Triplex staples: DNA double-strand cross-linking at internal and terminal sites using psoralen-containing triplex-forming oligonucleotides

A method has been developed to attach 4'-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen to the 5 position of thymine bases during solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. UV irradiation of triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) containing internally attached psoralens produces photoadducts at TpA steps within target duplexes, thus relaxing the constraints on selection of psoralen target sequences. Photoreaction of TFOs containing two psoralens, located at the 5'- and 3'-ends, has been used to create double-strand cross-links (triplex staples) at both termini of the TFO. Such complexes have no free single-stranded ends. TFOs containing 4'-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen, 3-methyl-2-aminopyridine, and 5-(3-aminoprop-2-ynyl)deoxyuridine formed photoadducts with target duplexes under near-physiological conditions.     

人胎胃壁内NOS阳性神经元发育的研究

研究用NADPH-d组织化学法对第3个月胎龄至足月人胎胃壁内NOS阳性神经元的分化,迁移和生长发育进行了观察。结果表明：第5个月龄时,肌层神经节处的圆形细胞出现一氧化氮合酶（nitric oxide synthase,NOS)阳性反应。第6个月龄时,NOS阳性细胞分化演变成NOS阳性神经细胞,细胞呈圆形或椭圆形,核大,细胞质极少,由细胞发出短小的6个月龄时,NOS阳性细胞分化演变成NOS阳性神经细胞,细胞呈圆形或椭圆形,核大,细胞质极少,由细胞发出短小的突起,有部分NOS阳性细胞分化演变成梭形的NOS阳性神经细胞,呈条索状排列和粘膜下层延伸,吸的到达粘膜层,在粘膜层形成网状细胞,第7个月龄时,神经元细胞明显增大,细胞质增多,染色加深,在肌层形成神经节,神经节细胞突起投射到整个肌层,第8-10个月龄时,肌层和粘膜下层神经元日趋成熟,细胞质增多,染色强度加深,肌层神经纤维分布密度增加,大多数神经纤维增粗,有的呈弹簧样弯曲,其走向与肌纤维长轴平行。结果提示;人胎胃壁内NOS阳性神经元来源于胚胎早期肌层神经节处的圆形细胞,通过分化,生长发育形成成熟的NOS阳性神经元。     

DNA triplex formation with 5-dimethylaminopropargyl deoxyuridine

We have prepared triplex-forming oligonucleotides containing the nucleotide analogue 5-dimethylaminopropargyl deoxyuridine (DMAPdU) in place of thymidine and examined their ability to form intermolecular triple helices by thermal melting and DNase I footprinting studies. The results were compared with those for oligonucleotides containing 5-aminopropargyl-dU (APdU), 5-guanidinopropargyl-dU (GPdU) and 5-propynyl dU (PdU). We find that DMAPdU enhances triplex stability relative to T, though slightly less than the other analogues that bear positive charges (T << PdU < DMAPdU < APdU < GPdU). For oligonucleotides that contain multiple substitutions with DMAPdU dispersed residues are more effective than clustered combinations. DMAPdU will be especially useful as a nucleotide analogue as, unlike APdU and GPdU, the base does not require protection during oligonucleotide synthesis and it can therefore be used with other derivatives that require mild deprotection conditions.     

Immune protection induced on day 10 following administration of the 2009 A/H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine

Background

The 2009 swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) H1N1 pandemic has caused more than 18,000 deaths worldwide. Vaccines against the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza virus are useful for preventing infection and controlling the pandemic. The kinetics of the immune response following vaccination with the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza vaccine need further investigation.

Methodology/Principal Findings

58 volunteers were vaccinated with a 2009 A/H1N1 pandemic influenza monovalent split-virus vaccine (15 µg, single-dose). The sera were collected before Day 0 (pre-vaccination) and on Days 3, 5, 10, 14, 21, 30, 45 and 60 post vaccination. Specific antibody responses induced by the vaccination were analyzed using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After administration of the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza vaccine, specific and protective antibody response with a major subtype of IgG was sufficiently developed as early as Day 10 (seroprotection rate: 93%). This specific antibody response could maintain for at least 60 days without significant reduction. Antibody response induced by the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza vaccine could not render protection against seasonal H1N1 influenza (seroconversion rate: 3% on Day 21). However, volunteers with higher pre-existing seasonal influenza antibody levels (pre-vaccination HI titer ≥1∶40, Group 1) more easily developed a strong antibody protection effect against the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza vaccine as compared with those showing lower pre-existing seasonal influenza antibody levels (pre-vaccination HI titer <1∶40, Group 2). The titer of the specific antibody against the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza was much higher in Group 1 (geometric mean titer: 146 on Day 21) than that in Group 2 (geometric mean titer: 70 on Day 21).

Conclusions/Significance

Recipients could gain sufficient protection as early as 10 days after vaccine administration. The protection could last at least 60 days. Individuals with a stronger pre-existing seasonal influenza antibody response may have a relatively higher potential for developing a stronger humoral immune response after vaccination with the 2009 A/H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine.     

Guanylate binding protein 4 negatively regulates virus-induced type I IFN and antiviral response by targeting IFN regulatory factor 7

IRF7 is known as the master regulator in virus-triggered induction of type I IFNs (IFN-I). In this study, we identify GBP4 virus-induced protein interacting with IRF7 as a negative regulator for IFN-I response. Overexpression of GBP4 inhibits virus-triggered activation of IRF7-dependent signaling, but has no effect on NF-κB signaling, whereas the knockdown of GBP4 has opposite effects. Furthermore, the supernatant from Sendai virus-infected cells in which GBP4 have been silenced inhibits the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus more efficiently. Competitive coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicate that overexpression of GBP4 disrupts the interactions between TRAF6 and IRF7, resulting in impaired TRAF6-mediated IRF7 ubiquitination. Our results suggest that GBP4 is a negative regulator of virus-triggered IFN-I production, and it is identified as a novel protein targeting IRF7 and inhibiting its function.     

2'-o-dimethylaminoethoxyuridine and 5-dimethylaminopropargyl deoxyuridine for at base pair recognition in triple helices

The nucleoside analogues 2'-O-dimethylaminoethoxy uridine and 5-dimethylaminopropargyl deoxyuridine have been synthesised and incorporated into oligonucleotides. Their triplex-stabilising properties have been determined in fluorescence melting experiments.     

革兰氏阴性菌Ⅵ型分泌系统及其参与金属离子转运的研究进展

细菌通过其分泌系统将特定的效应蛋白输送到外界环境或进入靶细胞中,从而在细菌和宿主、细菌和微生物群落的相互作用中占据适应性优势。Ⅵ型分泌系统（The type VI secretion system,T6SS）是革兰氏阴性菌中广泛存在的大分子分泌装置,其结构和功能类似于可收缩的噬菌体尾针样,通过细胞间直接接触将细菌各种酶或毒素效应蛋白转运到原核和真核生物中,从而介导细菌间竞争以及对宿主的致病过程。有些效应蛋白还可通过非接触依赖的方式进入胞外环境来帮助细菌获取稀缺金属离子,并且它们对应激条件下细胞内金属稳态的维持至关重要。这篇综述总结了Ⅵ型分泌系统的结构、组装及其分泌的效应蛋白,并重点阐述了Ⅵ型分泌系统在多种金属离子转运机制中作用的研究进展,有助于理解T6SS在细菌间相互作用和细菌感染过程中发挥的重要作用。     

Comparative analysis of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in various populations

This paper aimed to analyze antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in various populations. Two hundred and six COVID-19 patients, 46 convalescent patients, and 270 healthy population were enrolled. Antibodies against nucleocapsid protein (N) and spike protein''s receptor-binding domain (RBD), and neutralizing antibody were detected. The results demonstrated both anti-N and anti-RBD antibodies could be detected in about 80% of COVID-19 patients and 90% of convalescent patients, while no antibodies could be detected in some convalescents and patients even after 14 days post-onset of symptoms. The level of anti-RBD antibody strongly correlated with the neutralizing activity of sera from these two cohorts. The titer of neutralizing antibody was lower in convalescents than that in active COVID-19 patients. In addition, the titer of neutralizing antibody was less than 1:80 in none of the severe COVID-19 patients, 18.8% in non-severe COVID-19 patients, and 32.6% in convalescents. The study suggests that the level of anti-RBD antibody is closely related to neutralization activity in COVID-19 patients and convalescents. Some SARS-CoV-2-infected cases trigger a weak antiviral immune response, and the level of neutralizing antibody may have a faster decay rate.