High-throughput lipidomics analysis to discover lipid biomarkers and profiles as potential targets for evaluating efficacy of Kai-Xin-San against APP/PS1 transgenic mice based on UPLC-Q/TOF-MS.

Lipid metabolism has a significant function in the central nervous system and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related senile disease characterized by central nerve degeneration. The pathological development of AD is closely related to lipid metabolism disorders. To reveal the influence of Kai-Xin-San (KXS) on lipid metabolism in APP/PSI transgenic mice and potential therapeutic targets for treating AD, brain tissue samples were collected and analyzed by high-throughput lipidomics based on UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. The collected raw data were processed by multivariate data analysis to discover the potential biomarkers and lipid metabolic profiles. Compared with the control wild-type mouse group, nine potential lipid biomarkers were found in the AD model group, of which seven were up-regulated and two were down-regulated. Orally administrated KXS can reverse the changes in these potential biomarkers. Compared with the model group, a total of six differential metabolites showed a recovery trend and may be potential targets for KXS to treat AD. This study showed that high-throughput lipidomics can be used to discover the perturbed pathways and lipid biomarkers as potential targets to reveal the therapeutic effects of KXS.

Rapid discovery of quality-markers from Kaixin San using chinmedomics analysis approach.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disease, is more common disease of dementia among the elderly by multiple factors and presents enormous challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Kaixin San (KXS), is a classic prescription for the treatment of memory decline and applied for AD nowadays. However, the quality-markers of KXS for the treatment of AD remain unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects and potential quality-markers of KXS against an APP/PS1 transgenic mouse model of AD. METHODS: Two month old APP/PS1 transgenic model mice of AD were orally given KXS for 10 month to intervene. Through the novel object recognition (NOR), the classic Morris water maze (MWM), immunohistochemistry detection of Aß1-42, Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE), blood metabolic profiling evaluated the therapeutic effect of KXS on AD. PCMS software was applied to analysis correlations between biomarkers and serum constituents and became a powerful tool for excavating effective material basis. Behavior, histopathology and Chinmedomics were applied for assessing the efficacy and discovering potential quality-markers. RESULTS: The result of MWM showed oral KXS could shorten the escape latency and increased the times of crossing the platform. The result of NOR showed oral KXS increased discrimination index (DI). Though the histopathology, KXS reduced the necrosis of neuron in brain tissue and the deposition of Aß1-42. Chinmedomics strategy was used to analyze the biomarkers and blood components. KXS called back 20 biomarkers of AD. The effective material basis of KXS was ginsenoside Rf, ginsenoside F1, 20-O-glucopyranosyl ginsenoside Rf, dehydropachymic acid and E-3, 4, 5-trimethoxycinnamic acid. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrate that KXS significantly improved cognitive function of transgenic mice of AD, repaired the damage caused by Aß, regulated amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism abnormalities and determined the effective material basis of KXS treating AD. Clarifying the quality-markers of KXS can establish scientific quality standard to reflect the safety and effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

High-throughput lipidomics characterize key lipid molecules as potential therapeutic targets of Kaixinsan protects against Alzheimer's disease in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still a major problem nowadays. Under the circumstance of many chemical drugs have poor effects on AD, traditional Chinese medicine has become a hot spot for us due to its multi-target and multi-path advantages. To explore the potential therapeutic targets of Kaixinsan (KXS) protects against AD in APP/PS1 transgenic mice model. All mice were divided into three groups: control group, model group and KXS group. Orally given KXS from two month old, and the control and model groups were given the same dose of distilled water. We collected all mice's serum samples at the 12th month age to determine the lipid markers of AD by compare with the model and control groups in full-scan analysis based on high-throughput serum lipidomics technology. Then we found the lipid molecules called back by KXS from the KXS protects against AD. Compared with the control group, the metabolic profile of the model mice was obviously disordered, and we identified 16 lipid-related biomarkers associated with AD. After KXS treatment, the metabolic profiles of these disorders tended to recover compared with the model group. And we identified eight key lipid molecules, of which four had statistical significance. We found that the main perturbation pathways related to AD were linoleic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism. All these metabolic pathways showed different degrees of rotation after KXS administration. Through the pathways analysis, we found 4 lipids molecules with significant differences, which could be used as new targets for the treatment of AD.

Assessment of Crohn's disease activity by Doppler sonography.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for evaluation of inflammatory activity in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: Fifty-six patients with histologically proven CD (39 with active, 17 with inactive disease) and 30 healthy volunteers as a control group were enrolled in the study at WeiFang People's Hospital, Weifang Province, China from October 2012 to December 2014. Bowel wall thickness, and vascularity pattern were measured by Doppler ultrasound. Results: There was a significant difference in flow volume of the superior mesenteric artery (585 ± 235 ml/min) in the patients with active disease, compared with those with inactive disease (401 ± 238 ml/min) and the control group (390 ± 189 ml/min, p less than 0.001). Wall thickness was 5.1 ± 1.5 mm in the active CD group, 3.3 ± 1.6 mm in the inactive disease group (p less than 0.001) and  less than 3 mm in the control group. Resistance index in the thickened bowel wall showed some differences: 0.68 ± 0.05 in the active disease group, 0.78 ± 0.08 in the inactive disease group, and 0.85 ± 0.07 in the control group (p less than 0.05). Conclusion: Doppler ultrasound is a useful diagnostic tool in detecting CD and assessing inflammatory activity.

Integrin αvß1 Modulation Affects Subtype B Avian Metapneumovirus Fusion Protein-mediated Cell-Cell Fusion and Virus Infection.

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) fusion (F) protein mediates virus-cell membrane fusion to initiate viral infection, which requires F protein binding to its receptor(s) on the host cell surface. However, the receptor(s) for aMPV F protein is still not identified. All known subtype B aMPV (aMPV/B) F proteins contain a conserved Arg-Asp-Asp (RDD) motif, suggesting that the aMPV/B F protein may mediate membrane fusion via the binding of RDD to integrin. When blocked with integrin-specific peptides, aMPV/B F protein fusogenicity and viral replication were significantly reduced. Specifically we identified integrin αv and/or ß1-mediated F protein fusogenicity and viral replication using antibody blocking, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) knockdown, and overexpression. Additionally, overexpression of integrin αv and ß1 in aMPV/B non-permissive cells conferred aMPV/B F protein binding and aMPV/B infection. When RDD was altered to RAE (Arg-Ala-Glu), aMPV/B F protein binding and fusogenic activity were profoundly impaired. These results suggest that integrin αvß1 is a functional receptor for aMPV/B F protein-mediated membrane fusion and virus infection, which will provide new insights on the fusogenic mechanism and pathogenesis of aMPV.

Molecular and pathogenicity characterization of Gallid herpesvirus 2 newly isolated in China from 2009 to 2013.

During the course of our continuous surveillance of Gallid herpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2), 44 isolates were obtained from GaHV-2-positive chickens of different flocks in China from 2009 to 2013. The meq gene, considered as a major GaHV-2 oncogene, was sequenced and was found to contain an open reading frame of 1020 nucleotides encoding a 339 amino acid (aa) polypeptide in all isolates. Compared with the GaHV-2 GA strain, the meq genes in 15.9 % (7/44) of the isolates analyzed in this study contained an aa substitution mutation at position 88 (A to T) of which is the first report. The main characteristics of Chinese GaHV-2 isolates meq genes included the substitutions K77E, D80Y, V115A, T139A, P176R, and P217A, and the aa substitution frequency at positions 139 and 176 showed an increase. To test the pathogenicity of the isolates, a pathogenicity study and a vaccination-challenge test were performed on three selected isolates (ZY/1203, WC/1203, and WC/1110) and reference strain GA. The results showed that the three isolates induced gross Marek's disease (MD) lesions in 95.0-100 % cases, which was a higher rate than that obtained for strain GA (82.4 %). Three isolates induced mortality in 10-21.1 % of specific-pathogen-free chickens, which was similar to results with strain GA (23.5 %). The commercially available CVI988 vaccine induced lower protective indices (PIs) against ZY/1203 (82.4) and WC/1110 (83.3) as compared to those against WC/1203 (100) and GA (100). These results showed an evolving trend in the meq genes of the isolates; three isolates exhibited higher morbidity as compared to the reference strain and the vaccine induced lower PIs against two isolates as compared to that against the reference strain.

Isolation and full-genome sequence of two reticuloendotheliosis virus strains from mixed infections with Marek's disease virus in China.

Reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV), classified as a gammaretrovirus, has a variety of hosts, including chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and wild birds. REV causes a series of pathological syndromes, especially the immunosuppression of the host, which may lead to an increased susceptibility to other pathogens, thus greatly damaging the poultry industry. Mixed infections of REV and Marek's disease virus (MDV) have been reported in many countries, including China. Previous reports revealed that MDV vaccines were not efficacious, and even less-virulent MDV strains would cause some losses due to mixed infections with REV. Additionally, contaminants in the MDV vaccine might be the main source of REV. In this study, two clinical samples were collected from two flocks of chickens that were diagnosed with MDV. Subsequently, two REV isolates were obtained from the clinical samples. The isolates, named CY1111 and SY1209, were further confirmed through an indirect immunofluorescence assay and electron microscopy. Complete genome sequences of the two REV strains were determined to test the relationship between them and other REV strains. Phylogenetic trees showed that the two REV strains were closely related to most REV strains that were isolated from a variety of hosts. Therefore, REVs might spread freely among these hosts under natural conditions. Additionally, most REV strains in China were in the same clade. The present work offers some information regarding REV in China.

Pathogenic characteristics of Marek's disease virus field strains prevalent in China and the effectiveness of existing vaccines against them.

The virulence of Marek's disease virus (MDV) is continuously evolving, and more virulent MDV pathotypes are emerging, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the existing vaccines. In this study, feather pulps were collected from diseased chickens in commercial chicken flocks in China that presented significant MD visceral tumors in 2011 and were inoculated into a monolayer of duck embryo fibroblasts (DEFs). Three field isolates of MDV were obtained by plaque cloning and identified as MDV via PCR and designated strains LCC, LLY, and LTS. Unvaccinated and CVI988 vaccine-vaccinated specific pathogen-free chickens were challenged at 7 days post vaccination (dpv) with 1000 plaque forming units of each of the respective MDV isolates. These strains induced gross MD lesions in all (100%) of the unvaccinated chickens, and the mortality rates of the unvaccinated chickens were 42.9%, 46.7%, and 23.1% by 60 days post challenge (dpc), respectively. The CVI988 vaccine induced protective indices (PIs) of 85.7, 92.3, and 66.7, respectively. These results showed that the pathogenic characteristics of the Chinese isolates were diverse and that vaccine CVI988 provided different levels of protection against them. These data indicated that the existence of variant MDV strains was a possible reason of immunity failure in China.

Antigenic analysis of monoclonal antibodies against different epitopes of σB protein of avian reovirus.

BACKGROUND: Avian reovirus (ARV) causes arthritis, tenosynovitis, runting-stunting syndrome (RSS), malabsorption syndrome (MAS) and immunosuppression in chickens. σB is one of the major structural proteins of ARV, which is able to induce group-specific antibodies against the virus. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present study described the identification of two linear B-cell epitopes in ARV σB through expressing a set of partially overlapping and consecutive truncated peptides spanning σB screened with two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 1F4 and 1H3-1.The data indicated that (21)KTPACW(26) (epitope A) and (32)WDTVTFH(38) (epitope B) were minimal determinants of the linear B cell epitopes. Antibodies present in the serum of ARV-positive chickens recognized the minimal linear epitopes in Western blot analyses. By sequence alignment analysis, we determined that the epitopes A and B were not conserved among ARV, duck reovirus (DRV) and turkey reovirus (TRV) strains. Western blot assays, confirmed that epitopes A and B were ARV-specific epitopes, and they could not react with the corresponding peptides of DRV and TRV. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: We identified (21)KTPACW(26) and (32)WDTVTFH(38) as σB -specific epitopes recognized by mAbs 1F4 and 1H3-1, respectively. The results in this study may have potential applications in development of diagnostic techniques and epitope-based marker vaccines against ARV groups.

Identification of a linear B-Cell epitope on avian reovirus protein sigmaC.

SigmaC (σC) protein, which mediates virus attachment to target cells, is the most variable proteins of avian reovirus (ARV). It is responsible for inducing protective antibody immune responses in animals. To understand the antigenic determinants of σC protein, a set of partially overlapping and consecutive peptides spanning σC were expressed and then screened with the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2B5 directed against σC. The mAb 2B5 recognized peptides with the σC motif (45)ELLHRSISDISTTV(58). Further identification of the displayed B-cell epitope was conducted with a set of truncated peptides expressed as GST fusion proteins. The Western blot and ELISA results indicated that (45)ELLHRSISDI(54) was the minimal determinant of the linear B-cell epitope. Using sequences analysis, we found that this epitope was not a common motif shared among the other members of the ARV and DRV groups. Furthermore, cross reactivity analysis showed that the associated coding motif of other ARV and DRV groups was not recognized by 2B5. These data suggested that (45)ELLHRSISDI(54) was a type-specific linear B-cell epitope of avian reovirus. The results in this study may have potential applications in the development of diagnostic techniques and epitope-based marker vaccines against ARV, which is prevalent in China.

[Expression and identification of sigmaC gene of avian reovirus by baculovirus expression system].

Recombinant baculovirus containing sigmaC gene of Avian reovirus was constructed using Bac-To-Bac Baculovirus expression system, and recombinant sigmaC protein was expressed by infecting the sf9 cell with recombinant baculovirus. Firstly, sigmaC gene of Avian reovirus was cloned and inserted into donor plasmid pFastBacHTA to obtain recombinant donor plasmid pFsigmaC. Plasmid pFsigmaC was transformed into E. coli DH10Bac for integration into bacmid vector and the recombinant bacmid plasmid BacmidsigmaC was obtained. Recombinant baculovirus rBacsigmaC was obtained by transfection of the sf9 cells with BacmidsigmaC. Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) were carried and the results showed that the recombinant sigmaC protein with 37 kDa molecular weight was expressed successfully.

[Preparation and primary analysis of monoclonal antibodies against VP5 protein of chicken infectious bursal disease virus].

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), the causative agent of a highly contagious disease in chickens, carries a small nonstructural protein (NS). In this study, vvIBDV Gx-VP5 genes were cloned into plasmid pET30a( + ) and expressed in E. coli with IPTG inducing. BALB/c mice were immunized with the purified recombinant fusion protein. SP2/0 myeloma cells and spleen cells of BALB/c mice were fused by PEG(MW1500), three hybridoma cell lines were examined by indirect ELISA and clone for three times by limited dilution, and were named as 4B4, 6D12, 3E8. The subtype of the monoclonal antibodies were IgG1 with a subtype identified ELISA kit, and light chains were kappa. The ascites titers of monoclonal antibodies were 5 x 10(4), 3.5 x 10(4), 3 x 10(4) by indirect ELISA, respectively. Indirect ELISA and Western blot results showed that the monoclonal antibodies only acted with VP5 protein, IF analysis indicated that three monoclonal antibodies acted with IBDV Gt. There were specific fluorescence in detected Vero E6 cells which transient expressed VP5 protein by IFA. Therefore, monoclonal antibodies specific to IBDV VP5 proteins are specific method for detected VP5 proteins, and base on establish stabilize expressed VP5 protein Vero cell lines to research IBDV VP5 protein function.

[Identification of VP3 antigenic epitopes of infectious bursal disease virus].

Infectious bursal disease virus(IBD) causes infectious bursal disease (IBD), which infects bursal of chicken and can evoke immune suppression. This study identified the antigenic epitopes of four McAbs to IBDV VP3(HRB-3F, HRB-7B, HRB-7C and HRB-10E)with pepscan. A set of 17 partially overlapping or consecutive peptides (P1-P17) spanning VP3 were expressed for epitope screening by pepscan. Finally, two antigenic epitopes, 109-119aa and 177-190aa of IBDV VP3, were identified by Western blot and ELISA. The peptides on epitopes could react with IBDV, and they had better immunnogenicity. The sequences of epitopes were compared with that of several other IBDV strains in the same region, and was found they were totally homologous. This study showed the two epitopes were novel conserved linear B cell epitopes on the VP3 of IBDV. This study provides basis for the development of immunity-based prophylactic, therapeutic and diagnostic measures for control of IBD and further for structural and functional analysis of IBDV.

[Construction of chicken embryo fibroblasts cDNA expression library].

Chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) is a primary cellular material to research the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Constructing the cDNA expression library of CEF is the foundation to research cell tropism and find cell receptors of IBDV from CEF. In order to achieve that purpose, a high-quality cDNA expression library of CEF was constructed by Gateway technology, which could avoid using the restriction enzyme for cloning to solve technical limitation of roution method. The mRNA was extracted from chicken embryonic fibroblast. Moreover, single-strand cDNA and double-strand cDNA were synthesized by using biotin-conjugated Oligo (dT) primer in turn. The double-strand cDNA was ligated Adapter and then purified by the cDNA Size Fractionation Columns. After BP recombination reaction, a cDNA entry library was constructed with a titer of 1 x 10(6) cfu/mL, total clones of 1.2 x 10(7) cfu and an average insertion size of about 2243 bp. After LR recombination reaction, the cDNA entry library was transformed into expression library which took on a titer of 5 x 10(5) cfu/mL, total clones of 5.5 x 10(6) cfu and an average insertion size of about 2411bp. The results indicate that the constructed cDNA expression library performs a remarkable high value in both recombination rate and library coverage. As a result, the cDNA expression library, with its good quality, may facilitate to identify the receptors associated with the resistance against IBDV in chicken embryonic fibroblast and to cast new light on the mechanism of cellular tropism. Moreover, it may also provide data of chicken embryonic fibroblast in transcription level and may be helpful to study its biological functions.

Direct evidence of reassortment and mutant spectrum analysis of a very virulent infectious bursal disease virus.

The complete genomic sequence of very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) Gx strain was determined, including the sequences of segment A, encoding the precursor polyprotein, and segment B, encoding the viral RNA polymerase (VP1) and 5'- and 3'-untranslating regions. Alignment of segment A of Gx with the sequences of 12 other vvIBDV strains showed 97.5% to 99.0% amino acid identity, whereas alignment of segment B of Gx with nine other vvIBDV strains revealed high sequence divergence, ranging from 10.3% to 11%. Phylogenetic analysis of segments A and B showed that they were in different branches, indicating that the reassortment occurred in this strain and that segment A and segment B derived from different pathotype strains. The mutant spectrum analysis of quasispecies virus demonstrated that the mean minimum mutation frequency in VP1 was 8.78-fold higher than in the polyprotein. The most frequent mutations were in the first 1986 nucleotides (nonsynonymous mutations) and the last 660 nucleotides (synonymous mutations), indicating that the 219 amino acid residues in the C-terminal of the VP1 form a functional region.

[Expression of the VP2 gene of chicken infectious anemia virus in E. coli and analysis of immunogenicity].

The coding region of VP2 gene from Chicken Infectious Anemia was amplified from genome extracted from chicken liver tissue by PCR. PCR product was double digested with restriction enzymes BamH I and Sal I and cloned into pET-28a digested with BamH I and Sal I. Subsequently, the recombinant plasmid pET-28-VP2 was extracted and double digested with restriction enzymes BamH I and Sal I. After confirming its rightness by PCR and analysis of restriction endonucleases, the recombinant plasmid pET-28-VP2 was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain. The culture was induced by 1 mmol/L IPTG at 37 degrees C for three hours and analyzed with SDS-PAGE. The result shows that gene encoding VP2 of CIAV was expressed successfully in E. coli and the fusion protein existed in supernatant, which was about 31kDa and showed specific immunoreactivity with anti-CIAV sera in Western blot. The fusion protein was purified by Ni2+ -affinity chromatography and quantitated by Bradford method. Then BALb/c mice were immunized with purified protein emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant on day 0 and boosted twice on day 14 and 28 with the same dose of antigens emulsified with Freund's incomplete adjuvant, respectively. The serum isolated were examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) using the purified VP2 and CIAV as coating antigens and the serum could react with target protein and CIAV in ELISA detection test.

Preparation and evaluation of anti-SARS coronavirus IgY from yolks of immunized SPF chickens.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a recently discovered viral disease, characterized by fever, cough, acute fibrinous pneumonia and high infectivity. Specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were immunized with inactivated SARS coronavirus and their eggs were harvested at regular intervals. Yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) was extracted using the water dilution method, followed by further purification on a Sephadex G-75 column. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blot and neutralization test results showed that the IgY obtained was of a high purity and had a strong reactive activity with a neutralization titer of 1:640. Lyophilization and stability tests showed that lyophilized anti-SARS coronavirus IgY had promising physical properties, with no significant reduction in reactive activity and good thermal stability. All these data suggest that the anti-SARS coronavirus IgY could be a new useful biological product for specific antiviral therapy against SARS.