A rapid and sensitive extraction-free HiFi-LAMP assay for detecting Mycobacterium leprae.

Background: Timely and accurate detection of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) is crucial for efficient treatment and early intervention of leprosy, which requires a simple and rapid extraction-free assay.

Methods: A HiFi-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for detection of M.

Repression of BRD4 mitigates NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in Mycobacterium-infected macrophages by repressing endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of human death worldwide due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. Multiple lines of evidences have illuminated the emerging role of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in the clearance of pathogenic infection. In the current study, we sought to investigate the functional role and feasible potential mechanism of BRD4 in Mtb-infected macrophages.

Long-term presence of autoantibodies in plasma of cured leprosy patients.

Autoantibodies have been detected in leprosy patients, indicating that infection with M. leprae may lead to autoimmune disorders. However, whether autoimmune response last until patients are cured is unknown.

Poly r(C) Binding Protein 1 Regulates Posttranscriptional Expression of the Ubiquitin Ligase TRIM56 in Ovarian Cancer.

Our earlier work has shown that the E3 ligase TRIM56 messenger RNA (mRNA) level and vimentin protein expression followed an inverse correlation in ovarian carcinoma patients; however, the regulatory mechanisms underlying TRIM56 expression is unclear. Steady state expression of TRIM56 mRNA expression in the normal ovarian cell line Moody and ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV-3, A2780, and Caov-3 were not significantly different; however, TRIM56 protein expression was significantly lower in the ovarian cancer cell lines compared to the Moody cell line. Polysome profiling showed significant increase in translation of TRIM56 messenger RNA in the Moody cells compared to the SKOV-3 cells.

Missense Variants in HIF1A and LACC1 Contribute to Leprosy Risk in Han Chinese.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and genome-wide linkage studies (GWLSs) have identified numerous risk genes affecting the susceptibility to leprosy. However, most of the reported GWAS hits are noncoding variants and account for only part of the estimated heritability for this disease. In order to identify additional risk genes and map the potentially functional variants within the GWAS loci, we performed a three-stage study combining whole-exome sequencing (WES; discovery stage), targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS; screening stage), and refined validation of risk missense variants in 1,433 individuals with leprosy and 1,625 healthy control individuals from Yunnan Province, Southwest China.

The mtDNA replication-related genes TFAM and POLG are associated with leprosy in Han Chinese from Southwest China.

Background: The pathogen Mycobacterium leprae of leprosy is heavily dependent on the host energy metabolites and nutritional products for survival. Previously we and others have identified associations of several mitochondrion-related genes and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number alterations with leprosy and/or its subtype. We hypothesized that genetic variants of mtDNA replication-related genes would affect leprosy.

Common variants in the PARL and PINK1 genes increase the risk to leprosy in Han Chinese from South China.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious and neurological disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an unculturable pathogen with massive genomic decay and dependence on host metabolism. We hypothesized that mitochondrial genes PARL and PINK1 would confer risk to leprosy. Thirteen tag SNPs of PARL and PINK1 were analyzed in 3620 individuals with or without leprosy from China.

Genetic variants of the MAVS, MITA and MFN2 genes are not associated with leprosy in Han Chinese from Southwest China.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), which has massive genomic decay and dependence on host metabolism. Accumulating evidence showed a crucial role of mitochondria in metabolism and innate immunity.

[Content of inorganic elements of Salvia miltiorrhiza root in different area and physicochemical properties of its growing soil].

Objective: To provide basis of environmental factors of genuine crude drug, Salvia miltiorrhiza root.

Method: On-the-spot investigation and indoor chemical analysis were made to study the physicochemical properties of growing soil and content of inorganic elements of S. miltiorrhiza, and obtained data were analysed with SPSS 10.

[Review of germplasm resources studies on Salvia miltiorrhiza].

Research development of germplasm resources of Salvia miltiorrhiza was reviewed in the aspects of species resource, geographic distribution and varieties, biological characters and culture varieties, and cell and tissue culture. It was suggested that more attention be paid to waters-soluble constituents when evaluating the quality of the medicine, and much more basic studies be done in the course of establishing standard plant base for high quality herb and in the aspect of new variety selection.

[Study on the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil of genuine crude and no-enuine crude Chinese Angelica].

Objective: To provide basis for environmental factors of genuine crude Chinese angelica.

Method: On-the-spot investigation and indoor chemical analysis were made to study the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica.

Result And Conclusion: The physical properties and the organic matte and mineral nutrition of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica are best in Min County, Gansu Province.