Antimicrobial effects of black rice extract on Helicobacter pylori infection in Mongolian gerbil

It has been reported that cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (C3G) is an inhibitor of Helicobacter pylori toxin secretion. C3G is classified as an anthocyanin and is a major component of black rice extract (BRE). The present study aimed to identify a new functional food material to prevent H. pylori infection in Mongolian gerbil model. Toxicity in the liver and kidney were not detected after BRE administration (10 or 50 mg/kg). BRE treatment reduced bacterial colonization in animal gastric tissue, as well as infection signs as observed on the analysis of the hematological data. It was also found that the relative mRNA levels of the inflammatory cytokines were reduced in BRE-treated groups. These findings suggest that BRE acts as a potent inhibitor of H. pylori infection and pathogenesis in Mongolian gerbils. We propose that BRE may be used to manage gastroduodenal diseases caused by H. pylori infection.     

An improved method for bright-field imaging of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in plant roots

Easy observation methods to assess the colonization levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in plant roots are crucial for studying the biology of AM symbiosis and for considering agricultural use. Many AM studies employ Trypan Blue (TB) coupled with lactic acid to stain AM fungal structures as bright-field images; however, TB staining can be difficult to use owing to its noxiousness and high viscosity. Here, we report the development of an easy method for visualizing AM fungal structures as bright-field images using 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB). Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (HRP), which specifically targets N-acetylglucosamine polymers and detects AM fungal cell walls, penetrated the cortical layers of 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH)-treated soybean roots and stained AM fungal mycelia in the presence of DAB and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Comparison between DAB and TB staining of soybean (Glycine max L.) roots suggested that the intactness of root systems and image contrast using DAB staining were superior. Background signals in stele observed by DAB staining were negligible as compared with those observed by WGA-fluorescein isothiocyanate staining. DAB staining, which combines the advantages of TB (easy bright-field imaging) and WGA-fluorophore (specific and high-quality) staining, provides a robust imaging method for macro- and micro-level analyses of AM roots and is applicable to at least six crops: soybean, onion (Alium cepa L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), maize (Zea mays L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).     

Ulvan-induced resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana against Alternaria brassicicola requires reactive oxygen species derived from NADPH oxidase

The present work aimed to study the role of reactive oxygen species derived from NADPH oxidase in the ulvan-induced resistance against Alternaria brassicicola in Arabidopsis thaliana. Foliar spraying of ulvan, a water-soluble algal polysaccharide, reduced the colonization of host tissues and, consequently, the severity of A. brassicicola by 90% in both wild type and AtrbohF plants, and it increased NADPH oxidase activity and hydrogen peroxide levels. Ulvan also tended to enhance the activity of enzymes related to the removal of reactive oxygen species (APX, GSR, CAT and SOD) suggesting a tight control of the antioxidant system. Ulvan did not protect the AtrbohD mutant as well as wild type plants previously infiltrated with diphenyleneiodonium, both impaired in NADPH oxidase activity and hydrogen peroxide accumulation. Based on our results and those available in the literature, we propose a general model for ulvan-induced defense responses in plant tissues. Collectively, our results suggest that ulvan-induced resistance in A. thaliana against A. brassicicola requires reactive oxygen species derived from the respiratory burst oxidase homologue D (RBOHD) NADPH oxidase.     

MH II‐DAB gene expression in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes) after infection with the ciliate parasite,Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

The grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), is one of the most extensively aquacultured freshwater fish in China. However, because of the lack of effective control measures and the high‐density culture environment, considerable economic losses are caused by infection of C. idella with the parasitic ciliate, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. The major histocompatibility (MH) DAB gene belongs to antigen‐presented genes in the class II genomic region, which is associated with parasite resistance. To understand the relationship of the DAB gene with I. multifiliis infection in grass carp, the expression profiles of MH II‐DAB were studied in tissues using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that expression of the MH II‐DAB gene was up‐regulated in head kidney after I. multifiliis infection, and the expression peak appeared earlier in the study (case) group than in the control group. The obvious up‐regulation peak of MH II‐DAB gene was found at days 2 and 4 in skin; at 12 h to day 4 in spleen; at 12 h and days 1 and 6 in gill; and at day 10 in blood, whereas the MH II‐DAB gene was down‐regulated in liver and intestines after I. multifiliis infection. These results have implications for better understanding C. idella resistance to I. multifiliis infection.     

Progress on DAB2IP gene

Human DAB2 interaction protein (DAB2IP) is a novel member of Ras GTPase-activating protein family. It interacts directly with disabled-2 protein (DAB2/DOC2) which suppresses growth of cancers derived from different tissues, including mammary, prostate and ovarian cancers. DAB2IP was identified as an immediate downstream effector mediated by DAB2/DOC2. DAB2IP and DAB2/DOC2 form a unique protein complex that has a negative regulatory effect on the Ras-mediated signal pathway. It is demonstrated that DAB2IP is a tumor suppressor gene inactivated by methylation in several cancers. This article reviews the structure and biological functions of DAB2IP gene as well as its potential roles in carcinogenesis and evolution.     

白喉毒素DAB389-aMSH重组毒素的构建及表达

摘要:利用含有白喉毒素N端序列的基因作上游引物、含有aMSH全序列作下游引物,以pET28a/DAB389-EGF为模板,PCR扩增DAB389-aMSH基因片段,用限制性内切酶EcoR I和Nco I酶切,并插入原核表达载体pET28a的相应位点,构建了重组表达载体pET28a/DAB389-aMSH,在大肠杆菌中表达重组融合蛋白DAB389 -aMSH,转化菌经1mmol/L IPTG、30C诱导5h,用SDS-PAGE 和Western blot 鉴定表达的重组毒素质。结果表明扩增的片段与理论值一致。重组质粒的DNA序列分析正确。SDS-PAGE表明,重组毒素相对分子量为43.76KD,且表达量达菌体总蛋白量的31.6%左右。Western blot分析显示,重组毒素能特异性地与抗白喉抗体结合,表明已成功构建表达了重组DAB389-aMSH的工程菌株,表达产物具有生物学活性。     

生产菌DAB啤酒酵母选育技术研究

生产性状发生退化的DAB酵母,采用30％致死率的紫外线处理,经高糖培养基筛选及单细胞分离等手段,得到一株性能优良的啤酒生产酵母菌种。     

白喉毒素DAB_(389)-αMSH重组毒素的构建及表达

利用含有白喉毒素N端序列的基因作上游引物、含有αMSH全序列作下游引物,以pET28a/DAB389-EGF为模板,PCR扩增DAB389-αMSH基因片段,用限制性内切酶EcoR I和NcoI酶切,并插入原核表达载体pET28a的相应位点,构建了重组表达载体pET28a/DAB389-αMSH,在大肠杆菌中表达重组融合蛋白DAB389-αMSH,转化菌经1 mmol/L IPTG、30℃诱导5 h,用SDS-PAGE和Western blot鉴定表达的重组毒素。结果表明扩增的片段与理论值一致,重组质粒的DNA序列分析正确;SDS-PAGE表明重组毒素相对分子量为43.76 KD,且表达量达菌体总蛋白量的31.6%。Western blot分析显示,重组毒素能特异性地与抗白喉抗体结合,表明已成功构建表达了重组DAB389-αMSH的工程菌株,并获得表达蛋白。     

橡胶树白粉菌诱导寄主及非寄主植物产生活性氧积累的研究

采用DAB染色法观察了橡胶树、马占相思、芒果树和假败酱等植物叶片在接种橡胶树白粉菌后不同时间点的活性氧的积累和白粉病菌的侵入情况.结果表明,橡胶树叶片在接菌后24 h才能检测到微弱活性氧的积累,接菌后48 h活性氧的积累量略有增强,接菌后72 h达到最大强度,之后减弱,接菌后120 h白粉病菌产生分生孢子并且成功侵入叶片组织.马占相思叶片接菌后白粉菌与植物叶片互作的整个过程中活性氧变化规律与橡胶树观察结果相同,接菌后24 h出现活性氧积累,此后随时间的变化活性氧积累先增强后减弱,120 h白粉菌可以产生分生孢子并顺利侵入叶片组织.芒果树叶片接菌后12h即可检测到大量的活性氧产生,整个互作过程中,活性氧积累量大,接菌后120 h时白粉菌虽然可以产生分生孢子,但未能导致芒果叶片发病.假败酱叶片接种白粉菌后,接菌后12h可观察到强烈的活性氧积累,随时间的变化染色程度不断加深,染色斑范围扩大,接菌后72 h观察到白粉菌无法继续扩展,最终无法成功侵入叶片组织.观察结果揭示了活性氧,尤其是浸染早期活性氧的积累在植物抵抗白粉病侵染中发挥的重要作用.     

A Collaborative Evaluation of LC-MS/MS Based Methods for BMAA Analysis: Soluble Bound BMAA Found to Be an Important Fraction

Exposure to β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) might be linked to the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Analytical chemistry plays a crucial role in determining human BMAA exposure and the associated health risk, but the performance of various analytical methods currently employed is rarely compared. A CYANOCOST initiated workshop was organized aimed at training scientists in BMAA analysis, creating mutual understanding and paving the way towards interlaboratory comparison exercises. During this workshop, we tested different methods (extraction followed by derivatization and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, or directly followed by LC-MS/MS analysis) for trueness and intermediate precision. We adapted three workup methods for the underivatized analysis of animal, brain and cyanobacterial samples. Based on recovery of the internal standard D₃BMAA, the underivatized methods were accurate (mean recovery 80%) and precise (mean relative standard deviation 10%), except for the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya. However, total BMAA concentrations in the positive controls (cycad seeds) showed higher variation (relative standard deviation 21%–32%), implying that D₃BMAA was not a good indicator for the release of BMAA from bound forms. Significant losses occurred during workup for the derivatized method, resulting in low recovery (<10%). Most BMAA was found in a trichloroacetic acid soluble, bound form and we recommend including this fraction during analysis.