Identification and Characterization of the First Cathelicidin from Sea Snakes with Potent Antimicrobial and Anti-inflammatory Activity and Special Mechanism

Cathelicidins are a family of gene-encoded peptide effectors of innate immunity found exclusively in vertebrates. They play pivotal roles in host immune defense against microbial invasions. Dozens of cathelicidins have been identified from several vertebrate species. However, no cathelicidin from marine reptiles has been characterized previously. Here we report the identification and characterization of a novel cathelicidin (Hc-CATH) from the sea snake Hydrophis cyanocinctus. Hc-CATH is composed of 30 amino acids, and the sequence is KFFKRLLKSVRRAVKKFRKKPRLIGLSTLL. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and structure modeling analysis indicated that Hc-CATH mainly assumes an amphipathic α-helical conformation in bacterial membrane-mimetic solutions. It possesses potent broad-spectrum and rapid antimicrobial activity. Meanwhile, it is highly stable and shows low cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells. The microbial killing activity of Hc-CATH is executed through the disruption of cell membrane and lysis of bacterial cells. In addition, Hc-CATH exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Hc-CATH directly binds with LPS to neutralize its toxicity, and it also binds to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4/MD2 complex), which therefore inhibits the binding of LPS to TLR4/MD2 complex and the subsequent activation of LPS-induced inflammatory response pathways. Taken together, our study demonstrates that Hc-CATH, the first cathelicidin from sea snake discovered to have both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, is a potent candidate for the development of peptide antibiotics.     

Systematics of the Southeast Asian mongooses (Herpestidae,Carnivora): solving the mystery of the elusive collared mongoose and Palawan mongoose

Although recent molecular studies have clarified the phylogeny of mongooses, the systematics of the Southeast Asian species was incomplete as the collared mongoose Urva semitorquata and some debatable taxa (Hose's mongoose, Palawan mongoose) were missing in the analyses. We sequenced three mitochondrial (cytochrome b, ND2, control region) and one nuclear (beta‐fibrinogen intron 7) fragments of the Southeast Asian mongooses to clarify the systematic position of the different species and populations occurring in this region. Our results showed that the collared mongoose is closely related to the crab‐eating mongoose Urva urva, these two species forming a sister‐group to the short‐tailed mongoose Urva brachyura. Despite Sumatran collared mongooses having a peculiar orange phenotype, we showed that they exhibited very little genetic divergence to individuals from Borneo. In contrast, the populations of the short‐tailed mongoose from Borneo were strongly divergent to those from Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, and these might represent separate species. Within the crab‐eating mongoose, we observed little geographical genetic structure. Our study suggests that Hose's mongoose is not a valid species. The Palawan mongooses did not cluster with the other populations of the short‐tailed mongoose; they were closer to the collared mongoose and should be included in this species. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

一株产木聚糖酶菌株的筛选鉴定及产酶条件初步优化

本研究从造纸厂的污泥及污水筛选获得了一株产木聚糖酶能力较强的菌株,经鉴定该菌株为异硫链霉菌(Streptomyces althioticus),专利保藏号为CCTCC M 2014110。通过单因素试验初步优化了碳源、氮源、温度、初始p H、发酵周期、摇床转速、接种量及装液量。试验结果显示该菌株最佳产酶条件为:以为玉米芯为碳源,用量30 g/L;以大豆粉与硝酸钾复合物为氮源,用量分别为20g/L和10 g/L;发酵周期120 h,发酵温度40℃,接种量6%,初始p H 5.0,装液量50 m L/250 m L三角瓶,摇床转速为160 r/min。     

油桃花芽破眠过程中H2O2代谢与Ca2+转运的关系

利用化学测定法分析高温、单氰胺和TDZ 3种破眠处理对"曙光"油桃休眠花芽H2O2代谢的主要影响,利用非损伤微测技术检测H2O2对休眠芽Ca2+转运的影响,研究H2O2在芽休眠解除过程中的调控作用.结果表明:在深休眠时期,高温和单氰胺处理均能诱导芽内H2O2含量升高和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性降低,并具有显著的破眠作用;TDZ对H2O2含量及CAT、过氧化物酶(POD)活性影响不大,破眠效果较差.休眠花芽原基组织钙通道活跃,对外源Ca2+呈吸收状态.外源H2O2可诱导休眠花芽原基组织Ca2+转运发生变化,低浓度H2O2降低Ca2+吸收速率,高浓度H2O2使组织对Ca2+的转运由吸收转变为释放.这表明休眠芽内H2O2信号和Ca2+信号相关联,通过诱导H2O2积累调控Ca2+信号可能在高温和单氰胺打破休眠的信号转导过程中起重要作用.     

Muscle mass,structural and functional investigations of senescence-accelerated mouse P8 (SAMP8)

Sarcopenia is an age-related systemic syndrome with progressive deterioration in skeletal muscle functions and loss in mass. Although the senescence-accelerated mouse P8 (SAMP8) was reported valid for muscular ageing research, there was no report on the details such as sarcopenia onset time. Therefore, this study was to investigate the change of muscle mass, structure and functions during the development of sarcopenia. Besides the average life span, muscle mass, structural and functional measurements were also studied. Male SAMP8 animals were examined at month 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, in which the right gastrocnemius was isolated and tested for ex vivo contractile properties and fatigability while the contralateral one was harvested for muscle fiber cross-sectional area (FCSA) and typing assessments. Results showed that the peak of muscle mass appeared at month 7 and the onset of contractility decline was observed from month 8. Compared with month 8, most of the functional parameters at month 10 decreased significantly. Structurally, muscle fiber type IIA made up the largest proportion of the gastrocnemius, and the fiber size was found to peak at month 8. Based on the altered muscle mass, structural and functional outcomes, it was concluded that the onset of sarcopenia in SAMP8 animals was at month 8. SAMP8 animals at month 8 should be at pre-sarcopenia stage while month 10 at sarcopenia stage. It is confirmed that SAMP8 mouse can be used in sarcopenia research with established time line in this study.