The diversity of the proline-rich domain of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA): Potential relevance to a broad-spectrum vaccine

Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is a surface exposed, highly immunogenic protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Its N-terminal α-helical domain (αHD) elicits protective antibody in humans and animals that can protect mice from fatal infections with pneumococci and can be detected in vitro with opsonophagocytosis assays. The proline-rich domain (PRD) in the center of the PspA sequence can also elicit protection. This study revealed that although the sequence of PRD was diverse, PRD from different pneumococcal isolates contained many shared elements. The inferred amino acid sequences of 123 such PRDs, which were analyzed by assembly and alignment-free (AAF) approaches, formed three PRD groups. Of these sequences, 45 were classified as Group 1, 19 were classified as Group 2, and 59 were classified as Group 3. All Group 3 sequences contained a highly conserved 22-amino acid non-proline block (NPB). A significant polymorphism was observed, however, at a single amino acid position within NPB. Each of the three PRD groups had characteristic patterns of short amino acid repeats, with most of the repeats being found in more than one PRD group. One of these repeats, PKPEQP as well as the NPB were previously shown to elicit protective antibodies in mice. In this study, we found that sera from 12 healthy human adult volunteers contained antibodies to all three PRD groups. This suggested that a PspA-containing vaccine containing carefully selected PRDs and αHDs could redundantly cover the known diversity of PspA. Such an approach might reduce the chances of PspA variants escaping a PspA vaccine’s immunity.     

Design,display and immunogenicity of HIV1 gp120 fragment immunogens on virus-like particles

The broadly neutralizing antibody against HIV-1, b12, binds to the CD4 binding site (CD4bs) on the outer domain (OD) of the gp120 subunit of HIV-1 Env. We have previously reported the design of an E. coli expressed fragment of HIV-1 gp120, b122a, containing about 70% of the b12 epitope with the idea of focusing the immune response to this structure. Since the b122a structure was found to be only partially folded, as assessed by circular dichroism and protease resistance, we attempted to stabilize it by the introduction of additional disulfide bonds. One such mutant, b122a1-b showed increased stability and bound b12 with 30-fold greater affinity as compared to b122a. Various b122a and OD fragment proteins were displayed on the surface of Qβ virus-like particles. Sera raised against these particles in six-month long rabbit immunization studies could neutralize Tier1 viruses across different subtypes with the best results observed with b122a1-b displayed particles. Significantly higher amounts of antibodies directed towards the CD4bs were also elicited by particles displaying b122a1-b. This study highlights the ability of fragment immunogens to focus the antibody response to the conserved CD4bs of HIV-1.     

H7 virus-like particles assembled by hemagglutinin containing H3N2 transmembrane domain and M1 induce broad homologous and heterologous protection in mice

Influenza A H7N9 virus has caused five outbreak waves of human infections in China since 2013 and posed a dual challenge to public health and poultry industry. There is an urgent need to develop an effective vaccine to reduce its pandemic potential. In the present study, we evaluated the biochemical characteristics and immunogenicity of two H7 virus-like particles (VLPs) composed of the matrix 1 (M1) and hemagglutinin of wild-type (HA-WT) or hemagglutinin of whose transmembrane domain replaced by that from H3N2 subtype (HA-TM). H7 VLPs-WT and H7 VLPs-TM could assemble and release into the supernatant of Sf9 cells and they had similar morphological characteristics. However, compared to H7 VLPs-WT, H7 VLPs-TM had more trimeric HA proteins and could better resist thermal changes. In mice H7 VLPs-TM induced higher titers of HI, IgG, IgG2a and IFN-γ, and provided better protection against homologous and heterologous H7N9 viruses (no matter belonging to Yangtze River Delta or Pearl River Delta) challenge with less weight loss and higher survival rate. In summary, H7 VLPs-TM represents a potential strategy for the development of H7N9 vaccines.     

转录调控因子CBF1（RBP—Jκ）对Cbfal和Ose2元件启动子活性的影响

目的：探讨Notch信号转录调控因子CBF1(RBP—Jκ)对核心结合因子Cbfal基因启动子和骨钙素基因启动子区域Ose2元件启动子活性的影响。方法：构建CBF1真核表达载体pCMV—Tag4／CBF1；将梯度浓度pCMV—Tag4／CBF1和荧光素酶报告质粒共转染两成骨前体细胞系Kusa—A1和Kusa-O，用双荧光素酶报告基因方法检测Cbfa1和Ose2元件启动子活性。结果：随CBF1浓度增加，Kusa—A1和Kusa-O细胞中Cbfa1和Ose2元件启动子活性均逐渐提高。统计分析表明：Kusa—A1细胞中1／40μg／μL实验组两启动子活性均与对照组差异显著；Kusa-0细胞中1／40μg／μL实验组Ose2元件启动子活性与对照组差异显著。结论：转录调控因子CBF1可以促进Cbfa1和Ose2元件启动子活性，从而可能对细胞的成骨性分化有正调节作用。     

人牙髓干细胞诱导后人牙本质基质蛋白1基因转录活性的变化和意义

目的:观察人牙髓干细胞(human dental pulp stem cell,HDPSC)经矿化液诱导后牙本质基质蛋白1(dentin matrix protein1,DMP1)的表达、细胞生物学变化以及对人DMP1基因启动子转录活性的影响。方法:通过建立体外培养的HDPSC体外矿化诱导模型,运用RT-PCR、组织染色等方法检测矿化诱导后细胞DMP1 mRNA表达、细胞形态和矿化能力的变化以及对两个DMP1基因启动子重组报告基因载体pGL3-P-193~ 86和pGL3-P-505~ 86活性的影响。结果:HDPSC经矿化液诱导后,能够向成牙本质细胞方向分化,出现成牙本质细胞样细胞表型。与对照组相比较,随着诱导时间的延长,细胞内碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性增强,较早的出现了矿化结节,说明在诱导液作用后细胞矿化能力升高。诱导后的细胞出现了DMP1 mRNA表达水平增高,pGL3-P-193~ 86和pGL3-P-505~ 86活性均出现增强的趋势,尤其以pGL3-P-505~ 86活性增强更明显。结论:矿化液可诱导HDPSC向成牙本质细胞方向分化,诱导后的细胞矿化能力增强,DMP1表达和转录活性也随之增强,提示DMP1可能参与成牙本质细胞的分化过程。     

小鼠牙本质涎磷蛋白5′端非编码区启动子报告基因载体的构建和分析

目的：克隆小鼠牙本质涎磷蛋白(dentin sialophosphopmtein，DSPP)基因启动子，构建含DSPP启动子不同片段的报告基因载体，在小鼠成牙本质细胞系MDPC-23中分析各种载体中DSPP启动子活性：方法：PCR、报告基因载体构建、瞬时转染和报告基因检测。结果：PCR获得DSPP启动子的3个不同片段，将它们克隆到萤火虫荧光素酶报告基因载体pG13-Enhancer，构建出3种含DSPP启动子不同片段的报告基因载体，将这些报告基因载体瞬时转染至MDPC-23细胞，载体中的启动子具有不同的活性。结论：成功构建了含小鼠DSPP启动子片段的报告基因载体，为以后研究DSPP基因表达调控的分子机制提供了实验工具。     

放射诱导调控序列的合成及其辐射诱导特性的研究

目的　合成放射诱导调控序列并鉴定其辐射诱导特性。方法　利用人工寡核苷酸片段合成含有 6个重复CArG元件的放射诱导调控序列 ,以绿色荧光蛋白 (GFP)作为报告基因转染Tca8113细胞检测其辐射诱导特性。结果　低剂量放射线照射可诱导这种人工调控序列增强GFP在Tca8113细胞中的表达 ,且 3Gy剂量最为明显 ,提高到放射前的 16 1%。结论　人工合成放射诱导调控序列在低剂量放射线照射下能明显增强其下游外源性基因的表达 ,为进一步研究放射 -基因治疗奠定了基础。     

融合蛋白TNFR1/DED介导舌癌细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的 :构建含FADD及TNFR1基因功能结构域的融合基因TFL ,稳定转染入舌癌细胞后 ,通过体内、外实验初步观察融合蛋白TNFR1/DED在重组人肿瘤坏死因子 α(rhTNF α)作用下介导舌癌细胞凋亡的效应。方法 :反转录及重组PCR构建融合基因TFL ;鉴定融合蛋白TNFR1/DED在建系舌癌细胞T TFL中的表达 ,通过MTT法、形态学观察、DAN片段及体内抑瘤实验 ,观察融合蛋白TNFR1/DED介导舌癌细胞凋亡的效应。结果 :获得了人FADD及TNFR1基因并构建成功融合基因TFL ,转染入Tca 8113细胞后 ,能表达融合蛋白TNFR1/DED活性 ,体外实验观察到rhTNF α可有效地杀伤舌癌细胞 ,体内可明显抑制移植瘤的生长 ,且荷瘤动物内脏器官无病理性改变。结论 :融合蛋白TNFR1/DED可有效地介导舌癌细胞凋亡 ,为舌癌基因治疗研究提供实验基础。     

Role of interleukin-1 and inflammasomes in oral disease

BackgroundInflammation promotes immune cell infiltration into tissues and induces production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that mediate innate immune responses. Acute or temporary inflammation results in the required repair of the inflamed tissues. However, chronic inflammation leads to pathogenesis of inflammatory conditions such as periodontal disease. In periodontal tissues, pro-inflammatory cytokines mediate inflammatory responses and accelerate the bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts, resulting in destruction of alveolar bone. Levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), a major pro-inflammatory cytokine that strongly promotes osteoclastic activity, are elevated in oral tissues of patients with periodontitis. Therefore, elucidation of the mechanisms underlying IL-1 production will enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.HighlightIL-1 has two isoforms: IL-1α and IL-1β. Both isoforms bind to the same IL-1 receptor and have identical biological activity. Unlike that of IL-1α, the IL-1β precursor is not bioactive. To induce its bioactivity, the IL-1β precursor is cleaved by caspase-1, whose activation is mediated by multiprotein complexes termed inflammasomes. Thus, IL-1β maturation and activity are strictly regulated by inflammasomes. This review highlights the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying IL-1 production and the related inflammasome activity.ConclusionInhibition of IL-1 production or the inflammasomes via their regulatory mechanisms may facilitate prevention or treatment of periodontal disease and other inflammatory diseases.     

语义知识图谱与科学知识图谱在中医药领域的应用

介绍语义知识图谱和科学知识图谱的概念、特点及研究现状,分别阐述其在中医药领域应用情况,分析两类知识图谱区别及二者交互对促进中医药领域知识图谱技术发展的作用。