Protective immunity induced by a DNA vaccine cocktail expressing TgSAG1, TgROP2, and the genetic adjuvant HBsAg against Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular obligate parasitic protozoon that can infect all warm-blooded animals, causing zoonotic toxoplasmosis. So far, there is no commercial toxoplasmosis vaccine for human use. In the present study, we constructed a DNA vaccine cocktail which includes the surface protein (SAG1) and the rhoptry protein ROP2 denoted as pEGFP-N1-SAG1-ROP2. In order to improve the efficacy, HBsAg was used as a genetic adjuvant to construct pEGFP-N1-HBsAg-SAG1-ROP2. Two eukaryotic plasmids were transiently transfected into HEK293T cells and the expression was examined using fluorescence microscopy and western blotting. We then immunized Kunming mice intramuscularly with the DNA vaccine. After three immunizations, the immune response was evaluated by measuring antibody levels, cytokine production, percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and the survival times of the T. gondii RH strain challenged mice. The results showed that the two DNA vaccines stimulated Th1 responses, and had a higher antibody titer, IL-2, IL-12, and IFN-γ levels, and percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes than the control group. In addition, mice immunized with the pEGFP-N1-HBsAg-SAG1-ROP2 vaccine showed increased survival times compared with pEGFP-N1-SAG1-ROP2.

Protective immune response against Toxoplasma gondii elicited by a novel yeast-based vaccine with microneme protein 16.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that can invade all eukaryotic cells and infect all warm-blood animals, causing the important zoonosis toxoplasmosis. Invasion of host cells is the key step necessary for T. gondii to complete its life cycle and microneme proteins play an important role in attachment and invasion of host cells. Microneme protein 16 (TgMIC16) is a new protective protein in T. gondii and belongs to transmembrane microneme proteins (TM-MIC). The TM-MICs are released onto the parasite's surface as complexes capable of interacting with host cell receptors. In the present study, we expressed the TgMIC16 protein on the surface of Saccharomyce cerevisiae (pCTCON2-TgMIC16/EBY100) and evaluated it as a potential vaccine for BALB/c mice against challenge infection with the RH strain of T. gondii. We immunized BALB/c mice both orally and intraperitoneally. After three immunizations, the immune response was evaluated by measuring antibody levels, lymphocyte proliferative responses, percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, cytokine production, and the survival times of challenged mice. The results showed that the pCTCON2-TgMIC16/EBY100 vaccine stimulated humoral and cellular immune responses. In addition, mice immunized with the pCTCON2-TgMIC16/EBY100 vaccine showed increased survival times compared with non-immunized controls. In summary, TgMIC16 displayed on the cell surface of S. cerevisiae could be used as potential vaccine against toxoplasmosis.

Design of a sorbent to enhance reactive adsorption of hydrogen sulfide.

A series of novel zinc oxide-silica composites with three-dimensionally ordered macropores (3DOM) structure were synthesized via colloidal crystal template method and used as sorbents for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) removal at room temperature for the first time. The performances of the prepared sorbents were evaluated by dynamic breakthrough testing. The materials were characterized before and after adsorption using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the composite with 3DOM structure exhibited remarkable desulfurization performance at room temperature and the enhancement of reactive adsorption of hydrogen sulfide was attributed to the unique structure features of 3DOM composites; high surface areas, nanocrystalline ZnO and the well-ordered interconnected macroporous with abundant mesopores. The introduction of silica could be conducive to support the 3DOM structure and the high dispersion of zinc oxide. Moisture in the H2S stream plays a crucial role in the removal process. The effects of Zn/Si ratio and the calcination temperature of 3DOM composites on H2S removal were studied. It demonstrated that the highest content of ZnO could reach up to 73 wt % and the optimum calcination temperature was 500 °C. The multiple adsorption/regeneration cycles showed that the 3DOM ZnO-SiO2 sorbent is stable and the sulfur capacity can still reach 67.4% of that of the fresh sorbent at the fifth cycle. These results indicate that 3DOM ZnO-SiO2 composites will be a promising sorbent for H2S removal at room temperature.

[Three-dimensional construction of the relation between the anterior branches of lumbar nerves 4, 5, lumbosacral trunk and sacroiliac joint].

OBJECTIVE: To construct a three-dimensional model to demonstrate the relation between the anterior branches of lumbosacral 4,5, lumbosacral trunk, and the pelvis. METHODS: An formaldehyde-fixed adult cadaver was dissected to expose the anterior branches of the lumbar nerves 4 and 5, lumbosacral trunk and the sacroiliac. The mixture of titanium powder and adhesive was smeared on the surface of the major branches of L4 and L5 nerves, lumbosacral trunk, femoral nerves and obturator nerves. As soon as the mixture solidified, the specimen was scanned by spiral CT at 3 mm intervals to obtain 159 two-dimensional sectional images for three-dimensional model reconstruction on a personal computer using the software 3-D DOCTOR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The reconstructed model can well demonstrate the spatial relation between the nerves and the pelvis, and allows rotation in every direction, which at the same time can be conveniently applied for purpose of clinical teaching.

[Clinical applications of the postfemur island flap pedicled with the postfemur neurocutaneous nutrient vessel].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application of the island flap based on the postfemur neurocutaneous nutrient vessel. METHODS: The flap was designed and applied to repair the defects in the gluteal, popliteal fossa or the bilateral postfemur areas. A total of 11 cases (12 defects) were treated with this method. The size of the defects ranged from 4.0 cm x 7.8 cm to 8.3 cm x 16.6 cm. RESULTS: Of the 12 defects, 9 achieved complete success. Epidermal necrosis occurred in the distal part of the flap in 3 defects owing to venous stasis, which were cured with skin grafting. Postoperative follow-up for 8-19 months showed that the appearance, texture, and function of the flap were satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of the flap lie in the reliable blood supply, constant anatomy, and without sacrificing a major artery. The key points for the flap survival are utilizing the "Superficial vein-nutrient vessel of the cutaneous nerve system" and retaining a comet tail-shaped soft-tissue pedicle in the flap creation.

Construction of dataset for Virtual Chinese Male No.1.

OBJECTIVE: To establish digitized Virtual Chinese Human Male No.1 (VCH-M1) image dataset with a 0.2-mm equal interval. METHODS: The body of a 24-year-old male was used for this study. Perfusion with phenol and vermilion of the arteries was performed, followed by body shape adjustment by cold saline and pre-embedding with broken ices in an upside-down position, which was completed in a stepwise procedure to minimize body shape deformation. Section milling was conducted subsequently with the section thickness of 2 mm and the section images were captured by digital camera, which were immediately transferred to a computer for storage and processing. RESULTS: A total of 9 232 sections were obtained for the whole body, and the resolution of each of the image in TIF format was 3 024x2 016 pixels, resulting in the size of approximately 18 M for each image and about 161 G for the whole dataset. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with VCH-F1, the image quality in VCH-M1 dataset is significantly improved, demonstrated by much clearer tissue boundary in the images and minimized body shape deformation during the embedding process.