Adaptation to Host-Specific Bacterial Pathogens Drives Rapid Evolution of a Human Innate Immune Receptor

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Model studies for isolation of G-quadruplex-forming DNA sequences through a pull-down strategy with macrocyclic polyoxazole

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-B DNA structures present in guanine-rich regions of gene regulatory areas, promoters and CpG islands, but their occurrence and functions remain incompletely understood. Thus, methodology to identify G4 sequences is needed. Here, we describe the synthesis of a novel cyclic hepta-oxazole compound, L1Bio-7OTD (1), bearing a biotin affinity-tag as a tool to pull down G4 structures from mixtures of G4-forming and non G4-forming DNA sequences. We confirmed that it could pull down G4s associated with telomeres, bcl-2 gene, and c-kit gene.     

Structural Basis for CD96 Immune Receptor Recognition of Nectin-like Protein-5, CD155

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Demography of an endangered,long-lived fish: Informing management options in the face of cyclic and stochastic climate variation

June sucker (Chasmistes liorus) is a long-lived, endangered fish endemic to Utah Lake, Utah. For several decades June sucker have failed to recruit sufficient numbers to the adult size classes such that the current wild population consists of a small number of old adults and it continues to decline. Vital rates of June sucker are influenced by climate-driven variation in lake level and inflow from the Provo River. We used population projection matrix modeling to assess effects of cyclic and stochastic environmental variation on population growth trajectories of June sucker in Utah Lake. The stable stage distribution is dominated by stage 1 individuals (93% of the total population) in contrast to the current situation where old age classes are the most abundant. Total population size is highly influenced by the stochastic component of climate variation; whereas, the adult population of June sucker closely tracks the systematic drought cycle. If changes in survival of larvae and juveniles can be coordinated such that positive changes in both parameters can occur somewhat simultaneously, then each parameter would only have to be increased by a factor of about 8.8 to achieve sustainable population growth (compared to a 77-fold increase for each parameter separately). Stochastic climatic variation has relatively little long-term effect on population growth. However, the multidecadal cyclic pattern of lake level and river discharge imposes a similar pattern on population growth rates of the June sucker, such that during some periods, populations decline even when the long-term trend is positive.     

肿瘤治疗中细胞因子递送策略的研究进展

细胞因子多数是由机体免疫细胞和某些非免疫细胞产生的,对细胞的生长、增殖、分化均有调节作用的一类具有生物活性的蛋白质。在肿瘤治疗中,细胞因子作为一种蛋白质药物,具有体内半衰期短、全身毒副作用大等特点,因而选择细胞因子递送策略时需考虑以上因素。文章简要介绍了几种常见的细胞因子,并综述了近年来在肿瘤治疗中细胞因子递送策略的研究进展。     

药用白及资源再生策略初探

白及为兰科白及属植物。作为著名中药,白及功效多样、用途广泛,具有较高的药用价值和经济价值。随资源利用强度的增加,野生白及资源日渐萎缩,人工规模化种植是实现白及药用资源可持续利用的必由之路。优良种质及繁育技术是种植业的关键问题。为了更好地推动白及资源研究和可持续利用,本文就白及种质及快繁技术研究进展作一综述,并就白及资源再生策略进行初步探讨,为相关研究和生产提供参考。