Synthesis and evaluation of 5,7‐dichloro‐4‐(3‐{4‐[4‐(2‐[18F]fluoroethyl)‐piperazin‐1‐yl]‐phenyl}‐ureido)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐2‐carboxylic acid as a potential NMDA ligand to study glutamatergic neurotransmission in vivo

The neurotransmitter glutamate is thought to be crucially involved in a huge number of neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as Morbus Parkinson, Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Aiming at an improved diagnostic tool for PET a new [¹⁸F]fluorine labelled NMDA receptor ligand was developed that may potentially allow the in vivo visualization of glutama‐tergic neurotransmission. The ¹⁹F‐analogue trans‐5,7‐dichloro‐4‐(3‐{4‐[4‐(2‐fluoroethyl)‐piperazin‐1‐yl]‐phenyl}‐ureido)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro quinoline‐2‐carboxylic acid was synthesised to determine the binding affinity, lipophilicity and biodistribution of the ligand. This substance exhibits a K_i of 12 nM for the glycine binding site using [³H]MDL‐105,519 assays on pig cortical membranes. A logD of 1.3 was determined for this compound according to the OECD guidelines employing the HPLC method. Radiosynthesis of this ligand was achieved by labelling the precursor trans‐5,7‐dichloro‐4‐[3‐(4‐piperazin‐1‐yl‐phenyl)‐ureido]‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐2‐carboxylic acid methyl ester with 2‐[¹⁸F]fluoroethyltosylate and subsequent cleaving of the methyl ester moiety, resulting in an overall decay corrected yield of 35% of the final product trans‐5,7‐dichloro‐4‐(3‐{4‐[4‐(2‐[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl)‐piperazin‐1‐yl]‐phenyl}‐ureido)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐2‐carboxylic acid. The biodistribution kinetics of this compound were determined with Sprague Dawley rats ex vivo for brain, liver, kidney, and bone. The ligand showed a maximum brain uptake 30 min.p.i. of about 0.1% ID/g. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Placental site trophoblastic tumor in a patient with brain and lung metastases

Placental site trophoblastic tumor is a rare neoplasm that arises from intermediate trophoblasts and shows diversity of biological behaviors, resulting in the absence of consistency in treatment modalities. A case of placental site trophoblastic tumor that extended to the cervix, with primary manifestation of amenorrhea and yellow foul-smelling vaginal discharge, is presented. Total abdominal hysterectomy was performed initially, and serial measurements of human chorionic gonadotropin levels were obtained. She was admitted with metastases to brain and lung 1.5 years after surgery. Combination chemotherapy (etoposide-methotrexate-dactinomycin/cyclophosphamide-vincristine) and radiotherapy were administered. There was no significant response to chemoradiotherapy. Despite changing chemotherapy regimen, she is still alive with progressive disease.     

印迹基因Snrpn在人类卵母细胞及植入前胚胎mRNA表达

目的了解印迹基因Snrpn在人类卵母细胞和植入前胚胎的表达,以分析Snrpn基因表达对人类卵母细胞和早期胚胎发育的影响。方法采用单细胞巢式逆转录多聚酶链式反应(Single Cell Nested RT-PCR)方法,检测人类卵子和植入前各个阶段胚胎的印迹基因Snrpn mRNA表达情况。结果Snrpn在人类卵母细胞GV、MI、MII和植入前胚胎2、4、6、8细胞期都有表达,单卵母细胞扩增成功率为87.5%,单个胚胎为75.8%,平均扩增成功率为79.1%。单个卵母细胞和单个卵裂球扩增成功率无显著性差异(P>0.05),但单卵母细胞较单个卵裂球高。结论建立了比较稳定、可靠的单细胞巢式RT-PCR技术检测基因表达。印迹基因Snrpn在人类卵细胞和植入前胚胎的表达对卵子生长和胚胎发育有着重要意义,为早期胚胎阶段该基因表达正常图谱提供实验依据     

QTQTN motif upstream of the furin-cleavage site plays a key role in SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis

The furin cleavage site (FCS), an unusual feature in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, has been spotlighted as a factor key to facilitating infection and pathogenesis by increasing spike processing. Similarly, the QTQTN motif directly upstream of the FCS is also an unusual feature for group 2B coronaviruses (CoVs). The QTQTN deletion has consistently been observed in in vitro cultured virus stocks and some clinical isolates. To determine whether the QTQTN motif is critical to SARS-CoV-2 replication and pathogenesis, we generated a mutant deleting the QTQTN motif (ΔQTQTN). Here, we report that the QTQTN deletion attenuates viral replication in respiratory cells in vitro and attenuates disease in vivo. The deletion results in a shortened, more rigid peptide loop that contains the FCS and is less accessible to host proteases, such as TMPRSS2. Thus, the deletion reduced the efficiency of spike processing and attenuates SARS-CoV-2 infection. Importantly, the QTQTN motif also contains residues that are glycosylated, and disruption of its glycosylation also attenuates virus replication in a TMPRSS2-dependent manner. Together, our results reveal that three aspects of the S1/S2 cleavage site—the FCS, loop length, and glycosylation—are required for efficient SARS-CoV-2 replication and pathogenesis.

SARS-CoV-2 emerged in late 2019 and has caused the largest pandemic since the 1918 influenza outbreak (1). An unusual feature of SARS-CoV-2 is the presence of a furin cleavage site (FCS) in its spike protein (2). The CoV spike is a trimer of spike proteins composed of the S1 and S2 subunits, responsible for receptor binding and membrane fusion, respectively (1). After receptor binding, the spike protein is proteolytically cleaved at the S1/S2 and S2′ sites to activate the fusion machinery. For SARS-CoV-2, the spike protein contains a novel cleavage motif recognized by the host cell furin protease (PRRAR) directly upstream of the S1/S2 cleavage site that facilitates cleavage prior to virion release from the producer cell. This FCS, not found in other group 2B CoVs, plays a key role in spike processing, infectivity, and pathogenesis as shown by our group and others (3, 4).Importantly, another novel amino acid motif, QTQTN, is found directly upstream of the FCS. This QTQTN motif, also absent in other group 2B CoVs, is often deleted and has been pervasive in cultured virus stocks of the alpha, beta, and delta variants (5–8). In addition, the QTQTN deletion has been observed in a small subset of patient samples as well (9–11). Because this deletion has been frequently identified, we set out to characterize it and determine whether it has consequences for viral replication and virulence. Using our infectious clone (12, 13), we demonstrated that the loss of this motif attenuates SARS-CoV-2 replication in respiratory cells in vitro and pathogenesis in hamsters. The QTQTN deletion results in reduced spike cleavage and diminished capacity to use serine proteases on the cell surface for entry. Importantly, mutations of glycosylation-enabling residues in the QTQTN motif results in similar replication attenuation despite intact spike processing. Together, our results highlight elements in the SARS-CoV-2 spike in addition to the FCS that contribute to increased replication and pathogenesis.     

垂直防渗技术在苏州市七子山垃圾填埋场扩建工程中的应用

介绍了苏州市七子山老垃圾填埋场和新扩建填埋场的概况,由于原有的老垃圾填埋场垂直防渗性能达不到最新的防渗标准,在新扩建垃圾填埋场的过程中在老垃圾填埋场下游重新建立了垂直防渗系统,该系统采用高压帷幕灌浆结合塑性混凝土墙的施工工艺,其防渗性能达到CJJ 113—2007生活垃圾卫生填埋场防渗系统技术规范的要求。     

巢氏PCR扩增强直性肌营养不良基因在植入前诊断中的局限性

目的I型强直性肌营养不良(myotonic dystrophy 1,DM1)是由于肌强直蛋白激酶基因(DMPK)3`端非翻译区的(CTG)n异常扩增导致。探讨用巢氏PCR法直接扩增该基因在植入前诊断的可行性。方法0.5%低熔点琼脂糖分离来自DMPK(CTG)100的DM1患者的单个精子,巢氏PCR法扩增DMPK基因。结果106例精子标本中53例扩增产物电泳为单条带,但48例产物显示为多条带,扩增产物长度介于(CTG)10至(CTG)30之间。结论利用低熔点琼脂糖可有效分离单个精子进行检查,而巢氏PCR在单细胞水平上直接扩增较多(CTG)n的DMPK基因时存在困难,应用于植入前诊断时容易造成误诊。     

Hemagglutinin Subtype Specificity and Mechanisms of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Genesis

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses (HPAIVs) arise from low pathogenic precursors following spillover from wild waterfowl into poultry populations. The main virulence determinant of HPAIVs is the presence of a multi-basic cleavage site (MBCS) in the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein. The MBCS allows for HA cleavage and, consequently, activation by ubiquitous proteases, which results in systemic dissemination in terrestrial poultry. Since 1959, 51 independent MBCS acquisition events have been documented, virtually all in HA from the H5 and H7 subtypes. In the present article, data from natural LPAIV to HPAIV conversions and experimental in vitro and in vivo studies were reviewed in order to compile recent advances in understanding HA cleavage efficiency, protease usage, and MBCS acquisition mechanisms. Finally, recent hypotheses that might explain the unique predisposition of the H5 and H7 HA sequences to obtain an MBCS in nature are discussed.