Construction and characterization of a recombinant fowlpox virus containing HIV-1 multi-epitope-p24 chimeric gene in mice

The epidemic of HIV/AIDS is sweeping across the world. It is of great importance to figure out new ways to curb this disease. Epitope-based vaccine is one of these solutions. In this study, a chimeric gene was obtained by combination of a designed HIV-1 multi-epitope gene (MEG) and HIV-1 p24 gene. A recombinant plasmid pUTA2-MEGp24 was then constructed by inserting MEGp24 gene into the down-stream of the promoter (ATI-P7.5×20) of fowlpox virus (FPV) transfer vector pUTA2. The recombinant plasmid and wild-type FPV 282E4 strain were then co-transfected into CEF cells and homologous recombination occurred. A recombinant virus expressing HIV-1 protein MEGp24 was screened by genome PCR and Western blot assay. Large scale preparation and purification of the recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV) were then carried out. BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with the rFPV for three times on day 0, 14 and 42. Mice were executed and sampled one week after the third inoculation.Anti-HIV-1 antibody in serum and Th1 cytokines in the supernatant of cultured spleen cells were assayed by ELISA. The count of T lymphocyte subsets and the CTL activity of spleen lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, respectively. The results showed that HIV-1 specific antibody in serum and increased T lymphocyte subsets (CD4+ T, CD8+ T)were detected in the immunization group. CTL target-killing activity and higher secretion of Th1 cytokines (IFN-Y and IL-2) of spleen lymphocytes stimulated by H-2d-restricted CTL peptide were observed in immunized mice.We concluded that the rFPV may induce HIV-1 specific immunity especially cellular immunity in mice.     

The antibody preparation and expression of human Pescadillo

To explore the biological roles of human Pescadillo and investigate its potential effect on tumorigene sis, the eDNA of Pescadillo was fused with that of GST. After purification and elution, the purified GST-Pescadillo fusion protein was obtained, and the antibody against the fusion protein was generated.Endogenous Pescadillo protein was observed to be remarkably induced by estrogen. It was mainly distributed in the tissues such as breast, ovary and intestine, all of which contain proliferating cells,and was also detected in many cell lines of human cancer: renal carcinoma, hepatoma, ovarian cancer,colon carcinoma, and breast cancer. The expression level of Pescadillo was increased significantly in breast cancer tissues compared with their paired margin tissues. Taken together, these data suggest that Pescadillo may play important roles in the initiation and development of cancer and may be a potential target in cancer diagnosis and therapy.     

Sequence analysis for the complete proviral genome of reticuloendotheliosis virus Chinese strain HA9901

The genomic DNA extracted from chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) infected with a Chinese field isolate HA9901 of reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) was used as the template to amplify the REV proviral genomic cDNA by PCR with 6 pairs of primers according to published sequences. Six overlapping fragments were amplified, cloned into the TA vector and sequenced, including a fragment which was amplified from the circular proviral cDNA and covering both 5′-and 3′-ends. The complete sequence of the whole genome was established and analyzed with a DNAstar software. Comparisons of the sequence with two other strains demonstrated that the genomes of REV were relatively conservative, the homogenecity for all genes or LTR fragments of the 3 strains was over 92%, no matter whether they were isolated from different species and regions in different years. But, the homology of Chinese strain HA9901 to a fowl pox virus-associated strain from Chickens was higher than that to strain SNV isolated from ducks.     

Glycine origin of the methyl substituent on C7'-N of octodiose for the biosynthesis of apramycin

Apramycin is unique in the aminoglycoside family due to its octodiose moiety. However, either the biosynthesis process or the precursors involved are largely unknown. Addition of glycine, as well as serine or threonine, to the Streptomyces tenebrabrius UD2 fermentation medium substantially increases the production of apramycin with little effect on the growth of mycelia, indicating that glycine and/or serine might be involved in the biosynthesis of apramycin. The 13C-NMR analysis of [2-13C] glycine-fed (25% enrichment) apramycin showed that glycine specifically and efficiently incorporated into the only N-CH3 substituent of apramycin on the C7' of the octodiose moiety. We noticed that the in vivo concentration of S-adenosyl methionine increased in parallel with the addition of glycine, while the addition of methione in the fermentation medium significantly decreased the productivity of apramycin. Therefore, the methyl donor function of glycine is proposed to be involved in the methionine cycle but methionine itself was proposed to inhibit the methylation and methyl transfer processes as previously reported for the case of rapamycin. The 15N NMR spectra of [2-13C,15N]serine labeled apramycin indicated that serine may also act as a limiting precursor contributing to the -NH2 substituents of apramycin.     

EFFECTS OF CADMIUM ON HOUSEFLY: INFLUENCE ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND METABOLISM DURING METAMORPHOSIS OF HOUSEFLY

Abstract The objective of this study was to elucidate the effects of cadmium on housefly, Musca domestica. It is suggested that of cadmium in low concentrations of had little influence on growth and development of housefly. Cadmium was mainly distributed in the digestive tracts of housefly larvae, where the cadmium content was higher than that of other parts. During the metamorphosis of housefly the change trend of the cadmium content was very apparent. The cadmium content increased gradually in larval period, whereas it decreased significantly after polarization. Until the sixth day after emergence, only negligible cadmium was left in adult housefly. All these results demonstrated that the response of housefly to cadmium is an evolution adaptation in natural selection.     

Preliminary investigation of sequence-independent DNA binding proteins in rat skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum and their function

To observe the binding of plasmid DNA to non-nuclear DNA binding proteins in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and the effects of this binding on SR function, sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins in rat skeletal muscle were isolated by differential centrifuge and sucrose density-gradient centrifuge. The results showed that there are two sequence-independent DNA binding proteins in SR proteins, the molecular weights of which are 83 and 58 ku, respectively. Ca²⁺ uptake and release of SR were remarkably promoted by the binding of plasmid DNA to DNA binding proteins in SR, the mechanism is probably through increasing of Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in SR and changing of character of Ca²⁺ release channel ryanodine receptors induced by the binding. These results suggest that there exist DNA binding proteins in SR and its binding to DNA may affect Ca²⁺ transport of SR.     

人肿瘤坏死因子α基因穿梭表达载体的构建和在鱼腥藻7120中的表达

报道了人肿瘤坏死因子α(hTNFα)基因穿梭表达载体的构建及其在丝状体蓝藻鱼腥藻 712 0中的表达和鉴定结果 .将质粒pRL rhTNF上hTNFα的cDNA连于pRL 43 9质粒上的PpsbA启动子下游 ,得到中间载体pRL TC .进一步与穿梭质粒pDC 8重组 ,得到可在大肠杆菌和蓝藻中均可表达的穿梭表达载体pDC TNF .pRL rhTNF ,pRL TC和pDC TNF三者在大肠杆菌中的表达量分别为 11.8% ,16 9%和 15 .0 % .通过三亲接合转移将pDC TNF引入鱼腥藻 712 0中并获稳定遗传的转基因株 .从转基因的鱼腥藻 712 0中检测到pDC TNF质粒的存在 ,且在和TNFα的cDNA探针进行的Southern杂交中呈阳性反应 .抽提转基因藻的蛋白样品进行检测 ,在Western印迹中和TNFα单克隆抗体呈阳性反应 .采用TNF对L92 9细胞的细胞毒性方法 ,证明转基因藻粗提液中 ,TNF确有细胞毒活性 .