Identification and molecular characterization of Orfvirus infection in occupationally exposed women inSouth America

Abstract Contagious Ecthyma (CE) is a severe exanthematous dermatitis caused by the Orf virus (ORFV) that mainly affects domestic small ruminants such as sheep and goats. It is a worldwide-distributed occupational zoonosis, particularly infecting those in close contact with animals or animal products such as shepherds, farmers and veterinarians, among others. In the present work, we report the first human CE case confirmed in Argentina. A phylogenetic analysis based on four gene sequences of the isolated strain responsible for the disease showed that this isolate grouped with other ORFV sequences that caused reported CE cases in sheep from the same Argentine province. We also sequenced a sample from a Chilean human case reported in 2017, whose phylogenetic analysis showed that it groups together with other Argentine isolates from locations close to the border with Chile. Keywords: Contagious Ecthyma; Dermatitis; Human Orf; Zoonosis; Molecular characterization.

Resumen El ectima contagioso (EC) es una dermatitis exantemática grave causada por el virus Orf (ORFV), que afecta mayormente a pequeños rumiantes domésticos, como ovinos y caprinos. Es una zoonosis ocupacional con distribución mundial, infecta a humanos en estrecho contacto con animales o sus productos, como granjeros, esquiladores y veterinarios, entre otros. En este trabajo se informa el primer caso humano de EC confirmado en Argentina. Un análisis filogenético basado en cuatro genes de la cepa responsable de este caso mostró que el aislamiento agrupa con otras secuencias de ORFV que causaron casos en ovinos en la misma provincia argentina. También se secuenció una muestra del caso de ectima humano reportado en Chile en 2017 y el análisis filogenético mostró que dicho aislamiento forma un grupo con otros aislamientos argentinos de localidades cercanas a la frontera con Chile. Palabras clave: Ectima contagioso; Dermatitis; Orf en humanos; Zoonosis; Caracterización molecular.

Effects of C10orf10 on growth and prognosis of glioma under hypoxia / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#Glioma is the most common malignant tumor in the central nervous system, and the hypoxic microenvironment is prevalent in solid tumors. This study aims to investigate the up-regulation of genes under the condition of hypoxia and their roles in glioma growth, as well as their impact on glioma prognosis.@*METHODS@#The hypoxia-related dataset with glioma was screened in the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO), and the differentially expressed genes were analyzed between hypoxia and normoxia through bioinformatics, and chromosome 10 open reading frame 10 (C10orf10) was verified and screened in hypoxia-treated cells through real-time PCR and Western blotting. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) datasets were downloaded to analyze the mRNA expression of C10orf10 in different grades of glioma and its impact on prognosis. The glioma specimens and follow-up data of 68 gliomas who underwent surgical treatment in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from March 2017 to January 2021 were collected, and real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of C10orf10 in different grades of glioma, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the relationship between the expression C10orf10 and prognosis. The glioma cells, which could interfere the expression of C10orf10, were constructed, and the effect of C10orf10 on the proliferation of glioma cells was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the condition of normoxia, the expression levels of C10orf10 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated in glioma cells under hypoxia (P<0.001), and the mRNA expression level of C10orf10 in glioma tissues was up-regulated with the increase of WHO grade in glioma (P<0.001). Based on Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the higher the mRNA expression level of C10orf10 was, the shorter the survival time of the patient was (P<0.05). And the expression of C10orf10 mRNA was higher in recurrent gliomas than that in primary gliomas in the CGGA database (P<0.001). Knockdown of C10orf10 could significantly inhibit the growth of glioma cells both under hypoxia and normoxia (both P<0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The expression level of C10orf10 can promote the proliferation and prognosis of glioma, which is expected to become a prognostic marker and therapeutic target for glioma.

Significance of high expression of C5orf46 in gastric cancer and potential intervention of tarditional Chinese medicine based on bioinformatics, molecular docking, and cell experiments / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to investigate the expression, prognosis, and clinical significance of C5orf46 in gastric cancer and to study the interaction between the active components of C5orf46 and tarditional Chinese medicine. The ggplot2 package was utilized for differential expression analysis of C5orf46 in gastric cancer tissues and normal tissues. The survival package was used for survival analysis, univariate regression analysis, and multivariate regression analysis. Nomogram analysis was used to assess the connection between C5orf46 expression in gastric cancer and overall survival. The abundance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was calculated by GSVA package. Coremine database, Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) database, and PubChem database were used to search the potential components corresponding to C5orf46 gene and tarditional Chinese medicine. Molecular docking was performed to explore the binding affinity of potential components to C5orf46. Cell experiments were performed to explore the expression of C5orf46 gene in cells of the blank group, model group, and drug administration groups. As compared with normal tissues, C5orf46 expression was higher in gastric cancer tissues, which had more significant predictive effects in the early stages(T2, N0, and M0). The more advanced the tumor node metastasis(TNM) stage, the higher the C5orf46 expression and the lower the probability of survival of patients with gastric cancer. The expression of C5orf46 positively correlated with the helper T cells1 in gastric cancer and the macrophage infiltration level in gastric cancer, and negatively correlated with B cells, central memory T cells, helper T cells 17, and follicular helper T cells. Seven potential components of C5orf46 were obtained, and three active components were obtained after the screening, which matched five tarditional Chinese medicines, namely, Sojae Semen Nigrum, Jujubae Fructus, Trichosanthis Fructus, Silybi Fructus, and Bambusae Concretio Silicea. Molecular docking revealed that sialic acid and adeno-sine monophosphate(AMP) had a good binding ability to C5orf46. The results of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and Western blot showed that, as compared with the model group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of C5orf46 were significantly lower in the drug administration groups. The lowest expression level was found at the concentration of 40 μmol·L~(-1). The results of this study provide ideas for the clinical development of traditional Chinese medicine compounds for the treatment of gastric cancer as well as other cancers.

Huangqi Decoction, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, inhibits the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells by regulating the long noncoding RNA-C18orf26-1/microRNA-663a/transforming growth factor-β axis / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Huangqi Decoction (HQD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used as a valid treatment for alleviating liver fibrosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is still unknown. Although our previous studies showed that microRNA-663a (miR-663a) suppresses the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the transforming growth factor-β/small mothers against decapentaplegic (TGF-β/Smad) pathway, whether long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in HSC activation via the miR-663a/TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway has not yet reported. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of lncRNA lnc-C18orf26-1 in the activation of HSCs and the mechanism by which HQD inhibits hepatic fibrosis.@*METHODS@#The expression levels of lnc-C18orf26-1, miR-663a and related genes were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. HSCs were transfected with the miR-663a mimic or inhibitor and lnc-C18orf26-1 small interfering RNAs. The water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 assay was used to assess the proliferation rate of HSCs. Changes in lncRNA expression were evaluated in miR-663a-overexpressing HSCs by using microarray to identify miR-663a-regulated lncRNAs. RNA hybrid was used to predict the potential miR-663a binding sites on lncRNAs. Luciferase reporter assays further confirmed the interaction between miR-663a and the lncRNA. The expression levels of collagen α-2(I) chain (COL1A2), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins were determined using Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Lnc-C18orf26-1 was upregulated in TGF-β1-activated HSCs and competitively bound to miR-663a. Knockdown of lnc-C18orf26-1 inhibited HSC proliferation and activation, downregulated TGF-β1-stimulated α-SMA and COL1A2 expression, and inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. HQD suppressed the proliferation and activation of HSCs. HQD increased miR-663a expression and decreased lnc-C18orf26-1 expression in HSCs. Further studies showed that HQD inhibited the expression of COL1A2, α-SMA, TGF-β1, TGF-β type I receptor (TGF-βRI) and phosphorylated Smad2 (p-Smad2) in HSCs, and these effects were reversed by miR-663a inhibitor treatment.@*CONCLUSION@#Our study identified lnc-C18orf26-1 and miR-663a as promising therapeutic targets for hepatic fibrosis. HQD inhibits HSC proliferation and activation at least partially by regulating the lnc-C18orf26-1/miR-663a/TGF-β1/TGF-βRI/p-Smad2 axis.

Overview of recent advances in the classification of ependymomas in WHO CNS5 classification: Simplified approach to their integrated diagnosis

Ependymomas can arise along the entire neuraxis; however, they possess site-specific unique molecular alterations and a methylome pattern which is directly related with the prognostic outcomes. Since 2016, when the updated fourth edition of World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors of the central nervous system was published, it has been emphasized to classify ependymomas by anatomic site and molecular signatures associated genetic alterations so that classification of the disease reflects its underlying biology. In continuation, the fifth edition of the WHO classification of CNS tumors introduces major changes, including site-specific molecular profiles as the basis of classifying ependymomas. Furthermore, an integrated tier system of reporting is recommended for better clinical correlation and predicting outcomes. WHO grading can still be included in a specific tier, along with molecular markers.

Epidemiological and molecular characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant-caused pneumonia in Henan Province in 2021 / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective:To analyze and summarize the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, a variant of concern (VOC), in Henan Province in 2021 in order to provide a basis for epidemic prevention and control.Methods:According to the feedback of sequencing results from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 111 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta VOC were selected from the Henan imported and local cases in 2021. Basic patient information was obtained from the pandemic website. The differences in age, gender, vaccination history, the number of vaccine doses and different clinical types were analyzed. Moreover, the differences in RT-qPCR results of ORF1 ab gene and N gene Ct values between cases of different genders and symptoms were analyzed statistically. Sequencing results of the nucleotide and S protein mutation sites were analyzed. Results:There was no significant difference in the gender distribution of 111 cases between different age groups (χ 2=2.217, P=0.529). There was also no significant difference in clinical types between patients with different vaccination history (χ 2=12.074, P=0.209). The Ct values of most SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid-positive specimens were distributed in the lower range and the viral loads were higher. The difference in the Ct value of ORF1 ab gene between different gender groups was not statistically significant (χ 2=1.646, P=0.439), but were significantly different among asymptomatic, mild, normal, and severe cases (χ 2=13.257, P=0.039). There was no significant difference in N gene Ct value among cases of different genders or different symptoms (all P>0.05). The 111 patients in this study were mainly found through close-contact screening and full-staff nucleic acid screening and accounted for 62.2% (69 cases) of the total. The sequencing length coverage was basically greater than 99% (accounting for 90.1%, 100/111); the total number of nucleotide mutation sites was mostly in the range of 46-50 (86.4%, 89/103); the total number of S protein mutation sites was mostly 12 (82.5%, 85/103). The 103 Delta mutants all contained nine mutation sites, which were T19R, R158G, L452R, T478K, D614G, P681R, D950N, E156del and F157del, with a mutation rate of 100%. Conclusions:People were highly susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 Delta in Henan Province in 2021. High viral load and increase in the ORF1 ab gene load would aggravate the clinical symptoms.

A case of mitochondrial membrane protein-associated neurodegeneration caused by C19orf12 p.Gly58Ser mutation / 中华神经科杂志

Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) is a group of rare genetic diseases of nervous system. NBIA is characterized by varying degrees of abnormal iron metabolism and excessive iron deposition in brain tissue. The most common symptoms of NBIA are extrapyramidal symptoms. NBIA can also be associated with varying degrees of dysfunction of the pyramidal tract, cerebellum, peripheral nervous system, autonomic nervous system, mental cognition and vision functions. A patient with NBIA admitted to the Department of Neurology of Xijing Hospital in December 2020 was collected and analyzed for clinical features. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was employed to gene mutation screening, and pathogenicity analysis was performed according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guideline. The patient was a 13-year-old male with a chronic course of disease that began at the age of 4. The first symptom was spastic gait. With the progress of the disease, the patient developed mental retardation, arrhythmia, coughing from drinking water and loss of vision. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed atrophy of the optic nerve and hypointensity signal in bilateral substantia nigra and globus pallidus on T 2WI, fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequency, diffusion weighted imaging and susceptibility weighted imaging without "tiger eye sign" which was commonly found in pantothenate kinase associated neurodegeneration. The homozygous mutation c.172G>A (p.Gly58Ser) was found through WES. The proband′s father and mother are cousins (inbreeding), carried heterozygous variation of this locus. This novel mutation was not reported in mutation database. According to ACMG guideline, C19orf12 gene c.172G>A (p.Gly58Ser) was identified for possible pathogenic mutations. The conservative prediction of this locus suggests high conservatism. The final diagnosis of the patient was mitochondrial membrane protein-associated neurodegeneration (MPAN,NBIA type 4). This finding enriched the known mutation database of MPAN and provided a basis for further study of the disease.

Cone-rod dystrophy associated with novel variations on CDHR1 and C2orf71 gene / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective:To observe and analyze the gene mutation and clinical phenotype of patients with cone and rod dystrophy (CORD).Methods:A pedigree investigarion. Two CORD pedigrees including 2 patients and 6 family members were enrolled in Ningxia Eye Hospital of People' Hospital of Ningxia Hui Automous Region for this study. The patients were from 2 unrelated families, all of whom were probands. Take medical history with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), color vision, slit lamp microscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus color photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), autofluorescence (AF), fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), electroretinogram (ERG). The peripheral venous blood of patients and their parents was collected, whole genome DNA was extracted, Trio whole genome exome sequencing was performed, Sanger verification and pedigree co-segregation were performed for suspected pathogenic mutation sites. According to the law of inheritance, family history was analyzed to establish its genetic type. Mutational loci pathogenicity was analyzed according to the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines and 4 online tools.Results:Two CORD families showed autosomal recessive inheritance. The proband of pedigree 1 was female, 49 years old. Binocular vision loss with photophobia lasted for 9 years and night blindness for 4 years. The BCVA of right eye and left eye were 0.03 and 0.06, respectively. The results of ERG showed that the amplitudes of dark adaptation 0.01 b-wave and dark adaptation 3.0 a-wave and b-wave in both eyes were slightly decreased, and the amplitudes of light adaptation 3.0 a-wave and b-wave were severely decreased. The proband of pedigree 2 was male, 30 years old. Vision loss in both eyes for 4 years. Denying a history of night blindness. The BCVA of right eye and left eye were 0.3 and 0.2, respectively. The results of ERG showed that the amplitudes of dark adaptation 0.01 b-wave and dark adaptation 3.0 a-wave and b-wave in both eyes were slightly decreased, and the amplitudes of light adaptation 3.0 a-wave and b-wave were severely decreased. The color of optic disc in both eyes was light red, the macular area was atrophic, the foveal reflection disappeared, and the peripheral retina was punctate pigmentation. The main fundus changes in 2 patients were macular atrophy. The proband of pedigree 1 carried compound heterozygous variations c.439-2A>G (M1) and c.676delT (p.F226fs) (M2) on CDHR1 gene. Her father and mother carried M2 and M1 heterozygous mutations, respectively. The proband of pedigree 2 carried compound heterozygous variations c.2665dupC (p.L889fs) (M3) and c.878T>C (p.L293P) (M4) on C2orf71 gene. His father and mother carried M4 and M3 heterozygous mutations, respectively. According to ACMG guidelines and on line tools, 4 variations were considered as pathogenic level. Conclusions:M1 and M2 of CDHR1 gene and M3 and M4 of C2orf71 gene are new pathogenic mutations of CORD. All patients presented with the clinical phenotype of decreased visual acuity and macular atrophy.

Exploration of IRES Elements within the ORF of the Coxsackievirus B3 Genome / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Objective@#This study aimed to identify internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) in the open reading frame (ORF) of the Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) genome.@*Methods@#The sequences of P1, P2, or P3 of the CVB3 genome or the truncated sequences from each antithymocyte globulin (ATG) to the end of the P1, P2, or P3 gene were inserted into the pEGFP-N1 vector. After transfection, possible IRES-dependent green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused proteins were detected by anti-GFP western blotting. The sequences of possible IRESs were inserted into specific Fluc/Rluc bicistronic vectors, in which the potential IRESs were determined according to the Fluc/Rluc activity ratio. Expression of Fluc and Rluc mRNA of the bicistronic vector was detected by RT-qPCR.@*Results@#After transfection of full length or truncated sequences of the P1, P2, or P3 plasmids, six GFP-fused protein bands in P1, six bands in P2 and nine bands in P3 were detected through western blotting. Two IRESs in VP2 (1461-1646 nt) and VP1 (2784-2983 nt) of P1; one IRES in 2C (4119-4564 nt) of P2; and two IRESs in 3C (5634-5834 nt) and 3D (6870-7087 nt) of P3 were identified according to Fluc/Rluc activity ratio. The cryptic promoter was also excluded by RT-qPCR.@*Conclusion@#Five IRESs are present in the CVB3 coding region.

Anemia diseritropoyética congénita tipo I: una mirada actualizada de sus bases moleculares, diagnóstico y tratamiento / Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I: an updated review about its molecular bases, diagnosis and treatment

Introducción: Las anemias diseritropoyéticas congénitas constituyen un grupo de trastornos hereditarios caracterizados por anemia refractaria, eritropoyesis ineficaz y alteraciones morfológicas de los eritroblastos. La anemia diseritropoyética congénita tipo I es la más frecuente, no obstante, constituye una rara enfermedad con particularidades morfológicas y moleculares. Objetivo: Analizar los aspectos más novedosos en cuanto a la patogenia molecular, el diagnóstico genético y el tratamiento de la anemia diseritropoyética congénita tipo I. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión de la literatura, en inglés y español. Se utilizaron motores de búsqueda como Google académico y Pubmed que permitió el acceso a artículos actualizados del tema. Se hizo un análisis y resumen de la bibliografía revisada. Análisis y síntesis de la información: La anemia diseritropoyética congénita tipo I es una enfermedad hereditaria autosómica recesiva. Se caracteriza por anemia de grado variable, reticulocitopenia, alteraciones morfológicas de la serie roja en la lámina periférica y un número elevado de eritroblastos binucleados conectados por puentes internucleares en el aspirado de médula ósea. Se han identificado múltiples alteraciones moleculares que involucran fundamentalmente a los genes CDAN1 y C15orf41. Las proteínas codificadas por estos genes participan en proceso vitales como el ciclo celular, la reparación del ADN y la transcripción de ARN. Conclusiones: El estudio de las bases moleculares de la anemia diseritropoyética congénita tipo I ha cambiado la perspectiva en el diagnóstico de esta enfermedad. Los protocolos de tratamiento son similares a otras anemias hemolíticas hereditarias aunque se destaca el uso del Interferón-α(AU)

Introduction: Congenital dyserythropoietic anemias belong to a group of hereditary disorders characterized by refractory anemia, ineffective erythropoiesis and morphological alterations of erythroblasts. Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I is the most frequent; however, it is a rare disease with morphological and molecular characteristics. Objective: To analyze the most updated aspects regarding molecular pathogenesis, genetic diagnosis and treatment of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I. Methods: A review of the literature in English and Spanish was carried out. Search engines such as Google Scholar and Pubmed were used, which allowed access to updated articles on the subject. An analysis and summary of the revised bibliography was carried out. Information analysis and synthesis: Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease. It is characterized by anemia of variable degree, reticulocytopenia, morphological alterations of the red series in the peripheral lamina, and high number of binucleated erythroblasts connected by internuclear bridges in the bone marrow aspirate. Multiple molecular alterations have been identified, mainly involving the CDAN1 and C15orf41 genes. The proteins encoded by these genes participate in vital processes, such as the cell cycle, DNA repair, and RNA transcription. Conclusions: The study of the molecular bases of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I has changed the perspective concerning the diagnosis of this disease. Treatment protocols are similar to other hereditary hemolytic anemias, although the use of Interferon-α stands out(AU)

Role of the C9ORF72 Gene in the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia / 神经科学通报·英文版

Since the discovery of the C9ORF72 gene in 2011, great advances have been achieved in its genetics and in identifying its role in disease models and pathological mechanisms; it is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). ALS patients with C9ORF72 expansion show heterogeneous symptoms. Those who are C9ORF72 expansion carriers have shorter survival after disease onset than non-C9ORF72 expansion patients. Pathological and clinical features of C9ORF72 patients have been well mimicked via several models, including induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons and transgenic mice that were embedded with bacterial artificial chromosome construct and that overexpressing dipeptide repeat proteins. The mechanisms implicated in C9ORF72 pathology include DNA damage, changes of RNA metabolism, alteration of phase separation, and impairment of nucleocytoplasmic transport, which may underlie C9ORF72 expansion-related ALS/FTD and provide insight into non-C9ORF72 expansion-related ALS, FTD, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Optimization of a fluorescent qPCR detection for RNA of SARS-CoV-2 / 生物工程学报

We optimized a fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay system for rapid and real time detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The results show that the lowest dilution of RNA samples used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA could reach 1/10 000 (the initial value is set as 10 ng/μL). Moreover, the cycle threshold (Ct) for samples of clinically diagnosed COVID-19 was lower than 35 or 40. The sensitivity of this method was satisfactory. The results were consistent with those of the COVID-19 detection kit on the market under the same conditions, but the number of cycles required was shortened by about 2. Therefore, the optimized assay developed in this study can be used in screening and early clinical diagnosis. Our work provides a tool to facilitate rapid clinical diagnosis of COVID-19.

The 40-91 aa sequence of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus ORF3 protein is the key structural domain controlling its location in cytoplasm / 生物工程学报

ORF3 protein, the single accessory protein encoded by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), is related to viral pathogenicity. In order to determine the cytoplasmic location signal of PEDV ORF3, we constructed a series of recombinant plasmids carrying full-length or truncated segments of PEDV DR13 ORF3 protein. When the acquired plasmids were transfected into Vero cells, expression and distribution of the EGFP-fused full-length ORF3 protein and its truncated forms in the cells were observed by laser confocal microscopy. The results showed that ORF3 protein or their truncated forms containing 40-91 aa segment including two transmembrane domains were localized in the cytoplasm, whereas ORF3 truncated peptides without the 40-91 aa segment were distributed in the whole cell (in both cytoplasm and nucleus). This suggests that the 40-91 aa is the key structural domain determining cytoplasmic location of PEDV ORF3 protein. The discovery provides reference for further clarifying intracellular transport and biological function of PEDV ORF3 protein.

Role of the C9ORF72 Gene in the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia / 神经科学通报·英文版

Since the discovery of the C9ORF72 gene in 2011, great advances have been achieved in its genetics and in identifying its role in disease models and pathological mechanisms; it is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). ALS patients with C9ORF72 expansion show heterogeneous symptoms. Those who are C9ORF72 expansion carriers have shorter survival after disease onset than non-C9ORF72 expansion patients. Pathological and clinical features of C9ORF72 patients have been well mimicked via several models, including induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons and transgenic mice that were embedded with bacterial artificial chromosome construct and that overexpressing dipeptide repeat proteins. The mechanisms implicated in C9ORF72 pathology include DNA damage, changes of RNA metabolism, alteration of phase separation, and impairment of nucleocytoplasmic transport, which may underlie C9ORF72 expansion-related ALS/FTD and provide insight into non-C9ORF72 expansion-related ALS, FTD, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Poly-PR in C9ORF72-Related Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Frontotemporal Dementia Causes Neurotoxicity by Clathrin-Dependent Endocytosis / 神经科学通报·英文版

GGGGCC repeat expansions in the C9ORF72 gene are the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (c9ALS/FTD). It has been reported that hexanucleotide repeat expansions in C9ORF72 produce five dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins by an unconventional repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation. Within the five DPR proteins, poly-PR and poly-GR that contain arginine are more toxic than the other DPRs (poly-GA, poly-GP, and poly-PA). Here, we demonstrated that poly-PR peptides transferred into cells by endocytosis in a clathrin-dependent manner, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell death. In SH-SY5Y cells and primary cortical neurons, poly-PR activated JUN amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and increased the levels of p53 and Bax. The uptake of poly-PR peptides by cells was significantly inhibited by knockdown of clathrin or by chlorpromazine, an inhibitor that blocks clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Inhibition of clathrin-dependent endocytosis by chlorpromazine significantly blocked the transfer of poly-PR peptides into cells, and attenuated poly-PR-induced JNK activation and cell death. Our data revealed that the uptake of poly-PR undergoes clathrin-dependent endocytosis and blockade of this process prevents the toxic effects of synthetic poly-PR peptides.

Combination of mass spectrometry and GST pull-down techniques to study potential interacting protein of PCV2 ORF4 / 生物工程学报

A novel protein encoded by the open reading frame 4 (ORF4) was recently discovered in porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). However, little is known about the interaction proteins of ORF4 which hindered better understanding the biological functions of ORF4 in the life cycle of PCV2. In the present study, the ORF4 was inserted into the multiple cloning site of pCMV-N-Flag-GST, yielding recombinant plasmid pCMV-N-Flag-GST-ORF4. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into 293T cells and the intracellular interaction complex of ORF4 were enriched and separated by GST pull-down and SDS-PAGE, sequentially. The potential interacting proteins of PCV2 ORF4 were stained with silver and identified by mass spectrometry (MS). Finally, five candidate ORF4-interacting proteins, including Serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 6 catalytic subunit, alpha cardiac muscle 1, actin, SEC14-like protein 5 and myosin 9 were identified. These results would benefit a better understanding of the biological function of ORF4 in PCV2 infected cells.

Orf virus ORF047 gene eukaryotic expression and cell localization / 中国人兽共患病学报

The object of study was to clone the gene of ORFV ORF047 and study the eukaryotic expression and cell localization,making the theoretical basis for the subsequest screening of protein that interact with ORF047.ORF047 gene was amplificated by the specifical primer from the DNA of ORFV using PCR,the length was 735 bp,compared with L1 published in NC-005336.1,the homologies of the nucleotide acid sequence and amino acid sequence were 98.8％ and 98.8％.In order to defined the expression and location of the ORF047 gene in cell,the recombinant plasmid pEGFP-ORF047 was constructed and transfected into 293T cell,after 36 h,the green fluorescence could be observed under fluorescence microscope,and 54 kD protein was detected by western bloting.The plasmid of pHcRed1-Nuc,pHcRed1-Mito and pHcRed1-ER with the recombinant plasmid of pEGFP-ORF047 was cotransfected to veroE6 cell respectively,that fusion protein of ORF047 was mainly located in the cytoplasm,a small amount in the mitochondriabyconfocal microscopy analysis.

Regulation of c1orf109 gene by transcription factor MAZ in vitro / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To study the regulation of human chromosome 1 open reading frame 109(c1orf109)gene by transcription factor Myc-associated zinc-finger protein(MAZ)in vitro.METHODS:In vitro study,electrophoretic mobili-ty shift assay was performed to screen the binding sites of MAZ in the promoter region of c1orf109 gene.The HeLa cells were co-transfected with the enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter vector driven by c1orf109 promoter,and MAZ and transcription factor specificity protein 1(Sp1)expression plasmids.After 24 h,the transcriptional expression of c1orf109 gene in the co-transfected cells was determined by confocal scanning microscopy and flow cytometry.RESULTS:The c1orf109 promoter could bind to MAZ ,and shared the binding sites with Sp 1.MAZ and Sp1 both inhibited the transcrip-tional expression of c1orf109 gene and the inhibition effect of Sp1 was greater than MAZ(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Both MAZ and Sp1 regulate the expression of c1orf109 gene in physiological and pathological conditions ,and this regulation is redundancy with the same direction.The existence of redundancy transcriptional regulation manner of this gene suggests that precise regulation of c1orf109 gene is vital important for cell biological processing.

Construction of recombinant PRRSV ORF5 gene by DNA shuffling technique / 生物工程学报

Recombinant PRRSV △2ORF5 gene was constructed using DNA shuffling from four genetically different strains of PRRSV to study its heterologous cross-neutralizing ability. The △2ORF5 mutant gene was cloned into the vector pET-32a and transferred into E. coli BL21. SDS-PAGE confirmed that the molecular weight of the recombinant △2ORF5 was about 42 kDa, consistent with the predicted result. Then the purified recombinant protein was injected into BALB/c mouse to obtain polyclonal antibody. Western blotting analysis with mouse-anti-△2ORF5 polyclonal serum indicated that the parental virus recombinant GP5 protein reacted with the specific antibodies. Four parental viruses could be inhibited by the anti-△2ORF5 polyclonal antibody and the inhibition rates were higher than 53%. This work has laid a foundation for further development vaccine for PRRSV.

Impact of otrA expression on morphological differentiation, actinorhodin production, and resistance to aminoglycosides in Streptomyces coelicolor M145 / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

otrA resembles elongation factor G (EF-G) and is considered to be an oxytetracycline (OTC)-resistance determinant in Streptomyces rimosus. In order to determine whether otrA also conferred resistance to OTC and other aminoglycosides to Streptomyces coelicolor, the otrA gene from S. rimosus M527 was cloned under the control of the strong ermE* promoter. The resulting plasmid, pIB139-otrA, was introduced into S. coelicolor M145 by intergeneric conjugation, yielding the recombinant strain S. coelicolor M145-OA. As expected S. coelicolor M145-OA exhibited higher resistance levels specifically to OTC and aminoglycosides gentamycin, hygromycin, streptomycin, and spectinomycin. However, unexpectedly, S. coelicolor M145-OA on solid medium showed an accelerated aerial mycelia formation, a precocious sporulation, and an enhanced actinorhodin (Act) production. Upon growth in 5-L fermentor, the amount of intra- and extracellular Act production was 6-fold and 2-fold higher, respectively, than that of the original strain. Consistently, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that the transcriptional level of pathway-specific regulatory gene actII-orf4 was significantly enhanced in S. coelicolor M145-OA compared with in S. coelicolor M145.