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Objective To investigate the morphological characteristics of Dermatophagoides farinae at different developmental stages. Methods The cultured D. farinae was isolated, and the external morphological features of mites at various developmental stages were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), including egg, larva, nymph and adult stages. Results The D. farinae egg appeared a long oval shape, and the larval mites had three pairs of legs. The nymph had four pairs of legs and underdeveloped genital pores containing genital setae and anal setae, and adult mites appeared long and oval in shape, with decorative patterns on epidermis, and had four pairs of legs. In male adult mites, remarkable thickening of the leg I and thicker and longer leg III than the leg IV were seen, and ventral genital regions were found between the basal segments of legs III and IV; the anus was surrounded by a circular peri-anal ring, with a pair of anal suckers and anal setae within the ring. In the female adult mites, slender legs III and IV with an equal length were seen, and a “λ-shape” genital hole was observed on the ventral surface, with a crescent-like genital plate in the anterior part, and the anus appeared a longitudinal slit. Conclusions An SEM observation of the external morphology of D. farinae provides understandings of the morphological characteristics of D. farinae, which is of great significance for the classification and identification.
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Objective To investigate the morphological characteristics of Echinostoma miyagawai in domestic ducks in Wuhu area, and to explore the feasibility of the cytochrome oxidase subunit-1 (Cox1) gene as a molecular marker for the identification of E. miyagawai. Methods E. miyagawai was isolated from free-ranged domestic ducks in Wuhu area, and the parasites were stained and identified. In addition, the mitochondrial Cox1 gene of E. miyagawai was amplified using a PCR assay, and the amplification product was sequenced and aligned with the GenBank database to yield the homology for the identification of parasite species in combination with morphological findings. Intra-species comparison was done based on the Cox1 gene sequence. Results The prevalence of E. miyagawai infection was 16.67% in domestic ducks in Wuhu area, and the adult E. miyagawai was 6.6 to 13.2 mm in length. The size of the E. miyagawai Cox1 gene was approximately 660 bp, which had a 99.68% homology to the E. miyagawai accessed in GenBank. The morphological findings were in agreement with molecular identification. Conclusion E. miyagawai infection is common in domestic ducks in Wuhu area, and the mitochondrial Cox1 gene is a feasible marker of intra- and inter-species molecular identification of Echinostoma.
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Objective To investigate the breeding of Carpoglyphus lactis in stored jujube from Anhui Province, so as to provide the evidence for preventing the harm of C. lactis to stored jujube. Methods The jujube samples stored for more than 6 months were collected from dried fruit shops and/or Chinese herbal medicine warehouses, which were chosen as survey sites in Anhui Province. The mites were isolated and identified under a microscope. Results Totally 19 samples infested with C. lactis were obtained from 300 samples in 17 cities of Anhui Province, the breeding rate and breeding density of C. lactis were 6.33% and 6.52 per gram respectively. The constituent ratios of different developmental stages were adult 85.72%, larva 12.27%, dormancy body 0.56%, and egg 1.45%, respectively. Conclusion The breeding density of C. lactis in the stored jujube is high and the species diversity is rich, so the control of C. lactis and the prevention of human acariasis should be strengthened.
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Objective To detect the molecular characterization of polysaccharide purified from Amusium pleuronectes, so as to investigate its role of intervention to the formation of hepatic fibrosis caused by Schistosoma japonicum infection. Methods The crude polysaccharide from A. pleuronectes was extracted and further purified, and the molecular weight and monosaccharide composition were determined by the high pressure size exclusion chromatography and PMP pre-column derivatization method, respectively. A total of 50 female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups：A (normal group), B (experimental group), C (polysaccharide group), D (praziquantel), and E (polysaccharide + praziquantel group). The mice in B, C, D, or E groups were attacked on the abdominal skin by using the cercariae of S. japonicum (30 ± 2 for each mouse) respectively. After 8 weeks, the mice in C, D, and E groups were administrated by polysaccharide and/or praziquantel, and the mice in B group were instead of saline. All the livers and sera were collected after 16 weeks. HE staining was employed for the livers, and serum IFN-γ and IL-13 were measured by using ELISA kits. Results The molecular weight of purified polysaccharide from A. pleuronectes was 11.7 kDa. Compared with A and B groups, the serum levels of IFN-γ in C, D, and E groups were significantly increased (F = 63.525, P < 0.01). However, the serum levels of IL-13 in C, D, and E groups were significantly decreased (F = 99.788, P < 0.01) compared with that in B group. HE staining showed that the egg nodules and hepatic fibrosis were observed in B, C, D, and E groups. The number of egg nodules and fibrosis degree in E group were milder than those in B group (χ2 = 7.875, P < 0.05). Conclusions The polysaccharide from A. pleuronectes has an obvious effect in preventing hepatic fibrosis process induced by S. japonicum infection, particularly combining with the administration of praziquantel.
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Objective To investigate the breeding of Carpoglyphus lactis in stored jujube from Anhui Province, so as to provide the evidence for preventing the harm of C. lactis to stored jujube. Methods The jujube samples stored for more than 6 months were collected from dried fruit shops and/or Chinese herbal medicine warehouses, which were chosen as survey sites in Anhui Province. The mites were isolated and identified under a microscope. Results Totally 19 samples infested with C. lactis were obtained from 300 samples in 17 cities of Anhui Province, the breeding rate and breeding density of C. lactis were 6.33% and 6.52 per gram respectively. The constituent ratios of different developmental stages were adult 85.72%, larva 12.27%, dormancy body 0.56%, and egg 1.45%, respectively. Conclusion The breeding density of C. lactis in the stored jujube is high and the species diversity is rich, so the control of C. lactis and the prevention of human acariasis should be strengthened.
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Objective To detect the molecular characterization of polysaccharide purified from Amusium pleuronectes, so as to investigate its role of intervention to the formation of hepatic fibrosis caused by Schistosoma japonicum infection. Methods The crude polysaccharide from A. pleuronectes was extracted and further purified, and the molecular weight and monosaccharide composition were determined by the high pressure size exclusion chromatography and PMP pre-column derivatization method, respectively. A total of 50 female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups：A (normal group), B (experimental group), C (polysaccharide group), D (praziquantel), and E (polysaccharide + praziquantel group). The mice in B, C, D, or E groups were attacked on the abdominal skin by using the cercariae of S. japonicum (30 ± 2 for each mouse) respectively. After 8 weeks, the mice in C, D, and E groups were administrated by polysaccharide and/or praziquantel, and the mice in B group were instead of saline. All the livers and sera were collected after 16 weeks. HE staining was employed for the livers, and serum IFN-γ and IL-13 were measured by using ELISA kits. Results The molecular weight of purified polysaccharide from A. pleuronectes was 11.7 kDa. Compared with A and B groups, the serum levels of IFN-γ in C, D, and E groups were significantly increased (F = 63.525, P < 0.01). However, the serum levels of IL-13 in C, D, and E groups were significantly decreased (F = 99.788, P < 0.01) compared with that in B group. HE staining showed that the egg nodules and hepatic fibrosis were observed in B, C, D, and E groups. The number of egg nodules and fibrosis degree in E group were milder than those in B group (χ2 = 7.875, P < 0.05). Conclusions The polysaccharide from A. pleuronectes has an obvious effect in preventing hepatic fibrosis process induced by S. japonicum infection, particularly combining with the administration of praziquantel.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 in human laryngeal cancer cells in vitro, and to explore whether it can be used as a marker of stem cells in human laryngeal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fluorescence staining and flow cytometry were used to detect the expression of ALDH1 in a human laryngeal cancer Hep-2 cell line, and fluorescence activated cells sorting was used to separate ALDH1(br) cells. ALDH1 tumor cells were cultured and their ability of proliferation and differentiation was observed in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of ALDH1 in Hep-2 cells was different. The number of cells highly expressing ALDH1 was 2.9% ± 0.6%. Compared with ALDH1(low) cells and unsorted cells, ALDH1(br) cells exhibited increased proliferation ability. In serum-containing RPM I1640 culture medium, the proportion of ALDH1(br) cells was decreasing as days passed. The percentage of ALDH1(br) cells decreased from 94.2% ± 3.8% to the level before sorting. The ALDH1(br) cells demonstrated enhanced tumorigenic ability in nude mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the laryngeal cancer Hep-2 cell line, the highly ALDH1-expressing cells show a strong ability of differentiation, proliferation and tumorigenesis. It indicates that ALDH1 can be used as a new marker of stem cells of laryngeal cancer cells.</p>