Interleukin-22 Mediates Early Host Defense against Rhizomucor pusilluscan Pathogens

Background

In recent years, the fungal infectious disease zygomycosis has increased in incidence worldwide, especially among the immunodeficient population. Despite the rates of zygomycosis-related death and deformation being very high, the mechanism(s) by which the fungal pathogens cause these severe manifestations remain unknown.

Methods

Using the associated Rhizomucor variabilis species, which can selectively induce cutaneous zygomycosis in otherwise healthy individuals, we investigated the host mechanisms of infection-related responses, including cytokine and chemokine expression as well as contributions of particular T cell subsets. siRNA specifically targeting IL-22,IL-17 and IFN-γ were used to down-regulate expression of those molecules.

Results

In mouse models of infection, IL-22 was implicated in development of Rhizomucor spp.-induced skin lesions. In cultured human peripheral blood monocytes, R. pusilluscan, which is often found in immunodeficient patients, induced the production of IL-22, while R. variabilis did not. Moreover, Rhizomucor spp.-induced secretion of Il-22 from CCR6⁺CCR4⁺CCR10⁺ cells was down-regulated by knockdown of IL-22 related signaling receptors, RORC and ARH.

Conclusion

Our data strongly suggest that avoidance of IL-22 may be one mechanism by which mucor species produce morbidity and mortality in infected individuals.     

阴囊黄癣痂样石膏样小孢子菌感染1例

报道1例石膏样小孢子菌感染引起阴囊黄癣痂样皮损。患者,男,20岁,阴囊黄色痂皮3周。皮损取材真菌镜检可见分隔菌丝,培养为石膏样小孢子菌。口服伊曲康唑200mg/d,连续2周。停药时皮损消退,真菌学检查阴性。     

近平滑念珠菌的形态转换观察

目的观察近平滑念珠菌在不同培养基的形态转换现象,以及温度对其形态转换的影响。方法收集近平滑念珠菌正常人皮肤携带株及临床致病株和标准株,接种于改良Lee培养基和含桃红B的YPD培养基,观察其不同形态转换,以及温度变化对光滑(W)与皱褶(O)形态转换的影响。结果近平滑念珠菌在Lee培养基和含桃红B的YPD培养基上,均可以出现多种形态以及一定频率W-O转换现象。在观察W向O形态转换过程中发现,与25℃培养温度相比,37℃条件下光滑菌落形态占更多的比例。结论近平滑念珠菌体外培养时存在形态转换及W-O转换现象,且于37℃时更易保持光滑形态。含桃红B的YPD培养基也可以用于基本的W-O形态转换观察。     

蛋白质粉对小鼠免疫功能的影响

目的探讨蛋白质粉对正常小鼠免疫调节作用。方法将BALB/c小鼠随机分为3批,每批分为4组,分别进行了小鼠免疫器官/体质量比值测定和小鼠碳廓清实验;绵羊红细胞诱导小鼠DTH、抗体生成细胞检测和血清凝血素测定（HC50）;ConA诱导的小鼠脾淋巴细胞转化实验和乳酸锂脱氢酶法（LDH）测定NK细胞活性;小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬鸡红细胞实验。结果10.00 g/kg剂量的蛋白质粉可增强绵羊红细胞诱导小鼠DTH能力（P〈0.05）,促进抗体生成细胞数的生成（P〈0.01）。3.33 g/kg和10.00 g/kg剂量组能促进ConA诱导的小鼠脾淋巴细胞转化能力（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）和血清凝血素的生成（P〈0.05）;三个剂量组均能提高小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬鸡红细胞能力（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）;3.33 g/kg和10.00 g/kg剂量组能提高NK细胞活性（P〈0.05）;但对小鼠碳廓清能力和免疫器官/体重比值无明显影响。结论蛋白质粉对正常小鼠的细胞、体液免疫和单核-巨噬细胞功能和NK功能有促进作用,即具有增强免疫力功能。     

Inferring Gene Regulatory Networks by Singular Value Decomposition and Gravitation Field Algorithm

Reconstruction of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) is of utmost interest and has become a challenge computational problem in system biology. However, every existing inference algorithm from gene expression profiles has its own advantages and disadvantages. In particular, the effectiveness and efficiency of every previous algorithm is not high enough. In this work, we proposed a novel inference algorithm from gene expression data based on differential equation model. In this algorithm, two methods were included for inferring GRNs. Before reconstructing GRNs, singular value decomposition method was used to decompose gene expression data, determine the algorithm solution space, and get all candidate solutions of GRNs. In these generated family of candidate solutions, gravitation field algorithm was modified to infer GRNs, used to optimize the criteria of differential equation model, and search the best network structure result. The proposed algorithm is validated on both the simulated scale-free network and real benchmark gene regulatory network in networks database. Both the Bayesian method and the traditional differential equation model were also used to infer GRNs, and the results were used to compare with the proposed algorithm in our work. And genetic algorithm and simulated annealing were also used to evaluate gravitation field algorithm. The cross-validation results confirmed the effectiveness of our algorithm, which outperforms significantly other previous algorithms.     

Improved Gravitation Field Algorithm and Its Application in Hierarchical Clustering

Background

Gravitation field algorithm (GFA) is a new optimization algorithm which is based on an imitation of natural phenomena. GFA can do well both for searching global minimum and multi-minima in computational biology. But GFA needs to be improved for increasing efficiency, and modified for applying to some discrete data problems in system biology.

Method

An improved GFA called IGFA was proposed in this paper. Two parts were improved in IGFA. The first one is the rule of random division, which is a reasonable strategy and makes running time shorter. The other one is rotation factor, which can improve the accuracy of IGFA. And to apply IGFA to the hierarchical clustering, the initial part and the movement operator were modified.

Results

Two kinds of experiments were used to test IGFA. And IGFA was applied to hierarchical clustering. The global minimum experiment was used with IGFA, GFA, GA (genetic algorithm) and SA (simulated annealing). Multi-minima experiment was used with IGFA and GFA. The two experiments results were compared with each other and proved the efficiency of IGFA. IGFA is better than GFA both in accuracy and running time. For the hierarchical clustering, IGFA is used to optimize the smallest distance of genes pairs, and the results were compared with GA and SA, singular-linkage clustering, UPGMA. The efficiency of IGFA is proved.     

Successful Treatment by Surgery of a Primary Cutaneous Mucormycosis Caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mucor irregularis</Emphasis>

We report a case of primary cutaneous mucormycosis caused by Mucor irregularis. A 66-year-old man was presented to our hospital with a history of gradually enlarging plaque on the right leg for about a year. The identification of pathogen based on the fungus morphology and DNA sequencing revealed M. irregularis as the responsible fungus for skin lesion. The lesion was removed incidentally by a surgery procedure, and no recrudescence was seen during a follow-up of 24-month observation.     

湿地松林分结构调整对土壤活性有机碳的影响

以21 a湿地松纯林为对照,研究了间伐后补植阔叶树(间伐补阔,补植枫香)对不同年限(3、6、9 a)湿地松林分和21 a湿地松×枫香混交林土壤活性有机碳的影响.结果表明：间伐补阔后,6和9 a湿地松林分的土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)、易氧化有机碳(ROC)和微生物生物量碳(MBC)含量均比21 a湿地松纯林显著增高;21 a湿地松×枫香混交林的土壤各活性碳组分含量显著高于3、6、9 a湿地松林分,其DOC、ROC和MBC含量分别比21 a湿地松纯林增加113.1%、53.3%和54.6%.说明间伐补阔结构调整是改善人工湿地松纯林土壤生态功能的有效措施.     

番茄灰霉病高效拮抗菌株的鉴定及通过导入β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因提高其生防效果

从淄博市温室土壤中分离到蜡样芽孢杆菌B-04菌株,对灰霉病菌表现较高的拮抗作用。本研究从质粒pUC1940得到4.1kb的β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因片断,将该基因与大肠杆菌-芽孢杆菌穿梭质粒pBE2和pHY300PLK连接,获得重组质粒PBE2-glu和pHY300PLK-glu,转入蜡样芽孢杆菌（Bacillus cereus）B-04菌株,获得工程菌株B-04-glu。限制酶切分析、ABP平板、PCR实验证实B-04成功转入β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因。与野生菌株相比,平板拮抗试验表明工程菌株较原始菌株对番茄灰霉病（Botrytis cinerea）抑菌效果明显增强。     

鸡源双歧杆菌定向选育和发酵参数研究

目的从肉仔鸡肠道中筛选出耐酸、耐胆盐和耐消化酶的优良双歧杆菌,研究其生长特性,并优化其发酵参数,为转化生产力提供理论依据。方法通过无菌采样并分离得到多株双歧杆菌,对分离获得的双歧杆菌进行形态学、生化特性研究,然后采用牛津杯法,测定90株双歧杆菌对大肠埃希菌和沙门菌的抑制作用,采用改良MRS培养基,模拟鸡胃肠道逆环境,对其耐消化道特性进行研究,筛选出优良双歧杆菌,再进行生长特性研究及发酵参数优化。结果从肉仔鸡肠道分离出90株双歧杆菌,初步挑选出23株作为候选菌株,抑菌试验测得双歧杆菌B1、B2和B3具有良好的抑菌效果,然后经过耐受消化道逆环境试验,发现B2菌株的耐受能力最好,初步鉴定双歧杆菌B2为小鸡双歧杆菌,并将其定名为Bifidobacterium pullorum B2,对其生长特性的研究发现经18 h发酵细菌总数可以从8.3×105CFU/mL升高到1.3×109CFU/mL,运用优化的发酵培养基进行中试试验,发酵后的活菌数可达1.41×1010CFU/mL。结论本实验从肉仔鸡肠道中分离筛选并初步鉴定了Bifidobacterium pullorum B2,优化了制备Bifidobacterium pullorum B2发酵液的发酵条件,降低了生产成本。