Synthesis of the antigen bovine serum albumin‐ergosterol and its immunocharacterization

Fungal contamination of agricultural commodities leads to their spoilage and renders them unfit for human consumption. Ergosterol, a predominant sterol in most fungi and a major constituent of the cell membrane, has been established as a reliable biochemical marker for fungal growth. Various chemical and physico‐chemical methods to quantify ergosterol as an index of fungal contamination are in practice. Yet, immunoassays are the methods of choice in food analysis due to their increased specificity, sensitivity and rapidity. This paper reports the synthesis of an antigen, bovine serum albumin‐ergosterol conjugate, and its immunocharacterization. Ergosterol was converted to ergosterol hemisuccinate (EHS) by succinylation. Subsequently, EHS was conjugated to bovine serum albumin by the mixed anhydride reaction. The molar ratio was found to be 1:28. Antisera raised against the synthesized antigen in rabbits was characterized by the Ouchterlony double‐diffusion technique and an antibody capture assay. Ouchterlony analysis showed a titre of 1:2. Further, characterization by an antibody capture assay, using 50 ng well (10 ng equivalent of ergosterol) of the antigen, gave a titre of 1:4000 dilution of antiserum, with an absorbance of 1.0 at 405 nm. The synthesized antigen may find an application in the development of an immunoanalytical method for ergosterol quantification as a measure of food quality in relation to fungal contamination.     

Development of a quantitative monoclonal antibody‐based immunoassay for humicola ianuginosa on rice grains and comparison with conventional assays

A sensitive, specific, quantitative enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed that can be used to determine the extent of mycelial growth of a sporulating thermophilic fungus, Humicola lanuginosa on the surface of rice grains. The assay employs a monoclonal antibody EC6, developed in a previous study, which does not recognize spores of the fungus. Using antigen‐coated wells, a direct linear relationship was established between dilutions of extracts from freeze‐dried mycelium (0.5 to 3 μg/ml) and absorbance values but to eliminate day‐to‐day variations it was found to be necessary to run a dilution series, prepared from stock freeze‐dried mycelium, with every test sample. The ELISA method was compared with conventional quantitative methods. Estimates of total mycelial length in freeze‐dried material by ELISA were found to be in the same order of magnitude as those determined by ergosterol and a theoretical calculation. The ELISA method also compared favourably with direct linear measurements (by photomicrography) of live mycelium present in aliquots from homogenates of a 1 cm² plug taken from a plate but estimates of the latter by the dilution plate count method were much lower. In assays with inoculated rice grains, the quantitative ELISA method proved more sensitive than either the ergosterol method or direct plating of surface‐sterilized grains. The ELISA method also has the advantage of being highly specific and quick to conduct.     

加压溶剂提取-高效液相色谱法测定天然和人工虫草中的麦角甾醇、核苷及其碱基

目的建立同时测定虫草中麦角甾醇、核苷及其碱基含量的简便方法。方法正交法优化加压溶剂提取条件；HPLC法同时测定天然和人工虫草中上述成分的含量。结果以甲醇为提取溶剂，提取温度160 ℃，提取时间5 min，提取压力10 MPa，循环1次，提取1次。采用Zorbax NH₂分析柱(250 mm×4.6 mm ID, 5 μm)，流动相为A(乙腈)-B(10 mmol·L^-1醋酸铵溶液)二元梯度洗脱：0-5.0 min，B%为0→15%；5.0-25.0 min，B%为15%→20%；25.0-35.0 min，B%为20%→ 40%；35.0-45.0 min，B%为40%→ 80%；45.0-50.0 min，B%为80%。结论本法能够快速、简便地测定虫草中麦角甾醇、核苷及其碱基的含量。     

试剂盒法和福林酚法测定鹿瓜多肽注射液中多肽的比较研究

目的 筛选藿朴夏苓汤治疗早期新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）湿邪郁肺证的物质基础,预测其作用机制。方法 查阅文献及临床报道分析藿朴夏苓汤与早期COVID-19湿邪郁肺证的方证关系。运用TCMSP数据库筛选藿朴夏苓汤中潜在活性成分,将活性成分与新型冠状病毒（SARS-CoV-2）3CL水解酶、血管紧张素转化酶II（ACE2）进行分子对接,根据结合能筛选与两者均有较好结合作用的核心成分。借助Cytoscape软件构建关键成分靶点蛋白互作网络,筛选出核心靶点;通过STRING数据库进行核心靶点的GO分析,Cytoscape软件ClueGO插件进行Pathway、KEGG富集分析。结果 方证关系分析藿朴夏苓汤用于治疗早期COVID-19湿邪郁肺证,筛选出藿朴夏苓汤中潜在作用成分12个,核心靶点67个。其中通草中的通脱木皂苷元I,茯苓、猪苓中的过氧麦角甾醇,半夏中的黄芩苷与SARS-CoV-2 3CL水解酶、ACE2均具有较好的结合活性。GO、Pathway、KEGG富集分析结果显示藿朴夏苓汤中12个潜在作用成分参与调节刺激反应、信号转导、细胞死亡等生物过程以及白介素信号通路、癌症EGFR信号通路、酪氨酸激酶信号转导途径、编程性细胞死亡途径、MAPK信号通路等。结论 藿朴夏苓汤以化湿解毒、宣肺透邪治疗早期COVID-19湿邪郁肺证患者,菲酮、黄芩苷、酸枣仁皂苷、啤酒甾醇、常春藤皂苷元、过氧麦角甾醇、柠檬二烯醇、麦角甾-7,22-二烯-3-酮、通脱木皂苷元I、泽泻醇B-23-醋酸酯、泽泻醇B、新橙皮苷可能为其主要的物质基础,通过阻断SARS-CoV-2病毒蛋白合成,阻止病毒进入宿主细胞,通过调控白介素信号通路、MAPK信号通路、PI3K-Akt信号通路、T细胞受体信号通路、C型凝集素受体信号通路,抑制相关炎症因子的表达发挥作用。     

Personal exposure of dairy workers to dust,endotoxin, muramic acid,ergosterol, and ammonia on large-scale dairies in the high plains Western United States

Dairy workers experience a high degree of bioaerosol exposure, composed of an array of biological and chemical constituents, which have been tied to adverse health effects. A better understanding of the variation in the magnitude and composition of exposures by task is needed to inform worker protection strategies. To characterize the levels and types of exposures, 115 dairy workers grouped into three task categories on nine farms in the high plains Western United States underwent personal monitoring for inhalable dust, endotoxin, 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OHFA), muramic acid, ergosterol, and ammonia through one work shift. Eighty-nine percent of dairy workers were exposed to endotoxin at concentrations exceeding the recommended exposure guidelines (adjusted for a long work shift). The proportion of workers with exposures exceeding recommended guidelines was lower for inhalable dust (12%), and ammonia (1%). Ergosterol exposures were only measurable on 28% of samples, primarily among medical workers and feed handlers. Milking parlor workers were exposed to significantly higher inhalable dust, endotoxin, 3-OHFA, ammonia, and muramic acid concentrations compared to workers performing other tasks. Development of large modern dairies has successfully made progress in reducing worker exposures and lung disease prevalence. However, exposure to endotoxin, dust, and ammonia continues to present a significant risk to worker health on North American dairies, especially for workers in milking parlors. This study was among the first to concurrently evaluate occupational exposure to assayable endotoxin (lipid A), 3-hydroxy fatty acids or 3-OHFA (a chemical measure of cell bound and noncell-bound endotoxins), muramic acid, ergosterol, and ammonia among workers on Western U.S. dairies. There remains a need for cost-effective, culturally acceptable intervention strategies integrated in OHS Risk Management and production systems to further optimize worker health and farm productivity.     

山东不同产地北虫草中麦角甾醇提取工艺与含量测定的研究

目的：建立北虫草子实体质量评价的HPLC方法,研究和比较山东区域不同产地的北虫草子实体中麦角甾醇的提取工艺和含量。方法：采用正交试验设计筛选北虫草中麦角甾醇最佳提取工艺,利用HPLC法定量分析10个不同产地北虫草子实体中麦角甾醇的含量;采用色谱柱为Promosil-C18柱,流动相为甲醇,流速为1.0 mL/min,柱温为30℃,检测波长为282 nm。结果：北虫草中麦角甾醇的最佳提取最佳工艺为A2B3C2,即料-液比为1∶40,40℃时超声提取75 min;不同产地的北虫草中麦角甾醇含量范围为0.25%~0.68%。结论：本方法操作简便,结果准确可靠,可用于北虫草子实体中麦角甾醇的含量测定,为北虫草的质量评价提供了参考。     

Probable Mechanism(s) of Antifungal Activity of SJA-95, a Heptaene Polyene Antibiotic

A new strain, streptomyces sp. S. 24 was isolated from a soil sample collected from Japan. The strain produced heptaene polyene antibiotic, SJA-95, in submerged culture and found to elicit promising antifungal activity against yeasts, filamentous fungi and clinical isolates, both in vitro and in vivo. Experimental studies were carried out using biological methods to understand the probable mechanism(s) of antifungal activity of SJA-95. Our experimental findings suggest that SJA-95 binds more avidly to ergosterol, the sterol in fungal cell membranes, than to cholesterol found in mammalian cell membranes. Such preferential binding of SJA-95 to ergosterol might help to establish its usefulness as a chemotherapeutic agent with lesser adverse reactions.     

黄连解毒汤联合氟康唑对耐药白念珠菌麦角甾醇的影响

目的:探讨黄连解毒汤乙酸乙酯提取物(ethyl acetate extract of Huanglian Jiedu decoction,EAHD)联合氟康唑(fluconazole,FLZ)对耐药白念珠菌生物膜麦角甾醇的影响。方法:采用CLSI M27-A3的微量稀释法测定EAHD与FLZ对白念珠菌FLZ耐药株的MIC与SMIC80;棋盘稀释法测定EAHD与FLZ联用对白念珠菌的协同效应;稀释涂布平板法考察EAHD与FLZ联用不同时间对菌体的杀伤作用;分别用HPLC和qRT-PCR法检测耐药白念珠菌生物膜麦角甾醇含量及相关基因的变化。结果:对于9株白念珠菌FLZ耐药株,EAHD对其MIC介于156~1 250 mg·L-1,FLZ对其MIC介于256~2 048 mg·L-1以上,二者联用后MIC显著降低,FICI(部分抑菌浓度指数)最低达0.066;EAHD单用对其SMIC80均高于1 250 mg·L-1,FLZ单用对其SMIC80均高于512 mg·L-1,最高可达2 048 mg·L-1以上,联用组除个别组具有相加作用外也均有协同效应。时间杀菌(time kill,TK)实验显示当作用12 h,二者联用杀菌效应最强。HPLC结果显示联用组、EAHD组与空白组麦角甾醇量相比,分别降低了近85%,50%。qRT-PCR检测FLZ组ERG1,ERG2,ERG6,ERG7,ERG11均上调,ACS1,ACS2,MET6均下调;EAHD组所有基因均下调;联用组ERG2,ERG6,ERG11均显著上调,ERG1,ERG7,ACS1,ACS2,MET6均显著下调。结论:EAHD协同FLZ抗白念珠菌耐药株,可能与抑制麦角甾醇合成相关基因的表达来降低麦角甾醇的合成有关,造成细胞膜损伤,抑制菌体生长。     

3种固态发酵生物量测定方法的比较

对固态发酵中生物量测定常用的3种细胞组分（核酸、麦角固醇、氨基葡萄糖）作为生物量测定指标的可行性进行了比较研究。结果表明：核酸组分在细胞中含量比较稳定，可较好地指示生物量的变化，氨基葡萄糖受培养基成分影响较大，只适舍固定成分培养基中生物量的表征，而麦角固醇在细胞中的含量不太稳定，不适合作为生物量测定的指标。运用核酸法对土曲霉田态发酵产lovastatin过程中的菌体量变化进行了描述。     

Novel antifungal agents: a patent review (2011 – present)

Introduction: Invasive fungal infections (IFI) have increased significantly over the past decades. The mortality rate of IFI is alarming, and early and accurate diagnosis is difficult. Most used antifungal drugs are not completely effective due to the development of increasing resistance and undesirable side effects which limit their use. In this scenario, new effective broad spectrum and safer antifungal drugs are urgently needed.

Areas covered: This review summarizes the latest advances in the discovery of new antifungal compounds through the patents granted from 2011 to August 2013. In the 26 patents reviewed here, either derivatives of existing antifungal drugs or novel structures are included. New imidazoles, fluconazole analogs and adducts of azoles with 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol are described. The review also includes chitinases, β-1,3-D-glucan and chitin synthases inhibitors and novel structures.

Expert opinion: In the patents reviewed here, progress has been made to accomplish at least one of the necessary requirements for the development of novel antifungal agents, such as broad spectrum of activity, more favorable pharmacokinetic profile, good bioavailability and low adverse effects. However, in vivo activity, mechanisms of action, drug–drug interactions and other aspects that make a compound a good antifungal agent need further development.