Genetic Diversity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella enteric</Emphasis> serovar Typhi and Paratyphi in Shenzhen,China from 2002 through 2007

Background  

Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are endemic in China. The objective of this investigation was to determine the molecular features of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella enteric serovar Typhi (S. typhi) and Paratyphi (S. paratyphi) from blood isolates in Shenzhen, China.     

Novel EGF pathway regulators modulate C. elegans healthspan and lifespan via EGF receptor,PLC‐γ, and IP3R activation

Improving health of the rapidly growing aging population is a critical medical, social, and economic goal. Identification of genes that modulate healthspan, the period of mid‐life vigor that precedes significant functional decline, will be an essential part of the effort to design anti‐aging therapies. Because locomotory decline in humans is a major contributor to frailty and loss of independence and because slowing of movement is a conserved feature of aging across phyla, we screened for genetic interventions that extend locomotory healthspan of Caenorhabditis elegans. From a group of 54 genes previously noted to encode secreted proteins similar in sequence to extracellular domains of insulin receptor, we identified two genes for which RNAi knockdown delayed age‐associated locomotory decline, conferring a high performance in advanced age phenotype (Hpa). Unexpectedly, we found that hpa‐1 and hpa‐2 act through the EGF pathway, rather than the insulin signaling pathway, to control systemic healthspan benefits without detectable developmental consequences. Further analysis revealed a potent role of EGF signaling, acting via downstream phospholipase C‐γplc‐3 and inositol‐3‐phosphate receptor itr‐1, to promote healthy aging associated with low lipofuscin levels, enhanced physical performance, and extended lifespan. This study identifies HPA‐1 and HPA‐2 as novel negative regulators of EGF signaling and constitutes the first report of EGF signaling as a major pathway for healthy aging. Our data raise the possibility that EGF family members should be investigated for similar activities in higher organisms.     

Proto-oncogene c-erbB2 initiates rat primordial follicle growth via PKC and MAPK pathways

Background  

c-erbB2, a proto-oncogene coding epidermal growth factor receptor-like receptor, also as a chemosensitivity/prognosis marker for gynecologic cancer, may be involved in initiation of growth of rat primordial follicles. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role and signal pathway of c-erbB2 in onset of rat primordial follicle development.     

Protection against the allergic airway inflammation depends on the modulation of spleen dendritic cell function and induction of regulatory T cells in mice

Background

Allergen-induced imbalance of specific T regulatory (Treg) cells and T helper 2 cells plays a decisive role in the development of immune response against allergens.

Objective

To evaluate effects and potential mechanisms of DNA vaccine containing ovalbumin (OVA) and Fc fusion on allergic airway inflammation.

Methods

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) levels of inflammatory mediators and leukocyte infiltration, expression of CD_11c ⁺CD₈₀ ⁺ and CD_11c ⁺CD₈₆ ⁺ co-stimulatory molecules in spleen dendritic cells (DCs), circulating CD₄ ⁺ and CD₈ ⁺ T cells, Foxp3⁺ in spleen CD₄ ⁺ T cells and spleen CD₄ ⁺ T cells were measured in OVA-sensitized and challenged animals pretreated with pcDNA, OVA-pcDNA, Fc-pcDNA, and OVA-Fc-pcDNA.

Results

OVA-Sensitized and challenged mice developed airway inflammation and Th2 responses, and decreased the proliferation of peripheral CD₄ ⁺and CD₈ ⁺ T cells and the number of spleen Foxp₃ ⁺ Treg. Those changes with increased INF-γ production and reduced OVA-specific IgE production were protected by the pretreatment with OVA-Fc-pcDNA.

Conclusion

DNA vaccine encoding both Fc and OVA showed more effective than DNA vaccine encoding Fc or OVA alone, through the balance of DCs and Treg.     

不同pH调节剂对产琥珀酸放线杆菌NJ113发酵产丁二酸的影响

在3L发酵罐中分别采用不同的碱性物质作为pH调节剂,考察其对产琥珀酸放线杆菌Actinobacillus succinogenes NJ113厌氧发酵制备丁二酸的影响。结果表明:Ca2+、NH4+调节剂对菌体生长代谢有较大阻碍作用,丁二酸产量较低;采用含Na+调节剂,在发酵中后期菌体出现絮凝现象严重,且产丁二酸能力骤降;采用含Mg2+调节剂,整个发酵过程菌体代谢旺盛,发酵效果较佳。根据各碱性物质的调节能力以及对菌体生长代谢的影响,选择NaOH、Mg(OH)2和Na2CO3、Mg(OH)2分别作为混合碱组分调节pH,并对两组混合碱中各物质的质量比例进行优化。结果表明,以NaOH、Mg(OH)2混合,两者质量比为1:1时,发酵效果最好,丁二酸质量浓度高达到69.8g/L,质量收率74.5%。该种混合碱配比可有效替代碱式MgCO3调节pH,既达到高产丁二酸的目的,又可降低生物制备丁二酸的成本。     

高羊茅FaChit1基因cDNA克隆及诱导表达

应用简并RT-PCR及RACE技术,从高羊茅中克隆了1个Ⅰ类几丁质酶基因cDNA全长序列,命名为FaChit1.结果表明,该cDNA具有1个951 bp的完整编码框,编码316个氨基酸,其编码产物和其它植物的Ⅰ类几丁质酶在氨基酸序列上具有较高的同源性,包含典型的几丁质结合区、催化区以及脯氨酸、半胱氨酸富集的铰链区,但缺少定位到植物液泡所必须的C末端延伸区靶向信号.Northern杂交显示,FaChit1对真菌激发子有较强的响应,乙烯和干旱胁迫均能有效诱导FaChit1基因的表达,而对机械损伤处理的反应比较微弱,只在叶片中积累少量的mRNA.     

不明原因男性不育人群中睾丸特异性乳酸脱氢酶基因突变的发现及其意义

为了研究睾丸特异性乳酸脱氢酶,即乳酸脱氢酶C4(LDH-C4)基因突变在男性不育发病中的作用,利用LDH-C4特异性底物对100名不明原因男性不育症患者的精子LDH-C4进行活性显色,用变性高效液相色谱(DHPLC)技术对LDH-C4活性低下的患者进行LDHC基因PCR产物的突变筛查,对DHPLC峰形异常的PCR产物进行序列测定.筛选到一组精子LDH-C4活性明显下降的患者,其中1名患者的LDHC基因PCR产物在DHPLC中呈异常洗脱峰.对这一PCR产物进行序列测定,发现患者LDHC基因第5外显子的115位碱基发生了T→A的杂合改变(GenBank登录号GU479375),该突变使LDHC基因的178位密码子由原来的TTG(编码亮氨酸)变为TAG(终止密码子),形成截短的C亚基.T克隆-测序进一步证实了该无义突变的杂合状态.这是在人类LDHC基因上发现的第一个突变,提示LDHC基因突变可能是男性不育发病的原因之一.     

糖原合酶激酶-3β调节9G8介导的tau外显子10的可变剪接

Tau外显子10的可变剪接产生含3个微管结合片段或4个微管结合片段的tau蛋白变异体(3R-tau和4R-tau).正常成年人脑中,3R-tau和4R-tau的表达水平相近,这种比例对于维持正常脑功能非常重要.9G8是剪接因子SR蛋白家族中的成员之一,参与多种基因转录产物的剪接调控,它的功能和活性受磷酸化高度调节.糖原合酶激酶(GSK)-3β是体内重要的蛋白激酶,已有研究显示它参与调节tau外显子10的可变剪接.利用微型tau基因研究了9G8在不同细胞系中对tau外显子10可变剪接的作用以及GSK-3β对9G8介导的tau外显子10可变剪接的影响.结果显示,过表达9G8抑制tau外显子10的表达,GSK-3β在体外可催化9G8的磷酸化,GSK-3β可以被9G8从大鼠脑匀浆中沉降(pull-down),提示它们之间可能存在相互作用,在培养的细胞中,GSK-3β与9G8之间存在共定位,过表达GSK-3β抑制9G8对外显子10可变剪接的作用,有利于4R-tau的产生.这些结果显示GSK-3β影响9G8介导的tau外显子10的剪接.     

马传染性贫血病毒弱毒疫苗株跨膜蛋白截短突变对其体外复制特性影响

马传染性贫血病毒(EIAV)减毒疫苗是世界首例慢病毒疫苗,但其作用机理尚不明了.研究发现,EIAV疫苗株EIAVFDDV12的跨膜蛋白gp45在马体内发生高频率261W位点翻译终止突变,使该蛋白质C端出现154个氨基酸的截短.为了探讨该截短对EIAV疫苗株生物学特性的作用,以EIAV弱毒疫苗株感染性克隆为骨干,构建了gp45截短型感染性病毒株,检测该截短突变对EIAV疫苗株在体外培养的马外周血单核细胞由来的巨噬细胞(MDM)、驴MDM和驴胎皮细胞(FDD)中的复制.实验结果表明,gp45截短型毒株在马和驴MDM中复制能力比未截短型毒株显著降低(P<0.01),特别是在马MDM中此差异更明显.相反,截短型毒株在FDD中的复制能力则显著高于未截短型毒株(P<0.01).此外,结果显示gp45截短型毒株在马MDM中的低水平复制降低了EIAV对其靶细胞诱导的凋亡.以上结果提示,EIAV疫苗的gp45截短型毒株是适应在体外FDD细胞中传代致弱的变异,该变异导致疫苗株在EIAV体内主要靶细胞巨噬细胞中复制能力的降低,导致毒力进一步减弱.     

西藏十字花科新记录植物

报道了西藏十字花科一新记录属芝麻菜属(Eruca)和一新记录种山西异蕊芥(Dimorphostemon shanxiensis R.L.Guo et T.Y.Cheo).