Impact of human papilloma virus infection on the response of head and neck cancers to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody therapy

Infection with human papillomaviruses (HPVs) characterizes a distinct subset of head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs). HPV-positive HNSCC preferentially affect the oropharynx and tonsils. Localized HPV-positive HNSCCs have a favorable prognosis and treatment outcome. However, the impact of HPV in advanced or metastatic HNSCC remains to be defined. In particular, it is unclear whether HPV modulates the response to cetuximab, an antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is a mainstay of treatment of advanced HNSCC. To this end, we have examined the sensitivity of HPV-positive and -negative HNSCC models to cetuximab and cytotoxic drugs in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we have stably expressed the HPV oncogenes E6 and E7 in cetuximab-sensitive cancer cell lines to specifically investigate their role in the antibody response. The endogenous HPV status or the expression of HPV oncogenes had no significant impact on cetuximab-mediated suppression of EGFR signaling and proliferation in vitro. Cetuximab effectively inhibited the growth of E6- and E7-expressing tumors grafted in NOD/SCID mice. In support, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples from cetuximab-treated patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC were probed for p16^INK4a expression, an established biomarker of HPV infection. Response rates (45.5% versus 45.5%) and median progression-free survival (97 versus 92 days) following cetuximab-based therapy were similar in patients with p16^INK4A-positive and p16^INK4A-negative tumors. In conclusion, HPV oncogenes do not modulate the anti-EGFR antibody response in HSNCC. Cetuximab treatment should be administered independently of HPV status.     

一株耐锌真菌CTB430-1分离鉴定及其富集特性

从某锌尾砂坝土壤中筛选分离、纯化得到一株对锌具有较强抗性的菌株,命名为CTB430-1.对菌株进行形态观察、生理生化试验,采用ITS基因序列分析并构建系统发育树,鉴定该菌为黄曲霉（Aspergillus flavus）.研究其对Zn（Ⅱ）抗性和富集特性.结果表明：Zn（Ⅱ）对该菌株的最低抑菌浓度为800 mg/L;菌株对Zn（Ⅱ）的富集量在250 mg/L时达到最大,为40.37 mg/g;采用扫描和透射电镜观察富集前后菌丝体表面形态和内部结构变化,表明Zn（Ⅱ）毒害作用可能导致生长中菌丝表面结构破坏,CTB430-1富集Zn（Ⅱ）由表面吸附和胞内富集两部分组成.     

Bracoviruses recruit host integrases for their integration into caterpillar’s genome

Some DNA viruses infect host animals usually by integrating their DNAs into the host genome. However, the mechanisms for integration remain largely unknown. Here, we find that Cotesia vestalis bracovirus (CvBV), a polydnavirus of the parasitic wasp C. vestalis (Haliday), integrates its DNA circles into host Plutella xylostella (L.) genome by two distinct strategies, conservatively and randomly, through high-throughput sequencing analysis. We confirmed that the conservatively integrating circles contain an essential “8+5” nucleotides motif which is required for integration. Then we find CvBV circles are integrated into the caterpillar’s genome in three temporal patterns, the early, mid and late stage-integration. We further identify that three CvBV-encoded integrases are responsible for some, but not all of the virus circle integrations, indeed they mainly participate in the processes of early stage-integration. Strikingly, we find two P. xylostella retroviral integrases (PxIN1 and PxIN2) are highly induced upon wasp parasitism, and PxIN1 is crucial for integration of some other early-integrated CvBV circles, such as CvBV_04, CvBV_12 and CvBV_24, while PxIN2 is important for integration of a late-integrated CvBV circle, CvBV_21. Our data uncover a novel mechanism in which CvBV integrates into the infected host genome, not only by utilizing its own integrases, but also by recruiting host enzymes. These findings will strongly deepen our understanding of how bracoviruses regulate and integrate into their hosts.     

不同生长光强下8种红树植物幼苗叶片的光响应特征

为探讨红树植物光适应的生理生态策略,对6种真红树植物[无瓣海桑(Sonneratia apetala)、秋茄(Kandelia candel)、木榄(Bruguiera gymnorrhiza)、桐花树(Aegiceras corniculatum)、老鼠簕(Acanthus ilicifolius)、卤蕨(Acrostichum aureum)]和2种半红树植物[银叶树(Heritiera littoralis)、黄槿(Hibiscus tiliaceus)]的1 a生幼苗在不同生长光强(自然光强的100%、45%、30%、10%)下的光合光响应特征进行了研究。结果表明,不同生长光强对红树植物光响应特征的影响因物种而异,遮荫显著提高了秋茄和木榄的最大净光合速率(Pmax),而对其他红树植物的Pmax没有显著影响;秋茄在45%光强下具有较高的Pmax,木榄的Pmax则在45%和30%光强下显著高于其他2个处理。随着生长光强的下降,秋茄幼苗叶片的光饱和点显著上升,木榄、老鼠簕和卤蕨的光补偿点呈下降趋势,木榄和卤蕨的表观量子效率升高的同时暗呼吸速率下降。木榄、老鼠簕和卤蕨具有较强的耐荫性,...     

昆明动物园笼养倭蜂猴的能量代谢

食物是动物适应性生存的基础,能量平衡对动物生存、繁殖和进化起着至关重要的作用 (McNab,1988).     

土壤微生物多样性影响因素及研究方法的现状与展望

土壤微生物是土壤生态系统的重要组成部分, 在土壤有机物质分解和养分释放、能量转移等生物地化循环中起着重要作用。随着人们对生物多样性重要性认识的不断深入及研究方法的不断改进, 土壤微生物多样性, 尤其是功能多样性的研究工作逐渐受到生态学家的重视。本文从土壤微生物多样性的影响因素以及研究方法等方面阐述了目前国内外土壤微生物多样性的研究现状, 并对其未来研究方向进行了展望。     

腐食酪螨在不同温度和营养条件下生长发育的比较研究

在12.5℃、15℃、20℃、25℃和30℃恒温下,用啤酒酵母粉和玉米粉为饲料,测定了不同温度和饲料条件下腐食酪螨Tyrophagus putrescentiae各个发育阶段和世代的发育历期,获得其在各条件下的发育起点温度和有效积温。结果表明,在本文的实验温度范围内,该螨的发育历期与温度呈负相关,即随着温度的升高发育历期缩短。在各发育阶段不同饲料条件下发育起点温度和有效积温都有所差异。用啤酒酵母粉作饲料时,腐食酪螨的全世代历期为48.04天（12.5℃下）和8.41天（30℃下）,发育起点温度为10.18℃,有效积温为155.44 d·℃; 用玉米粉作饲料时,全世代历期为78.79天（12.5℃下）和10.77天（30℃下）,发育起点温度为10.52℃,有效积温为208.33 d·℃。以成螨体长和体宽为指标,比较了在各温度条件及不同饲料条件对其生长的影响,结果表明不同饲料对螨体大小有显著影响,温度的影响不明显。     

微柱法测定糖化血红蛋白及其临床应用

糖化血红蛋白（HbA_1C）作为一项良好的糖尿病（DM）患者血糖水平观测及疗效指标,已被多数临床实验室采用.但由于精确测定HbA1C的方法需要贵重的仪器设备,不适合普通实验室使用.采用微柱法（离子交换层析,BIO-RAD试剂）测定了80例正常人群及65例胰岛素依赖与非依赖型DM患者的全血HbA_1C含量,并对该方法进行一般性评价：5个非DM与5个DM标本各重复测定10次,平均CV值为1.2%,HbA_1C浓度为4.8%,8.9%,15.3%时回复实验均值为104.2%.该方法不需特殊仪器设备且简便易行.实验结果表明：正常人群的HbA_1C范围4.6%±2.3%,非胰岛素依赖型DM患者测定值8.3%～15.2%,胰岛素依赖型DM患者测定值8.5%～22.4%.住院治疗的患者HbA_1C平均水平比非住院治疗者低5.7%.HbA_1C水平的高低及维持时间的长短与患者的DM相关症状有密切关系.     

獐牙菜属植物叶表皮特征

利用光学显微镜观察了獐牙菜属３５种植物的呈表皮,发现该属植物成熟叶上下表皮细胞形状（表面观）为多边形和不规则型,垂周壁式样为平直、弓形和波纹,多数种类上、下表皮均有气孔器分布,气顺类型主要有３种,无规则型,不等型和平列型。这些特殊２对獐牙菜属下分类有一定的意义。结合其它方面的研究成果,初步确定叶表皮特征可能具有以下演化趋势,垂周壁式样深波方←浅波纹→平直,弓型,气顺类型无规则型→不等型→平列型。     

苏州地区金线蛙食性的初步研究

金线蛙各月份的食性分析表明,成蛙以捕食昆虫为主,首食种类是水生动物中的负子昃、螺、虾等,摄食种类变化主要与生境及生长发育相关。