Rendomab B4, a monoclonal antibody that discriminates the human endothelin B receptor of melanoma cells and inhibits their migration

Metastatic melanoma is an aggressive cancer with a poor prognostic, and the design of new targeted drugs to treat melanoma is a therapeutic challenge. A promising approach is to produce monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the endothelin B receptor (ETB), which is known to be overexpressed in melanoma and to contribute to proliferation, migration and vasculogenic mimicry associated with invasiveness of this cancer.

We previously described rendomab-B1, a mAb produced by DNA immunization. It is endowed with remarkable characteristics in term of affinity, specificity and antagonist properties against human ETB expressed by the endothelial cells, but, surprisingly, had poor affinity for ETB expressed by melanoma cells. This characteristic strongly suggested the existence of a tumor-specific ETB form. In the study reported here, we identified a new mAb, rendomab-B4, which, in contrast to rendomab-B1, binds ETB expressed on UACC-257, WM-266-4 and SLM8 melanoma cells. Moreover, after binding to UACC-257 cells, rendomab-B4 is internalized and colocalizes with the endosomal protein EEA-1. Interestingly, rendomab-B4, despite its inability to compete with endothelin binding, is able to inhibit phospholipase C pathway and migration induced by endothelin. By contrast, rendomab-B4 fails to decrease ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by endothelin, suggesting a biased effect on ETB.

These particular properties make rendomab-B4 an interesting tool to analyze ETB-structure/function and a promising starting point for the development of new immunological tools in the field of melanoma therapeutics.     

Community dynamics of nematodes after Larsen ice‐shelf collapse in the eastern Antarctic Peninsula

Free‐living marine nematode communities of the Larsen B embayment at the eastern Antarctic Peninsula were investigated to provide insights on their response and colonization rate after large‐scale ice‐shelf collapse. This study compares published data on the post‐collapse situation from 2007 with new material from 2011, focusing on two locations in the embayment that showed highly divergent communities in 2007 and that are characterized by a difference in timing of ice‐shelf breakup. Data from 2007 exposed a more diverse community at outer station B.South, dominated by the genus Microlaimus. On the contrary, station B.West in the inner part of Larsen B was poor in both numbers of individuals and genera, with dominance of a single Halomonhystera species. Re‐assessment of the situation in 2011 showed that communities at both stations diverged even more, due to a drastic increase in Halomonhystera at B.West compared to relatively little change at B.South. On a broader geographical scale, it seems that B.South gradually starts resembling other Antarctic shelf communities, although the absence of the genus Sabatieria and the high abundance of Microlaimus still set it apart nine years after the main Larsen B collapse. In contrast, thriving of Halomonhystera at B.West further separates its community from other Antarctic shelf areas.     

Vegetation structure and photosynthesis respond rapidly to restoration in young coastal fens

Young coastal fens are rare ecosystems in the first stages of peatland succession. Their drainage compromises their successional development toward future carbon (C) reservoirs. We present the first study on the success of hydrological restoration of young fens. We carried out vegetation surveys at six young fens that represent undrained, drained, and restored management categories in the Finnish land uplift coast before and after restoration. We measured plant level carbon dioxide (CO₂) assimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) from 17 most common plant species present at the sites. Within 5 years of restoration, the vegetation composition of restored sites had started to move toward the undrained baseline. The cover of sedges increased the most in response to restoration, while the cover of deciduous shrubs decreased the most. The rapid response indicates high resilience and low resistance of young fen ecosystems toward changes in hydrology. Forbs had higher photosynthetic and respiration rates than sedges, deciduous shrubs, and grasses, whereas rates were lowest for evergreen shrubs and mosses. The impact of management category on CO₂ assimilation was an indirect consequence that occurred through changes in plant species composition: Increase in sedge cover following restoration also increased the potential photosynthetic capacity of the ecosystem. Synthesis and applications. Restoration of forestry drained young fens is a promising method for safeguarding them and bringing back their function as C reservoirs. However, their low resistance to water table draw down introduces a risk that regeneration may be partially hindered by the heavy drainage in the surrounding landscape. Therefore, restoration success is best safeguarded by managing the whole catchments instead of carrying out small‐scale projects.     

沙门菌致病岛2 Ⅲ型分泌系统研究进展

沙门菌(Salmonella)是革兰氏阴性的兼性胞内菌,可引起其广泛宿主的一系列疾病,严重时可导致全身性感染,威胁生命安全。沙门菌致病岛2(SPI2)是与沙门菌全身性感染密切相关的重要毒力基因簇,其编码的Ⅲ型分泌系统2(T3SS2)在沙门菌侵入宿主细胞后开始组装合成,经该装置分泌的多种效应蛋白对沙门菌在宿主细胞内的生存和增殖起着重要作用。近些年来,与沙门菌T3SS2相关的研究一直都是病原微生物领域关注的焦点之一。本文简要综述了SPI2的基因特征、SPI2基因表达的调控、T3SS2的结构和组成、T3SS2的效应蛋白及与T3SS2相关的疫苗研究等方面的主要研究进展。     

一种具有高β-葡聚糖酶活性的几丁质外切酶基因的克隆、表达和性质鉴定

【目的】表达并鉴定来源于维氏气单胞菌的几丁质酶Chi92并研究其作为水产饲用酶的有效性。【方法】自A.veronii B565中克隆chi92基因并在Pichia pastoris GS115中进行表达,对表达成功的Chi92进行分离纯化和生化鉴定。最后将Chi92添加到含有毕赤酵母粉的饲料中饲喂斑马鱼2周,研究Chi92添加对斑马鱼生长、饲料利用率、肠道微绒毛形态和抗病性能的影响。【结果】chi92基因编码具有864个氨基酸残基的多肽。Chi92在p H 6.0和40°C时表现最佳酶活。Chi92对蛋白酶有抗性,同时酶活不受金属离子显著影响。Chi92具备高几丁质酶活(69.4 U/m L)。以胶体几丁质和β-1,3-1,4-葡聚糖作为底物时,比活力分别为809.2 U/mg和235.6 U/mg。薄层层析和电喷雾电离质谱联用技术均表明N-乙酰葡糖胺二聚体是Chi92酶解胶体几丁质的主要产物。Chi92在对酵母细胞壁的降解方面比其他几丁质酶性能更加优良。经过2周饲喂,添加有Chi92的饲料显著提高了斑马鱼肠道微绒毛的高度和密度,同时斑马鱼的生长,饲料利用率,以及抗病性能均得到了一定提高。【结论】Chi92具有p H稳定性、抗逆性和高酵母细胞壁降解功能,能较好地作为饲用酶用于温水水产养殖。     

Development of a high-throughput liquid state assay for lipase activity using natural substrates and rhodamine B

A fluorescence-based assay for the determination of lipase activity using rhodamine B as an indicator, and natural substrates such as olive oil, is described. It is based on the use of a rhodamine B–natural substrate emulsion in liquid state, which is advantageous over agar plate assays. This high-throughput method is simple and rapid and can be automated, making it suitable for screening and metagenomics application. Reaction conditions such as pH and temperature can be varied and controlled. Using triolein or olive oil as a natural substrate allows monitoring of lipase activity in reaction conditions that are closer to those used in industrial settings. The described method is sensitive over a wide range of product concentrations and offers good reproducibility.