Toxoplasma gondii ROP5 Enhances Type I IFN Responses by Promoting Ubiquitination of STING.

Toxoplasma gondii is a widely spread opportunistic pathogen that can infect nearly all warm-blooded vertebrates and cause serious toxoplasmosis in immunosuppressed animals and patients. However, the relationship between the host's innate immune system and effector proteins is poorly understood, particularly with regard to how effectors antagonize cGAS-STING signaling during T. gondii infection. In this study, the ROP5 from the PRU strain of T. gondii was found to promote cGAS-STING-mediated immune responses. Mechanistically, ROP5 interacted with STING through predicted domain 2 and modulated cGAS-STING signaling in a predicted domain 3-dependent manner. Additionally, ROP5 strengthened cGAS-STING signaling by enhancing the K63-linked ubiquitination of STING. Consistently, ROP5 deficient PRU (PRUΔROP5) induced fewer type I IFN-related immune responses and replicated faster than the parental strain in RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, this study provides new insights into the mechanism by which ROP5 regulates T. gondii infection and provides new clues for strategies to prevent and control toxoplasmosis.

The role of carotid stenosis ultrasound scale in the prediction of ischemic stroke.

INTRODUCTION: To improve the accuracy of ultrasound techniques for the assessment of carotid stenosis, we designed a novel carotid artery stenosis ultrasound scale (CASUS), and evaluated its accuracy, reliability, and its value in predicting the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in a prospective study. METHODS: A total of 750 patients with first-time ischemic stroke and hospitalized within 24 h were enrolled in the study. Using color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), the degree of stenosis and blood flow (BF) in bilateral internal carotid arteries (ICA) and the V1-V3 segment of vertebral arteries (VA) was assessed. Cubic simulation curves for BF and global blood flow (GBF) over the stenosis score (SS), total stenosis score (TSS), and radiological imaging- total stenosis score (RI-TSS) were fitted and compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves using TSS, RI-TSS, or GBF to predict various ischemic stroke endpoints were also analyzed and compared. RESULTS: There was a linear relationship between SS and BF both ICA and VA (R2 were 0.734 and 0.783, respectively, both P < 0.05). Both TSS and RI-TSS with GBF showed an inverse "S" curve relationship (R2 was 0.839 and 0.843, all P < 0.05). The AUC values of TSS-based and RI-TSS-based predictions of each endpoint were all greater than 0.7 (all P < 0.05), but the differences of the AUC values between TSS, RI-TSS, and GBF were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The novel CASUS can better reflect the level of cerebral reperfusion in patients with ischemic stroke and can better predict the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Evaluation of antibody responses against the whole virions of goatpox and sheeppox viruses after subcutaneous immunization of rabbits.

Antibody development is the integral process of generating and characterizing an antibody. It commences by inoculating the antigen of interest into laboratory animals, allowing the immune system develops large quantities of antibodies. This was aimed at developing antibodies against the virion of Goatpox and Sheeppox virus vaccines. The ability of Goatpox and Sheeppox vaccines was assessed. Regarding this study, the antibody titers against both Goatpox and Sheeppox viruses was increased in the same manner. The amount of IgG was determined to be 2.29 µg/µl and 2.18 µg/µl against virions of Goatpox virus and Sheeppox respectively. The purified IgG was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Different bands of the purified antibodies were clearly visualized, and the molecular weight of IgG was estimated to be 67 kDa and 25 kDa. Additionally, antigen/antibody binding was confirmed by Western blot using GTPV A27 antigen. No significant differences in antibody titers were observed between the two groups (p < 0, 05).

[Relationship between forest city landscape pattern and thermal environment: A case study of Longquan City, China.] / æ£®æž—åŸŽå¸‚æ™¯è§‚æ ¼å±€ä¸Žçƒ­çŽ¯å¢ƒçš„å ³ç³»­­ä»¥é¾™æ³‰å¸‚为例.

The differentiation characteristics of landscape pattern affect the urban thermal environment. In this study, temperature characteristics of nine types of landscape in a national forest city, Longquan City, were analyzed by temperature inversion method and spatial analysis. The landscape pattern analysis method was used to explore the correlation of landscape metrics and the thermal environment from 1 km to 3.5 km. The results showed that the high and sub-high temperature zones of Longquan City were distributed in northeast-southwest, mainly composed of urban and rural residential areas. The low and sub-low temperature zone were mainly distributed in the northwest and southeast areas, mainly composed of public welfare forests. By calculating the mean land surface temperature of each landscape type in the area below 700 m above sea level, the temperature of coniferous forest, broadleaf forest, conifer-broadleaf forest, bamboo forest and water was relatively low, whereas that of shrub land, other forest land, cultivated land and construction land was relatively high. Through the analysis of landscape pattern and thermal environment, it was found that the class pattern index was more practical than the landscape pattern index. The correlation between thermal environment effect and construction land distribution reached 0.835, coniferous forest land, broadleaf forest land, coniferous-broadleaf forest land and water were the second, up to -0.5 to -0.4. The cooling effects of different forest types vaied across different spatial scales. Broadleaved forests and coniferous-broadleaved forests were more conducive to cooling at large scales. The larger the area and volume stock of forest land, the more likely it had the lowest land surface temperature.

Influence of high-carbon basal fertiliser on the structure and composition of a soil microbial community under tobacco cultivation.

Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in cycling soil nutrients and providing organic nutrients for plant growth and development. Fertilisation balances soil fertility and quality, and affects soil microbial communities. Fertilisation is a frontier subject in agricultural and environmental sciences. Here we showed that the application of high-carbon basal fertiliser treatment could improve the tobacco yield and quality when compared to chemical fertiliser, high-carbon basal fertiliser and mixed high-carbon chemical fertiliser. The potential reason is that different fertiliser treatments influence soil fertility, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and other contents, besides soil organic matter. Further experiments revealed that populations of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes fluctuated during tobacco development under different fertilisation treatments. Then we performed high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and the results showed that the fertilisation treatments had significant effects on the microbial community, particularly within the finer taxonomic divisions or non-dominant taxa. Moreover, proteobacteria and fungal genera had significantly different relative abundances during tobacco growth under various tobacco developmental stages and fertilisation treatments. These results indicated that mixed high-carbon chemical fertiliser could improve soil fertility by influencing the soil microorganism, and that the fertilisation treatments impacted on the structure and composition of the microbial community, and especially the diversity of non-dominant taxa. However, more studies are needed to confirm their reliability.

The cGas-Sting Signaling Pathway Is Required for the Innate Immune Response Against Ectromelia Virus.

Activation of the DNA-dependent innate immune pathway plays a pivotal role in the host defense against poxvirus. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a key cytosolic DNA sensor that produces the cyclic dinucleotide cGMP-AMP (cGAMP) upon activation, which triggers stimulator of interferon genes (STING), leading to type I Interferons (IFNs) production and an antiviral response. Ectromelia virus (ECTV) has emerged as a valuable model for investigating the host-Orthopoxvirus relationship. However, the role of cGas-Sting pathway in response to ECTV is not clearly understood. Here, we showed that murine cells (L929 and RAW264.7) mount type I IFN responses to ECTV that are dependent upon cGas, Sting, TANK binding kinase 1 (Tbk1), and interferon regulatory factor 3 (Irf3) signaling. Disruption of cGas or Sting expression in mouse macrophages blocked the type I IFN production and facilitated ECTV replication. Consistently, mice deficient in cGas or Sting exhibited lower type I IFN levels and higher viral loads, and are more susceptible to mousepox. Collectively, our study indicates that the cGas-Sting pathway is critical for sensing of ECTV infection, inducing the type I IFN production, and controlling ECTV replication.

Comparison of Host Gene Expression Profiles in Spleen Tissues of Genetically Susceptible and Resistant Mice during ECTV Infection.

Ectromelia virus (ECTV), the causative agent of mousepox, has emerged as a valuable model for investigating the host-Orthopoxvirus relationship as it relates to pathogenesis and the immune response. ECTV is a mouse-specific virus and causes high mortality in susceptible mice strains, including BALB/c and C3H, whereas C57BL/6 and 129 strains are resistant to the disease. To understand the host genetic factors in different mouse strains during the ECTV infection, we carried out a microarray analysis of spleen tissues derived from BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, respectively, at 3 and 10 days after ECTV infection. Differential Expression of Genes (DEGs) analyses revealed distinct differences in the gene profiles of susceptible and resistant mice. The susceptible BALB/c mice generated more DEGs than the resistant C57BL/6 mice. Additionally, gene ontology and KEGG pathway analysis showed the DEGs of susceptible mice were involved in innate immunity, apoptosis, metabolism, and cancer-related pathways, while the DEGs of resistant mice were largely involved in MAPK signaling and leukocyte transendothelial migration. Furthermore, the BALB/c mice showed a strong induction of interferon-induced genes, which, however, were weaker in the C57BL/6 mice. Collectively, the differential transcriptome profiles of susceptible and resistant mouse strains with ECTV infection will be crucial for further uncovering the molecular mechanisms of the host-Orthopoxvirus interaction.

Analysis of the CDR3 length repertoire and the diversity of T cell receptor α and ß chains in swine CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes.

The T cell receptor (TCR) is a complex heterodimer that recognizes fragments of antigens as peptides and binds to major histocompatibility complex molecules. The TCR α and ß chains possess three hypervariable regions termed complementarity determining regions (CDR1, 2 and 3). CDR3 is responsible for recognizing processed antigen peptides. Immunoscope spectratyping is a simple technique for analyzing CDR3 polymorphisms and sequence length diversity, in order to investigate T cell function and the pattern of TCR utilization. The present study employed this technique to analyze CDR3 polymorphisms and the sequence length diversity of TCR α and ß chains in porcine CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Polymerase chain reaction products of 19 TCR α variable regions (AV) and 20 TCR ß variable regions (BV) gene families obtained from the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells revealed a clear band following separation by 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis, and each family exhibited >8 bands following separation by 6% sequencing gel electrophoresis. CDR3 spectratyping of all identified TCR AV and BV gene families in the sorted CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by GeneScan, demonstrated a standard Gaussian distribution with >8 peaks. CDR3 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells demonstrated different expression patterns. The majority of CDR3 recombined in frame and the results revealed that there were 10 and 14 amino acid discrepancies between the longest and shortest CDR3 lengths in specific TCR AV and TCR BV gene families, respectively. The results demonstrated that CDR3 polymorphism and length diversity demonstrated different expression and utilization patterns in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These results may facilitate future research investigating the porcine TCR CDR3 gene repertoire as well as the functional complexity and specificity of the TCR molecule.

The interhemispheric CA1 circuit governs rapid generalisation but not fear memory.

Encoding specificity theory predicts most effective recall by the original conditions at encoding, while generalization endows recall flexibly under circumstances which deviate from the originals. The CA1 regions have been implicated in memory and generalization but whether and which locally separated mechanisms are involved is not clear. We report here that fear memory is quickly formed, but generalization develops gradually over 24 h. Generalization but not fear memory is impaired by inhibiting ipsilateral (ips) or contralateral (con) CA1, and by optogenetic silencing of the ipsCA1 projections onto conCA1. By contrast, in vivo fEPSP recordings reveal that ipsCA1-conCA1 synaptic efficacy is increased with delay over 24 h when generalization is formed but it is unchanged if generalization is disrupted. Direct excitation of ipsCA1-conCA1 synapses using chemogenetic hM3Dq facilitates generalization formation. Thus, rapid generalization is an active process dependent on bilateral CA1 regions, and encoded by gradual synaptic learning in ipsCA1-conCA1 circuit.

αß T-cell receptor bias in disease and therapy (Review).

The diversity and specificity of T cell receptors (TCR), the characteristics of T-cell surface marker, are central to the adaptive immunity. TCR variability is required for successful immunization coverage because this structural foundation is indispensable for the valid identification of short antigen peptides (derived from degraded antigens) that are presented by major histocompatibility molecules on the surfaces of antigen-presenting cells. Despite the vast T-cell repertoire, biased αß TCR has become a common theme in immunology. To date, numerous examples of TCR bias have been observed in various diseases. Immunotherapy strategies that are based on αß T cell responses are also emerged as a prominent component of clinical treatment. In the present review, we briefly summarize the current knowledge regarding basic structural information and the molecular mechanisms underlying TCR diversity. Moreover, we outline the role of TCR repertoire bias in some diseases, and its application for therapeutic interventions, as these play significant roles in disease progression, even with patients with a good prognosis.

Cloning of rat sp56, the homologue of mouse sperm ZP3 receptor-sp56.

Mouse sp56 is considered as one of the candidates for mouse zona pellucida 3 (mZP3) receptor. Up to date, its homologue has only been cloned from guinea pig, namely AM67. Based on the cDNA sequence of mouse sp56, we designed a pair of primer to amplify its homologue from rat testis cDNA. Using RT-PCR, two fragments of 743 bp and 938 bp were amplified. The PCR products show very high homology to mouse sp56. However, the 743 bp product completely lacks one of the seven Sushi domains of mouse sp56. Using the 743 bp product as the probe to detect the expression profile of sp56 in rat tissues, Northern blot shows that a approximately 2.0 kb mRNA expresses specifically in testis. Employed the RACE method, two full cDNA sequences of rat sp56 were obtained. A Mr approximately 42 KD band was detected in denatured and non-reducing protein sample of rat testis and sperm with anti-mouse sp56 monoclonal antibody by Western blot method. Rat sp56 was localized on rat sperm head by the indirect immunofluorescence method. Rat sp56 immunoreactivity was detected from the early pachytene spermatocytes and throughout the spermatogenesis. Its cloning will further our understanding of the mechanism of the sperm-egg recognition and binding.

[The expression and imprinting status of insulin-like growth factor 2 gene in colorectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To study the imprinting status and expression level of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene in colorectal cancer and to provide a clue for the mechanism of carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer. METHODS: The expression levels of IGF2 in the paired colorectal cancer and adjacent normal tissue were examined and compared by use of semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The imprinting status of IGF2 was detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism. The relationships between the expression level of IGF2, its imprinting status, and the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer were analyzed. RESULTS: IGF2 was overexpressed in 82.4% (28/34) of colorectal cancer tissues which was significantly higher than those of the matched normal tissues (P<0.01, t=3.01). 87.5% (14/16) of colorectal cancer showed loss of imprinting(LOI), while 71.4%(10/14) of normal tissues also displayed LOI of IGF2. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of IGF2 was found to play an important role in carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer. LOI of IGF2 may be a prophase manifestation of colorectal cancer.

[Progress on host range factors and their mechanisms of poxvirus].

Poxvirus is one of the most serious zoonosis pathogens, which has largest genome and broadest host spectrum. With the development of molecular biology, functional genomics, and immunology-related technology, the interactions between pathogen and the host, particularly a large array of host range factors and their functions have been increasingly discovered. These findings provide references for the molecular basis of poxvirus tissue tropism and host specificity. This review focus on the introduction of host range factors in major members of Chordopoxvirinae to highlight the understanding of the mechanisms of molecular genetic evolution, the host tropism, and cross-species infection of poxviruses.

Sediminicoccus rosea gen. nov. sp. nov., isolated from the sediment of a eutrophic lake.

A polyphasic study was carried out to clarify the taxonomic position of a novel strain R-30(T) isolated from the surficial layer of sediment from Taihu Lake of China. The strain formed pink colored colonies comprising coccodial cells on R2A agar. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain R-30(T) clustered with the strains of genus Roseococcus and strain Rubritepida flocculans, with Roseococcus suduntuyensis SHET(T) as the closest relative, sharing 95.6% similarity. The major fatty acids (＞5%) were 18：1ω7c (66.7%), 16： 1ω7c/16：1ω6c (10.2%) and 16：0 (8.0%). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidyl glycerol (DPG), phosphatidyl methylethanolamine (PME), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidyl choline (PC). The genomic DNA G+C content was 73.9 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis and physiological and biochemical characteristics, we conclude that strain R-30(T) represents a novel genus and species of the family Acetobacteraceae, for which we propose the name Sediminicoccus rosea gen nov. sp. nov. with R-30(T) (= CGMCC 1.12302(T) = NBRC 109675(T)) as the type species and type strain.

Infection of mouse bone marrow-derived immature dendritic cells with classical swine fever virus C-strain promotes cells maturation and lymphocyte proliferation.

In this study, the interactions of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) C-strain and the virulent GSLZ strain with mouse bone marrow-derived immature dendritic cells (BM-imDCs) were investigated for the first time. Both the C-strain and the virulent GSLZ strain could effectively infect and replicate in mouse BM-imDCs. C-strain-infected BM-imDCs showed a greatly enhanced degree of maturation, and could effectively promote the expansion and proliferation of allogeneic naive T cells. The C-strain induced a stronger Th1 response. Infection with the virulent GSLZ strain had no obvious influence on cell maturation or lymphocyte proliferation, and failed to induce any obvious immune response. The results of this study provided initial information for research of the immunologic mechanisms of CSFV using mouse DCs as the model cells.

[Modulation of the host toll-like receptor signaling pathways by virus infection].

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that play a central role in host cell recognition and responses to virus infection, leading to the production of interferons (IFNs) and proinflammatory cytokines. In parallel, in order to establish an infection, viruses have to develop exclusively strategies to interfere with TLRs signaling, particularly some important adaptors activation such as MyD88, NF-kappaB, TRIF and IRFs, and suppress or escape host's antiviral immune response. In this paper, we review the latest findings on the various strategies used by viruses to modulate TLRs-mediated innate immune response, with special emphasis on immune evasion mechanism of VACV, HCV and HIV. By highlighting recent progress in these areas, we hope to convey a greater understanding of how viruses hamper TLRs signaling and how to overcome viral infection.

Subunit composition and function of GABAA receptors of rat spermatozoa.

GABA triggers mammalian sperm acrosome reaction (AR). Here, evidence is presented, showing that rat spermatozoa contain GABAA receptors, composed of alpha5, beta1 and beta3 subunits. The effects of GABAA receptor agonist and antagonist on the induction of AR in rat spermatozoa were assessed using the chlortetracycline assay. Muscimol, a GABAA receptor agonist, triggered AR; whereas bicuculline, a GABAA receptor antagonist and picrotoxin, a GABAA receptor/Cl- channel blocker, inhibited the ability of GABA or progesterone to induce AR. In conclusion, GABAA receptors appear to mediate the action of progesterone in inducing AR in rat spermatozoa.

[Effects of bone morphogenetic protein and transforming growth fractor-beta on biomechanical property for fracture healing in rabbit ulna].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of exogenous bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on biomechanical property for ulna of fracture healing. METHODS: Thirty-six adult rabbits were made the model of right ulnar fracture and treated locally with TGF-beta/PLA, BMP/PLA, TGF-beta + BMP/PLA or PLA (as control group). Fracture healing was evaluated by measurement of the mechanical parameters and geometric parameters. RESULTS: As compared with control group, the geometric parameters, the bending broken load, the ultimate bending strength, the bending elastic modulus, the ultimate flexural strength, the flexural elastic modulus, the ultimate compressing strength, the compressing elastic modulus, and the ultimate tensile strength for ulna of fracture healing increased significantly in the treatment groups(P < 0.01). These parameters were higher in TGF-beta + BMP/PLA group than in TGF-beta/PLA group or in BMP/PLA group and in TGF-beta/PLA group than in BMP/PLA group(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in bone density between the treatment groups and control group. CONCLUSION: Local application of exogenous TGF-beta and BMP can increase the callus formation and enhance biomechanical strength of bone after fracture healing. A combination of TGF-beta and BMP has synergetic effect in enhancing fracture healing.