Cloning, expression, and function of BLAME, a novel member of the CD2 family

The CD2 family is a growing family of Ig domain-containing cell surface proteins involved in lymphocyte activation. Here we describe the cloning and expression analysis of a novel member of this family, B lymphocyte activator macrophage expressed (BLAME). BLAME shares the structural features of the CD2 family containing an IgV and IgC2 domain and clusters with the other family members on chromosome 1q21. Quantitative PCR and Northern blot analysis show BLAME to be expressed in lymphoid tissue and, more specifically, in some populations of professional APCs, activated monocytes, and DCS: Retroviral forced expression of BLAME in hematopoietic cells of transplanted mice showed an increase in B1 cells in the peripheral blood, spleen, lymph nodes, and, most strikingly, in the peritoneal cavity. These cells do not express CD5 and are CD23(low)Mac1(low), characteristics of the B1b subset. BLAME may therefore play a role in B lineage commitment and/or modulation of signal through the B cell receptor.     

Using Routinely Reported Tuberculosis Genotyping and Surveillance Data to Predict Tuberculosis Outbreaks

We combined routinely reported tuberculosis (TB) patient characteristics with genotyping data and measures of geospatial concentration to predict which small clusters (i.e., consisting of only3 TB patients) in the United States were most likely to become outbreaks of at least 6 TB cases. Of 146 clusters analyzed, 16 (11.0%) grew into outbreaks. Clusters most likely to become outbreaks were those in which at least 1 of the first 3 patients reported homelessness or excess alcohol or illicit drug use or was incarcerated at the time of TB diagnosis and in which the cluster grew rapidly (i.e., the third case was diagnosed within 5.3 months of the first case). Of 17 clusters with these characteristics and therefore considered high risk, 9 (53%) became outbreaks. This retrospective cohort analysis of clusters in the United States suggests that routinely reported data may identify small clusters that are likely to become outbreaks and which are therefore candidates for intensified contact investigations.     

A Study of Dielectric Properties of Proteinuria between 0.2 GHz and 50 GHz

This paper investigates the dielectric properties of urine in normal subjects and subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at microwave frequency of between 0.2 GHz and 50 GHz. The measurements were conducted using an open-ended coaxial probe at room temperature (25°C), at 30°C and at human body temperature (37°C). There were statistically significant differences in the dielectric properties of the CKD subjects compared to those of the normal subjects. Statistically significant differences in dielectric properties were observed across the temperatures for normal subjects and CKD subjects. Pearson correlation test showed the significant correlation between proteinuria and dielectric properties. The experimental data closely matched the single-pole Debye model. The relaxation dispersion and relaxation time increased with the proteinuria level, while decreasing with the temperature. As for static conductivity, it increased with proteinuria level and temperature.     

A Multicenter Retrospective Review of Prone Position Ventilation (PPV) in Treatment of Severe Human H7N9 Avian Flu

Background

Patients with H7N9 avian flu concurrent with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) usually have a poor clinical outcome. Prone position ventilation (PPV) has been shown to improve the prognosis of patients with severe ARDS. This study explored the effects of PPV on the respiratory and circulatory mechanics of H7N9-infected patients with severe ARDS.

Methods

Individuals admitted to four hospitals designated for H7N9 patients in Guangdong province were treated with PPV, and their clinical data were recorded before and after receiving PPV.

Results

Six of 20 critically ill patients in the ICU received PPV. After treatment with 35 PPV sessions, the oxygenation index (OI) values of the six patients when measured post-PPV and post-supine position ventilation (SPV) were significantly higher than those measured pre-PPV (P < 0.05).The six patients showed no significant differences in their values for respiratory rate (RR), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), tidal volume (TV) or arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) when compared pre-PPV, post-PPV, and post-SPV. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the mean values for arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), central venous pressure (CVP), heart rate (HR), lactic acid (LAC) levels or the doses of norepinephrine (NE) administered when compared pre-PPV, post-PPV, and post-SPV.

Conclusion

PPV provided improved oxygenation that was sustained after returning to a supine position, and resulted in decreased carbon dioxide retention. PPV can thus serve as an alternative lung protective ventilation strategy for use in patients with H7N9 avian flu concurrent with severe ARDS.     

Enhanced production of l-phenylalanine in Corynebacterium glutamicum due to the introduction of Escherichia coli wild-type gene aroH

Metabolic engineering is a powerful tool which has been widely used for producing valuable products. For improving l-phenylalanine (l-Phe) accumulation in Corynebacterium glutamicum, we have investigated the target genes involved in the biosynthetic pathways. The genes involved in the biosynthesis of l-Phe were found to be strictly regulated genes by feedback inhibition. As a result, overexpression of the native wild-type genes aroF, aroG or pheA resulted in a slight increase of l-Phe. In contrast, overexpression of aroF ^wt or pheA ^fbr from E. coli significantly increased l-Phe production. Co-overexpression of aroF ^wt and pheA ^fbr improved the titer of l-Phe to 4.46 ± 0.06 g l^?1. To further analyze the target enzymes in the aromatic amino acid synthesis pathway between C. glutamicum and E. coli, the wild-type gene aroH from E. coli was overexpressed and evaluated in C. glutamicum. As predicted, upregulation of the wild-type gene aroH resulted in a remarkable increase of l-Phe production. Co-overexpression of the mutated pheA ^fbr and the wild-type gene aroH resulted in the production of l-Phe up to 4.64 ± 0.09 g l^?1. Based on these results we conclude that the wild-type gene aroH from E. coli is an appropriate target gene for pathway engineering in C. glutamicum for the production of aromatic amino acids.     

Phase separation of Axin organizes the β-catenin destruction complex

In Wnt/β-catenin signaling, the β-catenin protein level is deliberately controlled by the assembly of the multiprotein β-catenin destruction complex composed of Axin, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), casein kinase 1α (CK1α), and others. Here we provide compelling evidence that formation of the destruction complex is driven by protein liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Axin. An intrinsically disordered region in Axin plays an important role in driving its LLPS. Phase-separated Axin provides a scaffold for recruiting GSK3β, CK1α, and β-catenin. APC also undergoes LLPS in vitro and enhances the size and dynamics of Axin phase droplets. The LLPS-driven assembly of the destruction complex facilitates β-catenin phosphorylation by GSK3β and is critical for the regulation of β-catenin protein stability and thus Wnt/β-catenin signaling.     

402例烟雾病抗核抗体谱检测结果分析

目的:探讨烟雾病的发生与自身免疫性疾病是否存在一定的联系。方法:对402例烟雾病抗核抗体谱检测结果进行回顾性分析。结果:402例烟雾病确诊病例中,有112位患者抗核抗体谱检测结果中存在阳性结果,阳性率为27.86%。其中,抗dsDNA、抗CB、抗Sm、抗SS-A、抗SS-B、抗Jo-1、抗RO-52、抗ScL-70、抗RIB、抗PM-sd、抗nRNP、抗PCNA、抗Nuc、抗HI、抗M2抗体在阳性病例中所占百分比分别为16.07%、1.79%、5.36%、17.86%、7.14%、5.36%、13.39%、5.36%、7.14%、4.46%、2.68%、11.61%、6.25%、8.93%和8.04%。结论:烟雾病患者中抗核抗体阳性率较高,自身免疫性疾病可能是烟雾病发生的重要诱因之一。     

Evaluation of predation abilities of Blattisocius dolichus (Acari: Blattisociidae) on a plant-parasitic nematode, Radopholus similis (Tylenchida: Pratylenchidae)

Predation and predatory behavior of Blattisocius dolichus on Radopholus similis were tested both in experimental arenas and on potted plants. Predation occurred in all active stages of B. dolichus. Blattisocius dolichus preferred live R. similis when offered together with Caneorhabditis elegans and dead R. similis in a choice test. Consumption rate was affected by temperature, prey density and duration of starvation. Maximum consumption rates were observed at 25 °C, for both adult males and females after being starved for 96 and 72 h, respectively. Consumption rate increased with increasing prey density until satiation was reached, when the predator–prey ratio was 1:250 for both male and female predators. Anthurium andraeanum seedlings, artificially infested with R. similis (1,000 per pot), were used to evaluate the biological control efficiency of B. dolichus. The nematode density decreased by 66 % 10 days after a release of 500 mites per pot.     

The high-efficient production of phelligridin LA by Inonotus baumii with an integrated fermentation-separation process

The phelligridin LA was one of the valuable metabolites synthesized by the medicinal fungus Sanghuang in liquid fermentation. In the improvement of PLA productivity by fermentation, we investigated the optimal conditions for the efficient separation of PLA from the fermentation broth with a chromatographic column packed with the macroporous resin ADS-17. Based on the findings, we further developed an integrated bioreactor system that coupled the fermentation and separation of PLA. Fermentation experiments with the bioreactor system testified the performance of our design in fortification of the PLA production: an improvement of PLA production by 2.14 folds was successfully achieved due to the prompt removal of the PLA, while the formation of hyphae biomass was not affected. Also, the integrated system could afford a simultaneous purification of PLA to a purity of 92.95% with a recovery of 84.3%, which was comparable to that of the PLA purified with an additional process (97.53%), at a reasonable recovery. This study provided a feasible approach for the improved production of PLA by fermentation. Besides, the design of the integrated bioreactor system offered a useful reference for the fermentation process development of fungi for the production of diverse valuable metabolites.