MNN5 encodes an iron-regulated alpha-1,2-mannosyltransferase important for protein glycosylation, cell wall integrity, morphogenesis, and virulence in Candida albicans

The cell walls of microbial pathogens mediate physical interactions with host cells and hence play a key role in infection. Mannosyltransferases have been shown to determine the cell wall properties and virulence of the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. We previously identified a C. albicans alpha-1,2-mannosyltransferase, Mnn5, for its novel ability to enhance iron usage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we have studied the enzymatic properties of purified Mnn5 and characterized its function in its natural host. Mnn5 catalyzes the transfer of mannose to both alpha-1,2- and alpha-1,6-mannobiose, and this activity requires Mn2+ as a cofactor and is regulated by the Fe2+ concentration. An mnn5Delta mutant showed a lowered ability to extend O-linked, and possibly also N-linked, mannans, hypersensitivity to cell wall-damaging agents, and a reduction of cell wall mannosylphosphate content, phenotypes typical of many fungal mannosyltransferase mutants. The mnn5Delta mutant also exhibited some unique defects, such as impaired hyphal growth on solid media and attenuated virulence in mice. An unanticipated phenotype was the mnn5Delta mutant's resistance to killing by the iron-chelating protein lactoferrin, rendering it the first protein found that mediates lactoferrin killing of C. albicans. In summary, MNN5 deletion impairs a wide range of cellular events, most likely due to its broad substrate specificity. Of particular interest was the observed role of iron in regulating the enzymatic activity, suggesting an underlying relationship between Mnn5 activity and cellular iron homeostasis.     

Identification of candidate chemosensory receptors in the antennal transcriptome of Tropidothorax elegans

Molecular Biology Reports - Chemosensory receptors in the dendritic membrane of olfactory cells are critical for the molecular recognition and discrimination of odorants. Tropidothorax elegans is a...     

He—Ne激光对君子兰幼果和胡萝卜根的愈伤组织形成及生长的影响

利用6mv的He—Ne激光器,每天对君子兰幼果、胡萝卜根的外植体辐照5分钟,连续辐照20天,对愈伤组织的形成和生长有一定的促进作用。但同样条件下,辐照10分钟,对君子兰幼果,胡萝卜根的愈伤组织形成和生长都有明显的抑制作用。     

高原致适应剂新复方党参片预防急性高原反应的效果

目的:观察高原致适应剂新复方党参片对急性高原反应(AMS)的预防效果。方法:世居平原者驻守海拔1400m3个月的45名青年男性官兵,随机分为新复方党参片组(30人)和对照组(15人),采用单盲试验方法,于行军前5d开始分别口服新复方党参片和安慰剂片,乘车行军3d,于3700m习服4d,直至进驻高原(海拔5200m)第3天后停药,共服药15d。进驻高原后第1、3、5天,依国家军用标准GJB1098-91急性高原反应的诊断和处理原则,随访记录受试者的AMS症状,然后分度评分,检测受试者的心率(HR)、血氧饱和度(SaO2)。进驻高原后第6天,检测用力肺活量(FVC)、1秒用力呼气量(FEV1.0)、FEV1.0/FVC,一秒率(FEV1%)、最大呼气中期流速(FEF25%～75%)、呼气峰流速(PEF)、最大通气量(MVV)、左右手交叉敲击动作频率总次数(Ttis)、错误次数(Etis)、正确次数(Ctis)、平均时间(Atime)和数字记忆能力试验错误记忆次数总和(Sum)。结果:与对照组比较,进驻高原后第1、3、5d,新复方党参片组AMS症状显著减轻(P0.01);新复方党参片组与对照组的AMS程度分度分布不同(P0.01),新复方党参片组中症状较轻的(基本无反应、轻度反应)占比重较大,而对照组中症状较重的(中度反应、重度反应)占比重较大;新复方党参片组AMS发生率明显降低;与对照组比较,新复方党参片组的FVC、FEV1.0、FEF25%～75%、PEF、MVV升高有统计学意义(P0.05,P0.01),FEV1%差异无统计学意义;与对照组比较,新复方党参片组的Ttis、Ctis增加(P0.05,P0.01),Atime减少(P0.05),Etis和Sum差异无统计学意义。结论:新复方党参片能减轻AMS的程度,减轻AMS的症状,降低AMS发生率;并能显著改善受试者的肺通气功能和手指运动能力。     

一株撕裂蜡孔菌的分离培养及其系统发育分析

目的:分离出一株撕裂蜡孔菌(Ceriporia lacerata),通过PDAY培养基培养后,进行了培养特性及系统发育分析.方法:PDAY培养基培养菌丝体,电镜扣描获得菌丝微观形态,利用分子生物学方法对其rRNA基因内转录间区(ITS区)进行了克隆测序,与Genbank中已有的有关序列进行比较.结果:其ITS区与撕裂蜡孔菌同源率为98.8%～100%,属于一单独分支中,与白囊耙齿菌(Irpex lacteus)、射脉菌(Phlebia albida)及齿白木层孔菌(Leucophellinus irpicoides)的同源率为83.7%、81.2%及83.5%.结论:形态结果及分子鉴定表明撕裂蜡孔菌(Ceriporia lacerata)培养成功,菌丝体的获得为进一步开发利用提供了依据.     

Association between CD14 Promoter -159C/T Polymorphism and the Risk of Sepsis and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Recent studies on the association between CD14-159C/T polymorphism and sepsis showed inconclusive results. Accordingly, we conducted a comprehensive literature search and a meta-analysis to determine whether the CD14-159C/T polymorphism conferred susceptibility to sepsis or was associated with increased risk of death from sepsis.

Methodology

Data were collected from the following electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Knowledge, and HuGE Navigator, with the last report up to June 15, 2012. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the strength of association. We summarized the data on the association between CD14-159C/T polymorphism and sepsis in the overall population and subgroup by ethnicity and sepsis subtype.

Principal Findings

A total of 16 studies on sepsis morbidity (1369 cases and 2382 controls) and 4 studies on sepsis mortality (731 sepsis patients) met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Overall analysis showed no strong evidences of association with sepsis susceptibility under any genetic model. However, slight associations were found in Asian populations (dominant model: OR = 1.38, 95%CI = 0.96–1.98, P = 0.08) and septic shock patients (dominant model: OR = 1.72, 95%CI 1.05–2.83, P = 0.03; allelic model: OR = 1.52, 95%CI 1.09–2.12, P = 0.01) in the stratified analysis. Moreover, there was borderline association between CD14-159C/T and sepsis mortality under the dominant genetic model (OR = 1.44, 95%CI = 0.98–2.11, P = 0.06).

Conclusions/Significance

This meta-analysis suggests that the CD14-159C/T polymorphism may not be a significant susceptibility factor in the risk of sepsis and mortality. Only weak associations were observed in Asian populations and septic shock patients. More studies based on larger sample sizes and homogeneous sepsis patients are needed to confirm these findings.     

神农架龙门河地区基于植被的GAP分析

基于MapInfoProfessional 6 .0软件和野外调查所积累的资料 ,首先找出最佳“投资 效益比”的珍稀濒危物种密集分布区。随后 ,利用GAP分析的方法 ,对龙门河地区现状植被类型图、管理规划图、珍稀濒危物种密集分布区图进行了叠加分析 ,结果表明 :该地区规划管理的gap主要由 3部分组成 ,即原管理方法中不限制人为干扰的区域、原保护区域内没有包含的自然植被类型所属分布区、珍稀濒危物种密集分布区中没有禁止人为干扰的区域。其总面积为 1 736hm2 ,占龙门河地区总面积的 36 .81 %。综合考虑对植物多样性的保护及当地居民的生活所需 ,为该地区今后的管理重点提出了合理化建议     

No association between the vitamin D pathway gene polymorphisms and bone biomarkers response to calcium and low dose calcitriol supplementation in postmenopausal Chinese women: a one-year prospective study

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to explore the association between the vitamin D pathway gene variations and the bone biomarkers response to calcium and low dose calcitriol supplementation in postmenopausal Chinese women.

Methods: A total of 110 healthy postmenopausal Chinese women (61.51?±?6.93?years) were enrolled. The participants were supplemented with calcium (600?mg/d) and calcitriol (0.25?μg/d), for 1?year. Four biomarkers, serum levels of beta C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTX), amino-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were measured at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Multivariate regression models were established to explore the statistical association between the change rate of the four biomarkers and 15?key genes within the vitamin D metabolic pathway.

Results: This exclusion process left 98 participants for analysis. Serum levels of P1NP, β-CTX and PTH were significantly decreased at the 12-month follow-up (all p?<?0.05). Serum 25(OH)D level had no significant change (p?>?0.05). No association was found between the vitamin D pathway gene polymorphisms and bone biomarkers response to calcium and low dose calcitriol supplementation.

Conclusions: Genetic background of postmenopausal Chinese women might not influence supplemental response of the biomarkers to calcium and low dose calcitriol.