Ultrastructure, chromosomal karyotype, and molecular phylogeny of a new isolate of microsporidian Vairimorpha sp. BM (Microsporidia, Nosematidae) from Bombyx mori in China.

The spore morphology, chromosomal karyotype, and molecular systematic of a new microsporidian which was isolated from the domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) in Shandong, China have been studied. The spores were long oval and measured 3.4 × 1.

The expression of ADAM23 and its correlation with promoter methylation in non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

ADAM23, a member of a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) family, has been reported to be expressed in several types of tumours. The exact role of ADAM23 and the possible mechanisms in which it is involved in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) remains unclear. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the expression of ADAM23 and its correlation with promoter methylation in NSCLC.

A tandem duplication of manganese superoxide dismutase in Nosema bombycis and its evolutionary origins.

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular eukaryotic parasites with small genomes. They infect animals from a wide variety of phyla, including humans. Two manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) genes, designated NbMnSOD1 and NbMnSOD2, were found to be organized in a tandem array within the Nosema bombycis genome.

An efficient approach to obtaining water-compatible and stimuli-responsive molecularly imprinted polymers by the facile surface-grafting of functional polymer brushes via RAFT polymerization.

A new and efficient approach to obtaining molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with both pure water-compatible (i.e., applicable in the pure aqueous environments) and stimuli-responsive binding properties is described, whose proof-of-principle is demonstrated by the facile modification of the preformed MIP microspheres via surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm).

[Cloning of keratinocyte growth factor 2 gene (KGF2) and its transformation to Brassica napus L].

Recently, more research about the plant bioreactor expressing genes encoding human proteins was reported. In the present study, the cDNA of the human gene keratinocyte growth factor 2 (KGF2) was replaced with plant preferred codons by PCR, and the modified full-length cDNA was cloned into the plant expression vector pCAMBIA-YO containing the oil-body promoter. The fusion construct pCAMBIA-YO-KGF2 was transformed into Brassica napus by Agrobacterium tumefacien-mediated cotyledon transformation method.

Expression and functions of the repressor element 1 (RE-1)-silencing transcription factor (REST) in breast cancer.

The repressor element 1 (RE-1)-silencing transcription factor (REST), also known as the neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) or repressor binding to the X2 box (XBR), REST/NRSF/XBR, is originally discovered as a transcriptional repressor of a large number of primarily terminal neuronal differentiation genes in non-neuronal cells and neural stem cells (NSCs). Recently, the tumor-suppressor function of REST is finally proved. However, the expression profile and function of REST in breast cancer are not very clear.

Natural selection maintains the transcribed LTR retrotransposons in Nosema bombycis.

Eight intact LTR retrotransposons (Nbr1-Nbr8) have been previously characterized from the genome of Nosema bombycis, a eukaryotic parasite with a compact and reduced genome. Here we describe six novel transcribed Nbr elements (Nbr9-Nbr14) identified through either cDNA library or RT-PCR. Like previously determined ones, all of them belong to the Ty3/Gypsy superfamily.

Reduced stratifin expression can serve as an independent prognostic factor for poor survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Stratifin plays an important role in cancer biology by interfering with intracellular signalling pathways and cell-cycle checkpoints. Decreased expression of stratifin gene has been reported to be a poor prognostic indicator in a variety of human malignant tumors.

Aim: To clarify the role and prognostic significance of stratifin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Increased expression of prohibitin and its relationship with poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Prohibitin, a potential tumor suppressor, has been shown to be an anti- proliferative protein, a regulator of cell-cycle progression and in apoptosis. Recently, it was found to be over-expressed in breast cancer and gastric cancer, and it has been suggested as a biomarker in those diseases. To clarify the role and the prognostic significance of prohibitin expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), we analyzed the expression in ESCC and their corresponding nonneoplastic epithelia tissues by immunohistochemistry(IHC), Western blotting and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(QRT-PCR).

Elevated expression of semaphorin 5A in human gastric cancer and its implication in carcinogenesis.

Aims: Semaphorin 5A, a member of semaphorin family, was originally identified as axonal guidance factor functioning during neuronal development. Here, we investigated semaphorin 5A expression in gastric cancer and explored its roles in gastric carcinogenesis.

Main Methods: The expression of semaphorin 5A was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in six gastric cancer cell lines and detected by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting in 30 pairs of primary gastric cancer and normal gastric mucosa tissues.

[Determination of 9 cephalosporin drug residues in beef by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

A confirmative method to determine 9 cephalosporin residues in beef by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed. The sample was homogenized and extracted with acetonitrile and water for 1 min at 14,000 r/min, centrifuged at 10,000 r/min and 4 degrees C for 10 min. A total of 2 mL saturated sodium chloride solution was added to avoid foaming during the acetonitrile evaporation, the acetonitrile was evaporated below 37 degrees C using a rotary evaporator, and then cleaned up on an Oasis HLB (500 mg, 6 mL) SPE column by washing with 5 mL water and eluting with acetonitrile-water (7:3, v/v).

Identification of NbME MITE families: potential molecular markers in the microsporidia Nosema bombycis.

Six novel families of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) were characterized in the microsporidia Nosema bombycis and were named NbMEs. The structural characteristics and the distribution of NbME copies in the N. bombycis genome were investigated, and it was found that portions of NbMEs are associated with gene sections.

Complete resequencing of 40 genomes reveals domestication events and genes in silkworm (Bombyx).

A single-base pair resolution silkworm genetic variation map was constructed from 40 domesticated and wild silkworms, each sequenced to approximately threefold coverage, representing 99.88% of the genome. We identified ~16 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms, many indels, and structural variations.

[Identification of a new serpin gene (NbSPN106) from Nosema bombycis].

Objective: Serpins from pathogens have been implicated in evasion of the host immune system. We identified a new serpin protein (NbSPN106), analyzed its sequences, and detected using Western blotting.

Methods: Nosema bombycis proteins with an expect score less than 1 x 10(-5) were checked against MEROPS database (http://merops.

Expression of semaphorin 5A and its receptor plexin B3 contributes to invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the protein and mRNA expression of semaphorin 5A and its receptor plexin B3 in gastric carcinoma and explore its role in the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

Methods: Expression of semaphorin 5A and its receptor plexin B3 in 48 samples of primary gastric carcinoma, its corresponding non-neoplastic mucosa, and matched regional lymph node metastasis was assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting.

Results: The protein and mRNA expression of semaphorin 5A and its receptor plexin B3 increased gradually in non-neoplastic mucosa, primary gastric carcinoma and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.

SWP25, a novel protein associated with the Nosema bombycis endospore.

Microsporidia are eukaryotic, obligate intracellular, spore-forming parasites. The resistant spores, which harbor a rigid cell wall, are critical for their host-to-host transmission and persistence in the environment. The spore wall comprises two major layers: the exospore and the endospore.

Identification of a novel spore wall protein (SWP26) from microsporidia Nosema bombycis.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites related to fungi with resistant spores against various environmental stresses. The rigid spore walls of these organisms are composed of two major layers, which are the exospore and the endospore. Two spore wall proteins (the endosporal protein-SWP30 and the exosporal protein-SWP32) have been previously identified in Nosema bombycis.

[Characterization and analysis of mitochondrial protein frataxin in Nosema bombycis].

Aim: Frataxin protein is a component of Fe-S clusters and closely related to metabolism of mitochondria. We identified an integrity mitochondrial protein frataxin gene (Nbfra), analyzed its phylogenetic relationship, and confirmed the transcriptase activity of Nbfra in N. bombycis.

Multiple rDNA units distributed on all chromosomes of Nosema bombycis.

Among Microsporidia, Nosema bombycis has a novel arrangement of LSUrRNA, SSUrRNA, ITS, IGS and 5SrRNA. To determine the distribution of rDNA among the chromosomes, we performed genome-wide screening and Southern blotting with three probes (SSU, ITS and IGS). Southern blotting revealed that ribosomal RNA genes are distributed on all chromosomes of N.

Proteomic analysis of spore wall proteins and identification of two spore wall proteins from Nosema bombycis (Microsporidia).

Microsporidia are fungal-like unicellular eukaryotes which develop as obligate intracellular parasites. They differentiate into resistant spores that are protected by a thick spore wall composed of a glycoprotein-rich outer layer or exospore and a chitin-rich inner layer or endospore. In this study performed on the silkworm pathogen Nosema bombycis, we analyzed the spore wall proteins (SWPs) by proteomic-based approaches, MALDI-TOF MS and LC-MS/MS, and 14 hypothetical spore wall proteins (HSWPs) or peptides were obtained in total.

[The analysis of bro genes of GD isolate of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus].

BmNPV GD isolate from China was plaque-purified and four bro genes were cloned termed as bro-a,b,c,d. The obtained sequences were aligned to the related sequences in GenBank and the BmNPV CQ1 isolate preserved in our laboratory. Compared with genome sequences of BmNPV T3 isolate, bro genes of GD isolate housed insertion and deletion, and the changes of amino acid mainly occured at the N terminal of corresponding protein.

A complete Sec61 complex in Nosema bombycis and its comparative genomics analyses.

We characterized a complete Sec61 complex in Nosema bombycis, which has been shown to consist of Sec61alpha, Sec61beta, and Sec61gamma genes. Comparing the genomic regions that harbor the respective subunit genes between N. bombycis, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, and Antonospora locustae, we found that microsporidian genomes have high degree of synteny in short genomic fragment, and that this gene synteny in general might exist throughout microsporidian genomes.

The varying microsporidian genome: existence of long-terminal repeat retrotransposon in domesticated silkworm parasite Nosema bombycis.

Microsporidia are a group of intracellular parasites with an extremely compact genome and there is no confirmed evidence that retroelements are parasitised in these organisms. Using the dataset of 200,000 genomic shotgun reads of the silkworm pebrine Nosema bombycis, we have identified the eight complete N. bombycis long-terminal repeat retrotransposon (Nbr) elements.

Survey of long terminal repeat retrotransposons of domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori).

Long terminal retrotransposons are major components of eukaryotic transposable elements. We have surveyed the long terminal repeats (LTR) retrotransposons of domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori) by mining the data produced by Bombyx mori Genome Sequencing Project. At least 29 separate families of LTR retrotransposons are identified in this survey, comprising of 11.

A draft sequence for the genome of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori).

We report a draft sequence for the genome of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori), covering 90.9% of all known silkworm genes. Our estimated gene count is 18,510, which exceeds the 13,379 genes reported for Drosophila melanogaster.