Novel RasGRF1-derived Tat-fused peptides inhibiting Ras-dependent proliferation and migration in mouse and human cancer cells

Mutations of RAS genes are critical events in the pathogenesis of different human tumors and Ras proteins represent a major clinical target for the development of specific inhibitors to use as anticancer agents. Here we present RasGRF1-derived peptides displaying both in vitro and in vivo Ras inhibitory properties. These peptides were designed on the basis of the down-sizing of dominant negative full-length RasGRF1 mutants. The over-expression of these peptides can revert the phenotype of K-RAS transformed mouse fibroblasts to wild type, as monitored by several independent biological readouts, including Ras-GTP intracellular levels, ERK activity, morphology, proliferative potential and anchorage independent growth. Fusion of the RasGRF1-derived peptides with the Tat protein transduction domain allows their uptake into mammalian cells. Chemically synthesized Tat-fused peptides, reduced to as small as 30 residues on the basis of structural constraints, retain Ras inhibitory activity. These small peptides interfere in vitro with the GEF catalyzed nucleotide dissociation and exchange on Ras, reduce cell proliferation of K-RAS transformed mouse fibroblasts, and strongly reduce Ras-dependent IGF-I-induced migration and invasion of human bladder cancer cells. These results support the use of RasGRF1-derived peptides as model compounds for the development of Ras inhibitory anticancer agents.     

Entomophagous insects – an introduction

This special issue contains papers presented at the 6th International Entomophagous Insects Conference. Entomophagous insects consume other insects. They are a fundamental component of ecosystems and are extensively used as biocontrol agents. The first article reviews the role of ladybirds in biological control and the second reviews the biological control of stink bugs. The following nine research articles cover the rearing, behavior, life history, and ecology of parasitoid and predator species.     

γ-Lactam-Based Antifungal Compounds against the Wheat Pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici

As new environmentally friendly and effective antifungal agents are deeply needed, efficient ecofriendly strategies were designed to access two series of compounds inspired from natural γ-lactams. Designed compounds were fully characterized and evaluated as antifungal candidates against Zymoseptoria tritici, the main pathogen on wheat crops. The targeted derivatives were prepared from natural resources using green solvents, simple procedures, and limited purification steps. These bio-inspired compounds revealed as good candidates for further development of efficient crop protection products. Indeed, the HIT compounds exhibited IC₅₀ around 1 μg/mL and were more active than the references tebuconazole and bixafen towards some multidrug-resistant strains. Two dozen of derivatives have been obtained for each series and allowed to establish early structure-activity relationships useful for the development of next generation of γ-lactam derivatives with improved efficacy.     

芽孢杆菌SC27胞外代谢产物的活性与成分分析

以从红树林土壤分离并经紫外线和亚硝基胍复合诱变获得的SC27突变菌株作为目标菌,对其胞外代谢产物的活性与成分进行分析。结果表明:芽孢杆菌SC27产生乳酸,产量为5.04 g/L;发酵液蛋白酶、淀粉酶和纤维素酶活力分别为1 316.6、513.3和176.2 U/mL,未检测出脂肪酶;胞外代谢产物对革兰氏阳性菌的抑菌活性强,且抑菌活性物质可耐受高温及木瓜蛋白酶、蛋白酶K和胰蛋白酶处理;发酵液二氯甲烷萃取物的主要化学成分及相对含量为二丁基羟基甲苯(10.28%)、二甲基二氧基硅烷(7.87%)、2,4-二叔丁基苯酚(2.92%)和2个未确定化合物(4.47%、2.36%)。     

Antimicrobial peptides and plant disease control

Several diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi affect plant crops, resulting in losses and decreasing the quality and safety of agricultural products. Plant disease control relies mainly on chemical pesticides that are currently subject to strong restrictions and regulatory requirements. Antimicrobial peptides are interesting compounds in plant health because there is a need for new products in plant protection that fit into the new regulations. Living organisms secrete a wide range of antimicrobial peptides produced through ribosomal (defensins and small bacteriocins) or non-ribosomal synthesis (peptaibols, cyclopeptides and pseudopeptides). Several antimicrobial peptides are the basis for the design of new synthetic analogues, have been expressed in transgenic plants to confer disease protection or are secreted by microorganisms that are active ingredients of commercial biopesticides.     

Production of Trichoderma strains with pesticide-polyresistance by mutagenesis and protoplast fusion

The sensitivity of two cold-tolerant Trichoderma strains belonging to the species T. harzianum and T.␣atroviride was determined to a series of pesticides widely used in agriculture. From the 16 pesticides tested, seven fungicides: copper sulfate, carbendazim, mancozeb, tebuconazole, imazalil, captan and thiram inhibited colony growth of the test strains significantly with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 300, 0.4, 50, 100, 100, 100 and 50 g/ml, respectively. Mutants resistant to carbendazim and tebuconazole were produced from both wild type strains by means of UV-mutagenesis. The cross-resistance capabilities and in␣vitro antagonistic properties of the mutants were determined. Carbendazim-resistant mutants showed total cross-resistance to benomyl and thiabendazole at a concentration of 20 g/ml. Intraspecific protoplast fusion was carried out between carbendazim- and tebuconazole-resistant mutants of both parental strains, and putative haploid recombinants with stable resistance to both pesticides were produced in the case of T.␣atroviride. These pesticide-polyresistant progenies are potential candidates for application in an integrated pest management system.This work was presented as an oral lecture in section ‘Agriculture, Soil, Forest Microbiology’ at the BioMicroWorld2005 conference.     

磁性纳米材料的生物医学应用进展

以四氧化三铁为代表的医用磁性纳米材料具有独特的磁学性能、表面易功能化、良好的生物学相容性等特点,在纳米医学相关领域展现出巨大的应用前景,特别是近年来它作为可介导外场的智能材料,在材料设计和生物医学应用方面均取得了突破性的进展.鉴于此,本文围绕磁性氧化铁纳米材料的生物医学应用,着重介绍近年来其在磁共振影像探针、磁热和磁力效应的生物医学应用、诊疗一体化以及纳米酶催化等领域的研究进展,并对磁性纳米材料在生物医学领域未来的发展方向进行了展望.     

Antiviral effects of two Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids against enterovirus 71 infection

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a major causative agent for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), and fatal neurological and systemic complications in children. However, there is currently no clinical approved antiviral drug available for the prevention and treatment of the viral infection. Here, we evaluated the antiviral activities of two Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids (GLTs), Lanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-3-one,15;26-dihydroxy (GLTA) and Ganoderic acid Y (GLTB), against EV71 infection. The results showed that the two natural compounds display significant anti-EV71 activities without cytotoxicity in human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells as evaluated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell proliferation assay. The mechanisms by which the two compounds affect EV71 infection were further elucidated by three action modes using Ribavirin, a common antiviral drug, as a positive control. The results suggested that GLTA and GLTB prevent EV71 infection through interacting with the viral particle to block the adsorption of virus to the cells. In addition, the interactions between EV71 virion and the compounds were predicated by computer molecular docking, which illustrated that GLTA and GLTB may bind to the viral capsid protein at a hydrophobic pocket (F site), and thus may block uncoating of EV71. Moreover, we demonstrated that GLTA and GLTB significantly inhibit the replication of the viral RNA (vRNA) of EV71 replication through blocking EV71 uncoating. Thus, GLTA and GLTB may represent two potential therapeutic agents to control and treat EV71 infection.     

260例浅部真菌病及致病菌种分析

目的了解新疆乌鲁木齐市浅部真菌病发病情况及其病原菌的菌种分布。方法对2004年2月至2010年08月在新疆医科大学第一附属医院皮肤科门诊就诊,临床拟诊为头癣、甲癣、体股癣、手足癣的1 308例患者取病发、皮屑、甲屑行真菌镜检、培养。培养阳性标本在形态学鉴定的基础上行核糖体DNA(rDNA)ITS区序列测定确切鉴定菌种。使用SPSS 17.0统计软件对于结果进行统计分析。结果真菌镜检培养均为阳性患者260例,头癣培养阳性率最高,占33.1%,其次为体股癣占28.8%、甲癣占21.5%、手足癣占16.5%;菌种鉴定:红色毛癣菌为最常见的致病菌(28.5%),其次为须癣毛癣菌(22.3%)、犬小孢子菌(18.8%)、断发毛癣菌(10.0%)。犬小孢子菌为头癣最主要致病菌(16.2%)。统计学分析显示:不同性别、族别间体股癣、手足癣发病率有统计学意义(P<0.05),均好发于男性,汉族发病率高于维吾尔族。不同年龄头癣、甲癣、体股癣、手足癣发病率差异也均有统计学意义(P<0.05),甲癣、体股癣、手足癣好发于中青年,头癣好发于儿童。结论乌鲁木齐市浅部真菌病主要致病真菌是红色毛癣菌。头癣是本地区最主要的儿童浅部真菌病,主要病原菌为犬小孢子菌。