AAV-CRISPR Gene Editing Is Negated by Pre-existing Immunity to Cas9

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Genetic characterization and diversity of porcine circovirus type 2 in non‐vaccinated South African swine herds

The porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a swine infectious viral pathogen of great significance in global swine herds. It was recently detected at another Province of South Africa sequel to the first detection of North American‐like strain (PCV2a) at Gauteng about two decades ago, but there is a dearth of information about the genomic features and diversity of the viral strains in circulation within the country and the entire sub‐Saharan Africa region. To date, only one complete genome of the virus from South Africa is available on global data base. This current effort is therefore geared towards the full‐genome characterization of the circulating PCV2 strains in the pigs of Eastern Cape Province. With the use of conventional polymerase chain reaction method, fifteen complete PCV2 genomes were successfully amplified, sequenced and assembled from field samples obtained from non‐vaccinated pigs in the region. Neighbor Joining and Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses of the ORF2 gene and full genomes unanimously showed that most of the assembled genomes (11) belong to genotype PCV2b. Furthermore, three of the characterized sequences formed clade with other reference mutant PCV2b and PCV2b subtype 1C (i.e. PCV2d) strains from the USA, China and South Korea. The last sequence, however, clustered with other reference strains belonging to PCV2 intermediate clade 2 (PCV2‐IM2), recently identified in a global PCV2 strains phylogenetic analysis. This study reports the first complete genome sequences of PCV2b, PCV2d and PCV2‐IM2 in pigs from South Africa, and it gives a possible insight into the genetic characteristics and variability of the viral strains presently in circulation within the country. It further emphasizes the need for more stringent measures in curtailing the introduction and spread of transboundary swine pathogens in the country and entire Southern African region.     

Photolysis and ozonolysis of (iso) desmosine-containing crosslinked peptides from porcine aorta elastin

This report describes the use of photolysis and ozonolysis as a means of achieving complete cleavage of the pyridinium ring of (iso)desmosine in crosslinked elastin peptides. Although photolysis leads to the opening of the ring with concomitant formation of lysine, the peptide chains remain attached. Subsequent ozonolysis is able to completely achieve the cleavage of the rest of the ring skeleton, thus leading to the separation of the peptide chains. Formation of new amino acids, i.e. α-aminoadipic and glutamic acids, is emphasized. Localization of these amino acids within the released peptides should be of help in structural investigations on the crosslinking zones involving either isodesmosine or desmosine. However, other amino acids such as tyrosine and phenylalanine are sensitive to this procedure and side reactions occur which are responsible for peptide bond cleavage with the formation of breakdown products.     

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV is down-regulated in rat hepatoma cells at the mRNA level

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) is a cell surface ectopeptidase that has been implicated in cell-extracellular matrix interactions, lymphocyte growth and the regulation of biological peptides. Previous studies have shown that immunostaining for DPP-IV and DPP-IV enzyme levels is decreased in hepatoma cells and levels have been correlated with the ability of such cells to adhere in vitro. The aim of this paper was to measure DPP-IV enzyme levels in rat hepatoma cells and to examine whether changes were associated with alterations at the mRNA level. The results indicate a greater than 90% reduction in DPP-IV enzyme levels in two rat hepatoma cell lines, HTC and H35, compared with rat hepatocytes. Enzyme levels of the control enzyme leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) were not decreased. mRNA studies indicated that these changes were associated with similar reductions in rat DPP-IV mRNA. It is concluded that DPP-IV is markedly reduced at the protein, enzyme and mRNA levels in rat hepatoma cells. The significance of these changes is unclear but may lead to decreased extracellular matrix interactions by such cells.     

质粒pGH/BL_(21)在大肠杆菌中表达条件的研究

目的　寻找质粒 pGH/BL2 1在大肠杆菌中的最佳表达条件。方法　当它在大肠杆菌中表达时 ,考查不同IPTG诱导浓度及不同的诱导时间对表达产物的影响 ,表达产物的量以SDS -PAGE电泳方法分析。结果　该基因的最佳表达条件为 :IPTG诱导浓度 1.0mmol/L ,诱导时间 4h。结论　IPTG对不同的基因在不同的表达体系中需不同的诱导条件 ,只有找到它的最佳诱导条件才能保证终产物的最大产率     

分离肝细胞纯化培养方法的比较研究

目的 评价一种可提高肝细胞纯度和存活率的分离培养方法。方法 以体外两步胶原酶灌流法分离肝细胞,然后将其分成两组,对照组在接种培养前不经进一步处理,试验组则在应用适宜的Percoll梯度液离心纯化之后再行培养。藉台盼蓝拒染法比较两组肝细胞的存活率,采用MTT法动态比较两组肝细胞的增殖状态,在相差显微镜下观察细胞的纯度和形态。结果 未经进一步纯化处理的猪肝细胞存活率为90％±5％,鼠肝细胞存活率为80％±5％,两者纯度均约90％;经Percoll梯度液离心纯化后,其高活力肝细胞比率均提高至98％±2％,纯度可达99％以上。从开始接种到大部分肝细胞贴壁生长,试验组比对照组肝细胞的时间有所缩短。结论 用Percoll梯度液纯化新分离肝细胞,可提高肝实质细胞的活力与纯度。     

HEPATIC ZONATION OF CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM

Periportal cells synthesize twice as much glucose from lactate than do cells from the perivenous zone.     

Liver regeneration in acute severe liver impairment: a clinicopathological correlation study.

BACKGROUND: Although normally quiescent, the adult mammalian liver possesses a great capacity to regenerate after different types of injury. Major players in the regeneration process are mature residual cells, including hepatocytes, cholangiocytes and stromal cells. However, if the regenerative capacity of mature cells is impaired, hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) are activated and expand into the liver parenchyma. Upon transit amplification, the progenitor cells generate new hepatocytes and biliary cells to restore liver homeostasis. AIMS/METHODS: To study the relationship between different histopathological parameters as well as their correlations with clinical parameters and outcome, we examined liver specimens from 74 patients with acute or subacute severe liver impairment by immunohistochemistry for CK7/CK19 (evaluation of HPCs activation/differentiation), Mib1(Ki 67)/P21 (evaluation of proliferative activity/proliferation arrest of hepatocytes) and hematoxylin and eosin (evaluation of hepatocyte loss). RESULTS: Of the 74 patients, 32% survived without transplantation, 14% died without transplantation and 54% were transplanted. Our results show that a threshold of 50% loss of hepatocytes, associated with significant decrease in the proliferative activity of remaining mature hepatocytes, is needed for extensive hepatic progenitor cell activation. Such activation is a sign of disease severity and occurs early (within 1 week) in the disease course. However, development of intermediate hepatocytes, suggesting HPCs differentiation towards mature hepatocytes, takes at least 1 week's time. We found a positive correlation between histopathological parameters (percentage hepatocyte loss, number of proliferating hepatocytes and number of HPCs) and clinical parameters of liver impairment such as model for end stage liver diseases (MELD). Surviving patients compared with those who either died or were transplanted had significantly less hepatocyte loss, less HPCs activation and more mature hepatocyte proliferative activity. Hepatocyte proliferative activity and degree of hepatocyte loss were the most important independent histopathological parameters in predicting outcome. CONCLUSION: Liver biopsy can provide important additional information in a patient with severe acute liver impairment.     

脐静脉灌注提高分离人胎肝细胞纯度

应用脐静脉灌注冲洗人胎儿肝脏,胰蛋白酶消化后经光镜及扫描电镜观察,证实可获得纯度为90%以上的肝实质细胞,培养上清液可测出胎甲蛋白活性,证明胎肝细胞具有生物学活性,为应用人肝细胞培养进行生理生化及药理方面的实验研究,提供一种新的获取人肝细胞的方法.