Molecular modeling on some human interleukins sharing gamma c of interleukin-2 receptor, and structure-function relationships

Five models for human interleukin-7 (HIL-7), HIL-9, HIL-13, HIL-15 and HIL-17 have been generated by SYBYL software package. The primary models were optimized using molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics methods. The final models were optimized using a steepest descent algorithm and a subsequent conjugate gradient method. The complexes with these interleukins and the common gamma chain of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) were constructed and subjected to energy minimization. We found residues, such as Gln127 and Tyr103, of the common gamma chain of IL-2R are very important. Other residues, e.g. Lys70, Asn128 and Glu162, are also significant. Four hydrophobic grooves and two hydrophilic sites converge at the active site triad of the gamma chain. The binding sites of these interleukins interaction with the common gamma chain exist in the first helical and/or the fourth helical domains. Therefore, we conclude that these interleukins binds to the common gamma chain of IL-2R by the first and the fourth helix domain. Especially at the binding sites of some residues (lysine, arginine, asparagine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid), with a discontinuous region of the common gamma chain of IL-2R, termed the interleukins binding sites (103-210). The study of these sites can be important for the development of new drugs. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

High prevalence of HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus coinfection among injection drug users in the southeastern region of Yunnan, China

The southeastern region of Yunnan province is a key site for drug trafficking and HIV-1 infection spread from the west of Yunnan and Laos to southeastern China. To investigate the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection among injection drug users (IDUs) in southeastern Yunnan, three cohorts of 285 addicts, including 242 IDUs and 43 oral drug users, living in the cities of Gejiu and Kaiyuan and the county of Yanshan were studied. HIV-1 and HCV infections were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and/or polymerase chain reaction. Data on the age, sex, risk behavior, drug use history, employment, ethnic background, and marriage status were obtained by interview. The overall prevalence of HIV-1 infection was 71.9%. The rate of HCV coinfection among 138 HIV-1-infected IDUs was 99.3%. Most HIV-infected IDUs were 20 to 35 years old (86.7%) and were ethnic Han (75.9%), suggesting that the epidemic in Yunnan is no longer confined to non-Han ethnic minorities, HIV prevalence in female IDUs (81.2%) was significantly higher than in male IDUs (68.2%) (p <.05). The prevalence of HIV infection reached 68.4% after 1 year of injection drug use. Needle/syringe sharing is the major high risk factor for the spread of HIV-1 and HCV infections. Large-scale educational campaigns are urgently needed to reduce the spread of HIV and HCV infection in these regions.

饲料中不同维生素C含量对长吻的影响

用维生素C含量为38、364和630mg/kg的三种饲料饲喂初体重为(23.19±0.58)g的长吻8个月,实验结果表明,38mg/kgVC饲料组饲喂的长吻表现出了典型的VC缺乏症状:体色发黑,脊椎侧弯,鳍边由开始的萎缩直到腐烂、贫血、特定生长率显著降低(p<0.05)。并且38mg/kgVC饲料组长吻的生理指标也受到影响:血清溶菌酶活性显著下降(p<0.05),肝脏的SOD活性及MDA含量均显著升高(p<0.05),血清皮质醇没有显著差异(p>0.05),但各处理组长吻肝脏中均未检测到诱导型HS

低C/N对湿地中硝化反硝化作用的影响

通过监测几种形态氮的变化,研究了人工湿地小试系统在不同浓度和低C/N条件下的除氮效果和反硝化途径.结果发现,湿地对浓度为5.5～50.5mg/L的NH4+-N有很好的去除效果,去除率可达95%以上.在此浓度范围内,NH4+-N的进、出水浓度呈线性关系,R2值为0.9971.当进水含氮量低于16.4mg/L时,湿地的除氮效率随进水浓度的增加而明显增加.进水含氮量为16.4～51.4mg/L时,湿地的除氮效率为85%以上,且浓度对去除率无显著影响.当C/N<1时,湿地系统对总氮的去除率为86.3%,而碳源充足