猕猴脑胱天蛋白酶-3活化及其靶蛋白的体外研究(英)

凋亡的主要生化过程包括胱天蛋白酶的活化及其对细胞内蛋白质的选择性切割.在已知的胱天蛋白酶中,可被多种凋亡刺激信号激活的胱天蛋白酶-3备受注目.为进一步揭示灵长类动物神经组织中未知的胱天蛋白酶-3靶蛋白,采用成年猕猴脑组织粗提物作为无细胞体系,通过加入granzyme B引发凋亡途径的部分反应,如胱天蛋白酶-3的活化及随后发生的蛋白质水解.经蛋白质印迹分析发现,与granzyme B共孵育后,猕猴脑胱天蛋白酶-3以两步方式从酶原转化为活性酶.对猕猴脑组织自身蛋白质的进一步分析显示,多聚ADP-核糖聚合酶（PARP）被水解为长85 ku的片段,此片段提示胱天蛋白酶-3的特异切割活性.此外,神经元凋亡抑制蛋白（NAIP）也被切割,产生长约40 ku的小片段,但是它的出现不被胱天蛋白酶-3特异性抑制剂Ac-DEVD-CHO阻断,因此可能是granzyme B直接作用于NAIP所致.以上结果提示,凋亡相关酶切反应可在成年猕猴脑组织提取物中得到重现;NAIP可能是granzyme B而非胱天蛋白酶-3的作用靶点.     

泰国红树内生真菌土曲霉xy03菌株中新杂萜类成分

采用硅胶柱层析、SephadexLH-20凝胶柱层析和高效液相色谱(HPLC)等技术,从一株红树马六甲木果楝来源的土曲霉Aspergillus terreusxy03的发酵物中分离得到了7个杂萜类化合物:asptercin A(1)、(1R,4aR,6aR,12aR,12bS)-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12,1...     

In silico epitope-based vaccine design against influenza a neuraminidase protein: Computational analysis established on B- and T-cell epitope predictions

ObjectiveInfluenza A virus belongs to the most studied virus and its mutant initiates epidemic and pandemics outbreaks. Inoculation is the significant foundation to diminish the risk of infection. To prevent an incidence of influenza from the transmission, various practical approaches require more advancement and progress. More efforts and research must take in front to enhance vaccine efficacy.MethodsThe present research emphasizes the development and expansion of a universal vaccine for the influenza virus. Research focuses on vaccine design with high efficacy. In this study, numerous computational approaches were used, covering a wide range of elements and ideas in bioinformatics methodology. Various B and T-cell epitopic peptides derived from the Neuraminidase protein N1 are recognized by these approaches. With the implementation of numerous obtained databases and bioinformatics tools, the different immune framework methods of the conserved sequences of N1 neuraminidase were analyzed. NCBI databases were employed to retrieve amino acid sequences. The antigenic nature of the neuraminidase sequence was achieved by the VaxiJen server and Kolaskar and Tongaonkar method. After screening of various B and T cell epitopes, one efficient peptide each from B cell epitope and T cell epitopes was assessed for their antigenic determinant vaccine efficacy. Identical two B cell epitopes were recognized from the N1 protein when analyzed using B-cell epitope prediction servers. The detailed examination of amino acid sequences for interpretation of B and T cell epitopes was achieved with the help of the ABCPred and Immune Epitope Database.ResultsComputational immunology via immunoinformatic study exhibited RPNDKTG as having its high conservancy efficiency and demonstrated as a good antigenic, accessible surface hydrophilic B-cell epitope. Among T cell epitope analysis, YVNISNTNF was selected for being a conserved epitope. T cell epitope was also analyzed for its allergenicity and cytotoxicity evaluation. YVNISNTNF epitope was found to be a non-allergen and not toxic for cells as well. This T-cell epitope with maximum world populace coverages was scrutinized for its association with the HLA-DRB1*0401 molecule. Results from docking simulation analyses showed YVNISNTNF having lower binding energy, the radius of gyration (Rg), RMSD values, and RMSE values which make the protein structure more stable and increase its ability to become an epitopic peptide for influenza virus vaccination.ConclusionsWe propose that this epitope analysis may be successfully used as a measurement tool for the robustness of an antigen–antibody reaction between mutant strains in the annual design of the influenza vaccine.     

鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林某些沉积元素转移过程中的浓度分析

对鼎湖山大气降水、季风常绿阔叶林林冠穿透水、土壤水(30cm和80cm深)以及溪水中某些沉积元素进行了系统连续的观测研究,从沉积元素的转移过程阐明了鼎湖山自然保护区和季风常绿阔叶林所承受的环境压力,通过分析沉积元素在这些水文学过程中的浓度变化和相互联系,试图揭示该生态系统相应功能过程变化的规律。得到如下结果：(1)大气降水中的Pb含量远远高于穿透水、土壤水(30cm和80cm深)以及溪水中的含量,随着水分由输入向输出流动,Pb的浓度逐渐降低;(2)在大气降水、林冠穿透水、土壤水(30cm和80cm深)以及溪水中,Al离子的浓度逐步增加;(3)除Pb外,所有其他元素(Al、Mn、sr、Mg、Na、K和Ca)在土壤溶液中的浓度都高于5个水文过程的平均值;(4)Mn、K、Ca的输入和输出的浓度都不高;(5)Na和Mg在土壤水和溪水中的浓度超过5个水文过程的平均值。这表明：(1)鼎湖山的大气具有高浓度的Pb含量,而且Pb在季风常绿阔叶林系统中处于一个持续的积累过程;(2)酸性降水不仅活化了土壤中的Al元素,对各个水文学过程中的离子浓度也有增大的作用;(3)Na和Mg在当前的大气环境下有可能加速地从季风常绿阔叶林生态系统中淋洗出来。总之,由于酸雨和大气污染的影响,鼎湖山森林生态系统将处于不稳定状态。     

不同生活型被子植物功能性状与基因组大小的关系

基因组大小在被子植物物种之间存在着巨大的变异, 但目前对不同生活型被子植物功能性状与基因组大小的关系缺乏统一的认识。本研究基于被子植物245科2,226属11,215个物种的基因组大小数据, 探讨了不同生活型物种种子重量、最大植株高度和叶片氮、磷含量4个功能性状与基因组大小之间的关系。结果表明, 被子植物最大植株高度和种子重量与基因组大小间的关系在草本和木本植物中存在显著差异。草本植物最大植株高度与基因组大小的关系不显著, 但种子重量与其呈极显著的正相关关系。木本植物最大植株高度与基因组大小显著负相关, 但种子重量与其关系不显著。木本植物叶片氮含量与基因组大小呈显著正相关, 但其他生活型植物的叶片氮、磷含量与基因组大小均无显著相关性。本研究表明被子植物功能性状与基因组大小的相关性在不同生活型间存在差异, 这为深入研究植物多种功能性状和植物生活型与基因组大小的权衡关系在植物演化和生态适应中的作用提供了重要依据。     

亚抑菌浓度的穿心莲内酯及与红霉素联用影响表皮葡萄球菌生物膜形成的初步研究

目的 观察亚抑菌浓度(亚-MIC)穿心莲内酯及其与红霉素联用对表皮葡萄球菌生物膜形成的影响.方法 连续稀释法测定穿心莲内酯和红霉素对表皮葡萄球菌的MIC;棋盘格法测定穿心莲内酯和红霉素联用对表皮葡萄球菌悬浮菌的作用;体外构建表皮葡萄球菌生物膜,XTT减低法评价亚-MIC穿心莲内酯及与红霉素联用对表皮葡萄球菌生物膜内细菌代谢及初始黏附能力的影响,扫描电镜观察用药后表皮葡萄球菌形态和生物膜结构改变.结果 穿心莲内酯对表皮葡萄球菌悬浮菌的MIC大于1000 mg/L,穿心莲内酯和红霉素联用对表皮葡萄球菌悬浮菌的FIC指数(联合抑菌分数)＞2;亚抑菌浓度穿心莲内酯对表皮葡萄球菌生物膜黏附及膜内菌代谢均有抑制作用;穿心莲内酯和红霉素联用对表皮葡萄球菌的黏附能力的影响表现为协同作用,对悬浮菌和膜内菌代谢作用表现为拮抗.结论 亚抑菌浓度穿心莲内酯对表皮葡萄球菌生物膜黏附及膜内菌代谢均有抑制作用;穿心莲内酯和红霉素联用对表皮葡萄球菌悬浮菌及膜内菌代谢存在拮抗,提示临床治疗表皮葡萄球菌感染时应避免同时使用这两种药物.     

Synapse maturation and structural plasticity at Drosophila neuromuscular junctions

The Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction has recently emerged as a powerful model system to characterize the cellular and molecular events involved in the formation and flexibility of synapses. The combination of molecular, genetic, electrophysiological and anatomical approaches has revealed, for example, the functional significance of the discs-large gene product (a novel synapse-organizing protein) in the nervous system. This protein is involved in the clustering of at least one ion channel and in the structural modification of glutamatergic synapses during target muscle growth. The manipulation of the genes encoding ion channels, components of second-messenger cascades, and cell adhesion molecules is beginning to tease apart the mechanisms underlying structural synaptic plasticity.     

柠条锦鸡儿籽油体外抗真菌作用及其机制研究(英文)

参照美国临床实验室标准化委员会(NCCLS)推荐的《产孢丝状真菌的液基稀释法抗真菌药物敏感性试验方案》(M38-A),测定超临界CO2萃取的柠条锦鸡儿籽油对3种(每种15株)临床常见的皮肤癣菌的最低抑菌浓度(MIC);高效液相色谱法研究柠条锦鸡儿籽油对真菌细胞膜麦角甾醇生物合成的影响以探讨其作用机制。结果表明柠条锦鸡儿籽油对犬小孢子菌、须癣毛癣菌、红色毛癣菌的MIC范围分别为64～512μg/mL、32～512μg/mL、64～1024μg/mL;高效液相色谱法检测显示,与其生长对照菌相比,籽油作用的皮肤癣菌细胞膜上麦角甾醇含量明显降低,且具有剂量依赖性。柠条锦鸡儿籽油主要是通过影响真菌细胞膜上麦角甾醇的合成而发挥抗真菌作用。     

The effect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on virulence factors expressed by Staphylococcus aureus biofilms

Aims: The effect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations (sub‐MICs) of cefalexin, ciprofloxacin and roxithromycin was investigated on some virulence factors [e.g. coagulase, Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin 1 (TSST‐1) and biofilm formation] expressed by Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Methods and Results: Biofilms were grown with and without the presence of 1/16 MIC of antibiotics on Sorbarod filters. Eluate supernatants were collected, and coagulase and TSST‐1 production were evaluated. Coagulase production was reduced in eluates exposed to roxithromycin when compared to control, while TSST‐1 production was reduced in biofilms exposed to cefalexin and to a lesser extent, ciprofloxacin. In addition, the ability of Staph. aureus to produce biofilm in microtitre plates in the presence of sub‐MIC antibiotics indicated that cefalexin induced biofilm formation at a wide range of sub‐MICs. TSST‐1 produced from the challenged and control biofilms was purified, and its proliferative activity was studied on single cell suspension of mouse splenocytes using MTS/PMS assay. No significant difference in the activity between the treated toxin and the control has been observed. Conclusions: Antibiotics at sub‐MIC levels interfere with bacterial biofilm virulence expression depending on the type and concentration of antibiotic used. Significance and Impact of the Study: The establishment of sub‐MICs of antibiotics in clinical situations may result in altered virulence states in pathogenic bacteria.     

Horizontal and vertical gradients in sediment nutrients on mudflats in the Shannon estuary,Ireland

Spatial variability in nutrient concentrations in the intertidal sediments and pore waters has been studied along downshore transects and in core profiles at three locations in the Shannon estuary on the west coast of Ireland. The parameters measured were N, as Kjeldahl N, NO₃, NO₂, and NH₃, and P as total P and PO₄ along with a range of other environmental variables such as salinity and sediment organic content. The concentrations of all nutrients varied with season, but winter values were generally low in comparison with polluted mainland european estuaries. There was a great deal of variation in nutrient concentrations along the transects, and coefficients of variability of up to 153% (NH₃), 173% (NO₃), 129% (NO₂) and 117% (PO₄) were found. Overall, there was little evidence of any trends in concentration in any of the nutrients from the top to the bottom of the transects, although it was occasionally possible to link particular instances to local conditions such as the presence of the channel or a stream. Sediment core profiles showed typical patterns, with NO₃ concentrations for example being highest in surface sediments, while NH₃ and PO₄ concentrations increased with depth. Rather surprisingly perhaps, NO₃ could still be detected on occasion at depths of up to 20 cm, well below the Redox Potential Discontinuity (RPD) and the limit of oxygen penetration which oxygen microelectrodes had measured as being within a few mm of the surface. This was ascribed to the activities of the macrofauna, in that the oxidised sediment which lined the burrows could clearly be seen in some cores. This study not only shows that nutrient distributions along estuarine gradients are linked to physicochemical factors such as oxygenation and freshwater/marine influence, but also that sediment instability, through random physical events such as storms, and macrofaunal activity play an important role and that these latter factors deserve closer attention.