Establishment,Characterization and Expression Pattern of a Spleen Cell Line,SMSP,Derived from Turbot(Scophthalmus maximus)

A turbot(Scophthalmus maximus)cell line named SMSP was obtained from the spleen.The origin of the cells was identified by morphology,chromosome number and COI gene.The optimal basic medium,serum concentration and growth temperature of the cells were detected.SMSP cell line is mainly composed of fibroblast-like cells.Most of the SMSP cells contained 44 chromosomes,and the sequence of COI gene confirmed that the cells were originated from turbot.The optimal culture conditions were 24℃,DMEM+10%FBS.The cell line had high transfection efficiency for siRNA and plasmid.After stimulation with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)or poly(I:C),the expressions of immune-related genes such as TNF-β,IL-12s,IL-10 and IL-1βwere up-regulated significantly in the early stage(P<0.05).This study will provide a model for exploring immune mechanism of turbot against pathogen in vitro.

Toll样受体与寄生原虫感染

Toll样受体为机体的一种模式识别受体,可识别外来病原体的结构成分以及病原相关的分子模式,提示外来病原体的存在,激发机体的天然免疫系统发挥抗感染作用,并影响机体获得性免疫的发生、发展。在寄生原虫的感染中,Toll样受体同样发挥着重要的作用。对Toll样受体和原虫感染关系的深入研究,将有助于原虫病的检测、预防和治疗。

校企合作对分子生物学课程改革和人才培养的影响——以吕梁学院为例

该文以吕梁学院为例,以"321"模式为基石,分析地方性应用型本科院校分子生物学课程设置和人才培养中存在的问题"。321"校企合作模式是政府、学校和企业3方共同参与,学校和企业双赢,最终完成服务地方的目标。这一模式不仅丰富了分子生物学相关课程实践教学环节,优化了课程教学改革,还构建了以"理论教学—实验教学—综合实习(实训)—毕业设计"为范式的人才培养机制,提高了学生的实践动手能力和科研能力。

An ongoing search for potential targets and therapies for lethal sepsis

Sepsis, which refers to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome resulting from a microbial infection, represents the leading cause of death in intensive care units. The pathogenesis of sepsis remains poorly understood although it is attributable to dysregulated immune responses orchestrated by innate immune cells that sequentially release early(e.g., tumor necrosis factor(TNF), interleukin-1(IL-1), and interferon-γ(IFN-γ) and late(e.g., high mobility group box 1(HMGB1)) pro-inflammatory mediators. As a ubiquitous nuclear protein, HMGB1 can be passively released from pathologically damaged cells, thereby converging infection and injury on commonly dysregulated inflammatory responses. We review evidence that supports extracellular HMGB1 as a late mediator of inflammatory diseases and discuss the potential of several Chinese herbal components as HMGB1-targeting therapies. We propose that it is important to develop strategies for specifically attenuating injury-elicited inflammatory responses without compromising the infection-mediated innate immunity for the clinical management of sepsis and other inflammatory diseases.

Innate immune recognition and modulation in hepatitis D virus infection

Hepatitis D virus(HDV)is a global health threat with more than 15 million humans affected.Current treatment options are largely unsatisfactory leaving chronically infected humans at high risk to develop liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.HDV is the only human satellite virus known.It encodes only two proteins,and requires Hepatitis B virus(HBV)envelope protein expression for productive virion release and spread of the infection.How HDV could evolve and why HBV was selected as a helper virus remains unknown.Since the discovery of Na+-taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide as the essential uptake receptor for HBV and HDV,we are beginning to understand the interactions of HDV and the immune system.While HBV is mostly regarded a stealth virus,that escapes innate immune recognition,HBV-HDV coinfection is characterized by a strong innate immune response.Cytoplasmic RNA sensor melanoma differentiation antigen 5 has been reported to recognize HDV RNA replication and activate innate immunity.Innate immunity,however,seems not to impair HDV replication while it inhibits HBV.In this review,we describe what is known up-to-date about the interplay between HBV as a helper and HDV’s immune evasion strategy and identify where additional research is required.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) in spotted halibut Verasper variegatus at the embryonic and metamorphic stages

As an aquatic fish,the spotted halibut Verasper variegatus is highly susceptible to bacterial and virus infections.Tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)as a cytokine could control the inflammatory responses.The functions of TNF-αin many species have been widely studied,particularly in mammals.However,little is known about the TNF-αfunctions in V.variegatus.We first cloned and sequenced the TNF-αgene in V.variegatus(VvTNF-α).The two conserved cysteine residues,transmembrane sequence,Thr-Leu motif,and TNF family signature,as well as the TA-rich motifs of its proteins related to inflammatory responses had high similarity to those of the other teleost and mammalian TNF-α.The phylogenetic analysis showed that VvTNF-αwas consistent with TNF-αgenes of other vertebrates.The VvTNF-αtranscripts were extensively distributed in the peripheral blood leukocytes(PBLs),spleen,and gill,indicating that the VvTNF-αhad a role in immune function.Furthermore,treatment with pathogen-associated molecular patterns(PAMPs)could induce a rapid and significant increase of VvTNF-αin the PBLs,which reveals that VvTNF-αdoes participate in the host immune responses against bacterial and viral pathogens.We found that VvTNF-αhad an interesting expression pattern during metamorphosis,showing that the flatfish TNF-αmay have some novel functions during specific developmental stages.In addition,the 3 D structure prediction of VvTNF-αprovided an indication of how it is likely to interact with other proteins.Therefore,VvTNF-αhas multiple functions,and provides valuable information to explore novel functions of TNF-α.

imple Bioassay for PAMP-Triggered Immunity in Rice Seedlings Based on Lateral Root Growth Inhibition

Pathogen-associated molecular pattern(PAMP)-triggered immunity(PTI)is an essential layer of plant disease resistance.Robust bioassays for PTI are pre-required to dissect its molecular mechanism.In this study,we established that lateral root growth inhibition as a simple and robust measurement of PTI in rice seedlings.Specifically,flg22,a well-characterized PAMP from bacterial flagellin,was used to induce PTI in rice seedlings.While flg22 treatment induced PR gene expression and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in the roots of rice seedlings to support the PTI triggered,this treatment substantially repressed lateral root growth,but it did not alter primary root growth.Moreover,treatments with chitin(i.e.,a fungal PAMP)and oligogalacturonides(i.e.,classical damage-associated molecular pattern)clearly inhibited the lateral root growth,although a priming step involving ulvan was required for the chitin treatment.The bioassay developed was applicable to various rice cultivars and wild species.Thus,lateral root growth inhibition represents a simple and reliable assay for studying PTI in rice plants.

Isolation and microbial transformation of tea sapogenin from seed pomace of Camellia oleifera with anti-inflammatory effects

In the current study,tea saponin,identified as the primary bioactive constituent in seed pomace of Camellia oleifera Abel.,was meticulously extracted and hydrolyzed to yield five known sapogenins:16-O-tiglogycamelliagnin B(a),camelliagnin A(b),16-O-angeloybarringtogenol C(c),theasapogenol E(d),theasapogenol F(e).Subsequent biotransformation of compound a facilitated the isolation of six novel metabolites(a1−a6).The anti-inflammatory potential of these compounds was assessed using pathogenassociated molecular patterns(PAMPs)and damage-associated molecular patterns molecules(DAMPs)-mediated cellular inflammation models.Notably,compounds b and a2 demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on both lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and high-mobility group box 1(HMGB1)-induced inflammation,surpassing the efficacy of the standard anti-inflammatory agent,carbenoxolone.Conversely,compounds d,a3,and a6 selectivity targeted endogenous HMGB1-induced inflammation,showcasing a pronounced specificity.These results underscore the therapeutic promise of C.oleifera seed pomace-derived compounds as potent agents for the management of inflammatory diseases triggered by infections and tissue damage.

植物HSP70蛋白家族分子进化特征及其表达模式分析

植物热激蛋白HSP70(heat shock protein 70)与植物抗逆性具有密切的关系,对其深入研究将有助于揭示植物的抗逆生理过程,从而为生产上降低逆境对植物的伤害提供重要的实践指导意义。目前,在模式植物拟南芥和水稻中,HSP70蛋白家族的遗传学和生化功能研究被广泛关注,但该基因家族植物中的系统分子进化、表达模式以及功能预测方面的研究仍不完善。本研究通过收集和整理拟南芥和水稻中所有的HSP70基因序列、基因结构和染色体定位等信息,对比分析了拟南芥和水稻中HSP70家族在分子进化方面的差异;同时,从转录水平上初步分析和阐明该家族基因在植物不同组织部位和不同发育时期的表达差异和功能分化。此外,本研究还围绕花药发育的过程,细致分析了HSP70家族基因的表达变化,推测该家族在花药不同时期可能所扮演的角色。本研究为全面理解HSP70家族在单子叶和双子叶植物中的功能异同分化、以及其参与植物生殖发育过程的功能研究提供重要的科学依据。

Gasdermin D in pyroptosis

Pyroptosis is the process of inflammatory cell death.The primary function of pyroptosis is to induce strong inflammatory responses that defend the host against microbe infection.Excessive pyroptosis,however,leads to several inflammatory diseases,including sepsis and autoimmune disorders.Pyroptosis can be canonical or noncanonical.Upon microbe infection,the canonical pathway responds to pathogen-associated molecular patterns(PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns(DAMPs),while the noncanonical pathway responds to intracellular lipopolysaccharides(LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria.The last step of pyroptosis requires the cleavage of gasdermin D(GsdmD) at D275(numbering after human GSDMD) into N-and C-termini by caspase 1 in the canonical pathway and caspase 4/5/11(caspase 4/5 in humans,caspase 11 in mice) in the noncanonical pathway.Upon cleavage,the N-terminus of GsdmD(GsdmD-N) forms a transmembrane pore that releases cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-18 and disturbs the regulation of ions and water,eventually resulting in strong inflammation and cell death.Since GsdmD is the effector of pyroptosis,promising inhibitors of GsdmD have been developed for inflammatory diseases.This review will focus on the roles of GsdmD during pyroptosis and in diseases.

Receptor-Like Kinases in Plant Innate Immunity

Plants employ a highly effective surveillance system to detect potential pathogens, which is critical for the success of land plants in an environment surrounded by numerous microbes. Recent efforts have led to the identification of a number of immune receptors and components of immune receptor complexes. It is now clear that receptor-like kinases （RLKs） and receptor-like proteins （RLPs） are key pattern-recognition receptors （PRRs） for microbe- and plant-derived molecular patterns that are associated with pathogen invasion. RLKs and RLPs involved in immune signaling belong to large gene families in plants and have undergone lineage specific expansion. Molecular evolution and population studies on phytopathogenic molecular signatures and their receptors have provided crucial insight into the co-evolution between plants and pathogens.

Roles of small RNAs in plant disease resistance

The interaction between plants and pathogens represents a dynamic competition between a robust immune system and efficient infectious strategies. Plant innate immunity is composed of complex and highly regulated molecular networks, which can be triggered by the perception of either conserved or race-specific pathogenic molecular signatures. Small RNAs are emerging as versatile regulators of plant development, growth and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. They act in different tiers of plant immunity, including the pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered and the effector-triggered immunity. On the other hand, pathogens have evolved effector molecules to suppress or hijack the host small RNA pathways. This leads to an arms race between plants and pathogens at the level of small RNA-mediated defense. Here, we review recent advances in small RNA-mediated defense responses and discuss the challenging questions in this area.

Signaling in Plant Disease Resistance and Symbiosis

Interactions between plants and microbes result in plant disease and symbiosis. The former causes considerable economic damage in modern agriculture, while the latter has produced great beneficial effects to our agriculture system. Comparison of the two interactions has revealed that a common panel of signaling pathways might participate in the establishment of the equilibrium between plant and microbes or its break-up. Plants appear to detect both pathogenic and symbiotic microbes by a similar set of genes. All symbiotic microbes seem to produce effectors to overcome plant basal defenses and it is speculated that symbiotic effectors have functions similar to pathogenic ones. Signaling molecules, salicylic acid （SA）, jasmonic acid （JA） and ethylene （ET）, are involved in both plant defense and symbiosis. Switching off signals contributing to deterioration of disease symptom would establish a new equilibrium between plant and pathogenic microbes. This would facilitate the development of strategies for durable disease resistance.

Structure-function Aspects of Extracellular Leucine-rich Repeat-containing Cell Surface Receptors in Plants

Plants exploit several types of cell surface receptors for perception of extracellular signals, of which the extracellular leucine-rich repeat （eLRR）-containing receptors form the major class. Although the function of most plant eLRR receptors remains unclear, an increasing number of these receptors are shown to play roles in innate immunity and a wide variety of developmental processes. Recent efforts using domain swaps, gene shuffling analyses, site-directed mutagenesis, interaction studies, and crystallographic analyses resulted in the current knowledge on ligand binding and the mechanism of activation of plant eLRR receptors. This review provides an overview of eLRR receptor research, specificallysummarizing the recent understanding of interactions among plant eLRR receptors, their co-receptors and corresponding ligands. The functions of distinct eLRR receptor domains, and their role in structure, ligand perception and multimeric complex formation are discussed.