Antimicrobial activity and secondary structure of a novel peptide derived from ovalbumin

A novel antimicrobial peptide derived from ovalbumin has been discovered. First, the peptide fragment RKIKVYLPRMK (TK9.1) was identified based on computerized predictions of the secondary structure of peptides in a protein data bank. Using HeliQuest, the sequence was developed into RKIKRYLRRMI (TK9.1.3), which was synthesized using Fmoc‐solid phase peptide synthesis, and found to have strongly antimicrobial activity against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, and fungi but not cytotoxic to HeLa cells and hemolysis in mouse red blood cells. Although ovalbumin itself does not have an antibacterial activity, our results suggest that it may supply the organisms that consume it with antimicrobial peptides, in support of their immunodefence.     

Distinct genomic traits of acral and mucosal melanomas revealed by targeted mutational profiling

The incidence of melanoma is rising globally including China. Comparing to Caucasians, the incidence of non‐cutaneous melanomas is significantly higher in Chinese. Herein, we performed genomic profiling of 89 Chinese surgically resected primary melanomas, including acral (n = 54), cutaneous (n = 22), and mucosal (n = 13), by hybrid capture‐based next‐generation sequencing. We show that mucosal melanomas tended to harbor more pathogenic mutations than other types of melanoma, though the biological significance of this finding remains uncertain. Chromosomal arm‐level alterations including 6q, 9p, and 10p/q loss were highly recurrent in all subtypes, but mucosal melanoma was significantly associated with increased genomic instability. Importantly, 7p gain significantly correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in non‐cutaneous melanomas, representing an intriguing prognostic biomarker of those subtypes. Furthermore, focal amplification of 4q12 (KIT, KDR, and PDGFRα) and RAD51 deletion were more abundant in mucosal melanoma, while NOTCH2 amplification was enriched in acral melanoma. Additionally, cutaneous melanomas had higher mutation load than acral melanomas, while mucosal melanomas did not differ from other subtypes in mutation burden. Together, our data revealed important features of acral and mucosal melanomas in Chinese including distinctive driver mutation pattern and increased genomic instability. These findings highlight the possibilities of combination therapies in the clinical management of melanoma.     

Activation of Dopamine Signals in the Olfactory Tubercle Facilitates Emergence from Isoflurane Anesthesia in Mice

Neurochemical Research - Activation of dopamine (DA) neurons is essential for the transition from sleep to wakefulness and maintenance of awakening, and sufficient to accelerate the emergence from...     

贵州百里杜鹃风景区旅游干扰对杜鹃群落特征的影响

为揭示旅游干扰对于百里杜鹃风景区杜鹃群落特征影响,选取杜鹃纯林和杜鹃混交林两种杜鹃群落,分析干扰对群落结构及物种多样性的影响。采用典型抽样的方法进行样地设置和调查,通过旅游影响系数分析样地旅游干扰等级,并分析对比了不同旅游干扰程度和干扰方式对群落特征的影响。研究表明：1）百里杜鹃景区共有植被67科102属130种,其中杜鹃纯林共有植被97种,以马缨杜鹃、箭竹和露珠杜鹃为优势物种,杜鹃混交林共有植被115种,以马缨杜鹃、露珠杜鹃和映山红为优势种;2）两种杜鹃群落均在中等干扰水平时具有最高的Berger-Parker丰富度指数和Shannon多样性指数,中度干扰一定程度上促进了杜鹃群落物种多样性增加,不同的是两种群落的Shannon指数变化趋势不同,在杜鹃纯林中表现为中度干扰>轻度干扰>重度干扰,而在杜鹃混交林中中度干扰>重度干扰>轻度干扰,相较于杜鹃纯林,杜鹃混交林物种更为丰富,在旅游干扰下生物多样性更为稳定,抗干扰能力更强,而杜鹃纯林受旅游干扰波动显著;3）垃圾指数、踩踏指数与杜鹃混交林物种多样性指数、群落生长结构无明显相关性,而垃圾指数与杜鹃纯林Shannon多样性指数、物种数以及草本均高呈显著负相关,踩踏指数与杜鹃纯林灌木层高度、盖度呈现极显著负相关,与草本均高呈显著正相关;4）各杜鹃群落对旅游干扰有不同响应,为保持杜鹃群落稳定性,应在花季适当分流,严格控制杜鹃纯林的重度干扰。     

文冠果性别分化关键期花芽转录组分析

为探究文冠果(Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge)性别分化过程的分子机制,本研究对其性别分化关键期花芽进行RNA-seq分析.结果 共获得37.13 Gb原始数据,de novo组装后共产生29430条Unigenes,平均长度1144 bp,其中21887条Unigenes获得功能注释.此外,共得到差异基因4864个,其中相对于性别分化前期(Ta)差异上调基因3003个,差异下调基因1861个.GO富集分析显示,差异基因主要注释到代谢进程、植物激素信号转导、生长素激活的信号通路等功能.KEGG富集分析显示,差异基因主要注释到植物激素信号转导、淀粉和蔗糖代谢等生物功能.还筛选出6个MADS-box相关基因(TR576|c0_g1,TR7438|c0_g1,TR10037|c1_g10,TR13325|c0_g1,TR 6316|c0_g1,TR5807|c0_ g1),参与雄蕊发育、花粉管生长、花发育调节、花瓣发育、胚珠发育、转录因子活性等过程调节.RT-qPCR检测了16个基因在两个时期的表达量,结果均与RNA-seq一致.研究结果将为进行文冠果性别分化过程中基因表达分析提供参考.     

A FOXM1-Targeted Peptide Overcomes 5-Fluorouracil Resistance via Modulating ABC Transporters in Liver Cancer HepG2 Cells

Drug resistance largely limits the efficacy and efficiency of chemotherapeutics, which is a first-line treatment for liver cancer, consequently triggering a complete failure in clinical application. There are numerous attempts in exploring potential strategies for avoiding drug resistance, but none of them has effectively addressed this problem. Therefore, novel molecular targets and agents proposed for addressing drug resistance are needed. This study established 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu)-resistant HepG2 cells (HepG2/R) and showed that a FOXM1-targeted peptide, P201, reactivated 5-Fu to attenuate HepG2/R cell viability, proliferation, migration and promote apoptosis. Moreover, both pharmacological studies and RNA genomic sequencing results uncovered that combination of P201 and 5-Fu notably decreased expressions of FOXM1, MDR1 and ABCG2 compared to 5-Fu alone, indicating P201 overcame 5-Fu resistance mainly through inhibiting FOXM1 and ABC transporters. Therefore, P201 could inhibit ABC transporters by targeting FOXM1 in HepG-2/R cells, overcoming 5-Fu resistance and enhancing anti-cancer drug sensitivity. FOXM1 may be a new target for overcoming 5-Fu resistance in HepG2 cell while the combination treatment of P201 and 5-Fu may serve as a potential strategy for treating liver cancer.

     

AutoWM: a novel domain-specific tool for universal multi-/many-core accelerations of the WRF cloud microphysics

Cluster Computing - In large-scale atmospheric simulations, microphysics parameterization often takes a large portion of simulation time and usually consists of dozens of parameterization schemes....     

The Epidemiology of HIV and HSV-2 Infections among Women Participating in Microbicide and Vaccine Feasibility Studies in Northern Tanzania

Objectives

To prepare for future HIV prevention trials, we conducted prospective cohort studies among women working in food and recreational facilities in northern Tanzania. We examined the prevalence and incidence of HIV and HSV-2, and associated risk factors.

Methods

Women aged 18–44 years working in food and recreational facilities were screened to determine their eligibility for the studies. Between 2008–2010, HIV-negative women were enrolled and followed for 12 months. At enrolment and 3-monthly, we collected socio-demographic and behavioural data, and performed clinical examinations for collection of biological specimens that were tested for reproductive tract infections. Risk factors for HIV and HSV-2 incidence were investigated using Poisson regression models.

Results

We screened 2,229 and enrolled 1,378 women. The median age was 27 years (interquartile range, IQR 22, 33), and median duration working at current facility was 2 years. The prevalences of HIV at screening and HSV-2 at enrolment were 16% and 67%, respectively. Attendance at the 12-month visit was 86%. HIV and HSV-2 incidence rates were 3.7 (95% confidence interval, CI: 2.8,5.1) and 28.6 (95% CI: 23.5,35.0)/100 person-years, respectively. Women who were separated, divorced, or widowed were at increased risk of HIV (adjusted incidence rate ratio, aRR = 6.63; 95% CI: 1.97,22.2) and HSV-2 (aRR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.15,3.47) compared with married women. Women reporting ≥3 partners in the past 3 months were at higher HIV risk compared with women with 0–1 partner (aRR = 4.75; 95% CI: 2.10,10.8), while those who had reached secondary education or above were at lower risk of HSV-2 compared with women with incomplete primary education (aRR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.22,0.82).

Conclusions

HIV and HSV-2 rates remain substantially higher in this cohort than in the general population, indicating urgent need for effective interventions. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of conducting trials to test new interventions in this highly-mobile population.