Microbial Ecology and Diversity : Impact of Diet in Shaping Gut Microbiota Revealed by a Comparative Study in Infants During the First Six Months of Life

( Wen Guang Fan ),( Gui Cheng Huo ),( Xiao Min Li ),( Li Jie Yang ),( Cui Cui Duan ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.2

The development of the gut is controlled and modulated by different interacting mechanisms, such as genetic endowment, intrinsic biological regulatory functions, environment influences and last but no least, the diet influence. In this work, we compared the fecal microbiota of breast-fed (BF), formula-fed (FF), and mixed-fed (MF) infants from Hebei Province, China. By using high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing analyses, we found some differences in gut microbiota in the three groups. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the dominant bacteria at the phylum level in the three groups, where FF infants showed a significant depletion in Bacteroidetes (p < 0.001) and Actinobacteria (p < 0.05). Enterobacteriaceae was the dominant bacteria at the family level in the three groups, but FF infants showed higher Enterobacteriaceae enrichment than BF and MF infants (p < 0.05); the abundance of the Bifidobacteriaceae was only 8.16% in the feces of BF infants, but higher than in MF and FF infants (p < 0.05). The number of genera detected (abundance >0.01%) in BF, MF, and FF infants was only 15, 16, and 13, respectively. This study could provide more accurate and scientific data for the future study of infant intestinal flora.

Multiple Circles Detection in Complex Scenes

Chu Guangli,Wang Yanjie,Sun Honghai,Fan Bo,Wen Zhuoman 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Vol.11 No.1

To solve the problem that the conventional circle detection algorithm has low processing speed and poor identification accuracy in presence of overlap of objects, a novel multiple circles detection algorithm is proposed. Firstly, the consecutive edges with single pixel are obtained through an edge tracking method. Moreover, the edges of overlaid objects are extracted from the cross section according to the linear projection method. Secondly, a large number of non-circular edges are excluded by utilizing a coarse detection that decides whether four points on an edge are on the same circle or not. Lastly, the circles are recognized by the fine detection according to the geometrical feature which two subarcs belonging to one circle have the same center and radius. The experimental results demonstrate that the algorithm is superior in speed, precision and accuracy, comparing to the conventional ones, such as Hough transform circle detection and randomized circle detection. Furthermore, it can solve the issues from overlap of objects and accurately identify the multiple circular objects in the complex scenes as well. The algorithm is concise, fast and robust.

Vimentin Is Involved in Peptidylarginine Deiminase 2-Induced Apoptosis of Activated Jurkat Cells

Pei-Chen Hsu,Ya-Fan Liao,Chin-Li Lin,Wen-Hao Lin,Guang-Yaw Liu,Hui-Chih Hung 한국분자세포생물학회 2014 Molecules and cells Vol.37 No.5

Peptidylarginine deiminase type 2 (PADI2) deiminates (or citrullinates) arginine residues in protein to citrulline residues in a Ca2+-dependent manner, and is found in lymphocytes and macrophages. Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein and a well-known substrate of PADI2. Citrullinated vimentin is found in ionomycin-induced macrophage apoptosis. Citrullinated vimentin is the target of anti-Sa antibodies, which are specific to rheumatoid arthritis, and play a critical role in the pathogenesis of the dis-ease. To investigate the role of PADI2 in apoptosis, we generated a Jurkat cell line that overexpressed the PADI2 transgene from a tetracycline-inducible promoter, and used a combination of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and ionomycin to activate Jurkat cells. We found that PADI2 overexpression reduced the cell viability of activated Jurkat cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The PADI2-overexpressed and -activated Jurkat cells presented typical manifestations of apoptosis, and exhibited greater levels of citrullinated proteins, including citrullinated vimentin. Vimentin overexpression rescued a portion of the cells from apoptosis. In conclusion, PADI2 overexpression induces apoptosis in activated Jurkat cells. Vimentin is involved in PADI2-induced apoptosis. Moreover, PADI2-overexpressed Jurkat cells secreted greater levels of vimentin after activation, and expressed more vimentin on their cell surfaces when undergoing apoptosis. Through artificially highlighting PADI2 and vimentin, we demonstrated that PADI2 and vimentin participate in the apoptotic mechanisms of activated T lymphocytes. The secretion and surface expression of vimentin are possible ways of autoantigen presentation to the immune system.

Disease vector occurrence and ecological characteristics of chiggers on the chestnut white-bellied rat Niviventer fulvescens in Southwest China between 2001 and 2019

Yan-Ling Chen,Xian-Guo Guo,Wen-Yu Song,Tian-Guang Ren,Lei Zhang,Rong Fan,Cheng-Fu Zhao,Zhi-Wei Zhang,Wenge Dong,Xiao-Bin Huang,Dao-chao Jin 대한기생충학ㆍ열대의학회 2023 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.61 No.3

Chigger mites are the vector of scrub typhus. This study estimates the infestation status and ecological characteristics of chiggers on the chestnut white-bellied rat Niviventer fulvescens in Southwest China between 2001 and 2019. Chiggers were identified under the microscope, and infestation indices were calculated. The Preston’s log-normal model was used to fit the curve of species abundance distribution. A total of 6,557 chiggers were collected in 136 of 342 N. fulvescens rats, showing high overall infestation indices (prevalence=39.8%, mean abundance=19.2, mean intensity=48.2) and high species diversity (S =100, H’=3.0). Leptotrombidium cangjiangense, Neotrombicula japonica, and Ascoschoengastia sifanga were the three dominant chigger species (constituent ratio=42.9%; 2,736/6,384) and exhibited an aggregated distribution among different rat individuals. We identified 100 chigger species, with 3 of them (Leptotrombidium scutellare, Leptotrombidium wenense, and Leptotrombidium deliense) as the main vectors of scrub typhus in China and nine species as potential vectors of this disease. Disease vector occurrence on N. fulvescens may increase the risk of spreading scrub typhus from rats to humans. Chigger infestation on N. fulvescens varied significantly in different environments. The species abundance distribution showed a log-normal distribution pattern. The estimated number of chigger species on N. fulvescens was 126 species.

Vimentin Is Involved in Peptidylarginine Deiminase 2-Induced Apoptosis of Activated Jurkat Cells

Hsu, Pei-Chen,Liao, Ya-Fan,Lin, Chin-Li,Lin, Wen-Hao,Liu, Guang-Yaw,Hung, Hui-Chih Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2014 Molecules and cells Vol.37 No.5

Peptidylarginine deiminase type 2 (PADI2) deiminates (or citrullinates) arginine residues in protein to citrulline residues in a $Ca^{2+}$-dependent manner, and is found in lymphocytes and macrophages. Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein and a well-known substrate of PADI2. Citrullinated vimentin is found in ionomycin-induced macrophage apoptosis. Citrullinated vimentin is the target of anti-Sa antibodies, which are specific to rheumatoid arthritis, and play a critical role in the pathogenesis of the disease. To investigate the role of PADI2 in apoptosis, we generated a Jurkat cell line that overexpressed the PADI2 transgene from a tetracycline-inducible promoter, and used a combination of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and ionomycin to activate Jurkat cells. We found that PADI2 overexpression reduced the cell viability of activated Jurkat cells in1a dose- and time-dependent manner. The PADI2-overexpressed and -activated Jurkat cells presented typical manifestations of apoptosis, and exhibited greater levels of citrullinated proteins, including citrullinated vimentin. Vimentin overexpression rescued a portion of the cells from apoptosis. In conclusion, PADI2 overexpression induces apoptosis in activated Jurkat cells. Vimentin is involved in PADI2-induced apoptosis. Moreover, PADI2-overexpressed Jurkat cells secreted greater levels of vimentin after activation, and expressed more vimentin on their cell surfaces when undergoing apoptosis. Through artificially highlighting PADI2 and vimentin, we demonstrated that PADI2 and vimentin participate in the apoptotic mechanisms of activated T lymphocytes. The secretion and surface expression of vimentin are possible ways of autoantigen presentation to the immune system.

Transcriptome Network Analysis Reveals Potential Candidate Genes for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Ma, Zheng,Guo, Wei,Niu, Hui-Jun,Yang, Fan,Wang, Ru-Wen,Jiang, Yao-Guang,Zhao, Yun-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.3

The esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. Understanding molecular changes in ESCC should improve identification of risk factors with different molecular subtypes and provide potential targets for early detection and therapy. Our study aimed to obtain a molecular signature of ESCC through the regulation network based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We used the GSE23400 series to identify potential genes related to ESCC. Based on bioinformatics we constructed a regulation network. From the results, we could establish that many transcription factors and pathways closely related with ESCC were linked by our method. STAT1 also arose as a hub node in our transcriptome network, along with some transcription factors like CCNB1, TAP1, RARG and IFITM1 proven to be related with ESCC by previous studies. In conclusion, our regulation network provided information on important genes which might be useful in investigating the complex interacting mechanisms underlying the disease.

Liposomal honokiol, a potent anti-angiogenesis agent, in combination with radiotherapy produces a synergistic antitumor efficacy without increasing toxicity

Jia Hu,Li Liu,Xiang Chen,Ping Chen,Guang-li Yang,Wen-li Hou,Ming-hai Tang,Fan Zhang,Xian-huo Wang,Xia Zhao,Yu-quan Wei,Li-juan Chen 생화학분자생물학회 2008 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.40 No.6

Honokiol is an active compound purified from magnolia that has been shown to induce cell differentiation, apoptosis, and anti-angiogenesis effects, as well as an enhancement in tumor growth delay in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in several mouse xenograft models. Our goal was to investigate the radiosensitization effect of honokiol on lung carcinoma. The radiosensitization effect of liposomal honokiol in Lewis lung carcinoma cells (LL/2) was analyzed using an in vitro clonogenic survival assay. For an in vivo study, Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing C57BL/6 mice were treated with either liposomal honokiol at 25 mg/kg or 5 Gy of single tumor radiation, or a combination of both over 12 days of treatment. The tumor growth delay and the survival time were evaluated. In addition, histological analysis of tumor sections was performed to examine changes by detecting the microvessel density and apoptosis in tumor tissues. In the clonogenic survival assay, LL/2 cells treated with IC50 Lipo-HNK for 24 h showed a radiation enhancement ratio of 1.9. After 12 days of combination treatment, the tumor volume decreased 78% and produced an anti-tumor activity 1.3-fold greater than a predicted additive effect of honokiol and radiation alone. This combination treatment also caused an 8.7 day delay in tumor growth. The cell cycle distribution and histological analysis demonstrated that liposomal honokiol has an anti-tumor effect via inducing apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis. Liposomal honokiol can enhance tumor cell radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo, indicating that radiotherapy combined with liposomal honokiol can lead to greater anti-tumor efficacy. Honokiol is an active compound purified from magnolia that has been shown to induce cell differentiation, apoptosis, and anti-angiogenesis effects, as well as an enhancement in tumor growth delay in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in several mouse xenograft models. Our goal was to investigate the radiosensitization effect of honokiol on lung carcinoma. The radiosensitization effect of liposomal honokiol in Lewis lung carcinoma cells (LL/2) was analyzed using an in vitro clonogenic survival assay. For an in vivo study, Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing C57BL/6 mice were treated with either liposomal honokiol at 25 mg/kg or 5 Gy of single tumor radiation, or a combination of both over 12 days of treatment. The tumor growth delay and the survival time were evaluated. In addition, histological analysis of tumor sections was performed to examine changes by detecting the microvessel density and apoptosis in tumor tissues. In the clonogenic survival assay, LL/2 cells treated with IC50 Lipo-HNK for 24 h showed a radiation enhancement ratio of 1.9. After 12 days of combination treatment, the tumor volume decreased 78% and produced an anti-tumor activity 1.3-fold greater than a predicted additive effect of honokiol and radiation alone. This combination treatment also caused an 8.7 day delay in tumor growth. The cell cycle distribution and histological analysis demonstrated that liposomal honokiol has an anti-tumor effect via inducing apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis. Liposomal honokiol can enhance tumor cell radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo, indicating that radiotherapy combined with liposomal honokiol can lead to greater anti-tumor efficacy.

Three New 29 Carbon Skeletons Pentacyclic Triterpenoids and S-equol from Biogas Slurry

Jian-Feng Xu,Hui-Bin Wu,Ding-Cai Liu,Long Sha,Wen-Hui Wu,Hua Fan,Yishan Song,Hong-Guang Zhu 대한화학회 2015 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.36 No.12

Bioactive natural products were firstly obtained from biogas slurry. Three new 29 carbon skeletons of the pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds 24-norolean-12-ene-3,22-dione (1), 3β-hydroxy-24-norolean-12-ene-22-one (2), 3α-hydroxy-24-norolean-12-ene-22-one (3), as well as one known compound S-equol (4) were isolated and purified from the MeOH extract of chicken manure biogas slurry. The molecular structures of the four compounds were elucidated based on the extensive spectroscopic data analysis, and the structure of Compound 1 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures of Compounds 1, 2, and 3 are similar with oleanolicum and hederagenin that has excellent anti-tumor activities. The cytotoxicity against five cancer cell lines (Hela, A549, MCF7, PC3, and B16) of Compounds 1–4 was tested. Similar to Compound 4 (S-equol), Compounds 1–3 (pentacyclic triterpenoids) showed cytotoxicity activity against different tumor cell lines. Compounds 1–3 showed slightly lower cytotoxicity activities than Compound 4. The IC50 of Compound 4 was determined to be 9.7–27.6 μM, while the IC50 values of 1–3 were 17.6–65.3 μM. There are no significant differences in the cytotoxicity capacities between Compounds 1, 2, and 3.