Biotechnological challenges of bioartificial kidney engineering

With the world-wide increase of patients with renal failure, the development of functional renal replacement therapies have gained significant interest and novel technologies are rapidly evolving. Currently used renal replacement therapies insufficiently remove accumulating waste products, resulting in the uremic syndrome. A more preferred treatment option is kidney transplantation, but the shortage of donor organs and the increasing number of patients waiting for a transplant warrant the development of novel technologies. The bioartificial kidney (BAK) is such promising biotechnological approach to replace essential renal functions together with the active secretion of waste products. The development of the BAK requires a multidisciplinary approach and evolves at the intersection of regenerative medicine and renal replacement therapy. Here we provide a concise review embracing a compact historical overview of bioartificial kidney development and highlighting the current state-of-the-art, including implementation of living-membranes and the relevance of extracellular matrices. We focus further on the choice of relevant renal epithelial cell lines versus the use of stem cells and co-cultures that need to be implemented in a suitable device. Moreover, the future of the BAK in regenerative nephrology is discussed.     

Battling for Ribosomes: Translational Control at the Forefront of the Antiviral Response

In the early stages of infection, gaining control of the cellular protein synthesis machinery including its ribosomes is the ultimate combat objective for a virus. To successfully replicate, viruses unequivocally need to usurp and redeploy this machinery for translation of their own mRNA. In response, the host triggers global shutdown of translation while paradoxically allowing swift synthesis of antiviral proteins as a strategy to limit collateral damage. This fundamental conflict at the level of translational control defines the outcome of infection. As part of this special issue on molecular mechanisms of early virus–host cell interactions, we review the current state of knowledge regarding translational control during viral infection with specific emphasis on protein kinase RNA-activated and mammalian target of rapamycin-mediated mechanisms. We also describe recent technological advances that will allow unprecedented insight into how viruses and host cells battle for ribosomes.     

杭州石荠苧生态学特性研究

 杭州石荠苧(Mosla hangchowensis)的种子完全靠风传播,但由于种子大,传播距离不远;种子在冬季休眠,春天(2月末3月初)萌发,种子萌发率很低,尤其是水选上层种子,主要原因是质量差。杭州石荠苧的营养期从3月初到8月上旬,株高在8月中旬以前基本为匀速增加,早期生长极为缓慢。形态和生殖力的环境可塑性极强,自然生长的植株冠幅变动在4～5616cm2之间。杭州石荠苧在自然生境中有时形成单优群落,通常与其它植物伴生。由于早期生长慢,限制了其在群落中的竞争能力,在土壤条件好的地方绝大部分被排挤掉,只是由于其极强的耐旱能力才在高温、干旱、土少的生境中得以存活。 将同属不濒危的华荠苧与之比较,其种子小于杭州石荠苧,但萌发率却高于杭州石荠苧。华荠苧的植株较矮,花色不如杭州石荠苧鲜艳,同在路边生长,不像杭州石荠苧那样容易被人采摘;华荠苧的根较杭州石荠苧的根深,抗雨水冲刷能力较强。华荠苧在自然生境中植株投入生殖的比例大于杭州石荠苧。     

云南含笑花粉萌发研究

应用离体培养和人工授粉的方法对云南含笑花粉的萌发进行了研究。栽培和野生云南含笑花粉的萌发率有很大的差异,分别为20％和90％。首次报道了云南含笑的花粉粒在离体培养基上萌发2条花粉管的现象。云南含笑花粉在灰岩含笑花柱头上的萌发率和萌发时间与离体培养基上的相同,表明灰岩含笑的柱头对云南含笑的花粉没有排异现象。     

Quality,bioactivity study,and preclinical acute toxicity,safety pharmacology evaluation of PEGylated recombinant human endostatin (M2ES)

Endostar, a potent endogenous antiangiogenic factor, is wildly used in clinics. However, it was easily degraded by enzymes and rapidly cleared by the kidneys. To overcome these shortcomings, PEGylated recombinant human endostatin was developed. In this study, the purity of M₂ES was evaluated by silver stain and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. Ultraviolet spectrum was used to examine the structural of M₂ES and endostar. The bioactivity and antitumor efficacy of M₂ES were evaluated using an in vitro endothelial cell migration model and athymic nude mouse xenograft model of a heterogeneous lung adenocarcinoma, respectively. A preclinical study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety pharmacology in rhesus monkeys. The purity of M₂ES was more than 98%; PEG modification has no effect on endostatin structure. Compared with the control group, M₂ES dramatically retards endothelial cell migration and tumor growth. After intravenous (IV) infusions of M₂ES at a dose level of three and 75 mg/kg in rhesus monkeys, there was no observable serious adverse event in both acute toxicity and safety pharmacology study. On the basis of the quality and bioactivity study data of M₂ES and the absence of serious side effect in rhesus monkeys, M₂ES was authorized to initiate a phase I clinical trial.     

Genetic analysis of the structure and function of RNase P fromE. coli

A brief review of the genetic studies on ribonuclease P (RNase P) fromEscherichia coli is presented. Temperature-sensitive mutants ofE. coli defective in tRNA processing were isolated by screening cells which were unable to synthesize a suppressor tRNA at restrictive temperature. Structural analysis of accumulated tRNA precursors showed that the isolated mutants were defective in RNase P activity. Analyses of the mutants revealed that the enzyme is essential for the synthesis of all tRNA molecules in cells and that the enzymes consists of two subunits. Analyses of the isolated mutants revealed a possible domain structure of the RNA subunit of the enzyme.Abbreviations E. coli Escherichia coli - RNase P ribonuclease P     

SARS病毒M蛋白的二级结构和B细胞表位预测

以SARS病毒基因组序列为基础,采用GarnierRobson方法、ChouFasman方法和KarplusSchulz方法预测蛋白质的二级结构;按KyteDoolittle方案、Emini方案和JamesonWolf方案预测SARS病毒M蛋白的B细胞表位。预测结果表明,在SARS病毒M蛋白N端第11～20、27～36区段和第133～141区段可能是α螺旋中心;M蛋白分子N端第20～27、34～37,44～56,61～64,70～76,79～97,117～132,142～147,165～176区段和第216～221区段可能是β折叠中心。在M蛋白N端第5～6、40～44、105～107、112～116、189～190、202～203区段和第210～215区段具有较柔软的结构,有可能进行一定幅度的摆动或折叠而形成较复杂的三级结构。SARS病毒M蛋白N端第1～15、37～47、99～120、181～192区段和第196～215区段内或附近很可能是B细胞表位优势区域。以蛋白质的二级结构预测作为辅助手段,用抗原指数,亲水性参数和可及性参数预测SARS冠状病毒M蛋白的B细胞表位,为实验确定SARS病毒M蛋白的B细胞表位和免疫识别研究奠定了基础 。     

Ultrastructure of retrocerebral complex of the earwig, Euborellia annulipes, and rôle of aorta as a neurohaemal organ

The ultrastructure of the retrocerebral endocrine-aortal complex of the earwig, Euborellia annulipes has been studied. The space between the inner and outer stromal layers of the aorta is occupied by numerous axon terminals and pre-terminals containing large electron dense granules (NS-I) of approximately 100 to 220 nm and a few axon terminals having small granules (NS-II) of approximately 40 to 90 nm; the former appear to belong to medial neurosecretory A-cells, and the latter to the B-cells of the brain. The corpora cardiaca consist of intrinsic cells with mitochondria and multivesicular bodies. Granules of type NS-II and NS-III are observed in the axon terminals and pre-terminals in the corpora cardiaca. The NS-II are identical to those found in the aorta and are probably the secretions of the lateral B-cells. Granules of type NS-III are 40 to 120 nm and electron dense, and are intrinsic in origin. Similar granules occur in the intrinsic cells of the corpora cardiaca. E M studies have confirmed the rôle of the aorta as a neurohaemal organ for the medial neurosecretory cells, and the corpora cardiaca for the lateral neurosecretory cells of the brain. The corpora cardiaca also act as a reservoir for the intrinsic secretion. The corpus allatum is a solid body consisting of parenchymal cells with prominent nuclei, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum. In between its cells are occasional glial cells and also neurosecretory as well as non-neurosecretory axons. The gland is devoid of A-cell NSM.     

Surfactant aided biodegradation of pyrene using immobilized cells of Mycobacterium frederiksbergense

Low aqueous phase solubility is the major limiting factor in successful biodegradation of pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which can, however, be overcome by using a suitable surfactant. Biodegradation of pyrene by immobilized cells of Mycobacterium frederiksbergense in presence of non-ionic surfactant Tween 80 was evaluated. For cell immobilization, beads were prepared using calcium alginate as the immobilizing material based on immobilized cell viability and mechanical stability of the beads. Complete degradation of pyrene was achieved employing the immobilized cells in batch shake flask experiments for all four different initial concentrations of the PAH at 100 mg l⁻¹, 200 mg l⁻¹, 400 mg l⁻¹ and 1000 mg l⁻¹. The experimental results of biodegradation of pyrene at very high initial concentration of 1000 mg l⁻¹ using the cell immobilized beads was further investigated in a 3 l fermentor operated at controlled conditions of 150 rpm, 28 °C, pH 7 and 1.5 l min⁻¹ aeration. The results confirmed complete degradation of the PAH with a very higher degradation rate of 250 mg l⁻¹ d⁻¹, which is so far the highest value reported for pyrene biodegradation.     

柳属一新变种

发表了东北柳属一新变种