Complexing the Marine Sesquiterpene Euplotin C by Means of Cyclodextrin-Based Nanosponges: A Preliminary Investigation

Euplotin C is a sesquiterpene of marine origin endowed with significant anti-microbial and anti-tumor properties. Despite the promising functional profile, its progress as a novel drug candidate has failed so far, due to its scarce solubility and poor stability in aqueous media, such as biological fluids. Therefore, overcoming these limits is an intriguing challenge for the scientific community. In this work, we synthesized β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges and investigated their use as colloidal carriers for stably complex euplotin C. Results obtained proved the ability of the carrier to include the natural compound, showing remarkable values of both loading efficiency and capacity. Moreover, it also allowed us to preserve the chemical structure of the loaded compound, which was recovered unaltered once extracted from the complex. Therefore, the use of β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges represents a viable option to vehiculate euplotin C, thus opening up its possible use as pharmacologically active compound.     

Potentially Beneficial Effects on Healthy Aging by Supplementation of the EPA-Rich Microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum or Its Supernatant—A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial in Elderly Individuals

Dietary supplements that promote healthy aging are mostly warranted in an aging society. Because of age-related risks, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agents such as microalgae are potential candidates for intervention. In a randomized controlled trial, we tested Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PT), a microalgae rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), carotenoids, vitamins, and β-glucans, cultured in bioreactors. In this pilot trial, 19 healthy elderly received supplements for two weeks based on either the whole PT (A), the β-1,3-glucan-rich PT supernatant (SupB), the combination thereof (A+SupB), or a Comparator product (Comp). The primary outcome variable plasma interleukin-6 was reduced after treatment with A+SupB compared to the Comp group (p = 0.04). The mobility parameters 5 s sit-to-stand test (p = 0.04 in the A group) and by trend gait speed (p = 0.08 in the A+SupB diet) were improved compared to Comp. No treatment effects were observed for fatty acids, compared to Comp but omega-6 to -3 fatty acid ratio (p = 0.006) and arachidonic acid/EPA ratio (p = 0.006) were reduced within group A+SupB. Further, the SupB study product reduced faecal zonulin (p = 0.03) compared to the Comp. The data revealed an anti-inflammatory and potentially anti-oxidative effect of particular PT preparations, suggesting that they might be suitable for effects in healthy elderly.     

小麦诱导抗性基因TaWIR1b的克隆及表达分析

全蚀病是小麦上一种重要的土传病害。选育和种植抗病品种是防治小麦全蚀病的根本途径,抗病基因研究是抗病育种的基础性工作。根据基因TaWIR1b(Accession no.M94959.1)的全长序列设计引物扩增‘新农19’的cDNA,获得了完整ORF,编码85个氨基酸残基,比对后发现与TaWIR1b序列同源性达100%。根据获得的TaWIR1b基因全长序列设计定量引物,分析TaWIR1b在全蚀菌胁迫条件下不同互作模式的表达特征。结果表明接种全蚀病菌后抗病小麦品种‘新农19’中TaWIR1b基因被诱导表达,接菌后3d达到峰值143.97,感病品种‘新麦19’中峰值出现在接菌后8d,表达量仅为对照的4.22倍,提示该基因可能参与小麦对全蚀病的抗病过程。     

毛竹cab-PhE11基因的克隆与序列分析

采用RT-PCR技术和RACE-PCR技术,从毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)中分离了捕光叶绿素a/b结合蛋白基因cDNA编码区全长,命名为cab-PhE11(GenBank登记号:EU327783)。该基因全长1154 bp,编码区cDNA全长753 bp,编码250个氨基酸。生物信息学分析表明,在cab-PhE11编码的蛋白第62~239位包括典型的捕光叶绿素a/b结合蛋白功能域,还包含1个N-糖基化位点、1个酪氨酸激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点、5个N-肉豆蔻酸化位点以及1个丙氨酸富集区。序列相似性分析结果表明,cab-PhE11编码的氨基酸序列与玉米、绿豆、拟南芥、烟草等的cab基因有较高的相似性,都在80%以上,该基因属于lhcb6类基因。     

杜仲梦尼夜蛾CD36家族同源基因克隆与组织分布研究

目的 揭示杜仲梦尼夜蛾CD36家族同源基因神经元膜蛋白(SNMPs)和b族清道夫受体(SRb)的序列特征和组织分布情况。 方法 设计特异性引物克隆杜仲梦尼夜蛾SNMPs和SRb基因,对这些基因编码的蛋白进行同源建模;通过荧光定量PCR分析这些基因在不同组织的表达情况。 结果 在杜仲梦尼夜蛾中鉴定得到3个CD36家族同源基因（OsonSNMP1、OsonSNMP2和OsonSRb1）;这些基因编码的蛋白具有2个跨膜区域和1个细胞外结构域。空间结构预测发现,这些蛋白的胞外结构域包含1个主要由反向平行β-折叠构成的桶状核心和1个富含疏水性氨基酸残基的α-螺旋;荧光定量PCR结果表明,OsonSNMP1、OsonSNMP2和OsonSRb1均在触角中大量表达;OsonSNMP1在雄虫触角中的表达水平显著高于雌虫触角,OsonSNMP2在雌虫触角的表达水平显著高于其他组织,OsonSRb1在雄虫触角中大量表达外,还在雌雄虫的口器中大量表达。 结论 本研究发现OsonSNMP1、OsonSNMP2和OsonSRb1编码的蛋白具有与脊椎动物CD36家族受体类似的空间结构,与嗅觉器官高度关联的表达模式表明这些基因可能在杜仲梦尼夜蛾嗅觉系统中发挥了功能,以上结果为探究杜仲梦尼夜蛾CD36家族同源基因的嗅觉功能提供了数据。     

红鳍东方鲀3个白介素基因的序列特征及表达分析

本试验分析体质量(190.34±2.13)g的红鳍东方鲀白介素基因IL-1b、IL-8和IL-10的序列特征,检测其在红鳍东方鲀脑、鳃、心脏、肌肉、肝脏和脾脏中的表达,以及每尾红鳍东方鲀注射密度1×107 cfu/mL的哈维氏弧菌菌液0.1 mL后0、12、24、48 h在肝脏和脾脏中的表达.试验结果表明,IL-1b、...     

β-Carotene from the Alga Dunaliella bardawil Decreases Gene Expression of Adipose Tissue Macrophage Recruitment Markers and Plasma Lipid Concentrations in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

Vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids are involved in the regulation of adipose tissue metabolism and inflammation. We examined the effect of dietary supplementation using all-trans and 9-cis β-carotene-rich Dunaliella bardawil alga as the sole source of vitamin A on obesity-associated comorbidities and adipose tissue dysfunction in a diet-induced obesity mouse model. Three-week-old male mice (C57BL/6) were randomly allocated into two groups and fed a high-fat, vitamin A-deficient diet supplemented with either vitamin A (HFD) or β-carotene (BC) (HFD-BC). Vitamin A levels in the liver, WATs, and BAT of the HFD-BC group were 1.5–2.4-fold higher than of the HFD group. BC concentrations were 5–6-fold greater in BAT compared to WAT in the HFD-BC group. The eWAT mRNA levels of the Mcp-1 and Cd68 were 1.6- and 2.1-fold lower, respectively, and the plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were 30% and 28% lower in the HFD-BC group compared with the HFD group. Dietary BC can be the exclusive vitamin A source in mice fed a high-fat diet, as shown by the vitamin A concentration in the plasma and tissues. Feeding BC rather than vitamin A reduces adipose tissue macrophage recruitment markers and plasma lipid concentrations.     

基于WEB的大豆病虫害专家系统构建

基于WEB的大豆病虫害专家系统,采用ASP编程技术,且融合专家系统、网络信息系统、多媒体技术等理论,系统主要包括大豆病虫害诊断模块、病虫害防治专业知识模块和专家与用户交流BBS平台等模块,用户通过互联网即可使用该系统,具有使用方便、通用性强等特点。     

Mobile and readily available C and N fractions and their relationship to microbial biomass and selected enzyme activities in a sandy soil under different management systems

Within different land‐use systems such as agriculture, forestry, and fallow, the different morphology and physiology of the plants, together with their specific management, lead to a system‐typical set of ecological conditions in the soil. The response of total, mobile, and easily available C and N fractions, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities involved in C and N cycling to different soil management was investigated in a sandy soil at a field study at Riesa, Northeastern Germany. The management systems included agricultural management (AM), succession fallow (SF), and forest management (FM). Samples of the mineral soil (0—5, 5—10, and 10—30 cm) were taken in spring 1999 and analyzed for their contents on organic C, total N, NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^—‐N, KCl‐extractable organic C and N fractions (Corg_(KCl) and Norg_(KCl)), microbial biomass C and N, and activities of β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase. With the exception of Norg_(KCl), all investigated C and N pools showed a clear relationship to the land‐use system that was most pronounced in the 0—5 cm profile increment. SF resulted in greater contents of readily available C (Corg_(KCl)), NH₄⁺‐N, microbial biomass C and N, and enzyme activities in the uppermost 5 cm of the soil compared to all other systems studied. These differences were significant at P ≤ 0.05 to P ≤ 0.001. Comparably high C_mic:C_org ratios of 2.4 to 3.9 % in the SF plot imply a faster C and N turnover than in AM and FM plots. Forest management led to 1.5‐ to 2‐fold larger organic C contents compared to SF and AM plots, respectively. High organic C contents were coupled with low microbial biomass C (78 μg g^—1) and N contents (10.7 μg g^—1), extremely low C_mic : C_org ratios (0.2—0.6 %) and low β‐glucosidase (81 μg PN g^—1 h^—1) and L‐asparaginase (7.3 μg NH₄‐N g^—1 2 h^—1) activities. These results indicate a severe inhibition of mineralization processes in soils under locust stands. Under agricultural management, chemical and biological parameters expressed medium values with exception for NO₃^—‐N contents which were significantly higher than in SF and FM plots (P ≤ 0.005) and increased with increasing soil depth. Nevertheless, the depth gradient found for all studied parameters was most pronounced in soils under SF. Microbial biomass C and N were correlated to β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase activity (r ≥ 0.63; P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, microbial biomass and enzyme activities were related to the amounts of readily mineralizable organic C (i.e. Corg_(KCl)) with r ≥ 0.41 (P ≤ 0.01), suggesting that (1) KCl‐extractable organic C compounds from field‐fresh prepared soils represent an important C source for soil microbial populations, and (2) that microbial biomass is an important source for enzymes in soil. The Norg_(KCl) pool is not necessarily related to the size of microbial biomass C and N and enzyme activities in soil.<?show $6#>     

HPLC法同时测定秦艽中龙胆苦苷和牛膝中蜕皮甾酮的含量

建立同时测定秦艽中龙胆苦苷和牛膝中蜕皮甾酮含量的RP-HPLC分析方法。采用Kromacil C18色谱柱(4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm);流动相:乙腈(A)-0.1%醋酸水溶液(B)进行梯度洗脱;流速1.0 mL·min-1;检测波长:254 nm;柱温:25℃。龙胆苦苷、蜕皮甾酮的进样浓度分别在0.80～20.00,0.40～10.00μg.mL-1范围内线性关系良好;平均回收率(n=6)分别为100.02%,99.95%。结论:该方法简便,准确,重现性好,具有较强的应用价值。