ABSTRACT
Cryptococcal meningitis, caused by fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, is responsible for over a million infections and 600 000 deaths annually. Largely due to the limited treatment options and the intrinsic drawbacks coupled with drug resistance to current therapies, it is urgent to discover novel antifungal agents against cryptococcosis. An ideal antifungal drug should at least satisfy the following criteria: fungicidal, fungus-specific, permeable for the host barriers such as cell membranes of phagocytes and the blood-CNS barrier. Both discovery of candidates with novel mode of action and repurposing existing molecules with potent anti-cryptococcal activity are effective ways in discovery of new anti-cryptococcal agents. Here, we summarized recent advances in the study of anti-fungal activities, mechanisms of action, and clinical developments of new anti-cryptococcal drugs.
ABSTRACT
Objective Recent years, some studies have been studied on the biosynthesis of cordycepin, but it is not clear. To sequence the transcriptomes of the Ophiocordyceps sinensis which could provide the basis for revealing the bio-synthesis mechanism of cordycepin. Methods In this study, by Illumina/Solexa HiSeq 2500 technology, the transcriptomes of the O. sinensis fungus (anamorph) and the fruiting body (teleomorph) was sequenced, assembled and analyzed. By RT-PCR, the full lengths of RNRL (RNR large subunit) and RNRM (RNR small subunit) cDNA were cloned from the fresh O. sinensis fruit body. Results The pathway and the genes involved in cordycepin biosynthesis were predicted. Among of them, RNR was the critical enzyme in the metabolism of adenosine, also predicted to play an important role in the biosynthesis of cordycepin. From the transcriptome data, one large, one small subunits, and four similar sequences of RNR were found. RNRL mRNA was 2 733 bp, encoding 910 aa and RNRM mRNA 1 257 bp, encoding 418 aa. The analysis of the conserved and functional regions showed that catalytic site and binding site mainly lied in RNRL, RNRM contained a ferritin-like conserved sequence. Conclusion This study would be established for revealing the bio-synthesis mechanism of cordycepin.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line CNE1-pLVTHM/BART7 with stable ebv-miR-BART7 overexpression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The recombinant lentivirus pLVTHM/BART7 expression plasmid was packaged into mature lentivirus by 293FT cells and used to infect CNE1 cells. Flow cytometry was employed for sorting the GFP(+) cells. The efficiency of ebv-miR-BART7 overexpression was determined using qRT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The recombinant lentivirus plasmid pLVTHM/BART7 was successfully constructed and verified by PCR and sequencing. The expression of ebv-miR-BART7 in CNE1 cells infected with the lentivirus pLVTHM/BART7 was significantly increased as compared with the negative control and the blank control cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The recombinant lentivirus vector pLVTHM/BART7 results in high and stable expression of ebv-miR-BART7 in infected CNE1 cells, which provides a useful cell model for further studies of the role of ebv-miR-BART7 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.</p>