Nutritional Qualities of the Low-Value Bivalve Mollusks Paphia malabarica and Villorita cyprinoides at the Estuarine Waters of the Southwestern Coast of India

The bivalve mollusks Paphia malabarica and Villorita cyprinoides collected from the estuarine system located in the southwest coastal waters of India were evaluated for their nutritional composition. A balanced essential to nonessential amino acid ratio (> 1.0) with a greater quantity of sulfur-containing amino acids in these species demonstrated that they could provide well-balanced protein depositions. The n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in P. malabarica was found to be greater than 2, and, therefore, can be considered as a healthy diet. The C₂₀–C₂₂ long-chain polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids (for example, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid) accounted for more than 23% of the total fatty acid content in P. malabarica as compared to about 7% in V. cyprinoides. P. malabarica showed greater hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (1.7) and lesser atherogenicity (0.7), thrombogenicity (0.3) indices when contrasted with those in V. cyprinoides, thereby indicating the nutritional superiority of the former. A greater content of vitamin D₃ (> 150 IU), along with significant quantities of calcium and phosphorus (> 500 mg/100 g) in the clams, signified their importance in preventing osteoporosis. This study demonstrated the importance of bivalves, in particular, P. malabarica as a valued species for human consumption.     

Replication of neurovirulent equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in CD172a+ monocytic cells

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is responsible for respiratory disorders, abortion and myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in horses. Two pathotypes of EHV-1 strains are circulating in the field: neurovirulent (N) and non-neurovirulent (NN). For both strains, CD172a⁺ monocytic cells are one of the main carrier cells of EHV-1 during primary infection, allowing the virus to invade the horse’s body. Recently, we showed that EHV-1 NN strains showed a restricted and delayed replication in CD172a⁺ cells. Here we characterize the in vitro replication kinetics of two EHV-1 N strains in CD172a⁺ cells and investigate if the replication of these strains is similarly silenced as shown for EHV-1 NN strains. We found that EHV-1 N replication was restricted to 7–8% in CD172a⁺ cells compared to 100% in control RK-13 cells. EHV-1 N replication was not delayed in CD172a⁺ cells but virus production was significant lower (10^3.0 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells) than in RK-13 cells (10^8.5 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells). Approximately 0.04% of CD172a⁺ cells produced and transmitted infectious EHV-1 to neighbour cells compared to 65% of RK-13 cells. Unlike what we observed for the NN strain, pretreatment of CD172a⁺ cells with histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACi) did not influence the replication of EHV-1 N strains in these cells. Overall, these results show that the EHV-1 replication of N strains in CD172a⁺ cells differs from that observed for NN strains, which may contribute to their different pathogeneses in vivo.     

CD36/Src/ERK pathway is involved in process of monocyte differentiation into macrophages

AIM To investigate the role of fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) on differentiation of monocytes to macrophages. METHODS Human monocyte THP-1 cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) at 0, 100 and 200 μg /L. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting CD36 (siCD36) was employed to knock down the expression of CD36 in THP-1 cells. The CD36 over-expression (CD36OE) cell line was constructed by transfection with a recombinant lentivirus containing CD36 cDNA. Optical microscopy and crystal violet staining were used to detect the monocyte morphological changes and adhesion ability. The protein expression of CD36 was measured by flow cytometry and Western blot. The mRNA levels of CD36, CD11b and CD80 were detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK） and Src tyrosine kinase were determined by Western blot. RESULTS The cellular adhesiveness of THP-1 cells was elevated in the process of monocytes differentiation, and the expression of CD36 was increased in this process as well (P<0.01). siCD36 was transfected into the THP-1 cells (CD36i group) and the silencing efficiency was approximately 80%. The cell surface area and cellular adhesiveness were significantly decreased in CD36i group compared with scrambled siRNA (NCi) group (P<0.01). The mRNA levels of CD11b and CD80 were decreased in CD36i group compared with NCi group (P<0.01). The cell surface area and cellular adhesiveness were increased in CD36OE group compared with empty vector (vector) group (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of CD11b and CD80 were increased in CD36OE group compared with vector group (P<0.01). The phosphorylation levels of ERK and Src were decreased in CD36i group compared with NCi group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION CD36 promotes the differentiation of human monocyte THP-1 cells to macrophages by increasing the phosphorylation of Src and further activating ERK.     

Identification and establishment of sorting method for isolating CD11b+ myeloid cells in human hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer

AIM: To establish a method for obtaining specific cells in solid tumor tissue by sorting of CD11b⁺ myeloid cells in hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.METHODS: Tumor tissues were prepared into single cell suspension by mechanical method combined with enzyme digestion, and then the CD11b⁺ myeloid cells were isolated by flow cytometry. The sorted cells were identified by immunocytochemistry. The viability and morphologiy of the sorted cells were evaluated by Giemsa and Typan blue staining. The cell purity was evaluated by flow cytometry.RESULTS: Sufficient numbers of CD11b⁺ cells with high purity were isolated by sorting with flow cytometry from the single cell suspension prepared by mechanical and enzyme digestion. The purity of the cells was confirmed by statistical analysis (P<0.05). The positive rates of the cells before and after sorting were significantly different (P<0.01). The positive cells were verified by immunocytochemical method. Meanwhile, the sorted cells had complete morphology and good activity.CONCLUSION: The CD11b⁺ myeloid cells in solid tumor tissue can be isolated by flow cytometry from the machine-enzyme digestion suspension with high purity, good activity and complete morphology.     

CD147 monoclonal antibody-mediated nanoparticles for gene therapy to target lung cancer cells

AIM: In this study, CD147 antibody was used to carry out targeted modification of nanoparticles for protein kinase Cε (PKCε)-siRNA gene therapy to target lung cancer cells. The inhibitory effects of the nanoparticles on the proliferation and invasion of the lung cancer cells were observed. METHODS: The magnetic nanoparticles targeting CD147 protein were assembled as gene vector. The expression of CD147 in the lung cancer cells was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope. The cells were divided into CP group, CN group and LP group as the experimental groups. Targeted nanoparticles were used as CA group. Non-transfected cells were used as control group. The cell transfection was carried out with 250 ng plasmids/well in 6-well plate. The effect of nanocontrast agent on the cell endocytosis was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope. The mRNA expression of PKCε was detected by RT-qPCR. The protein expression of Ki67, MMP3, PKCε, Wnt1 and GAPDH was determined by Western blot. The cell proliferation ability was detected with colony formation assay. The cell invasion ability was detected by Transwell method. RESULTS: The expression of CD147 protein in the human lung cancer A549 cells was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. The endocytosis of siRNA into the A549 cells in CP group was observed with the highest efficiency as compared with CN group and LP group. The relative mRNA expression of PKCε in the A549 cells of CP group, CN group, LP group and CA group were (9.76±0.18)%, (98.51±0.32)%, (99.17±0.16)% and (99.68±0.11)%, respectively. The difference between CP group and control group was statistically significant (P<0.05). No significant difference among CN group, LP group and control group was observed. The protein expression of PKCε, Ki-67, MMP3 and Wnt1 in CP group was significantly reduced, and the protein expression levels among CN group, LP group and control group had no significant difference. The colony number in CP group was significantly smaller than that in control group (P<0.05). The effective colony numbers in CN group, LP group and CA group had no significant difference as compared with control group. The number of the invading cells in CP group was significantly less than that in control group (P<0.05). The numbers of the invading cells in CN group, LP group and CA group had no significant difference as compared with control group. CONCLUSION: Nanogene vector targeting CD147 can carry PKCε-siRNA to conduct gene therapy efficiently on the lung cancer cells to achieve effective inhibitory effects on the proliferation and invasion of the lung cancer cells.     

玉米新品种浚单22不同密度对产量的影响

为探讨玉米新品种浚单22获得高产的适宜种植密度，河南省浚县农业科学研究所对浚单22进行了5个处理的密度试验。试验结果表明：在5个试验处理的栽培密度中，以6．00万株／hm^2产量最高，其次为6．75万株／hm^2和5．25万株／hm^2，适宜种植密度为5．25万～6．75万株／hm^2。     

Porcine CD18 mediates Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae ApxIII species-specific toxicity

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, produces Apx toxins that are recognized as major virulence factors. Recently, we showed that ApxIIIA-cytotoxic activity specifically targets Sus scrofa leukocytes. Since both LtxA from Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (aggressive periodontitis in humans) and LktA from Mannheimia haemolytica (pneumonia in ruminants) share this characteristic, respectively towards human and ruminant leukocytes, and because both use the CD18 subunit to interact with their respective LFA-1, we hypothesized that ApxIIIA was likely to bind porcine CD18 to exercise its deleterious effects on pig leukocytes. A β ₂−integrin-deficient ApxIIIA-resistant human erythroleukemic cell line was transfected either with homologous or heterologous CD11a/CD18 heterodimers using a set of plasmids coding for human (ApxIIIA-resistant), bovine (-resistant) and porcine (-susceptible) CD11a and CD18 subunits. Cell preparations that switched from ApxIIIA-resistance to -susceptibility were then sought to identify the LFA-1 subunit involved. The results showed that the ApxIIIA-resistant recipient cell line was rendered susceptible only if the CD18 partner within the LFA-1 heterodimer was that of the pig. It is concluded that porcine CD18 is necessary to mediate A. pleuropneumoniae ApxIIIA toxin-induced leukolysis.     

传染性支气管炎病毒结构蛋白免疫鸡对CD4+CD8+T淋巴细胞亚群的影响

为了比较传染性支气管炎病毒3种主要结构蛋白免疫鸡后对CD4+、CD8+T淋巴细胞亚群的不同影响.本试验以pVAX1载体为携带工具,制备分别含有IBV主要结构蛋白基因的质粒免疫健康雏鸡,采用流式细胞仪(FACS)对免疫鸡外周血中CD4+、CD8+T淋巴细胞数进行检测.结果显示:各试验组间,携带N蛋白基因的质粒在免疫后3周内CD4+T淋巴细胞数和CD8+T淋巴细胞数均高于其他组,且差异极显著(P＜0.01).由此可见,IBV的N蛋白可明显诱导CD8+T淋巴细胞的CTL免疫作用和CD4+T淋巴细胞的辅助性免疫作用,其细胞免疫原性高于S1蛋白和M蛋白.     

Identification of CD3+ T lymphocytes in the green turtle Chelonia mydas

To understand the role of the immune system with respect to disease in reptiles, there is the need to develop tools to assess the host's immune response. An important tool is the development of molecular markers to identify immune cells, and these are limited for reptiles. We developed a technique for the cryopreservation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and showed that a commercially available anti-CD3 epsilon chain antibody detects a subpopulation of CD3 positive peripheral blood lymphocytes in the marine turtle Chelonia mydas. In the thymus and in skin inoculated with phytohemagglutinin, the same antibody showed the classical staining pattern observed in mammals and birds. For Western blot, the anti-CD3 antibodies identified a 17.6 kDa band in membrane proteins of peripheral blood mononuclear cell compatible in weight to previously described CD3 molecules. This is the first demostration of CD3+ cells in reptiles using specific antibodies.     

禽分枝杆菌副结核亚种重组蛋白r22-ag85B的表达及纯化

为表达并纯化禽分枝杆菌副结核亚种主要抗原基因的串联重组蛋白r22-ag85B,期望研制出一种新型副结核病疫苗,以禽分枝杆菌副结核亚种参考株P18的基因组DNA为模板,扩增了22KD基因和ag85B基因。采用重叠延伸剪接PCR技术（SOE-PCR）获得了融合基因22-agS5B,将基因连接于表达载体pET32a（＋）,构建了重组质粒pET22-ag85B。将其转化到大肠杆菌感受态细胞BL21（DE3）中,以IPTG（终浓度1mmol／L）诱导后对表达产物进行Western blot检测。检测结果显示,成功表达并纯化了重组蛋白r22-ag85B,其分子质量约为65ku。Western blot检测表明此蛋白具有良好的免疫学活性。禽分枝杆菌副结核亚种22-ag85B重组蛋白的成功表达及纯化为副结核病疫苗的研究工作奠定了基础。