Microbial Symbionts Accelerate Wound Healing via the Neuropeptide Hormone Oxytocin

Wound healing capability is inextricably linked with diverse aspects of physical fitness ranging from recovery after minor injuries and surgery to diabetes and some types of cancer. Impact of the microbiome upon the mammalian wound healing process is poorly understood. We discover that supplementing the gut microbiome with lactic acid microbes in drinking water accelerates the wound-healing process to occur in half the time required for matched control animals. Further, we find that Lactobacillus reuteri enhances wound-healing properties through up-regulation of the neuropeptide hormone oxytocin, a factor integral in social bonding and reproduction, by a vagus nerve-mediated pathway. Bacteria-triggered oxytocin serves to activate host CD4+Foxp3+CD25+ immune T regulatory cells conveying transplantable wound healing capacity to naive Rag2-deficient animals. This study determined oxytocin to be a novel component of a multi-directional gut microbe-brain-immune axis, with wound-healing capability as a previously unrecognized output of this axis. We also provide experimental evidence to support long-standing medical traditions associating diet, social practices, and the immune system with efficient recovery after injury, sustained good health, and longevity.     

Taurine in toad brain and blood under different conditions of osmolality: An immunohistochemical study

The concentrations of taurine in blood and brain regions of the toadBufo boreas have been measured. Most of these values are considerably lower than those found in mammals. Using an antibody prepared against conjugated taurine, the distribution of taurine in three brain regions of the toad has been visualized. The possible osmoregulatory functions of taurine have been investigated by making toads hyper- or hypo-osmotic in vivo. Induction of hypoosmolality is accompanied by a massive taurine tide in blood plasma, but has no immediate effects upon the taurine concentrations in the brain areas studied. However, histochemical visualization indicates a marked redistribution of taurine between cellular components and extracellular space of brain tissues. This may indicate that taurine has an osmoregulatory function in brain tissue under hypo-osmotic conditions. Hyperosmolality results in no elevation of the taurine concentration in blood plasma of toads, but rather in a very gradual decline of total plasma taurine content over a prolonged time period. Histochemical studies reveal little change in frontal cortex after 1 hour but deeper staining of many neurons in optic lobe accompanied by greater staining in the extracellular fluid. By 3 hours there is a depletion of taurine from all compartments of cerebral cortex tissues. No evidence of any prolonged direct osmoregulatory role for taurine is indicated under hyperosmotic conditions. A possible indirect osmoregulatory function of taurine is discussed.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Claude Baxter.     

橙色荧光蛋白的研究进展及其应用

荧光蛋白(Fluorescent protein,FPs)可作为探针用以探究细胞内分子间相互作用,追踪特定代谢物的代谢途径,对活细胞内的各种代谢过程和细胞通路进行详细、准确的描述。目前已有的FPs几乎已经覆盖了从紫外光到远红外光的所有光谱波段,这些FPs借助高分辨率显微技术应用于生命科学的诸多领域,为生物学的发展作出巨大贡献。橙色FPs通常指光谱区间在540–570nm的FPs,近几年来关于橙色FPs的研究进展较快,并且其作为标记蛋白以及荧光共振能量转移技术(Fluorescence resonance energy transfer,FRET)中的荧光受体在生物学及医学领域得到较多的应用。文中综述了近15年橙色FPs领域的相关研究,重点聚焦橙色FPs的发展和应用,为今后橙色FPs的研究提供依据。     

Contrasting patterns of genetic structure and phylogeography in the marine agarophytes Gelidiophycus divaricatus and G. freshwateri (Gelidiales,Rhodophyta) from East Asia

The evolutionary and population demographic history of marine red algae in East Asia is poorly understood. Here, we reconstructed the phylogeographies of two upper intertidal species endemic to East Asia, Gelidiophycus divaricatus and G. freshwateri. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic inferences of 393 mitochondrial cox1, 128 plastid rbcL, and 342 nuclear ITS2 sequences were complemented with ecological niche models. Gelidiophycus divaricatus, a southern species adapted to warm water, is characterized by a high genetic diversity and a strong geographical population structure, characteristic of stable population sizes and sudden reduction to recent expansion. In contrast, G. freshwateri, a northern species adapted to cold temperate conditions, is genetically relatively homogeneous with a shallow population structure resulting from steady population growth and recent equilibrium. The overlap zone of the two species roughly matches summer and winter isotherms, indicating that surface seawater temperature is a key feature influencing species range. Unidirectional genetic introgression was detected at two sites on Jeju Island where G. divaricatus was rare while G. freshwateri was common, suggesting the occurrence of asymmetric natural hybrids, a rarely reported event for rhodophytes. Our results illustrate that Quaternary climate oscillations have left strong imprints on the current day genetic structure and highlight the importance of seawater temperature and sea level change in driving speciation in upper intertidal seaweed species.     

人工生态系统净化水质模型研究

建立了自来水厂取水口附近的人工生态系统水质模型、研究在水面面积、水生植物放养密度、取水量等改变条件下,取水口处水质的变化特征。这一模型可应用于确定人工生态系统水面积面积,水生植物放养密度等值,以达到满足自来水厂取水口处水质的要求,对模型参数适当确定后,可应用于其它水域。     

高温对两种卡帕藻的酶活性、色素含量与叶绿素荧光的影响

在室内采用静置培养法,以25℃为对照,研究高温(32℃、35℃和40℃)对长心卡帕藻Kappaphycus alvarezii与异枝卡帕藻K.striatum的硝酸还原酶(NR)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性、叶绿素a和藻红蛋白含量的影响,并采用调制叶绿素荧光技术,测定高温处理后2种藻的叶绿素荧光参数变化趋势.结果表明:高温对2种卡帕藻的NR和POD活性有显著影响.二者的NR活性均在35℃时最低,32℃时最高;异枝卡帕藻的POD活性在35℃时最高,而长心卡帕藻的在35℃时最低.在25-40℃之间,随着温度升高,异枝卡帕藻的叶绿素a含量逐渐减少,藻红蛋白含量先降后升,35℃时最高,而长心卡帕藻的两种色素含量皆在25℃时最高.在32-40℃条件下,随着温度升高,2种藻的实际光合效率(Y)和相对光合电子传递速率(ETR)明显下降,温度越高,下降程度越大;短期高温可刺激2种卡帕藻的光合活性增强,随着处理时间延长,异枝卡帕藻的光合活性下降,但差异不显著,而长心卡帕藻的光合活性显著下降.综合上述指标,显示32℃以上高温对2种卡帕藻产生胁迫,异枝卡帕藻对热胁迫的耐受力明显强于长心卡帕藻.     

大鼠隔区接受海马一氧化氮合酶(NOS)阳性神经元的投射

目的逆行追踪大鼠海马NOS阳性神经元向隔区的投射。方法用HRP逆行追踪与NADPH-d组化方法相结合进行研究。结果背、腹、后海马均有NOS阳性神经元投射至隔区各亚细胞群,后海马NOS阳性神经元向隔外侧核(sl)、隔三角核和隔伞核(ts,sf)的投射量,占后海马至隔外侧核、隔三角核和隔伞核投射量的80％左右。结论大鼠隔区接受海马NOS神经元的投射。     

缘管浒苔Rubisco酶大亚基基因编码序列rbcL克隆及分析

主要对缘管浒苔光合作用第一关键酶Rubisco大亚基基因(rbcL)进行了克隆分离.首先通过PCR特异性扩增叶绿体基因编码的缘管浒苔大亚基编码序列rbcL部分基因序列(1 035 bp).依据基因步移原理,首次克隆得到缘管浒苔rbcL 5′上游非翻译区序列(224 bp).据推测,rbcL 5′上游非翻译区序列存在类似原核生物的启动子元件-10区(TAAAAT)和-35区(TTGAAA).此外,依据3′-RACE(cDNA末端快速扩增技术)原理,克隆得到缘管浒苔rbcL 3′末端cDNA序列(579 bp).     

大型绿藻浒苔转化表达系统选择标记的筛选

主要研究了条浒苔对抗生素氯霉素和除草剂Basta的敏感性,以确定适合的阳性选择标记基因。应用不同浓度氯霉素(0、25、50、75、100、125μg/ml)和Basta(0、5、12.5、25、37.5、50μg/ml)对不同发育时期条浒苔细胞存活率影响进行了测定。实验结果表明:不同发育时期条浒苔对氯霉素和Basta的敏感性不同。其中最大浓度125μg/ml浓度的氯霉素在15d内对条浒苔孢子和小苗两个不同发育时期的细胞均难以达到全部杀死效果,相对存活率仍分别为1%和20%;而Basta对条浒苔孢子和小苗均具有很强的杀生作用,其中5μg/ml浓度的Basta在3d内可将条浒苔孢子全部杀死,12.5μg/ml浓度下约一周时间可以将浒苔小苗全部致死。本实验结果提示bar基因有可能成为浒苔基因工程较理想的选择标记基因。     

海水小球藻磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶基因(Chpepc2)克隆和生物信息学分析

为了进一步了解藻类PEPC酶的特征,对海水小球藻pepc2基因进行了克隆并通过生物信息学方法分析了海水小球藻PE PCase2的结构和功能特征。结果表明,海水小球藻pepc2基因与莱茵衣藻pepc2基因相似度为90%,且其对应的氨基酸序列的特征与莱茵衣藻PE PCase2特征相同,可见该基因编码的是海水小球藻细菌型PEPC酶。海水小球藻PEPCase2二级结构主要包括α螺旋、β转角、无规则卷曲和伸展链,其三级结构外部为α螺旋结构,中心为平行β桶结构。海水小球藻PEPCase2具有多种重要的生理功能,主要与多种重要的物质合成有关。