Development and characterization of a new Bombyx mori cell line for protein expression

Arun M. Khurad,Ravindra S. Bahekar,Min-Juan Zhang,Ashish D. Tiple,Jae Man Lee,Chuan Xi Zhang,Takahiro Kusakabe 한국응용곤충학회 2013 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.16 No.1

A Bombyx mori continuous cell line, designated DZNU-Bm-17, was established from larval ovaries. The cells were initially grown in MGM-448 insect cell culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 3% heat inactivated B. mori hemolymph at 25±1 °C and later adapted gradually to TNM-FH medium. Partially adhered refractive cells were the predominant cell type in the culture. The cells took about 1055 days to complete 100 passages in TNM-FH medium. The population doubling time of the cell line was about 30–34 h at 25±1 °C. The cell population was largely diploid, but a few triploids and tetraploids were also observed. DNA profiles using simple sequence repeat loci established the differences between the DZNU-Bm-1, Bm-5, DZNU-Bm-12, DZNU-Bm-17, and BmN cell lines. The cell line was susceptible to budded virus of B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), and 85–92% of the cells harbored BmNPV with an average of 15 occlusion bodies/infected cell. The cells expressed the luciferase and green fluorescent proteins using the BmNPV bacmid vector.Wesuggest the usefulness of the DZNU-Bm-17 cell line for BmNPV-based baculoviral expression studies.

Long-circulating siRNA nanoparticles for validating Prohibitin1-targeted non-small cell lung cancer treatment

Zhu, Xi,Xu, Yingjie,Solis, Luisa M.,Tao, Wei,Wang, Liangzhe,Behrens, Carmen,Xu, Xiaoyang,Zhao, Lili,Liu, Danny,Wu, Jun,Zhang, Ning,Wistuba, Ignacio I.,Farokhzad, Omid C.,Zetter, Bruce R.,Shi, Jinjun National Academy of Sciences 2015 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF Vol.112 No.25

<P><B>Significance</B></P><P>This study developed a new generation lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticle platform for effective systemic delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to tumors, which represents a challenging hurdle for the widespread application of RNA interference (RNAi) in cancer research and therapy. With promising in vivo features such as long blood circulation, high tumor accumulation, and effective gene silencing, the hybrid siRNA nanoparticles were successfully used to reveal and validate a putative therapeutic target, Prohibitin1 (PHB1), in non-small cell lung cancer treatment. In vivo antitumor efficacy results and human tissue microarray analysis further suggested the feasibility of utilizing PHB1 siRNA nanoparticles as a novel therapeutic agent. This hybrid RNAi nanoparticle platform may serve as a valuable tool for validating potential cancer targets and developing new cancer therapies.</P><P>RNA interference (RNAi) represents a promising strategy for identification and validation of putative therapeutic targets and for treatment of a myriad of important human diseases including cancer. However, the effective systemic in vivo delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to tumors remains a formidable challenge. Using a robust self-assembly strategy, we develop a unique nanoparticle (NP) platform composed of a solid polymer/cationic lipid hybrid core and a lipid-poly(ethylene glycol) (lipid-PEG) shell for systemic siRNA delivery. The new generation lipid–polymer hybrid NPs are small and uniform, and can efficiently encapsulate siRNA and control its sustained release. They exhibit long blood circulation (<I>t</I><SUB>1/2</SUB> ∼8 h), high tumor accumulation, effective gene silencing, and negligible in vivo side effects. With this RNAi NP, we delineate and validate the therapeutic role of Prohibitin1 (PHB1), a target protein that has not been systemically evaluated in vivo due to the lack of specific and effective inhibitors, in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as evidenced by the drastic inhibition of tumor growth upon PHB1 silencing. Human tissue microarray analysis also reveals that high PHB1 tumor expression is associated with poorer overall survival in patients with NSCLC, further suggesting PHB1 as a therapeutic target. We expect this long-circulating RNAi NP platform to be of high interest for validating potential cancer targets in vivo and for the development of new cancer therapies.</P>

Experimental and numerical studies on mechanical behavior of buried pipelines crossing faults

Dan F. Zhang,Xue M. Bie,Xi. Zeng,Zhen. Lei,Guo F. Du 국제구조공학회 2020 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.75 No.1

This paper presents a study on the mechanical behavior of buried pipelines crossing faults using experimental and numerical methods. A self-made soil-box was used to simulate normal fault, strike-slip fault and oblique slip fault. The effects of some important parameters, including the displacement and type of fault, the buried depth and the diameter of pipe, on the deformation modes and axial strain distribution of the buried pipelines crossing faults was studied in the experiment. Furthermore, a finite element analysis (FEA) model of spring boundary was developed to investigate the performance of the buried pipelines crossing faults, and FEA results were compared with experimental results. It is found that the axial strain distribution of those buried pipelines crossing the normal fault and the oblique fault is asymmetrical along the fault plane and that of buried pipelines crossing the strike-slip fault is approximately symmetrical. Additionally, the axial peak strain appears near both sides of the fault and increases with increasing fault displacement. Moreover, the axial strain of the pipeline decreases with decreasing buried depth or increasing ratios of pipe diameter to pipe wall thickness. Compared with the normal fault and the strike-slip fault, the oblique fault is the most harmful to pipelines. Based on the accuracy of the model, the regression equations of the axial distance from the peak axial strain position of the pipeline to the fault under the effects of buried depth, pipe diameter, wall thickness and fault displacement were given.

Taxonomy of fungal complex causing red-skin root of Panax ginseng in China

Xiao H. Lu,Xi M. Zhang,Xiao L. Jiao,Jianjun J. Hao,Xue S. Zhang,Yi Luo,Wei W. Gao 고려인삼학회 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.3

Background: Red-skin root of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) significantly reduces the quality and limits theproduction of ginseng in China. The disease has long been thought to be a noninfectious physiologicaldisease, except one report that proved itwas an infectious disease. However, the causal agents have not beensuccessfully determined. In the present study, we were to reveal the pathogens that cause red-skin disease. Methods: Ginseng roots with red-skin root symptoms were collected from commercial fields in NortheastChina. Fungi were isolated from the lesion and identified based on morphological characters alongwith multilocus sequence analyses on internal transcription spacer, b-tubulin (tub2), histone H3 (his3),and translation elongation factor 1a (tef-1a). Pathogens were confirmed by inoculating the isolates inginseng roots. Results: A total of 230 isolates were obtained from 209 disease samples. These isolates were classifiedinto 12 species, including Dactylonectria sp., D. hordeicola, Fusarium acuminatum, F. avenaceum, F. solani,F. torulosum, Ilyonectria mors-panacis, I. robusta, Rhexocercosporidium panacis, and three novel speciesI. changbaiensis, I. communis, and I. qitaiheensis. Among them, I. communis, I. robusta, and F. solani had thehighest isolation frequencies, being 36.1%, 20.9%, and 23.9%, respectively. All these species isolated werepathogenic to ginseng roots and caused red-skin root disease under appropriate condition. Conclusion: Fungal complex is the causal agent of red-skin root in P. ginseng.

Taxonomy of fungal complex causing red-skin root of Panax ginseng in China

Lu, Xiao H.,Zhang, Xi M.,Jiao, Xiao L.,Hao, Jianjun J.,Zhang, Xue S.,Luo, Yi,Gao, Wei W. The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.3

Background: Red-skin root of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) significantly reduces the quality and limits the production of ginseng in China. The disease has long been thought to be a noninfectious physiological disease, except one report that proved it was an infectious disease. However, the causal agents have not been successfully determined. In the present study, we were to reveal the pathogens that cause red-skin disease. Methods: Ginseng roots with red-skin root symptoms were collected from commercial fields in Northeast China. Fungi were isolated from the lesion and identified based on morphological characters along with multilocus sequence analyses on internal transcription spacer, β-tubulin (tub2), histone H3 (his3), and translation elongation factor 1α (tef-1α). Pathogens were confirmed by inoculating the isolates in ginseng roots. Results: A total of 230 isolates were obtained from 209 disease samples. These isolates were classified into 12 species, including Dactylonectria sp., D. hordeicola, Fusarium acuminatum, F. avenaceum, F. solani, F. torulosum, Ilyonectria mors-panacis, I. robusta, Rhexocercosporidium panacis, and three novel species I. changbaiensis, I. communis, and I. qitaiheensis. Among them, I. communis, I. robusta, and F. solani had the highest isolation frequencies, being 36.1%, 20.9%, and 23.9%, respectively. All these species isolated were pathogenic to ginseng roots and caused red-skin root disease under appropriate condition. Conclusion: Fungal complex is the causal agent of red-skin root in P. ginseng.

DNA Island Formation on Binary Block Copolymer Vesicles

Luo, Qingjie,Shi, Zheng,Zhang, Yitao,Chen, Xi-Jun,Han, Seo-Yeon,Baumgart, Tobias,Chenoweth, David M.,Park, So-Jung American Chemical Society 2016 JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY - Vol.138 No.32

<P>Here, we report DNA-induced polymer segregation and DNA island formation in binary block copolymer assemblies. A DNA diblock copolymer of polymethyl acrylateblock-DNA (PMA-b-DNA) and a triblock copolymer of poly(butadiene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide)-block-DNA (PBD-b-PEO-b-DNA) were synthesized, and each was coassembled with a prototypical amphiphilic polymer of poly(butadiene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PBD-b-PEO). The binary self-assembly of PMA-b-DNA and PBD-b-PEO resulted in giant polymersomes with DNA uniformly distributed in the hydrophilic PEO shell. When giant polymersomes were connected through specific DNA interactions, DNA block copolymers migrated to the junction area, forming DNA islands within polymersomes. These results indicate that DNA hybridization can induce effective lateral polymer segregation in mixed polymer assemblies. The polymer segregation and local DNA enrichment have important implications in DNA melting properties, as mixed block copolymer assemblies with low DNA block copolymer contents can still exhibit useful DNA melting properties that are characteristic of DNA nanostructures with high DNA density.</P>

Multimodal prerehabilitation for elderly patients with sarcopenia in colorectal surgery

Wu Jingting,Chi Hannah,Kok Shawn,Chua Jason M.W.,Huang Xi-Xiao,Zhang Shipin,Mah Shimin,Foo Li-Xin,Peh Hui-Yee,Lee Hui-Bing,Tay Phoebe,Tong Cherie,Ladlad Jasmine,Tan Cheryl H.M.,Khoo Nathanelle,Aw Dari 대한대장항문학회 2024 Annals of Coloproctolgy Vol.40 No.1

Sarcopenia, which is characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, has been well described to be associated with numerous poor postoperative outcomes, such as increased perioperative mortality, postoperative sepsis, prolonged length of stay, increased cost of care, decreased functional outcome, and poorer oncological outcomes in cancer surgery. Multimodal prehabilitation, as a concept that involves boosting and optimizing the preoperative condition of a patient prior to the upcoming stressors of a surgical procedure, has the purported benefits of reversing the effects of sarcopenia, shortening hospitalization, improving the rate of return to bowel activity, reducing the costs of hospitalization, and improving quality of life. This review aims to present the current literature surrounding the concept of sarcopenia, its implications pertaining to colorectal cancer and surgery, a summary of studied multimodal prehabilitation interventions, and potential future advances in the management of sarcopenia.