The 3MRA Risk Assessment Framework—A Flexible Approach for Performing Multimedia,Multipathway, and Multireceptor Risk Assessments Under Uncertainty

A flexible framework for conducting nationwide multimedia, multipathway and multireceptor risk assessments (3MRA) under uncertainty was developed to estimate protective chemical concentration limits in a source area. The framework consists of two components: risk assessment and uncertainty analysis. The risk component utilizes linked source, fate/transport, exposure and risk assessment models to estimate the risk exposures for the receptors of concern. Both human and ecological receptors are included in the risk assessment framework. The flexibility of the framework is based on its ability to address problems varying in spatial scales from site-specific to regional and even national levels; and its ability to accommodate varying types of source, fate/transport, exposure and risk assessment models. The uncertainty component of the 3MRA framework is based on a two-stage Monte Carlo methodology. It allows the calculation of uncertainty in risk estimates, and the incorporation of the effects of uncertainty on the determination of regulatory concentration limits as a function of variability and uncertainty in input data, as well as potential errors in fate and transport and risk and exposure models. The framework can be adapted to handle a wide range of multimedia risk assessment problems. Two examples are presented to illustrate its use, and to demonstrate how regulatory decisions can be structured to incorporate the uncertainty in risk estimates.     

A suicidal DNA vaccine co-expressing two major membrane-associated proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus antigens induce protective responses

We constructed a suicidal DNA vaccine pSFV-ORF5m/ORF6 co-expressing GP5m (a modified GP5) and M proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). In mice immunization, specific immune responses were elicited by the suicidal DNA vaccine pSFV-ORF5m/ORF6. The immunogenicity and protective efficiency was then evaluated in piglets immunized with pSFV-ORF5m/ORF6 before virus challenge: PRRSV-specific neutralizing antibodies and lymphocyte proliferative responses were developed. Post-PRRSV challenge, these immune responses were further boosted and partial protection was obtained.     

Monitoring anthrax toxin receptor dissociation from the protective antigen by NMR

The binding of the Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA) to the host cell receptor is the first step toward the formation of the anthrax toxin, a tripartite set of proteins that include the enzymatic moieties edema factor (EF), and lethal factor (LF). PA is cleaved by a furin‐like protease on the cell surface followed by the formation of a donut‐shaped heptameric prepore. The prepore undergoes a major structural transition at acidic pH that results in the formation of a membrane spanning pore, an event which is dictated by interactions with the receptor and necessary for entry of EF and LF into the cell. We provide direct evidence using 1‐dimensional ¹³C‐edited ¹H NMR that low pH induces dissociation of the Von‐Willebrand factor A domain of the receptor capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2) from the prepore, but not the monomeric full length PA. Receptor dissociation is also observed using a carbon‐13 labeled, 2‐fluorohistidine labeled CMG2, consistent with studies showing that protonation of His‐121 in CMG2 is not a mechanism for receptor release. Dissociation is likely caused by the structural transition upon formation of a pore from the prepore state rather than protonation of residues at the receptor PA or prepore interface.     

The inhibition of the interaction between the anthrax toxin and its cellular receptor by an anti-receptor monoclonal antibody

The high affinity binding of the anthrax protective antigen (PA) to one of its receptors, capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2), is essential for the intoxication process of anthrax toxin. To acquire novel research tools to study the PA-CMG2 interaction, we generated several anti-CMG2 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). We demonstrated that one of the MAbs, 4B5, could inhibit PA-CMG2 binding and could also protect the sensitive cells against an anthrax lethal toxin challenge. We identified the epitope recognized by 4B5 and confirmed that the key residues of the epitope were the residues ¹¹⁹YI-LK¹²⁵ of CMG2. Based on our results, we propose that 4B5 binds to the E122 pocket of CMG2 and interrupts the interaction between the pocket and the PA 2β3-2β4 loop. To our knowledge, this is the first report to illustrate that an anti-CMG2 antibody could inhibit the PA-CMG2 interaction and therefore interfere with the intoxication of anthrax toxin.     

Crystal Structure of the Engineered Neutralizing Antibody M18 Complexed to Domain 4 of the Anthrax Protective Antigen

The virulence of Bacillus anthracis is critically dependent on the cytotoxic components of the anthrax toxin, lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF). LF and EF gain entry into host cells through interactions with the protective antigen (PA), which binds to host cellular receptors such as CMG2. Antibodies that neutralize PA have been shown to confer protection in animal models and are undergoing intense clinical development. A murine monoclonal antibody, 14B7, has been reported to interact with domain 4 of PA (PAD4) and block its binding to CMG2. More recently, the 14B7 antibody was used as the platform for the selection of very high affinity, single-chain antibodies that have tremendous potential as a combination anthrax prophylactic and treatment. Here, we report the high-resolution X-ray structures of three high-affinity, single-chain antibodies in the 14B7 family; 14B7 and two high-affinity variants 1H and M18. In addition, we present the first neutralizing antibody-PA structure, M18 in complex with PAD4 at 3.8 Å resolution. These structures provide insights into the mechanism of neutralization, and the effect of various mutations on antibody affinity, and enable a comparison between the binding of the M18 antibody and CMG2 with PAD4.     

Fusion protein of Δ27LFn and EFn has the potential as a novel anthrax toxin inhibitor

PA-binding domain of LF (LFn) or PA-binding domain of EF (EFn) is the anthrax protective antigen (PA) binding domain of anthrax lethal factor (LF) or edema factor (EF). Here we show the development of a novel anthrax toxin inhibitor, fusion protein of N-terminal 27 amino acids deletion of LFn (Δ27LFn) and EFn. In a cell model of intoxication, fusion protein of Δ27LFn and EFn (Δ27LFn-EFn) was a 62-fold more potent toxin inhibitor than LFn or EFn, and this increased activity corresponded to a 39-fold higher PA-binding affinity by Biacore analysis. More importantly, Δ27LFn-EFn could protect the highly susceptible Fischer 344 rats from anthrax lethal toxin challenge. This work suggested that Δ27LFn-EFn has the potential as a candidate therapeutic agent against anthrax.

Structured summary

MINT-7014735, MINT-7014747, MINT-7014761: PA63 (uniprotkb:P13423) and LF (uniprotkb:P15917) bind (MI:0407) by surface plasmon resonance (MI:0107)     

色钉菇粗多糖对小鼠DA能神经元MPTP损伤的保护作用

以C57BL/6J小鼠为实验材料,研究色钉菇粗多糖对多巴胺能神经元损伤的保护作用,并用体外实验方法测定其抗氧化活性。用MPTP（1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶）方法复制了帕金森病小鼠模型,模型复制前,预先给予小鼠100mg/kg、200mg/kg、400mg/kg不同剂量的色钉菇粗多糖,通过行为学检测方法和免疫组化技术观察小鼠的行为变化以及黑质中多巴胺能神经元的数量变化;用抑制小鼠肝脂质过氧化能力的方法测定色钉菇粗多糖的抗氧化活性。结果显示,预先给予200mg/kg和400mg/kg剂量的色钉菇粗多糖能显著地改善帕金森病模型小鼠的行为症状,并能显著地降低MPTP所致的小鼠多巴胺能神经元的凋亡,这可能与该多糖的抗氧化活性有关。提示色钉菇多糖有开发成防治帕金森病药物的应用前景。     

外源茉莉酸诱导的青杨叶片保护性酶活性变化及其对舞毒蛾幼虫生长发育的影响

为探讨外源茉莉酸对青杨Populus cathayana的诱导抗性及其对舞毒蛾Lymantria dispar的影响, 室内对青杨扦插苗喷施不同浓度的茉莉酸（对照为0.17%丙酮）, 分别在喷施后1, 5和10 d采集叶片分析其保护性酶活性的变化, 并接舞毒蛾幼虫于青杨苗木上观测其长发育情况。结果表明： 0.1 和0.001 mmol/L两种浓度的茉莉酸（JA）处理均使青杨叶过氧化物酶（POD）、 多酚氧化酶（PPO）、 苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）、 胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂（CI）和胰蛋白酶抑制剂（TI）活性较对照增加(P<0.05)。取食茉莉酸诱导的青杨苗木后, 舞毒蛾幼虫的发育历期延长, 体重降低。0.1 mmol/L茉莉酸诱导的青杨苗木5 d后接虫, 使舞毒蛾幼虫的发育历期显著延长, 较对照长8 d; 接虫21 d后称重时, 取食茉莉酸诱导的青杨叶片的幼虫体重较对照组降低了50%~100%, 该结果说明外源茉莉酸诱导青杨产生了对舞毒蛾明显的抗虫性。     

α-萜品醇熏蒸对大麦虫体内抗氧化酶活性的影响

为研究植物挥发性有机化合物α-萜品醇的杀虫活性及作用机理, 本研究采用熏蒸法测定了α-萜品醇对大麦虫Zophobas morio（鞘翅目： 拟步行甲科）4龄幼虫的急性毒性, 并测定了不同熏蒸时间后幼虫体内超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、 过氧化物酶（POD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性。结果表明： 熏蒸48 h时, α-萜品醇对大麦虫4龄幼虫的LC₅₀和LC₂₀值分别为69.425 μg/L和59.916 μg/L。α-萜品醇（LC₂₀和LC₅₀）处理的4龄幼虫SOD, POD和CAT活性均表现为先升高后降低的趋势。据此推测, α-萜品醇在幼虫体内积累显著影响幼虫体内SOD, POD和CAT活性, 降低虫体内自由基的清除能力, 从而对其产生毒害作用。     

防护林学研究现状与展望

防护林学是研究防护林构建及经营的理论与技术的科学, 其核心内容包括防护林构建理论与技术、防护林经营理论与技术和防护林效益评价。防护林学发展的终极目的是构建与经营防护林, 使其防护功能或生态服务功能高效、稳定并可持续。防护林学是偏重实用的应用基础学科, 其发展始终依托防护林工程建设需求, 特别是以国家运作方式开展的大型防护林工程建设, 对推动防护林学发展做出了巨大贡献。国外著名的防护林工程有美国大平原各州林业工程(罗斯福工程)、前苏联斯大林改造大自然计划、日本的治山治水防护林工程和北非五国“绿色坝”跨国防护林工程等。围绕这些工程, 在防护林规划设计、树种选择、空间配置、造林方法, 结构、抚育、间伐、衰退机制与更新, 以及效益评价等各个方面开展了相关研究, 其中, 以效益评价及效益与结构的关系研究最为广泛与深入。中国幅员辽阔、自然条件复杂、森林资源相对匮乏且分布不均、自然环境恶劣, 对防护林的需求极大, 自“三北”防护林体系建设工程启动以来, 中国防护林建设规模已居世界首位, 防护林学在中国得到了长足发展, 尤其在防护林经营理论与技术研究方面取得突破性进展。防护林学以效益评价为桥梁将防护林构建和经营组合在一起, 效益与结构的关系为防护林构建及现有防护林经营提供了科学依据。未来防护林学研究将以更广泛的生态公益林或防护性森林为对象, 在研究方法上将由以林分尺度为主向更微观和更宏观两个方向拓展; 在防护林构建方面, 仍以林学理论与技术为主体, 并重点与生态系统稳定性原理、景观生态学原理相结合, 开展防护林(体系)区域分异规划设计、营建理论与技术研究; 在防护林经营方面, 将以防护林衰退与恢复机制、带状防护林更新和非带状防护林近自然经营理论与技术为重点开展研究; 在效益评价方面, 将采用遥感等技术, 以防护林(体系)、大规模防护林建设的生态环境效应评价等为主要内容开展研究。