An animal model of SARS produced by infection of Macaca mulatta with SARS coronavirus.

A new SARS animal model was established by inoculating SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) into rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) through the nasal cavity. Pathological pulmonary changes were successively detected on days 5-60 after virus inoculation. All eight animals showed a transient fever 2-3 days after inoculation. Immunological, molecular biological, and pathological studies support the establishment of this SARS animal model. Firstly, SARS-CoV-specific IgGs were detected in the sera of macaques from 11 to 60 days after inoculation. Secondly, SARS-CoV RNA could be detected in pharyngeal swab samples using nested RT-PCR in all infected animals from 5 days after virus inoculation. Finally, histopathological changes of interstitial pneumonia were found in the lungs during the 60 days after viral inoculation: these changes were less marked at later time points, indicating that an active healing process together with resolution of an acute inflammatory response was taking place in these animals. This animal model should provide insight into the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-related pulmonary disease and greatly facilitate the development of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS

Nm23-H1 suppresses hepatocarcinoma cell adhesion and migration on fibronectin by modulating glycosylation of integrin beta1

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nm23 gene was isolated as a metastatic suppressor gene. The antimetastatic effect of Nm23 has been an enigma for more than 10 years. Little is known about its molecular mechanisms. In this study we overexpressed Nm23-H1 in H7721 cells and observed reduction of cell adhesion, migration and extension of actin stress fibers in cells stimulated by fibronectin (Fn).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>pcDNA3/Nm23-H1 was introduced into H7721 cells, and expression of Nm23-H1 was monitored by RT-PCR and western blot. Cell adhesion, actin extension and wound-induced migration assays were done on dishes coated with fibronectin. Phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and total amount of integrin alpha5 and beta1 in Nm23-H1 transfected cells and control cells were measured by western blot. Flow cytometry was used to detect expression of surface alpha5 and beta1 integrin. N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin was used to deglycosylate the integrin beta1 subunit.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overexpression of <it>nm23-H1 </it>in H7721 cells reduced cell adhesion, migration and extension of actin stress fibers on dishes coated with Fn. Phosphorylation of FAK in Nm23-H1 transfected cells was also attenuated. Integrin alpha5 and beta1 gene messages were unaltered in <it>nm23-H1 </it>overexpressed cells as detected by RT-PCR. However, while cell surface integrin alpha5 was unchanged, surface expression of beta1 integrin was downregulated. Western blot also showed that the total amounts of integrin alpha5 and beta1 were unaltered, but the level of mature integrin beta1 isoform was decreased significantly. Furthermore, partially glycosylated precursor beta1 was increased, which indicated that the impaired glycosylation of integrin beta1 precursor might contribute to the loss of cell surface integrin beta1 in <it>nm23-H1 </it>overexpressed cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that by modulating glycosylation of integrin beta1, <it>nm23-H1 </it>down-regulates integrin beta1 subunit on cell surface and mediates intracellular signaling and subsequent suppression of the invasive process, including cell adhesion and migration.</p

Coordinated and Distinct Functions of Velvet Proteins in \u3ci\u3eFusarium verticillioides\u3c/i\u3e

Velvet-domain-containing proteins are broadly distributed within the fungal kingdom. In the corn pathogen Fusarium verticillioides, previous studies showed that the velvet protein F. verticillioides VE1 (FvVE1) is critical for morphological development, colony hydrophobicity, toxin production, and pathogenicity. In this study, tandem affinity purification of FvVE1 revealed that FvVE1 can form a complex with the velvet proteins F. verticillioides VelB (FvVelB) and FvVelC. Phenotypic characterization of gene knockout mutants showed that, as in the case of FvVE1, FvVelB regulated conidial size, hyphal hydrophobicity, fumonisin production, and oxidant resistance, while FvVelC was dispensable for these biological processes. Comparative transcriptional analysis of eight genes involved in the ROS (reactive oxygen species) removal system revealed that both FvVE1 and FvVelB positively regulated the transcription of a catalase-encoding gene, F. verticillioides CAT2 (FvCAT2). Deletion of FvCAT2 resulted in reduced oxidant resistance, providing further explanation of the regulation of oxidant resistance by velvet proteins in the fungal kingdom. Includes supplemental material

Coordinated and Distinct Functions of Velvet Proteins in \u3ci\u3eFusarium verticillioides\u3c/i\u3e

Velvet-domain-containing proteins are broadly distributed within the fungal kingdom. In the corn pathogen Fusarium verticillioides, previous studies showed that the velvet protein F. verticillioides VE1 (FvVE1) is critical for morphological development, colony hydrophobicity, toxin production, and pathogenicity. In this study, tandem affinity purification of FvVE1 revealed that FvVE1 can form a complex with the velvet proteins F. verticillioides VelB (FvVelB) and FvVelC. Phenotypic characterization of gene knockout mutants showed that, as in the case of FvVE1, FvVelB regulated conidial size, hyphal hydrophobicity, fumonisin production, and oxidant resistance, while FvVelC was dispensable for these biological processes. Comparative transcriptional analysis of eight genes involved in the ROS (reactive oxygen species) removal system revealed that both FvVE1 and FvVelB positively regulated the transcription of a catalase-encoding gene, F. verticillioides CAT2 (FvCAT2). Deletion of FvCAT2 resulted in reduced oxidant resistance, providing further explanation of the regulation of oxidant resistance by velvet proteins in the fungal kingdom. Includes supplemental material

Coordinated and Distinct Functions of Velvet Proteins in \u3ci\u3eFusarium verticillioides\u3c/i\u3e

Velvet-domain-containing proteins are broadly distributed within the fungal kingdom. In the corn pathogen Fusarium verticillioides, previous studies showed that the velvet protein F. verticillioides VE1 (FvVE1) is critical for morphological development, colony hydrophobicity, toxin production, and pathogenicity. In this study, tandem affinity purification of FvVE1 revealed that FvVE1 can form a complex with the velvet proteins F. verticillioides VelB (FvVelB) and FvVelC. Phenotypic characterization of gene knockout mutants showed that, as in the case of FvVE1, FvVelB regulated conidial size, hyphal hydrophobicity, fumonisin production, and oxidant resistance, while FvVelC was dispensable for these biological processes. Comparative transcriptional analysis of eight genes involved in the ROS (reactive oxygen species) removal system revealed that both FvVE1 and FvVelB positively regulated the transcription of a catalase-encoding gene, F. verticillioides CAT2 (FvCAT2). Deletion of FvCAT2 resulted in reduced oxidant resistance, providing further explanation of the regulation of oxidant resistance by velvet proteins in the fungal kingdom. Includes supplemental material

Safety climate and employee health among blue collar workers in Hong Kong and China : age and gender differences

The present study administers a Chinese version of the Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) to blue collar Chinese workers in Hong Kong (N=120, 44 males, 66 females) and China (N=313, 83 males, 223 females); it examines relations among safety climate (safety attitudes and communication), work stress (job strains) and safety performance (accident rates and occupational injuries). The study also aims at comparing safety climate and safety performance between older and younger workers, and between male and female workers. The results show that the Chinese SAQ is a moderately reliable instrument; some safety attitude scales are related to accident rates for both samples. Further, job strains (perceived work stress, psychological distress and job dissatisfaction) are related to accident rates or injuries With respect to age and gender differences, there are age differences in some safety attitude scales for the China sample but not the Hong Kong sample, with older workers exhibit more positive attitudes towards safety. However, there is no age difference in communication, accident rates or injuries for both samples. The results also show that there are some gender differences in safety attitude scales for both samples, with females reported more positive attitudes towards safety. However, there is no gender difference in communication, accident rates, or injuries for both samples. The implications of these results are discussed in the paper

Heart Rate Variability Analysis in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Background. Very few studies investigate the role of the autonomic nervous system in allergic rhinitis. In this study, we evaluated the autonomic nervous system in allergic rhinitis patients using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. Methods. Eleven patients with allergic rhinitis and 13 healthy controls, aged between 19 and 40 years old, were enrolled in the study. Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was based on clinical history, symptoms, and positive Phadiatop test. Electrocardiographic recordings on the sitting and supine positions were obtained for HRV analysis. Results. In the supine position, there were no significant statistical differences in very-low-frequency power (VLF, ≤0.04 Hz), low-frequency power (LF, 0.04–0.15 Hz), high-frequency power (HF, 0.15–0.40 Hz), and the ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF) between the patient and control groups. The mean RR intervals significantly increased, while LF% and LF/HF significantly decreased in the patient group in the sitting position. Moreover, mean RR intervals, LF, and LF/HF, which were significantly different between the two positions in the control group, did not show a significant change with the posture change in the patient group. Conclusion. These suggest that patients with allergic rhinitis may have poor sympathetic modulation in the sitting position. Autonomic dysfunction may therefore play a role in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis

Clinical Study Heart Rate Variability Analysis in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Background. Very few studies investigate the role of the autonomic nervous system in allergic rhinitis. In this study, we evaluated the autonomic nervous system in allergic rhinitis patients using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. Methods. Eleven patients with allergic rhinitis and 13 healthy controls, aged between 19 and 40 years old, were enrolled in the study. Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was based on clinical history, symptoms, and positive Phadiatop test. Electrocardiographic recordings on the sitting and supine positions were obtained for HRV analysis. Results. In the supine position, there were no significant statistical differences in verylow-frequency power (VLF, ≤0.04 Hz), low-frequency power (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz), high-frequency power (HF, 0.15-0.40 Hz), and the ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF) between the patient and control groups. The mean RR intervals significantly increased, while LF% and LF/HF significantly decreased in the patient group in the sitting position. Moreover, mean RR intervals, LF, and LF/HF, which were significantly different between the two positions in the control group, did not show a significant change with the posture change in the patient group. Conclusion. These suggest that patients with allergic rhinitis may have poor sympathetic modulation in the sitting position. Autonomic dysfunction may therefore play a role in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis

The oyster genome reveals stress adaptation and complexity of shell formation

The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas belongs to one of the most species-rich but genomically poorly explored phyla, the Mollusca. Here we report the sequencing and assembly of the oyster genome using short reads and a fosmid-pooling strategy, along with transcriptomes of development and stress response and the proteome of the shell. The oyster genome is highly polymorphic and rich in repetitive sequences, with some transposable elements still actively shaping variation. Transcriptome studies reveal an extensive set of genes responding to environmental stress. The expansion of genes coding for heat shock protein 70 and inhibitors of apoptosis is probably central to the oyster's adaptation to sessile life in the highly stressful intertidal zone. Our analyses also show that shell formation in molluscs is more complex than currently understood and involves extensive participation of cells and their exosomes. The oyster genome sequence fills a void in our understanding of the Lophotrochozoa. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved