The henipaviruses,represented by Nipah virus and Hendra virus,are emerging zoonotic viral pathogens responsible for repeated outbreaks associated with high morbidity and mortality in Australia,Southeast Asia,India and...The henipaviruses,represented by Nipah virus and Hendra virus,are emerging zoonotic viral pathogens responsible for repeated outbreaks associated with high morbidity and mortality in Australia,Southeast Asia,India and Bangladesh. These viruses enter host cells via a class I viral fusion mechanism mediated by their attachment and fusion envelope glycoproteins;efficient membrane fusion requires both these glycoproteins in conjunction with specific virus receptors present on susceptible host cells. The henipavirus attachment glycoprotein interacts with a cellular B class ephrin protein receptor triggering conformational alterations leading to the activation of the viral fusion(F) glycoprotein. The analysis of monoclonal antibody(mAb) reactivity with G has revealed measurable alterations in the antigenic structure of the glycoprotein following its binding interaction with receptor. These observations only appear to occur with full-length native G glycoprotein,which is a tetrameric oligomer,and not with soluble forms of G(sG) ,which are disulfide-linked dimers. Single amino acid mutations in a heptad repeat-like structure within the stalk domain of G can disrupt its association with F and subsequent membrane fusion promotion activity. Notably,these mutants of G also appear to confer a post-receptor bound conformation implicating the stalk domain as an important element in the G glycoprotein's structure and functional relationship with F. Together,these observations suggest fusion is dependent on a specific interaction between the F and G glycoproteins of the henipaviruses. Further,receptor binding induces measurable changes in the G glycoprotein that appear to be greatest in respect to the interactions between the pairs of dimers comprising its native tetrameric structure. These receptor-induced conformational changes may be associated with the G glycoprotein's promotion of the fusion activity of F.展开更多
Metal contamination in the environment is a global concern due to its high toxicity to living organisms and its worldwide distribution. The principal goal of this review is to examine the current strategies and techno...Metal contamination in the environment is a global concern due to its high toxicity to living organisms and its worldwide distribution. The principal goal of this review is to examine the current strategies and technologies for the remediation of metal- contaminated soils by metal-accumulating plants and assess the roles of arbnscular mycorrhizal （AM） fungi in remediation of soils under hyperaccumulator or non-accumulator plants. The use of plants to remove metals from the environment or reduce the toxicity, known as phytoremediation, is an environmentally sustainable and low cost remediation technology. The mechanisms of the use of hyperaccumulator plants for phytoremediation included solubilization of the metal in the soil matrix, the plant uptake of the metal, detoxification/chelation and sequestration, and volatilization. Recently, some ecologists have found that phytoremediation with the aids of mycorrhizae can enhance efficiency in the removal of toxic metals. AM fungi can facilitate the survival of their host plants growing on metal-contaminated land by enhancing their nutrient acquisition, protecting them from the metal toxicity, absorbing metals, and also enhancing phytostabilization and phytoextraction. Such information may be useful for developing phytoremediation program at metal-contaminated sites.展开更多
This work presents a critical review on the studies of defect chemistry of oxide nanoparticles for creating new functionalities pertinent to energy applications including dilute-magnetic semiconductors,giant-dielectri...This work presents a critical review on the studies of defect chemistry of oxide nanoparticles for creating new functionalities pertinent to energy applications including dilute-magnetic semiconductors,giant-dielectrics,or white light generation.Emphasis is placed on the relationships between the internal structure and defective surfaces of oxide nanoparticles and their synergy in tailoring the materials properties.This review is arranged in a sequence:(1) structural fundamentals of bulk oxides,using TiO2 as a model simple oxide to highlight the importance of polymorphs in tuning the electronic structures;(2) structural features of simple oxide nanoparticles distinct from the bulk,which show that nanoparticles can be considered as a special solid under the compression as originated from the surface defect dipole-dipole interactions;and(3) new functions achieved through extending the defect chemistry concept to the assembled architectures or multi-component oxide nanoparticles,in which defect surfaces enable the localized electrons or intermediate levels to produce giant dielectric performance or tunable light generation.It is concluded that understandings of defect chemistry provide diverse possibilities to manipulate electrons in oxide nanoparticles for functionalities in energy-relevant applications.展开更多
基金supported in part by NIH grant AI054715 to C.C.B.
文摘The henipaviruses,represented by Nipah virus and Hendra virus,are emerging zoonotic viral pathogens responsible for repeated outbreaks associated with high morbidity and mortality in Australia,Southeast Asia,India and Bangladesh. These viruses enter host cells via a class I viral fusion mechanism mediated by their attachment and fusion envelope glycoproteins;efficient membrane fusion requires both these glycoproteins in conjunction with specific virus receptors present on susceptible host cells. The henipavirus attachment glycoprotein interacts with a cellular B class ephrin protein receptor triggering conformational alterations leading to the activation of the viral fusion(F) glycoprotein. The analysis of monoclonal antibody(mAb) reactivity with G has revealed measurable alterations in the antigenic structure of the glycoprotein following its binding interaction with receptor. These observations only appear to occur with full-length native G glycoprotein,which is a tetrameric oligomer,and not with soluble forms of G(sG) ,which are disulfide-linked dimers. Single amino acid mutations in a heptad repeat-like structure within the stalk domain of G can disrupt its association with F and subsequent membrane fusion promotion activity. Notably,these mutants of G also appear to confer a post-receptor bound conformation implicating the stalk domain as an important element in the G glycoprotein's structure and functional relationship with F. Together,these observations suggest fusion is dependent on a specific interaction between the F and G glycoproteins of the henipaviruses. Further,receptor binding induces measurable changes in the G glycoprotein that appear to be greatest in respect to the interactions between the pairs of dimers comprising its native tetrameric structure. These receptor-induced conformational changes may be associated with the G glycoprotein's promotion of the fusion activity of F.
基金Supported by the Research Grant Council,Hong Kong SAR,China
文摘Metal contamination in the environment is a global concern due to its high toxicity to living organisms and its worldwide distribution. The principal goal of this review is to examine the current strategies and technologies for the remediation of metal- contaminated soils by metal-accumulating plants and assess the roles of arbnscular mycorrhizal （AM） fungi in remediation of soils under hyperaccumulator or non-accumulator plants. The use of plants to remove metals from the environment or reduce the toxicity, known as phytoremediation, is an environmentally sustainable and low cost remediation technology. The mechanisms of the use of hyperaccumulator plants for phytoremediation included solubilization of the metal in the soil matrix, the plant uptake of the metal, detoxification/chelation and sequestration, and volatilization. Recently, some ecologists have found that phytoremediation with the aids of mycorrhizae can enhance efficiency in the removal of toxic metals. AM fungi can facilitate the survival of their host plants growing on metal-contaminated land by enhancing their nutrient acquisition, protecting them from the metal toxicity, absorbing metals, and also enhancing phytostabilization and phytoextraction. Such information may be useful for developing phytoremediation program at metal-contaminated sites.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21025104, 20831004 & 91022018)National Basic Research Program of China (2011CBA00501 & 2007CB613301)
文摘This work presents a critical review on the studies of defect chemistry of oxide nanoparticles for creating new functionalities pertinent to energy applications including dilute-magnetic semiconductors,giant-dielectrics,or white light generation.Emphasis is placed on the relationships between the internal structure and defective surfaces of oxide nanoparticles and their synergy in tailoring the materials properties.This review is arranged in a sequence:(1) structural fundamentals of bulk oxides,using TiO2 as a model simple oxide to highlight the importance of polymorphs in tuning the electronic structures;(2) structural features of simple oxide nanoparticles distinct from the bulk,which show that nanoparticles can be considered as a special solid under the compression as originated from the surface defect dipole-dipole interactions;and(3) new functions achieved through extending the defect chemistry concept to the assembled architectures or multi-component oxide nanoparticles,in which defect surfaces enable the localized electrons or intermediate levels to produce giant dielectric performance or tunable light generation.It is concluded that understandings of defect chemistry provide diverse possibilities to manipulate electrons in oxide nanoparticles for functionalities in energy-relevant applications.
