Fabrication of multifunctional bio-macromolecule organic-inorganic hybrid system for protein silk: Photochromic, UV protection, fire-proof and super durability.

Nowadays, high value-added and multifunctional textiles have attracted widespread attention due to the changing demands of modern life. This study focused on the fabrication of silk with photochromism, flame retardancy, UV resistance and durability using riboflavin sodium phosphate (RSP) and various metal ions (Fe2+, Fe3+, Al3+, and Ti4+). Attractively, the photochromic performance was one of the most distinctive features of the modified silk, and the yellow silk fabric turned into fluorescent green under UV lamp. After a detailed comparison, it was determined that RSP/Fe3+ hybrid system was most effective in improving anti-UV performance of the silk with a high UPF of 25.8, achieving a "Good" level of UV protection. Specifically, it achieved a B1 fire protection with a low damaged-length of 9.4 cm and a high LOI of 28.3 %. Additionally, the modified silk showed the lowest smoke density, reducing by approximately 84.1 % versus that of pristine silk. Moreover, the modified silk was able to meet the B1 classification and the "Good" UV protection requirements even after 75 washing cycles, making it more durable than most functional textiles reported. The further analysis indicated that RSP and metal ions can synergistically enhance the condensed-phase action, thereby improving the fire resistance of silk.

Prevalence and molecular characteristics of mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli isolated from duck farms and the surrounding environments in coastal China.

The emergence of colistin-resistance is considered a threat to public health and colistin-resistant bacteria have recently been reported in animal, environmental and human sources. Whereas, the epidemic and dissemination of colistin-resistant bacteria in duck farms have not been surveyed, especially the surrounding environmental contamination from duck farms. We investigated the prevalence and molecular characteristics of mcr-1-positive E. coli from duck farms in coastal China. 360 mcr-1-positive E. coli isolates were collected from 1112 samples from duck farms and surrounding environments. The prevalence of mcr-1-positive E. coli in Guangdong province was higher than other two provinces we examined. PFGE analysis indicated clonal spread of mcr-1-positive E. coli between duck farms and surrounding environments, including water and soil. MLST analysis demonstrated that ST10 was more common than ST1011, ST117, and ST48. Phylogenomic analysis also suggested mcr-1-positive E. coli collected from distinct cities were assigned to the same lineage and mcr-1 was primarily located on IncI2 and IncHI2 plasmids. Genomic environment analysis showed mobile gene elements ISApl1 most likely plays a key role in the horizontal transmission of mcr-1. WGS further revealed that mcr-1 was found associated with 27 different ARGs. Our findings emphasize the urgent need for effective colistin resistance surveillance in humans, animals and the environment.

Your voice pitch speaks volumes about you: How voice pitch affects mind perception of the speakers.

Three studies investigated how speakers' pitch affects listeners' attribution of mental capacity (e.g., the ability to feel emotions and physical sensations such as pain and pleasure; Gray et al., Science, 315, 2007, 619) to them and further explored downstream effects on social judgements. In Study 1 (N = 234), participants perceived more experience in higher-(vs. lower-)pitched speakers, whereas there was no significant difference in perception of agency to lower pitched or higher pitched speakers. In later studies, we expanded the relationship between male speakers' pitch and attributed experience in diverse contexts and observed that participants attributed more experience to higher pitched male victims, which was related to higher estimation of harm severity, leading to more negative judgement of the harmdoers (Study 2; N = 121) as well as recommendation for stronger treatment for the speakers (Study 3; N = 116). Our findings indicate that mind perception can vary as a function of targets' voice pitch, and in turn may influence people's judgements involving the speakers, as well as behavioural intentions towards them.

Apology and Its Acceptance: Perceived Reconciliatory Attitudes Reduce Outgroup Dehumanization.

Based on real-life intergroup animosities originating from a historical conflict, the current study examined how the perceived stance of the outgroup about the conflict affects the dehumanization of the outgroup. In Study 1 (N = 120), Korean undergraduates attributed more human nature to the Japanese after reading an article that the Japanese government did (vs. refused to) issue an official apology for a historical wrong. In turn, the more human nature assigned to the Japanese predicted higher expectations about positive mutual relations in the future. Similarly, in Study 2 (N = 209), Japanese undergraduates attributed more human uniqueness to Koreans after reading an article that an official apology for a historical wrong from Japan was accepted (vs. rejected) by Koreans. The higher the perceived human uniqueness of Koreans was, the higher were the willingness to help and the expectations of a positive relationship in the future. The findings demonstrate how mutual dehumanization can be reduced as a result of the other side's reconciliatory stances and can further contribute to improving intergroup relations.

Protective effect and mechanisms of action of Mongolian medicine Sulongga-4 on pyloric ligation-induced gastroduodenal ulcer in rats.

BACKGROUND: Sulongga-4 (SL-4) is a herbal formula used in traditional Mongolian medical clinics for the treatment of peptic ulcers and gastroenteritis, even though its pharmacological mechanism has not been well characterized. AIM: To evaluate the protective effect and identify the mechanisms of action of SL-4 on gastroduodenal ulcer induced by pyloric ligation (PL) in rats. METHODS: PL was performed to induce gastric and duodenal ulcers in rats, which were then treated with oral SL-4 (1.3, 2.6, or 3.9 g/kg per day) for 15 d. PL-induced gastroduodenal ulceration. Therapeutic effects were characterized by pathological and histological evaluations and inflammatory indicators were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Microarray analyses were conducted to identify gene expression profiles of gastroduodenal tissue in PL rats with or without SL-4 treatment. The candidate target genes were selected and verified by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: SL-4 decreased histopathological features in the PL-induced ulcerated rats. SL-4 significantly (P < 0.05) decreased expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, endotoxin, platelet-activating factor, and increased prostaglandin E2 and epidermal growth factor in ulcer tissue. Microarray analysis was used to identify a panel of candidate target genes for SL-4 acting on PL-induced ulceration. Genes included some complement and coagulation cascade and retinol metabolism pathways that are closely associated with inflammatory responses and gastric mucosal protective mechanisms. qRT-PCR showed that altered expression of the selected genes, such as CYP2b2, UGT2b1, A2m, and MASP1 was consistent with the microarray results. CONCLUSION: SL-4 exerts protective effects against PL-induced gastroduodenal ulcers via reducing inflammatory cytokines and elevating expression of gastric acid inhibitory factors. Downregulation of CYP2b2 and UGT2b1 genes in retinol metabolism and upregulation of A2m and MASP1 genes in the complement and coagulation cascades pathways are possibly involved in SL-4-mediated protection against gastroduodenal ulcer.

Dynamic Kinetic Cross-Electrophile Arylation of Benzyl Alcohols by Nickel Catalysis.

Catalytic transformation of alcohols via metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions is very important, but it typically relies on a multistep procedure. We here report a dynamic kinetic cross-coupling approach for the direct functionalization of alcohols. The feasibility of this strategy is demonstrated by a nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile arylation reaction of benzyl alcohols with (hetero)aryl electrophiles. The reaction proceeds with a broad substrate scope of both coupling partners. The electron-rich, electron-poor, and ortho-/meta-/para-substituted (hetero)aryl electrophiles (e.g., Ar-OTf, Ar-I, Ar-Br, and inert Ar-Cl) all coupled well. Most of the functionalities, including aldehyde, ketone, amide, ester, nitrile, sulfone, furan, thiophene, benzothiophene, pyridine, quinolone, Ar-SiMe3, Ar-Bpin, and Ar-SnBu3, were tolerated. The dynamic nature of this method enables the direct arylation of benzylic alcohol in the presence of various nucleophilic groups, including nonactivated primary/secondary/tertiary alcohols, phenols, and free indoles. It thus offers a robust alternative to existing methods for the precise construction of diarylmethanes. The synthetic utility of the method was demonstrated by a concise synthesis of biologically active molecules and by its application to peptide modification and conjugation. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction of in situ formed benzyl oxalates with nickel, possibly via a radical process, is an initial step in the reaction with aryl electrophiles.

Changes in neurological and pathological outcomes in a modified rat spinal cord injury model with closed canal.

Most animal spinal cord injury models involve a laminectomy, such as the weight drop model or the transection model. However, in clinical practice, many patients undergo spinal cord injury while maintaining a relatively complete spinal canal. Thus, open spinal cord injury models often do not simulate real injuries, and few previous studies have investigated whether having a closed spinal canal after a primary spinal cord injury may influence secondary processes. Therefore, we aimed to assess the differences in neurological dysfunction and pathological changes between rat spinal cord injury models with closed and open spinal canals. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. In the sham group, the tunnel was expanded only, without inserting a screw into the spinal canal. In the spinal cord injury with open canal group, a screw was inserted into the spinal canal to cause spinal cord injury for 5 minutes, and then the screw was pulled out, leaving a hole in the vertebral plate. In the spinal cord injury with closed canal group, after inserting a screw into the spinal canal for 5 minutes, the screw was pulled out by approximately 1.5 mm and the flat end of the screw remained in the hole in the vertebral plate so that the spinal canal remained closed; this group was the modified model, which used a screw both to compress the spinal cord and to seal the spinal canal. At 7 days post-operation, the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scale was used to measure changes in neurological outcomes. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to assess histopathology. To evaluate the degree of local secondary hypoxia, immunohistochemical staining and western blot assays were applied to detect the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Compared with the spinal cord injury with open canal group, in the closed canal group the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores were lower, cell morphology was more irregular, the percentage of morphologically normal neurons was lower, the percentages of HIF-1α- and VEGF-immunoreactive cells were higher, and HIF-1α and VEGF protein expression was also higher. In conclusion, we successfully established a rat spinal cord injury model with closed canal. This model could result in more serious neurological dysfunction and histopathological changes than in open canal models. All experimental procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care Committee of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (approval No. HKDL201810) on January 30, 2018.

Reductive coupling of benzyl oxalates with highly functionalized alkyl bromides by nickel catalysis.

Coupling reactions involving non-sulfonated C-O electrophiles provide a promising method for forming C-C bonds, but the incorporation of functionalized or secondary alkyl groups remains a challenge due to the requirement for well-defined alkylmetal species. In this study, we report a reductive nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of benzyl oxalates with alkyl bromides, using oxalate as a new leaving group. A broad range of highly functionalized alkyl units (such as functional groups: alkyl chloride, alcohol, aldehyde, amine, amide, boronate ester, ether, ester, heterocycle, phosphonate, strained ring) were efficiently incorporated at the benzylic position. The utility of this synthetic method was further demonstrated by late-stage modification of complex bioactive compounds. Preliminary mechanistic experiments revealed that a radical process might be involved in the reaction.

APC/C is essential for hematopoiesis and impaired in aplastic anemia.

Anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is essential for cell cycle progression. Recently, its non-mitotic functions were also reported but less studied in several tissues including hematopoietic cells. Here, we developed an inducible Anapc2 (a core subunit of APC/C) knockout mice. The animals displayed a fatal bone marrow failure within 7 days after knockout induction. Their hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) demonstrated a sharp decline and could form little colony. Further, the results of BrdU label-retaining cell assay showed that the dormant HPSCs lost rapidly. Analysis of cell cycle regulators, Skp2, P27, Cdk2, and Cyclin E1, suggested that these quiescent stem cells underwent a shift from quiescence to mitosis followed by apoptosis. We next detected Anapc2-expression in the CD34+ HSPCs of patients with aplastic anemia. CD34+ cells were markedly decreased in the bone marrow and Anapc2-expression in the residual CD34+ cells was undetectable, suggesting that APC/C was deficient and might have a relationship with the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia.

Repeated 2% sevoflurane administration in 7­ and 60-day-old rats : Neurotoxicity and neurocognitive dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane is one of the most widely used inhalation anesthetics in pediatric anesthesia. A large number of studies have demonstrated that repeated treatment with high concentrations or long durations of sevoflurane anesthesia during the neonatal period can induce neuroapoptosis and long-term learning disability. In clinical practice, we observed that a subset of patients underwent minor surgery under sevoflurane anesthesia more than once from birth to adolescence. Therefore, this research was conducted to investigate whether a 2% concentration of sevoflurane (clinically relevant usage of sevoflurane) for 1 h (a short duration) can induce neuroapoptosis and neurocognitive dysfunction in adolescent rats that received sevoflurane (2% for 1 h) during the neonatal period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Group I: neonatal rats at postnatal day 7 (PND-7) were treated with oxygen under controlled conditions and then raised to PND-60. Group II: PND-7 rats were treated with 2% sevoflurane for 1 h and then raised to PND-60. Group III: the PND-60 rats were treated with 2% sevoflurane for 1 h and in group IV the PND-7 rats were treated with 2% sevoflurane for 1 h and then anesthetized with 2% sevoflurane for 1 h at PND-60 again. The expression of caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) were measured by Western blot analysis. Neuroapoptosis in the hippocampal DG was assessed using NeuN/caspase-3 double-immunofluorescence staining. Spatial reference memory was tested by the Morris water maze test. RESULTS: The present data showed that sevoflurane (2% for 1 h) did not induce obvious hippocampal neuroapoptosis in the PND-7 rats and PND-60 rats; their performance in hippocampal-dependent spatial memory was not significantly impaired; however, the rats in group IV showed poor performance in the Morris water maze test and the neuroapoptosis in group IV was significantly increased. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that sevoflurane can induce neuroapoptosis and cognitive dysfunction in adolescent rats that received repeated sevoflurane (2% for 1 h) during the postnatal period. These findings will promote further studies to investigate the effects of repeated sevoflurane exposure on the development of the central nervous system and function of learning and memory, as well as the underlying mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 overexpression inhibits neuronal apoptosis after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is an important factor in inhibiting oxidative stress and has been shown to protect against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, we hypothesized that ALDH2 could reduce spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. Spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced in rats using the modified Zivin's method of clamping the abdominal aorta. After successful model establishment, the agonist group was administered a daily consumption of 2.5% alcohol. At 7 days post-surgery, the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan score significantly increased in the agonist group compared with the spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury group. ALDH2 expression also significantly increased and the number of apoptotic cells significantly decreased in the agonist group than in the spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury group. Correlation analysis revealed that ALDH2 expression negatively correlated with the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells (r = -0.485, P < 0.01). In summary, increased ALDH2 expression protected the rat spinal cord against ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting apoptosis.

Genetic characterization of porcine kobuvirus variants identified from healthy piglets in China.

In this study, two porcine kobuvirus strains, JS-01-CHN and JS-02a-CHN were detected from piglets with diarrhea and asymptomatic, respectively. The sequences of the two strains were analyzed using a bioinformatics software package. The full-length genome of JS-02a-CHN, was detected in healthy piglets was 8121 nucleotides (nt) long excluding the poly(A) tail. There was a 30 amino acid deletion in the 2B-coding region of JS-02a-CHN. We are the first to report a 30 amino acid deletion in porcine kobuvirus from asymptomatic piglets, indicating that porcine kobuvirus may have evolved differently based on geography and host differences. Fecal samples were obtained from pigs with diarrhea (n=91) and healthy (n=126) pigs and analyzed using RT-PCR. Of these, 64.8% (59/91) of diarrheic piglets and 19.8% (25/126) of healthy piglets were positive for PKV using VP1 specific primers. Twenty-eight (28) virus positive samples were randomly selected and the VP1 gene was analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 15 strains isolated from pigs with diarrhea clustered into different branches, while the VP1 sequences from clinically healthy pigs clustered into a single large group. These results indicate that the VP1 gene is diverse in pigs with diarrhea but conserved in healthy pigs in the Jiangsu Province.

[Experimental study on the Der f 1 mRNA molecules derived from dermatophagoides farinae for specific immunotherapy on murine model of asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Der f 1 mRNA molecules for specific immunotherapy on murine model of asthma. METHODS: Fifty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: PBS group, Der f 1 sensitization group, Der f 1 specific immunotherapy (SIT) group, beta-actin mRNA SIT group, and Derf 1 mRNA SIT group. On days 0, 7 and 14, mice in PBS group received PBS injection; mice in the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with 10 microg Derf 1. At day 21, the mice in the 4 experimental groups were challenged with a 30-min inhaled dose of Der f 1 (100 microg/ml) for 7 successive days. Two weeks after the final sensitization, the mice in the above five groups were im- munized by intradermal injection with PBS, 1 microg Der f 1, 10 microg Der f 1, 2 microg beta-actin mRNA, and 2 microg Der f 1 mRNA, respectively for 3 times at one-week intervals. Two weeks after the last intradermal injection, all mice were sacrificed and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected. ELISA was performed to detect the levels of IFN-gamma and IL-13 in BALF, the number of eosinophils in the BALF was recorded. Splenocytes were prepared, and cultured with Der f 1 al- lergen (10 Jg/ml) for 72 h. Splenocytes of PBS group was cultured without Derf 1 allergen. The levels of IFN-gamma and IL-13 in splenocyte culture supernatant were measured by ELISA, as well as serum antibody levels of total IgE, allergen- specific IgE (sIgE), sIgG1, and sIgG2a. Lung sections were stained in hematoxylin and eosin, and observed under the microsope. RESULTS: Except for PBS group, mice in the other 4 group showed symptoms of acute asthma attack. Com- pared with Derf 1 sensitization group [(897.56 +/- 105.73) pg/ml] and beta-actin mRNA SIT group [(219.47 +/- 64.72) pg/ml], the level of IFN-gamma in BALF from Der f 1 mRNA SIT group [(897.56 +/- 105.73) pg/ml] and Derfl SIT group [(864.48 +/- 70.62)pg/ml] significantly increased (P<0.01). However, the level of IL-13 in BALF from Derf 1 mRNA SIT group [(241.64 +/- 31.41) pg/ml] and Derf 1 SIT group [(321.94 +/- 41.07)pg/ml] was significantly lower than that of Der f 1 sensitization group [(520.62 +/- 43.77) pg/ml] and beta-actin mRNA SIT group [(507.22 +/- 42.26) pg/ml](P<0.01). The number of eosinophils in Der f 1 mRNA SIT group [(1.33 +/- 0.44) x 10(5)/ml] and Der f 1 SIT group [(1.48 +/- 0.39) x 10(5)/ml] was also lower than that of Der f 1 sensitization group [(3.54 +/- 0.52)x10(5)/ml] and beta-actin mRNA SIT group [(2.98-0.53) x 10(5)/ml] (P<0.01). The levels of IFN-GAMMA and IL-13 in splenocyte culture supernatant showed that IFN-gamma level in Der f 1 mRNA SIT group [(420.91+69.92) pg/ml] and Der f 1 SIT group [(334.92 +/- 43.72) pg/ml] was significantly higher than that of Der f 1 sensitization group[(123.75 +/- 5.48) pg/ml] and beta-actin mRNA SIT group[(128.84 +/- 59.00) pg/ml] (P<0.01). However, IL-13 level of Der f 1 mRNA SIT group [(268.51 +/- 40.42) pg/ml] and Der f 1 SIT group [(285.26 +/- 62.21) pg/ml] was significantly lower than that of Derf 1 sensitization group [(613.89 +/- 51.54) pg/ml] and beta-actin mRNA SIT group [(524.05 +/- 39.12) pg/ml] (P<0.01). Compared with Der f 1 sensitization group [total IgE: (94.34 +/- 11.66) ng/ml, sIgE: (65.67 +/- 9.47) ng/ml, sIgG1: (75.18 +/- 9.52) ng/ml, sIgG2a: (2.81 +/- 1.17) ng/ml] and beta-actin mRNA SIT group[total IgE: (86.48 +/- 10.26) ng/ml, sIgE: (62.36 +/- 8.35) ng/ml, sIgG1: (69.51 +/- 8.98) ng/ml, IgG2a: (1.06 +/- 0.11) ng/ml], the serum antibody levels of total IgE [(33.72 +/- 9.78) ng/ml], sIgE [(22.76 +/- 8.09) ng/ml], sIgG1 [(17.87 +/- 7.59) ng/ml] of Der f 1 mRNA SIT group decreased significantly (P<0.01), whereas the level of IgG% [(7.74 +/- 0.88) ng/ml] increased (P<0.01). Compared with Der f 1 sensitization group, the asthmatic symptoms were relieved after immunization with Der f 1 mRNA for specific immunotherapy, including intact structure of respiratory and alveolar epithelial cells, decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, and similar to those in Der f 1 SIT group. However, the breakage and detachment of bronchial epithelial cells occurred in beta-actin mRNA SIT group. CONCLUSION: Derf 1 mRNA vaccine can correct Th1 and Th2 imbalance.

Repositioning suture of the erector spinae muscle for lumbar spine surgery via the posterior approach: a prospective randomized study.

We prospectively studied the effectiveness of the repositioning suture of the erector spinae muscle for lumbar spine surgery using the posterior approach. 393 patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery were randomized to receive the repositioning or conventional suture of the erector spinae muscle. Time to stitch removal and drainage volume was recorded at 24 and 48 h after operation. Hemoglobin loss rate was determined at 48 h post operation and the rate of malunion (redness, swelling and effusion at stitch removal and would disruption after stitch removal) was recorded. Low back pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) preoperatively and 6 and 12 months after operation. Time to stitch removal was comparable in lumbar spine surgery patients receiving the repositioning or conventional suture of the erector spinae muscle (P > 0.05). Compared with the conventional suture, the repositioning suture was associated with significantly reduced drainage volume both at 24 (P < 0.01) and 48 h after operation (P < 0.05). Hemoglobin loss rate at 48 h post operation was also markedly lower in lumbar spine surgery patients receiving the repositioning suture than in those receiving the conventional suture (P < 0.01 or 0.05). Furthermore, the malunion rate in lumbar spine surgery patients using the repositioning suture was markedly lower than that in the conventional group (P < 0.05 or 0.001). There was no difference in preoperative VAS scores in both the groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the conventional suture, the repositioning suture was associated with significantly reduced VAS scores both at 24 and 48 h after operation (P < 0.01 in both). The repositioning suture of the erector spinae muscle is superior to the conventional suture in posterior lumbar spine surgery with marked lessened pain and reduced drainage volume.

A DNA vaccine encoding a chimeric allergen derived from major group 1 allergens of dust mite can be used for specific immunotherapy.

Immunization with DNA-based constructs has been shown to be against the antigen and the response is skewed in such a way as to ameliorate the symptoms of allergic disease. This approach is particularly useful in the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma. The major group 1 allergen from house dust mites is one of the triggers of allergic asthma. This study explores whether a chimeric gene R8, derived from the major group 1 allergen of house dust mite species (Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus), can be expressed in Human Embryonic Kidney 293 cells (HEK 293 T) and whether such a construct can be used as a DNA vaccine in asthma therapy. The eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 was used to express the R8 molecule in HEK 293 T cells and successful expression of R8 was confirmed using a fluorescence microscope and western blot analysis. The efficacy of R8 as DNA vaccine was also assessed in a mouse asthma model. The in vivo data showed that R8 rectified the TH1/TH2 imbalance typical of allergic inflammation and stimulated the proliferation of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Immunization with the R8 construct also decreased serum allergen-specific IgE production in this mouse asthma model. Our findings suggest that R8 may be a feasible potential DNA vaccine for specific immunotherapy (SIT) in the treatment of allergic asthma.

Genistein inhibits the replication of avian leucosis virus subgroup J in DF-1 cells.

To investigate the antiviral effects of genistein on the replication of avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) in DF-1 cells, the cells were treated with genistein at different time points and the antiviral effects were examined by using a variety of assays. We determined that genistein strongly inhibited viral gene expression and decreased the viral protein level in the cell supernatant and the cytoplasm without alerting virus receptor expression and viral attachment. We also observed that genistein was not found to interfere with virus entry, but significantly inhibited both viral gene transcriptions at 24h post infection and virus release, which indicate that genistein exerts its inhibitory effects on the late phase of ALV-J replicative cycle. These results demonstrate that genistein effectively block ALV-J replication by inhibiting virus transcription and release in DF-1 cells, which may be useful for therapeutic drug design.

Minocycline improves postoperative cognitive impairment in aged mice by inhibiting astrocytic activation.

Astrocytes are proving to be critical for the development of cognitive functions. In addition, astrocytic activation contributes to cognitive impairment induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Minocycline has been shown to exhibit long-term neuroprotective effects in vascular cognitive impairment rat models through the inhibition of astrogliosis, and has demonstrated potential for the prevention and treatment of postoperative cognitive decline in elderly patients. This study aimed to examine the effect of minocycline on hippocampal astrocytes and long-term postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged mice. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with 45 mg/kg minocycline once a day for 30 days after 70% hepatectomy. Hippocampus-dependent spatial memory ability was evaluated using the Morris water maze test. The expression levels of hippocampal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule-1 were evaluated by western blotting, and the hippocampal mRNA relative expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, and interleukin-6 were tested using real-time PCR. The Morris water maze test showed that escape latency and swim distance were significantly prolonged by the surgery, but the extent of impairment was mitigated by minocycline treatment. Hippocampal GFAP levels and mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, and interleukin-6 showed corresponding changes that were consistent with the variations in spatial memory. Minocycline was able to alleviate hepatectomy-related long-term spatial memory impairment in aged mice, and was associated with reduced levels of hippocampal GFAP and proinflammatory cytokines resulting from astrocytic activation.

Utilization of barley or wheat bran to bioconvert glutamate to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

This study deals with the utilization of agro-industrial wastes created by barley and wheat bran in the production of a value-added product, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The simple and eco-friendly reaction requires no pretreatment or microbial fermentation steps but uses barley or wheat bran as an enzyme source, glutamate as a substrate, and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) as a cofactor. The optimal reaction conditions were determined on the basis of the temperatures and times used for the decarboxylation reactions and the initial concentrations of barley or wheat bran, glutamate, and PLP. The optimal reactions produced 9.2 mM of GABA from 10 mM glutamate, yielding a 92% GABA conversion rate, when barley bran was used and 6.0 mM of GABA from 10 mM glutamate, yielding a 60% GABA conversion rate, when wheat bran was used. The results imply that barley bran is more efficient than wheat bran in the production of GABA.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against chicken ß2-microglobulin developed with a synthesized peptide.

We developed a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against chicken ß2-microglobulin (chß2M) by fusions between SP2/0 myeloma cells and spleen cells from mice immunized with a synthesized peptide corresponding to positions 91-119 of the COOH domain of chß2M. Two of them, 6E7 and 3D1, identified as IgG1/κ, could react with chß2M protein from avian macrophage HD11 cells and human 293T cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-chß2M in immunofluorescence assays. Only a 12 kDa protein band of chß2M could be detected in the HD11 and 293T/chß2M cell lysates by Western blot analysis. Chicken ß2M in serum and plasma could be found in Western blot by MAb 3D1. Moreover, MAb 3D1 also recognized the chß2M antigen on the cell membranes in flow cytometry. Immunohistochemical staining with these MAbs revealed that chß2M was present in chicken thymus, spleen, and bursa. These MAbs will be good tools for analyzing the mechanism of the chicken immune system.

[Development and characterization of monoclonal antibody against human FcR γ chain].

AIM: The current study was aimed to generate mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for Fc receptor common γ chain (FcRγ), which serves a critical signaling molecule for numerous human immune receptors that play essential roles in human immune responses. METHODS: Two BALB/c mice were immunized with the synthesized polypeptides containing 19 residues at the carboxyl terminus of human FcR γ chain. The spleen cells from the immunized mice were fused with myeloma Sp2/0 cells. ELISA was used to screen mAbs and the positive clones were selected for further characterization with Western blot and flow cytometry assays. RESULTS: After screen, there hybridoma cell lines which secreted mAbs specifically recognized the FcR γ chain were obtained and named as 5B6, 7D3 and 8D4. The 7D3 mAb had the best quality and it could recognize the FcR γ chain in vivo and in vitro with 2.5 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: We have generated the FcRγ-specific mAbs, which may serve as a valuable tool in the functional studies of FcRγ associated immune receptors.