Characterization of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BetB) as an essential virulence factor of Brucella abortus

The pathogenic mechanisms of Brucellosis used to adapt to the harsh intracellular environment of the host cell are not fully understood. The present study investigated the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of B. abortus betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BetB) (Gene Bank ID: 006932) using a betB deletion mutant constructed from virulent B. abortus 544. In test under stress conditions, including osmotic- and acid stress-resistance, the betB mutant had a lower osmotic-resistance than B. abortus wild-type. In addition, the betB mutant showed higher internalization rates compared to the wild-type strain; however, it also displayed replication failures in HeLa cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages. During internalization, compared to the wild-type strain, the betB mutant was more adherent to the host surface and showed enhanced phosphorylation of protein kinases, two processes that promote phagocytic activity, in host cells. During intracellular trafficking, colocalization of B. abortus-containing phagosomes with LAMP-1 was elevated in betB mutant-infected cells compared to the wild-type cells. In mice, the betB mutant was predominantly cleared from spleens compared to the wild-type strain after 2 weeks post-infection, and the vaccination test with the live betB mutant showed effective protection against challenge infection with the virulent wild-type strain. These findings suggested that the B. abortus betB gene substantially affects the phagocytic pathway in human phagocytes and in host cells in mice. Furthermore, this study highlights the potential use of the B. abortus betB mutant as a live vaccine for the control of brucellosis.     

取法自然：纳西东巴文美学风格分析

东巴文承载了纳西族古老的美学传统,其文化精神契合于中国传统美学的意境体悟和生命意识.纳西先民以“林泉之心”直接观照自然,继而创造出具有和造化自然一样性质的审美意象,亦即所谓的“同自然之妙有”;同时把任自然的生活形态与精神境界都铸化在这种文字之中,体现了纳西东巴文与自然的亲密关系,而取法自然正是东巴文以主体之心体悟自然生命的结果,也是其最重要的美学风格.     

Short-term storage and cryopreservation of Urechis unicinctus (Echiura: Urechidae) sperm

In the present study, attempts were made to preserve Urechis unicinctus sperm at 4°C. Cryopreservation procedures were optimized for various cryoprotectants and freezing rates, equilibration times and dilution ratios. During short‐term storage, the motility of undiluted sperm was extended for 6 days of cold storage,and in 70% and 100% artificial seawater only persisted for 2 and 4 days respectively. The survival rate of undiluted sperm was maintained at a high level accordingly. After cryopreservation, the highest motility and survival rate (41.5±2.2%) were obtained in 15% dimethyl sulphoxide (Me₂SO) using a freezing rate of 30°C min^?1. After thawing the sperm cryopreserved in glycerol lost almost all motility. The motility and survival rate of post‐thawing sperm did not show significant differences after 8 and 15 min equilibration using 15% Me₂SO as cryoprotectant; the values were significantly higher than those of 2 min equilibration. Comparisons of motility and survival rate between treatments pooled by dilution ratio showed that the effect of 1:1 ratio (sperm volume to cryoprotectant volume) was best. There was no difference between 1:3 and 1:5, and other ratioswere significantly worse.     

Influence of high-mobility group box 1 on proliferation of neural stem cell in pre-infarction cortex of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model rats

AIM：To investigate the influence of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) on the proliferation of neural stem cells in peri-infarction cortex of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model rats. METHODS：Male SD rats (n=48) were randomly divided into sham group, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, RNA interference group and negative interference group. The rat middle cerebral artery was blocked to establish focal cerebral I/R model (ischemia for 1 h and reperfusion for 7 d). Lentivirus vector of HMGB1 shRNA was used to suppress the HMGB1 protein expression in the rat brain. The effect of RNA interference was evaluated by the methods of double-immunofluorescence labeling of HMGB1/GFAP and Western blotting. The proliferation of neural stem cells in the peri-infarction cortex was assessed by double labeling of BrdU/nestin. RESULTS：The protein expression of HMGB1 in I/R group was much higher than those in sham group (P<0.05). RNA interference effectively inhibited the HMGB1 expression (P<0.05). Double labeled BrdU/nestin positive cells in I/R group were more than that in sham group (P<0.05). The double labeled BrdU/nestin positive cells were significantly decreased in RNA interference group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION：Focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury promotes the proliferation of neural stem cells in peri-infarction cortex by increasing HMGB1 protein level.     

p53调控Nfkbiz基因表达的研究

核因子-κB（NF-κB）在炎症反应中起着关键的促进作用,并且受其他多种因素的调节。Nfkbiz基因编码的IκB？蛋白是IκB家族成员之一,在炎症反应中起着调节NF-κB的作用。本研究采用荧光实时定量PCR分析Nfkbiz基因的表达情况,发现在p53特定刺激源作用下Nfkbiz基因mRNA丰度显著降低。分析Nfkbiz基因序列,发现其基因中存在可能的p53反应元件,通过构建荧光素酶报告质粒及双荧光素酶报告试验和染色质免疫共沉淀试验,证明Nfkbiz基因中含有p53反应元件并且受p53蛋白调节。以上结果初步证明Nfkbiz是受p53蛋白负向调控的靶基因。     

Glycol Chitosan-Based Fluorescent Theranostic Nanoagents for Cancer Therapy

Theranostics is an integrated nanosystem that combines therapeutics with diagnostics in attempt to develop new personalized treatments with enhanced therapeutic efficacy and safety. As a promising therapeutic paradigm with cutting-edge technologies, theranostic agents are able to simultaneously deliver therapeutic drugs and diagnostic imaging agents and also monitor the response to therapy. Polymeric nanosystems have been intensively explored for biomedical applications to diagnose and treat various cancers. In recent years, glycol chitosan-based nanoagents have been developed as dual-purpose materials for simultaneous diagnosis and therapy. They have shown great potential in cancer therapies, such as chemotherapeutics and nucleic acid and photodynamic therapies. In this review, we summarize the recent progress and potential applications of glycol chitosan-based fluorescent theranostic nanoagents for cancer treatments and discuss their possible underlying mechanisms.     

区域植被对不同时间尺度气象干旱的响应——以贵州省为例

为探究贵州省植被生长变化趋势对多时间尺度气象干旱的响应,基于2001—2020年的逐月MODIS-NDVI、EVI影像和气象数据,利用皮尔森相关系数、slope趋势性分析等方法,对贵州省20 a的植被生长状况及气象干旱时空变化特征进行了分析。结果表明:(1)贵州省不同时间尺度下的SPEI在整体上呈现出缓慢增加趋势,表明干旱程度有所降低; 空间分布上干旱化趋势表现在北部的遵义、铜仁及黔西南地区。(2)贵州省植被生长状况整体呈现出增加趋势,空间分布上的黔东南地区以降低趋势为主,毕节西部地区以增长趋势为主;(3)贵州省植被生长状况与不同时间尺度的气象干旱呈现出不同程度的正相关性,以贵州省植被在黔西南和北部地区对干旱的响应最强,其次为贵阳和毕节东部; 不同的土地利用类型中,草地对SPEI₃的响应最强,其次为耕地和林地; 生长季内的不同植被类型对SPEI₃和SPEI₁₂的响应较强。综上,贵州省植被和气象干旱时空分布特征存在一定的差异性,且不同植被类型对不同时间尺度气象干旱的响应情况也有所差别。     

离子液体对靶标生物和非靶标生物AChE的影响

[目的]探究不同离子液体对靶标生物及非靶标生物体内酶活性的影响,明确其对靶标生物的毒杀作用及对非靶标生物的安全性.[方法]研究了3种离子液体对2种生物体内AChE活性的影响.[结果]溴化1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑对斜纹夜蛾AChE活性的影响在LC20浓度处理下呈抑制趋势,LC50浓度处理下呈先抑制后诱导的趋势;对斑马鱼肝脏AChE活性的影响在LC20浓度处理下呈始终抑制趋势,在LC50浓度处理下呈诱导-抑制-诱导的趋势.溴化1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑对斜纹夜蛾AChE活性的影响在LC20浓度处理下呈先抑制后诱导的趋势,在LC50浓度处理下呈抑制趋势;对斑马鱼肝脏AChE活性的影响在LC20浓度处理下呈先诱导后抑制的趋势,在LC50浓度处理下呈抑制趋势.1,2-二甲基咪唑对斜纹夜蛾AChE活性的影响在LC20浓度处理下呈先抑制后诱导的趋势,在LC50浓度处理下呈先诱导后抑制的趋势;对斑马鱼肝脏AChE活性的影响在LC20浓度处理下呈抑制趋势,在LC50浓度处理下呈先抑制后诱导趋势.[结论]3种离子液体在斑马鱼和斜纹夜蛾体内的积累对2种生物体内AChE的活性均有不同程度的影响,改变生物体内神经信号的传导,导致生物体严重的行为改变、功能紊乱、瘫痪,从而产生毒害作用.     

万寿菊中叶黄素酯提取工艺的研究

以提高万寿菊中叶黄素酯的得率为目的,探讨了超声波辅助有机溶剂提取万寿菊中叶黄素酯的最佳工艺条件。在单因素试验基础上,以叶黄素酯的得率为响应值,采用二次旋转回归组合试验设计和SAS 9.1软件统计分析方法,得到了超声波提取万寿菊中叶黄素酯的数学回归方程、响应曲面图及等高线图,确定了最佳提取工艺参数。结果表明,提取剂为石油醚,溶剂倍率20,提取温度40℃,提取时间90 min,超声波功率150 W,叶黄素酯的得率最高可达18.57%。接近模型预测值,说明采用响应面法对叶黄素酯提取条件进行优化合理可行。     

云南鹤庆国家湿地公园总体规划概述

通过对鹤庆国家湿地公园特有资源进行深入的调查和分析,按照国家湿地公园建立的基本原则,制定了以公园特色为基础的总体规划方案。