《环境工程微生物学》设计性实验的开设

设计性实验项目的开设是培养学生创新能力的有效途径。阐述了在环境工程微生物学实验中增加设计性实验的必要性,并从设计项目的布置,设计方案的撰写,可行性论证及竞标、中标方案的实施、答辩与考核等方面介绍项目的实施过程。     

COX-2 is required to mediate crosstalk of ROS-dependent activation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling with pro-inflammatory response and defense-related NO enhancement during challenge of macrophage-like cell line with Giardia duodenalis

Giardia duodenalis, the causative agent of giardiasis, is among the most important causes of waterborne diarrheal diseases around the world. Giardia infection may persist over extended periods with intestinal inflammation, although minimal. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is well known as an important inducer of inflammatory response, while the role it played in noninvasive Giardia infection remains elusive. Here we investigated the regulatory function of COX-2 in Giardia-induced pro-inflammatory response and defense-related nitric oxide (NO) generation in macrophage-like cell line, and identified the potential regulators. We initially found that Giardia challenge induced up-regulation of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, prostaglandin (PG) E2, and COX-2 in macrophages, and pretreatment of the cells with COX-2 inhibitor NS398 reduced expressions of those pro-inflammatory factors. It was also observed that COX-2 inhibition could attenuate the up-regulated NO release and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression induced by Giardia. We further confirmed that Giardia-induced COX-2 up-regulation was mediated by the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs and NF-κB. In addition, inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by NAC was shown to repress Giardia-induced activation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling, up-regulation of COX-2 and iNOS, increased levels of PGE2 and NO release, and up-expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Collectively, in this study, we revealed a critical role of COX-2 in modulating pro-inflammatory response and defense-related NO production in Giardia-macrophage interactions, and this process was evident to be controlled by ROS-dependent activation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling. The results can deepen our knowledge of anti-Giardia inflammatory response and host defense mechanisms.     

TNFα‐induced abnormal activation of TNFR/NF‐κB/FTH1 in endometrium is involved in the pathogenesis of early spontaneous abortion

Early spontaneous abortion (ESA) is one of the most common complications during pregnancy and the inflammation condition in uterine environment such as long‐term exposure to high TNFα plays an essential role in the aetiology. Ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) is considered to be closely associated with inflammation and very important in normal pregnancy, yet the underlying mechanism of how TNFα induced abortion and its relationship with FTH1 remain elusive. In this study, we found that TNFα and FTH1 were positively expressed in decidual stromal cells and increased significantly in the ESA group compared with the normal pregnancy group (NP group). Besides, TNFα expression was positively correlated with FTH1 expression. Furthermore, in vitro cell model demonstrated that high TNFα could induce the abnormal signals of TNFR/NF‐κB/FTH1 and activate apoptosis both in human endometrium stromal cells (hESCs) and in local decidual tissues. Taken together, the present findings suggest that the excessive apoptosis in response to TNFα‐induced upregulation of FTH1 may be responsible for the occurrence of ESA, and thus provide a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of ESA.     

多囊卵巢综合征患者与健康人群肠道菌群差异性分析

目的 比较多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者与健康人群间肠道菌群的差异,为后续研究提供参考.方法 采用16SrDNA扩增子测序法对30例PCOS患者(PCOS组)和20例健康人(健康组)粪便标本中菌群结构进行分析,并比较两组之间的区别.结果 与健康组相比,PCOS组患者肠道菌群α多样性降低.PCOS组患者肠道厚壁菌门(Fi...     

Intersected functional zone of transcriptional regulators patterns stemness within stem cell niche of root apical meristem

Root stem cell niche (SCN) consists of a quiescent center (QC) and surrounding stem cells. Disrupted symplastic communication leads to loss of stemness in the whole SCN. Several SCN regulators were reported to move between cells for SCN maintenance. However, single mutant of these regulators is insufficient to abolish QC stemness despite the high differentiation rate in surrounding stem cells. To dissect the mechanism behind such distinct stemness in SCN, we combined the mis‐expression strategy with pWOX5:icals3m system in which QC is symplastically isolated. We found the starch accumulation in QC could be synergistically repressed by WUSCHEL‐RELATED HOMEOBOX 5 (WOX5), SHORT‐ROOT (SHR), SCARCROW (SCR), and PLETHORA (PLT). Like PLTs, other core regulators also exhibited dimorphic functions by inhibiting differentiation at a higher dose while promoting cell division at a low protein level. Being located in the center of the intersected expression zones, QC cells receive the highest level of core regulators, forming the most robust stemness within SCN. WUSCHEL‐RELATED HOMEOBOX 5 was sufficient to activate PLT1/2 expression, contributing to the QC‐enriched PLTs. Our results provide experimental evidence supporting the long‐standing hypothesis that the combination of spatial expression, synergistic function and dosage effect of core regulators result in spatially distinct stemness in SCN.