Design, expression, and characterization of a novel targeted plectasin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

A novel specifically targeted antimicrobial peptide (STAMP) that was especially effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was designed by fusing the AgrD1 pheromone to the N-terminal end of plectasin. This STAMP was named Agplectasin, and its gene was synthesized and expressed in Pichia pastoris X-33 via pPICZαA. The highest amount of total secreted protein reached 1,285.5 mg/l at 108 h during the 120-h induction. The recombinant Agplectasin (rAgP) was purified by cation exchange chromatography and hydrophobic exchange chromatography; its yield reached 150 mg/l with 94 % purity. The rAgP exhibited strong bactericidal activity against S. aureus but not Staphylococcus epidermidis or other types of tested bacteria. A bactericidal kinetics assay showed that the rAgP killed over 99.9 % of tested S. aureus (ATCC 25923 and ATCC 43300) in both Mueller–Hinton medium and human blood within 10 h when treated with 4× minimal inhibitory concentration. The rAgP caused only approximately 1 % hemolysis of human blood cells, even when the concentration reached 512 μg/ml, making it potentially feasible as a clinical injection agent. In addition, it maintained a high activity over a wide range of pH values (2.0–10.0) and demonstrated a high thermal stability at 100 °C for 1 h. These results suggested that this STAMP has the potential to eliminate MRSA strains without disrupting the normal flora.     

In vitro intragenomic rearrangement of porcine circovirus type 2

We report here for the first time the genome sequence of a rearranged porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) strain, CH-IVT1, isolated from PCV2-infected PK-15 cells. The complete circular genome of the CH-IVT1 is 605 nucleotides (nt) in length. The finding will help us to understand the molecular evolution of PCV2 and the relationship between PCV2 and PCV-associated diseases.     

九龙江河口浮游动物的群落结构和时空变动

2009年春(5月)、夏(8月)、秋(11月)在九龙江河口进行浮游动物采样调查,分析了九龙江河口浮游动物的种类组成、群落结构、丰度和生物量的时空变化。调查共发现浮游动物119种,其中,含桡足类(35种)和水母类(31种)是最主要的类群。主要优势种有火腿许水蚤(Schmackeria poplesia)、中华假磷虾(Pseudeuphausia sinica)、弗洲指突水母(Blackfordia virginica)、短尾类蚤状幼虫 (Zoea larvae)和长尾类幼虫 (Macrura larva)。其中,春季以火腿许水蚤、弗洲指突水母、中华假磷虾以主;夏季则以短尾类蚤状幼虫和长尾类幼虫为主;秋季则以火腿许水蚤和中华异水蚤(Acaritella sinensis)为主,季节变化明显。浮游动物丰度和生物量春季最高,平均值分别为3 377.8 ind/m³和3 209.4 mg/m³,秋季最低,但空间分布不均,从春季到秋季其密集中心从近海区逐渐转移到邻近河口区。与过去同期的调查资料相比,20年来九龙江河口浮游动物总丰度、优势种的组成和排序发生了显著的变化。本次浮游动物的总丰度平均值(以秋季为例)为历次调查最低,主要优势种也明显不同, 推测,浮游动物有朝着小型化发展的趋势。     

NOX4-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species Drive Apelin-13-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation via the ERK Pathway

Apelin is the endogenous ligand of the G-protein-coupled receptor, apelin–angiotensin receptor-like 1 (APJ). Vascular smooth muscle cells express both apelin and APJ, which are important regulatory factors in the cardiovascular system. Apelin-13 significantly stimulated vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. However, little is known about the precise cellular mechanisms responsible for vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by apelin-13. Here, we present novel data that indicate the key role of NADPH oxidase 4-derived reactive oxygen species in proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells treated with apelin-13. Apelin-13 stimulated reactive oxygen species production in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, DPI impaired apelin-13-induced reactive oxygen species generation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Apelin-13-treatment increased the expression of NADPH oxidase 4 in a dose-dependent manner. Down-regulation of NADPH oxidase 4 using siRNA prevented apelin-13-induced reactive oxygen species generation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. An increase in reactive molecules can trigger the activation of ERK stress-sensitive signaling pathways. Additionally, siRNA-NOX4 and DPI reversed the phosphorylation of ERK induced by apelin-13. Apelin-13 induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by NOX4-derived ROS via the ERK signaling pathway.     

杏仁核点燃模型癫痫样放电传播途径研究

目的 :探讨杏仁核点燃模型癫痫样放电的传播途径。方法 :选择健康Wistar大鼠 3 0只以电刺激杏仁核的方式制作杏仁核点燃癫痫模型 ,于右侧杏仁核、左侧海马及右侧额叶皮质埋植电极记录脑电活动 ,观察电刺激杏仁核时在杏仁核、海马及额叶皮质出现癫痫样放电的潜伏期、最低刺激强度及癫痫样放电的持续时间。结果 :杏仁核出现癫痫样放电时 ,海马及皮质均未记录到癫痫样放电。而当杏仁核、海马及皮质三处出现癫痫样放电时的最低刺激强度依次增大 ,潜伏期依次延长 ,海马处癫痫样放电的持续时间最长。结论 :杏仁核点燃模型癫痫样放电可能由杏仁核经海马传至皮层 ,海马可能为癫痫样放电传播的重要结构     

阳离子诱导大叶藻叶绿体膜中激发能在PSⅡ和PSⅠ之间分配变化的机理(英文)

用Ｃａ２＋ 和胰酶处理大叶藻（Ｚｏｓｔｅｒａ ｍ ａｒｉｎａ）叶绿体膜研究了其类囊体膜多肽成分与Ｍｇ２＋ 诱导其Ｃｈｌａ荧光和类囊体膜表面电荷变化之间的相互关系,观察到：１．在正常的叶绿体膜中,Ｍｇ２＋ 诱导ＰＳⅡ荧光强度的增高与其诱导类囊体膜表面电荷密度的降低密切相关;２．用Ｃａ２＋ 处理这种叶绿体膜,除去类囊体膜表面的３２～３４ ｋＤ多肽对Ｍｇ２＋ 诱导的上述现象无影响;３．如果用胰酶消化Ｃａ２＋ 处理过的叶绿体膜,进一步除去膜表面的２６ ｋＤ多肽,Ｍｇ２＋诱导的这些现象则全部消失。这些实验结果清楚地表明,在大叶藻的叶绿体膜中,类囊体膜表面的２６ ｋＤ 多肽是阳离子诱导这两种相关现象的特异性作用部位。对阳离子调节激发能在ＰＳⅡ和ＰＳⅠ之间分配的机理进行了讨论     

Large-scale recording of neurons by movable silicon probes in behaving rodents

A major challenge in neuroscience is linking behavior to the collective activity of neural assemblies. Understanding of input-output relationships of neurons and circuits requires methods with the spatial selectivity and temporal resolution appropriate for mechanistic analysis of neural ensembles in the behaving animal, i.e. recording of representatively large samples of isolated single neurons. Ensemble monitoring of neuronal activity has progressed remarkably in the past decade in both small and large-brained animals, including human subjects. Multiple-site recording with silicon-based devices are particularly effective because of their scalability, small volume and geometric design. Here, we describe methods for recording multiple single neurons and local field potential in behaving rodents, using commercially available micro-machined silicon probes with custom-made accessory components. There are two basic options for interfacing silicon probes to preamplifiers: printed circuit boards and flexible cables. Probe supplying companies (http://www.neuronexustech.com/; http://www.sbmicrosystems.com/; http://www.acreo.se/) usually provide the bonding service and deliver probes bonded to printed circuit boards or flexible cables. Here, we describe the implantation of a 4-shank, 32-site probe attached to flexible polyimide cable, and mounted on a movable microdrive. Each step of the probe preparation, microdrive construction and surgery is illustrated so that the end user can easily replicate the process.     

Establishing a dual knock-out cell line by lentivirus based combined CRISPR/Cas9 and Loxp/Cre system

The clustered regulatory interspersed short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) system has been widely used for gene knock-out. Lentiviral vectors have been commonly used as a delivery method for this system, however, prolonged Cas9/sgRNA expression due to lentiviral integration can lead to accumulating off-target mutations. To solve this issue in engineering a gene knock-out cell line, this study established a novel system, which was composed of two lentiviral vectors. One lentiviral vector carried simultaneously sgRNAs and CRISPR/Cas9 expression cassettes targeting single or multiple gene(s); the other lentiviral vector carried Cre that could remove excess sgRNAs and Cas9 expression cassettes in the genome after gene targeting was achieved. To prove the principle, two candidate genes, extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) and progranulin (PGRN), both highly expressed in MDA-MB-231 cells, were selected for testing the novel system. A dual knock-out of ECM1 and PGRN was successfully achieved in MDA-MB-231 cell line, with the sgRNAs and Cas9 expression cassettes being removed by Cre. This system should have great potential in applications for multiple genes knock-out in vitro.     

Variations in the C3, C3a receptor, and C5 genes affect susceptibility to bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma (BA) is a common chronic inflammatory disease characterized by hyperresponsive airways, excess mucus production, eosinophil activation, and the production of IgE. The complement system plays an immunoregulatory role at the interface of innate and acquired immunities. Recent studies have provided evidence that C3, C3a receptor, and C5 are linked to airway hyperresponsiveness. To determine whether genetic variations in the genes of the complement system affect susceptibility to BA, we screened single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in C3, C5, the C3a receptor gene (C3AR1), and the C5a receptor gene (C5R1) and performed association studies in the Japanese population. The results of this SNP case-control study suggested an association between 4896C/T in the C3 gene and atopic childhood BA (P=0.0078) as well as adult BA (P=0.010). When patient data were stratified according to elevated total IgE levels, 4896C/T was more closely associated with adult BA (P=0.0016). A patient-only association study suggested that severity of childhood BA was associated with 1526G/A of the C3AR1 gene (P=0.0057). We identified a high-risk haplotype of the C3 gene for childhood (P=0.0021) and adult BA (P=0.0058) and a low-risk haplotype for adult BA (P=0.00011). We also identified a haplotype of the C5 gene that was protective against childhood BA (P=1.4×10^–6) and adult BA (P=0.00063). These results suggest that the C3 and C5 pathways of the complement system play important roles in the pathogenesis of BA and that polymorphisms of these genes affect susceptibility to BA.     

CSN5 promotes the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer by stabilization of FOXM1

COP9 signalosome subunit 5 (CSN5) has been involved in the progression of diverse human cancers. MMP2 plays an important role in the metastasis of cancer cells. However, the roles and relationship of in pancreatic cancer (PC) is still unknown. Here, our data shown that both CSN5 and MMP2 were significantly upregulated in PC compared with the corresponding adjacent tissues, where a positive correlation in their expression and associated malignant characteristics were found. Further, silencing of CSN5 expression markedly inhibited PC invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo, accompanied by decreased MMP2 expression. Moreover, the anti-metastasis role of CSN5 silence was reversed by MMP2 overexpression, whereas knockdown of MMP2 decreased PC metastasis driven by upregulation of CSN5. Further investigation revealed that CSN5 regulated MMP2 expression via activation of FOXM1 in PC cells. Mechanistically, CSN5 directly bound FOXM1 and decreased its ubiquitination to enhance the protein stability of FOXM1. Taken together, the results indicate that CSN5 can contribute to PC invasion and metastasis through activation of FOXM1/MMP2 axis.