Malaria parasite liver stages render host hepatocytes susceptible to mitochondria-initiated apoptosis

Intracellular eukaryotic parasites and their host cells constitute complex, coevolved cellular interaction systems that frequently cause disease. Among them, Plasmodium parasites cause a significant health burden in humans, killing up to one million people annually. To succeed in the mammalian host after transmission by mosquitoes, Plasmodium parasites must complete intracellular replication within hepatocytes and then release new infectious forms into the blood. Using Plasmodium yoelii rodent malaria parasites, we show that some liver stage (LS)-infected hepatocytes undergo apoptosis without external triggers, but the majority of infected cells do not, and can also resist Fas-mediated apoptosis. In contrast, apoptosis is dramatically increased in hepatocytes infected with attenuated parasites. Furthermore, we find that blocking total or mitochondria-initiated host cell apoptosis increases LS parasite burden in mice, suggesting that an anti-apoptotic host environment fosters parasite survival. Strikingly, although LS infection confers strong resistance to extrinsic host hepatocyte apoptosis, infected hepatocytes lose their ability to resist apoptosis when anti-apoptotic mitochondrial proteins are inhibited. This is demonstrated by our finding that B-cell lymphoma 2 family inhibitors preferentially induce apoptosis in LS-infected hepatocytes and significantly reduce LS parasite burden in mice. Thus, targeting critical points of susceptibility in the LS-infected host cell might provide new avenues for malaria prophylaxis.     

生防细菌CNY-04筛选、鉴定及其对灰霉病菌的防效

【目的】为研究土壤细菌对蔬菜灰霉病的生防价值, 从辽宁、山东等地区的蔬菜种植基地采集土壤样本56份, 分离、筛选出对灰霉病具有稳定拮抗作用的细菌9株。【方法】采用平板对峙培养法进行初筛、复筛, 用抑菌圈法测定其抑菌效果, 并进行离体果实试验验证其对蔬菜灰霉病的防治效果, 通过形态学特征、生理生化特征及16S rRNA基因序列分析研究其分类地位。【结果】细菌CNY-04对蔬菜灰霉病的拮抗能力最强且遗传稳定, 抑菌圈直径达到34 mm; 初步鉴定该菌株为格氏沙雷菌(Serratia grimesii), 尚未见该菌在生防上的报道; CNY-04液体菌剂对离体番茄果实灰霉病的防效为69.23%, 50%多菌灵防效为75.39%, 24 h时接种CNY-04处理的番茄发病率为40.0%, 而48 h时接种处理的发病率为51.1%。【结论】CNY-04是一株较为理想的拮抗菌, 丰富了生防资源。     

Reconstruction of Laser-scanned 3D Torso Topography and Stereoradiographical Spine and Rib-cage Geometry in Scoliosis

Assessments of scoliosis are routinely done by means of clinical examination and full spinal x-rays. Multiple exposure to ionization radiation, however, can be hazardous to the child and is costly. Here, we explain the use of a noninvasive imaging technique, based on laser optical scanning, for quantifying the three-dimensional (3D) trunk surface topography that can be used to estimate parameters of 3D deformity of the spine. The laser optical scanning system consisted of four BIRIS laser cameras mounted on a ring moving along a vertical axis, producing a topographical mapping of the entire torso. In conjunction with the laser scans, an accurate 3D reconstruction of the spine and rib cage were developed from the digitized x-ray images. Results from 14 scoliotic patients are reported. The digitized surfaces provided the foundation data to start studying concordance of trunk surface asymmetry and spinal shape in idiopathic scoliosis.     

Human Nek6 is a monomeric mostly globular kinase with an unfolded short N-terminal domain

Background  

The NIMA-related kinases (Neks) are widespread among eukaryotes. In mammalians they represent an evolutionarily conserved family of 11 serine/threonine kinases, with 40-45% amino acid sequence identity to the Aspergillus nidulans mitotic regulator NIMA within their catalytic domains. Neks have cell cycle-related functions and were recently described as related to pathologies, particularly cancer, consisting in potential chemotherapeutic targets. Human Nek6, -7 and -9 are involved in the control of mitotic spindle formation, acting together in a mitotic kinase cascade, but their mechanism of regulation remain elusive.     

MicroRNA-21介导非对称性二甲基精氨酸诱导的内皮细胞衰老

目的：观察非对称性二甲基精氨酸（ADMA）对内皮细胞中microRNA-21（miR-21）表达的影响,探讨microRNA-21在ADMA诱导的内皮细胞衰老中的作用。方法：人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）与10uM的ADMA孵育48小时后收集细胞提取总RNA及蛋白,荧光定量实时RT—PCR检测miR-21表达,Westernblot检测超氧化物歧化酶2（SOD2）表达,衰老相关半乳糖苷酶（SA-β-gal）染色鉴定衰老的内皮细胞;然后HUVEC与miR-21抑制剂转染6小时后继续与10uM的ADMA孵育48小时留取细胞按上述方法检测相关指标。结果：HUVEC与ADMA孵育后miR-21表达量明显增加（P〈0．01）,同时衰老的内皮细胞数量增多（P〈0．05）,而SOD2表达减少（P〈0．01）;MiR-21抑制剂转染HUVEC后ADMA诱导的miR-21表达明显减少,同时衰老的内皮细胞减少,而SOD2表达明显增加（所有P〈0．01）。结论：ADMA诱导了HUVEC中miR-21表达及细胞衰老,miR-21介导了ADMA诱导的内皮细胞衰老作用,其机制可能与其抑制SOD2表达有关。