Comparison of three ELISA kits for the differentiation of foot-and-mouth disease virus-infected from vaccinated animals

A study was performed to validate 3 FMDV 3ABC-I-ELISA kits developed in China for the differentiation of FMDV infected and vaccinated animals. Sets of sera from naive and vaccinated cattle as well as from cattle that had been infected were tested for antibodies against nonstructural proteins (NSPs) of FMDV by commercial diagnosis kits, Ceditest® FMDV-NS (Ceditest® kit), UBI® FMDV NONSTRUCTURAL PROTEIN ELISA DIRECTION INSERT (UBI® kit) and a FMDV 3ABC-I-ELISA kit developed at the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute. The test parameters (sensitivity and specificity) of the three kits were determined, and the result obtained from FMD 3ABC-I-ELISA kit was compared with that obtained from two foreign kits. The results indicated that the coincidence rate between the FMDV 3ABC-I-ELISA and Ceditest® kits was 98.05%, and the coincidence rate between the FMDV 3ABC-I-ELISA and UBI® kits was 94.4%; the sensitivity of both Ceditest® and FMDV 3ABC-I-ELISA kit was 100%. However, the sensitivity of the UBI® kit was only 81.8%. With sera from naive or vaccinated non-infected animals, the specificity of all tests exceeded 90%.     

A modified Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining method at nanogram sensitivity compatible with proteomic analysis

A more sensitive and convenient Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB) staining method for visualizing proteins was developed. Compared with the modifications include the supplement of 10% (v/v) methanol into the fixing solution, an increase of an additional sensitization step and CBB raised from 0.1 to 0.125%. The improved method can detect proteins at nanogram level. The improved method is more sensitive than Blue Silver and more convenient than the Silver protocol. Mass spectrometry results confirmed that it is suitable for subsequent proteomic research.     

Chondroitin sulfates and their binding molecules in the central nervous system

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is the most abundant glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in the central nervous system (CNS) matrix. Its sulfation and epimerization patterns give rise to different forms of CS, which enables it to interact specifically and with a significant affinity with various signalling molecules in the matrix including growth factors, receptors and guidance molecules. These interactions control numerous biological and pathological processes, during development and in adulthood. In this review, we describe the specific interactions of different families of proteins involved in various physiological and cognitive mechanisms with CSs in CNS matrix. A better understanding of these interactions could promote a development of inhibitors to treat neurodegenerative diseases.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Narcissus tazetta</Emphasis> lectin shows strong inhibitory effects against respiratory syncytial virus,influenza A (H1N1, H3N2, H5N1) and B viruses

A mannose-binding lectin (Narcissus tazetta lectin [NTL]) with potent antiviral activity was isolated and purified from the bulbs of the Chinese daffodil Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis, using ion exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose, affinity chromatography on mannose-agarose and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC)-gel filtration on Superose 12. The purified lectin was shown to have an apparent molecular mass of 26 kDa by gel filtration and 13 kDa by SDS-PAGE, indicating that it is probably a dimer with two identical subunits. The cDNA-derived amino acid sequence of NTL as determined by molecular cloning also reveals that NTL protein contains a mature polypeptide consisting of 105 amino acids and a C-terminal peptide extension. Three-dimensional modelling study demonstrated that the NTL primary polypeptide contains three subdomains, each with a conserved mannose-binding site. It shows a high homology of about 60%–80% similarity with the existing monocot mannose-binding lectins. NTL could significantly inhibit plaque formation by the human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with an IC₅₀ of 2.30 μg/ml and exhibit strong antiviral properties against influenza A (H1N1, H3N2, H5N1) and influenza B viruses with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.20 μg/ml to 1.33 μg/ml in a dose-dependent manner. It is worth noting that the modes of antiviral action of NTL against RSV and influenza A virus are significantly different. NTL is effective in the inhibition of RSV during the whole viral infection cycle, but the antiviral activity of NTL is mainly expressed at the early stage of the viral cycle of influenza A (H1N1) virus. NTL with a high selective index (SI=CC₅₀/IC₅₀≥141) resulting from its potent antiviral activity and low cytotoxicity demonstrates a potential for biotechnological development as an antiviral agent.     

Lessons on Evolution from the Study of Edaphic Specialization

Plants adapted to special soil types are ideal for investigating evolutionary processes, including maintenance of intraspecific variation, adaptation, reproductive isolation, ecotypic differentiation, and the tempo and mode of speciation. Common garden and reciprocal transplant approaches show that both local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity contribute to edaphic (soil-related) specialization. Edaphic specialists evolve rapidly and repeatedly in some lineages, offering opportunities to investigate parallel evolution, a process less commonly documented in plants than in animals. Adaptations to soil features are often under the control of major genes and they frequently have direct or indirect effects on genes that contribute to reproductive isolation. Both reduced competitiveness and greater susceptibility to herbivory have been documented among some edaphic specialists when grown in ‘normal’ soils, suggesting that a high physiological cost of tolerance may result in strong divergent selection across soil boundaries. Interactions with microbes, herbivores, and pollinators influence soil specialization either by directly enhancing tolerance to extremes in soil conditions or by reducing gene flow between divergent populations. Climate change may further restrict the distribution of edaphic specialists due to increased competition from other taxa or, expand their ranges, if preadaptations to drought or other abiotic stressors render them more competitive under a novel climate.     

Characterization of the androgen-dependent 22Kdalton glycoprotein from rat ventral prostate

Oxidation by molecular oxygen converted the 22Kdalton glycoprotein from rat ventral prostate into a 34K species and this reaction could be reversed by thiol reducing reagent. Measurement of the level of the 22Kdalton glycoprotein in prostatic cytosol by the radial immunodiffusion technique showed that changes in the 22Kdalton glycoprotein concentration in response to androgen withdrawal and replacement were slow in comparison to androgen regulated levels of mRNA coding for the protein. (3) Charcoal absorption steroid binding assays of the 22Kdalton glycoprotein revealed that the protein did not bind testosterone, estradiol, progesterone or corticosterone. These results indicate that the 22Kdalton glycoprotein is metabolically stable, not steroid-binding, and exists as an oligomer through disulfide crosslinking.     

湖南沅江鼎城段河蚬的性别组成与精子形态特征

本研究以湖南沅江鼎城段河蚬(Corbicula fluminea)为研究对象,在进一步验证该群体性别组成的基础上,分析壳长组成与性别比例之间关系,探讨该群体雄性、雌性和雌雄同体之间关系;同时以单鞭毛精子为参照,分析比较双鞭毛精子的形态特征,以期为我国河蚬的性别发生及生殖适应策略研究提供基础资料。结果显示：沅江鼎城段河蚬(n = 770)雄性、雌性和雌雄同体最小性成熟壳长分别为2.92 mm、5.66 mm和5.30 mm。697只性成熟河蚬中雄性、雌性和雌雄同体的比例近似1︰1︰6。雌雄同体的平均壳长[(22.55 ± 0.33)mm,n = 517]显著大于雄性[(20.44 ± 1.03)mm,n = 95]和雌性[(19.79 ± 0.99)mm,n = 85](P < 0.05),但雄性与雌性的平均壳长之间差异不显著(P > 0.05)。河蚬可以产生单鞭毛和双鞭毛两种类型的精子,单鞭毛精子头长范围4.93 ~ 21.79 μm,平均值(14.27 ± 0.82)μm(n = 30),双鞭毛精子头长范围10.29 ~ 22.04 μm,平均值(15.62 ± 0.62)μm(n = 26)。单、双鞭毛精子头长差异不显著(P > 0.05)。双鞭毛精子(n = 26)长尾的平均长度[(38.07 ± 1.44)μm]显著大于其短尾[(31.08 ± 1.60)μm]和单鞭毛精子(n = 30)尾部长度[(30.15 ± 1.75)μm](P < 0.01),但其短尾与单鞭毛精子的尾部平均长度之间无显著性差异(P > 0.05)。结果表明：湖南沅江鼎城段河蚬为雄性先熟,且可能存在雄性和(或)雌性向雌雄同体转换现象。河蚬具有单鞭毛型和双鞭毛型2种类型的精子,且双鞭毛精子的2个尾部不等长。同域共存河蚬的单鞭毛与双鞭毛精子在运动及受精能力方面的差异值得深入研究。     

Aluminum-Induced Cholinergic Deficits in Different Brain Parts and Its Implications on Sociability and Cognitive Functions in Mouse

Aluminum is associated with etiology of many neurodegenerative diseases specially Alzheimer’s disease. Chronic exposure to aluminum via drinking water results in aluminum deposition in the brain that leads to cognitive deficits. The study aimed to determine the effects of aluminum on cholinergic biomarkers, i.e., acetylcholine level, free choline level, and choline acetyltransferase gene expression, and how cholinergic deficit affects novel object recognition and sociability in mice. Mice were treated with AlCl₃ (250 mg/kg). Acetylcholine level, free choline level, and choline acetyltransferase gene expression were determined in cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. The mice were subjected to behavior tests (novel object recognition and social novelty preference) to assess memory deficits. The acetylcholine level in cortex and hippocampus was significantly reduced in aluminum-treated animals, as compared to cortex and hippocampus of control animals. Acetylcholine level in amygdala of aluminum-treated animals remained unchanged. Free choline level in all the three brain parts was found unaltered in aluminum-treated mice. The novel object recognition memory was severely impaired in aluminum-treated mice, as compared to the control group. Similarly, animals treated with aluminum showed reduced sociability compared to the control mice group. Our study demonstrates that aluminum exposure via drinking water causes reduced acetylcholine synthesis in spite of normal free choline availability. This deficit is caused by reduced recycling of acetylcholine due to lower choline acetyltransferase level. This cholinergic hypofunction leads to cognitive and memory deficits. Moreover, hippocampus is the most affected brain part after aluminum intoxication.     

The twin-arginine translocation system and its capability for protein secretion in biotechnological protein production

The biotechnological production of recombinant proteins is challenged by processes that decrease the yield, such as protease action, aggregation, or misfolding. Today, the variation of strains and vector systems or the modulation of inducible promoter activities is commonly used to optimize expression systems. Alternatively, aggregation to inclusion bodies may be a desired starting point for protein isolation and refolding. The discovery of the twin-arginine translocation (Tat) system for folded proteins now opens new perspectives because in most cases, the Tat machinery does not allow the passage of unfolded proteins. This feature of the Tat system can be exploited for biotechnological purposes, as expression systems may be developed that ensure a virtually complete folding of a recombinant protein before purification. This review focuses on the characteristics that make recombinant Tat systems attractive for biotechnology and discusses problems and possible solutions for an efficient translocation of folded proteins.     

Capitalizing on multi-element interactions through balanced nutrition — A pathway to improve nitrogen use efficiency in China,India and North America

A viable option for increasing nitrogen (N) use efficiency and mitigation of negative impacts of N on the environment is to capitalize on multi-element interactions through implementation of nutrient management programs that provide balanced nutrition. Numerous studies have demonstrated the immediate efficacy of this approach in the developing regions like China and India as well as developed countries in North America. Based on 241 site-years of experiments in these countries, the first-year N recovery efficiency (RE) for the conventional or check treatments averaged 21% while the balanced treatments averaged 54% RE, for an average increase of 33% in RE due to balanced nutrition. Effective policies to promote adoption are most likely those that enable site-specific approaches to nutrient management decisions rather than sweeping, nation-wide incentives supporting one nutrient over another. Local farmers, advisers and officials need to be empowered with tools and information to help them define necessary changes in practices to create more balanced nutrient management.