RV-23, a Melittin-Related Peptide with Cell-Selective Antibacterial Activity and High Hemocompatibility

( Shi Kun Zhang ),( Qian Ma ),( Su Bo Li ),( Hong Wei Gao ),( Ying Xia Tan ),( Feng Gong ),( Shou Ping Ji ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2016 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.26 No.6

RV-23 is a melittin-related antibacterial peptide (MRP) with lower cytotoxicity than either melittin or AR-23, another MRP. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism of RV- 23`s antibacterial selectivity and its hemocompatibility. The results showed that all the peptides exhibited lytic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with RV-23 showing the highest potency. Moreover, RV-23 had lower cytotoxicity than melittin or AR-23 at their minimal inhibitory concentration. In addition, CD experiments showed that melittin, RV-23, and AR-23 all had a typical α-helical structure, and RV-23 had the lowest α-helix content. The structural information showed that RV-23 has the lowest hydrophobicity and highest hydrophobic moment. Because hydrophobicity and α-helix content are believed to correlate with hemolysis, the results indicate that the selective lytic activity against bacteria of RV-23 may be due to its low hydrophobicity and α-helicity, which lead to low cytotoxicity without affecting antibacterial activity. Furthermore, RV-23 did not affect the structure and function of blood components such as red blood cells, platelets, albumin, and the blood coagulation system. In conclusion, RV-23 is a cell-selective antibacterial peptide with high hemocompatibility due to its unique structure.

Coefficient of Restitution and Kinetic Energy Loss of Rockfall Impacts

Li-Ping Li,Shang-qu Sun,Shucai Li,Qian-qing Zhang,Cong Hu,Shao-shuai Shi 대한토목학회 2016 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.20 No.6

This paper presents the results of the coefficient of restitution and the kinetic energy loss rate obtained by lab experiment, two parameters that are crucial for rockfall impact. However, various definitions of coefficient of restitution exist and the most appropriate one is still not formed and obtained. In addition, the energy variation during the rockfall impacts has important significance in practical design. In this research, two kind shapes of blocks including plate and strip were adopted in the laboratory testing and the block material was tested before, indicating that the material has sufficient strength to prevent shattering during the impact. Furthermore, an apparatus specifically built for this study was established including a base, a slope and a releasing device. The falling testing was performed using plate and strip block while the falling height as well as the slope angle and releasing height were altered during the tests in order to estimate the effect of each parameter on the coefficients of restitution and energy loss rate. It was observed that collision reflection angle is less than impact angle for all, suggesting energy loss in collision. Impact angle decreases with increasing slope angle while there was no obvious effect of releasing height and releasing angle on impact angle. The relevant coefficient of restitution was found to decrease with impact angle, and the kinetic energy loss rate increased. Finally, the kinetic energy before and after the impact was found to significantly affect the COR and energy loss rate and the results can provide basis for mitigation measures.

Risk assessment of water inrush in karst tunnels based on a modified grey evaluation model: Sample as Shangjiawan Tunnel

Yuan, Yong-cai,Li, Shu-cai,Zhang, Qian-qing,Li, Li-ping,Shi, Shao-shuai,Zhou, Zong-qing Techno-Press 2016 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.11 No.4

A modified grey clustering method is presented to systematically evaluate the risk of water inrush in karst tunnels. Based on the center triangle whitenization weight function and upper and lower limit measure whitenization weight function, the modified grey evaluation model doesn't have the crossing properties of grey cluster and meets the standard well. By adsorbing and integrating the previous research results, seven influence factors are selected as evaluation indexes. A couple of evaluation indexes are modified and quantitatively graded according to four risk grades through expert evaluation method. The weights of evaluation indexes are rationally distributed by the comprehensive assignment method. It is integrated by the subjective factors and the objective factors. Subjective weight is given based on analytical hierarchy process, and objective weight obtained from simple dependent function. The modified grey evaluation model is validated by Jigongling Tunnel. Finally, the water inrush risk of Shangjiawan Tunnel is evaluated by using the established model, and the evaluation result obtained from the proposed method is agrees well with practical situation. This risk assessment methodology provides a powerful tool with which planners and engineers can systematically assess the risk of water inrush in karst tunnels.

Investigation on the interactions of scutellarin and scutellarein with bovine serum albumin using spectroscopic and molecular docking techniques

Hao Tang,Nian-Guang Li,Zhi-Hao Shi,Yu-Ping Tang,Qian-Ping Shi,Ze-Xi Dong,Peng-Xuan Zhang,Jin-ao Duan 대한약학회 2015 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.38 No.10

The binding abilities of scutellarin (Scu) andscutellarein (Scue) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) wereinvestigated using equilibrium dialysis, high performanceliquid chromatography, fluorescence spectroscopy, competitivesite marker and molecular docking. The resultsshowed that the average protein binding ratios of Scu andScue with BSA were (79.85 ± 1.83) and (85.49 ± 1.21) %respectively. Under simulated physiological conditions, thefluorescence data indicated that Scu and Scue bound withBSA through a static mechanism. The thermodynamicparameters indicated that the interactions of Scu-BSA andScue-BSA mainly occurred by van der Waals forces andhydrogen bonds and it was easier for Scue to bind withBSA than Scu, indicating that the glucuronic acid moleculein Scu decreased the binding affinity. Site competitivemarker experiments showed that the binding sites of Scuand Scue mainly located within the sub-domain IIA ofBSA. Furthermore, molecular docking studies indicatedthat one BSA could bind three Scue, while one BSA couldcarry only two Scu. All these results clearly indicated theinteractions of Scu and Scue with BSA, which will lay thefoundation for further research to determine the pharmacologyand pharmacodynamics of Scu and Scue for treatingischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Plasma Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor and CCL3 as Potential Biomarkers for Distinguishing Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma from High-Risk Individuals Who Have Positive Epstein-Barr Virus Capsid Antigen-Specific IgA

Ning Xue,Jian-Hua Lin,Shan Xing,Dan Liu,Shi-Bing Li,Yan-Zhen Lai,Xue-Ping Wang,Min-Jie Mao,Qian Zhong,Mu-Sheng Zeng,Wan-Li Liu 대한암학회 2019 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.51 No.1

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify novel plasma biomarkers for distinguishing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients from healthy individuals who have positive Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral capsid antigen (VCA-IgA). Materials and Methods One hundred seventy-four plasma cytokines were analyzed by a Cytokine Array in eight healthy individuals with positive EBV VCA-IgA and eight patients with NPC. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunohistochemistry were employed to detect the expression levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and CC chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) in NPC cell lines and tumor tissues. Plasma MIF and CCL3 were measured by ELISA in 138 NPC patients, 127 EBV VCA-IgA negative (VN) and 100 EBV VCA-IgA positive healthy donors (VP). Plasma EBV VCA-IgA was determined by immunoenzymatic techniques. Results Thirty-four of the 174 cytokines varied significantly between the VP and NPC group. Plasma MIF and CCL3 were significantly elevated in NPC patients compared with VN and VP. Combination of MIF and CCL3 could be used for the differential diagnosis of NPC from VN cohort (area under the curve [AUC], 0.913; sensitivity, 90.00%; specificity, 80.30%), and combination of MIF, CCL3, and VCA-IgA could be used for the differential diagnosis of NPC from VP cohort (AUC, 0.920; sensitivity, 90.00%; specificity, 84.00%), from (VN+VP) cohort (AUC, 0.961; sensitivity, 90.00%; specificity, 92.00%). Overexpressions of MIF and CCL3 were observed in NPC plasma, NPC cell lines and NPC tissues. Conclusion Plasma MIF, CCL3, and VCA-IgA combination significantly improves the diagnostic specificity of NPC in high-risk individuals.

Nutrigenomics reveals potential genetic underpinning of diverse taste preference of Chinese men

Zhouhai Zhu,Junpu Mei,Silong Sun,Sheming Lu,Meng Li,Ying Guan,Ying Chen,Yuqiong Xu,Tao Zhang,Fengxue Shi,Xuemei Li,Mingming Miao,Shancen Zhao,Qian Gao,Qili Mi,Ping Tang,Jianhua Yao 한국유전학회 2021 Genes & Genomics Vol.43 No.6

Background Taste preference varies geographically in China. However, studies on Chinese people’s taste preference in different regions of China are limited, and are lack of research on the mechanism of diferences in taste preference, especially in genetics. Objective This study aims to investigate the characteristics of taste preference of Chinese men, and estimate whether diverse taste preference in Chinese have genetic underpinning. Methods We conducted a questionnaire survey on taste preferences on 1076 males from 10 regions of China, and collected another 1427 males from the same regions which genotyped by microarray. We compared the correlation between diferent taste preference, and evaluated the correlation between the mutation frequency of inhouse database and diferent taste preference. The putative taste-preference-related genes were further utilized to estimate the candidate relationship on gene and gene network in diferent taste preference. Results There was a correlation between diferent taste preferences in Chinese men. We found 31 SNPs associated with 6 kind of taste preferences. These SNPs located within or nearby 36 genes, and the tastes associated with 4 of these genes (TRPV1, AGT, ASIC2 and GLP1R) are consistent with the previous studies. Moreover, in diferent tastes which were suggested to be associated with each other, some putative related genes were the same or in the same gene network, such as pathways related with blood pressure, response to stimulus and nervous system. Conclusions This study indicates that the diverse taste preference of Chinese men may have genetic underpinning.

Differential Impacts on Bacterial Composition and Abundance in Rhizosphere Compartments between Al-Tolerant and Al-Sensitive Soybean Genotypes in Acidic Soil

Wen Zhong-Ling,Yang Min-Kai,Fazal Aliya,Liao Yong-Hui,Cheng Lin-Run,Hua Xiao-Mei,Hu Dong-Qing,Shi Ji-Sen,Yang Rong-Wu,Lu Gui-Hua,Qi Jin-Liang,Zhi Hong,Qian Qiu-Ping,Yang Yong-Hua 한국미생물·생명공학회 2020 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.30 No.8

In this study, two soybean genotypes, i.e., aluminum-tolerant Baxi 10 (BX10) and aluminumsensitive Bendi 2 (BD2), were used as plant materials and acidic red soil was used as growth medium. The soil layers from the inside to the outside of the root are: rhizospheric soil after washing (WRH), rhizospheric soil after brushing (BRH) and rhizospheric soil at two sides (SRH), respectively. The rhizosphere bacterial communities were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of V4 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA gene amplicons via Illumina MiSeq. The results of alpha diversity analysis showed that the BRH and SRH of BX10 were significantly lower in community richness than that of BD2, while the WRH exhibited no significant difference between BX10 and BD2. Among the three sampling compartments of the same soybean genotype, WRH had the lowest community richness and diversity while showing the highest coverage. Beta diversity analysis results displayed no significant difference for any compartment between the two genotypes, or among the three different sampling compartments for any same soybean genotype. However, the relative abundance of major bacterial taxa, specifically nitrogen-fixing and/or aluminum-tolerant bacteria, was significantly different in the compartments of the BRH and/or SRH at phylum and genus levels, indicating genotype-dependent variations in rhizosphere bacterial communities. Strikingly, as compared with BRH and SRH, the WRH within the same genotype (BX10 or BD2) always had an enrichment effect on rhizosphere bacteria associated with nitrogen fixation