Bactericidal activity of cecropin B and cecropin P1 expressed in fish cells (CHSE-214): application in controlling fish bacterial pathogens

Cecropins are a group of antimicrobial peptides which have bactericidal activity against a broad range of bacteria. To date, the cecropins used in a variety of studies were either purified from their natural source or obtained by chemical synthesis. The present study was conducted to test whether bactericidally active cecropins could be expressed in a fish cell line. For this purpose, Chinook salmon embryo cells (CHSE-214) were transfected with cecropin transgene constructs: Hyalophora cecropia preprocecropin B, procecropin B, cecropin B, and porcine P₁ cecropin. From the transfected cells, single cell clones were selected and screened for the presence of cecropin gene constructs by PCR amplification. The expression of the cecropin transgene in the PCR positive clones was determined by RT-PCR reaction. Southern blot hybridization results showed that the cecropin gene constructs were integrated into the genome in a multiple integration pattern. Bactericidal activity of the cecropins, synthesized from transgene constructs, was detected using inhibition zone assay for fish pathogenic bacteria: Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Vibrio anguillarum. Cecropin antimicrobial peptides produced in CHSE-214 cells possess bactericidal activity against these three fish pathogenic bacteria.     

Disruption of the CFTR gene produces a model of cystic fibrosis in newborn pigs

Almost two decades after CFTR was identified as the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis (CF), we still lack answers to many questions about the pathogenesis of the disease, and it remains incurable. Mice with a disrupted CFTR gene have greatly facilitated CF studies, but the mutant mice do not develop the characteristic manifestations of human CF, including abnormalities of the pancreas, lung, intestine, liver, and other organs. Because pigs share many anatomical and physiological features with humans, we generated pigs with a targeted disruption of both CFTR alleles. Newborn pigs lacking CFTR exhibited defective chloride transport and developed meconium ileus, exocrine pancreatic destruction, and focal biliary cirrhosis, replicating abnormalities seen in newborn humans with CF. The pig model may provide opportunities to address persistent questions about CF pathogenesis and accelerate discovery of strategies for prevention and treatment.     

地形因子对天山北坡天山云杉林土壤有机碳的影响

【目的】研究地形因子对天山北坡天山云杉林土壤有机碳的影响。【方法】在新疆农业大学实习林场选取不同海拔、不同坡度和不同坡向的样地采集土壤样品,测定土壤有机碳含量并计算其碳密度。【结果】不同海拔梯度下,天山云杉林土壤有机碳含量介于41.65~77.67 g/kg,土壤有机碳密度介于9.47~14.27 kg/m²,土壤有机碳含量及密度均随着海拔的升高呈减少的趋势。0~20 cm土层坡度小于15°时,土壤有机碳含量表现为最高(105.08 g/kg),而当坡度达到30°~35°时,土壤有机碳含量最低;不同坡向上土壤有机碳含量从高到低依次为阴坡>半阴坡>半阳坡>阳坡,其中0~20 cm土层阴坡上土壤有机碳含量显著高于阳坡(P<0.05),20~60 cm土层土壤有机碳含量在各坡向之间差异不显著。【结论】天山北坡天山云杉林在高海拔区域内整个剖面土壤有机碳含量分布较低海拔区域相对均匀。坡向对土壤有机碳的再分配作用在20~60cm土层土壤中难以发挥作用。