Enzymatic synthesis of human blood group P1 pentasaccharide antigen.

The enzymatic synthesis of biologically important and structurally unique human P1PK blood group type P1 pentasaccharide antigen is described. This synthesis features a three-step sequential one-pot multienzyme (OPME) glycosylation for the stepwise enzymatic chain elongation of readily available lactoside acceptor with cheap and commercially available galactose and N-acetylglucosamine as donor precursors. This enzymatic synthesis provides an operationally simple approach to access P1 pentasaccharide and its structurally related Gb3 and P1 trisaccharide epitopes.

Genetic variability of Echinococcus granulosus based on the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene.

Echinococcus granulosus is the etiological agent of cystic echinococcosis, a major zoonotic disease of both humans and animals. In this study, we assessed genetic variability and genetic structure of E. granulosus in the Tibet plateau, using the complete mitochondrial 16 S ribosomal RNA gene for the first time. We collected and sequenced 62 isolates of E. granulosus from 3 populations in the Tibet plateau. A BLAST analysis indicated that 61 isolates belonged to E. granulosus sensu stricto (genotypes G1-G3), while one isolate belonged to E. canadensis (genotype G6). We detected 16 haplotypes with a haplotype network revealing a star-like expansion, with the most common haplotype occupying the center of the network. Haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were low, while negative values were observed for Tajima's D and Fu's Fs. AMOVA results and Fst values revealed that the three geographic populations were not genetically differentiated. Our results suggest that a population bottleneck or population expansion has occurred in the past, and that this explains the low genetic variability of E. granulosus in the Tibet Plateau.

Genetic variability of Echinococcus granulosus from the Tibetan plateau inferred by mitochondrial DNA sequences.

To analyse genetic variability and population structure, 84 isolates of Echinococcus granulosus (Cestoda: Taeniidae) collected from various host species at different sites of the Tibetan plateau in China were sequenced for the whole mitochondrial nad1 (894 bp) and atp6 (513 bp) genes. The vast majority were classified as G1 genotype (n=82), and two samples from human patients in Sichuan province were identified as G3 genotype. Based on the concatenated sequences of nad1+atp6, 28 different haplotypes (NA1-NA28) were identified. A parsimonious network of the concatenated sequence haplotypes showed star-like features in the overall population, with NA1 as the major haplotype in the population networks. By AMOVA it was shown that variation of E. granulosus within the overall population was the main pattern of the total genetic variability. Neutrality indexes of the concatenated sequence (nad1+atp6) were computed by Tajima's D and Fu's Fs tests and showed high negative values for E. granulosus, indicating significant deviations from neutrality. FST and Nm values suggested that the populations were not genetically differentiated.

Thoughts on Clinical Trial Significance and Ideas of Tibetan Medicine / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Tibetan medicine clinical trials are the efficient path for the clinical practitioners to avoid knowledge aging , inheritance of famous traditional Tibetan academic thinking , clinical experiences and techniques . It is an effective way for the lifelong self-learning . It is also a breakthrough for the normalization , standardization and internationalization of the scientific development of Tibetan medicine . By conducting Tibetan medicine clinical trials, related Tibetan medical documents can be founded, collected and analyzed in order to improve therapeu-tic effects. Theories can be transferred into practice, and experiences can be transferred in to results. The therapeutic effect can be reflected in the value of clinical practice and be promoted as the suitable techniques . And Tibetan medicine can be promoted worldwide .