Bacillus mycoides JA20-1 was screened and identified as a biocontrol bacterium with a high capacity for producing volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in the laboratory. This strain had significant inhibitory effects on various postharvest disease pathogens in crops, such as Botrytis cinerea, as well as soil-borne disease pathogens in ginseng, such as Sclerotinia ginseng. In order to accelerate its industrialization process, in this study, single-factor experiments and response surface optimization methods were used. The fermentation medium and fermentation conditions in the shake flask of strain JA20-1 were systematically optimized by using cell production volume as the response variable. Meanwhile, the biocontrol effect of JA20-1 on B. cinerea of ginseng during the storage period was evaluated by using the method of fumigation in a dry dish in vitro. The results indicated that the optimal fermentation medium formulation for strain JA20-1 was as follows: 1% yeast paste, 1% soluble starch, 0.25% K_2HPO_4·3H_2O, and 0.2% NaCl. The optimal fermentation conditions in the shake flask were vaccination size of 3%, culture volume of 50 mL in a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask, pH of 6.2, fermentation temperature of 34 ℃, shaking speed of 180 r·min~(-1), and incubation time of 18 hours. The bacteria count in the fermentation broth under these conditions reached 2.17 × 10~8 CFU·mL~(-1), which was 6.58 times higher than before. The average control efficacy of the fermentation broth on Botrytis cinerea of ginseng under in vitro fumigation reached 61.70% and 84.04% respectively, when 20 mL and 30 mL per dish were used. The research provided theoretical support and technical foundation for the development and utilization of Bacillus mycoides JA20-1 and the biocontrol of soil-borne diseases in ginseng and postharvest diseases in crops.
Botrytis/drug effects* ; Fermentation ; Panax/microbiology* ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control* ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism* ; Bacillus/physiology* ; Pest Control, Biological/methods* ; Biological Control Agents/metabolism* ; Culture Media/chemistry*

Aerobic methane oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs) can use methane as carbon source and energy source, eliminating 10%-20% of global methane. Methanotrophs can also effectively synthesize valuable methane-derived products. This article introduced the methane oxidizing mechanism of methanotrophs, and summarized the practical application and research hotspots of methanotrophs in the field of methane emission reduction in the landfill, ventilation air methane mitigation in coal mines, valuable chemicals biosynthesis, as well as oil and gas reservoir exploration. Main factors influencing the pollutant removal and the biosynthesis efficiency in various applications were also discussed. Based on the study of large-scale cultivation of methanotrophs, some measures to benefit the application and promotion of aerobic methane oxidizing biotechnology were proposed. This includes investigating the effect of intermediate metabolites on methanotrophs activity and population structure, and exploiting economical and efficient alternative culture media and culture techniques.
Biotechnology ; Carbon ; Culture Media/chemistry* ; Methane/metabolism* ; Methylococcaceae/metabolism* ; Oxidation-Reduction

Royal jelly (RJ) from honeybee has been widely used as a health promotion supplement. The major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) have been identified as the functional component of RJ. However, the question of whether MRJPs have anti-senescence activity for human cells remains. Human embryonic lung fibroblast (HFL-I) cells were cultured in media containing no MRJPs (A), MRJPs at 0.1 mg/ml (B), 0.2 mg/ml (C), or 0.3 mg/ml (D), or bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 0.2 mg/ml (E). The mean population doubling levels of cells in media B, C, D, and E were increased by 12.4%, 31.2%, 24.0%, and 10.4%, respectively, compared with that in medium A. The cells in medium C also exhibited the highest relative proliferation activity, the lowest senescence, and the longest telomeres. Moreover, MRJPs up-regulated the expression of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) and down-regulated the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (MTOR), catenin beta like-1 (CTNNB1), and tumor protein p53 (TP53). Raman spectra analysis showed that there were two unique bands related to DNA synthesis materials, amide carbonyl group vibrations and aromatic hydrogens. These results suggest that MRJPs possess anti-senescence activity for the HFL-I cell line, and provide new knowledge illustrating the molecular mechanism of MRJPs as anti-senescence factors.
Animals ; Bees ; Cattle ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Cellular Senescence/drug effects* ; Culture Media ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fatty Acids/chemistry* ; Fibroblasts/drug effects* ; Humans ; Insect Proteins/chemistry* ; Lung/drug effects* ; Serum Albumin/metabolism* ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; Superoxide Dismutase-1/metabolism* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; beta Catenin/metabolism*

Nocathiacin I, a glycosylated thiopeptide antibiotic, displays excellent antibacterial activities against multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens. Previously, a novel nocathiacin I formulation for intravenous administration has been successfully developed and its aqueous solubility is greatly enhanced for clinical application. The purpose of the present study was to increase the fermentation titer of nocathiacin I and reduce or eliminate analogous impurities by screening the medium ingredients using response surface methodology. After a sysmatic optimization, a water-soluble medium containing quality-controllable components was developed and validated, resulting in an increase in the production of nocathiacin I from 150 to 405.8 mg·L at 150-L scale. Meanwhile, the analogous impurities existed in reported processes were greatly reduced or eliminated. Using optimized medium for fermentation, nocathiacin I with pharmaceutically acceptable quality was easily obtained with a recovery of 67%. In conclusion, the results from the present study offer a practical and efficient fermentation process for the production of nocathiacin I as a therapeutic agent.
Actinobacteria ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; Bioreactors ; Culture Media ; Fermentation ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Peptides ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Quality Improvement

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of culture supernatant of human amnion mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs-CS) on biological characteristics of human fibroblasts.

METHODS(1) hAMSCs were isolated from deprecated human fresh amnion tissue of placenta and then sub-cultured. The morphology of hAMSCs on culture day 3 and hAMSCs of the third passage were observed with inverted phase contrast microscope. (2) Two batches of hAMSCs of the third passage were obtained, then the expression of vimentin of cells was observed with immunofluorescence method, and the expression of cell surface marker CD90, CD73, CD105, and CD45 was detected by flow cytometer. (3) hAMSCs-CS of the third passage at culture hour 72 were collected, and the content of insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. (4) Human fibroblasts were isolated from deprecated human fresh prepuce tissue of circumcision and then sub-cultured. Human fibroblasts of the third passage were used in the following experiments. Cells were divided into blank control group and 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% hAMSCs-CS groups according to the random number table (the same grouping method below), with 48 wells in each group. Cells in blank control group were cultured with DMEM/F12 medium containing 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS), while cells in the latter 4 groups were cultured with DMEM/F12 medium containing corresponding volume fraction of hAMSCs-CS and 2% FBS. The proliferation activity of cells was detected by cell counting kit 8 and microplate reader at culture hour 12, 24, 48, and 72, respectively, and corresponding volume fraction of hAMSCs-CS which causing the best proliferation activity of human fibroblasts was used in the following experiments. (5) Human fibroblasts were divided into blank control group and 50% hAMSCs-CS group and treated as in (4), with 4 wells in each group, at post scratch hour (PSH) 0 (immediately after scratch), 12, 24, 48, and 72, the migration distance of cells was observed and measured with inverted phase contrast microscope. (6) Human fibroblasts were grouped and treated as in (5), with 3 battles in each group, and apoptosis rate of cells was detected by flow cytometer. Data were processed with analysis of variance of factorial design, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, one-way analysis of variance, LSD test, and t test.

RESULTS(1) On culture day 3, most hAMSCs were in large form, and spindle-shaped with much prominences like fibroblasts or in flat polygonal shape. hAMSCs of the third passage were spindle-shaped. The expression of vimentin of hAMSCs of the third passage was strongly positive, and the expressions of surface markers CD90, CD73, and CD105 of the cells were positive, while the expression of CD45 of the cells was negative. (2) The content of IGF-Ⅰ, VEGF, EGF, and bFGF in hAMSCs-CS were respectively (11.7±1.0), (316±68), (6.1±0.4), and (1.49±0.05) pg/mL. (3) At culture hour 12-72, the proliferation activity of human fibroblasts in each hAMSCs-CS group was significantly higher than that in blank control group (with P values below 0.01), and the proliferation activity of human fibroblasts in 50% hAMSCs-CS group was the highest. (4) The width of scratch in two groups was nearly the same at PSH 0. The migration distance of cells in 50% hAMSCs-CS group was significantly longer than that in blank control group at PSH 12-72 (with P values below 0.01). (5) The apoptosis rate of human fibroblasts in blank control group was (16.2±2.4)%, which was significantly higher than that in 50% hAMSCs-CS group [(7.4±3.6)%, t=6.710, P<0.01].

CONCLUSIONShAMSCs-CS can promote proliferation and migration of human fibroblasts and inhibit the apoptosis of human fibroblasts.

Amnion ; cytology ; Apoptosis ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; chemistry ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; chemistry ; Pregnancy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

We investigated the potential of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons in vitro as an autologous stem cell source for Parkinson's disease treatment. The hDPSCs were expanded in knockout-embryonic stem cell (KO-ES) medium containing leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on gelatin-coated plates for 3-4 days. Then, the medium was replaced with KO-ES medium without LIF to allow the formation of the neurosphere for 4 days. The neurosphere was transferred into ITS medium, containing ITS (human insulin-transferrin-sodium) and fibronectin, to select for Nestin-positive cells for 6-8 days. The cells were then cultured in N-2 medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), FGF-8b, sonic hedgehog-N, and ascorbic acid on poly-l-ornithine/fibronectin-coated plates to expand the Nestin-positive cells for up to 2 weeks. Finally, the cells were transferred into N-2/ascorbic acid medium to allow for their differentiation into dopaminergic neurons for 10-15 days. The differentiation stages were confirmed by morphological, immunocytochemical, flow cytometric, real-time PCR, and ELISA analyses. The expressions of mesenchymal stem cell markers were observed at the early stages. The expressions of early neuronal markers were maintained throughout the differentiation stages. The mature neural markers showed increased expression from stage 3 onwards. The percentage of cells positive for tyrosine hydroxylase was 14.49%, and the amount was 0.526 ± 0.033 ng/mL at the last stage. hDPSCs can differentiate into dopaminergic neural cells under experimental cell differentiation conditions, showing potential as an autologous cell source for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Animals ; Brain/pathology ; *Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media/chemistry/pharmacology ; Dental Pulp/*cytology ; Dopaminergic Neurons/*cytology/*metabolism/pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Myelin Basic Protein/genetics/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens/genetics/metabolism ; Stem Cells/*cytology/*metabolism/pathology ; Tubulin/genetics/metabolism ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/analysis/genetics/metabolism

We investigated the potential of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons in vitro as an autologous stem cell source for Parkinson's disease treatment. The hDPSCs were expanded in knockout-embryonic stem cell (KO-ES) medium containing leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on gelatin-coated plates for 3-4 days. Then, the medium was replaced with KO-ES medium without LIF to allow the formation of the neurosphere for 4 days. The neurosphere was transferred into ITS medium, containing ITS (human insulin-transferrin-sodium) and fibronectin, to select for Nestin-positive cells for 6-8 days. The cells were then cultured in N-2 medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), FGF-8b, sonic hedgehog-N, and ascorbic acid on poly-l-ornithine/fibronectin-coated plates to expand the Nestin-positive cells for up to 2 weeks. Finally, the cells were transferred into N-2/ascorbic acid medium to allow for their differentiation into dopaminergic neurons for 10-15 days. The differentiation stages were confirmed by morphological, immunocytochemical, flow cytometric, real-time PCR, and ELISA analyses. The expressions of mesenchymal stem cell markers were observed at the early stages. The expressions of early neuronal markers were maintained throughout the differentiation stages. The mature neural markers showed increased expression from stage 3 onwards. The percentage of cells positive for tyrosine hydroxylase was 14.49%, and the amount was 0.526 ± 0.033 ng/mL at the last stage. hDPSCs can differentiate into dopaminergic neural cells under experimental cell differentiation conditions, showing potential as an autologous cell source for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Animals ; Brain/pathology ; *Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media/chemistry/pharmacology ; Dental Pulp/*cytology ; Dopaminergic Neurons/*cytology/*metabolism/pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Myelin Basic Protein/genetics/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens/genetics/metabolism ; Stem Cells/*cytology/*metabolism/pathology ; Tubulin/genetics/metabolism ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/analysis/genetics/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of MiR-200b on human retinal endothelial cells (hRECs) cultured in high glucose and explore the mechanism.

METHODShRECs cultured in high glucose or in normal media were examined for MiR-200b mRNA expression using real-time PCR. The effect of MiR-200b transfection on hREC proliferation in high-glucose culture was evaluated with MTT assay, and real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to determine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) expression in the transfected cells.

RESULTSThe cells in high-glucose culture showed significantly decreased MiR-200b expression and active proliferation. Compared with those in normal control cells, VEGF and TGFβ1 mRNA and protein expressions increased markedly in cells cultured in high glucose (P<0.05). MiR-200b transfection of the cells caused significantly increased cellular expression of MiR-200b but decreased expression levels of VEGF and TGFβ1 mRNA and protein, and suppressed hREC proliferation in high glucose culture (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMiR-200b can regulate REC growth and proliferation by changing VEGF and TGFβ1 expressions and thus play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Glucose ; chemistry ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retina ; cytology ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore effects of exendin-4 on the metabolism of extracellular matrix (ECM) in human mesangial cells (HMC) cultured in the presence of high glucose and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSHuman mesangial cells (HMC) were treated with exendin-4 under high glucose conditions. The cell proliferation was observed using CCK8 assay, and the expressions of collagen type I, fibronectin, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) expression and extracellular signal- regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway activity were assessed using Western blotting.

RESULTSExendin-4 inhibited cell proliferation and the expressions of collagen type I, fibronectin and TGFβ1 and reversed ERK phosphorylation in high glucose-induced HMC.

CONCLUSIONExendin-4 can regulate ECM metabolism in HMC cultured in high glucose by inhibiting TGFβ1/ERK pathway, suggesting the beneficial effects of exendin-4 in preventing and treating diabetic nephropathy.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Glucose ; chemistry ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mesangial Cells ; drug effects ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Venoms ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of high concentration insulin on K562 cell proliferation and its underlying mechanism.

METHODSK562 cells were treated by different concentration of insulin and/or anti-IGF-1R antibody (IGF-1R-Ab), MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the K562 cells proliferation and apoptosis, respectivety; Western blot was used to measure the expression and phosphorylation level of IGE-IR, Akt, Erk1/2 in K562 cells under the different concentration of insulin.

RESULTSMTT assay showed that less than 40 mU/ml insulin could promote K562 cell proliferation, while high concentration (> 40 mU/ml) insulin has been shown to inhibit K562 cell proliferation; Flow cytometry showed that 40 mU/ml insulin suppressed K562 cell apoptosis (P < 0.05), while 200 mU/ml insulin could significantly induce K562 cell apoptosis (P < 0.01); 0.01 to 1.0 µg/ml IGF-1R-Ab has significantly enhanced the inhibitory and inducing effects of high concentration (> 40 mU/ml) of insulin on K562 cell proliferation and apoptosis respectively (r = 0.962, P < 0.001); Western blot showed that after K562 cells were treated with different concentrations of insulin ERK, and the p-ERK expression did not change significantly, after K562 cells were treated with 200 mU/ml insulin, the expression of IGF-1R and AKT also not were changed obviously, while the phosphorylation level of IGF-1R and AKT increased.

CONCLUSIONHigh concentration (>40 mU/ml) of insulin inhibits K562 cell proliferation and induces its apoptosis, and its mechanism may be related with the binding IGF-1R by insulin, competitively inhibiting the binding of IGF-1 and IGF-1R, the blocking the transduction of PI3K/AKT signal pathway.

Antibodies ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Humans ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; K562 Cells ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Receptors, Somatomedin ; immunology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects