Predicting the spatial distribution of ground flora on large domains using a hierarchical Bayesian model

Accomodation of important sources of uncertainty in ecological models is essential to realistically predicting ecological processes. The purpose of this project is to develop a robust methodology for modeling natural processes on a landscape while accounting for the variability in a process by utilizing environmental and spatial random effects. A hierarchical Bayesian framework has allowed the simultaneous integration of these effects. This framework naturally assumes variables to be random and the posterior distribution of the model provides probabilistic information about the process. Two species in the genus Desmodium were used as examples to illustrate the utility of the model in Southeast Missouri, USA. In addition, two validation techniques were applied to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the predictions.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Preparation and characterization of anti-hBLyS monoclonal antibody by DNA immunization

AIM:To establish the monoclonal antibody against human B lymphocyte stimulator (hBLyS) by DNA immunization and analyse its characterization. METHODS:The 858 bp DNA fragment of hBLyS was cloned into pcDNA3 plasmids. The cloned insert was identified by both sequence analysis and double digestion of the recombinant plasmid with restriction enzymesXho Iand EcoR I. After the splenocytes from BALB/c mice immunized with the recombinant plasmid of pcDNA3/hBLyS were fused with myeloma cells SP2/0,the hybridoma which can produce monoclonal antibodies against hBLyS were obtained. The specificity of anti-BLyS monoclonal antibody from hybridoma was verified by ELISA, Western blot and flow cytometry. RESULTS:The recombinant mammalian cell expression vector of pcDNA3/hBLyS was constructed,the sequence of the insert gene was identified to be the sequence encoding hBLy S antigen. The culture supernatants of hybridoma 9c10 were tested to be the monoclonal antibody with specificity against hBLyS on human peripheral blood CD3⁺T cell activated by hIFN-γ by ELISA,Western blot and flow cytometry.CONCLUSION:The monoclonal antibodies against hBLyS with high activity and specificity have been established successfully, and will be an useful tool in the studies of relationship between hBLyS and human autoimmunity diseases.     

Role of polymerase β in DNA metabolism and genomic instability

The major role of DNA polymerase β was thought to be limited in its involvement in short patch base excision repair by removing 5’-deoxyribose phosphate and base insertion. However, the recent researches indicate that polymerase β might take part in a wide spectrum of DNA metabolism reactions, including long patch base excision repair, DNA replication, recombination, meiosis and transleisional DNA synthesis. Because of its wide and important cellular function, an inappropriate intracellular polymerase β level might be associated with genomic instability. Down-regulation or mutation of polymerase β is mutagenic due to deficient in DNA repair, while overexpression of this error-prone β polymerase might perturb the normal function of other accurate polymerases and cause genomic instability as well.     

Effects of angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy on the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in transplanted intracerebral rat gliomas

AIM: To investigate the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in transplanted intracerebral rat gliomas under angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy. METHODS: The brain tumor model was produced in Wistar rats by stereotaxic inoculation of C6 glioma cells (1×10¹² /L). Tumor-bearing rats were treated with carmustine, teniposide and lisplatin (chemotherapy) during angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Then, the survival time of tumor-bearing rats, tumor blood flow, the concentration of drug, volume of gliomas and the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in glioma were examined.RESULTS: The survival time of tumor-bearing rats was significantly longer in chemotherapy with angiotensin II-induced hypertension group than that of chemotherapy alone. In addition, regional tumor blood flow, the concentration of chemotherapeutic drug and the activity of interleukin -1β converting enzyme in transplanted rat gliomas were increased, while the volume of gliomas was decreased in hypertention chemotherapy group compared with chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy with angiotensin II-induced hypertension has a enhancing effect on chemotherapy for improving the drug delivery to tumor tissue by a increased tumor blood flow and enhancing activity of interleukin -1β converting enzyme.     

Production and characterization of a monoclonal antibody specific to the M serotype of plum pox potyvirus

A monoclonal antibody to an Albanian isolate of plum pox potyvirus (PPV) was obtained (MAbAL), that specifically recognized strain M of this virus. The specificity of MAbAL, assessed by comparative ELISA on 130 PPV isolates of different geographical origin, 22 of which were also tested by comparative IC-PCR, gave consistent and highly reproducible results. MAbAL seems to be elicited by a stable surface determinant that makes it particularly suitable for successful use under a wide range of conditions. MAbAL is an useful addition to the panel of PPV-specific MAbs available to date.     

重组鸡IL-2增强鸡四联灭活苗免疫效果的研究

使用在原核表达系统中表达的重组鸡白细胞介素 2 (IL 2 )蛋白 ,经过初步的分离纯化 ,与鸡新城疫 禽流感 法氏囊 传染性支气管炎四联油乳剂灭活苗同时使用 ,检测其对疫苗的免疫增强效果。试验共分 5组 ,每组 1 0只鸡。其中对照组只注射四联油乳剂灭活苗 ;4个试验组 ,在注射疫苗的同时分别注射重组鸡IL 2蛋白 0 0 5mg、 0 0 1mg、 0 1 5mg、 0 2 0mg。试验组与对照组同时各注射新城疫等多联油苗 0 5mL。采用HA、HI试验测定鸡新城疫、禽流感抗体滴度。结果表明 :重组鸡IL 2对该四联油乳剂灭活苗有较强的免疫增强作用。以第 3、 4组的增强效果较为明显 ,其中对鸡新城疫病毒和禽流感抗原的抗体效价 ,与对照组相比分别提高 2 42 8和 2 2 3 0个滴度。重组鸡IL 2在使用的过程中 ,没有发现任何毒副作用 ,证明是一种安全高效的免疫增强剂。     

不同营养水平对种公鸡新城疫抗体水平的影响

研究选择21周龄新扬州鸡种公鸡135只,随机分成9组。采用两因子析因设计,分别设粗蛋白质水平为17%、14%和11%,钙水平为3.3%、2.3%和1.3%,构成9种日粮处理。比较在繁殖期全程饲喂不同粗蛋白质和钙水平日粮对种公鸡新城疫水平的影响,结果表明:日粮粗蛋白质水平对免疫后15、30天公鸡体内的抗体水平有显著影响(P<0.05),对免疫90天的水平有极显著影响(P<0.01);日粮钙对免疫后30天的抗体水平有极显著的影响(P<0.01);二者的交互作用对它影响不显著(P>0.05);低蛋白低钙组抗体水平显著高于高蛋白高钙组(P<0.05)。     

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in IL-1β-stimulated mesangial cells is medicated by NF-κB/IκB signal pathway

AIM: To investigate the role of NF-κB/IκB signal pathway in the regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in human mesangial cells (HMC). METHODS: The PGE₂ concentration in supernatants of HMC was measured by radioimmunoassay. COX-2 mRNA and protein expression were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Western blot were used to detect the activity of NF-κB and degradation of IκB. RESULTS: IL-1β significantly upregulated COX-2 expression and PGE₂ production in HMC. Significant up-regulation of NF-κB activation, nuclear translocation of p65 subunit, and degradation of IκB α and IκB β were observed in IL-1β-induced HMC. CONCLUSION: Expression of COX-2 in IL-1β-induced HMC is mediated by NF-κB/IκB signal pathway.     

家鸡Leptin成熟肽cDNA的克隆、重组蛋白表达及纯化

从 18周龄鸡卵巢组织中抽提总 RNA,使用六聚体随机引物反转录后 ,用鸡 L eptin(瘦素 )特异性引物扩增出鸡L eptin编码区第 5 2～ 4 6 0 bp的长度为 4 0 9bp的 c DNA片段。根据鸡 L eptin的 3′端第 4 6 0～ 4 92 bp序列设计了 3条部分相互重叠并且顺序串联延伸的下游反义引物 ,并在最后 1条引物 3′端连接上 Eco R 切点 ;在以上用于反转录扩增的 5′端引物的 5′端连接一 Bam H 切点。用该 5′端引物分别与 3个 3′端引物配对 ,利用反转录扩增出的 4 0 9bp的L eptin c DNA片段作为第 1模板进行扩增 ,扩增产物再作为模板与下一引物对再次扩增。经 3次扩增得到编码鸡 L ep-tin成熟肽的全长 4 5 1bp的 c DNA序列。将该 4 5 1bp的 L eptin c DNA序列经 Bam H 和 Eco R 双酶切后 ,克隆入表达质粒 p RSET A的 Bam H 和 Eco R 两酶切位点之间 ,构建成表达质粒 p L ep- SCAU。转化有重组表达质粒 p L ep-SCAU的大肠杆菌 BL 2 1(DE3)在 L B培养基中培养后 ,经 IPTG诱导表达出相对分子质量为 2 0 10 0的鸡 L eptin融合蛋白和少量 4 0 2 0 0的 L eptin融合蛋白。L eptin融合蛋白的表达在 IPTG浓度为 0 .0 5 mmol/ L 时达到最高 ,占总菌体蛋白的 32 .6 %。用 Ni- NTA凝胶从 7L 发酵培养菌裂解液中纯化出 180 m g左右     

几种牧草对河西走廊盐渍化土壤改土培肥的效应研究

在河西走廊盐渍化土地上种植老芒麦、扁穗冰草、碱茅和紫花苜蓿4种优质牧草,对盐渍化程度均有一定的改良效果.其中碱茅对盐渍化土壤的改土培肥效果最好,建植3年后的碱茅,与对照比较,0～20 cm土层中自然含水量增加125.99 g/kg,总孔度增加16.14%,容重降低0.27 g/cm3,pH值由8.43降到8.10,全盐含量降低52.90 g/kg,脱盐率达到76.12%,有机质增加3.67 g/kg,碱解氮含量增加18.63 mg/kg,速效磷和钾亦随之增加.