Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a pathogenic mosquito-borne flavivirus which is responsible for outbreaks of severe viral encephalitis. The cellular entry of JEV is a prerequisite for Japanese encephalitis, so the understanding of its underlying mechanisms will provide more approaches for treating such disease. In recent years, increasing research has been conducted to investigate the mechanisms of cellular entry of JEV, and the results of research on other flavivirus have expanded the research directions for JEV. More methods will be used to suppress JEV infection because of the development of E protein antibodies and the discovery of several inhibitors of the cellular entry process. This review will summarize the recent advances in the mechanisms of JEV cellular entry and membrane fusion.
Animals ; Biomedical Research ; trends ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; genetics ; physiology ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; virology ; Humans ; Virus Internalization

Methyl parathion hydrolase (MPH, E.C.3.1.8.1) coding gene mph from Pseudomonas sp. WBC-3, isolated and identified by our lab, was successfully expressed in E. coli AD494 (DE3)/ pET32a(+) system as soluble fusion form at high level. The recombinant MPH showed nearly 4～5 fold higher specific activity to parathion than the enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. WBC-3. In addition, the thermal stability of the recombinant enzyme was improved comparing with the wild type enzyme.

Objective To demonstrate high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1(HMGBI) expression in synovium and joint,and to identify the role of HMGB1 in the pathogenesis of synovitis and joint destruction in adjuvant-induced arthritis(AA).Methods AA of 15 male rats were induced in SD rats by intradermal injection of 100?l Freud's complete adjuvant in the foot pad of the left hind paw.All rats were killed at the 18th day.Synovium and joints were collected for histopathology studies and determining the expression of HMGB1 by immunohistochemistry,and serum was collected for determining the expression of HMGB1 by western blotting analysis.Results Immunostaining of specimens from normal rats showed that HMGB1 was primarily confined to the nucleus of synoviocytes with occasional cytoplasmic staining.In contrast, inflammatory synovial tissues from AA rats showed a distinctly different HMGB1 staining pattern.Nuclear HMGBI expression was accompanied by a cytoplasmic staining in many mononuclear cells.The cytoplasmic HMGB1 expression in synovium of AA rats is significantly higher than that of normal rats.Additionally,HMGBI was highly expressed in the nuclei and cytoplasm of the subchondral chondrocytes and inflammatory cells in bone erosion in AA rats(P＜0.01),while fewer positive cytoplasmic staining of HMGB1 was found in chondrocytes and fewer positive nuclear staining was found in bone cells in normal rats.HMGB1 concentration was significantly higher in serum of AA rats than that in normal rats(P＜0.001).Conclusion The cytoplasmic HMGBI expression in synovium and joints is greatly upregulated;the level of HMGB1 in serum is increased in AA rats which suggests a patbogenetic role of HMGB1 in synovitis and bone destruction of adjuvant-induced arthritis.

AlM: To investigate the relationship between the anterior ischemic optic neuropathy ( AlON ) and the carotid artery change using doppler ultrasound.METHODS:Fifty-four cases of AlON patients and 54 cases of healthy control were observed, atherosclerotic spots were detected by the application of color ultrasound.RESULTS:ln AlON group of 54 patients, 38 cases appeared carotid atherosclerosis, accounting for 70%. The number of cases with hard plaque, soft plaque and mixed plaques were 18, 13, and 7 respectively, accounting for 33%, 24% and 13%. ln the control group, 20 cases were detected atherosclerotic change, accounting for 37%. And the number of cases with hard plaque, soft plaque and mixed plaques were 12, 5 and 3 respectively, accounting for 22%, 9%, 6%. Significant stenosis and velocity change were showed in neither AlON group nor control group. Compared with the control group, AlON group had more cases of atherosclerotic plaque, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=12. 836, P=0. 005)CONCLUSlON: The incidence of AlON is correlated with carotid atherosclerosis, and carotid ultrasonography is significantly valuable for AlON etiology and diagnosis.

Objective To determine the effects of~(99)Tc-MDP on joint inflammation and bone destruc- tion in collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)rats model and its effect on tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-?). Methods CIA was induced by immunization of male SD rats with an emulsion of collagen.~(99)Tc-MDP or placebo was intravenous infused to rats for 20 days.Joint inflammation was assessed by arthritis index.Lesions of bone were assessed based on the histological changes in ankle joints,radiographic analysis in hind paw with Larsen score.Systemic TNF-?level was measured by radioimmune assay.Results~(99)Tc-MDP suppressed joint swelling(P

The changes of kernel nutritive components and seed vigor in F1 seeds of sh2 sweet corn during seed development stage were investigated and the relationships between them were analyzed by time series regression (TSR) analysis. The results show that total soluble sugar and reducing sugar contents gradually declined, while starch and soluble protein contents increased throughout the seed development stages. Germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index gradually increased along with seed development and reached the highest levels at 38 d after pollination (DAP). The TSR showed that, during 14 to 42 DAP, total soluble sugar content was independent of the vigor parameters determined in present experiment, while the reducing sugar content had a significant effect on seed vigor. TSR equations between seed reducing sugar and seed vigor were also developed. There were negative correlations between the seed reducing sugar content and the germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index, respectively. It is suggested that the seed germination, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index could be predicted by the content of reducing sugar in sweet corn seeds during seed development stages.
Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Germination ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Zea mays ; chemistry ; growth & development

The developments of recombinant DNA technology and structural biology make it possible to modify enzyme in molecular level. Scientists show growing interests in the evolution or functional fusion of enzymes. Recent advances and applications of the molecular enzyme engineering are reviewed and discussed in this article.
Enzymes ; genetics ; Protein Engineering ; methods ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Research Design

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma in Situ ; virology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; virology ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; isolation & purification ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Microarray Analysis ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; Paraffin Embedding ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; virology

DNA mismatch repair gene mutS (2.56 kb) was PCR modified and cloned into a secretive prokaryotic expression vector pET32a (+) which carries a N-terminal His.tag + and thioredoxin sequence. MutS protein was expressed with high level after IPTG induction using the strain E. coli AD494(DE3). SDS-PAGE revealed that the expected protein with a molecular weight of 108 kD which is about 35% of the total bacterial proteins is almost soluble. The expected protein was purified directly by immobilized metal (Ni2+) chelation affinity chromatography and the purity is over 90%. MutS protein activity verified using mismatch DNA showed that the expression product can recognize and bind to base-pair mismatch specifically.
Adenosine Triphosphatases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Bacterial Proteins ; Base Pair Mismatch ; Chromatography, Affinity ; DNA ; metabolism ; DNA Repair ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Magnesium ; pharmacology ; Molecular Weight ; MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery