Identification of a WSSV neutralizing scFv antibody by phage display technology and in vitro screening

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is one of the most significant viral pathogens causing high mortality and economic damage in shrimp aquaculture. Although intensive efforts were undertaken to detect and characterize WSSV infection in shrimp during the last decade, we still lack methods either to prevent or cure white spot disease. Most of the studies on neutralizing antibodies from sera have been performed using in vivo assays. For the first time, we report use of an in vitro screening method to obtain a neutralizing scFv antibody against WSSV from a previously constructed anti-WSSV single chain fragment variable region (scFv) antibody phage display library. From clones that were positive for WSSV by ELISA, 1 neutralizing scFv antibody was identified using an in vitro screening method based on shrimp primary lymphoid cell cultures. The availability of a neutralizing antibody against the virus should accelerate identification of infection-related genes and the host cell receptor, and may also enable new approaches to the prevention and cure of white spot disease.

HIV-1核衣壳蛋白NCp7抑制剂体外筛选方法的建立

目的 表达HIV-1核衣壳蛋白(nucleocapside protein p7,NCp7),并建立抑制剂筛选方法.方法 从pBRU2/ADP202质粒经PCR得到HIV-1 NCp7编码序列,克隆到pet28a 质粒中构建HIV-1 NCp7表达载体.阳性克隆转染E.coli BL21 DE3,以IPTG诱导,细胞裂解液经Q Sepharose H.P和SP Sepharose H.P纯化后纯度达到90%以上.将具有锌离子逐出活性的H2O2和2,2'-联硫基二吡啶(2,2'-dithiodipyridine,AT-2)与NCp7作用,用锌离子特异的荧光染料检测.用该方法检测KIZ-CM系列化合物.结果 可以检测H2O2和AT-2的锌离子逐出活性,经该方法筛选,KIZ-CM 10,18,19等化合物具有一定的锌离子逐出活性.结论 在国内首次建立了HIV-1 NCp7锌离子逐出方法,该方法可以用于NCp7抑制剂的筛选.

Dioxin-like components in human breast milk collected from Hong Kong and Guangzhou

The H4IIE rat hepatoma cell line was employed as a cell model to screen 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD)-TCDD equivalents (EROD-TEQ) of human breast milk samples collected from Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China. The screening methods employed a 96-well plate spectrofluorometer-EROD assay. For cell-line validation, our results demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in the Ah receptor-mediated response (i.e., CYP1A1 mRNA and EROD) of the cells upon exposure to a number of known Ah receptor agonists, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzothiophene, benzo[a]pyrene, and beta-naphthaflavone. TCDD induced CYP1A1 mRNA and EROD was in a close positive correlation (r = 0.98). For the screening of dioxin-like compounds, breast milk samples collected during lactation weeks 3-5 were used. One hundred (from Hong Kong) and 48 (from Guangzhou) breast milk samples were assayed, of which 65% and 68% of the samples, respectively, showed detectable dioxin-like activities using the H4IIE cell EROD screening method. For sixty-five samples from Hong Kong the mean EROD-TEQ values ranged from 58.1 to 96.5 pg/g of milk fat for those aged 21-36 years while 32 samples from Guangzhou had mean values of 98.8-202.1 pg/g of milk fat. In comparisons of the EROD-TEQ values for different age groups from both cities, there were no significant differences (P < 0.05). However, the mean and median EROD-TEQ values of the Guangzhou population were in general higher than those of the Hong Kong population. The results of the present study indicate that it is feasible to use the H4IIE cell-line as a model for screening dioxin-like compounds in human breast milk. In addition, the method is rapid and cost-effective, particularly for a routine and high-throughput sample screening analysis, compared to the costly and time-intensive chemical analytical techniques. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

克拉维酸产生菌的诱变育种与发酵工艺优化研究

以克拉维酸产生菌棒状链霉菌Streptomyces clavuligerus CCRC11518（ATCC 27064）III50为出发菌株, 首先比较各种物理和化学诱变剂处理对其克拉维酸生物合成的影响, 确定了亚硝基胍为棒状链霉菌诱变育种的诱变剂及其处理剂量: 2mg/ml、40min. 经浓度为2mg/ml的亚硝基胍处理40min后, 采用新颖理性化筛选方法, 通过逐步筛选自身代谢产物抗性突变株、克拉维酸抗性突变株和链霉素抗性突变株, 最终得到一株克拉维酸高产菌VI118(效价633μg/ml), 其克拉维酸效价是出发菌株(效价377μg/ml)的167.9%. 该高产突变株在琼脂斜面培养基上连续传接10代, 克拉维酸效价保持稳定. 通过单因子和多因子摇瓶正交试验, 对高产菌株VI118的发酵条件进行了研究, 确定最佳发酵条件: 甘油60g, 水解植物蛋白 60g, KH2PO4 0.5 g, 玉米浆 7.5g, MnSO4•H2O 0.34g, MgSO4•7H2O 0.99g, FeSO4•7H2O 0.56g, 蒸馏1000ml, pH 7.0, 发酵培养基装量20ml/250ml三角瓶, 接种量10％, 培养温度28ºC, 220r/min摇床培养72h后测定效价. 在最佳发酵条件下克拉维酸效价达到651μg/ml, 同时把初始发酵培养基的昂贵成分替换为廉价的工业原料. 通过摇瓶分批补料试验, 得到最佳补料物质和补料方式：在上述最佳发酵条件下, 分别在发酵培养48h、56h、64h、72h时补加4ml无菌水, 80h发酵结束, 克拉维酸效价达到905μg/ml. 在不增加原料成本的情况下通过摇瓶补料方式克拉维酸效价为未补料的139.0％, 总产量为未补料的264％. By a novel rational screening method, mutant Streptomyces clavuligerus CCRC11518（ATCC 27064）III50（titres 377μg/ml）, as the clavulanic acid-producing parent strain, was treated by NTG (2mg/ml) for 40min, and the self-generated metabolites resistant mark, the clavulanic acid resistant mark and the streptomycin resistant mark were added step by step. Finally, the mutant VI118（titres 633μg/ml）with the three marks was obtained. The clavulanic acid productivity of this mutant was increased by 167.9% compared with the parent strain. After reproducing 10 generations on the agar medium slant, the productivity of this mutant was stable. The optimum fermentation conditions were established as followings: glycerol 60g, acid hydrolyzed vegetable protein 60g, KH2PO4 0.5g, corn steep liquor 7.5g, MnSO4•H2O 0.34g, MgSO4•7H2O 0.99g, FeSO4•7H2O 0.56g, distilled water 1 liter, pH 7.0, 20ml in 250ml shake-flask, inoculation 10%(v/v), fermentation temperature 28ºC, rotation speed 220 r/min, time 72h. The clavulanic acid productivity was 651μg/ml, while used the low-priced industrial raw materials. After studying on fed-batch in the shake-flask, the optimum fed-batch manner was obtained: under optimum fermentation conditions, at 48h, 56h, 64h and 72h, adding 4ml distilled water into each flask, fermentation ending at 80h. The clavulanic acid productivity was increased by 139% compared with no fed-batch, meanwhile the total yield was increased by 264%.

Study of morphology and phase diagram of the H-shaped (AC)B(CA) ternary block copolymers using self-consistent field theory

By using a combinatorial screening method based on the self-consistent field theory (SCFT) for polymer systems, the micro-phase morphologies of the H-shaped (AC)B(CA) ternary block copolymer system are studied in three-dimensional (3D) space. By systematically varying the volume fractions of the components A, B, and C, six triangle phase diagrams of this H-shaped (AC)B(CA) ternary block copolymer system with equal interaction energies among the three components are constructed from the weaker segregation regime to the strong segregation regime, In this study, thirteen 3D micro-phase morphologies for this H-shaped ternary block copolymer system are identified to be stable and seven 3D microphase morphologies are found to be metastable.

A self-consistent field theory study on the morphologies of linear ABCBA and H-shaped (AB)(2)C(BA)(2) block copolymers

By using a combinatorial screening method based on the self-consistent field theory, we investigate the equilibrium morphologies of linear ABCBA and H-shaped (AB)(2)C(BA)(2) block copolymers in two dimensions. The triangle phase diagrams of both block copolymers are constructed by systematically varying the volume fractions of blocks A, B, and C. In this study, the interaction energies between species A, B, and C are set to be equal. Four different equilibrium morphologies are identified, i.e., the lamellar phase (LAM), the hexagonal lattice phase (HEX), the core-shell hexagonal lattice phase (CSH), and the two interpenetrating tetragonal lattice phase (TET2). For the linear ABCBA block copolymer, the reflection symmetry is observed in the phase diagram except for some special grid points, and most of grid points are occupied by LAM morphology. However, for the H-shaped (AB)(2)C(BA)(2) block copolymer, most of the grid points in the triangle phase diagram are occupied by CSH morphology, which is ascribed to the different chain architectures of the two block copolymers. These results may help in the design of block copolymers with different microstructures.

Comparing the morphology and phase diagram of H-shaped ABC block copolymers and linear ABC block copolymers

By using a combinatorial screening method based on the self-consistent field theory (SCFT) for polymers, we have investigated the morphology of H-shaped ABC block copolymers (A(2)BC(2)) and compared them with those of the linear ABC block copolymers. By changing the ratios of the volume fractions of two A arms and two C arms, one can obtain block copolymers with different architectures ranging from linear block copolymer to H-shaped block copolymer. By systematically varying the volume fractions of block A, B, and C, the triangle phase diagrams of the H-shaped ABC block copolymer with equal interactions among the three species are constructed. In this study, we find four different morphologies ( lamellar phase ( LAM), hexagonal lattice phase ( HEX), core-shell hexagonal lattice phase (CSH), and two interpenetrating tetragonal lattice (TET2)). Furthermore, the order-order transitions driven by architectural change are discussed.

A new method for screening alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and application to marine microorganisms

A new enzyme assay method for screening alpha-glucosidase inhibitors with rapidity and simplicity was developed. The enzyme-substituted alpha-glucosidases for this assay was glucoamylase. Samples were spotted or developed on the silica gel plate. The agar solution containing substrate was poured on the plate, and paper impregnated with enzyme was layered on the agar. After incubation, an inhibitory circle would appear around the inhibitor. By using this method, more than 200 strains of marine microorganisms were screened. Among them, three active strains were found to secrete inhibitors in the culture medium.

A high throughput Nile red method for quantitative measurement of neutral lipids in microalgae

Isolation of high neutral lipid-containing microalgae is key to the commercial success of microalgae-based biofuel production. The Nile red fluorescence method has been successfully applied to the determination of lipids in certain microalgae, but has been unsuccessful in many others, particularly those with thick, rigid cell walls that prevent the penetration of the fluorescence dye. The conventional "one sample at a time" method was also time-consuming. In this study, the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was introduced to microalgal samples as the stain carrier at an elevated temperature. The cellular neutral lipids were determined and quantified using a 96-well plate on a fluorescence spectrophotometer with an excitation wavelength of 530 nm and an emission wavelength of 575 run. An optimized procedure yielded a high correlation coefficient (R-2 = 0.998) with the lipid standard triolein and repeated measurements of replicates. Application of the improved method to several green algal strains gave very reproducible results with relative standard errors of 8.5%, 3.9% and 8.6%, 4.5% for repeatability and reproducibility at two concentration levels (2.0 mu g/mL and 20 mu g/mL), respectively. Moreover, the detection and quantification limits of the improved Nile red staining method were 0.8 mu g/mL and 2.0 mu g/mL for the neutral lipid standard triolein, respectively. The modified method and a conventional gravimetric determination method provided similar results on replicate samples. The 96-well plate-based Nile red method can be used as a high throughput technique for rapid screening of a broader spectrum of naturally-occurring and genetically-modified algal strains and mutants for high neutral lipid/oil production. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.

A screening study on persistent bioaccumulation toxins (PBT) in fuel combustion soot

Persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs) are organic substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative and can cause severe toxic effects (e.g. potential oncogens, mutagenic, endocrine disrupters) to human health or environment which are the ones that need special attention. PBT chemicals could be released to the environment from several types of sources and are ubiquitous in environment. However, fast and efficiency monitoring and assessment methods to investigate PBTs in environment are still lacking. In this study, a cleaning-up procedure of analyzing PBTs in fuels combustion soot was developed and its performance was assessed through comparing the chromatograms of crude extracts with their cleaned extracts after the cleaning-up procedure. The results showed that polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) were the main components in fuel combustion soot and the clean-up procedure developed in this paper can be well used as the method of analyzing PBTs in fuels combustion soot.

A new enzyme immunoassay for PCDD/F TEQ screening in environmental samples: Comparison to micro-EROD assay and to chemical analysis

A new Enzyme ImmunoAssay (EIA) for PCDD/F TEQ measurement in extracts of environmental samples was described. The bioassay TEQ which derived from EIA and EROD were compared with each other and with results from chemical analysis. For all environmental samples, the EROD-TEQ is higher than the value from chemical analysis. However, the EIA-TEQ is much more identical with the value from chemical analysis. Our results indicate that the EIA assay is a complementary method to the EROD assay and should be useful as a rapid and sensitive screening tool for environmental samples in many situations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

A colorimetric assay for screening microcystin class compounds in aquatic systems

Secondary metabolites produced by water-blooming cyanobacteria in eutrophic waters include some potent hepatotoxins, These compounds also have tumour-promoting properties, attributable to their inhibition and activation of protein phosphatases and kinases respectively. The inhibitory effect of these toxins on protein phosphatases have been employed in a commonly used radiometric assay, involving the use of a P-32-labeled substrate, for the detection and quantitation of these compounds. This paper investigates and describes a colorimetric method in which the activity of protein phosphatase 2A is determined by measuring the rate of colour production from the release of yellow p-nitrophenol using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as the substrate. Results of this study suggest that the colorimetric protein phosphatase inhibition assay is a simple, inexpensive tool for screening substances that may have tumour-promoting characteristics in aquatic systems. The detection limit of the colorimetric method is comparable to the radiometric assay. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

High-throughput characterization of heterogeneous catalysts by temperature-programmed analysis method

A multistream reactor for high-throughput examining the surface acidity by NH3-TPD method by application of multistream mass spectrometer screening (MSMSS) technique has been developed. This method allows for examining the surface acidity of 10 catalyst samples in about 6 h, which is an improvement over the traditional process. The demonstration of the feasibility of high-throughput TPD can be significant in convincing the hardened traditionalists in the heterogeneous catalysis community that, combinatorial methods indeed should have an important place in scientific catalyst research and development. The developed method could also be used for almost all the temperature-programmed analysis theoretically with careful designed multistream reactors. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Direct toxicity assessment of toxic chemicals with electrochemical method

Electrochemical measurement of respiratory chain activity is a rapid and reliable screening for the toxicity on microorganisms. Here, we investigated in-vitro effects of toxin on Escherichia coli (E. coli) that was taken as a model microorganism incubated with ferricyanide. The current signal of ferrocyanide effectively amplified by ultramicroelectrode array (UMEA), which was proven to be directly related to the toxicity. Accordingly, a direct toxicity assessment (DTA) based on chronoamperometry was proposed to detect the effect of toxic chemicals on microorganisms. The electrochemical responses to 3,5-dichlorophenol (DCP) under the incubation times revealed that the toxicity reached a stable level at 60 min, and its 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) was estimated to be 8.0 mg L-1. At 60 min incubation, the IC50 values for KCN and As2O3 in water samples were 4.9 mg L-1 and 18.3 mg L-1, respectively. But the heavy metal ions, such as Cu2+ Pb2+ and Ni2+, showed no obvious toxicity on E. coli.