In order to investigate biological functions of the 14-3-3 genes and their response to abiotic stress, two cDNAs (designated as Ta14R1 and Ta14R2) encoding putative 14-3-3 proteins were isolated from wheat by PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) technique. The cDNA of Ta14R1 is 999bp and encodes a protein of 262 amino acids, while the cDNA of Ta14R2 is 897bp in length and encodes a protein of 261 amino acids. Transient expression assays using Ta14R1/Ta14R2-GFP fusion constructs indicated that Ta14R1 and Ta14R2 were located in cytoplasm and cell membrane but not in chloroplasts. Real-time quantitative (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that Ta14R1 and Ta14R2 were differentially expressed in wheat tissues and significantly up-regulated in roots and shoots 1d after germination, indicating they may play a role in process of seed germination. The expression of the two genes in roots and leaves were significantly induced by plant hormone ABA, as well as heat, cold and drought treatments, suggesting that the two 14-3-3 genes in wheat may be involved in ABA dependent stress-responding pathway and response to heat, cold and drought stress.
14-3-3 Proteins ; genetics ; Abscisic Acid ; pharmacology ; DNA, Complementary ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Germination ; Plant Leaves ; genetics ; physiology ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Temperature ; Triticum ; genetics ; physiology

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a deadly malignancy with regard to mortality and prognosis, and the 5-year survival rate for all patients diagnosed with ESCC remains poor. A better understanding of the biological mechanisms of ESCC tumorigenesis and progression is of great importance to improve treatment of this disease. In this study, we demonstrated that the glutathione metabolism pathway is highly enriched in ESCC cells compared with normal esophageal epithelial cells in an in vivo mouse model. In addition, treatment with L-buthionine-sulfoximine (BSO) to deplete glutathione decreased the ESCC tumor burden in mice, thus demonstrating the critical role of glutathione metabolism in ESCC progression. BSO treatment also led to decreased cell proliferation and activation of cell apoptosis in ESCC. Finally, BSO treatment blocked NF-κB pathway activation in ESCC. Our study reveals a new pathway that regulates ESCC progression and suggests that inhibition of glutathione metabolism may be a potential strategy for ESCC treatment.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial Cells ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Metabolism* ; Mice ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden

Objective To study the biological characteristics and epidemiological significance of Yersinia pestis in Chengduo County of Qinghai Province,in order to provide scientific basis for plague prevention and control in this area.Methods Thirty one strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from Chengduo County of Qinghai Province from 1980 to 2011 were selected as study subjects.Biochemical test,virulence factors evaluation [Fra1 (F1),pesticin Ⅱ (Pst Ⅱ),virulence antigen (VW),pigmentation (Pgm)] and different region (DFR) genotyping were carried out.Nineteen of the 31 strains Yersinia pestis were selected according to different time,different areas and different hosts to determine their toxicity in mice,MLD ≤ 10 000 was strong toxic strain,10 000 ＜ MLD ＜ 100 000 was moderate toxic strain.Results Among thirty one strains of Yersinia pestis,23 strains were isolated from human,the Himalaya marmot and its fleas and lice,and their biological type was classical,biochemical type was Qinghai-Tibet plateau;21 strains genotype was type 5,1 was type 16,1 was type 32,and they contained all four kinds of virulence factors (F1,Pgm,Pst Ⅱ,VW),and toxicity test showed all strains (14) were strong toxic strains.The rest 8 strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from the Microtus fuscus and its fleas,and their biological type was Microtus,biochemical type was Chuanqing plateau;they could produce F1 and Pgm,of which 87.5％ (7/8) strains could produce Pst Ⅱ,but could not produce VW antigen factor,the genotype was 14,and the toxicity results showed that they were strong (3)and moderate (2) toxic strains.Conclusion The strains separated in Chengduo County of Qinghai Province from 1980 to 2011 have the pathogen characteristics of Qinghai-Tibet plateau plague,they are mainly strong toxic strains;the work on prevention and control of plague should not be neglected.

Objective In order to acquaint with the prevalence of Tibetan sheep plague in this area, we conducted a serum epidemiological investigation of Tibetan sheep plague in Qinghai Province. Methods Indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) and colloidal gold immunochromatography (GICA) were applied to test serum samples of Tibetan sheep and whole blood samples from jugular vein of Tibetan sheep were collected in 8 Prefectures of Qinghai Province from 2013 to 2016. Results A total of 86 positive Tibetan sheep serum samples with plague F1 antibody were detected by both methods, and the positive rate was 0.68％ (86/12710), the samples collected in Xinghai County Hainan Prefecture had the highest positive rate, which was 5.20％ (27/519). The Haixi Prefecture and Yushu Prefecture were historical epidemic areas, the positive rates were 0.65％(15/2313) and 0.26％(6/2293), respectively. Hainan Prefecture, Guoluo Prefacture and Huangnan Prefecture were newly confirmed epidemic areas, the positive rates were 1.61％ (28/1741), 1.01％ (15/1481), and 1.44％(19/1316), respectively. The antibody titers were 1:20 to 1:5120, the samples collected in Maqin County Guoluo Prefecture had the highest titer, namely 1 :5120. Conclusions In Qinghai Province, Tibetan sheep plague is endemic, and there are outbreaks in some regions. So we have to enhance the Tibetan sheep plague monitoring especially in Marmot plague epidemic area.

OBJECTIVETo identify the epidemiology and etiology characteristics of Tibetan sheep plague in Qinghai plateau.

METHODSThe background materials of Qinghai Tibetan sheep plague found during 1975 to 2009 were summarized, the regional, time and interpersonal distribution, infection routes, ecological factors for the spread were used to analyze; followed by choosing 14 Yersinia pestis strains isolated from such sheep for biochemical test, toxicity test, virulence factors identification, plasmid analysis, and DFR genotype.

RESULTSFrom 1975 to 2009, 14 Yersinia pestis strains were isolated from Tibetan sheep in Qinghai province. Tibetan sheep, as the infection source, had caused 10 cases of human plague, 25 plague patients, and 13 cases of death. All of the initial cases were infected due to eating Tibetan sheep died of plague; followed by cases due to contact of plague patients, while all the initial cases were bubonic plague. Cases of bubonic plague developed into secondary pneumonic plague and septicemia plague were most popular and with high mortality. Most of the Tibetan sheep plague and human plague occurred in Gannan ecological zone in southern Gansu province, which was closely related to its unique ecological and geographical landscape. Tibetan sheep plague coincided with human plague caused by Tibetan sheep, especially noteworthy was that November (a time for marmots to start their dormancy) witnesses the number of Yersinia pestis strains isolated from Tibetan sheep and human plague cases caused by Tibetan sheep. This constituted the underlying cause that the epidemic time of Tibetan sheep plague lags obviously behind that of the Marmot plague. It was confirmed in the study that all the 14 strains were of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecotype, with virulence factors evaluation and toxicity test demonstrating strains as velogenic. As found in the (Different Region) DFR genotyping, the strains isolated from Yushu county and Zhiduo county were genomovar 5, the two strain isolated from Nangqian county were genomovar 5 and genomovar 7, while those isolated Delingha region were genomovar 8.

CONCLUSIONTibetan sheep were vulnerable to plague infection, hence causing human plague as the infectious source. The Yersinia pestis strains isolated from Tibetan sheep plague carried pathogen characteristics of Qinghai-Tibet plateau plague, developing many new characteristics of such plague.

Animals ; Ecology ; Genotype ; Geography ; Humans ; Marmota ; Plague ; epidemiology ; veterinary ; Plasmids ; Sheep ; microbiology ; Tibet ; epidemiology ; Yersinia pestis

OBJECTIVETo analyze the plasmid features and geographical distribution characteristics of Yersinia pestis of different plague foci in China.

METHODSA total of 2 213 Yersinia pestis strains were colected from 11 Chinese plague foci separated during 1943 to 2012, and plasmid DNA according to alkali cracking method, and measured the relative molecular mass (Mr) of plasmid DNA based on the standard plasmid contrast method, then analyzed the plasmid profiles by agar gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSA total of 2 213 strains had 16 kinds of plasmids with different Mr, including 4×10(6), 6×10(6), 7×10(6), 13×10(6), 16×10(6), 20×10(6), 22×10(6), 23×10(6), 27×10(6), 30×10(6), 36×10(6), 45×10(6), 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 72×10(6) and 90×10(6). Plasmid were classified into 26 kinds of plasmid profiles. A total of 2 213 Yersinia pestis strains contained 4 large plasmids, 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 72×10(6) and 90×10(6), whose ratio was 22.10% (589/2 213), 75.60% (1 672/2 213), 0.17% (4/2 213), 2.12% (47/2 213), respectively. Among which, strains with plasmid 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 90×10(6) distributed in Qinghai-Tibet plateau Himalayan Marmot natural plague foci, strains with 72×10(6) plasmid only distributed in Inner Mongolia Meriones unguiculatus natural plague foci and Junggar Basin R. opimus natural plague foci, and 65×10(6) plasmid distributed in all the other foci.

CONCLUSIONStrains in Chinese 11 plague foci contained 4 kinds of large plasmid, the Mr respectively were 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 72×10(6), 90×10(6), which were classified into 26 kinds of plasmid profiles with other plasmid. These plasmid profiles distributed in relatively independent epidemic focus.

Animals ; China ; Genotype ; Plague ; Plasmids ; Yersinia pestis