口腔微生物群落结构的影响因素

口腔微生物群落作为人体最多样化的微生物群落之一,其生态失衡不仅可以诱发多种口腔疾病,如龋病、牙髓根尖周病、牙周病等,还与心血管疾病、糖尿病等多种系统性疾病紧密相关。口腔微生物群落结构受多种因素影响,本文就口腔微生物群落结构的影响因素作一综述,文献复习结果表明:环境因素在口腔微生物群落的塑造中起重要作用,而遗传和饮食因素的影响目前尚有争议;此外,系统性疾病也可能影响口腔微生物群落结构。目前,高通量测序研究已确定一些“核心微生物群”,不同环境、不同遗传背景下的“核心微生物群”将是下一步的研究方向。     

新疆民族药多伞阿魏挥发油成分与遗传多样性相关性研究

目的:通过对多伞阿魏挥发油成分与其遗传多样性相关性研究,为多伞阿魏种质资源与品质评价提供重要科学依据。方法:测定不同产地多伞阿魏挥发油成分含量,采用ISSR分子标记技术和聚类分析对来自省内8个县的176份多伞阿魏样品的遗传多样性进行研究,运用灰色关联法分析多伞阿魏遗传多样性对挥发油成分含量的影响。结果:用所筛选的15条引物对多伞阿魏样品进行ISSR分析,共扩增出126条清晰的条带,其中多态性位点93个。8个居群中遗传多样性水平最高的是裕民县[多态性位点百分率(PPB)=29.37%,Nei’s多样性指数(H)=0.110 4,Shannon’s信息指数(I)=0.164 3)],最低的是青河县(PPB=19.05%,H=0.070 5,I=0.105 4)。其中沙湾县与富蕴县的多伞阿魏居群间遗传距离最大(0.219 9),两者的遗传一致度最低(0.802 6),表明两者之间的亲缘关系最远,遗传差异较大。由H,I,PPB计算的多伞阿魏居群间的遗传多样性与人参新萜醇、龙脑、γ-桉叶油醇及挥发油成分总含量关联性较大。结论:多伞阿魏居群间的遗传变异为63.08%,居群内的遗传变异为36.92%,多伞阿魏地理分布与遗传多样性具有显著关系,多伞阿魏3个遗传多样性因子中的Nei’s多样性指数对多伞阿魏挥发性成分含量有着较大的影响。     

Does NGS typing highlight our understanding of HLA population diversity?: Some good reasons to say yes and a few to say be careful

This paper discusses the advantages provided by next generation sequencing (NGS) compared to traditional typings or limited sequencing strategies for the characterization of HLA population diversity based on four documented examples. We also comment the limitations of this approach by highlighting pitfalls in interpreting NGS data.     

Immunoglobulin variable regions in molecules exhibiting characteristics of innate and adaptive immune receptors

The antigen combining sites of immunoglobulin (Ig) and T cell antigen receptors (TCRs), which are present in all jawed vertebrates, consist of a paired variable (V) domain heterodimer that exhibits varying degrees of germline- and extraordinarily high levels of somatically-derived variation. The near limitless variation in receptor specificity on the surface of individual lymphocytes is the basis for clonal selection in the adaptive immune response. A basic question arises as to whether or not there are other forms of immune-type receptors in vertebrates as well as in invertebrates that derive immune specificity through sequence differences in V domains. Our laboratory has discovered two such families of molecules, the novel immune-type receptors and the variable region-containing chitin-binding proteins. Both families of molecules encode V domains that share some characteristics of adaptive immune receptors but likely mediate innate functions. Presented at the First Robert A Good Society Symposium, St. Petersburg, FL 2006.     

Microbial diversity of mine water at Zhong Tiaoshan copper mine, China

Microbial diversity of mine water at Zhong Tiaoshan copper mine, Shanxi province, China, was analyzed using a culture-independent 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) based on cloning approach. A total of 59 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) were obtained from 226 clones from all three samples (8 OTUs from sample SX1, 25 from SX2 and 26 from SX3). 46 of them were representative OTUs and were sequenced. 93.5% of the total clones had sequences that were less than 5% difference from those in the nucleic acids database. The percentage of overlapping OTUs among samples was from 12.1% to 35.3%. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that 60.62% of the clones were affiliated with members of the Proteobacteria (alpha -3.10%, beta -24.78%, gamma -31.41%, delta -1.33%), whereas 29.20% of the clones were closely related to the Nitrospira (Leptospirillum ferrooxidans 20.80%, Leptospirillum ferriphilum 0.88% and Leptospirillum group III 7.52%, respectively). The rest clones were affiliated with the Firmicutes (2.65%) and the Bacteroidetes (7.52%). The results of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based on the percentages of OTUs and biogeochemical data revealed that biogeochemical properties affected the diversity of microbial communities in mine water. Especially, the pH value, temperature and different concentrations of elements such as lead, zinc, sulfur, iron and copper seemed to be key factors affecting the composition and structure of microbial communities in this study.     

Social marketing meets health literacy: Innovative improvement of health care providers' comfort with patient interaction

OBJECTIVE: It is essential to train health care providers to deliver care sensitive to the needs of diverse individuals with varying degrees of health literacy. We aimed to evaluate an innovative, theory-based, educational intervention involving social marketing and health literacy. METHODS: In 2006 at a large medical school, all first-year students were exposed to the intervention. They completed pre- and post-test anonymous surveys including demographic data, covariates, and key outcome variables. Paired t-tests and multiple linear regression were used to evaluate the intervention and to determine independent associations among the key outcome variables. RESULTS: Post-intervention scores were significantly higher than pre-intervention scores for social marketing (3.31 versus 1.90, p<0.001), health literacy (3.41 versus 2.98, p<0.001), and comfort in brochure development (3.11 versus 2.52, p<0.001) (N=83). After controlling for demographic and covariate data, health literacy and comfort in brochure development were independent predictors of comfort interacting with diverse populations. CONCLUSION: A brief intervention involving social marketing and health literacy can improve skills that improve medical students' comfort with patients of diverse backgrounds. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Health care providers can be taught educational principles and skills involved in developing effective patient education materials. These skills may improve providers' comfort with direct patient interaction.     

天津市社区老年人膳食种类及膳食多样性与认知变化关联的前瞻性研究

目的:探讨老年人膳食种类及膳食多样性与认知变化的关联。方法:采用前瞻性队列研究,于2011年整群抽样选取65岁及以上社区老年人作为研究对象。2011—2019年逐年随访测试参与者的认知状况。研究对象的基线饮食信息采用膳食频率问卷获得,通过《中国居民膳食指南（2016）》推荐摄入量计算膳食多样性指数;采用韦氏成人智力量表（修订版）测量智商值评估认知。广义线性混合回归模型分析老年人膳食种类、膳食多样性指数与认知变化的关联。结果:共纳入研究对象509名,中位随访时间为3年。广义线性混合模型分析结果显示,禽畜肉与总智商（β=0.01,P=0.03）、言语智商（β=0.01,P=0.01）变化关联有统计学意义,蛋类与操作智商变化关联有统计学意义（β=0.01,P=0.01）,即较高摄入禽畜肉、蛋类可延缓老年人智商改变;豆类及制品与总智商（β=-0.01,P<0.01）、言语智商（β=-0.01,P<0.01）、操作智商（β=-0.01,P<0.01）变化关联有统计学意义,谷薯与言语智商变化关联有统计学意义（β=-0.00,P=0.03）、水果与操作智商变化关联有统计学意义（β=-0.01,P=0.03）,咸菜与总智商（β=-0.02,P=0.02）、言语智商（β=-0.01,P=0.02）、操作智商（β=-0.02,P=0.01）变化关联有统计学意义,即较高摄入豆类及制品、谷薯、水果、咸菜可加快老年人智商改变;较高膳食多样性指数与言语智商变化关联有统计学意义（β=0.47,P=0.02）。结论:禽畜肉、蛋类可延缓老年人认知减退;豆类及制品、谷薯、水果、咸菜可加速老年人认知减退;较高膳食多样指数与延缓老年人认知变化有显著关联。     

Shaping the niche in macrophages: Genetic diversity of the M. tuberculosis complex and its consequences for the infected host

Pathogenic mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) have co-evolved with their individual hosts and are able to transform the hostile environment of the macrophage into a permissive cellular habitat. The impact of MTBC genetic variability has long been considered largely unimportant in TB pathogenesis. Members of the MTBC can now be distinguished into three major phylogenetic groups consisting of 7 phylogenetic lineages and more than 30 so called sub-lineages/subgroups. MTBC genetic diversity indeed influences the transmissibility and virulence of clinical MTBC isolates as well as the immune response and the clinical outcome. Here we review the genetic diversity and epidemiology of MTBC strains and describe the current knowledge about the host immune response to infection with MTBC clinical isolates using human and murine experimental model systems in vivo and in vitro. We discuss the role of innate cytokines in detail and portray two in our group recently developed approaches to characterize the intracellular niches of MTBC strains. Characterizing the niches and deciphering the strategies of MTBC strains to transform an antibacterial effector cell into a permissive cellular habitat offers the opportunity to identify strain- and lineage-specific key factors which may represent targets for novel antimicrobial or host directed therapies for tuberculosis.     

Aging,But Not Sex and Genetic Diversity,Impacts the Pathobiology of Bacterial Endophthalmitis

PurposeAge, sex, and genetics are important biological variables in determining an individual''s susceptibility or response to infectious agents; however, their role has not been evaluated in intraocular infections. In this study, we comprehensively examined the impact of these host biological factors in the pathogenesis of experimental bacterial endophthalmitis.MethodsEndophthalmitis was induced by intravitreal injection of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) in the eyes of male and female C57BL/6 mice of different ages: group I (young, 6–8 weeks), group II (mid-age, 18–20 weeks), and group III (old, 1 year). Highly heterogeneous outbred J:DO mice were used for genetic diversity analysis. Eyes were subjected to clinical examination, retinal function testing using electroretinography (ERG), histopathological analysis (hematoxylin and eosin staining), and bacterial burden estimation. The levels of inflammatory mediators were measured using qPCR and ELISA, and the infiltration of neutrophils was determined by flow cytometry.ResultsBoth inbred C57BL/6 and diversity outbred (J:DO) mice were equally susceptible to S. aureus endophthalmitis, as evidenced by a time-dependent increase in clinical scores, bacterial burden, intraocular inflammation, and retinal tissue damage, in addition to decreased retinal function. However, no significant differences were observed in disease severity and innate responses in male versus female mice. Older mice (group III) exhibited higher clinical scores coinciding with increased bacterial proliferation and intraocular inflammation, resulting in enhanced disease severity. Moreover, bone-marrow-derived macrophages from old mice exhibited reduced phagocytic activity but increased inflammatory response toward S. aureus challenge.ConclusionsAge, but not sex, is an important biological variable in bacterial endophthalmitis. Identification of pathways underlying altered innate immunity and impaired bacterial clearance in aging eyes could provide new insights into the pathobiology of intraocular infections in elderly patients.