Influence of Lipid A Acylation Pattern on Membrane Permeability and Innate Immune Stimulation

Lipid A, the hydrophobic anchor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is an essential component in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. It can stimulate the innate immune system via Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (TLR4/MD2), leading to the release of inflammatory cytokines. In this study, six Escherichia coli strains which can produce lipid A with different acylation patterns were constructed; the influence of lipid A acylation pattern on the membrane permeability and innate immune stimulation has been systematically investigated. The lipid A species were isolated and identified by matrix assisted laser ionization desorption-time of flight/tandem mass spectrometry. N-Phenyl naphthylamine uptake assay and antibiotic susceptibility test showed that membrane permeability of these strains were different. The lower the number of acyl chains in lipid A, the stronger the membrane permeability. LPS purified from these strains were used to stimulate human or mouse macrophage cells, and different levels of cytokines were induced. Compared with wild type hexa-acylated LPS, penta-acylated, tetra-acylated and tri-acylated LPS induced lower levels of cytokines. These results suggest that the lipid A acylation pattern influences both the bacterial membrane permeability and innate immune stimulation. The results would be useful for redesigning the bacterial membrane structure and for developing lipid A vaccine adjuvant.     

Glaucoma associated with uveal cysts and goniodysgenesis in American Bulldogs: a case series

We present a series of three American Bulldogs with clinical signs of glaucoma and intraocular inflammation accompanied by bilateral uveal cysts and abnormal gonioscopic findings. All dogs proved refractory to medical management and were enucleated. Histopathologic findings were similar in all three and included significant preiridal fibrovascular membranes and mononuclear inflammatory infiltrates in the anterior uvea. On microscopic evaluation, cysts appeared to arise primarily from the ciliary body and iridociliary sulcus, with smaller cysts also budding from the posterior iris. Pigment dispersion was variable but consistent, involving deposition of a small number of pigment‐laden cells in the dependent trabecular meshwork. Cataract formation was not noted. Glaucoma associated with uveal cysts has been described previously in Golden Retrievers and Great Danes, although clinical and histopathologic findings in those breeds are not identical to those described here. American Bulldogs with uveal cysts should have gonioscopy performed and should be monitored carefully for signs of increased intraocular pressure and intraocular inflammation. Furthermore, documentation of cyst‐associated glaucoma in a third breed suggests clinicians should exercise caution in dismissing uveal cysts in dogs as incidental findings.     

副鸡禽杆菌A、B、C 3个血清型菌株外膜蛋白的差异分析

为了探索不同血清型副鸡禽杆菌菌株外膜蛋白的差异,本试验采用FOCUSTM Global Fractionation试剂盒制备副鸡禽杆菌A(221株)、B(0222株)、C(Modesto株)3个血清型参考菌株的外膜蛋白,进行SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳。结果表明,不同血清型参考菌株的电泳图谱相似,经凝胶定量软件分析,结果显示,主要条带均有7个,其分子质量相似,分别占A、B和C蛋白质总量的70.85%、68.6%和65.71%。此外共有3个蛋白质条带分子质量相似,但蛋白质含量差异显著(P<0.05)。本试验为副鸡禽杆菌外膜蛋白的进一步研究提供了理论依据。     

Effects of Shaking Time on Long‐term Phosphorus Desorption using Dialysis Membrane Tubes filled with Hydrous Iron Oxide

The use of dialysis membrane tubes filled with hydrous ferric oxide (DMT‐HFO) solution has recently been reported as an effective way to characterize phosphorus (P) desorption over a long term in laboratory studies. However, the DMT‐HFO method, similar to other soil tests, exploits 100% of the sample volume, which is much more than what the plant roots can exploit under natural conditions. One possible solution to mimic the root P uptake better by this method could be to modify the shaking procedure using different shaking periods. The objectives of this study were to investigate the influence of variable shaking times on the rate of P desorbed by the DMT‐HFO method and to relate the desorption indices generated with maize yield in a diferential P fertilizer trial. The effect of varying shaking options on the extractable DMT‐HFO‐P_i for the different P treatments showed a significant difference only for treatment MNPK. Significant correlations were obtained between the labile pool rate coefficients [k_A1 (0.92^??), k_A2 (0.99??), k_A3 (0.92^??), and k_A4 (0.92^??)] and maize grain yield for shaking options 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The only rate coefficient from the less labile pool, k_B, which showed a significant but moderate correlation (r = 0.78^?) with maize grain yield, was k_B1. The cumulative amount of P (mg kg^?1) extracted by DMT‐HFO showed no statistically significant correlations with maize grain yield in all the options considered. Judging from the r values, the rate coefficients appeared to be better indices of plant availability than the amount of P extracted by DMT‐HFO, and based on the r values, option 2 seemed relatively better than the others because it showed the strongest correlation in both cases.     

土壤导气率瞬态模型关键参数s简化求解

Li Hailong瞬态导气率模型无需测量通过样品的气体通量,相对传统稳态测量法具有测量时间短、对样品结构破坏小等突出优点,但模型的关键参数s即样品密封端压力动态变化与时间t之间关系计算过程复杂,致使其应用不便.因此,本文在Li Hailong导气率测算模型基础上对参数s计算过程进行了简化,并用稳态法对简化后的模型进行验证.室内对40组土样导气率测量结果表明:简化解s0即Lnp (t)与时间t之间存在Kirkham提出的瞬态模型线性关系;以原模型参数s为标准,简化解s0与参数s相对误差变化幅度小于0.5％,整体相对误差小.     

高密度CO2处理对E. coli细胞膜渗透性的影响

以E. coli菌悬液为研究对象,通过测定高密度CO₂处理(DPCD)后E. coli上清液中蛋白质、核酸、Mg2+、K+离子和丙二醛的含量,辅助透射电镜观察,研究DPCD 对E. coli细胞膜渗透性的影响。在7MPa、37℃条件下,E. coli经高密度CO₂处理10min后,99%以上的E. coli失活,同时研究发现蛋白质、核酸及Mg2+、K+离子等胞内物质均发生了不同程度的泄漏,丙二醛含量增加,E. coli胞内物质密度降低。密度CO₂处理造成E. coli细胞膜渗透性的增加,这也是导致E. coli死亡的原因之一。     

一种模拟土壤养分提取及及植物吸收的装置研究

In situ evaluating the availability of soil nutrients has been a challenge. In this study, a new type of Device for Simulating Soil Nutrient Extraction and Plant Uptake (DSSNEPU) and its operating procedures were introduced. The device consists of a sampling tube, a fluid supply system, a low pressure system, a tube sheath and an elution cylinder. The sampling tube was firstly soaked in the solution of 0.5 mol L 1 NaHCO 3 and then buried into soils. The fluid supply system was connected to the sampling tube and the deionized water was supplied. During the period, low pressure system started a vacuum for 3 min every 10 min interval. After extraction, the sampling tube was removed and the nutrients on the sampling tube were eluted with 0.5 mol L 1 HCl. The elution solution was used for nutrient measurement. The amounts of P and K extracted by DSSNEPU reached the maximal values after 4 h. No significant increases of P and K were observed for longer extraction duration. The optimal temperature for extracting P and K was 30 C in this experiment. Extracted P and K were increased by 83.3% and 84.6% with the employment of low pressure system in comparison to those without employing low pressure system. Correlation analysis indicated that P and K extracted by DSSNEPU were highly correlated with those by conventional chemical extraction and by plant uptake. The above results suggest that this device is applicable to assess the availability of nutrients in soils.     

铝合金温室拱形ETFE膜屋面抗风性能分析

为分析铝合金结构拱形ETFE(乙烯-四氟乙烯热塑性聚合物)膜屋面的抗风性能,提高其设计的安全性,该文根据单轴拉伸试验数据,确定了ETFE薄膜材料的力学参数和应力应变关系;基于几何非线性有限元理论,推导了膜单元的基本方程;利用大型通用有限元软件ANSYS,采用支座提升法对骨架式拱形ETFE屋面进行了找形分析,建立了用于荷载分析的计算模型;对拱形ETFE屋面在风荷载工况下进行了算例分析,计算了膜面主应力分布和变形特征;分析了不同膜面预应力水平对承载性的影响。分析结果表明,风荷载主要影响ETFE膜屋面第一主应力的分布,适当增加膜面预应力可以显著提高其整体刚度和承载力。研究结论为铝合金温室拱形ETFE屋面的抗风计算分析和施工提供了参考。     

西藏3份垂穗披碱草耐旱性评价

探索野生垂穗披碱草（Elymus nutans Griseb.）种子萌发与幼苗生长对干旱胁迫的生理响应,为西藏乡土植物耐旱性鉴定和育种提供依据。以西藏那曲市班戈县和索县2个地区的2份野生垂穗披碱草（Ⅰ号和Ⅱ号）为试验材料,以驯化品种巴青垂穗披碱草（E. nutans G. cv. Baqing）为对照材料,使用聚乙二醇（PEG-6000）溶液和盆栽后自然干旱法分别模拟垂穗披碱草在萌发期和幼苗期的干旱胁迫环境,并测定相关生理指标。结果表明,PEG-6000抑制了Ⅰ号和Ⅱ号种子萌发,低浓度（-0.10MPa）的PEG-6000处理有利于巴青垂穗披碱草种子萌发;PEG-6000抑制了垂穗披碱草根和芽的生长,其中对于芽的抑制作用尤为明显。干旱胁迫下,幼苗叶片相对电导率值和丙二醛含量不断上升,超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和过氧化物酶活性呈先升后降的趋势。经隶属函数分析,供试的3份垂穗披碱草在种子萌发期和幼苗期生理耐旱性较强,均属于Ⅱ级（较抗）,其耐旱性为巴青垂穗披碱草>垂穗披碱草Ⅰ号>垂穗披碱草Ⅱ号。