Impact of moisture on in vitro germination of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana and their activity on Triatoma infestans

The in vitro germination of 11 Metarhizium anisopliae and 11 Beauveria bassiana isolates originating from substrates collected in rural peridomestic areas in Central Brazil where triatomines are common was tested. Conidia completed germination up to 24 h after exposure to water activity of >0.99 a_w in all isolates tested. At lower 0.93 a_w germination was delayed but conidia of most isolates germinated at high rates (>98 %) within 216 h of incubation. Activities of 2 M. anisopliae and 2 B. bassiana isolates with different patterns of germination at 0.93 a_w were tested in Triatoma infestans third instar nymphs. There was no relationship between germination kinetics in vitro at 0.93 a_w and their activity in vivo at 98, 75 and 43 % relative humidity (rh). Isolates with accelerated germination at 0.93 a_w were not more virulent at 75 and 43 % rh compared with isolates with retarded or no germination. Highest mortalities were observed at 98 % rh, and they did not exceed 25 % after 25 d incubation at lower 75 and 43 % rh. Isolates that originated from a region with an extensive annual arid period showed no adaptation to lower humidity in their activity against T. infestans.     

Isolation, cloning and expression analysis of EcPMA1, a putative plasma membrane H-ATPase transporter gene from the biotrophic pathogenic fungus Erysiphe cichoracearum

Little is known at the molecular level about the transporters involved in nutrient transfer in the plant/powdery mildew interaction. A PCR-based approach was used to identify and isolate a partial-length cDNA coding for an isoform of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase (EcPMA1) in the biotrophic pathogenic fungus Erysiphe cichoracearum. Southern analysis suggests that EcPMA1 exists as a single-copy gene. Sequence analysis indicated a high similarity of EcPMA1 to other fungal H⁺-ATPases. Expression of EcPMA1 increases in infected Arabidopsis leaves as the disease progresses, correlating with the growth of the pathogen.     

Diffusible signal factor‐dependent quorum sensing in pathogenic bacteria and its exploitation for disease control

Cell‐to‐cell signals of the diffusible signal factor (DSF) family are cis‐2‐unsaturated fatty acids of differing chain length and branching pattern. DSF signalling has been described in diverse bacteria to include plant and human pathogens where it acts to regulate functions such as biofilm formation, antibiotic tolerance and the production of virulence factors. DSF family signals can also participate in interspecies signalling with other bacteria and interkingdom signalling such as with the yeast Candida albicans. Interference with DSF signalling may afford new opportunities for the control of bacterial disease. Such strategies will depend in part on detailed knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the processes of signal synthesis, perception and turnover. Here, I review both recent progress in understanding DSF signalling at the molecular level and prospects for translating this knowledge into approaches for disease control.     

Natural pathology of the Baboon (Papio spp.)

Background Baboons are useful animal models for biomedical research, but the natural pathology of the baboon is not as well defined as other non‐human primates. Methods A computer search for all morphologic diagnoses from baboon necropsies at the Southwest National Primate Research Center was performed and included all the natural deaths and animals euthanized for natural causes. Results A total of 10,883 macroscopic or microscopic morphologic diagnoses in 4297 baboons were documented and are presented by total incidence, relative incidence by sex and age‐group, and mean age of occurrence. The most common diagnoses in descending order of occurrence were hemorrhage, stillborn, amyloidosis, colitis, spondylosis, and pneumonia. The systems with the most diagnoses were the digestive, urogenital, musculoskeletal, and respiratory. Conclusion This extensive evaluation of the natural pathology of the baboon should be an invaluable biomedical research resource.     

Caspase-8及Caspase-9在肝细胞癌组织中的表达及意义

目的:观察凋亡相关因子半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶8(caspase-8)和半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶9(caspase-9)在肝细胞癌中的表达及临床病理意义。方法:选择我院自2012年7月~2013年4月的53例肝细胞肝癌患者作为观察组,选择同一时期在医院体检的50例正常肝组织患者作为对照组,采用原位分子杂交方法对两组患者的Caspase-8和Caspase-9mRNA进行检测。结果:观察组与对照组中caspase-8、caspase-9的阳性表达率分别为84.91%(45/53)、88.68%(47/53)和60.00%(30/50)、82.00%(41/50),观察组与对照组比较均有升高趋势,比值有显著性差异(P0.05)。结论:肝癌细胞中caspase-8、caspase-9的较高表达显示在肝癌的发生发展过程中起到重要作用,在肝癌组织细胞增殖凋亡中具有一定作用,肝癌中caspase-8和caspase-9蛋白的表达均对于判断肝癌预后具有一定的临床价值。     

Combined exposure to cigarette smoke and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae drives development of a COPD phenotype in mice

Background

Cigarette smoke (CS) is the major etiologic factor of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CS-exposed mice develop emphysema and mild pulmonary inflammation but no airway obstruction, which is also a prominent feature of COPD. Therefore, CS may interact with other factors, particularly respiratory infections, in the pathogenesis of airway remodeling in COPD.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice were exposed to CS for 2 h a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Mice were also exposed to heat-killed non-typeable H. influenzae (HK-NTHi) on days 7 and 21. One day after the last exposure to CS, mice were sacrificed and lung inflammation and mechanics, emphysematous changes, and goblet cell metaplasia were assessed. Mice exposed to CS or HK-NTHi alone or room air served as controls. To determine the susceptibility to viral infections, we also challenged these mice with rhinovirus (RV).

Results

Unlike mice exposed to CS or HK-NTHi alone, animals exposed to CS/HK-NTHi developed emphysema, lung inflammation and goblet cell metaplasia in both large and small airways. CS/HK-NTHi-exposed mice also expressed increased levels of mucin genes and cytokines compared to mice in other groups. CS/HK-NTHi-exposed mice infected with RV demonstrated increased viral persistence, sustained neutrophilia, and further increments in mucin gene and chemokine expression compared to other groups.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that in addition to CS, bacteria may also contribute to development of COPD, particularly changes in airways. Mice exposed to CS/HK-NTHi are also more susceptible to subsequent viral infection than mice exposed to either CS or HK-NTHi alone.     

脊髓分级缺血再灌注损伤模型的建立与病理学评价

目的建立兔脊髓分级缺血再灌注损伤模型和探讨受伤脊髓病理变化可能机制。方法采用肾下腹主动脉阻断法,分别阻断腹主动脉30min、45min和60min后开放,再灌注48h观察神经功能变化以及病理学评价脊髓缺血再灌注损伤程度。结果脊髓缺血时间越长,后肢运动功能损害越明显。伤后2天发现受损脊髓出血、水肿、变性坏死,明显的白细胞浸润以及I-κBα、NF-κBp65、ICAM-l表达增加,脊髓灰质的病理损害严重。再灌注脊髓病理损伤程度依次为缺血60min组>缺血45min组>缺血30min组>假手术组。结论该模型是一种较好的脊髓缺血再灌注损伤模型,阻断肾下腹主动脉血流30min、45min、60min后开放可以较好地反应轻、中、重不同程度缺血再灌注损伤脊髓的病理变化特点。