樟芝多糖保护小鼠急性肝损伤的机制研究

目的 研究樟芝多糖保护小鼠急性肝损伤的机制。方法 通过D-氨基半乳糖构建急性肝损伤小鼠,C57BL/6小鼠分为对照组、模型组、樟芝多糖高剂量组、樟芝多糖低剂量组,樟芝多糖高、低剂量组每日分别给予50,25 mg·kg^-1的樟芝多糖2次,对照组和模型组给予等体积的生理盐水。给药7 d后紫外比色法测试盒检测大鼠肝组织中谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）水平;TBA法试剂盒检测肝组织中丙二醛（MDA）的水平;ELISA试剂盒检测肝组织中白介素-6（IL-6）的表达;Western-Blot检测肝脏组织中NLRP-3、白介素-1β（IL-1β）、pro-caspase-1和caspase-1的表达;HE染色观察小鼠肝脏病理;RT-qPCR检测肝脏组织中Bcl-2、Bax、caspase-3、caspase-1的mRNA表达。结果 与模型组相比,樟芝多糖可以明显改善急性肝损小鼠的肝脏病理,降低ALT、AST的表达以及MDA和IL-6的表达（P<0.01）,肝脏组织中NLRP-3、IL-1β以及pro-caspase-1和caspase-1的表达相比模型组显著降低（P<0.05）,Bax、caspase-3、caspase-1的mRNA表达相比模型组显著降低（P<0.01）,Bcl-2显著升高（P<0.01）。结论 樟芝多糖对于小鼠急性肝损伤有着很好的保护作用,其作用机制与炎性小体NLRP-3及其相关炎症因子的抑制有关。     

樟芝多糖通过CD4+CD25+Foxp3+调节性T细胞对小鼠非酒精性脂肪性肝病的保护作用

目的 研究樟芝多糖通过CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺调节性T细胞（Treg）的调控对小鼠非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）的保护作用。方法 高脂饮食构建小鼠NAFLD模型,设置对照组、模型组、低剂量组、高剂量组。樟芝多糖干预1~4周中每周流式细胞术检测外周血Treg细胞的比例,谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）的表达,外周血中转化生长因子β（TGF-β）、白介素-6（IL-6）的表达。樟芝多糖干预4周后,小鼠处死,取肝脏进行油红染色,Western blot法检测肝组织中TGF-β和Foxp3、Smad3蛋白的表达,RT-qPCR检测IL-6、TGF-β、Foxp3、Smad3的mRNA表达。结果 高脂饮食喂养4周后成功构建NAFLD小鼠模型,且模型组中Terg比例显著低于对照组（P<0.05）,樟芝多糖干预后Treg比例相比模型组显著增高（P<0.05）,小鼠肝功能得到显著改善,外周血中TGF-β表达上调、IL-6的表达下调,肝组织中TGF-β和Foxp3、Smad3蛋白和mRNA均上调,而IL-6的mRNA表达下调。结论 樟芝多糖可以通过Treg和TGF-β-Smad3信号对NAFLD起到保护作用,作用机制和免疫改善有关。     

樟芝多糖辅助bFGF对于大鼠机械性脊髓损伤后神经功能修复的作用研究

目的 研究樟芝多糖联合碱性成纤维细胞因子（basic fibroblast growth factor,bFGF）对于机械性脊髓损伤的大鼠神经功能修复的作用。方法 采用改良的Allens法构建大鼠脊髓机械性损伤模型,将大鼠分为对照组、模型组、bFGF组、樟芝多糖组、bFGF+樟芝多糖组,药物干预时间为30 d。在药物干预后第1,7,14,21,30天对大鼠进行脊髓损伤（Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan,BBB）评分、诱发电位（somatosensory evoked potential,SEP）试验、运动诱发电位（motor evokedpotential,MEP）试验,30 d后处死大鼠,提取脊髓组织后进行HE染色和Nissl染色,Elisa检测组织中炎症因子肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-α）、白介素1β（IL-1β）、趋化因子10（CXCL-10）、集落刺激因子（GM-CSF）和白介素10（IL-10）的表达。结果 bFGF、樟芝多糖单一使用对小鼠神经功能BBB评分和SEP、MEP试验结果均优于模型组（P<0.05）,而bFGF+樟芝多糖组的BBB评分和SEP、MEP试验优于单一用药组（P<0.05）。bFGF组、樟芝多糖组、bFGF+樟芝多糖组的脊髓组织中炎症因子TNF-α、IL-1β、CXCL-10的表达显著低于模型组（P<0.05）,而GM-CSF和IL-10的表达高于模型组（P<0.05）,且bFGF+樟芝多糖组显著优于bFGF组和樟芝多糖组（P<0.05）。结论 樟芝多糖辅助bFGF对于机械性脊髓损伤大鼠有着良好的神经功能修复作用,且优于使用单一的bFGF,其作用可能与抗炎症因子的表达,促进神经细胞的存活有关。     

樟芝多糖通过调节肠黏膜浸润的Th9及IL-9的表达调控小鼠慢性结肠炎的机制研究

目的 研究樟芝多糖调节结肠黏膜浸润的Th9及其细胞因子IL-9的表达,从而减轻小鼠慢性结肠炎的机制。方法 利用葡聚糖硫酸钠（dextran sulfate sodium,DSS）构建小鼠慢性结肠炎模型,设置正常组、模型组、阳性对照组（抗IL-9抗体注射组）以及樟芝多糖组（20 mg·kg^-1）。DAI评分综合评价小鼠1个月内活动能力,测定小鼠1个月内的体质量变化,流式细胞术检测外周血、结肠黏膜固有层中单个核细胞中CD4+IL-9+T细胞的比例,ELISA法检测外周血及结肠黏膜中IL-9、TGF-β以及IL-4的表达,实时荧光定量PCR检测小鼠结肠黏膜中IL-9、TGF-β、smad3及IL-4的表达,HE染色观察小鼠结肠组织病理。结果 DSS可以引起小鼠慢性结肠炎性病变,DAI评分结果显示模型组小鼠活动能力明显下降,而樟芝多糖干预后DAI评分显著降低（P<0.05）,模型组小鼠外周血及结肠黏膜固有层中Th9比例相比正常组显著增高（P<0.05）,外周血及结肠黏膜中IL-9、TGF-β及IL-4的蛋白及mRNA表达也显著增高（P<0.05）。阳性对照组及樟芝多糖组小鼠外周血及结肠黏膜固有层中Th9比例相比模型组显著下调（P<0.05）,且外周血及结肠黏膜中IL-9,TGF-β以及IL-4的蛋白及mRNA表达也显著下调（P<0.05）,HE染色结肠病理情况明显好转。结论 樟芝多糖可以通过调节Th9比例和IL-9表达改善小鼠慢性结肠炎,其作用与免疫调节及抗炎作用有关。     

片仔癀对酒精诱导的急性肝损伤小鼠自噬和NLRP3炎症小体活化的影响

目的 研究片仔癀（Pien-Tze-Huang,PTH）对酒精（alcohol）诱导小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用及可能机制。方法 将C57BL/6小鼠随机分为空白组、酒精组、PTH低（75 mg·kg^-1）、中（150 mg·kg^-1）、高（300 mg·kg^-1）剂量组,连续灌胃给药3 d（2次/天）。除空白组外,其余各组小鼠于末次给药2 h后灌胃酒精（0.12 mg/10 g）进行造模;24 h后各组小鼠摘眼球取血以测定ALT、AST和TG水平;并取肝组织进行HE检查;qRT-PCR检测肝组织中IL-6、IL-1β和TNF-α mRNA表达水平;Western blot检测NLRP3、Caspase-1 p20、IL-18、Beclin1、LC3蛋白表达水平。结果 与模型组相比,PTH可明显减轻酒精诱导的小鼠急性肝损伤病理情况,降低血清中ALT、AST和TG的含量（P<0.05或P<0.01）;PTH可明显降低酒精诱导的急性肝损伤小鼠肝组织中IL-6、IL-1β和TNF-α mRNA的表达水平（P<0.05或P<0.01）;PTH可明显上调酒精诱导急性肝损伤小鼠肝组织中LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ比值以及Beclin1的蛋白表达水平（P<0.05或P<0.01）,下调NLRP3、Caspase-1 p20、IL-18蛋白表达水平（P<0.05或P<0.01）。结论 片仔癀可能通过调控自噬和NLRP3炎症小体活化而减少炎症介质释放,进而改善酒精诱导的小鼠急性肝损伤。     

樟芝多糖抑制6-OHDA诱导的多巴胺能神经元细胞炎症反应的作用机制研究

目的 探究樟芝多糖通过抑制ROS-NLRP3-caspase-1途径调节6-羟基多巴胺（6-hydroxydopamine,6-OHDA）诱导的多巴胺能神经元（dopaminergic neurons,DAN）细胞炎症反应的作用。方法 分离小鼠中脑DAN细胞,采用6-OHDA体外构建帕金森病细胞模型,将细胞分为正常组、模型组、对照组、实验组。正常组为常规培养的DAN细胞,模型组为6-OHDA处理的DAN细胞,对照组为ROS抑制剂乙酰半胱氨酸（NAC）+6-OHDA处理的DAN细胞,实验组为6-OHDA+樟芝多糖处理的DAN细胞。采用CCK-8法检测细胞活力,流式细胞术和免疫荧光染色法检测ROS的水平,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡水平,Hoechst 33342染色活细胞,蛋白免疫印迹（Western-bolt）法检测细胞中NLRP3、caspase-1、pro-caspase-1的表达水平,酶联免疫吸附（Elisa）法检测上清中IL-1β、IL-6和IL-18的分泌水平。结果 模型组中6-OHDA可以诱导DAN细胞炎症反应,ROS表达增高,NLRP3-caspase-1炎性小体水平增高,细胞凋亡率增高,相比正常组具有显著性差异（P<0.05）。樟芝多糖干预后,ROS的水平下调,NLRP3-caspase-1炎性小体水平降低,细胞凋亡率下调,相比模型组具有显著性差异（P<0.05）。结论 樟芝多糖可以通过抑制ROS-NLRP3-caspase-1途径调节6-OHDA诱导DAN炎症反应,这可能是樟芝多糖在帕金森病炎症反应中的作用机制之一。     

枸杞多糖对小鼠酒精性肝损伤的保护作用及机制研究

目的 研究枸杞多糖对小鼠酒精性肝损伤的保护作用及机制。方法 将小鼠随机分为对照组、模型组和枸杞多糖低、中、高剂量（75、150、300 mg/kg）组,第1~9天于每日13：00时分别ig给药,模型组和对照组给予等量双蒸水。第10~16天给药4 h后,枸杞多糖和模型组小鼠均ig 50%酒精20 mL/kg进行造模,对照组小鼠给予等量双蒸水。观察小鼠一般状态,末次ig酒精16 h后处死小鼠,检测肝脏指数;全自动生化分析仪检测血清中丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）、三酰甘油（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）水平;试剂盒法测定肝组织丙二醛（MDA）、还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）、总超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）及炎性因子肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白介素-1β（IL-1β）的含量;HE染色观察肝组织病理变化。结果 与模型组比较,枸杞多糖各剂量组小鼠醒酒时间短,毛色有所改善,较活跃;各剂量组肝脏指数呈下降趋势,但不具有统计学意义;各剂量组血清ALT、AST、TC、TG均呈下降趋势,其中高、中剂量组ALT显著降低（P<0.05）,3个剂量组TG浓度均差异显著（P<0.01）;各剂量组小鼠肝脏MDA含量显著降低（P<0.05、0.01）,GSH、SOD水平显著升高（P<0.05、0.01）,GSH-Px水平升高但未表现出显著性差异;高、中剂量组小鼠肝脏TNF-α和IL-1β水平显著降低（P<0.05、0.01）。HE染色显示,与模型组比较,枸杞多糖各组肝组织破坏程度较轻。结论 枸杞多糖对于乙醇诱导的酒精性肝损伤具有一定的保护作用,作用机制可能与通过清除体内多余自由基、增强体内抗氧化能力以及减轻炎症反应相关。     

马齿苋提取物对四氯化碳致小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用及其化学成分分析

目的 探究马齿苋乙醇提取物对四氯化碳所致小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用,并对其有效成分进行分析。方法 将80%乙醇马齿苋提取物经离心、减压蒸馏、真空干燥为全草提取物、上清提取物和沉淀提取物。将80只ICR雄性小鼠随机分为8组：对照组、肝损伤模型组、马齿苋全草提取物低剂量组、高剂量组、马齿苋上清提取物低剂量组、高剂量组、马齿苋沉淀提取物低剂量组、高剂量组。经口灌胃去离子水或3种马齿苋提取物不同剂量混悬液1周后,分别皮下注射橄榄油或CCl₄橄榄油溶液,16 h后收集血清,检测小鼠血清ALT、AST、IL-6水平,以评价马齿笕对肝损伤的保护作用。采用超高效液相色谱-四极杆-飞行时间质谱（UPLC-Q-TOF/MS）技术分析马齿苋的有效成分。结果 与模型组相比,马齿苋全草提取物高剂量组小鼠血清AST、ALT、IL-6水平显著降低;沉淀高剂量组小鼠血清ALT显著降低（P<0.05）,IL-6水平有所降低,但不具统计学意义;其他各干预组小鼠血清AST、ALT、IL-6水平没有显著性变化。应用UPLC-Q-TOF/MS法共鉴别出苹果酸、柠檬酸、亮氨酸、异亮氨酸、腺苷、琥珀酸、染料木素、酪氨酸、苯丙氨酸等15种主要成分。结论 马齿苋乙醇全草提取物对CCl₄急性肝损伤小鼠具有保肝抗炎作用,可能是15种有效成分发挥的联合作用。     

葡萄籽原花青素对酒精性肝损伤小鼠的保护作用

目的 考察葡萄籽原花青素（grape seed procyanidin,GSP）对酒精性肝损伤小鼠的保护作用及其抗炎机制。方法 ICR小鼠60只,♂,随机分成正常对照组、模型组（56%乙醇）、水飞蓟素组（56%乙醇+90 mg·kg^-1·d^-1水飞蓟素）及GSP高、中、低剂量组（56%乙醇+400,200,100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1GSP）。8周后用分光光度法检测血清中ALT、AST水平,肝MDA含量和SOD、GSH-Px活力;酶联免疫法检测肝NF-κB、TNF-α、IL-1β的含量;HE染色检测肝脏病理改变。结果 与模型组比较,GSP可以降低酒精性肝损伤小鼠血清中ALT、AST含量及肝组织中MDA、NF-κB、TNF-α、IL-1β含量（P<0.05）,提高SOD、GSH-PX活力（P<0.05）,减轻肝脏的病理损伤程度（P<0.05）。结论 GSP对酒精性肝损伤小鼠具有保护作用,其机制可能是通过抗氧化和降炎症反应来发挥作用。     

基于网络药理学霍山石斛治疗肝损伤作用机制探讨及体内实验验证

目的 基于网络药理学、分子对接及体内实验方法探讨霍山石斛对肝损伤的治疗作用及其机制。方法 运用中国学术期刊全文数据库（CNKI）、PubChem等数据库获取霍山石斛成分,通过 GeneCards数据库筛选肝损伤相关基因,将成分靶点与疾病基因交集后构建蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用（PPI）网络图,进行基因本体（GO）富集分析和京都基因与基因组百科全书（KEGG）通路富集分析,Cytoscape构建“药物-化合物-靶点”网络图,利用 AutoDock Tools对关键活性成分和核心靶点进行分子对接。构建乙醇诱导的肝损伤小鼠模型,通过观察肝脏病理学改变,试剂盒法测定血清中天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）及白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平,通过实时荧光定量逆转录PCR（qRT-PCR）检测酒精性肝损伤小鼠肝脏中相关基因的表达,考察霍山石斛对酒精性肝损伤小鼠的影响。结果 筛选出霍山石斛中 33个活性成分,与肝损伤共有靶点 224个,包含 AKT1、EGFR、SRC等,涉及癌症途径、PI3K/Akt通路等。体内实验结果显示,霍山石斛水提物能够缓解小鼠酒精性肝损伤,并极显著降低AST、ALT和TNF-α、IL-6水平（P＜0.01）,极显著下调IκB激酶（IKK）、核因子-κB（NF-κB）、蛋白激酶B（Akt）mRNA表达水平（P＜0.01）。结论 网络药理学分析及动物实验结果,初步证明霍山石斛水提物可以通过下调Akt、IKK、NF-κB mRNA表达水平,影响NF-κB信号通路上游,参与酒精性肝损伤通路中炎症反应的调控,提示霍山石斛具有改善酒精性肝病的潜在作用,为揭示霍山石斛治疗肝损伤作用机制提供参考。     

Homocysteinemia,hypertension, and family history of diabetes in a smoking male population in Saudi Arabia

Arabs have a lower incidence of atherosclerosis than other ethnicities, but few studies have examined homocysteine (HCYS) as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in this population. Here, we investigated the association between serum HYCS levels and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (smoking, hypertension, and family history of diabetes) in Saudi males. A total of 50 smokers and 72 nonsmokers completed a general health questionnaire. In addition, their lipid profiles were measured using routine methods and HCYS levels by high-performance liquid chromatograph with electrochemical detection. Regression analysis showed negative associations between HCYS and glucose (r = −0.22; P < 0.05) as well as family history of diabetes (r = −0.21; P < 0.05). HCYS levels were similar between hypertensive and nonhypertensive smokers, but they were significantly elevated in hypertensive nonsmokers (P = 0.027) and lower in smokers with family history of diabetes (P = 0.01). Levels of HCYS among nonsmokers inversely correlated with history of diabetes and elevated glucose. Nonsmokers’ HCYS levels were significantly elevated in the presence of hypertension and correlated with diastolic blood pressure. Thus, HCYS may be a predictor of hypertension among nonsmokers. Until further trials are conducted, we recommend vitamin B6/folic acid supplementation for the Saudi hypertensive population as an adjuvant therapy.     

Steroidal sapogenin contents in some domestic plants

In order to find out the values of the steroid resources for the future use. the compositions and contents of steroidal sapogenins from 13 domestic plants have been investigated. As a result,Dioscorea nipponica, D. quinqueloba andSmilax china were found to have large amount of diosgenin. And pennogenin inTrillium kamtschaticum andParis verticillata, yuccagenin inAllium fistulosum, hecogenin inAgave americana and neochlorogenin inSolanum nigum were appeared to be major steroidal sapogenins.     

Chemopreventive effect of celecoxib in gastric cancer

COX (cyclooxygenase) is one of the key enzymes involved in the synthesis of a variety of prostaglandins (PGs), some of which have been strongly linked to inflammation. One of its two well-known isoforms, COX-2, is an inducible enzyme whose induction and expression is dynamically regulated by growth factors, mitogens, and tumor promoters. Several animal and clinical studies have reported the chemopreventive effect of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor; and in particular, a few studies have shown that celecoxib prevents the development of gastric cancer. Administration of celecoxib also showed increases in cardiovascular risk and disruption of renal physiology. Therefore, studies hoping to clarify how selective COX-2 inhibitors modulate gastric cancer must keep in mind that coxibs have also been linked to serious cardiovascular events and disruption of renal physiology. Received 12 July 2006; accepted 21 August 2006     

2017—2020年克拉玛依市中心医院抗菌药物使用强度与分离菌耐药性变化情况

目的 分析克拉玛依市中心医院2017—2020年住院患者常见分离菌分布及耐药率的变迁情况,为指导抗菌药物临床合理应用提供依据。方法 收集2017—2020年克拉玛依市中心医院住院患者抗菌药物使用情况及分离菌,分析主要分离菌对常见抗菌药物的耐药率变化趋势。结果 2017—2019克拉玛依市中心医院抗菌药物使用率和使用强度呈下降趋势,4年共有分离菌12 135株,其中革兰阳性菌2 567株,占21.15%;革兰阴性菌6 310株,占52.00%;真菌3 258株,占26.85%。居前5位的分离菌分别是白色假丝酵母菌（19.59%）、大肠埃希菌（16.84%）、肺炎克雷伯菌（13.33%）、鲍曼不动杆菌（8.71%）和铜绿假单胞菌（7.94%）。主要分离菌对常用抗菌药物耐药率总体呈下降趋势,肠杆菌科细菌对临床常用抗菌药物耐药性下降最明显。结论 克拉玛依市中心医院分离菌逐年增加,耐药率有下降趋势,抗菌药物临床应用基本合理,但需完善真菌检测能力。     

Investigation of the prevalence of tetQ, tetX and tetX1 genes in Bacteroides strains with elevated tigecycline minimum inhibitory concentrations

In this study, the antibiotic susceptibilities to tigecycline and tetracycline of 35 selected Bacteroides fragilis group strains were determined by Etest, and the presence of tetQ, tetX, tetX1 and ermF genes was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). tetQ was detected in all 12 B. fragilis group isolates (100%) exhibiting elevated tigecycline minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) (≥8 μg/mL) as well as the 8 strains (100%) with a tigecycline MIC of 4 μg/mL, whilst tetX and tetX1 were present in 15% and 75% of these strains, respectively. All of these strains were fully resistant to tetracycline (MIC ≥ 16 μg/mL). On the other hand, amongst the group of strains with tigecycline MICs < 4 μg/mL (15 isolates), tetQ, tetX and tetX1 were found less frequently (73.3%, 13.3% and 46.7%, respectively). All but two strains harbouring the tetQ gene in this group were non-susceptible to tetracycline, with a MIC > 4 μg/mL. These data suggest that in most cases tigecycline overcomes the tetracycline resistance mechanisms frequently observed in Bacteroides strains. However, the presence of tetX and tetX1 genes in some of the strains exhibiting elevated MICs for tigecycline draws attention to the possible development and spread of resistance to this antibiotic agent amongst Bacteroides strains. The common occurrence of ermF, tetX, tetX1 and tetQ genes together predicted the presence of the CTnDOT-like Bacteroides conjugative transposon in this collection of Bacteroides strains.     

生川乌配伍白蔹、白及反药组合在大鼠血中移行成分的研究

目的鉴定生川乌配伍白蔹、白及的入血成分,比较配伍前后血中移行成分的变化特征。方法大鼠ig给予生川乌配伍白蔹、白及提取物,收集血浆样品并采用UPLC-QTOF/MS法鉴定入血成分,由半定量分析比较配伍前后血中移行成分的变化。结果检测配伍组20个成分,均为来自于生川乌的原形成分,配伍组中双酯型生物碱的相对质量分数均显著降低,单酯型生物碱中苯甲酰乌头原碱的相对质量分数显著降低,醇胺型生物碱中宋果灵的相对质量分数显著降低,其他没有显著性变化。结论生川乌配伍白蔹、白及能够改变其血中移行成分的体内过程。     

栝楼不同药用部位质量控制的研究进展

瓜蒌子、瓜蒌皮、瓜蒌、天花粉来源于栝楼的不同药用部位,4味药材均为常用的大宗药材,现行版《中国药典》对其制定的质量标准过于简单,无法科学合理地控制其质量。本文对瓜蒌子、瓜蒌皮、瓜蒌、天花粉安全性和有效组分的研究进行综述,明确了相关研究存在的问题并针对问题提出建议,为科学全面的药材及饮片标准的制定提供参考依据。     

Heteroplasmic mitochondrial disease in Dictyostelium discoideum

The bewildering complexity of the relationship between genotype and phenotype in human mitochondrial diseases has delayed an understanding of the related cytopathological mechanisms. To explore the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction in Dictyostelium discoideum and the related cytopathologies, we determined whether the phenotypic outcomes were similar regardless of which D. discoideum mitochondrial gene was targeted for disruption. The disruption of the mitochondrial genes resulted in a similar pattern of phenotypes to those caused by other mitochondrial defects. These include impairment of phototaxis, multicellular development and growth on plates and in liquid medium. As the reduced growth rates could have been due to defective phagocytic or macropinocytic nutrient uptake, these processes were tested but found to be unaffected. Since mitochondria have been associated with Legionella pathogenesis of human macrophages, it was also determined if mitochondrially diseased Dictyostelium strains were better or worse than healthy cells at supporting the growth of Legionella pneumophila. The results revealed that the mitochondrially diseased strains supported greater L. pneumophila growth than the wild type Dictyostelium strain (AX2). Quantitative Northern blotting showed a significant reduction in the level of expression of the entire mitochondrial genome, regardless of which mitochondrial gene was targeted for disruption, suggesting a generalized deficiency in mitochondrial gene expression and function. The phenotypic outcomes were the same as those shown previously to result from chronic hyperactivity of the energy-sensing protein kinase, AMPK, after knockdown of mitochondrial chaperonin 60.     

Genotyping and in vitro antifungal susceptibility of Neoscytalidium dimidiatum isolates from different origins

This study evaluated the genetic variability and in vitro susceptibility patterns of isolates of Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and Scytalidium hyalinum from different geographical origins. Partial sequences of four loci (the ITS region and D1/D2 domains of the 28S rRNA gene and the tubulin and chitin synthase genes) were analysed. Among a total of 1970 bp sequenced in 24 isolates, 7 polymorphic positions (0.36%) were detected, representing five different sequence types (ST1–ST5), from which two (ST2 and ST3) were detected exclusively in isolates from plants, two (ST1 and ST5) were found only in clinical isolates and one (ST4) was observed in isolates from humans and from a mango tree. We propose subordinating S. hyalinum as a variety of N. dimidiatum. Amphotericin B was the most active drug, but low minimum inhibitory concentrations were also detected for voriconazole, terbinafine and anidulafungin.