1.Application of a real-time PCR method for detecting and monitoring hookworm Necator americanus infections in Southern China
Jiaxu WANG ; Cangsang PAN ; Liwang CUI
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2012;(12):925-929
Objective: To develop a quantitative PCR method for detecting hookworm infection and quantification. Methods:A real-time PCR method was designed based on the intergenic region II of ribosomal DNA of the hookworm Necator americanus. The detection limit of this method was compared with the microscopy-based Kato-Katz method. The real-time PCR method was used to conduct an epidemiological survey of hookworm infection in southern Fujian Province of China. Results:The real-time PCR method was specific for detecting Necator americanus infection, and was more sensitive than conventional PCR or microscopy-based method. A preliminary survey for hookworm infection in villages of Fujian Province confirmed the high prevalence of hookworm infections in the resident populations. In addition, the infection rate in women was significantly higher than that of in men. Conclusions: A real-time PCR method is designed, which has increased detection sensitivity for more accurate epidemiological studies of hookworm infections, especially when intensity of the infection needs to be considered.
2.Transformation of enhanced green fluorescent protein gene in Paecilomyces lilacinus mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Jieping WANG ; Jiaxu WANG ; Fan LIU ; Cangsang PAN
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2010;26(5):630-634
The main aim of this study was to transform the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (egfp) into biocontrol fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 9410. We constructed the expression vector pUPNGT of the fusion gene nptII-egfp using pcDNA3.1(-) as a helper plasmid. The egfp gene was then transformed into P. lilacinus strain 9410 via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. PCR and Southern blotting analysis showed that the egfp gene was integrated into the genomes of the tested transformants and the integration manner was single-copy. The transformants could generate green fluorescence when they were excited by 488 nm blue laser. These results indicated that the egfp gene had been successfully transformed into P. lilacinus 9410 and expressed in the tested transformants. Our work may provide a new approach to assess environmental safety and practical biocontrol efficacy ofP. lilacinus under different conditions.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
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genetics
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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genetics
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Paecilomyces
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genetics
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metabolism
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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methods
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Transformation, Genetic
3.NF-κB signaling pathway in psoriasis
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2019;52(5):361-363
Nuclear factor (NF)-κB,a kind of protein transcription factor,mediates inflammation and other complex biological processes,and is a key regulator of many immune and inflammatory pathways,cell proliferation,differentiation and apoptosis.Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by increased levels of phosphorylated NF-κB,which leads to an increase in anti-apoptotic activity of keratinocytes and aggravation of inflammatory reactions.This review summarizes advances in NF-κB signaling pathway and its role in psoriasis.
4.An insight into the mechanism of iron overload in knee osteoarthritis under the theory of blood stasis
Jiaxu ZENG ; Qi HE ; Bohao CHEN ; Miao LI ; Shaocong LI ; Junzheng YANG ; Zhaofeng PAN ; Haibin WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(11):1743-1748
BACKGROUND:Knee osteoarthritis is a common disease in middle-aged and elderly people.It is a kind of disease that seriously affects the quality of life of patients and even has the risk of disability.Therefore,the pathogenesis and treatment of knee osteoarthritis have become the focus of research.In Chinese medicine,knee osteoarthritis is often treated as"biness,"which is closely related to"biness"caused by blood stasis and blood vessels blocking collaterals in the theory of"blood stasis"in traditional Chinese medicine.Iron overload is a kind of pathological state caused by iron metabolism disorder,which highly coincides with the pathogenic characteristics and clinical manifestations of the"blood stasis"theory of traditional Chinese medicine,and is a risk factor that promotes the development of knee osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE:Based on the"blood stasis"theory,to summarize the effects of iron overload on cartilage metabolism and subchondral bone reconstruction,to lay a new theoretical foundation for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with traditional Chinese medicine,and to explore the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation after interfering with bone tissue. METHODS:CNKI,WanFang database,PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant literature.The Chinese search terms were"ferroptosis,iron,iron overload,osteoarthritis,blood stasis"and the English search terms were"ferroptosis,iron,iron overload,osteoarthritis,TCM."In the end,76 articles were included for further review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:First of all,we explored the potential of the"blood stasis"theory in treating knee osteoarthritis,and found that"blood stasis"is a crucial part in the progress of knee osteoarthritis,indicating that the"blood stasis"theory is the key to the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in traditional Chinese medicine.Secondly,"blood stasis"and iron overload have a high degree of similarity in pathogenic factors,clinical manifestations,and pathogenic characteristics,suggesting the possibility of"blood stasis"theory in treating iron overload.This finding reminds us that iron overload may be an important mechanistic basis for the"blood stasis"theory in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.The extracts of blood-activating drugs can relieve iron overload and treat knee osteoarthritis,but the specific mechanism is still unclear.Therefore,we believe that the relationship between"blood stasis"theory and iron overload and related mechanisms are important research directions for knee osteoarthritis in the future.The related mechanism of"blood stasis"theory to alleviate iron overload and then treat knee osteoarthritis also provides a theoretical basis for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine,such as the development of new drugs and innovative usage,and has certain guiding significance for clinical practice.