Plasmodium berghei: Osmotic fragility of malaria parasites and mouse host erythrocytes

The osmotic properties of intraerythrocytic and ultrasonically liberated malaria parasites (Plasmodium berghei) were analyzed and compared with those of mouse host erythrocytes utilizing a multiple tube fragility test. Cells were incubated in phosphate buffered saline solutions of varying osmolalities ranging from 20–4000 mOsm. Changes in cell ultrastructure and parasite infectivity were used as indicators of osmotic damage. Intraerythrocytic and host cell-free plasmodia showed similar patterns of cell alteration and changes in infectivity following osmotic stress. The various developmental forms within each of the preparations responded somewhat differently to hypo-osmotic stress, however. The majority of merozoites seemed to be more sensitive than many trophozoites, schizonts, and segmenters. Small trophozoites were, on the average, more resistant than other developmental forms. Incubation of parasite populations in hypotonic salt solutions with osmolalities slightly greater than the infectivity threshold of 100 mOsm lysed the majority of the merozoites, whereas many small trophozoites were still intact. While normal erythrocytes were more resistant to hypo-osmotic stress than were either intracellular or free parasites, the majority of parasitized erythrocytes was less resistant than normal erythrocytes. The predominant alteration induced by hyperosmotic stress appears in the parasite's nuclear region with myelination of the nuclear membranes and chromatin clumping. The infectivity threshold in the hypertonic range was found to be approximately 2500 mOsm. Results indicate that these obligate intracellular parasites have a wide range of osmotic sensitivities and that they are capable of existing for short periods in various osmotic environments ranging from 100–2500 mOsm without complete loss of infectivity. This suggests that these parasites have osmotic regulatory capabilities at least comparable to those of host cells.     

Trypanosoma brucei: A rapid “matching” method for estimating the host's parasitemia

A new technique for estimating the absolute level of parasitemias in trypanosome infections is described. At higher levels of infection this is achieved by matching microscopic fields of a wet blood film against charts and, where fewer organisms are present, by counting the number of trypanosomes in 5, 10, or 20 such microscope fields. Good estimates of the number of organisms per milliliter of blood can be made rapidly over the whole range of microscopically patent parasitemia, i.e., above antilog 5.4 (250,000) organisms/ml.     

PRD-Class Homeobox Genes in Bovine Early Embryos: Function,Evolution, and Overlapping Roles

Eutherian Totipotent Cell Homeobox (ETCHbox) genes are mammalian-specific PRD-class homeobox genes with conserved expression in the preimplantation embryo but fast-evolving and highly divergent sequences. Here, we exploit an ectopic expression approach to examine the role of bovine ETCHbox genes and show that ARGFX and LEUTX homeodomain proteins upregulate genes normally expressed in the blastocyst; the identities of the regulated genes suggest that, in vivo, the ETCHbox genes play a role in coordinating the physical formation of the blastocyst structure. Both genes also downregulate genes expressed earlier during development and genes associated with an undifferentiated cell state, possibly via the JAK/STAT pathway. We find evidence that bovine ARGFX and LEUTX have overlapping functions, in contrast to their antagonistic roles in humans. Finally, we characterize a mutant bovine ARGFX allele which eliminates the homeodomain and show that homozygous mutants are viable. These data support the hypothesis of functional overlap between ETCHbox genes within a species, roles for ETCHbox genes in blastocyst formation and the change of their functions over evolutionary time.     

Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification for identification of correctly targeted murine embryonic stem cell clones

Following locus-specific genome editing of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), the identification of correctly targeted clones remains a challenge. We applied multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to screen for homologous recombination-based genomic integration of a knockout construct in which part of a gene is deleted. All candidate ESCs thereby identified were subsequently validated by conventional methods. Thus, MLPA represents a highly reliable as well as cost- and time-efficient alternative to currently applied methods such as Southern blotting and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based approaches. It is also applicable to knockin recombination strategies and compatible with the CRISPR/Cas9 system and other genome editing strategies.     

抑制T细胞增殖的抗CD45单克隆抗体的建立

目的寻找能调节T细胞功能的相关分子,进行与T细胞介导的自身免疫性疾病相关的研究。方法从BALB/c小鼠骨髓中收集树突状细胞,免疫Wistar大鼠,进行细胞融合,建立杂交瘤细胞系。筛选得到很多株能调节T细胞功能的杂交瘤细胞系,对其中一株最能抑制T细胞增殖的杂交瘤细胞系进行了进一步的深入研究。结果显示其目标分子是CD45,同时增殖实验结果显示该抗体能显著抑制T细胞增殖反应。结论抗CD45单克隆抗体能有效抑制T细胞增殖,有望将本抗体用于T细胞介导的自身免疫性疾病的相关预防及治疗中。     

Proteomic profiling of the hypothalamus in two mouse models of narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a disabling neurological disorder of sleepiness linked to the loss of neurons producing orexin neuropeptides in the hypothalamus. Two well‐characterized phenotypic mouse models of narcolepsy, loss‐of‐function (orexin‐knockout), and progressive loss of orexin (orexin/ataxin‐3) exist. The open question is whether the proteomics signatures of the hypothalamus would be different between the two models. To address this gap, we utilized a label‐free proteomics approach and conducted a hypothalamic proteome analysis by comparing each disease model to that of wild type. Following data processing and statistical analysis, 14 484 peptides mapping to 2282 nonredundant proteins were identified, of which 39 proteins showed significant differences in protein expression across groups. Altered proteins in both models showed commonalties in pathways for mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal degeneration, as well as altered proteins related to inflammatory demyelination, insulin resistance, metabolic responses, and the dopaminergic and monoaminergic systems. Model‐specific alterations in insulin degraded enzyme (IDE) and synaptosomal‐associated protein‐25 were unique to orexin‐KO and orexin/ataxin‐3, respectively. For both models, proteomics not only identified clinically suspected consequences of orexin loss on energy homeostasis and neurotransmitter systems, but also identified commonalities in inflammation and degeneration despite the entirely different genetic basis of the two mouse models.     

A rating scale for wildness and ease of handling laboratory mice: results for 21 inbred strains tested in two laboratories

Rating scales for difficulty in capturing and holding mice were devised that proved to be easy to use and highly sensitive to differences among mouse strains on the A and B priority lists of the Mouse Phenome Project. The simplicity of the scales makes it feasible to rate wildness during behavioral test sessions without adding much to testing time or distracting the technician from the principal task at hand. Overall wildness and placidity ratings obtained by combining capture and hold ratings provide a good impression of the difficulties encountered while working with lab mice in the course of complex experiments. Ratings of 21 inbred strains during the course of 15 behavioral tests in two laboratories demonstrated that the SPRET/Ei, PERA/Ei, CAST/Ei and SWR/J strains were particularly difficult to handle. The NOD/LtJ strain posed no special challenge in the Edmonton laboratory but was very difficult to handle in the Portland lab. The rating scales should be useful for judging the difficulties in working with novel targeted or induced mutations in mice as well as effects of a variety of environmental treatments or drugs.     

小鼠呼肠孤病毒Ⅲ型标准化血清制备及ELISA检测方法的建立

目的制备标准化小鼠呼肠孤病毒III型（reovirus 3,Reo-3）免疫血清,建立小鼠Reo-3抗体ELISA检测方法。方法使用动物来源的Reo-3病毒感染BALB/c小鼠,获得高效价免疫血清;以BHK-21细胞制备Reo-3病毒抗原,同时制备做正常对照抗原。滴定抗原和标准化小鼠Reo-3血清的最佳工作浓度,进行特异性、敏感性、重复性、稳定性等实验。结果制备18 mL抗Reo-3血清,经检测,IFA效价达1∶640,IEA效价达1∶160;Reo-3抗原和标准化小鼠Reo-3免疫血清最佳工作浓度分别为5μg/mL和1∶2400;该ELISA检测体系Reo-3特异抗原批内变异系数为3.8%,批间变异系数为4.0%;检测灵敏度〉1∶4400;与仙台病毒（SV）、小鼠肝炎病毒（MHV）、小鼠腺病毒（Mad）、小鼠脑脊髓炎病毒（TMEV）、小鼠多瘤病毒（POLY）均无交叉反应。经37℃破坏性试验,2 d稳定性试验相对偏差〈27%。结论本研究制备的Reo-3抗血清达到同批次大量高滴度的水平,可作为检测实验小鼠Reo-3病原的标准化质控血清。本研究建立的ELISA方法重复性、稳定性好,特异性、敏感性强。该体系可用于大、小鼠等实验动物Reo-3抗体的检测。     

Targeted deletion of LPA5 identifies novel roles for lysophosphatidic acid signaling in development of neuropathic pain

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid that serves as an extracellular signaling molecule acting through cognate G protein-coupled receptors designated LPA(1-6) that mediate a wide range of both normal and pathological effects. Previously, LPA(1), a G(αi)-coupled receptor (which also couples to other G(α) proteins) to reduce cAMP, was shown to be essential for the initiation of neuropathic pain in the partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) mouse model. Subsequent gene expression studies identified LPA(5), a G(α12/13)- and G(q)-coupled receptor that increases cAMP, in a subset of dorsal root ganglion neurons and also within neurons of the spinal cord dorsal horn in a pattern complementing, yet distinct from LPA(1), suggesting its possible involvement in neuropathic pain. We therefore generated an Lpar5 null mutant by targeted deletion followed by PSNL challenge. Homozygous null mutants did not show obvious base-line phenotypic defects. However, following PSNL, LPA(5)-deficient mice were protected from developing neuropathic pain. They also showed reduced phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein expression within neurons of the dorsal horn despite continued up-regulation of the characteristic pain-related markers Caα(2)δ(1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein, results that were distinct from those previously observed for LPA(1) deletion. These data expand the influences of LPA signaling in neuropathic pain through a second LPA receptor subtype, LPA(5), involving a mechanistically distinct downstream signaling pathway compared with LPA(1).     

Tight junction biogenesis during early development

The tight junction (TJ) is an essential component of the differentiated epithelial cell required for polarised transport and intercellular integrity and signalling. Whilst much can be learnt about how the TJ is constructed and maintained and how it functions using a wide range of cellular systems, the mechanisms of TJ biogenesis within developmental models must be studied to gain insight into this process as an integral part of epithelial differentiation. Here, we review TJ biogenesis in the early mammalian embryo, mainly considering the mouse but also including the human and other species, and, briefly, within the amphibian embryo. We relate TJ biogenesis to inherent mechanisms of cell differentiation and biosynthesis occurring during cleavage of the egg and the formation of the first epithelium. We also evaluate a wide range of exogenous cues, including cell-cell interactions, protein kinase C signalling, gap junctional communication, Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and cellular energy status, that may contribute to TJ biogenesis in the embryo and how these may shape the pattern of early morphogenesis.