Potential role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression

The regulation of insulin on depression and depression‐like behaviour has been widely reported. Insulin and activation of its receptor can promote learning and memory, affect the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis (HPA) balance, regulate the secretion of neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitters, interact with gastrointestinal microbiome, exert neuroprotective effects and have an impact on depression. However, the role of insulin on depression remains largely unclear. Therefore, in this review, we summarized the potential role of insulin on depression. It may provide new insight for clarifying role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression.     

耐盐碱促生菌的筛选及性能

盐分是影响作物生长最重要的因素,使用能促进植物生长的耐盐碱促生菌减轻盐胁迫引起的损害是一种农业上的有效方法。文中从盐碱地筛选得到7株耐盐细菌,并考察筛选菌株的产胞外聚合物(EPS)能力、降碱能力和产吲哚-3-乙酸(IAA)能力。经综合评价选出1株优势菌株DB01,菌株DB01产EPS能力为0.21 g/g,降碱能力为8.7%,产IAA的能力为8.97 mg/L。菌株经16S rRNA鉴定为海水盐单胞菌Halomonas aquamarina,并且有抑制香蕉枯萎病、番茄早疫病、大豆疫霉病、小麦纹枯病病原菌的能力,同时能够在盐胁迫下促进小麦幼苗的发芽率和根长。海水盐单胞菌Halomonas aquamarina DB01可为土壤微生物资源开发利用和盐碱地改良提供理论依据。     

人乳寡糖2’-FL和3-FL的生物制备研究进展

人乳寡糖 (Human milk oligosaccharides,HMO) 是母乳中重要的免疫活性成分,对婴幼儿健康起到显著促进作用。2’-岩藻糖基乳糖 (2’-FL) 是HMO的主要组分,极具应用价值,3-岩藻糖基乳糖 (3-FL) 与2’-FL的合成途径相似,两者的研究具有相互借鉴意义,近年来针对它们的研究取得了较多进展。以微生物细胞工厂为核心理念的新型生物合成途径有望将2’-FL和3-FL产业化,未来将对乳制品行业产生重要的影响。文中综述了生物技术制备2’-FL和3-FL的最新研究进展,并对未来发展趋势进行了展望。     

口蹄疫病毒非结构蛋白3AB双抗体夹心ELISA方法的建立

抗原纯净度是口蹄疫 (Foot-and-mouth disease,FMD) 灭活疫苗质量检验的一项重要内容,一般采用疫苗2–3次免疫动物后,检测非结构蛋白 (Non-structural protein,NSP) 抗体是否阳转,判断疫苗抗原的纯净度。文中旨在建立定量检测FMD灭活疫苗抗原中NSP 3AB含量的ELISA方法,为疫苗质量控制提供参考方法。利用口蹄疫病毒 (Foot-and-mouth disease virus,FMDV) NSP 3A单克隆抗体和辣根过氧化物酶 (Horseradish peroxidase,HRP) 标记的3B单克隆抗体,建立定量检测NSP 3AB含量的双抗体夹心ELISA检测方法。采用原核表达并纯化的3AB蛋白作为标准品,标准品系列稀释,绘制标准曲线,以标准品与未加抗原的阴性对照吸光值 (OD) 的比值大于2.0的标准品最低浓度为最低检测限。标准品浓度介于4.7–600.0 ng/mL之间时,测得的OD值与浓度呈线性相关,回归曲线呈直线,相关系数R2=0.99,确定最低检测限为4.7 ng/mL。检测12份未纯化灭活抗原中3AB蛋白含量介于9.3–200.0 ng/mL之间;而纯化后的病毒抗原中3AB蛋白残留量低于最低检测限;33份来自不同厂家的成品疫苗抗原中9份疫苗抗原3AB蛋白含量在9.0–74.0 ng/mL之间,其余24份疫苗抗原中3AB蛋白残留量低于最低检测限。检测3AB蛋白含量的双抗体夹心ELISA方法能够特异、敏感地检测疫苗抗原中的3AB蛋白含量,为疫苗质量控制与纯净度检验提供了一种可供选择的检测方法。     

温度诱导Targetron系统用于大肠杆菌高效基因失活

构建基于TeI3c/4c嗜热二型内含子的温度诱导Targetron基因失活系统 (Thermotargetron),并应用于中温微生物基因编辑。在大肠杆菌HMS174 (DE3) 基因组中,选择Subunit of flagellum基因 (fliC) 和C4 dicarboxylate orotate:H+ symporter基因 (dctA) 为靶基因。根据TeI3c/4c DNA识别规则,在fliC和dctA基因中选择fliC489a、fliC828s、fliC1038s和dctA2a位点为基因打靶位点。使用重叠延伸PCR方法,基于pHK-TT1A质粒构建打靶载体。打靶载体转化HMS174菌株,对数期转化子培养液48 ℃热激1 h后涂布于氯霉素抗性LB平板上。使用菌落PCR和DNA测序检测突变株并计算基因失活效率。获得突变株后,通过琼脂穿刺和碳源代谢实验,鉴定ΔfliC、ΔdctA突变株表型变化。菌落PCR测序结果表明,TeI3c/4c插入到fliC和dctA基因设计位点,且打靶效率高达100%。突变株表型验证实验表明,ΔfliC突变株运动能力显著下降,ΔdctA突变株苹果酸代谢能力缺失。综上所述,文中建立了一套适用于嗜中温微生物的温度诱导型、高效基因失活系统,该系统可通过控制宿主菌在48 ℃保温时间实现高效、靶向、精准基因失活。     

微生态制剂在早期结直肠癌根治术后的作用

目的探讨微生态制剂在早期结直肠癌(CRC)根治术后的作用,并为此类患者提供一种术后康复支持疗法。方法选取2017年6月-2019年6月于本院接受早期CRC根治术术后97例患者作为研究对象,采用随机数字表分为观察组50例和对照组47例。两组术后均接受常规治疗,观察组在对照组基础上接受双歧杆菌三联活菌胶囊治疗,比较两组治疗前后细胞免疫指标、肠道微生态复杂度及属水平相对丰度、肠道菌群OTU数量、肠道黏膜屏障功能。结果治疗后观察组NK细胞、CD3~+T、CD4~+T、CD4~+/CD8~+T均提高(P0.05),观察组CD8~+T治疗前后相近(P0.05);治疗后对照组上述指标与治疗前差异均无统计学意义(P0.05),观察组NK细胞、CD3~+T、CD4~+T、CD4~+/CD8~+T均高于对照组(P0.05);治疗后观察组Chao1指数、Shannon指数、肠道菌群OTU数均升高(P0.05),对照组Chao1指数、Shannon指数、肠道菌群OTU数量治疗前后差异均无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后观察组Chao1指数、Shannon指数、肠道菌群OTU数量均高于对照组(P0.05);治疗后观察组大肠杆菌、肠球菌、葡萄球菌属水平相对丰度均下降(P0.05),对照组均升高(P0.05),且观察组均低于对照组(P0.05);治疗后观察组乳杆菌、双歧杆菌、梭菌、类杆菌、链球菌属水平相对丰度均升高(P0.05),对照组均下降(P0.05),且观察组均高于对照组(P0.05);治疗后观察组血浆D-乳酸、DAO、I-FABP、内毒素水平分别为(6.94±1.23)mg/L、(3.45±0.65)U/L、(43.95±7.99)μg/L、(4.48±0.85)U/L,均较治疗前下降(P0.05),对照组各项指标水平分别为(15.59±2.79)mg/L、(7.74±1.35)U/L、(74.21±13.82)μg/L、(8.68±1.65)U/L,均较治疗前升高(P0.05),治疗后观察组血浆D-乳酸、DAO、I-FABP、内毒素水平均降低(P0.05)。结论微生态制剂可有效改善早期CRC患者根治术后的细胞免疫水平,有效纠正早期CRC术后患者肠道菌群失调,增强早期CRC根治术后患者肠黏膜屏障功能。     

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth ameliorate concanavalin A-induced autoimmune hepatitis by protecting hepatocytes from apoptosis

BACKGROUNDAutoimmune hepatitis is a serious autoimmune liver disease that threatens human health worldwide, which emphasizes the urgent need to identify novel treatments. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), which are easy to obtain in a non-invasive manner, show pronounced proliferative and immunomodulatory capacities.AIMTo investigate the protective effects of SHED on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced hepatitis in mice, and to elucidate the associated regulatory mechanisms.METHODSWe used a ConA-induced acute hepatitis mouse model and an in vitro co-culture system to study the protective effects of SHED on ConA-induced autoimmune hepatitis, as well as the associated underlying mechanisms.RESULTSSHED infusion could prevent aberrant histopathological liver architecture caused by ConA-induced infiltration of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, tumor necrosis-alpha⁺, and interferon-gamma⁺ inflammatory cells. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly elevated in hepatitis mice. SHED infusion could therefore block ConA-induced alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase elevations. Mechanistically, ConA upregulated tumor necrosis-alpha and interferon-gamma expression, which was activated by the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway to induce hepatocyte apoptosis, resulting in acute liver injury. SHED administration protected hepatocytes from ConA-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONSHED alleviates ConA-induced acute liver injury via inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis mediated by the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway. Our findings could provide a potential treatment strategy for hepatitis.     

Studies on reproductive strategies of Vitex negundo L. var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehder (Lamiaceae) based on morphological characteristics and SSR markers

Vitex negundo L. var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehder (Lamiaceae) is an important tree species for soil and water conservation, yet the reproductive ecology of this species remains to be elucidated. To investigate the reproductive traits of V. negundo var. heterophylla, the phenology, morphological characteristics (a suite of characters was assessed: floral morphology, nectar production, pollen viability, and stigma receptivity) and mating system of this species were systematically revealed for the first time in this study. Phenological observations, morphological measurements, and nectar production analysis were conducted during anthesis. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity at different flowering stages were measured by biochemical methods. Finally, genetic analysis based on SSR markers was used to reveal the mating system; outcrossing index and pollen‐ovule ratio were also calculated to help analysis. V. negundo var. heterophylla showed several obvious characteristics of outcrossing, such as abundant and attractive flowers, secreting nectar, and emitting scent. In addition, mechanisms such as homogamy and a short anther‐stigma distance that can promote self‐fertilization were also identified in this species. The coexistence of selfing and outcrossing characteristics demonstrates a predominantly outcrossed mixed mating system (outcrossing rate, t = 95%). The scientific information provided by this study may contribute to conservation of V. negundo var. heterophylla from a reproductive perspective.