Proteomannans in biofilm of Helicobacter pylori ATCC 43504

Background: The human bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori forms biofilms. However, the constituents of the biofilm have not been extensively investigated. In this study, we analyzed the carbohydrate and protein components of biofilm formed by H. pylori strain ATCC 43504 (NCTC 11637). Materials and Methods: Development of H. pylori biofilm was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantified using crystal violet staining. The extracted extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) matrix was analyzed using GC‐MS and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. Proteomic profiles of biofilms were examined by SDS–PAGE while deletion mutants of upregulated biofilm proteins were constructed and characterized. Results: Formation of H. pylori biofilm is time dependent as shown by crystal violet staining assay and SEM. NMR reveals the prevalence of 1,4‐mannosyl linkages in both developing and mature biofilms. Proteomic analysis of the biofilm indicates the upregulation of neutrophil‐activating protein A (NapA) and several stress‐induced proteins. Interestingly, the isogenic mutant napA revealed a different biofilm phenotype that showed reduced aggregated colonial structure when compared to the wild type. Conclusions: This in vitro study shows that mannose‐related proteoglycans (proteomannans) are involved in the process of H. pylori biofilm formation while the presence of upregulated NapA in the biofilm implies the potency to increase adhesiveness of H. pylori biofilm. Being a complex matrix of proteins and carbohydrates, which are probably interdependent, the H. pylori biofilm could possibly offer a protective haven for the survival of this gastric bacterial pathogen in the extragastric environments.     

长薄鳅胚胎发育的观察

1999年5月,作者首次通过人工繁殖获得长薄鳅的受精卵,并对其胚胎发育特征进行了连续的观察。卵膜无粘性,吸水后卵周间隙明显膨胀扩大,卵膜径3.67-4.00 mm,平均3.79mm,属漂流性卵。胚胎发育可分为26个时期,初孵仔鱼长5.0mm左右,通体透明无色素。     

耐氧双歧杆菌及其B-CW对荷瘤鼠TNF-α的体内诱导

本文采用放射免疫方法（ＲＩＡ）,检测荷Ｓ１８０肿瘤小鼠外周血中ＴＮＦ－α的含量,观察双歧杆菌（Ｂｉｆｉｄｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍ）及其细菌壁（ＣｅｌＷａｌｓｏｆＢｉｆｉｄｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍ,Ｂ－ＣＷ）的免疫调节作用,探讨其抗肿瘤机制。结果表明该菌及其Ｂ－ＣＷ均可明显地促进机体产生ＴＮＦ－α,发挥抗肿瘤作用     

Glioma-derived mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 beneficial to traditional chemotherapy

Heterozygous mutations in either the R132 residue of isocitrate dehydrogenase I (IDH1) or the R172 residue of IDH2 in human gliomas were recently highlighted. In the present study, we report that mutations of IDH1 and IDH2 are not detected in the rat C6 glioma cell line model, which suggests that these mutations are not required for the development of glioblastoma induced by N,N′-nitroso-methylurea. The effects of IDH2 and IDH2^R172G on C6 cells proliferation and sensitivity to chemotherapy and the possible mechanism are analyzed at the cellular level. IDH1 and IDH2 mutations lead to simultaneous loss and gain of activities in the production of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) and 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), respectively, and result in lowering NADPH levels even further. The low NADPH levels can sensitize tumors to chemotherapy, and account for the prolonged survival of patients harboring the mutations. Our data extrapolate potential importance of the in vitro rat C6 glioma cell model, show that the IDH2^R172G mutation in gliomas may give a benefit to traditional chemotherapy of this cancer and serve as an important complement to existing research on this topic.     

Prolyl hydroxylase domain protein 3 targets Pax2 for destruction

Rhomboid-7 (rho-7) is a mitochondrial-specific intramembranous protease. The loss-of-function mutation rho-7 results in semi-lethality, while escapers have a reduced lifespan with several neurological disorders [1]. Here we show that general, or CNS-specific expression of rho-7 can rescue the lethality of rho-7. General, or CNS-specific over-expression of rho-7 in otherwise wild-type animals caused semi-lethality, with approximately 50% of the animals escaping this lethality, developing into adults displaying a shortened life span with larval locomotory problem. On a cellular level, over-expression resulted in severe depression of ATP levels and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II mRNA levels, a lowered number of mitochondria in neurons and aggregation of mitochondria in the brain indicating mitochondrial malfunction. Over-expression of rho-7 in developing eye discs resulted in an elevated apoptotic index. In the CNS, elevated levels of rho-7 were accompanied by both isoforms of Opa1-like, a dynamin-like GTPase, a mitochondrial component involved in regulating mitochondrial dynamics and function, including apoptosis. Most, but not all, of rho-7 over-expression phenotypes were suppressed by introducing a heterozygous mutation for Opa1-like. Our results suggest that rho-7 and Opa1-like function in a common molecular pathway affecting mitochondrial function and apoptosis in Drosophila melanogaster.     

用3E原则评价云南野生裸子植物遗传资源收集保存的优先性

为了探讨局部地区遗传资源优先性评价的方法和管理问题,我们采用"3E"原则对云南裸子植物进行了评价."3E"分别指珍稀濒危的(Endangered)、特有的(Endemic)和具有经济价值的(Economic)三个方面.我们首先介绍了"3E"原则的由来、内涵和价值,并应用"3E"原则,以种(变种)为分析单元,对分布于云南的10科29属107种(变种)野生裸子植物遗传资源的状况进行了分析,确定了需要优先保护的遗传资源类群.结果表明,云南省野生裸子植物资源兼有受威胁严重、特有率高、经济价值高等多种特征,如南方红豆杉(Taxus chinensis var.mairei)、灰干苏铁(Cycas hongheensis)、油麦吊云杉(Picea brachytyla var.complanata)等58种不仅受威胁严重,而且具有重要的经济价值和潜在的开发利用价值.具有"3E"特性的裸子植物遗传资源有72种,其中贡山三尖杉(Cephalotaxus lanceolata)、苏铁(Cycas revoluta)、大理罗汉松(Podocarpus forrestii)、德保苏铁(C.debaoensis)、德钦柏(Juniperus baimashanensis)、巧家五针松(Pinus squamata)、灰干苏铁、万钧柏(J.chengii)、毛枝五针松(P.wangii)等9种亟待进行抢救性保存,中甸冷杉(Abies ferreana)、绿春苏铁(C.tangingii)、麦吊杉(Picea brachytyla)、怒江冷杉(A.nukiangensis)、河内苏铁(C.tonkinensis)等40种需要优先收集和保存.保存的方式包括原地保存、异地保存、设施保存和栽培利用等综合措施.将"3E"原则应用于云南裸子植物遗传资源的管理,具有科学合理性和可操作性,对遗传资源的保护和可持续利用具有一定的参考价值.     

RhoA-ROCK-Myosin pathway regulates morphological plasticity of cultured olfactory ensheathing cells

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are glial cells in the olfactory system with morphological and functional plasticity. Cultured OECs have the flattened and process-bearing shape. Reversible changes have been found between these two morphological phenotypes. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of their morphological plasticity remains elusive. Using RhoA FRET biosensor, we found that the active RhoA signal mainly distributed in the lamellipodia and/or filopodia of OECs. Local disruption of these active RhoA distributions led to the morphological change from the flattened into process-bearing shape and promoted process outgrowth. Furthermore, RhoA pathway inhibitors, Toxin-B, C3, Y-27632 or over-expression of DN-RhoA blocked serum-induced morphological change of OECs from the process-bearing into flattened shape, whereas the activation of RhoA pathway by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) promoted the morphological change from the process-bearing into flattened shape. Finally, ROCK–Myosin–F-actin as a downstream of RhoA pathway was involved in morphological plasticity of OECs. Taken together, these results suggest that RhoA–ROCK–Myosin pathway mediates the morphological plasticity of cultured OECs in response to extracellular cues.     

蚕沙有机肥的养分特性及其肥效

将废弃蚕沙进行无害化处理和适度发酵开发出蚕沙有机肥,分析了其养分特点,并采用盆栽试验研究了蚕沙有机肥的肥效.结果表明:发酵蚕沙有机肥的全氮、全磷、全钾含量与堆肥前相比显著提高,分别比堆肥前提高了58.0%、84.4%和29.7%;添加微生物菌剂可有效缩短发酵时间,并能减少堆肥过程的碳、氮损失.施用发酵后蚕沙的小白菜和番茄种子的发芽指数均大于80%,对作物发芽没有抑制作用.施用发酵蚕沙有机肥不仅可提高小白菜产量、营养养分、Vc含量,减少硝酸盐积累量,还可提高土壤pH值,增加土壤速效养分和有机质含量,增强土壤酶活性,其效果优于发酵羊粪有机肥处理.     

Production and characterization of exopolysaccharides and antioxidant from Paenibacillus sp. TKU023

Using squid pen powder (SPP) as the sole C/N source, Paenibacillus sp. TKU023 produced exopolysaccharides (EPS) and antioxidant. With medium containing 1.5% SPP, 0.1% K(2)HPO(4), and 0.05% MgSO(4)·7H(2)O, pH 7.23, the culture was incubated at 37°C in liquid (50 mL/250 mL) for five days. The resultant culture supernatant had higher EPS productivity (4.55 g/L). The crude EPS were isolated by centrifugation, methanol precipitation and deproteinization. The characterization of the EPS demonstrated that it was mainly composed of glucose and maltose. In addition, the culture supernatant incubated for four days by using baffled base flask showed the strongest antioxidant activities and the highest total phenolic content, but maximum EPS production was found at the fifth day by using flat base flask. The production of two invaluable environmental-friendly biomaterials (EPS and antioxidant) is unprecedented. Besides, the use of SPP (waste) is green that made the whole process more valuable and attractive.