Control of rabies: epidemiology of rabies in Asia and development of new-generation vaccines for rabies

Rabies is an enzootic viral disease widespread throughout the world. Although it is a vaccine-preventable disease, the annual number of human deaths caused by rabies is estimated to be 32,000 in Asia. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence data of the partial N gene of rabies viruses in Asia has shown that the viruses are divided into five genogroups, distributed in Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, Malay, and Arctic regions. The genetic relationships among these rabies viruses agree basically with the results of previous studies. Meanwhile, new types of vaccines are being developed by applying gene manipulation techniques to rabies virus in order to overcome the disadvantages of current vaccines. This article reviews the molecular epidemiology of rabies in Asia and progress made in the development of new-generation rabies vaccines with the goal of elimination or control of rabies in Asia.     

Activities of biotransformation enzymes in pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and their modulation by in vivo administration of mebendazole and flubendazole

Basal activities of certain pheasant hepatic and intestinal biotransformation enzymes and modulation of their activities by anthelmintics flubendazole (FLBZ) and mebendazole (MBZ) were investigated in subcellular fractions that were prepared from liver and small intestine of control and FLBZ or MBZ treated birds. Several oxidation, reduction and conjugation enzyme activities were assessed. In the liver, treatment of pheasants by FLBZ or MBZ caused very slight or no changes in monooxygenase activities and conjugation enzymes. More significative changes were detected in small intestine. Metyrapone and daunorubicin reductase activities were increased by both substances in the liver. This is the first evidence that certain benzimidazoles modulate reductases of carbonyl group. With respect to the relatively slight extent of the changes caused by FLBZ or MBZ we can assume that repeated administration of therapeutic doses of both FLBZ and MBZ has probably no serious influence on pheasant biotransformation enzyme system.     

Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue on human breast cancer cell line in vitro

AIM: To investigate the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue on the growth of breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 in vitro and to explore the related mechanisms with PI3K/Akt or ERK/MAPK pathways. METHODS: The proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 treatment with triptorelin was detected by MTT assay and the distribution of the cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry. The phosphorylation of the ERK1/2 and Akt was evaluated by Western blotting. RESULTS: Triptorelin inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells at concentration of 10^-5 mol/L after treated for 192 h or at concentration of 10^-4 mol/L after treated for 168 h and 192 h. Triptorelin inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells at concentration of 10^-4 mol/L after treated for 192 h (P<0.05).Treatment with triptorelin for 192 h at concentration of 10^-4 mol/L had no statistical significance effect on phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Inhibitory effect of GnRH analogue triptorelin on human breast cancer cells is not just the connection with the down-regulation of pituitary hormone, but also a direct inhibitory effect. The role may not be involved in the activation of ERK/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.     

An unusual and novel heterozygous TCIRG1 mutation causes infantile malignant osteopetrosis

AIM: To investigate the underlying genetic changes of a Chinese patient with infantile malignant osteopetrosis (IMO). IMO is a monogenic disease, mostly caused by mutations of TCIRG1 and CLCN7 genes. The former is believed a homozygous gene and only cause the disease in homozygous or compound heterozygous status. However, it has been reported that heterozygous mutations also cause the disease in 6 non-Chinese cases. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of the patient and his parents. All exons and splice sites of TCIRG1 and CLCN7 genes were amplified by PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Mutation detection in the 2 genes was also investigated in the parents. Haplotypes were constructed by variations obtained in mutation detection and microsatillites flanking TCIRG1 gene in the family by Cyrillic. Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) was performed to detect copy number variations (CNV) of the patient and his mother. RESULTS: A novel mutation c.449_452delAGAG (p.Gln149Glnfs16) was detected in the patient. This mutation truncated 666 amino acids at the C terminal of the V-ATPase 116 kD isoform a3 protein. It wiped out the entire ATPase V0 complex and was predicted to result in total loss of protein function. This mutation was also detected in the patient's father. No pathogenic mutation was detected in CLCN7 gene. CMA did not reveal any CNV involving TCIRG1 or CLCN7 gene. CONCLUSION: We reported a novel heterozygous mutation of TCIRG1 gene causing IMO. This represents the first IMO case in China caused by heterozygous TCIRG1 gene mutation.     

Effect of long non-coding RNA MEG3 on invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA maternally expressed gene 3(MEG3) in colorectal cancer(CRC) cells, and to observe the effect of MEG3 on the invasion and migration of CRC cells. METHODS: The levels of MEG3 in human normal colon cell NCM460 and CRC cells SW48 and LoVo were detected by real- time PCR. MEG3 was over-expressed by plasmid transfection, and the effects of MEG3 on the invasion and migration of SW48 and LoVo cells were analyzed by Transwell assay and wound healing assay. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP) family proteins was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: The level of MEG3 was down-regulated in CRC cells compared with normal colon cell NCM460. The invasion and migration of CRC cells were reduced after MEG3 over-expression. Transwell invasion and migration assays showed that the numbers of transmembrane SW48 and LoVo cells were smaller in MEG3 over-expression group than control group(CONCLUSION: The expression of MEG3 is down-regulated in CRC cells. Over-expression of MEG3 inhibits the invasion and migration of CRC cells. TIMP-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 might play an important role in this regulation.     

Transplantation of bcl-2 gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells improves cardiac function and angiogenesis in rabbit ischemic car-diac insufficiency model

AIM: To investigate the effects of transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) modified by bcl-2 gene on myocardial cell apoptosis, angiogenesis and cardiac function in the rabbit after acute myocardial infarction (MI).METHODS: The rabbit BMSCs were isolated, cultured and purified in vitro. The BMSCs were transfected with adenovirus or adenovirus-Bcl-2. The rabbit model of MI was established by ligation of left anterior descending branch. The rabbits were injected with Ad-Bcl-2-BMSCs (MI+Bcl-2-BMSCs group), Ad-BMSCs (MI+BMSCs group) and DMEM (MI group) in infarction marginal zone 2 weeks after ligation. The cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography.The apoptosis of myocardial cells was measured by TUNEL. The mRNA expression of VEGF was detected by real-time PCR. The expression of CD31 was examined by immunohistochemical staining, and new blood capillaries were counted at 4 weeks after BMSCs transplantation. The correlation of the above values with cardiac function was analyzed.RESULTS: The cardiac function was better, the apoptotic rate was lower, the mRNA expression of VEGF and the capillary density were higher in both MI+Bcl-2-BMSCs group and the MI+BMSCs group than those in MI group, and those in MI+Bcl-2-BMSCs group increased more obviously.The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) had a negative correlation with the myocardial cell apoptosis rate. A positive correlation with the mRNA expression level of VEGF and the capillary density was also observed.CONCLUSION: The transplantation of BMSCs modified by bcl-2 gene significantly reduces the myocardial cell apoptosis, promotes angiogenesis, improves heart function of the rabbits with MI.     

番茄抗叶霉病基因Cf19的抗性特点及遗传连锁分析

番茄抗叶霉病基因Cf19的抗性范围基本涵盖了中国目前分化出的所有叶霉菌生理小种,且抗性显著;台盼蓝染色结果显示该基因介导的抗性应答中出现明显的超敏反应,强度介于Cf4和Cf9基因之间;遗传连锁分析说明该基因的遗传特性符合单基因显性遗传规律;通过进一步SSR和AFLP分子标记连锁分析,共找到6个与Cf19基因连锁的分子标记,并将该基因初步定位于番茄1号染色体短臂区域。     

甜瓜‘PMR6’抗白粉病基因的遗传及其定位研究

以甜瓜(Cucumis melo L.)感白粉病品种‘Hami413’为受体亲本,抗白粉病品种‘PMR6’为供体亲本构建的255株BC2分离群体为材料,研究‘PMR6’抗白粉病的遗传规律及基因定位。群体遗传分析表明,BC2群体中对白粉病菌Podosphaera xanthii生理小种1的抗性由显性单基因控制,基因命名为Pm-PMR6-1;利用混合分组分析法(Bulked segregant analysis,BSA)从分布于甜瓜12个连锁群上的390个SSR分子标记中筛选出5个多态性标记;通过连锁分析,将该抗性基因定位于12号连锁群SSR标记DM0191与CMBR111之间;根据甜瓜基因组信息设计SSR引物,进一步将该基因定位于SSR12407与SSR12202之间,并且该抗性基因与标记Mu7191共分离;比对基因组序列,两标记间物理距离约226 kb,预测35个候选基因。     

瓠瓜新品种早杂7号的选育

早杂7号是以J138-1-5-6-1-2为母本,以Z2-3-5-8-1为父本配制而成的早熟瓠瓜一代杂种。田间长势中等,早熟性优;商品瓜长35cm左右,横径6.0cm,单瓜质量0.6kg左右;瓜形匀称,瓜皮翠绿有光泽,品质好,VC含量高,坐果率高。适应性强,特别适合浙江、山东、福建等地保护地早熟栽培,也适合保护地秋延后栽培和露地栽培。