Immunity induced by DNA vaccine of plasmid encoding the rhoptry protein 1 gene combined with the genetic adjuvant of pcIFN-γ against Toxoplasma gondii in mice

Objective To construct the eukaryotic expression recombinant plasmid, pcIFN γ, as a genetic adjuvant and observe the immune responses elicited by pcDNA3 rhoptry protein 1 (pc ROP1) combined with pcIFN γ against Toxoplasma gondii (T gondii) infection in mice Methods A fragment of the IFN γ gene was directly inserted into the pcDNA3 plasmid and identified by two restriction endonucleases digestion pcIFN and pcROP1 DNA was injected into the left leg muscle of mice at a dosage of 100?μg, and a booster vaccination was given at the same dosage after two weeks Control groups were injected with pcDNA3 blank plasmid or normal saline At 30, 50 and 70 days after booster injection, kinetic tests were carried out: MTT assay for the proliferation response of T lymphocyte cells and the activity of NK cells, sandwich ABC ELISA for the determination of IFN γ, IL 2 and IL 10; a serum enzymetic aassay for nitric oxide (NO) in sera and ELISA for the titer of IgG antibody in sera Results The recombinant plasmid, pcIFN γ was constructed The proliferation response of spleen T lymph cells, NK cell killing activity, and serum levels of IFN γ, IL 2 and NO in mice injected with pcROP1 and pcIFN γ were higher than in those injected with pcROP1 alone There was no difference in IgG antibody levels between the two groups Conclusion The genetic adjuvant, pcIFN γ, could enhance the cellular immune response induced by DNA vaccine of pcROP1 in mice against Toxoplasma gondii infection

Phylogeny of the Labeoninae （Teleostei, Cypriniformes） based on nuclear DNA sequences and implications on character evolution and biogeography

Abstract The Labeoninae is a subfamily of the family Cyprinidae, Order Cypriniformes. Oromandibular morphology within the Labeoninae is the greatest among cyprinid fishes. Although several phylogenetic studies about labeonines have been undertaken the results have been inconsistent and a comprehensive phylogeny is needed. Further, an incongruence between morphological and molecular phylogeny requires a systematic exploration of the significance of morphological characters on the basis of the molecular phylogeny. In this study, a total of 292 nucleotide sequences from 73 individuals （representing 24 genera and 73 species） of Labeoninae were analyzed. The results of the phylogenetic analysis indicate that there are four major clades within Labeoninae and three monophyletic lineages within the fourth clade. Results of the character evolution show that all oromandibular morphological characters are homoplastically distributed on the molecular phylogenetic tree and suggests that these characters evolved several times during the history of labeonines. In particular, the labeonine, a specific disc on the lower lip, has been acquired three times and reversed twice. These morphological characters do not have systematic significance but can be useful for taxonomy. The results of biogeography suggest that the Labeoninae originated from Southeast Asia and separately dispersed to Africa, East Asia and South Asia.

Exact Solutions of the Equilibrium Shape Equations in a General WLC Model for DNA Forms

In this letter,we are going to use a geometrical approach to describe the free energy of DNA structures.The exact solutions of the equilibrium shape equations in a general WLC model for DNA forms by using the Feoli's formalism [A.Feoli,et al.,Nucl.Phys.B 705(2005) 577] are studied.Then,the free energy of transition between Band Z-DNA is calculated in this formalism.

基于机器学习框架QRIS研究影响逆转录病毒整合偏好性的因素

逆转录病毒的活动和多种疾病的发生密切相关,其可通过整合自身基因组到宿主基因组中进行大量有害扩增.与此同时,宿主细胞可根据逆转录病毒的整合位置来启动相关通路抑制其活动.因此整合位点的选择是决定逆转录病毒和宿主命运的关键步骤.尽管国际上已有报道称逆转录病毒在宿主基因组上整合并不随机,并发现了跨逆转录病毒种属的不同DNA基序偏好性,但是这些不足以解释一些基序偏好较弱的逆转录病毒如何获得整合特异性.DNA结构特征,如DNA形状被提出可以影响DNA结合蛋白与DNA结合的亲和力,但DNA形状对不同逆转录病毒整合的影响机制尚不清楚.本研究通过构建QRIS(quantify the retrovirus integration specificity)机器学习框架,定量评估了DNA形状对逆转录病毒整合位点的影响.通过系统地研究跨越四个种属的六种逆转录病毒,本研究发现,DNA形状可以独立地或与DNA基序协同调控逆转录病毒的整合.基于此,可将六种逆转录病毒分为三类:“强兼性偏好型”“弱兼性偏好型”和“强形状偏好型”逆转录病毒.此外本研究发现,即使没有特定偏好的DNA基序,“强形状偏好型”逆转录病毒也可以通过DNA形状获得整合特异性.本文基于机器学习对于大规模逆转录病毒插入位点特性的研究,揭示了DNA结构特征在逆转录病毒致病位点选择中的重要作用.该发现在临床方面为治疗逆转录病毒的策略提供了新靶点和新思路,在应用方面有助于更精确地设计慢病毒载体用于基因编辑和基因治疗.此外,本文建立的机器学习框架也为其他种类病毒的整合特异性研究提供了新方法和新视角.