[Clinical observation of acupuncture at Huiyin (CV 1) for chronic severe functional constipation].

Objective: To compare the effect of acupuncture at Huiyin (CV 1) and oral administration of western medication in treatment of chronic severe functional constipation (CSFC).

Methods: A total of 64 patients with CSFC were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (32 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a western medication group (32 cases, 4 cases dropped off). Both groups were given routine basic treatment.

Substitution of the precursor peptide prevents anti-prM antibody-mediated antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection.

Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) is currently considered as the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of severe dengue disease. Many studies have shown that precursor (pr) peptide-specific antibodies do not efficiently neutralize infection but potently promote ADE of dengue virus (DENV) infection. To explore the effect of pr peptide substitution on neutralization and ADE of DENV infection, the rabbit anti-prM polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) and anti-JEVpr/DENV-M pAbs were prepared, and the neutralization and ADE of these two pAbs were further compared.

The phase transformation of CuInS2 from chalcopyrite to wurtzite.

In the present work, CuInS2 nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by water-bath method with deionized water as solvent and thioglycolic acid as complexing agent at 80°C. The phase transition of CuInS2 from chalcopyrite to wurtzite was realized by adjusting the pH value of reaction solution. The emergence of Cu2S in the condition of higher pH value of reaction solution led to the formation of wurtzite CuInS2.

Identification of a novel infection-enhancing epitope on dengue prM using a dengue cross-reacting monoclonal antibody.

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) infection is the most important arthropod- borne viral disease in human, but antiviral therapy and approved vaccines remain unavailable due to antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) phenomenon. Many studies showed that pre-membrane (prM)-specific antibodies do not efficiently neutralize DENV infection but potently promote ADE infection. However, most of the binding epitopes of these antibodies remain unknown.

Induction of virus-neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses by dengue virus type 1 virus-like particles prepared from Pichia pastoris.

Background: Dengue is currently a significant global health problem but no vaccines are available against the four dengue serotypes virus infections. The development of safe and effective vaccines has been hampered by the requirement of conferring complete protection against all four dengue serotypes and the lack of a convenient animal model. Virus-like particles (VLPs) have emerged as a promising subunit vaccine candidate.

catena-Poly[copper(II)-di-μ-acetylacetonato-copper(II)-bis(μ-4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde picoloylhydrazonato)] and (acetylacetonato)(4-methoxybenzaldehyde picoloylhydrazonato)copper(II).

In the two title copper(II) complexes, [CuL(C(5)H(7)O(2))](n), (I), and [CuL'(C(5)H(7)O(2))], (II), respectively, where HL is 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde picoloylhydrazone, C(14)H(12)N(3)O(3), and HL' is 4-methoxybenzaldehyde picoloylhydrazone, C(14)H(12)N(3)O(2), the Cu(II) ions display a highly Jahn-Teller-distorted octahedral and a square-planar coordination geometry, respectively. In complex (I), two neighbouring Cu(II) atoms are bridged by L(-) and acetylacetonate, alternately, giving rise to a one-dimensional chain of CuN(2)O(4) octahedra interconnected by these two ligands along the a axis. In addition, the hydroxy H atom of the vanillin group connects to the carboxyl O atom of the adjacent chain via an O-H.

Selection and identification of B-cell epitope on NS1 protein of dengue virus type 2.

NS1 of dengue virus (DENV) is an important non-structural protein, which plays an important role in DENV replication and dengue infection. In this study, using the phage-displayed peptide library screening method and purified anti-DENV2-NS1 polyclonal antibody immunoglobulin G (IgG) as target, which was generated from the purified recombinant expressed DENV2-NS1 protein immunization on rabbit, seven B-cell epitopes of DENV2-NS1 protein were screened. Considering the results of comprehensive bioinformatic analysis on NS1 B-cell epitopes, possible dominant B-cell epitopes are located in amino acids residues 36-45, 80-89, 103-112, 121-130, 187-196, 295-304, and 315-324 of the NS1, and two epitope-based NS1 protein dodecapeptides corresponding to the predominant epitopes (PA10: (36)PESPSKLASA(45) and AA10: (187)AIKDNRAVHA(196)) were chosen for synthesis.

Establishment and characterization of dengue virus type 2 nonstructural protein 1 specific T cell lines.

Immunity against dengue viruses (DENV) infection may include cellular immune responses which involve in the immunopathology of DENV infection hosts. This study was to establish short-term dengue virus type 2 (DENV2) nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) specific T cells from splenocytes from BALB/c mice immunized with DENV2 NS1 in vitro, which may be used to identify immunopathologic mechanism of dengue. Nine DENV2 NS1 specific T cell lines were successfully established by using limiting dilution methods and maintained for 20 weeks by re-stimulated with DENV2 NS1, recombinant mouse IL-2 and antigen presenting cell weekly.

Infection and replication of avian influenza H5N1 virus in an infected human.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses usually cause severe diseases and high mortality in infected humans. However, the tissue tropism and underlying pathogenesis of H5N1 virus infection in humans have not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, an autopsy was conducted to better understand H5N1 virus distributions in tissues of infected humans, and whether H5N1 virus can replicate in extrapulmonary tissues.

Potential infections of H5N1 and H9N2 avian influenza do exist in Guangdong populations of China.

Background: Southeast China is one of the sites of influenza origin. During 2003--2004, nine avian influenza outbreaks took place in Guangdong Province. But no human case was reported.

Computational prediction and identification of dengue virus-specific CD4(+) T-cell epitopes.

In this study, we tried to identify dengue virus-specific CD4(+) T-cell epitopes, which can induce PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) isolated from DF convalescent patients (dengue virus type 1 infection) to secrete IFN-gamma. PBMC of DF convalescent patients were stimulated in vitro with dengue virus-derived peptides, which were prepared based on the prediction of dengue virus-specific CD4(+) T-cell epitopes by using RANKpep online software. Subsequently, the frequency of IFN-gamma producing T cells and percentage of IFN-gamma(+) CD4(+) T cells were measured by using ELISPOT assay and ICS assay (intracellular cytokine straining), respectively.

Genomic analysis of a Chinese isolate of Getah-like virus and its phylogenetic relationship with other Alphaviruses.

An alphavirus, M-1 strain, was isolated from a pool of culicine mosquitoes collected in Hainan island of China during an arbovirus survey in 1964. In the present study, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the M-1 strain using RT-PCR and RACE techniques. The M-1 genome is 11,690 nucleotides (nt) in length and contains two open reading frames (ORFs) encoding four nonstructural proteins and five structural proteins, respectively.

Selection of SARS-coronavirus-specific B cell epitopes by phage peptide library screening and evaluation of the immunological effect of epitope-based peptides on mice.

Antibodies to SARS-Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-specific B cell epitopes might recognize the pathogen and interrupt its adherence to and penetration of host cells. Hence, these epitopes could be useful for diagnosis and as vaccine constituents. Using the phage-displayed peptide library screening method and purified Fab fragments of immunoglobulin G (IgG Fab) from normal human sera and convalescent sera from SARS-CoV-infected patients as targets, 11 B cell epitopes of SARS-CoV spike glycoprotein (S protein) and membrane protein (M protein) were screened.

Application of an oligonucleotide array assay for rapid detecting and genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis from urogenital specimens.

An oligonucleotide array technology was established for rapidly detecting and genotyping Chlamydia trachomatis in urogenital infections. The VS1-VS2 region of the omp1 gene was used to design oligonucleotide probes. Eleven serovar-specific probes to serovars A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K, and 3 group-specific probes to group B (B, Ba, D, E, L1, and L2), group C (A, C, H, I, J, K, and L3), and an intermediate group (F and G) were synthesized and spotted onto the nylon membrane.

Secreted expression and purification of dengue 2 virus full-length nonstructural glycoprotein NS1 in Pichia pastoris.

The dengue 2 virus (DEN-2) RNA (NGC strain) was used as a substrate to produce DNA clones of the full-length NS1 genes via reverse transcriptase synthesis of cDNA followed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the NS1 region. Products were cloned into pPICZalphaB vector for sequencing and into Pichia pastoris for expression. A recombinant protein with a molecular size of approximately 80 KDa was secreted into the supernatant from the yeast cells when induced with methanol.

[Variability analysis of S2 gene of SARS-CoV].

Objective: To determine the sequence of S2 gene of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) GD322 and analyze the phyletic evolution of S2 gene.

Method: S2 gene fragment was amplified from SARS-CoV GD322 genome with RT-PCR and ligated to pGEM-T vector for sequence analysis after transformation of the plasmid into E. coli DH5a.

[Inoculation of plasmid expressing the dengue 2 NS1 gene elicits immunity in mice].

Objective: To study cellular and humoral immune responses to NS1 protein in mice inoculated intramuscularly with recombinant plasmid expressing dengue 2 NS1 gene.

Methods: The eukaryotic expressing plasmid pCNX2-NS1 was injected into tibialis anterior muscle in mice. The mice were subsequently boosted with the same dose and same method twice after the initial inoculation.

Application of oligonucleotide array technology for the rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria of foodborne infections.

A rapid and accurate method for detection for common pathogenic bacteria in foodborne infections was established by using oligonucleotide array technology. Nylon membrane was used as the array support. A mutation region of the 23S rRNA gene was selected as the discrimination target from 14 species (genera) of bacteria causing foodborne infections and two unrelated bacterial species.

Dengue virus type 2 infects human endothelial cells through binding of the viral envelope glycoprotein to cell surface polypeptides.

The endothelial cell line ECV304, derived from human umbilical cord and identified to be susceptible to dengue virus type 2 (DEN-2) infection, was used to study the molecular mechanism of DEN-2 binding to endothelial cells. DEN-2 was found by virus overlay protein-binding assays (VOPBAs) to bind to three ECV304 cell membrane proteins with molecular masses of 29, 34 and 43 kDa. Only a single protein of 29 kDa was observed when VOPBAs were carried out using preparations of trypsin-treated ECV304 cells.

Secreted expression of dengue virus type 2 full-length envelope glycoprotein in Pichia pastoris.

The full-length envelope glycoprotein gene of dengue virus type 2 was cloned using an RT-PCR method from the infected C6/36 cells and inserted into pPICZaB vector. The recombinant plasmid was integrated into Pichia pastoris by electroporation and the expressed product was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. High-level secreted expression was performed by determining the Mut(+) phenotype and screening multi-copy integrants in the recombinant yeast cells.