Emergence of an ancient and pathogenic mammarenavirus.

Emerging zoonoses of wildlife origin caused by previously unknown agents are one of the most important challenges for human health. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau represents a unique ecological niche with diverse wildlife that harbours several human pathogens and numerous previously uncharacterized pathogens. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel arenavirus (namely, plateau pika virus, PPV) from plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by virome analysis. Isolated PPV strains could replicate in several mammalian cells. We further investigated PPV pathogenesis using animal models. PPV administered via an intraventricular route caused trembling and sudden death in IFNαßR-/- mice, and pathological inflammatory lesions in brain tissue were observed. According to a retrospective serological survey in the geographical region where PPV was isolated, PPV-specific IgG antibodies were detected in 8 (2.4%) of 335 outpatients with available sera. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that this virus was clearly separated from previously reported New and Old World mammarenaviruses. Under the co-speciation framework, the estimated divergence time of PPV was 77-88 million years ago (MYA), earlier than that of OW and NW mammarenaviruses (26-34 MYA).

[Analysis on genotype distributions and epidemiological characteristics of Yersinia pestis plague foci in Gansu province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the genotype distributions and epidemiological characteristics of Yersinia pestis in Gansu province. METHODS: Primers were designed according to the confirmed 23 differential sections, to genotype the 202 Yersinia pestis DNA of Gansu province by PCR, and to analyze its distribution and epidemiological characteristics. RESULTS: Yersinia pestis in Gansu province could be divided into eight genotypes: 1b, 5, 7, 8, 13, 26, new genotype 1 (GS1) and new genotype 2 (GS2). They were distributed in various regions. 1b, 8 and GS1 genotypes of Yersinia pestis had been identified since 1960s but the 7, 13 and 26 genotypes had not been isolated for more than 40 years while GS2 and 5 genotypes had been isolated since 1990s. CONCLUSION: 1b, 8 and GS1 genotypes of Yersinia pestis continued to be violently prevalent since 1960s but 7, 13 and 26 genotypes had not been isolated for more than 40 years while GS2 and 5 genotypes had started to be popular since 1990s.

[VIGILIN involves in regulation of imprinting gene IGF2 and H19 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell].

OBJECTIVE: To explore possible relationship among expression of human high density lipoprotein binding protein(VIGILIN), H19 and the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) mRNA in HepG2 cell cycle and investigate the role of VIGILIN in controlling imprinting genes of H19 and IGF2 mRNA expression. METHODS: We investigated time course cell cycle distribution of HepG2 cells by FACS, analyzed VIGILIN, H19 and IGF2 mRNA expression at the indicated times using RT-PCR, RNAi and real-time PCR. RESULTS: Cell-cycle of HepG2 cells was approximately 20 h. 0 h-9 h and 20 h-28 h, 9 h-20 h and 28 h-39 h were S-phase and G2/M-G1-phase, respectively. Firstly, cells were synchronized by serum-starvation for 24 h. As expected, VIGILIN transcription was up-regulated with expression peaks at 20 h and 60 h after serum stimulating by the addition of 10% fetal calf serum. In parallel, H19 mRNA had a high expression level at 6 h and 43 h, and IGF2 mRNA was also increasing with cell-cycle. The expression profiles of human VIGILIN, H19, and IGF2 mRNA were ascending with cell-cycle. In addition, the knock-down of VIGILIN expression by transfecting HepG2 cells with shRNA expression plasmid pSIREN-VIG inhibited the expression of human VIGILIN, which led to the expression of H19 mRNA decrease by 12.08%, and IGF2 mRNA increase by 30.13%. CONCLUSION: The expression of VIGILIN and H19 mRNA was the cell-cycle dependent and had something to do with each other. The results clearly shed light on the roles of VIGILIN in controlling expression of the imprinted H19 and IGF2 genes.

[Traditional medicine CDP and promoter demethylation in breast cancer cell lines].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the demethylation effect of CDP on P16 and E-CADHERIN genes. METHODS: Breast cancer cell lines T47D and MDA-MB-435 were treated with CDP and DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5-aza-C). The methylation of P16 and E-CADHERIN gene promoters were measured by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The RNA transcription was determined by reverse transcription-PCR(RT-PCR). RESULTS: 1) The methylation-specific fragments of P16 gene promoter existed in T47D cells after 25, 50 and 75 micromol/L of CDP treatment for 6 days. An absolute demethylation on P16 gene occurred after treatment with 100 micromol/L of CDP. The unmethylation-specific fragments appeared in T47D cells after being treated with 25, 50, 75 and 100 micromol/L of CDP for 6 days. The RNA expression of P16 was detected after treatment with 75 and 100 micromol/L of CDP. 2) After being treated with 50 micromol/L of CDP, the methylation-specific fragments of CpG island in P16 gene promoter still existed in T47D cells. The unmethylation-specific fragments in T47D cells started to appear after 24 hours of treatment and lasted until 144 hour of treatment. The RNA expression was detected after 144 hours of treatment. 3) The demethylation on E-CADHERIN gene and genomic DNA or RNA transcription were not detected in MDA-MB-435 cells. CONCLUSION: CDP has concentration- and time-dependent demethylation effect on P16 gene in T47D cells, but not on E-CADHERIN gene in MDA-MB-435 cells, which indicates that CDP has substantial diversity in molecular activities.

[Construction of shRNA eucharyotic expression plasmid targeted human VIGILIN and the investigation of VIGILIN's effect on hepatocarcinoma cell cycle].

OBJECTIVE: To construct a shRNA eucharyotic expression plasmid against human VIGILIN and explore possible relation between human VIGILIN and HepG2 cell cycle. METHODS: We constructed the shRNA eucharyotic expression plasmid targeted human VIGILIN, and transfected HepG2 cells with shRNA expression plasmid pSIREN-VIG, then determined the expression of VIGILIN mRNA and protein in HepG2 cells by RT-PCR and Western-blot, analysed alteration of cell cycle using FACS. RESULTS: The plasmid pSIREN-VIG can effectively and specifically inhibit the expression of human VIGILIN. After transfection 48 hours, the expression of VIGILIN was significantly decreased. Due to knockdown of human VIGILIN, cell cycle is impaired and cells are arrested in G2/M phase. The proportion of G2/M phase of all groups were listed as: C group (untreated wild HepG2 cells) 2.4%, M group (HepG2 cells treated with transfection reagent) 4.9%, G group (HepG2 cells transfected with pSIREN-GFP) 6.5% and V group (HepG2 cells transfected with pSIREN-VIG) 9.4%. CONCLUSION: We have successfully constructed a shRNA expression plasmid which could effectively and specifically inhibit the expression of human VIGILIN.