A novel genus of multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes from the Yellow Sea

Multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes (MMPs) are a group of magnetotactic microorganisms composed of 10-40 Gram-negative cells. Currently, all the identified MMPs show a spherical morphology and synthesize mainly iron sulfide magnetosomes. In this study, we report a novel genus of MMPs with peculiar ellipsoidal morphology and iron oxide magnetosomes, which were discovered in intertidal sediment of the Yellow Sea in China. Optical and fluorescence microscopy revealed that this organism was ~10 × 8 μm in size and composed of ~40 cells enveloped by an outer layer. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the cells were arranged in 4-6 interlaced circles. Bullet-shaped magnetite magnetosomes were organized in chains roughly parallel to the long axis of the ellipsoidal MMPs when analysed by transmission electron microscopy. These MMPs displayed special escape motility, i.e. swimming rapidly from the edge to the centre of the droplet and then slowly back to the edge. In addition, they exhibited negative phototaxis. Light microscopy observations showed that the ellipsoidal MMPs reproduced by division along the body long axis. Both analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence and fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed the ellipsoidal MMPs as a new genus of the Deltaproteobacteria. In summary, this novel genus of MMPs exhibit unique morphology, peculiar division process and distinct phylogenetic affiliation compared with the other MMPs.     

Identification of a Novel Proline-Rich Antimicrobial Peptide from Brassica napus

Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PR-AMPs) are a group of cationic host defense peptides that are characterized by a high content of proline residues. Up to now, they have been reported in some insects, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, but are not found in plants. In this study, we performed an in silico screening of antimicrobial peptides, which led to discovery of a Brassica napus gene encoding a novel PR-AMP. This gene encodes a 35-amino acid peptide with 13 proline residues, designated BnPRP1. BnPRP1 has 40.5% identity with a known proline-rich antimicrobial peptide SP-B from the pig. BnPRP1 was artificially synthetized and cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET30a/His-EDDIE-GFP. Recombinant BnPRP1 was produced in Escherichia coli and has a predicted molecular mass of 3.8 kDa. Analysis of its activity demonstrated that BnPRP1 exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacterium, Gram-negative bacterium, yeast and also had strong antifungal activity against several pathogenic fungi, such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Mucor sp., Magnaporthe oryzae and Botrytis cinerea. Circular dichroism (CD) revealed the main secondary structure of BnPRP1 was the random coil. BnPRP1 gene expression detected by qRT-PCR is responsive to pathogen inoculation. At 48 hours after S. sclerotiorum inoculation, the expression of BnPRP1 increased significantly in the susceptible lines while slight decrease occurred in resistant lines. These suggested that BnPRP1 might play a role in the plant defense response against S. sclerotiorum. BnPRP1 isolated from B. napus was the first PR-AMP member that was characterized in plants, and its homology sequences were found in some other Brassicaceae plants by the genome sequences analysis. Compared with the known PR-AMPs, BnPRP1 has the different primary sequences and antimicrobial activity. Above all, this study gives a chance to cast a new light on further understanding about the AMPs’ mechanism and application.     

Properties of MHC Class I Presented Peptides That Enhance Immunogenicity

T-cells have to recognize peptides presented on MHC molecules to be activated and elicit their effector functions. Several studies demonstrate that some peptides are more immunogenic than others and therefore more likely to be T-cell epitopes. We set out to determine which properties cause such differences in immunogenicity. To this end, we collected and analyzed a large set of data describing the immunogenicity of peptides presented on various MHC-I molecules. Two main conclusions could be drawn from this analysis: First, in line with previous observations, we showed that positions P4–6 of a presented peptide are more important for immunogenicity. Second, some amino acids, especially those with large and aromatic side chains, are associated with immunogenicity. This information was combined into a simple model that was used to demonstrate that immunogenicity is, to a certain extent, predictable. This model (made available at http://tools.iedb.org/immunogenicity/) was validated with data from two independent epitope discovery studies. Interestingly, with this model we could show that T-cells are equipped to better recognize viral than human (self) peptides. After the past successful elucidation of different steps in the MHC-I presentation pathway, the identification of variables that influence immunogenicity will be an important next step in the investigation of T-cell epitopes and our understanding of cellular immune responses.     

日本血吸虫期别差异表达基因文库的构建及分析

为从期别差异表达基因分析入手研究血吸虫的生长发育机制,应用抑制性消减杂交 (suppressed subtractive hybridization , SSH) 技术首次构建了日本血吸虫尾蚴、虫卵和成虫的期别差异表达基因文库 . 经消减效率分析和三种文库克隆的 EST 的期别差异性鉴定,表明所建文库质量较高,为在整个基因组水平分离血吸虫的差异表达基因提供了重要材料 . 由三个文库选择 257 个插入片段大于 500 bp 的克隆测定了 EST 序列 . 同源性分析结果表明 257 个 EST 代表 182 种血吸虫基因,其中有 22 种为血吸虫已知基因,有 128 种为血吸虫已知 EST ,有 32 种为新发现的血吸虫基因 . 对 EST 编码蛋白的功能预测结果显示：尾蚴消减文库的基因多与运动、能量代谢、转录调节及致病性相关;虫卵消减文库的基因可能参与信号转导、细胞粘附、蛋白质和碳水化合物的代谢以及抗氧化反应;成虫消减文库的基因多参与蛋白质的合成、转运及分解代谢,参与虫体的运动等 . 大规模分离、分析血吸虫期别差异表达基因将对从分子水平去解读血吸虫的生长发育机制,筛选高效疫苗候选抗原、药物靶标及诊断制剂有重要意义 .     

草鱼出血病病毒多肽的荧光染色

将草鱼出血病病毒（ＧｒａｓｓＣａｒｐＨｅｍｏｒｒｈａｇｅＶｉｒｕｓ,ＧＣＨＶ）置于还原性的溶液中,然后加入等体积的ＮａＨＣＯ３配制的异硫氰酸荧光索溶液进行多肽的标记,再经ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ分析,在紫外灯下即可检测到ＧＣＨＶ全部的１１个结构多肽的荧光带。该方法最小检测量为５００ｎｇ,由该方法回收的多肽具有抗原活性,可作为抗原进行免疫学实验。     

环境因子调控植物花青素苷合成及呈色的机理

花青素苷(anthocyanin)是决定被子植物花、果实和种皮等颜色的重要色素之一。花青素苷的合成与积累过程往往与植物发育过程密切相关, 由内外因子共同控制。环境因子通过诱导植物体内花青素苷合成途径相关基因的表达来调控花青素苷的呈色反应。该文追踪了国内外相关研究, 认为光是影响花青素苷呈色的主要环境因子之一, 光质和光强均能在一定程度上影响花青素苷的合成, 其中光质起着更为关键的作用; 低温能诱导花青素苷的积累, 高温则会加速花青素苷的降解;不同的糖类物质均能影响花青素苷的合成, 大部分结构基因和调节基因的表达均受糖调控。关于花发育与花青素苷呈色的关系、观赏植物花色对环境因子的响应以及花青素苷抵御逆境的机理尚待深入研究。因此, 综合考察花发育与植物花青素苷合成及其呈色之间的关系, 特别是光周期对花发育的影响导致花青素苷合成及呈色的机理是花色研究的一个重要课题。利用环境因子调控花色将会极大地提高花卉的观赏价值。     

基于高通量测序分析盐角草根部内生细菌多样性及动态规律

【目的】探讨盐角草根部内生细菌群落多样性特征,揭示内生细菌群落结构在宿主关键发育期动态变化规律。【方法】通过罗氏454高通量测序获得内生细菌16S r RNA片段,然后进行生物信息分析。【结果】共获得20363条16S r RNA基因序列。各样品中可操作分类单元(operational taxonomic units,OTUs)在552–941之间。根部内生细菌群落主要包括4个门,其中Proteobacteri门占主导地位,其余依次是Firmicutes,Actinobacteria,Bacteroidetes。在Proteobacteria门中,Gammaproteobacteria是第一大纲,其后是Betaproteobacteria纲。宿主5个发育时期共同拥有7个细菌属,包括Azomonas,Serratia,Pantoea,Serpens,Pseudomonas,Halomonas,Kushneria。整体上看,Gammaproteobacteria纲在宿主5个发育时期呈现增长趋势。优势菌属在5个发育期存在差异,分别为Delftia,Kushneria,Serratia,Pantoea,Erwinia。所有文库总共含2108个特异OTUs,共同拥有5个相同OTUs。花期OTUs数量最多,结种期内生细菌多样性降低。在宿主的5个发育时期中,土壤p H、月均温和土壤盐含量这3个环境因子组成的集合对其内生细菌群落变化具有显著影响。【结论】盐角草内生细菌群落多样性丰富,宿主发育期决定了内生细菌群落结构。     

Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor with high stability from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spinacia oleracea</Emphasis> L. seeds

The trypsin inhibitor SOTI was isolated from Spinacia oleracea L. seeds through ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sepharose 4B-trypsin affinity chromatography, and Sephadex G-75 chromatography. This typical Kunitz inhibitor showed remarkable stability to heat, pH, and denaturant. It retained 80% of its activity against trypsin after boiling for 20 min, and more than 90% activity when treated with 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. The formation of stable SOTI-trypsin complex (K _i = 2.3·10⁻⁶ M) is consistent with significant inhibitory activity of SOTI against trypsin-like proteinases present in the larval midgut of Pieris rapae. Sequences of SOTI fragments showed homology with other inhibitors. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 1, pp. 131–140.