Objective To prepare monoclonal antibodies against bovine CD4 and identify their basic biological characteristics. Methods Recombinant bovine CD4 (rHis-BoCD4 and rGST-BoCD4) was successfully expressed and purified by constructing a prokaryotic plasmid of bovine CD4 gene. The bovine CD4 monoclonal antibody was produced using hybridoma technology. The subtype and potency of the monoclonal antibody were identified and analyzed by ELISA, while specificity was analyzed through indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and Western-blot. Results Four hybridoma cell lines, namely, 1H4, 6A10, 3F9 and 4G10, stably secreting monoclonal antibodies against BoCD4 were successfully obtained. The subclasses of the monoclonal antibodies subclass 6A10 was IgG2b and the rest of the monoclonal antibodies were of IgM type. Western-blot results showed that the four anti-bovine CD4 mAb strains were able to specifically bind to the bovine CD4 protein expressed in vitro. Indirect immunofluorescence assay showed that four monoclonal antibodies were able to specifically recognize the natural bovine CD4 protein. Flow cytometry assay showed that 3F9 was best to recognize bovine natural CD4 molecules. Conclusion Four monoclonal antibody strains with high specificity to natural bovine CD4 protein were successfully prepared, which lays the foundation for the subsequent studies on the function of bovine CD4 and diagnosis and treatment of bovine T-lymphocyte diseases.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/isolation & purification* ; Cattle ; CD4 Antigens/genetics* ; Hybridomas/immunology* ; Antibody Specificity/immunology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect

Objective The study aims to investigate the immunological functions of the nucleocapsid (N) protein of the novel coronavirus Omicron (BA.1, BA.2) and evaluate the differences among different N proteins of mutant strains in immunogenicity. Methods By aligning sequences, the mutation sites of the Omicron (BA.1, BA.2) N protein relative to prototype strain of the novel coronavirus (Wuhan-Hu-1) were determined. The pET-28a-N-Wuhan-Hu-1 plasmid was used as template to construct pET-28a-BA.1/BA.2-N through single point mutation or homologous recombination. The three kinds of N protein were expressed in prokaryotic system, purified through Ni-NTA affinity chromatography, and then immunized into mice. The titer and reactivity of the polyclonal antibody, as well as the expression level of IL-1β and IFN-γ in mouse spleen cells, were detected using indirect ELISA and Western blot assay. Results The constructed prokaryotic expression plasmids were successfully used to express the Wuhan-Hu-1 N, BA.1 N, and BA.2 N proteins in E.coli BL21(DE3) at 37 DegreesCelsius for 4 hours. The indirect ELISA test showed that the titers of polyclonal antibody prepared by three N proteins were all 1:51 200. All three N proteins can increase the expression of IFN-γ and IL-1β cytokines, but the effect of Omicron N protein in activing two cytokines was more obvious than that of Wuhan-Hu-1 N protein. Conclusion The study obtained three new coronavirus N proteins and polyclonal antibodies, and confirmed that mutations in the amino acid sites of the N protein can affect its immunogenicity. This provides a basis for developing rapid diagnostic methods targeting N protein of different novel coronavirus variants.
Animals ; Mice ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/immunology* ; Nucleocapsid Proteins/isolation & purification* ; COVID-19/immunology* ; Antibodies, Viral/immunology* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Interferon-gamma/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Female ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Mutation ; Humans

This study primarily aimed to investigate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and other common pathogens of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in spermatozoa of infertile men and their effects on semen parameters. These pathogens included Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium , herpes simplex virus 2, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Staphylococcus aureus . A total of 1951 men of infertile couples were recruited between 23 March 2023, and 17 May 2023, at the Department of Reproductive Medicine of The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province (Kunming, China). Multiplex polymerase chain reaction and capillary electrophoresis were used for HPV genotyping. Polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis were also used to detect the presence of other STIs. The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 12.4%. The top five prevalent HPV subtypes were types 56, 52, 43, 16, and 53 among those tested positive for HPV. Other common infections with high prevalence rates were Ureaplasma urealyticum (28.3%), Ureaplasma parvum (20.4%), and Enterococcus faecalis (9.5%). The prevalence rates of HPV coinfection with Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium , herpes simplex virus 2, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae , and Staphylococcus aureus were 24.8%, 25.4%, 10.6%, 6.4%, 2.4%, 7.9%, 5.9%, 0.9%, and 1.3%, respectively. The semen volume and total sperm count were greatly decreased by HPV infection alone. Coinfection with HPV and Ureaplasma urealyticum significantly reduced sperm motility and viability. Our study shows that coinfection with STIs is highly prevalent in the semen of infertile men and that coinfection with pathogens can seriously affect semen parameters, emphasizing the necessity of semen screening for STIs.
Humans ; Male ; Infertility, Male/epidemiology* ; Coinfection/microbiology* ; Papillomavirus Infections/virology* ; Adult ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases/complications* ; China/epidemiology* ; Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification* ; Chlamydia trachomatis/isolation & purification* ; Prevalence ; Mycoplasma genitalium/isolation & purification* ; Ureaplasma urealyticum/isolation & purification* ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae/isolation & purification* ; Enterococcus faecalis/isolation & purification* ; Streptococcus agalactiae/isolation & purification* ; Herpesvirus 2, Human/genetics* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/isolation & purification* ; Semen/virology* ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa/microbiology* ; Human Papillomavirus Viruses

Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) is one of the most commonly occurring pathogens associated with genital tract infections in infertile males, but the impact of seminal UU infection in semen on intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcomes is poorly understood. We collected data from 245 infertile couples who underwent IUI at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Hefei, China) between January 2021 and January 2023. The subjects were classified into two groups according to their UU infection status: the UU-positive group and the UU-negative group. We compared semen parameters, pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal birth outcomes to investigate the impact of UU infection on IUI outcomes. There were no significantly statistical differences in various semen parameters, including semen volume, sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, sperm morphology, leukocyte count, the presence of anti-sperm antibody, and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), between the UU-positive and UU-negative groups of male infertile patients (all P > 0.05). However, the high DNA stainability (HDS) status of sperm differed between the UU-positive and UU-negative groups, suggesting that seminal UU infection may affect sperm nuclear maturation ( P = 0.04). Additionally, there were no significant differences in pregnancy or neonatal birth outcomes between the two groups (all P > 0.05). These results suggest that IUI remains a viable and cost-effective option for infertile couples with UU infection who are facing infertility issues.
Humans ; Male ; Ureaplasma Infections/complications* ; Female ; Infertility, Male/therapy* ; Ureaplasma urealyticum/isolation & purification* ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Semen Analysis ; Insemination, Artificial ; Semen/microbiology* ; China

Amoenucles A-F (1-6), six previously undescribed nucleoside derivatives, and two known analogs (7 and 8) were isolated from the culture of Aspergillus amoenus TJ507. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, and chemical reactions. Notably, 3 and 4 represent the first reported instances of nucleosides with an attached pyrrole moiety. Of particular significance, the absolute configuration of the sugar moiety of 1-4 was determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electric circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and a hydrolysis reaction, presenting a potentially valuable method for confirming nucleoside structures. Furthermore, 1, 2, and 5-8 exhibited potential tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitory activities, which may provide a novel chemical template for the development of agents targeting autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Aspergillus/chemistry* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Molecular Structure ; Nucleosides/isolation & purification* ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Guided by molecular networking, nine novel curvularin derivatives (1-9) and 16 known analogs (10-25) were isolated from the hydrothermal vent sediment fungus Penicillium sp. HL-50. Notably, compounds 5-7 represented a hybrid of curvularin and purine. The structures and absolute configurations of compounds 1-9 were elucidated via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, ¹³C NMR calculation, modified Mosher's method, and chemical derivatization. Investigation of anti-inflammatory activities revealed that compounds 7-9, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 18 exhibited significant suppressive effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.44 to 4.40 μmol·L^-1. Furthermore, these bioactive compounds were found to suppress the expression of inflammation-related proteins, including inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), NLR family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). Additional studies demonstrated that the novel compound 7 possessed potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the transcription of inflammation-related genes, downregulating the expression of inflammation-related proteins, and inhibiting the release of inflammatory cytokines, indicating its potential application in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Penicillium/chemistry* ; Mice ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism* ; Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology* ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Molecular Structure ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/immunology* ; Cyclooxygenase 2/immunology* ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology* ; NF-kappa B/immunology* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/immunology*

The therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine has been widely acknowledged due to its extensive history of clinical effectiveness. However, the precise active components underlying each prescription remain incompletely understood. Polysaccharides, as a major constituent of water decoctions-the most common preparation method for Chinese medicinals-may provide a crucial avenue for deepening our understanding of the efficacy principles of Chinese medicine and establishing a framework for its modern development. The structural complexity and diversity of Chinese herbal polysaccharides present significant challenges in their separation and analysis compared to small molecules. This paper aims to explore the potential of Chinese herbal polysaccharides efficiently by briefly summarizing recent advancements in polysaccharide chemical research, focusing on methods of acquisition, structure elucidation, and quality control.
Polysaccharides/isolation & purification* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Quality Control ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Humans ; Molecular Structure

Plant-derived natural products have long been a vital source for developing therapeutic drugs. Wedelolactone (WDL), a coumestan isolated from Eclipta prostrata, Wedelia calendulacea, Wedelia chinensis, and Sphagneticola trilobata, demonstrates a broad spectrum of therapeutic potential, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-myotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, and tissue-protective activities. This review synthesizes information on the isolation, total synthesis, pharmacological activity, underlying mechanisms, and pharmacokinetic properties of WDL. Additionally, it offers insights into potential clinical applications and future drug discovery avenues utilizing WDL or its derivatives, either independently or in combination with other pharmaceuticals.
Coumarins/isolation & purification* ; Humans ; Animals ; Biological Products/chemical synthesis* ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts/chemical synthesis* ; Wedelia/chemistry* ; Eclipta/chemistry*

Eight previously undescribed lanostane triterpenoids, including five nortriterpenoids with 26 carbons, ganothenoids A-E (1-5), and three lanostanoids, ganothenoids F-H (6-8), along with 24 known ones (9-32), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganodrma theaecolum. The structures of the novel compounds were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) calculations. Compounds 1-32 were assessed for their neuroprotective effects against H₂O₂-induced damage in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, as well as their inhibitory activities against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and α-glucosidase. Compound 4 demonstrated the most potent neuroprotective activity against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress by suppressing G₀/G₁ phase cell cycle arrest, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and inhibiting cell apoptosis through modulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 protein (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X-protein (Bax) protein expression. Compounds 26, 12, and 28 exhibited PTP1B inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 13.92 to 56.94 μmol·L^-1, while compound 12 alone displayed significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase with an IC₅₀ value of 43.56 μmol·L^-1. Additionally, enzyme kinetic analyses and molecular docking simulations were conducted for compounds 26 and 12 with PTP1B and α-glucosidase, respectively.
Humans ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/chemistry* ; Triterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Neuroprotective Agents/isolation & purification* ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1/metabolism* ; Ganoderma/chemistry* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; alpha-Glucosidases/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Hydrogen Peroxide/toxicity* ; Molecular Docking Simulation

In this study, we employed a combination of genome mining and heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC)-based small molecule accurate recognition technology (SMART) technology to search for fernane-type triterpenoids. Initially, potential endophytic fungi were identified through genome mining. Subsequently, fine fractions containing various fernane-type triterpenoids were selected using HSQC data collection and SMART prediction. These triterpenoids were then obtained through targeted isolation and identification. Finally, their antifungal activity was evaluated. As a result, three fernane-type triterpenoids, including two novel compounds, along with two new sesquiterpenes and four known compounds were isolated from one potential strain, Diaporthe discoidispora. Their structures were elucidated through analysis of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and electron capture detector (ECD) analysis. Compound 3 exhibited moderate antifungal activity against Candida albicans CMCC 98001 and Aspergillus niger.
Triterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Antifungal Agents/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Candida albicans/drug effects* ; Ascomycota/genetics* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Aspergillus niger/drug effects* ; Genome, Fungal ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests