies support further evaluation of multiepitope polypeptide vaccines for induction of CD8(+) IFN-gamma and HTL responses.     

Development of automated online gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatograph mass spectrometry for measuring multiresidual pesticides in agricultural products

An automated online gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GPC-GC/MS) was developed for the rapid determination of residual pesticides in agricultural products. Pesticides were extracted from homogenized food samples with acetonitrile and decontaminated via the matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) technique, using a primary secondary amine as sorbent prior to GPC-GC/MS analysis. A slightly modified preparation method and automated GPC step proved useful in minimizing matrix interference. To evaluate the performance of the system, 97 target pesticides were spiked at a concentration of 0.1mg/kg into a range of food types, including potato, cabbage, carrot, apple, orange, cucumber, and rice. A low flow rate of 0.1 mL/min in GPC resulted in a 40-fold reduction in solvent consumption compared with conventional GPC column applications. The combination of MSPD technique and GPC-GC/MS for the analysis of the 97 pesticides can be accomplished within 90 min. Most pesticides were recovered in the range of 70-120%, with relative standard deviation generally less than 10%. The results demonstrate that the method can be successfully applied with acceptable recoveries to a broad range of target pesticides within a diverse range of food types.     

Low genetic diversity and high genetic differentiation in the critically endangered Omphalogramma souliei (Primulaceae): implications for its conservation

Omphalogramma souliei Franch. is an endangered perennial herb only distributed in alpine areas of SW China. ISSR markers were applied to determine the genetic variation and genetic structure of 60 individuals of three populations of O. souliei in NW Yunnan, China. The genetic diversity at the species level is low with P=42.5% (percentage of polymorphic bands) and Hsp=0.1762 (total genetic diversity). However, a high level of genetic differentiation among populations was detected based on different measures (Nei's genetic diversity analysis: Gst=0.6038; AMOVA analysis: Fst=0.6797). Low level of genetic diversity within populations and significant genetic differentiation among populations might be due to the mixed mating system in which xenogamy predominated and autogamy played an assistant role in O. souliei. The genetic drift due to small population size and limited current gene flow also resulted in significant genetic differentiation. The assessment of genetic variation and differentiation of the endangered species provides important information for conservation on a genetic basis. Conservation strategies for this rare endemic species are proposed.     

Neuroprotectin D1 inhibits retinal ganglion cell death following axotomy

Neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), a docosahexaenoic acid-derived autacoid, is an endogenous neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory mediator that is generated in the retina and brain. The effects of exogenous NPD1 on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) apoptosis and the role of 12/15-lipoxygenase (Alox15) in retina were evaluated after optic nerve transection (ONT). Treatment with NPD1 was associated with significant protection against RGC death. The percentage of RGC survival in NPD1-treated group was 30% at 2 weeks after ONT as compared with 12% of RGC survival in the ONT group without treatment. Endogenous NPD1 was a predominant lipid autocoid in uninjured and axotomized retinas. Alox15 mRNA expression was upregulated in retinas following ONT suggesting that amplification of 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX) may represent a neuroprotective response in the rat retina. The density of RGCs was higher in the normal retina of 12/15-LOX-deficient mice as compared with congenic controls. Hence, the resident NPD1 has a potential role in the physiological and pathophysiological responses of the retina.     

Sigma B对单核细胞增生李斯特菌耐受抗生素作用的影响

单核细胞增生李斯特菌是重要的革兰阳性食源性致病菌。近年来的报道显示出该菌耐受抗生素的能力有不断增强的趋势,为了探讨其耐药机制,对Sigma B（σB,李斯特菌中应对环境胁迫的主要调控因子）在抗生素耐受性中的作用进行了初步研究。检测和比较单核细胞增生李斯特菌标准菌株EGDe和其σB缺失突变菌株EGDeΔsigB对盘尼西林青霉素、氨苄西林青霉素、利福平、硫酸庆大霉素、四环素盐酸和红霉素6种抗生素的最小抑菌浓度（MIC）;在测定的MIC的基础上,利用MTT（噻唑蓝活体染色法）法比较EGDe和EGDeΔsigB在1×MIC、2×MIC和8×MIC的氨苄西林青霉素、红霉素和利福平3种抗生素中的生长活性。EGDe对盘尼西林青霉素（0.16μg/mL）、四环素盐酸（0.25μg/mL）和硫酸庆大霉素（0.5μg/mL）的MIC高于EGDeΔsigB（分别为0.08、0.125和0.125μg/mL）;而对氨苄西林青霉素、红霉素和利福平的MIC 2种菌株没有差别,分别为0.19、0.125和0.032μg/mL;与EGDe相比,EGDeΔsigB在氨苄西林青霉素、红霉素和利福平培养基中的生长活性较差,对抗生素的抑制更为敏感,而且随着这3种抗生素浓度的增加,其抑制程度也随之增强。Sigma B在单核细胞增生李斯特菌对抗生素的耐受中起到重要调节作用。     

鸡脚参中一个新木脂素

从鸡脚参[Orthosiphon wulfenioides (Diels)Hand.-Marzz.]根中提取分离了一个新的木脂素,命名为鸡脚参木脂素。其结构由NMR、MS等波谱分析确定。初步活性实验显示该化合物不具备抗真菌和抗肿瘤活性。     

The iron regulatory hormone hepcidin reduces ferroportin 1 content and iron release in H9C2 cardiomyocytes

Iron plays a key pathophysiological role in a number of cardiac diseases. Studies on the mechanisms of heart iron homeostasis are therefore crucial for understanding the causes of excessive heart iron. In addition to iron uptake, cellular iron balance in the heart also depends on iron export. We provided evidence for the existence of iron exporter ferroportin 1 (Fpn1) in the heart in a recent study. The presence of hepcidin, a recently discovered iron regulatory hormone, was also confirmed in the heart recently. Based on these findings and the inhibiting role of hepcidin on Fpn1 in other tissues, we speculated that hepcidin might be able to bind with, internalize and degrade Fpn1 and then decrease iron export in heart cells, leading to an abnormal increase in heart iron and iron mediated cell injury. We therefore investigated the effects of hepcidin on the contents of Fpn1 and iron release in H9C2 cardiomyocyte cell line. We demonstrated that hepcidin has the ability to reduce Fpn1 content as well as iron release in this cell. The similar regulation patterns of hepcidin on the Fpn1 and iron release suggested that the decreased iron release resulted from the decreased content of Fpn1 induced by hepcidin. We also found that hepcidin has no significant effects on ceruloplasmin (CP) and hephaestin (Heph) — two proteins required for iron release from mammalian cells. The data imply that Fpn1, rather than Heph and CP, is the limited factor in the regulation of iron release from heart cells under physiological conditions.     

西藏色季拉山野生药用植物资源多样性及其保护与利用

该研究采取路线调查、样方套记录、野外标本采集鉴定以及查阅文献资料等方法,对色季拉山野生药用植物多样性进行了系统普查分析,为该区野生药用植物资源的保护、利用和系统研究提供科学依据。结果显示:(1)色季拉山共有野生药用植物104科350属647种,其中蕨类植物13科15属22种,裸子植物2科3属9种,被子植物89科332属616种。草本野生药用植物478种,占总种数的73.88%;木本植物169种,占总种数的26.12%;全草类、根与根茎类药用植物最多,分别占药用植物总种数的46.21%和30.14%。(2)含1~5种的单种科和寡种科为绝对多数,占色季拉山野生药用植物总科数的72.11%,但仅占药用植物总种数的22.57%;而含种数最多的7科,只占总科数的6.73%,却共含255种之多,占总种数的39.41%,对色季拉山药用植物资源的构建起主导作用。(3)含有1个种的属最多,占总属数的64.00%,色季拉山药用植物没有明显优势的大属,表明属的构成较为复杂多样。(4)清热是色季拉山药用植物的主要功效,共有260种清热药用植物,占药用植物总种数的40.19%。(5)民族药用植物83科249属360种,占色季拉山野生药用植物总种数的55.64%。其中,藏药植物在民族药用植物中所占比例最大,共有63科156属235种,占民族药用植物总种数65.28%。研究表明,色季拉山野生药用植物种类多样性较高,药用植物生活型、部位、药效、民族用药类型丰富,但部分珍稀濒危资源如云南红景天、天麻、西藏八角莲等个体数量极少,建议建立专门的保护区,加强对野生药用植物资源及其原生境的保护,并加强人工繁育研究,针对资源储量制定适度合理的采摘利用量,以期实现野生药用植物资源的可持续利用。     

Prevalence and phylogenetic characterization of canine coronavirus from diseased pet dogs in Beijing,China

正Dear Editor,Canine coronavirus including canine coronavirus(CCoV)and canine respiratory coronavirus(CRCoV)have been recognized as pathogenic viruses to dogs worldwide,causing enteric and respiratory issues(Buonavoglia et al.,2006).Zoonotic transfer of the viruses from the animal kingdom to humans has been repeatedly observed over the past decade,