Phylogeny of Apaturinae Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) Based on Mitochondrial Cytochrome OxidaseⅠ Gene

The phylogenetic relationships of genera in the subfamily Apaturinae were examined using mtDNA sequence data from 1,471 bp of cytochrome oxidase subunit Ⅰ （COI）. The mitochondrial COI gene from a total of 16 species in 11 genera were sequenced to obtain mtDNA data, along with those of 4 species obtained from GenBank, to construct the MP and the NJ trees using Athyma jina, Penthema adelma, Polyura nepenthes, and Charaxes bernardus as outgroups. The transitions at the third codon positions of the COI data set were found saturated, but they were retained for analysis, because they contain the majority of the phylogenetic information. The impacts of equal weight assumptions for all characters in the parsimonious analysis were assessed by potential alternations in clades in response to different transition/transversion weighting schemes. The results indicated four distinct major groups in Apaturinae. Moreover, several well supported and stable clades were found in the Apaturinae. The study also identified undetermined taxon groups whose positions were weakly supported and were subject to changes under different weighting schemes. Within the Apaturinae, the clustering results are approximately identical to the classical morphological classification. The mtDNA data suggest the genus Mimathyma as a monophyletic group. Lelecella limenitoides and Dilipa fenestra have close relationship with very strong support in all phylogenetic trees. It also supports the taxonomic revision of removing several species from Apatura to other genera, namely Mimathyma schrenckii, M. chevana, M. nycteis, Chitoria subcaerulea, C. fasciola, C. pallas, and Helcyra subalba.

Development and Clinical Application of a Single-tube Nested PCR Method to Amplify the DNA Polymerase Ⅰ Gene of Treponema Pallidum

Objective: To develop a sensitive, specific and simple method for detection of extremely low numbers of T. pallidum in clinical specimens, as a significant addition to the serologic tests for syphilis diagnosis. Methods: Double-tube nested PCR(DN-PCR) and single-tube nested PCR(SN-PCR) assays were performed to amplify specific fragments of the DNA poly-merase I gene(polA) of T. pallidum. Sensitivity and specificity of the two PCR assays were tested. Eighty-six whole blood specimens from persons with suspected syphilis were detected by the two nested PCR methods. The TPPA test was used as a comparison for detecting syphilis in sera from corresponding patients. Results: Only specific amplicons could be obtained during amplification of the T. pallidum polA gene and the detection limit was approximately 1 organism when analyzed on gel by the two PCR methods. Of 86 clinical specimens, 62 were positive by TPPA. Of these, 54 and 51 were positive by the DN-PCR and SN-PCR, respectively, which does not represent a statistically significant difference between the two PCR tests. Of 24 TPPA-negative specimens, 5 were positive by both DN-PCR assay and SN-PCR assay. Conclusion: The SN- polA PCR method is extremely sensitive, specific and easy to perform for detecting low numbers of T. pallidum in clinical blood specimens as a complementary to serology for syphilis diagnosis.

Inhibition of α_1(Ⅰ) collagen gene in vitro transcription by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides

Objective and Methods: Excessive accumulation of collagen typeⅠ and type Ⅲ causes the formation of keloids and hypertrophic scars. To understand the mechanism by which antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (Oligo) acts on in vitro transcrption α1 (I) collagen gene, isotopes (α-32pGTP) was incorporated into 2 SP6 in vitro transcription systems. Results and Conclu- sion: Oligo 2 (at the transcription start region) could effectively inhibit in vitro transcription of pGEM3-Col13 and the control (random oligodeoxynucleotides) showed no inhibition. However, oligo 1 (at the transcription start region) obviously inhibited the in vitro transcription of pGEM3-Col14, while Oligo 2, which targeted at the down stream region (about 200 bp) of the promoter showed no significant inhibition effect.

The Genetic Structure and Diversity of Repomucenus curvicornis Inhabiting Liaoning Coast Based on Mitochondrial COⅠ Gene and Control Region

[Object] This study was conducted to explore the genetic diversity and structure of the wild Repomucenus curvicornis inhabiting Liaoning Coast, China. [Method] The mitochondrial COⅠ gene and control region（CR） were PCR amplified from the wild R. curvicornis populations from the Liaodong Bay（n=22） and the northern Yellow Sea（n=18）, sequenced and analyzed for genetic diversity. [Result] The contents of A, T, C and G of 624 bp COⅠ gene were 24.09%, 31.04%, 25.28%, and 19.59%, and those of 460 bp CR fragment were 32.96%, 32.80%, 14.86% and 19.38%, respectively. The total number of variable sites, average number of nucleotide differences（ k）, haplotype diversity（H） and nucleotide diversity（π） based on COⅠ gene were 38, 4.67,（0.96±0.02） and（0.007 5±0.004 2）, and those based on CR fragment were 26, 3.35,（0.97 ±0.02） and（0.007 3±0.004 3）, respectively. Based on mitochondrial COⅠ gene and CR, the genetic diversity of Liaodong Bay population was lower than that of the northern Yellow Sea population. The AMOVA analysis based on CR fragments revealed almost significant genetic divergence between the Liaodong Bay and the northern Yellow Sea populations, while there was no significant genetic divergence based on COⅠ gene. The results showed that CR and COⅠ gene are effective molecular markers for detecting the genetic diversity of R. curvicornis population, while CR is more reliable than COⅠ gene in detecting the genetic structure. [Conclusion] CR is an appropriate marker for genetic analysis of marine fish population.

Differential roles of RIG-Ⅰ like receptors in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Retinoic acid-inducible gene Ⅰ (RIG-Ⅰ) and melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) sense viral RNA and activate antiviral immune responses.Herein we investigate their functions in human epithelial cells,the primary and initial target of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).A deficiency in MDA5,RIG-Ⅰ or mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) enhanced viral replication.The expression of the type I/III interferon(IFN) during infection was impaired in MDA5;and MAVS;,but not in RIG-Ⅰ;,when compared to wild type (WT) cells.The mRNA level of full-length angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2),the cellular entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2,was approximately 2.5-fold higher in RIG-Ⅰ;than WT cells.These data demonstrate MDA5 as the predominant SARS-CoV-2 sensor,IFN-independent induction of ACE2 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 role of RIG-Ⅰ in epithelial cells.

Study on the Cloning, Expression, and Bioactivity of Recombinant Chicken IGF-Ⅰ

The DNA sequence encoding the chicken＇s insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ （IGF-Ⅰ） was amplified with the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, which was then cloned into vector pMD18-T and sequenced. The sequencing result showed that there was 100% homology among the documented sequences and the sequence reported in this article, which was successfully inserted into the expressing plasmid pRLC and was highly expressed in E.coli. The Tricine-SDS- PAGE result showed that the cloned recombinant protein was expressed in the form of inclusion bodies in the E.coli cell with molecular weight of 7.6 kD and was amount to 23% of the whole protein in the E.coli cell. Western blotting indicated that recombinant protein had the antigenicity of IGF- Ⅰ. The inclusion bodies were subsequently dissolved in 7 M guanidine chloride and renatured with dilution in refolding buffer containing 0.5 M arginine. To obtain pure protein, the renatured chicken IGF- Ⅰ was desalting by Hiprep 26/10 and purified by Hiprep Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. The biological activities of IGF- Ⅰ product were assayed in NIH 3T3 cells and osteoblastic cells of embryonic chicken by using MTT method. The results show that the expressed IGF- Ⅰ can obviously stimulate NIH3T3 cells and osteoblastic cells to proliferate at the concentration ranging from 100, 200, 400 to 800 ng mL^-1, suggesting that the protein has its biological activities.

Contruction of the Genetic Engineering Strain Expressed Nontoxic ST_1-LT_B Fusion Protein Against Enterotoxigenic Eschenichia coli

Thermostable enterotoxinⅠ(ST1) mutant genes and thermolabile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB)genes were amplified by PCR from plasmids of Eschenichia coli C83902. The recombinantexpression plasmid pZST3LTB containing ST1-LTB fusion gene was constructed by recombinantDNA technique and then transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The ST1-LTB fusionprotein was highly expressed in recombinant strain BL21(DE3)(pZST3LTB) and the fusionprotein was about 38.53% of total cellular protein by SDS-PAGE and thin-layer gelscanning analysis. More important, mice immunized with crude preparation containing thefusion protein inclusion bodies or inactivated recombinant strain produced antibodiesthat were able to recognize ST1 in vitro. These sera antibodies were able to neutralizethe biological activity of native ST1 in the suckling mouse assay. Hence the ST1-LTBfusion protein was nontoxic and immunogenic, the constructed recombinant strain BL21(DE3)(pZST3LTB) could be used as a candidate of vaccine strain.

POLYMORPHISM OF ANGIOTENSIN I TYPE 1 RECEPTOR GENE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

Objective To detect the A/C1165 polymorphism of angiotensin Ⅱ type Ⅰ receptor (AT1-R)gene in essential hypertensive elderly. Methods The A/C1166 polymorphism of AT1-R gene was assessed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in a case-control study of 87 essential hypertensive elders (EH) and 55 normolensive elders (NT). Results The genotype frequencies of AA, AC, CC were 0 .805 , 0.161, 0 .034 in EH group and 0 .927 ,0 .073 ,0 .000 in NT group respectively. The frequency of C61166 allele was higher in EH group (0.115) than in NT group (0 .036 )(P<0 .05 ). Conclusion The resultsindicate that A/C1166 polymorphism of AT1-R gene may be associated with essential hypertension in elderly.

Effects of Scutellaria Baicalensis on Activity and Biofilm Formation of Klebsiella Pneumoniae

Objective To explore the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis on activity and biofilm formation of Klebsiella pneumonia(Kp).Methods The broth and agar dilution methods were carried out to determine minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of Scutellaria baicalensis for TW518.VITEK-32 system was used to assay TW518 susceptibility to antibiotics.Kp biofilms were formed in vitro and stained with Bac Light Live/Dead stain.The class integron geneⅠ1 m RNA expression was analyzed with RT-PCR.Results The minimum inhibitory concentration of Scutellaria baicalensis on TW518 identified as a Kp colony was 32 mg/ml,and minimum bactericidal concentration was 64 mg/ml.Scutellaria baicalensis and broad-spectrum penicillin,cephalosporin,quinolones,or beta-lactamase had synergistic bactericidal effects.Biofilm formation activity of Kp treated with Scutellaria baicalensis was significantly lower than that of the control group.And class integron geneⅠ1 m RNA expression of TW518 was significantly inhibited by Scutellaria baicalensis.Conclusions Scutellaria baicalensis has sterilization effect on Kp,and Scutellaria baicalensis could effectively inhibit Kp biofilm formation with prolonged treatment.Scutellaria baicalensis might inhibit Kp biofilm formation through down-regulating integron geneⅠ1 expression.

维生素A增强动物抗病毒能力的作用及其机制研究进展

维生素A有增强动物抗病毒能力的作用,其代谢产物全反式视黄酸是增强抗病毒能力的主要活性形式。维生素A能通过提高视黄酸诱导基因Ⅰ受体介导的干扰素-Ⅰ表达以增强天然抗病毒能力,提高B淋巴细胞的免疫球蛋白A产生以增强适应性抗病毒能力,以及调节肠道菌群增加具有抗病毒活性乳杆菌的数量等途径发挥抗病毒作用。本文就维生素A增强动物抗病毒能力的作用及其机制作一简要综述。

模式识别受体与HPV感染及宫颈癌的相关研究进展

高危型人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)的持续性感染是宫颈癌的主要危险因素,天然免疫系统通过模式识别受体(PRR)诱导促炎症细胞因子及Ⅰ型干扰素释放,在抵御外源微生物过程中发挥重要作用。天然免疫系统障碍使HPV不能被有效清除,HPV持续性感染,最终导致宫颈癌的发生。PRR在HPV感染过程中发挥重要作用,并且其异常表达参与宫颈癌的发生发展过程。此外,调节PRR的表达可以增强宫颈癌细胞的凋亡,在宫颈癌的治疗中具有潜在的临床意义,有望成为宫颈癌治疗的新途径。

维甲酸诱导基因Ⅰ和慢性丙型肝炎的研究进展

丙型肝炎病毒（Hepatitis C virus，HCV）急性感染期一般是无症状的，大多数感染者不能清除该病毒容易发展成慢性感染，少部分感染者甚至发展为肝硬化、肝癌。传统的治疗方法是聚乙二醇干扰素联合利巴韦林方案，但抗病毒疗效不佳且不良反应较大，这可能与HCV能够通过多种机制逃避宿主的免疫反应有关。固有免疫应答是机体抵抗病原微生物的第一道防线，维甲酸诱导基因Ⅰ（Retinoic acid inducible geneⅠ，RIG-Ⅰ）作为模式识别受体，在识别HCV病毒，启动免疫应答中发挥重要作用。