病原微生物荚膜多糖的生物学功能

荚膜多糖（capsular polysaccharide，CPS）是一种广泛存在于细菌、支原体、部分真菌等菌体表面的碳水化合物。同时，荚膜多糖有助于菌体抵抗干燥和低温等不利环境，并通过在菌体表面形成物理屏障阻碍宿主补体的杀伤与吞噬作用。在长期多种应激-压力环境下，病原菌已进化出多种免疫逃避机制并促进宿主感染；在非病原微生物中，荚膜多糖可正向调节宿主免疫作用，并拮抗机体免疫因子，保护宿主免受病原菌引起的炎症性疾病。本文将结合本团队的相关研究工作，对荚膜多糖的结构、合成调控机制、生物学功能、免疫逃避机制和致病机制，特别是荚膜多糖正向调节宿主免疫系统及其应用潜力等方面作一综述，为病原菌致病机制的研究和疫病的有效防控提供参考依据。     

立体绿化集成技术配套产品开发利用研究进展

当前立体绿化在国内多个大中城市中得到了蓬勃发展,促进了相关配套产品的研发和推广应用,同时新型的配套产品又推动了立体绿化的快速发展。本文对华南地区立体绿化基质产品、蓄水种植容器、植被毯、绿墙、生态植被砖等相关配套产品的研发及应用情况展开综述,旨在为今后能更有效地推广立体绿化集成技术及相关产品提供参考。     

甜瓜质地差异及相关细胞壁酶活性变化

对两种不同质地类型甜瓜果实发育过程中果肉质地的变化及相关酶活性进行研究。结果表明,花后35~40 d为软、脆两种甜瓜质地形成的关键时期。在该时期,软肉型甜瓜‘NSL’细胞面积与间隙增大,果肉细胞排列疏松,细胞面积为脆肉型甜瓜的115.35%,软肉型甜瓜‘NSL’与脆肉型甜瓜‘XZM’质构参数差异显著,脆肉型甜瓜果实4种细胞壁酶活性总体低于软肉型甜瓜。花后35 d,软肉型甜瓜‘NSL’细胞壁扩展酶基因(CmEXP3、CmEXP5、CmEXP9)相对表达量为最大值,显著高于脆肉型甜瓜‘XZM’。     

Effect of Linc00152 targeting miR-376c-3p on viability,apoptosis and radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of Linc00152 on the viability, apoptosis and radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells. METHODS: RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of Linc00152 and microRNA-376c-3p(miR-376c-3p) in human cervical cancer HeLa cells and SiHa cells, and normal cervical Ect1/E6E7 cells. The cervical cancer HeLa cells with low Linc00152 expression or miR-376c-3p over-expression were established. MTT assay, flow cytometry, colony formation assay and Western blot were used to determine the cell viability, apoptosis, radiosensitivity and related protein expression. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the regulatory relationship between Linc00152 and miR-376c-3p in the HeLa cells. RESULTS: Compared with the Ect1/E6E7 cells, Linc00152 was up-regulated in the HeLa cells and SiHa cells, and miR-376c-3p was down-regulated (P < 0.05). Low expression of Linc00152 or over-expression of miR-376c-3p inhibited the viability of HeLa cells, induced apoptosis, enhanced the radiosensitivity, inhibited the protein expression of cyclin D and Bcl-2, and promoted the protein expression of P21 and Bax (P < 0.05). Linc00152 negatively regulated miR-376c-3p expression in the HeLa cells, and inhibition of miR-376c-3p expression reversed the effect of low expression of Linc00152 on HeLa cell viability, apoptosis and radiosensitivity. CONCLUSION: Linc00152 is highly expressed in the cervical cancer cells. Linc00152 affects the viability, apoptosis and radiosensitivity of HeLa cells by targeting miR-376c-3p, which is a potential diagnosis and treatment target for cervical cancer.     

Mechanism of elemene enhancing radiosensitivity of human glioma U251 cells

AIM To investigate the effect of elemene on the radiosensitivity of human glioma U251 cells and its mechanism. METHODS The U251 cells were used as a glioma model in vitro, and were exposed to different concentrations of elemene and different doses of radiation. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, the apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the related protein levels were determined by Western blot. RESULTS Elemene inhibited the viability of U251 cells in vitro and enhanced the radiosensitivity of the cells. The cells in radiotherapy combined with elemene group had higher rates of early apoptosis, secondary necrosis and total cell death than those in radiation group. Elemene induced G₂/M phase arrest in the U251 cells. Elemene reduced the protein expression of cell division cycle protein 2 （Cdc2）, which resulted in the decrease in cyclin B1 expression induced by radiotherapy, thereby inhibiting the formation of cyclin B-Cdc2 complex. Elemene reduced Cdc2 activity by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Cdc2 protein at threonine 161, thereby inducing G₂/M phase arrest in the cells. It also mediated apoptosis by down-regulating survivin expression. CONCLUSION Elemene may increase the sensitivity of U251 cells to radiotherapy by down-regulating Cdc2 protein, decreasing cyclin B1 expression, inhibiting the formation of cylcin B-Cdc2 complex and down-regulating the expression of survivin.     

Molecular mechanisms of Belinostat inhibiting viability of osteosarcoma cells

AIM: To observe the effect of histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) Belinostat on the viability of osteosarcoma cells and to study the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Osteosarcoma cell lines SAOS-2 and U2OS were incubated with Belinostat at different concentrations in vitro. The viability of the cells was measured by MTT assay. The activity of caspase-3/-7 and the DNA fragmentation were detected by fluorescence probe and ELISA, respectively. Western blot was used to detect the levels of histone acetylation, expression of PTEN, caspase-3, Bcl-xL and Akt, and phosphorylation of glycogen synthetase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) and Akt. Finally, the cells were incubated with Belinostat and doxorubicin at different concentrations, and then the combination index (CI) was calculated by MTT. RESULTS: Belinostat at 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5 μmol/L inhibited the viability of U2OS cells and SAOS-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, induced DNA fragmentation, enhanced caspase-3/-7 activity, and promoted the activation of caspase-3. At the same time, in the SAOS-2 cells, the expression of Bcl-xL was reduced, and the acetylation of histones H3 and H4 was increased. The results of Western blot showed that phosphorylation levels of Akt and GSK-3β in U2OS cells and SAOS-2 cells were decreased significantly after treatment with Belinostat (P<0.05). MTT results showed that combination of Belinostat and doxorubicin further reduced the viability of U2OS and SAOS-2 cells (CI<1). CONCLUSION: Belinostat inhibits the viability of osteosarcoma cells treated with doxorubicin, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Akt signaling pathway.     

Cell wall disruption: An effective strategy to improve the nutritive quality of microalgae in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

The rigid cell walls of microalgae may hinder their utilization in fish feeds. The current experiment assessed the correlation between the accessibility of microalgae nutrients and their in vivo digestibility in African catfish. Nannochloropsis gaditana biomass was subjected to physical or mechanical treatments to weaken its cell wall; untreated—no disruption treatment (UNT), pasteurization (PAS), freezing (FRO), freeze‐drying (FRD), cold pasteurization (L40) and bead milling (BEM). Six experimental diets formulated from differently treated and untreated microalgae (at 30% diet inclusion level) were tested on growth performance and apparent nutrient digestibility (ADCs) in juvenile African catfish. A basal diet (REF) containing no microalgae was used as reference diet. Results showed that biomass gain and feed conversion ratio of fish fed L40 and BEM diets increased by 13% and 11%, respectively, relative to the UNT diet. Additionally, FRD, FRO, L40 and BEM cell wall disruption treatments improved protein digestibility by 0.5%, 5.9%, 8.4% and 16.3%, respectively, compared to the UNT treatment. There was a positive correlation between accessibility of microalgal nutrients and their digestibility in African catfish. Nutrient digestibility of microalgae was dependent on extent of cell disruption. Also, the impact of cell disruption on nutrient digestibility of microalgae differs between African catfish and Nile tilapia.     

高山油菜花粉黄酮提取工艺研究

采用超声波结合复合酶液对高山油菜花粉进行破壁预处理后，以95%的乙醇提取花粉中黄酮，研究提取温度、时间和固液比对破壁高山油菜花粉黄酮得率的影响，筛选适宜的提取工艺。结果表明，超声波酶解处理时间60 min即可使油菜花粉破壁率达到90%以上；通过正交试验确定最佳提取工艺条件为：提取温度95 ℃，时间2 h，料液比1∶35 (g/mL)，此时高山油菜花粉黄酮得率高达7.65%。     

轻型木结构墙体稳态传热性能及其保温材料影响比较

轻型木结构墙体的热工性能对建筑节能至关重要,其稳态传热性能是节能效率评估指标之一。工程调研发现,轻型木结构墙体墙骨柱热传递过程易产生冷热桥,改善墙体保温构造并通过试验测试,对得到不同构造的墙体传热系数等指标进行分析研究,有利于设计人员优选墙体设计参数、研发墙体新型保温材料。试验采用标定热箱法与热流计法相结合的试验方法——控温箱-热流计法对改善保温措施的墙体进行试验,分析了12种墙体试件的热流密度、传热系数、热阻以及日传热量参数,并与理论计算结果进行比较验证,试验结果与理论计算结果吻合性较好。研究发现:气凝胶毡放置在墙骨柱位置能够有效降低平均传热系数3.8%~15.0%,随厚度增加可逐渐减弱或消除墙骨柱冷热桥效应;聚苯乙烯保温板可有效降低传热系数32.4%~35.1%,墙体蓄热能力较好;纳米纤维保温材料可有效降低传热系数5.9%~8.7%,提高墙体冷热面温差,平衡室内温度。选取的3种保温材料中,聚苯乙烯保温板相比气凝胶毡和纳米纤维保温材料,对墙体整体热工性能的提升更为显著。