Intranasal immunization with inactivated influenza virus enhances immune responses to coadministered simian-human immunodeficiency virus-like particle antigens

Intranasal immunization with inactivated influenza virus vaccine can provide protective immunity, whereas many other antigens are less effective when used for mucosal immunization. To determine whether influenza virus could enhance immune responses to an antigen coadministered to a mucosal surface, we studied the intranasal immunization of mice with a mixture of simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) virus-like particles (VLPs) and inactivated influenza virus. Compared to mice immunized with SHIV VLPs alone, mice coimmunized with SHIV VLPs and inactivated influenza virus showed significant increases in serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and mucosal IgA antibodies specific to the human immunodeficiency virus envelope protein, neutralizing activities, numbers of gamma interferon- and interleukin 4-secreting lymphocytes, and cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte activities. The levels of enhancement of immune response by coimmunization with inactivated influenza virus were equivalent to those induced by inclusion of immunostimulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG DNA). We also observed that SHIV VLPs bind to influenza virus virions, forming mixed aggregates. These results indicate that inactivated influenza virus can play a role as a mucosal adjuvant to coadministered antigens.     

The intact parasympathetic nerve promotes submandibular gland regeneration through ductal cell proliferation

ObjectivesSalivary gland regeneration is closely related to the parasympathetic nerve; however, the mechanism behind this relationship is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the parasympathetic nerve and morphological differences during salivary gland regeneration.Materials and MethodsWe used a duct ligation/deligation‐induced submandibular gland regeneration model of Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats. The regenerated submandibular gland with or without chorda lingual (CL) innervation was detected by haematoxylin–eosin staining, real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR), immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. We counted the number of Ki67‐positive cells to reveal the proliferation process that occurs during gland regeneration. Finally, we examined the expression of the following markers: aquaporin 5, cytokeratin 7, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and polysialyltransferases.ResultsIntact parasympathetic innervation promoted submandibular gland regeneration. The process of gland regeneration was significantly repressed by cutting off the CL nerve. During gland regeneration, Ki67‐positive cells were mainly found in the ductal structures. Moreover, the expression of NCAM and polysialyltransferases‐1 (PST) expression in the innervation group was significantly increased during early regeneration and decreased in the late stages. In the denervated submandibular glands, the expression of NCAM decreased during regeneration.ConclusionsOur findings revealed that the regeneration of submandibular glands with intact parasympathetic innervation was associated with duct cell proliferation and the increased expression of PST and NCAM.     

芦芽山鬼箭锦鸡儿灌丛营养特征及土壤养分分布规律

研究了芦芽山自然保护区亚高山草甸带鬼箭锦鸡儿（Caragana jubata）灌丛营养成分季节性变化和土壤养分分布规律．结果表明,鬼箭锦鸡儿具有很高的营养价值,粗蛋白含量达20．27％,粗纤维含量33．83％,灰分5．12％,同时含有丰富的Ca、Fe、Mn等中微量元素,是亚高山草场家畜的优质饲料来源．鬼箭锦鸡儿营养成分呈明显的季节性变化规律：从5月开始,随着灌丛生长发育,体内粗蛋白、灰分和矿质元素含量呈上升趋势,7月（开花期）达到最高,然后逐步降低．为适应海拔高、气温低、土层薄的亚高山草甸带生境,鬼箭锦鸡儿灌丛周围的土壤养分向灌丛中心聚集,灌丛中心的土壤电导率、有机质、全氮、速效磷和有效钾分别较灌丛边缘高18．8％、16．4％、18．7％、16．6％和8．4％,形成了明显的”肥岛效应”．鬼箭锦鸡儿灌丛根际土壤有机质、全氮出现富集,有效磷、速效钾和速效铁、锰在根际周围出现明显亏缺,表明鬼箭锦鸡儿具有高效固氮和吸收利用土壤养分的能力．     

CO_2激光照射对油菜种子活力指数的数学模拟

本试验采用多项式模拟方法 ,研究 CO2 激光对油菜种子活力指标的影响 ,分别得出了发芽种子的下胚轴长与 CO2 激光照射时间 ;发芽种子的胚根长与 CO2 激光照射时间 ;种子的发芽指数与 CO2 激光照射时间 ;萌动种子的过氧化氢酶活性与 CO2 激光照射时间 ;地上部鲜重与 CO2 激光照射时间 ;全株鲜重与 CO2 激光照射时间的数学模型。揭示了油菜种子活力与 CO2 激光照射时间的关系。     

Comparison of Glucose Lowering Effect of Metformin and Acarbose in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis

BackgroundMetformin is the first-line oral hypoglycemic agent for type 2 diabetes mellitus recommended by international guidelines. However, little information exists comparing it with acarbose which is also commonly used in China. This study expanded knowledge by combining direct and indirect evidence to ascertain the glucose lowering effects of both drugs.MethodsPubMed (1980- December 2013) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases (1994-January 2014) were systematically searched for eligible randomized controlled trials from Chinese and English literatures. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the glucose lowering effects of metformin vs. acarbose, or either of them vs. common comparators (placebo or sulphonylureas), using random- and fixed-effect models. Bucher method with indirect treatment comparison calculator was applied to convert the summary estimates from the meta-analyses into weighted-mean-difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to represent the comparative efficacy between metformin and acarbose.ResultsA total of 75 studies were included in the analysis. In direct comparison (8 trials), metformin reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) by 0.06% more than acarbose, with no significant difference (WMD,-0.06%; 95% CI, -0.32% to 0.20%). In indirect comparisons (67 trials), by using placebo and sulphonylureas as common comparators, metformin achieved significant HbA_1c reduction than acarbose, by -0.38% (WMD,-0.38%, 95% CI, -0.736% to -0.024%) and -0.34% (WMD, -0.34%, 95% CI, -0.651% to -0.029%) respectively.ConclusionThe glucose lowering effects of metformin monotherapy and acarbose monotherapy are the same by direct comparison, while metformin is a little better by indirect comparison. This implies that the effect of metformin is at least as good as acarbose''s.     

NaCl对4种荒漠豆科植物幼苗生理参数的影响

以塔中沙漠植物园引种成功的4种豆科植物紫穗槐(Amorpha fruticosa)、花棒(Hedysarum scoparium)、白柠条(Caragana korshinskii)和骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)的幼苗为实验材料, 研究不同NaCl浓度处理30天其叶绿素荧光参数、叶绿素含量及叶片水势的变化特征。结果表明: 在不同浓度NaCl处理下, 骆驼刺和白柠条幼苗的叶绿素荧光参数、叶绿素含量及叶片水势的变化程度均低于紫穗槐和花棒; NaCl处理后骆驼刺和白柠条均具有较稳定的光合生理特征, 紫穗槐和花棒的稳定性则相对较差; 在NaCl处理时, 植物叶片水势的变化规律与叶绿素荧光参数具有一定的相关性, 它们可以反映幼苗对NaCl处理的不同响应。     

褐飞虱种群生命系统管理模型的研究

本文引用太湖稻区单季晚稻褐飞虱种群动态和为害损失研究的结果,以车厢法(boxcar train)原理为基本框架,建立褐飞虱种群动态模拟模型,并结合Bellman的动态规划最优化原理组建褐飞虱种群生命系统管理模型。经川沙县1984—1989年预测圃资料验证,模型模拟值与田间实查值相当吻合,累积虫量误差在1.4％—16.3％之间,平均11.4％;种群管理的模型决策与实际经验决策的准则不同,造成两种决策结果的差异。     

Mucosal immunization with virus-like particles of simian immunodeficiency virus conjugated with cholera toxin subunit B

To enhance the efficiency of antigen uptake at mucosal surfaces, CTB was conjugated to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) virus-like particles (VLPs). We characterized the immune responses to the Env and Gag proteins after intranasal administration. Intranasal immunization with a mixture of VLPs and CTB as an adjuvant elicited higher levels of SIV gp160-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in sera and IgA in mucosae, including saliva, vaginal-wash samples, lung, and intestine, as well as a higher level of neutralization activities than immunization with VLPs alone. Conjugation of CTB to VLPs also enhanced the SIV VLP-specific antibodies in sera and in mucosae to similar levels. Interestingly, CTB-conjugated VLPs showed higher levels of cytokine (gamma interferon)-producing splenocytes and cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte activities of immune cells than VLPs plus CTB, as well as an increased level of both IgG1 and IgG2a serum antibodies, which indicates enhancement of both Th1- and Th2-type cellular immune responses. These results demonstrate that CTB can be an effective mucosal adjuvant in the context of VLPs to induce enhanced humoral, as well as cellular, immune responses.     

Insights from avian influenza surveillance of chickens and ducks before and after exposure to live poultry markets

<正>Dear Editor,Live poultry markets are the major trading system of poultry in China and many other countries, and are also thought to be important for the generation and spread of avian influenza viruses and other avian pathogens (Zhang et al., 2013; Shi et al., 2017; Quan et al., 2018). Surveillance studies indicate that the H7 avian influenza viruses were maintained and circulated for years in the New York live poultry markets(Suarez et al., 1999). H9N2 and H5N1 influenza viruses have been detected in poultry in China since 1994 and 1996, respectively, and vaccines have been developed and used in poultry to control these two subtypes of viruses (MOA,