The ultrastructural architecture of the adult Schistosoma japonicum tegument

The tegument of the adult blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum is in direct contact with the host blood and immune systems. A comprehensive understanding of the ultrastructure of the tegument is crucial to the understanding of how the parasite maintains itself within the mammalian host. Important functions such as nutritional uptake and immune evasion are suspected functions of the tegument and this review discusses these aspects and presents some insights into some of these crucial functions. Transmission electron microscopy has allowed the identification of ultrastructural features of the adult S. japonicum, some of which differ from the reported features of other schistosome species. Morphological differences within the tegument of the adult S. japonicum are noted between sexes, among different regions of the worms and between aspects along the length of the parasite. Differences included variations in the ultrastructure, size and number of tegumental bodies and mitochondria within the matrix, and differences in the relative area of the apical surface of the tegument. Functions of the various components of the tegument matrix and specialised functions of different regions of the male and female parasites are discussed based on ultrastructural findings and previously reported biochemical and molecular data.     

Role of mutation Y6F on the binding properties of Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase

The role of the hydroxyl group of tyrosine 6 in the binding of Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase has been investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). A site-specific replacement of this residue with phenylalanine produces the Y6F mutant, which shows negative cooperativity for the binding of reduced glutathione (GSH). Calorimetric measurements indicated that the binding of GSH to Y6F dimer is enthalpically driven over the temperature range investigated. A concomitant net uptake of protons upon binding of GSH to Y6F mutant was detected carrying out calorimetric experiments in various buffer systems with different heats of ionization. The entropy change is favorable at temperatures below 26 °C for the first site, being entropically favorable at all temperatures studied for the second site. The enthalpy change of binding is strongly temperature-dependent, arising from a large negative ΔC°_p1=−3.45±0.62 kJ K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for the first site, whereas a small ΔC°_p2=−0.33±0.05 kJ K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for the second site was obtained. This large heat capacity change is indicative of conformational changes during the binding of substrate.     

海金沙配子体形态学特征的新观察

海金沙[Lygodium japonicum(Thunb)Sw.]是常见的药用蕨类之一。在人工培养条件下,利用光学显微镜详细观察其配子体发育的过程。在前人工作的基础上,补充了丝状体较短,2~3细胞长,片状体和幼原叶体发育多样,成熟原叶体心形,具单细胞或两细胞的毛状体,单细胞的假根,内含叶绿体或根尖膨大等,从海金沙配子体特征看说明其为系统进化的中间类群。孢子人工培养得到大量的海金沙幼孢子体,为保护性开发利用该资源奠定基础。     

Morphogenesis of Pistillate Flowers of Cercidiphyllum japonicum(Cercidiphyllaceae)

Floral morphogenesis and the development of Cercidiphyllum japonicum Sieb.et Zucc.were observed by scanning electronmicroscopy(SEM).The results showed that the pistillate inflorescences were congested spikes with the flowers arrangedopposite.Great differences between the so-called"bract"and the vegetative leaf were observed both in morphogenesis andmorphology.In morphogenesis,the"bract"primordium is crescent-shaped,truncated at the apex and not conduplicate,has no stipule primordium at the base but does have some inconspicuous teeth in the margin that are not glandular.Theleaf primordium is triangular,cycloidal at the apex,conduplicate,has two stipule primordia at the base,has one gland-toothat the apex occurring at first and some gland-teeth in the margin that occur later.In morphology,the"bract"is also differentto the vegetative leaf in some characteristics that were also illustrated in the present paper.Based on the hypothesis thatthe bract is more similar to the vegetative leaf than the tepal,we considered that the so-called"bract"of C.japonicum mightbe the tepal of the pistillate flower in morphological nature.Therefore,each pistillate flower contains a tepal and a carpel.We did not find any trace of other floral organs in the morphogenesis of the pistillate flower.Therefore we consideredthat the unicarpellate status of extant Cercidiphyllum might be to highly reduce and advance characteristics that make theextant Cercidiphyllum isolated from both fossil Cercidiphyllum-like plants and its extant affinities.     

连香树生理生化物质随海拔的变化及其适应性研究

通过分析四川甘洛马鞍山自然保护区内不同海拔(A1:1874m,A2:1996m,A3:2160m,A4:2290m)梯度连香树的分布状况以及生理指标含量的变化,探讨了连香树对不同环境的适应能力。结果表明:随着海拔的升高,样方内连香树的总数、株高、幼树数量及树冠投影面积值均呈降低趋势,且海拔越高,其它物种抢占的空间资源越多以及环境变恶劣,连香树的适应能力下降;各种生理指标的变化为:叶绿素a、叶绿素b、叶绿素(a+b)和类胡萝卜素含量在A1处均高于A2、A3、A4处。A4与A1相比,叶绿素b、叶绿素(a+b)分别下降了42.42%和33.96%,差异显著。超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、可溶性糖含量均随着海拔升高呈下降趋势,A4与A1相比,分别下降了52.74%、66.17%,差异显著;丙二醛(MDA)和游离脯氨酸(Pro)含量均随着海拔升高呈上升趋势,A4与A1相比,分别升高了3.98倍、4.43倍,差异显著;可溶性蛋白含量呈先降后升趋势,A1、A3、A4处均高于A2处。综合本次研究表明:A1处最适合连香树的生长、A4处连香树生长最差。     

抗日本血吸虫pVAX1／SjHGPRT-SDISP多价疫苗对昆明小鼠的保护作用及其机制探讨

目的：探讨抗日本血吸虫生殖产卵编码基因多价疫苗pVAX1／sjHGPRToSDISP对昆明小鼠的保护作用及其机制。方法：选取昆明小鼠30只,分别使用pVAX1／sjHGPRToSDISP、pVAX1以及生理盐水,每只小鼠100ug或等量经左腿股四头肌注射。处理2周后,采集动物模型血样检测IgG、IL-2,IL-4,IL-10以及INF-Y表达量。处理4周后,以20±1条尾蚴贴腹感染,感染6周后检测减虫率、减卵率。结果：尾蚴攻击动物后6周,pVAX1／sjHGPRToSDISP免疫组的肝脏减虫率为42．2％,子宫与肝脏减卵率分别为68．04％以及72．96％。与对照组比较,差异有显著性。pVAX1／sjHGPRToSDISP免疫组虫体内IgG、IL-4以及INF．V表达量明显升高．与对照组比较差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论：pVAX1／sjHGPRToSDISP多价疫苗具有较好的免疫保护作用,且该类作用的机制与IgG、IL-4以及INF—v的表达升高存在关联。     

Identification of immunodominant Th1-type T cell epitopes from Schistosoma japonicum 28 kDa glutathione-S-transferase, a vaccine candidate

Th1-type cytokines produced by the stimulation of Th 1-type epitopes derived from defined schistosome-associated antigens are correlated with the development of resistance to the parasite infection. Schistosoma mansoni 28 kDa glutathione-S-transferase （Sm28GST）, a major detoxification enzyme, has been recognized as a vaccine candidate and a phase II clinical trial has been carried out. Sheep immunized with recombinant Schistosoma japonicum 28GST （Sj28GST） have shown immune protection against the parasite infection. In the present study, six candidate peptides （P1, P2, P3, P4, P7 and P8） from Sj28GST were predicted, using software, to be T cell epitopes, and peptides P5 and P6 were designed by extending five amino acids at the N-terminal and C-terminal of P1, respectively. The peptide 190-211 aa in Sj28GST corresponding to the Th1-type epitope （190-211 aa） identified from Sm28GST was selected and named P9. The nine candidate peptides were synthesized or produced as the fusion protein with thioredoxin in the pET32c（＋）/BL21（DE3） system. Their capacity to induce a Th1-type response in vitro was measured using lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine detection experiments and flow cytometry. The results showed that P6 （73-86 aa） generated the strongest stimulation effect on T cells among the nine candidate peptides, and drove the highest level of IFN-γ, and IL-2. Therefore, P6 is a functional Thl-type T cell epitope that is different from that in Sm28GST, and will be useful for the development of effective vaccines which can trigger acquired immunity against S. japonicum. Moreover, our strategy of identifying the Thl-type epitope by a combination of software prediction and experimental confirmation provides a convenient and cost-saving alternative approach to previous methods.     

First record of Cercidiphylloxylon(Cercidiphyllaceae)from the Palaeocene of Fushun,NE China

Cercidiphylloxylon spenceri(Brett)Pearson is described from the Lizigou Formation,Palaeocene in China.The growth rings are distinct; pores are diffuse,solitary,with somewhat angular outlines in cross section;vessel elements long with long scalariform perforation plates; intervessel pitting is opposite to scalariform; fibertracheids are present; axial parenchyma is scarce; rays are mostly biseriate and heterogeneous.All wood characters of the fossil specimen fall into the range of those of extant Cercidiphyllum(Cercidiphyllaceae).The finding is one of the earliest fossil wood records of Cercidiphyllaceae.     

Host control over infection and proliferation of a cheater symbiont

Host control mechanisms are thought to be critical for selecting against cheater mutants in symbiont populations. Here, we provide the first experimental test of a legume host’s ability to constrain the infection and proliferation of a native‐occurring rhizobial cheater. Lotus strigosus hosts were experimentally inoculated with pairs of Bradyrhizobium strains that naturally vary in symbiotic benefit, including a cheater strain that proliferates in the roots of singly infected hosts, yet provides zero growth benefits. Within co‐infected hosts, the cheater exhibited lower infection rates than competing beneficial strains and grew to smaller population sizes within those nodules. In vitro assays revealed that infection‐rate differences among competing strains were not caused by variation in rhizobial growth rate or interstrain toxicity. These results can explain how a rapidly growing cheater symbiont – that exhibits a massive fitness advantage in single infections – can be prevented from sweeping through a beneficial population of symbionts.     

Schistosoma japonicum: Cloning, expression and characterization of a gene encoding the α5-subunit of the proteasome

The development of an effective vaccine against the schistosome is thought to be the most desirable means to control schistosomiasis, even though there is an effective means of chemotherapy with praziquantel. A full-length cDNA encoding the Schistosoma japonicum proteasome subunit alpha type 5 protein (SjPSMA5) was first isolated from 18-day-schistosomulum cDNAs. The cDNA had an open reading frame (ORF) of 747 bp and encoded 248 amino acids. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that SjPSMA5 is up-regulated in 18-day and 32-day schistosomes, and the level of expression in male is around fourfold higher than that in female worms at 42 days. The SjPSMA5 was subcloned into pET28a(+) and expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells. Western blotting showed that the recombinant SjPSMA5 (rSjPSMA5) was immunogenic. After immunization of BALB/c mice with rSjPSMA5, reductions of 23.29% and 35.24% were obtained in the numbers of worms and eggs in the liver, respectively. The levels of specific IgG antibodies and cells were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the group vaccinated with rSjPSMA5 combined with Seppic 206 adjuvant than in the other groups, as detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry. The study suggested that rSjPSMA5 induced partial immunoprotection against S. japonicum in BALB/c mice, and it could be a potential vaccine candidate against schistosomiasis.