Monitoring of genetically close Tsaiya duck populations using novel microsatellite markers with high polymorphism

Lai, Fang-Yu,Chang, Yi-Ying,Chen, Yi-Chen,Lin, En-Chung,Liu, Hsiu-Chou,Huang, Jeng-Fang,Ding, Shih-Torng,Wang, Pei-Hwa Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2020 Animal Bioscience Vol.33 No.6

Objective: A set of microsatellite markers with high polymorphism from Tsaiya duck were used for the genetic monitoring and genetic structure analysis of Brown and White Tsaiya duck populations in Taiwan. Methods: The synthetic short tandem repeated probes were used to isolate new microsatellite markers from the genomic DNA of Tsaiya ducks. Eight populations, a total of 566 samples, sourced from Ilan Branch, Livestock Research Institute were genotyped through novel and known markers. The population genetic variables were calculated using optional programs in order to describe and monitor the genetic variability and the genetic structures of these Tsaiya duck populations. Results: In total 24 primer pairs, including 17 novel microsatellite loci from this study and seven previously known loci, were constructed for the detection of genetic variations in duck populations. The average values for the allele number, the effective number of alleles, the observed heterozygosity, the expected heterozygosity, and the polymorphism information content were 11.29, 5.370, 0.591, 0.746, and 0.708, respectively. The results of analysis of molecular variance and principal component analysis indicated a contracting Brown Tsaiya duck cluster and a spreading White Tsaiya duck cluster. The Brown Tsaiya ducks and the White Tsaiya ducks with Pekin ducks were just split to six clusters and three clusters when K was set equal to 6 and 3 in the Bayesian cluster analysis. The individual phylogenetic tree revealed eight taxa, and each individual was assigned to its own population. Conclusion: According to our study, the 24 novel microsatellite markers exhibited a high capacity to analyze relationships of inter- and intra-population in those populations with a relatively limited degree of genetic diversity. We suggest that duck farms in Taiwan could use the new (novel) microsatellite set to monitor the genetic characteristics and structures of their Tsaiya duck populations at various intervals in order to ensure quality breeding and conservation strategies.

Age and Sex Distribution of Chinese Chronic Cough Patients and Their Relationship With Capsaicin Cough Sensitivity

Kefang Lai,Li Long,Fang Yi,Jiaman Tang,Zhe Chen,Fagui Chen,Jianmeng Zhou,Wen Peng,Liting Zhang,Hu Li,Wenzhi Zhan,Ruchong Chen,Wei Luo,Qiaoli Chen,Kian Fan Chung,Nanshan Zhong 대한천식알레르기학회 2019 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.11 No.6

Purpose: An older female predominance has been reported among chronic cough patients in Western countries, which is considered to be associated with a higher cough sensitivity in females. However, the characteristics of Chinese chronic cough patients remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the age and sex distribution as well as their relationship with cough reflex sensitivity to capsaicin in Chinese chronic cough patients. Methods: We analyzed the demographic features of 1,882 consecutive chronic cough patients who attended our cough clinic in Guangzhou, China. Cough sensitivity to capsaicin, which was defined as the lowest concentration of capsaicin causing 5 coughs or more (C5), was measured in 539 of the 1,882 patients and 68 healthy volunteers. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.0 ± 13.7 years and patients aged <50 years accounted for more than two-thirds of the study population. Around 87% of the patients were never-smokers. The proportion of females (51.5%) was almost equal to that of males (48.5%). The pattern of the age and sex distribution was consistently reflected within most common causes of chronic cough, while a female predominance was shown in patients with coughvariant asthma and patients aged ≥50 years. Female patients had higher cough sensitivity to capsaicin than male patients (log C5: 1.58 ± 0.84 vs. 2.04 ± 0.84 μmol/L, P = 0.001), and patients aged ≥50 years had higher cough sensitivity to capsaicin than patients aged <50 years. Conclusions: In China, patients with chronic cough have a roughly equal sex distribution and a middle-aged predominance, irrespective of a higher cough sensitivity to capsaicin in females and older patients.

3D-quantitative structure–activity relationship and antiviral effects of curcumin derivatives as potent inhibitors of infl uenza H1N1 neuraminidase

Yanni Lai,Yiwen Yan,Shanghui Liao,Yun Li,Yi Ye,Ni Liu,Fang Zhao,Peiping Xu 대한약학회 2020 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.43 No.5

Curcumin derivatives have been shown to inhibitreplication of human infl uenza A viruses (IAVs). However, itis not clear whether curcumin and its derivatives can inhibitneuraminidase (NA) of influenza virus. In this study, ameaningful 3D quantitative structure–activity relationshipmodel (comparative molecular fi eld analysis R 2 = 0.997,q 2 = 0.527, s = 0.064, F = 282.663) was built to understandthe chemical–biological interactions between their activitiesand neuraminidase. Molecular docking was used to predictbinding models between curcumin derivatives and neuraminidase. Real-time polymerase chain reactions showed thatthe fi ve active curcumin derivatives might have direct eff ectson viral particle infectivity in H1N1-infected lung epithelial(MDCK) cells. Neuraminidase activation assay showed thatfi ve active curcumin derivatives decreased H1N1-inducedneuraminidase activation in MDCK cells. Indirect immunofluorescence assay indicated that two active curcuminderivatives (tetramethylcurcumin and curcumin) down-regulatedthe nucleoprotein expression. Curcumin inhibited IAVin vivo. The therapeutic mechanism of curcumin in the treatmentof infl uenza viral pneumonia is related to improvingthe immune function of infected mice and regulating secretionof tumor necrosis-α, interleukin-6, and interferon-γ. These results indicate that curcumin derivatives inhibit IAVby blocking neuraminidase in the cellular model and curcuminalso has anti-IAV activity in the animal model.

Expression, Purification and Properties of Shikimate Dehydrogenase from Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Xue Lian Zhang,Shun Bao Zhang,Fang Hao,Xu Hui Lai,Hai Dong Yu,Yi Shu Huang,Hong Hai Wang 한국생활환경학회 2005 BMB Reports Vol.38 No.5

Isoamylamine Induces B16-F1 Melanoma Cell Autophagy by Upregulating the 5′ Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Pathway

Yen-Chun Peng,Soo-Ray Wang,Yi-Fang Lai,Nu-Man Tsai,Keh-Liang Lin,Shyh-Jye Lin,Tzi-Peng Yang 한국식품영양과학회 2021 Journal of medicinal food Vol.24 No.2

Isoamylamine (IA) is an aliphatic monoamine molecule present in cheese, eggs, and wine. It belongs to the family of polyamines and also can be synthesized endogenously. It has been known that regulation of polyamines in cells is related to cell cycle and tumor formation. Malignant melanoma is difficult to treat and easily resistant to chemotherapy/radiotherapy through autophagy. In this study, we aim to clarify whether IA has a growth control effect on melanoma tumor cells and the regulatory mechanism. We treated B16-F1 melanoma cells with IA at concentrations of 0, 200, 400, and 600 ppm for 24 h. The 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was checked for cell viability and results showed that IA has an inhibitory effect on B16-F1 melanoma cells. The signaling molecules, which included Raf/MEK/ERK, were activated, while MSK1 and protein kinase B (AKT) were suppressed. Autophagy was also confirmed to be induced by IA. The acridine orange stain-positive cells were increased and BECN-1/LC3 upregulated. The data also showed that the autophagy regulatory molecule, 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), was induced after IA treatment, so we used dorsomorphin to inhibit AMPK and found that it could suppress autophagy. In conclusion, IA has an effect of inducing autophagy in B16-F1 cells and it is regulated through AMPK.

Cough Inhibition Activity of Schisandra chinensis in Guinea Pigs

Shan Zhong,Li-Ping Bai,Xiao-Dong Liu,Die-Yi Cai,Lee-Fong Yau,Chu-Qin Huang,Jia-Qi Zhang,Ke-Fang Lai,Nan-Shan Zhong 한국식품영양과학회 2021 Journal of medicinal food Vol.24 No.4

Chronic cough is very common in respiratory clinics, and no effective drugs are available. Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (S. chinensis), an important traditional Chinese medicine, has been extensively prescribed for patients with a persistent cough. Preliminary research indicated that 95% ethanol extracts (EE) of S. chinensis showed remarkable antitussive activity in guinea pigs exposed to cigarette smoke (CS). To find out the antitussive ingredients of S. chinensis, EE was divided into four fractions according to the polarity: petroleum ether extract (PEE), ethyl acetate extract (ECE), n-butyl alcohol extract, and residue extract. The antitussive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of the four fractions were evaluated in a guinea pig model of cough hypersensitivity induced by CS exposure. Eighteen main constituents of the two effective fractions, PEE and ECE, were identified using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography electronic spray ion time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The cough inhibition activities of compound 1, 3, 9, 10, 17 were evaluated on citric acid induced acute cough guinea pigs. The results showed that the antitussive activity of EE was almost all contained in PEE and ECE. The 16 major peaks in PEE were identified as 15 lignans (1–12 and 14–16) and 1 triterpene (compound 13), and 3 major peaks (1, 17, and 18) in ECE were also identified as lignans. Three doses of five compounds brought about a significant decrease in number of cough efforts (P < .01), and the cough inhibition rates were between 40.9% and 85.1%. Therefore, lignans are the antitussive ingredients of S. chinensis.