Pathogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria: the roles of parasite adhesion and antigenic variation

Malaria results in up to 2.5 million deaths annually, with young children and pregnant women at greatest risk. The great majority of severe disease is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. A characteristic feature of infection with P. falciparum is the accumulation or sequestration of parasite-infected red blood cells (RBCs) in various organs, such as the brain, lung and placenta, and together with other factors is important in the pathogenesis of severe forms of malaria. Sequestration results from adhesive interactions between parasite-derived proteins expressed on the surface of infected RBCs and a number of host molecules on the surface of endothelial cells, placental cells and uninfected RBCs. Some receptors for parasite adhesion have been implicated in particular malaria syndromes, such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in cerebral malaria and chondroitin sulfate A and hyaluronic acid in placental infection. The principal parasite ligand and antigen on the RBC surface, P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 encoded by a multigene family termed var, is clonally variant, enabling evasion of specific immune responses. An understanding of these host-parasite interactions in the context of clinical disease and immunity may reveal potential targets to prevent or treat severe forms of malaria. Received 25 June 2001; received after revision 22 August 2001; accepted 24 August 2001     

Pathogenic enterococci: new developments in the 21st century

Enterococci, traditionally viewed as Gram-positive commensal bacteria inhabiting the alimentary canals of humans and animals, are now acknowledged to be organisms capable of causing life-threatening infections in humans, especially in the nosocomial environment. The existence of enterococci in such a dual role is facilitated, at least in part, by its intrinsic and acquired resistance to virtually all antibiotics currently in use. Beginning with the initial identification of a streptococci of fecal origin in the late 19th century, enterococci have been studied for over a century now. A number of comprehensive reviews during this time have addressed various aspects of enterococci, including classification, biology, virulence, antibiotic resistance and so on. This review specifically addresses the important advances in the field of enterococcal research that have occurred since the beginning of the 21st century. Most notable among these developments have been the insights into enterococcal genomes and pathogenicity.Received 10 April 2003; received after revision 31 May 2003; accepted 3 June 2003     

稻瘟菌毒素胁迫下水稻根部生理变化及相关基因表达研究

以丽江新团黑谷和谷梅二号为研究对象,利用稻瘟菌粗毒素分别对两者的幼苗根部处理0、6、12、24、48h,并进行地上部和地下部生理指标和相关基因表达分析研究.结果表明,毒素处理后,除SOD外,POD和CAT的活性均升高,MDA含量也升高.与水杨酸和茉莉酸途径相关的8个基因与本底水平相比都表现出上调或下调的趋势,可见这两个途径都得到了表达.特别是48h时,PAL、JIOsPR10、PR1b和PR4在稻瘟病抗性品种谷梅二号的根或叶中的表达量远高于敏感品种丽江新团黑谷,说明这4个基因的表达在调节谷梅二号抗稻瘟菌毒素中具有重要作用.     

不同花色品种蝴蝶兰花色素苷含量分析及相关基因表达研究

分析红色、黄色、粉紫色和白色蝴蝶兰品种不同开放度的花和叶花色素苷生物合成途径7个结构基因PAL、4CL、CHS、DFR、F3H、F3'5H和ANS基因和3个调节基因的表达.结果显示:10个基因的表达因不同花色、不同发育阶段而异.这10个基因在叶中的表达量相对花较低.黄金甲中PAL、4CL、CHS、F3H、F3'5H基因的表达量均较高,PAL、4CL、CHS和F3'5H在开花期达到峰值,粉色花空港红鹰花DFR、CHS、F3H、F3'5H表达量较高.白色花空港枫叶和黄色花富乐夕阳花中CHS、DFR、F3H、F3'5H和ANS表达量较低.CHS在6个品种花的不同阶段皆有表达.F3H基因在6个品种中表达量较低,与花色素合成不存在直接相关.调节基因b HLH 6个品种各发育阶段的表达量均较高,MYB表达量较低,这些结果表明,蝴蝶兰花色素苷积累是CHS、F3'5H、DFR和ANS等关键结构基因共同表达的结果,编码转录因子b HLH基因的表达可能在花色形成中作用较大.     

多氯联苯胁迫下红树蚬荧光定量PCR内参基因的筛选

【目的】筛选出多氯联苯(PCBs)胁迫下红树蚬(Polymesoda erosa)的实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)最适内参基因,为进一步开展分子毒理学研究奠定基础。【方法】以β?actin、18S rRNA、GAPDH和#?tubulin为候选内参基因,qRT-PCR测定PCBs胁迫下4个候选内参基因在红树蚬外套膜、鳃、闭壳肌和肝胰腺组织中的表达水平,应用geNorm、NormFinder和BestKeeper软件分析其表达稳定性。【结果】geNorm软件分析表明β?actin表达最稳定;NormFinder软件分析发现,外套膜、鳃和肝胰腺组织中β?actin的稳定性最好,闭壳肌组织中β?actin(0.454)表达稳定性略微低于#?tubulin(0.425),排第2位;BestKeeper软件分析表明,外套膜和鳃组织中β?actin最稳定,肝胰腺和闭壳肌组织中GAPDH最稳定,β?actin排位第2位。【结论】筛选β?actin为红树蚬在PCBs胁迫下的qRT-PCR最适内参基因。     

基于遍历基因组合的特征基因选取方法

特征基因的选取是非常热门的问题,在癌症是由某个或者某几个基因共同相互作用引起变异的假设下,从最简单的2个基因组合进行研究,遍历所有可能的基因组合,运用Logistic回归分类器,以预测精度和AIC准则为评价标准,对所有的模拟结果进行评价,得到最优基因组合（X55187,D14812）。同时运用交叉留一检验,验证了此基因组合建立模型的稳定性。最后又对预测精度大于90%的640对基因组合进行频数分析,并与已有文献进行比较,得到出现频率高的基因组合,预测精度并不一定高的结论。     

环丙沙星和铜复合污染下河流底质微生物群落与抗生素抗性基因的交互关系

选择环丙沙星(CFC)和铜(Cu)作为目标污染物,设计室内驯化试验,通过16S rRNA高通量测序、定量PCR等技术探究CFC和Cu复合污染下河流底质微生物群落与抗生素抗性基因(ARGs)间的交互关系。结果表明,CFC单一污染、Cu单一污染和复合污染试验组中ARGs丰度、微生物群落组成及功能存在显著差异;所有试验组的总ARGs相对丰度呈现随时间先增后减的变化趋势。共现网络分析表明, intI 1与3类ARGs和8个菌群相关,是ARGs和微生物群落之间的桥梁;所属变形菌门、酸杆菌门、厚壁菌门、拟杆菌门和绿弯菌门的细菌最有可能成为水环境中ARGs的潜在宿主。基于偏冗余分析发现,在MGEs、微生物群落和污染物等因素中微生物群落对ARGs丰度变化总解释率最高(49.77%);路径分析表明,CFC和Cu主要通过微生物群落间接地影响ARGs的传播和扩散。     

植物抗病基因工程研究现状及展望

近年来 ,随着植物抗病基因的分离 ,植物抗病机制的分子生物学和植物抗病基因工程的研究轰轰烈烈地展开并取得重大突破。利用抗病基因进行遗传转化已相继取得成功 ,基于抗病反应内在机制的基因工程也开始启动 ,并将越来越广泛地应用于作物抗病品种选育和农业生产实践。     

运动性气单胞菌分离和鉴定方法的研究

通过碱性蛋白胨水 (APW)的增菌效果与气单胞菌培养基 (RYAN)的选择性效果试验 ,建立了运动性气单胞菌细菌学分离和鉴定的实验室检测程序。应用该程序对 8个模拟阳性样品和 71个动物产品、养殖水样及动物病料进行检测 ,结果模拟感染菌全部被分离到 ,从 71个检测样品中分离到 2 0株运动性气单胞菌。实验表明 ,所建立的分离和鉴定方法简便、快速、敏感。此外本文对用生化特性判定细菌致病力的可行性作了探讨