Synthetic conjugate peptide Fba-Met6 (MP12) induces complement-mediated resistance against disseminated Candida albicans

The fungal genus Candida includes common commensals of the human mucosal membranes, and the most prevalently isolated species, C. albicans, poses a threat of candidemia and disseminated infection associated with an unacceptably high mortality rate and an immense $4 billion burden (US) yearly. Nevertheless, the demand for a vaccine remains wholly unfulfilled and increasingly pressing. We developed a double-peptide construct that is feasible for use in humans with the intention of preventing morbid infection by targeting epitopes derived from fructose bisphosphate aldolase (Fba) and methionine synthase (Met6) which are expressed on the C. albicans cell surface. To test the applicability of the design, we vaccinated mice via the intramuscular (IM) route with the conjugate denoted Fba-Met6 MP12 and showed that the vaccine enhanced survival against a lethal challenge. Because overall endpoint IgG1 and IgG2a antibody titers were robust and these mouse subclasses are associated with protective functionality, we investigated the potential of Fba and Met6 specific antibodies to facilitate the well-defined anti-Candida response by complement, which opsonizes fungi for degradation by primary effectors. Notably, reductions in the fungal burdens and enhanced survival were both abrogated in MP12-vaccinated mice that were pre-challenge dosed with cobra venom factor (CVF), a complement depleting factor. Altogether, we demonstrated that complement is relevant to MP12-based protection against disseminated C. albicans, delineating that a novel, multivalent targeted vaccine against proteins on the surface of C. albicans can enhance the natural response to infection.     

土壤环境基因组技术及其在新药发现中的应用

土壤是微生物最重要的生境，土壤微生物具有极大的多样性。然而传统培养技术只能得到约1％的微生物纯培养，其余都是未被纯培养微生物。利用土壤环境基因组技术，可以把未被纯培养微生物的基因克隆到载体中并在宿主中进行表达，获得比已培养微生物丰富的代谢产物多样性，这为我们发现新颖结构先导化合物以及新药开辟了新的道路。本文介绍应用环境基因组技术构建土壤DNA文库的思路和方法。     

Differential Regulation of RGS-2 by Constant and Oscillating PTH Concentrations

PTH has diverse effects on bone metabolism: anabolic when given intermittently, catabolic when given continuously. The cellular mechanisms underlying the varying target cell response are not clear yet. PTH induces RGS-2, a member of the Regulator of G-protein Signaling protein family, via cAMP/PKA, and inactivates PKC-mediated signaling. To investigate intracellular signaling pathways with different PTH concentration-time patterns, we treated UMR 106-01 osteoblast-like cells in a perfusion system. PTH was administered intermittently (4 min/h, 10⁻⁷ M) or continuously at an equivalent cumulative dose (6.6 × 10⁻⁹ M). cAMP was measured using radioimmunoassay, mRNA levels using real-time rtPCR and ribonuclease protection assay, and protein levels using Western immunoblotting. A single PTH pulse transiently increased cAMP levels by 2000% ± 1200%. In contrast to continuous PTH exposure, cAMP induction remained unchanged with intermittent PTH, ruling out desensitization of the PTH receptor. In continuously perfused cells, RGS-2 abundance was three to five times higher than in cells intermittently exposed to PTH for up to 12 h. MKP-1 and -3 were significantly less induced with pulsatile PTH; exposure-mode-dependent differences in MMP-13 and IGFBP-5 were small. Pulsatile but not continuous PTH administration prevents PTHrP receptor desensitization and accumulation of RGS-2 in osteoblasts, which should preserve PKC-dependent signaling.     

医院图书馆与医务人员卫生法学教育

为了改变卫生人员和医学生的知识结构,自觉执行卫生法,培养适应新时代有道德、有文化、守纪律、高素质的卫生人员,必须要加强学习卫生法学教育。文章阐述了卫生法的概念,及其教育的意义,卫生法学在医疗实践中的作用;同时提出了图书馆如何配合医院开展卫生法学教育的措施,扩大藏书内容,开办法律讲座学习班,做好法律知识宣传工作,坚持以医教研为中心,深化服务质量。     

Pharmacological properties of Ca2+-activated K+ currents of ramified murine brain macrophages

Using the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique, calcium-activated potassium currents (I_K,Ca) were investigated in ramified murine brain macrophages. In order to induce I_K,Ca the intracellular concentration of nominal free Ca²⁺ was adjusted to 1μM. The Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ current of brain macrophages did not show any voltage dependence at test potentials between –120 and +30mV. A tenfold change in extracellular K⁺ concentration shifted the reversal potential of I_K,Ca by 51mV. The bee venom toxin apamin applied at concentrations of up to 1μM did not affect I_K,Ca. Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ currents of ramified brain macrophages were highly sensitive to extracellularly applied charybdotoxin (CTX). The half-maximal effective concentration of CTX was calculated to be 4.3nM. In contrast to CTX, the scorpion toxin kaliotoxin did not inhibit I_K,Ca at concentrations between 1 and 50nM. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) blocked 8.0% of I_K,Ca at a concentration of 1mM, whereas 31.4% of current was blocked by 10mM TEA. Several inorganic polyvalent cations were tested at a concentration of 2mM for their ability to block I_K,Ca. La³⁺ reduced I_K,Ca by 72.8%, whereas Cd²⁺ decreased I_K,Ca by 17.4%; in contrast, Ni²⁺ did not have any effect on I_K,Ca. Ba²⁺ applied at a concentration of 1mM reduced I_K,Ca voltage-dependently at hyperpolarizing potentials. Received: 17 January / Accepted: 5 May 1997     

大鼠脊髓损伤修复差异表达cDNA文库的构建

目的　 运用改良消减杂交技术构建大鼠脊髓损伤修复过程中出现的差异表达基因文库 ,为寻找在脊髓损伤后的修复过程中起关键作用的分子提供帮助。方法　在经典消减杂交的基础上引进SMART反转录、长距离PCR、磁性分离系统、离心柱色谱等方法建立改良消减杂交技术 ,通过两轮消减杂交构建差异表达基因的cDNA消减文库 ,并对文库中的差异基因进行批量克隆与生物信息学分析。结果　 将两轮消减杂交后的差异表达基因转化大肠杆菌JM10 9以建立差异表达基因文库 ,库容量大小为 2× 10 3。从文库中随机挑取 90个克隆进行酶切鉴定与测序分析 ,得到 4 0个差异基因序列 ,其中 32个已知序列 ,8个新序列。 结论　 通过改良消减杂交成功建立了脊髓损伤修复过程中出现的差异表达基因文库 ,为筛选在大鼠脊髓损伤修复过程中起关键作用的基因 ,进一步探讨脊髓损伤修复的分子机制奠定了基础     

In vivo anti-melanoma activities of the Melan-A/MART-1101–115 T CD4+ cell peptide

Malignant melanoma causes significant health problems. The identification of tumour-associated antigens has led to novel approaches to increase T cell mediated anti-tumour immune response. Melan-A/MART-1 has been use as target antigen for several T cell based immunotherapeutic treatments. More recently, the critical role of CD4+ T cells in inducing and maintaining anti-tumour immunity has been increasingly recognized. In order to optimize tumour immunotherapy, greater efforts have been concentrated on the identification of tumour antigens presented by MHC class II molecules to CD4+ T cells. In a publication, Tiwari et al. (2004) [1] have identified by a computational approach the 15-mer amino-acid sequence 101–115 (PPAYEKLSAEQSPPP) of the Melan-A/MART-1 as a good target for a vigorous and safe immunotherapy. Therefore, we have investigated the in vivo anti-tumour activity of this peptide in a murine melanoma model. For the prophylactic treatment, 20 μg or 50 μg peptide was subcutaneously injected in mice once a week during 3 weeks before tumour induction. Treatment with 50 μg peptide significantly affected tumour development. Thus, our preliminary data demonstrate potential in vivo prophylactic activity of the 101–115 peptide-based vaccine to control melanoma growth.     

日本血吸虫磷酸丙糖异构酶编码基因的克隆与序列测定

目的克隆和鉴定日本血吸虫磷酸丙糖异构酶(SjTPI)编码基因,为寻找血吸虫病的候选疫苗联合应用打基础.方法设计合成引物,抽提日本血吸虫成虫总RNA,用RT-PCR法从中扩增出SjTPI基因编码序列,将其克隆入pGEM-T载体,用双酶切、以重组质粒为模板进行PCR扩增和测序进行鉴定.结果 RT-PCR法从成虫总RNA中扩增出大小为759 bp SjTPI基因编码序列,重组质粒pGEM-SjTPI经双酶切、PCR扩增,均可获得一条与RT-PCR产物一致的DNA片段,序列测定结果表明具有一个长度为759 bp的完整开放阅读框,与日本血吸虫(菲律宾株)和曼氏血吸虫磷酸丙糖异构酶核苷酸序列有高度同源性(分别为99%和88%).结论该实验成功地克隆了SjTPI编码基因,为进一步研究提供了条件.     

应用激光显微分离技术在骨肉瘤组织原位筛选噬菌体肽库

目的将激光显微分离(laser capture microdissection, LCM) 技术应用于噬菌体表面呈现肽库的筛选过程,建立一种可以直接在天然组织中筛选肽库的方法。方法将新鲜人骨肉瘤组织块在噬菌体肽库溶液振荡孵育后制成组织冰冻切片,免疫组化染色检测噬菌体在组织中的浸润扩散。改进常规LCM切片处理方法,以冻干法替代酒精/二甲苯法脱水,以期在LCM操作过程中提高切片上噬菌体的存活率。LCM法分离摄取骨肉瘤切片上的肿瘤靶细胞,转染回收这些细胞上特异结合的噬菌体。滴定法检测所筛选的噬菌体对特异性细胞的亲和力。结果利用LCM技术,可以由肿瘤冰冻切片上收集到足够的与特异性噬菌体短肽,应用于噬菌体表面呈现肽库筛选。经过3轮筛选后所获得的噬菌体与人骨肉瘤组织的特异性亲和力提高16倍。结论本研究首次将LCM技术应用于噬菌体表面呈现肽库的筛选,可以使我们直接在新鲜人肿瘤组织中筛选与特定细胞群甚至单个细胞亲合的短肽;同时又避免了天然组织中其他杂质细胞的污染,为研制细胞特异性导向载体提供了一个新的途径。     

医院图书馆在继续教育中的地位和作用

本从医德教育、专业技能培训等方面讨论了图书馆在继续教育中的作用，图书馆以它自身的优势和丰富的资料，为开展继续教育提供了重要场所。