A review of antimicrobial peptides: defensins and related cationic peptides

Cationic antimicrobial peptides are present throughout the plant and animal kingdoms and bear striking structural and functional similarities across species lines. They provide primitive, nonspecific means of combating a variety of bacteria, fungi, enveloped viruses, and protozoa. Some are also cytotoxic against host cells, including neoplastic cells. Cationic antimicrobial peptides may play various roles in inflammation and tissue repair. Antimicrobial peptides are found in epithelial tissues regularly exposed to microbial attack as well as in cells whose primary function is defense against potential pathogens. They constitute an important part of the nonoxidative antimicrobial arsenal of leukocytes. They are preformed and/or readily synthesized when the cells are stimulated by exposure to pathogens. They exert their effects directly by inserting into membranes of target cells and forming ion channels which increase membrane permeability; however, antimicrobial peptides can also act as opsonins to facilitate phagocytosis. Resistance to defensins is a virulence factor for organisms such as Salmonella sp. The study of cationic antimicrobial peptides is increasing our understanding of innate immunity, inflammation, and the pathogenesis of genetic diseases such as specific granule disease in humans. Therapeutic applications of antimicrobial peptides are currently under investigation.     

小水电科技发展领域的系统分析

该文用层次分析法(AHP)和德尔菲法(Delphi)相结合的系统分析法,对江西省上饶地区小水电科技发展领域分析模型作了探索,提出了小水电科技发展领域的优先度及重点,为“八五”、“九五”小水电科技规划的制定提供了依据,同时也为水利水电同行在科技规划中提供一点参考。     

Evaluation of a radioimmunoassay for type III procollagen peptide in the dog

Type III procollagen peptide (P-3-P) is a serum marker for hepatic fibrosis in humans. The utility of a commercially available radioimmunoassay for P-3-P was evaluated in the dog. The specificity of the assay was assessed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of canine serum and purified bovine P-3-P, followed by Western immunoblotting with rabbit aniti-P-3-P serum. The sensitivity was assessed by performing the radioimmunoassay on dilutions of sera from 22 dogs. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified bovine P-3-P and sera from two dogs suspected of having elevated P-3-P concentrations revealed no homologous bands of staining. Western immunoblotting showed marked cross-reactivity of the high antisera concentrations with several components of the serum proteins, but none corresponding to the purified P-3-P. All tested sera from dogs had minimal competitive binding with radiolabeled P-3-P in the radioimmunoassay. Dilution curves of dog sera did not parallel either the standard curve or the dilution curve of a known test human serum. There were no statistically different P-3-P concentrations in any of the groups of dogs studied. It was concluded that currently available radioimmunoassay kits for the measurement of P-3-P in the human are not applicable in the dog. Seemingly, the structure or metabolism of canine P-3-P may vary significantly from that of the bovine or human, limiting the sensitivity and specificity of this assay in the dog.     

饲粮中添加抗菌肽对肉鸭增重及血清尿素氮、总蛋白水平的影响

240只1日龄肉鸭随机成分4组,每组设3个重复,对照组用基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮上每千克分别添加1、2、3mL抗菌肽制剂。结果显示:1)2、3mL/kg添加量组增重效果显著(P<0.05),3mL/kg添加量组最佳;净肉率升高,达到显著水平(P<0.05),其中主要是胸肌率上升;腹脂率降低但差异不显著(P>0.05);料重比无显著变化(P>0.05)。2)血清总蛋白浓度差异不显著(P>0.05),但尿素氮浓度下降,2、3mL/kg添加量组达显著水平(P<0.05),3mL/kg添加量组最低。     

反刍动物肽营养研究进展

本文综述了反刍动物肽的吸收特点及影响因素,肽的吸收代谢机制,肽对瘤胃微生物的调控及对反刍动物生产性能发挥的作用,以及饲料蛋白源活性肽的开发应用。     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS IN SPINAL CORD INFARCTION IN THREE SMALL BREED DOGS

Fibrocartilaginous embolization (FCE) of the spinal cord is a common disease in large breed dogs. There are only a few reports about this entity in small breed dogs and it has never been reported in chondrodystrophic breed. For definitive diagnosis histopathologic examination is necessary. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a potential diagnostic tool for intravitam diagnosis of FCE has been mentioned before, but results have not been reported so far. This report describes the neurological findings and MRI results in three small breed dogs, including a Pekingese dog, with FCE of the spinal cord. The disease was suspected in two animals based upon clinical and MRI-appearance and confirmed in the third by histopathological examination. In all three cases, similar focal intramedullary lesions, consisting of hyperintensive signals on T2-weighted images, were detected. Based on these findings, high-field MRI may be used as an antemortem tool for the diagnosis of FCE. It is also shown that FCE can occur in chondrodystrophic dogs.     

Effect of CGRP on level of lung endogenous NO in rabbits with acute lung injury

AIM:To examine whether calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) enhances nitric oxide (NO) level in pulmonary circulation blood and observe the influence of CGRP on mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in rabbits with acute lung injury (ALI) caused by oleic acid.METHODS: The level of NO was assessed by measuring the presence of nitrite in cervical artery blood by the Griess reaction, mPAP was measured with right ventricular catheter.RESULTS:The level of nitrite in cervical artery blood was significantly increased and the mPAP was markedly reduced after administration of CGRP intravenousely.CONCLUSION:CGRP enhanced the NO level of pulmonary circulation blood and reduces the mPAP significantly in rabbits with ALI.     

Biosynthesis of Depsipeptide Mycotoxins in Fusarium

The cyclic hexadepsipeptide enniatin is known as a phytopathogenic compound from Fusaria causing necrosis and wilt. The molecule consists of three alternating residues each of a branched chain amino acid and D-hydroxyisovaleric acid (D-Hiv). Enniatins are synthesized by a 347kDa multienzyme (enniatin synthetase) via a thiol template mechanism. The corresponding gene esyn1 has an open reading frame of 9393 nucleotides and harbours two modules, one responsible for D-hydroxy acid activation and one for L-amino acid activation with an integrated N-methyltransferase domain. Such methyltransferases build an homologous group among N-methyl peptide synthetases. Enniatins are synthesized by step-wise condensation of dipeptidol building blocks in an iterative manner resembling fatty acid synthesis. A key enzyme in enniatin biosynthesis is the NADPH-dependent D-2-hydroxyisovalerate dehydrogenase, that supplies enniatin synthetase with D-Hiv. Enniatins contribute to the wilt toxic character of Fusaria. Virulence was significantly reduced in F. avenaceum after disruption of the esyn1 gene.     

姬松茸菌丝活性肽的分离及其组成的初步研究

采用两次葡聚糖凝胶色谱法从姬松茸菌丝体中提取的肽类物质，初步分离获得肽，继而分析了肽的氨基酸组成和分子量。结果表明，姬松茸菌丝体中的活性肽含有丰富的氨基酸，是一种具有高F值(22．5)的寡肽，其分子量在1500～30000U之间。     

Effects of Sini decoction on the ultrastructure of small intestinal epithelial cells in rats with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion

AIM: To investigate the effect of Sini decoction (SND)on the ultrastructure of small intestinal epithelial cells in rats with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were randomly divided into 4 groups: (1) Control group in which sham operation was performed; (2) Model group in which intestinal I/R was produced by clamping super mesenteric artery(SMA) for 1 hour and declamping SMA for 3 hours; (3) SND1 group in which SD (0.6 g/200 g rat) was given via stomach tube 3 d before intestinal I/R; (4) SND2 group in which SD (1.2 g/200 g rat)was given via stomach tube 3 d before intestinal I/R. A strip of small intestine was taken from distal end of ileum for electron microscopic examination. The two-dimensional structural parameters and three-dimensional structural parameters of mitochondria were calculated. RESULTS: (1)Morphological changes of small intestine: In control group, epithelial cells were orderly arranged, with normal mitochondria and intestinal villi. In model group, the gaps between epithelial cells widened. There were a lot of apoptotic cells. Microvilli were short and swelled. Mitochondria were swelled obviously with broken ridges. Endoplasmatic reticulum was severely dilated. In SND1 and SND2 groups, microvilli and epithelial cells were orderly arranged relatively, mitochondria was slightly swelled. (2) Structural parameters of mitochondria: In model group, there were the least mitochondria and the swelling of mitochondria was severe. In SND1 and SND2 groups, the mitochondria was more than that of model group and the swelling were slight. CONCLUSION: Sini decoction can protect small intestine from ischemia-reperfusion injury without dose-dependent effect.