Lignin fragments rich in detached side-chain structures found in water-soluble LCC

The content of the glyceraldehyde-2-aryl ether-type structure in water-soluble lignin–carbohydrate complex (LCC) fractions, which were obtained from Japanese cedar and birch residual wood meal after milled wood lignin isolation, was determined by ozonation. Quite high amounts of the glyceraldehyde-2-aryl ether-type structure were found in water-soluble LCC fractions of both species; about 3–5 times higher than those of other fractions. This result, as well as the high content of the β-1 structure in these fractions shown in our previous reports, suggest that lignin in these fractions has the characteristics of endwise-type lignin, because the glyceraldehyde-2-aryl ether-type structure and β-1 structure are typical characteristics of this type of lignin fraction. These results are in good agreement with the generally accepted hypothesis that the glyceraldehyde-2-aryl ether-type structure and β-1 structure are generated at the same time by a radical coupling reaction. The results also indicated that these two structures are present in close proximity in the lignin.     

Synthesis of 1-hydroxyethyl-2-alkyl-2-imidazoline and its derivative sulfonate amphoteric surfactant from tall oil fatty acid

1-Hydroxyethyl-2-alkyl-2-imidazoline (HEAI) and its derivative sulfonate amphoteric surfactant were synthesized using tall oil fatty acid as the raw material. Suitable experimental conditions for synthesizing the intermediate and final products were probed. Their chemical structures were also investigated by means of infrared spectroscopy and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Based on the results of these analyses, it has been found that during the reaction process of HEAI with sodium 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropane sulfonate under alkaline condition the imidazoline ring was hydrolyzed to amides, and the obtained amphoteric surfactant was actually a complex mixture of amides. An etherification reaction in the hydroxyethyl group was also observed when the HEAI/sodium 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropane sulfonate molar ratio was more than 1:1.     

1-(3-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl) ethanone, a new compound from the stem bark of Lamprothamnus zanguebaricus

The chloroform extract of the stem bark of Lamprothamnus zanguebaricus has yielded two ethanones; 1-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)ethanone (I) (a new compound) and 1-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone (II). The structures of both compounds were established by spectroscopic methods.     

一种制备(3R,4R)-4,7,7-三甲基-6-氧杂二环[3.2.1]辛烷-3,4-二醇的新方法

在催化剂过氧磷钨酸十二烷基吡啶盐(Cat-PW4)的作用下,α-蒎烯与H2O2反应生成主要产物(3R,4R)-4,7,7-三甲基-6-氧杂二环[3.2.1]辛烷-3,4-二醇。不同反应条件对反应转化率和选择性的实验结果表明,最佳反应条件为:12.8 mmolα-蒎烯、5 m L溶剂三氯甲烷、0.2 g催化剂、3.3 m L 30%H2O2,反应温度40℃,反应时间3 h,α-蒎烯转化率和产物的选择性分别为94.7%和39.8%。反应结束后,该产物存在于水相和有机相中,通过萃取和重结晶分离提纯,得率11%,纯度达到98%;其分子结构通过红外光谱、紫外光谱、1H核磁共振谱、13C核磁共振谱、低分辨率质谱及高分辨率质谱确证。     

鸡传染性贫血病毒VP1、VP2基因的表达及免疫原性研究

为探索鸡传染性贫血重组蛋白亚单位疫苗的可行性,将鸡传染性贫血病毒基因分别克隆到转移载体p Fast Bac HTA中,再将其分别转化DH10Bac感受态细胞得到相应的重组表达载体,转染昆虫细胞Sf21获得含有VP1、VP2基因的重组杆状病毒v Bac-VP1、v Bac-VP2,应用悬浮培养的Sf21细胞表达重组蛋白。SDS-PAGE及Western blotting结果证明,VP1、VP2基因在昆虫细胞中得到了表达,动物试验进一步证实,重组蛋白免疫SPF鸡可产生ELISA抗体,提示杆状病毒表达的VP1、VP2具有良好的免疫原性。     

鸭甲肝病毒VP1基因克隆及序列分析

通过PCR技术,从自行分离的鸭甲肝病毒JS株基因组中扩增出病毒衣壳蛋白VP1完整基因片段,并对该片段进行序列测定及分析。结果显示JS-VP1与DHAV-A的VP1基因序列酸核苷酸同源性在62.0%~64.4%之间,与DHAV-B的VP1基因序列酸核苷酸同源性在63.6%~63.8%之间,与DHAV-C的VP1基因序列酸核苷酸同源性在92.3%~98.5%之间,分析表明JS株为鸭甲肝病毒基因C型,血清型分型为韩国新型。进化树表明JS株与SD02株的亲缘关系较进,进一步说明VP1基因的核苷酸序列是DHAV基因组中的高度可变区,可作为DHAV基因型研究的标记,分离毒株为DHAV的防治及疫苗的设计奠定了基础。     

雏番鸭病毒性肝炎病毒的分离与鉴定

从洛江区临床发病鸭分离到2株病毒,2株分离病毒能够致死鸡胚,能被Ⅰ型鸭病毒性肝炎标准强毒高免血清特异性中和。分离毒株在鸡胚上传代培养,并测定ELD50分别为10-6.32/0.2 m L、10-5.49/0.2 m L;经动物回归试验,对1日龄雏番鸭的致死率分别为80%和70%,雏番鸭出现明显的角弓反张姿态,剖检可见肝脏出血斑、出血点,为鸭病毒性肝炎的典型症状,表明分离到的病毒为Ⅰ型鸭病毒性肝炎病毒(DHV-I)。     

仔猪雷极氏普罗菲登斯菌的分离鉴定及系统进化分析

为了解猪雷极氏普罗菲登斯菌(P.rettgeri)的生物学特性、致病性及16SrRNA基因系统进化关系,从发生严重腹泻、血便的哺乳仔猪群的内脏器官中分离到1株病原菌,根据形态特征、培养特性、生化特性、16SrRNA基因序列分析鉴定为P.rettgeri。小鼠攻毒试验证实,该分离菌株对试验小鼠有较强致病力,哺乳仔猪回归试验可复制出与临床上相似的典型症状,并从发病死亡小鼠及哺乳仔猪中分离到攻毒菌株。系统进化分析表明,分离菌株与雷极氏普罗菲登斯菌系统进化关系最为密切,其16SrRNA基因序列与雷极氏普罗菲登斯菌代表菌株的同源性在97.3%~99.6%之间。药敏试验结果表明,分离菌株对头孢哌酮钠、头孢噻肟钠、头孢曲松钠、头孢唑啉、头孢呋肟、头孢吡肟、阿莫西林、链霉素、氨曲南、诺氟沙星、左氟沙星、恩诺沙星、卡那霉素、氨苄青霉素、米诺环素、链霉素、阿米卡星等多数药物敏感。首次报道了雷极氏普罗菲登斯菌可以引起哺乳仔猪严重腹泻,提示在仔猪腹泻中应注意该菌感染的诊断、监测和防控。     

The impact of weight loss on circulating cytokines in Beagle dogs

Chronic low-grade inflammation in obesity is characterized by an increased production of pro-inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines that are contributing to insulin resistance and related co-morbidities. Cytokines act in networks and exhibit pleiotropic effects so we investigated the circulating levels of a wide array of cytokines (pro and anti-inflammatory, chemotactic and growth factors) in a canine model of weight loss. The dogs served as their own control in order to study the impact of weight loss independent of potential confounding factors, such as history of excess weight or gender. While low-grade inflammation had been previously investigated in obese dogs by measuring changes in adipokines, acute phase proteins and key pro-inflammatory cytokines, to the best of our knowledge this is the first study to evaluate how weight loss impacts a wide array of circulating cytokines.Eighteen overweight Beagle dogs were recruited (six spayed females and 12 neutered males), and none of them were grossly obese according to the body condition score (BCS). All the dogs reached an ideal weight by the end of the program. Parameters were assessed before (baseline), at mid-point (month 3) and at end-point (month 6). Plasma GM-CSF, IL-2, Il-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, IL-18, IFNγ, IP-10, TNFα, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), keratinocyte chemokine (KC) were measured with canine multiplex immunoassays. Fat mass was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorption (DEXA).Several cytokines decreased throughout the weight loss program (p < 0.01) and were correlated with the percentage of fat measured by DEXA (p < 0.05): chemotactic (MCP-1), growth factors (GM-CSF, IL-7 and IL-2), and pro-inflammatory (KC and IL-18). We could not show trends for several cytokines, possibly because their level may be lower than the assay sensitivity: anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10), and pro-inflammatory (IL-6 and TNFα).In conclusion, while our findings for several pro-inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines are in accordance with human and rodent studies, we may have identified additional cytokines, such as growth factors, related to obesity-induced low-grade inflammation. Considering the weight loss was enabled by an adjusted diet, the role of this association of cytokines in insulin resistance and related co-morbidities needs to be clarified. Our results could help better understand the cytokine biology in dogs, and as such are relevant for further elucidating the relationship between immune function and metabolism/nutrition.     

The protoxin Cry1Ac of Bacillus thuringiensis improves the protection conferred by intranasal immunization with Brucella abortus RB51 in a mouse model

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease affecting many people and animals worldwide. Preventing this infection requires improving vaccination strategies. The protoxin Cry1Ac of Bacillus thuringiensis is an adjuvant that, in addition to increasing the immunogenicity of different antigens, has shown to be protective in different models of parasitic infections. The objective of the present study was to test whether the intranasal co-administration of pCry1Ac with the RB51 vaccine strain of Brucella abortus confers protection against an intranasal challenge with the virulent strain B. abortus 2308 in BALB/c mice. The results showed that co-administration of pCry1Ac and RB51, increased the immunoprotection conferred by the vaccine as evidenced by the following: (1) decrease of the splenic bacterial load when challenged intranasally with the virulent strain; (2) greater in vivo cytotoxic activity in response to the transference of previously infected cells; (3) further proliferation of cytotoxic TCD8+ cells in response to stimulation with heat-inactivated bacteria; (4) increased production of TNF-α and IFN-γ; and (5) significant IgG2a response. These results indicate that the use of the Cry1Ac protein as a mucosal adjuvant via the intranasal route can be a promising alternative for improving current RB51 vaccine against brucellosis.