Synthesis and characterization of cisplatin-loaded, EGFR-targeted biopolymer and in vitro evaluation for targeted delivery.

The design of smart targeted drug delivery systems that deliver drugs to specific cancer cells will give rise to cancer treatments with better efficacy and lower toxicity levels. We report the development and characterizations of maleimide-functionalized biopolymer (Mal-PGA-Asp) as an effective targeted drug delivery carrier synthesized from an amidation reaction between aspartylated PGA (PGA-Asp) and N-(maleimidohexanoyl)-ethylenediamine (NME). The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting peptide (TP13) was conjugated to Mal-PGA-Asp to obtain the targeting carrier (TP13-Mal-PGA-Asp).

Protective effect of recombinant human glucagon-like peptide-1 (rhGLP-1) pretreatment in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

Human glucagon-like peptide-1 (hGLP-1) and its mimetics have emerged as therapies for type 2 diabetes. However, clinical treatment of diabetes with hGLP-1 is ineffective because of rapid DPPIV-mediated hGLP-1 degradation in the circulation. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of recombinant human glucagon-like peptide-1 (rhGLP-1) treatment on STZ-induced diabetic mice.

Identification of differentially expressed genes induced by Bamboo mosaic virus infection in Nicotiana benthamiana by cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism.

Background: The genes of plants can be up- or down-regulated during viral infection to influence the replication of viruses. Identification of these differentially expressed genes could shed light on the defense systems employed by plants and the mechanisms involved in the adaption of viruses to plant cells. Differential gene expression in Nicotiana benthamiana plants in response to infection with Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) was revealed using cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP).

Addition of a cysteine to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) conjugates GLP-1 to albumin in serum and prolongs GLP-1 action in vivo.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a promising new therapeutic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, GLP-1 has a short half-life (t(1/)(2)<2min) due to rapid degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase IV in vivo. To circumvent this problem, a recombinant mGLP-1 with a cysteine at the C-terminus of GLP-1 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity and reverse-phase chromatography.

Commensal bacteria regulate Toll-like receptor 3-dependent inflammation after skin injury.

The normal microflora of the skin includes staphylococcal species that will induce inflammation when present below the dermis but are tolerated on the epidermal surface without initiating inflammation. Here we reveal a previously unknown mechanism by which a product of staphylococci inhibits skin inflammation. This inhibition is mediated by staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and acts selectively on keratinocytes triggered through Toll-like receptor 3(TLR3).

[Preparation and biological activity of poly (gamma-glutamic acid) -cisplatin conjugate].

Preparation of a poly (gamma-glutamic acid)-cisplatin conjugate was introduced and its in vitro antitumor effect was investigated. Poly (gamma-glutamic acids) was obtained by using fermentation methods. The hydrolyzed small molecular weight of poly (gamma-glutamic acids) was prepared by acid hydrolysis.

Detection of mutant p53 protein in workers occupationally exposed to benzidine.

To investigate the expression of mutant p53 protein in workers occupationally exposed to benzidine, we detected mutant p53 protein by immuno-PCR assay in the serum of 331 benzidine-exposed healthy workers, while we classified exfoliated urothelial cells in urine samples with Papanicoloau's grading (PG). The Papanicoloau's grading classified exfoliated urothelial cells of the subjects from grade I (normal cells) to grade III (suspicious malignant cells). The subjects were also divided into high, medium and low exposure groups according to the exposure intensity index.

Functional and structural characterization of recombinant dermcidin-1L, a human antimicrobial peptide.

Antimicrobial peptides from human skin are an important component of the innate immune response and play a key role as a first line of defense against infections. One such peptide is the recently discovered dermcidin-1L. To better understand its mechanism and to further investigate its antimicrobial spectrum, recombinant dermcidin-1L was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein and purified by affinity chromatography.

[The use of gene chip in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to rifampin and isoniazid].

Objective: To study the application of gene chip in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to rifampin (RFP) and isoniazid (INH).

Methods: Probes were designed and the gene chip was fabricated according to the 30 single nucleotide polymorphisms of 11 mutations on 4 genes associated with RFP and INH resistance. The mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis were detected by gene chip to analyze the resistance to INH and RFP.

A new approach to random mutagenesis in vitro.

Random mutagenesis is a powerful tool for studying the effects of a large number of permutations of a particular DNA sequence and its encoded products. Here we describe a new strategy of conducting in vitro random mutagenesis using ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). The Bacillus aprN18 gene, coding for a serine protease with fibrinolytic activity, was used as a target gene.

[Screening and identification of egg mimotope of Schistosoma japonicum].

Objective: To explore egg mimotope of Schistosoma japonicum that can be used in the development of diagnostic reagents for schistosomiasis.

Methods: By performing three rounds of biopanning in the affinity selection before picking out single clones for identification, target specific phages were effectively enriched from a random 15-peptides phage library with an immobilized mAb 6B12 which is specific to egg antigen of S. japonicum as a bait.