Treatment of vitamin D deficiency due to Crohn's disease with tanning bed ultraviolet B radiation

In Crohn's disease, severe skeletal demineralization, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and muscle weakness can occur. This may be caused by impaired vitamin D absorption, resulting from extensive intestinal disease and resection of duodenum and jejunum, where vitamin D is absorbed. We report a 57-year-old woman with a long history of Crohn's disease and short-bowel syndrome who had only 2 feet of small intestine remaining after 3 bowel resections. She was taking a daily multivitamin containing 400 IU of vitamin D(3) and was dependent on total parenteral nutrition that contained 200 IU of vitamin D and calcium (18 mEq in a 1-L bag infused over 8 hours daily) for a period of 36 months. Despite the above replacement, she complained of bone pain and muscle weakness, and she continued to be vitamin D-deficient with a 25(OH)D level <20 ng/mL. She was then exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation in a tanning bed wearing a 1-piece bathing suit for 10 minutes, 3 times a week for 6 months at the General Clinical Research Center, Boston University Medical Center. She tolerated the irradiation well without evidence of erythema. After 4 weeks, her serum 25(OH)D level increased by 357% from 7 to 32 ng/mL, parathyroid hormone level decreased by 52% from 92 to 44 pg/mL, and the serum calcium level increased from 7.8 to 8.5 mg/dL. After 6 months of UVB treatment, her serum 25(OH)D level was maintained in the normal range and was free of muscle weakness, and bone and muscle pain.

[Diagnosis and treatment of primary intracranial lymphoma]

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of primary intracranial lymphoma.

METHODS

A total of 148 cases of primary intracranial lymphoma from January 1984 to January 2000 were reviewed in our study.

RESULTS

Among the 148 cases, total and subtotal removal was achieved in 117 cases, partial removal in 31 cases. All the cases were treated by the radiotherapy after surgery. 44 cases combined with chemotherapy. The symptoms of patients in 112 cases (76%) were relieved and 36 cases (24%) progressed with 8 cases dead after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Primary intracranial lymphoma is a malignant neoplasm. The main treatment is surgical removal combining with postoperative radiotherapy. Prognosis is poor.

The change and significance of the Na+-K+-ATPase alpha-subunit in ouabain-hypertensive rats

Ouabain has recently been identified as an endogenous Na+-K+ pump inhibitor having a close association with hypertension. However, some patients with hypertention do not show high levels of endogenous ouabain (EO), and patients with high EO levels do not necessarily suffer from hypertention. It is believed that the Na+-K+-ATPase activity in essential hypertension does not undergo homogenous change. The present study was designed, therefore, to investigate the expression and the significance of the Na+-K+-ATPase alpha-subunit isoforms in kidney tissue in ouabain-hypertensive rats. Ouabain was administered chronically to establish a model of ouabain-hypertensive rats. Biochemical analysis, cytobiology and sABC immunohistochemistry were they used to assay for expression of Na+-K+-ATPase alpha-subunit isoforms in kidney tissue. After the first week of receiving ouabain, 65% (n=13) of rats had hypertension. After the second week, the blood pressure of these 13 hypertensive rats was increased significantly compared to the baseline and control levels (p<0.05). The plasma renin activity was normal, and angiotensin II and aldosterone levels were increased significantly in these rats (p<0.05). But in the other 35% (n=7) of rats of the experimental group, there was no apparent increase in blood pressure after receiving ouabain. The plasma ouabain level in the non-hypertensive subgroup was significantly higher than that in the hypertensive subgroup, but the 86Rb intake and the number of 3H-ouabain binding sites did not decrease. The Na+-K+-ATPase activity showed non-homogeneous changes. In hypertensive rats, the expression levels of ouabain paralleled the degree of hypertension (r=0.88, p<0.05). The positive granules were mainly scattered in the cytoblastoma of the reticular zone of adrenal cortex. There were thus different levels of expression of Na+-K+-ATPase alpha-subunit isoforms in this model. In the hypertension subgroup the alpha1 was most strongly expressed, followed by the alpha2 and alpha3 isforms. But in the non-hypertensive subgroup the order was alpha3 > alpha2 > alpha1. The positive granular was mainly scattered in the convoluted tubules of the kidney. These results suggest that the high level of ouabain and the change of the Na+-K+-ATPase alpha-subunit isoforms may play a critical role in hypertension.

Synthesis of griseolic acid B by pi-face-dependent radical cyclization

[reaction: see text]. Radical cyclization of 6 affords the bicyclic vinyl ether 9 with the appropriate stereochemistry for elaboration (seven steps) to griseolic acid B (1).

Genome sequence of a baculovirus pathogenic for Culex nigripalpus

In this report we describe the complete genome sequence of a nucleopolyhedrovirus that infects larval stages of the mosquito Culex nigripalpus (CuniNPV). The CuniNPV genome is a circular double-stranded DNA molecule of 108,252 bp and is predicted to contain 109 genes. Although 36 of these genes show homology to genes from other baculoviruses, their orientation and order exhibit little conservation relative to the genomes of lepidopteran baculoviruses. CuniNPV genes homologous to those from other baculoviruses include genes involved in early and late gene expression (lef-4, lef-5, lef-8, lef-9, vlf-1, and p47), DNA replication (lef-1, lef-2, helicase-1, and dna-pol), and structural functions (vp39, vp91, odv-ec27, odv-e56, p6.9, gp41, p74, and vp1054). Auxiliary genes include homologues of genes encoding the p35 antiapoptosis protein and a novel insulin binding-related protein. In contrast to these conserved genes, CuniNPV lacks apparent homologues of baculovirus genes essential (ie-1 and lef-3) or stimulatory (ie-2, lef-7, pe38) for DNA replication. Also, baculovirus genes essential or stimulatory for early-late (ie-1, ie-2), early (ie-0 and pe-38), and late (lef-6, lef-11, and pp31) gene transcription are not identifiable. In addition, CuniNPV lacks homologues of genes involved in the formation of virogenic stroma (pp31), nucleocapsid (orf1629, p87, and p24), envelope of occluded virions (odv-e25, odv-e66, odv-e18), and polyhedra (polyhedrin/granulin, p10, pp34, and fp25k). A homologue of gp64, a budded virus envelope fusion protein, was also absent, although a gene related to the other category of baculovirus budded virus envelope proteins, Ld130, was present. The absence of homologues of occlusion-derived virion (ODV) envelope proteins and occlusion body (OB) protein (polyhedrin) suggests that both CuniNPV ODV and OB may be structurally and compositionally different from those found in terrestrial lepidopteran hosts. The striking difference in genome organization, the low level of conservation of homologous genes, and the lack of many genes conserved in other baculoviruses suggest a large evolutionary distance between CuniNPV and lepidopteran baculoviruses.

[Fifty year's career of Chinese Journal of Medical History]

The Journal of Medical History, the antecedent of the now Chinese Journal of Medical History, was inaugurated in March 1947. This paper divides the whole course of publication and compilation of this Journal into 3 stages, namely, Stage of Initiation and Growth (1947-1948), Stage of Tortuous Progressing (1951-1959), Stage of Flourishing and developing (1980-). Altogether 25 volumes, 95 issues have been published in 953 millon Chinese characters and 1684 original articles. Being a highly effective major journal of medical history, this Journal satisfies nearly 40% of the information in this subject and has been indexed by major medical cataloging tool books, both domestic and foreign. Experience and prospects are also mentioned here.

Phosphorylation of tau by glycogen synthase kinase 3beta in intact mammalian cells influences the stability of microtubules

Tau is a neuronal microtubule-associated protein found predominantly in axons. Hyperphosphorylation of tau reduces the stability of microtubules, which may be a pathogenic mechanism in Alzheimer's disease. To understand the different effects between tau and glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) phosphorylated tau on the organization and stability of microtubules, we performed transfection studies on 3T3 cells using EGFP-tau (Enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein-tau) and GSK-3beta to quantify the stability of microtubules. Laser confocal microscope observation revealed that thick and thin microtubule bundles could be induced by tau and GSK-3beta phosphorylated tau. The bundles appeared either to be relatively straight or to form a ring around the circumference of the cell. Both the thick and thin microtubule bundles were resistant to colchicine-induced dissociation, with thick bundles more resistant than thin bundles. The bundles induced by GSK-3beta phosphorylated tau were sensitive to colchicine, and could be reversed by the addition of LiCl, an inhibitor of GSK-3beta.

Ion conduction pore is conserved among potassium channels

Potassium channels, a group of specialized membrane proteins, enable K+ ions to flow selectively across cell membranes. Transmembrane K+ currents underlie electrical signalling in neurons and other excitable cells. The atomic structure of a bacterial K+ channel pore has been solved by means of X-ray crystallography. To the extent that the prokaryotic pore is representative of other K+ channels, this landmark achievement has profound implications for our general understanding of K+ channels. But serious doubts have been raised concerning whether the prokaryotic K+ channel pore does actually represent those of eukaryotes. Here we have addressed this fundamental issue by substituting the prokaryotic pore into eukaryotic voltage-gated and inward-rectifier K+ channels. The resulting chimaeras retain the respective functional hallmarks of the eukaryotic channels, which indicates that the ion conduction pore is indeed conserved among K+ channels.

Bisphosphonate derivatized polyurethanes resist calcification

Calcification of polyurethane cardiovascular implants is an important disease process that has the potential to compromise the long-term function of devices such as polymer heart valves and ventricular assist systems. In this study we report the successful formulation and characterization of bisphosphonate-derivatized polyurethanes, hypothesized to resist implant calcification based on the pharmacologic activity of the immobilized bisphosphonate. Fully polymerized polyurethanes (a polyurea-polyurethane and a polycarbonate polyurethane) were modified (post-polymerization) with bromoalkylation of the hard segments followed by attachment of a bisphosphonate group at the bromine site. These bisphosphonate-polyurethanes resisted calcification in rat 60 day subdermal implants compared to nonmodified control polyurethane implants, that calcify. Bisphosphonates-modified polyurethanes were also studied in circulatory implants using a pulmonary valve cusp replacement model in sheep. Polyurethane cusps modified with bisphosphonate did not calcify in 90 day implants. compared to control polyurethane cusps implants, that demonstrated nodular surface oriented calcific deposits. It is concluded that bisphosphonate modified polyurethanes resist calcification both in subdermal implants and in the circulation. This novel biomaterial approach offers great promise for long-term blood stream implantation with calcification resistance.

Effects of ouabain and digoxin on gene expression of sodium pump alpha-subunit isoforms in rat myocardium

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of ouabain and digoxin on the gene expression of sodium pump alpha-subunit isoforms in the myocardium of rats.

METHODS

Normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were injected with ouabain (20 micrograms.kg-1.d-1, i.p.), digoxin (32 micrograms.kg-1.d-1, i.p.) and normal saline (NS) once a day, respectively, and indirect systolic blood pressure was recorded once a week. Six weeks later, all of the rats were killed, and sodium pump alpha 1-, alpha 2-, and alpha 3-subunit mRNA levels in the myocardium were detected with the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.

RESULTS

The systolic blood pressure of the rats infused with ouabain increased significantly at the end of week 6 (132.6 +/- 9.0 mm Hg vs 115.7 +/- 8.2 mm Hg, P < 0.01), while no difference in blood pressure was found between the digoxin group and the NS group. The expression of sodium pump alpha-subunit isoforms in the ventricular myocardium was regulated by either ouabain or digoxin. Both ouabain and digoxin stimulated expression of the alpha 3-isoform, whereas alpha 2 was unchanged in those two groups. alpha 1-isoform expression decreased in the ouabain group and was unchanged in the digoxin group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that both ouabain and digoxin could regulate sodium pump alpha-subunit isoform expression, which might be related to the physiological roles of endogenous ouabain and might be responsible for the difference in the pharmacological and toxicological effects of ouabain and digoxin, including their effects on blood pressure.

Effects of phosphocreatine on apoptosis in a cell-free system

The characteristic morphological and biochemical changes during caspase-mediated apoptosis can be reproduced to a large extent in a Xenopus laevis egg extract cell-free system by addition of mouse liver nuclei and exogenous cytochrome c. We show that in this system phosphocreatine accelerated the apoptotic morphological changes of the nuclei, but selectively inhibited DNA fragmentation. Western blot showed that the degradation of lamins A and C is accelerated, which is possibly responsible for the nuclear changes during cell apoptosis. However, the degradation of ICAD/DFF45-like protein in the egg extracts is inhibited in a time-dependent manner. Exogenous creatine, ATP, and several organic acids have no effect on DNA fragmentation, excluding the possibility that creatine, ATP, or acidic conditions resulting from phosphocreatine are responsible for inhibiting DNA fragmentation. Lithium chloride, a kinase inhibitor, can overcome the phosphocreatine effects and can restore DNA fragmentation. Our results indicate that phosphocreatine protects ICAD/DFF45-like protein from proteolysis, probably through kinase actions, resulting in its resistance to caspase cleavage and leading to an inhibition of DNA fragmentation.

[Clinical evaluation of frameless stereotaxy in minimally invasive neurosurgery]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of frameless stereotaxy in minimally invasive neurosurgery.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 200 cases of craniotomy and laminotomy procedures using frameless stereotaxy systems performed from December 1999 to June 2001 was made, including 43 cases of AVM, 39 cases of aneurysm, 30 of meningioma, 27 of cavenous malformation, 19 of glioma, 8 of neuronoma, 5 of pituitary tumor, 4 of angioreticuloma, 3 of metastatic tumor, 14 cases of craniotomy with other causes, and 8 spinal tumors. Data of MRI or CT, conducted one day before the operation, were entered into the neuronavigation systems and analyzed. A 3-D simulation of model of cranium or spinal cord was reestablished and operative approach was designed. During the operation, the lesion can be located accurately.

RESULTS

The lesions and important anatomical structures were accurately located and the location errors of lesions were within the limit of 2 mm. Postoperative neurological complications occurred only in 10 cases (5.0%). No operative death occurred.

CONCLUSION

The frameless stereotaxy is very helpful for brain and spinal surgery, especially for the cases with lesions located deep in the brain. Its accuracy of location is very important in protecting normal brain tissues. The neuronavigation systems are changing the pattern of traditional neurosurgical procedures and serve as the guarantee of minimally invasive neurosurgery.

Protein kinase C, rather than protein kinase A is involved in follicle-stimulating hormone-mediated meiotic resumption of mouse cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes in hypoxanthine-supplemented medium

It has been reported that protein kinase C (PKC) activation participated in the porcine and bovine oocyte maturation, but not in mouse oocyte maturation in vitro. In the present study, the activators and inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA) (forskolin, CDPKI and MDL-12230A) or PKC (PMA, staurosporine and sphingosine) were used to investigate the in vitro effect of PKA or PKC on spontaneous murine oocyte maturation, oocyte resumption of meiosis from HX inhibiting medium (medium+HX), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced oocyte maturation. The results showed that when cumulus cell enclosed oocytes (CEOs) or denuded oocytes (DOs) were cultured for 24 h in the medium supplemented with forskolin (5 microM), an activator of adenylate cyclase, the spontaneous oocyte maturation were inhibited. A transient exposure (2 h) to forskolin (2-10 microM) in the medium+HX, and then transferred to a new medium+HX for the further culture, stimulated CEO resumption of meiosis. CDPKI (10(-10)-10(-6) M), an inhibitor of PKA, also stimulated oocyte meiotic maturation of CEO in the medium+HX, but not on DO. However, MDL-12230A (10(-12)-10(-9) M), an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, did not promote oocyte maturation in HX arrested CEO. CDPKI (10(-10)-10(-6) M) or MDL-12230A (10(-12)-10(-9) M) had no effect on FSH-stimulated oocyte meiotic resumption, except at high doses of CDPKI (10(-7)-10(-6) M) or MDL-12230A (10(-9) M) which inhibited the FSH-induced formation of the first polar body (PB1). An activator of PKC, PMA (10(-11)-10(-7) M) dose-dependently inhibited spontaneous oocyte maturation of CEO or DO. Inhibitors of PKC, staurosporine (10(-9)-10(-6) M) or sphingosine (10(-8)-10(-5) M) induced oocytes in CEOs to resume meiosis in the presence of HX in a dose dependent manner, but had no effect on DOs. FSH (50IU/L) stimulated mouse oocytes in CEOs to override the arrest of HX and resume meiosis, while PMA, at the level of 10(-8)-10(-6) M, dramatically inhibited the stimulatory effect of FSH. These results indicate that PKC or PKA may be implicated in the regulation of mouse oocyte maturation. Thus while sustained high level of cAMP or PKA inhibit the resumption of meiosis, a transient rise in cAMP or PKA levels promotes oocyte maturation. The activation of PKC can also block oocyte meiotic resumption. Thus the inactivation of PKC, instead of the transient rise of PKA activity, appears to be involved in the process of FSH-mediated oocyte meiotic maturation.

Nocardia beijingensis sp. nov., a novel isolate from soil

The taxonomic status of a soil isolate, provisionally assigned to the genus Nocardia, was established following a polyphasic study. An almost complete sequence of the 16S rDNA of the strain was determined and aligned with available sequences for nocardiae and phylogenetic trees were inferred using four tree-making algorithms. The organism was associated consistently with the type strains of Nocardia brasiliensis and Nocardia farcinica in the neighbour-joining analysis, albeit with low bootstrap values. It was also found to have chemotaxonomic and morphological properties consistent with its assignment to the genus Nocardia. The organism was readily separated from representatives of other Nocardia species by a broad range of phenotypic properties. The name proposed for the novel species is Nocardia beijingensis sp. nov. The type strain is AS4.1521T (= IFO 16342T = JCM 10666T).

[Start-up of full-scale UASB reactors]

The UASB reactors treating high-temperature citric acid wastewater could be started up in the alternation of mesophilic and thermophilic ranges because the local climate changed greatly by seasons. The reactors were started up in mesophilic range, and the total efficiency of the two-stage reactors reached 77%-86%; when the temperature of reactors reached 44 degrees C-45 degrees C, the reactors were operated in thermophilic range, and the total efficiency of the two-stage reactors reached 84%-93%; the reactors were re-operated in mesophilic range after closing about 38 days, and the total efficiency of the two-stage reactors reached 82%-96%. The start-up in the alternation of mesophilic and thermophilic ranges of the full-scale UASB reactors and the characteristics of mesophilic and thermophilic granular sludge were reported in this paper.

Density and kinetics of I(Kr) and I(Ks) in guinea pig and rabbit ventricular myocytes explain different efficacy of I(Ks) blockade at high heart rate in guinea pig and rabbit: implications for arrhythmogenesis in humans

BACKGROUND

Class III antiarrhythmic agents commonly exhibit reverse frequency-dependent prolongation of the action potential duration (APD). This is undesirable because of the danger of bradycardia-related arrhythmias and the limited protection against ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The effects of blockade of separate components of delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(K)) may help to develop agents effective at high heart rate.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We assessed the density and kinetics of the 2 components of the delayed rectifier K(+) current, I(Kr) and I(Ks), in rabbit and guinea pig ventricular myocytes. The effects of their specific blockers (chromanol 293B for I(Ks) and E-4031 for I(Kr)) on the action potential was studied at different heart rates by use of whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. In guinea pig ventricular myocytes only, blockade of I(Ks) causes APD prolongation in a frequency-independent manner, whereas blockade of I(Ks) in rabbit ventricular myocytes shows reverse frequency dependence, as does blockade of I(Kr) in both species. This result can be explained primarily by the higher density of I(Ks) in guinea pig ventricle and by its slow deactivation kinetics, which allows I(Ks) to accumulate at high heart rate because little time is available for complete deactivation of it during diastole.

CONCLUSIONS

Density and kinetics of components of I(K) explain why blockade of I(Ks) is more effective at high heart rate in the guinea pig ventricle than in the rabbit ventricle, without adverse effects at low heart rate.

Improved synthesis and evaluation of 17-substituted aminoalkylgeldanamycin derivatives applicable to drug delivery systems

The 17-methoxy group of geldanamycin was substituted with 1,3-diaminopropane and 1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane to introduce a primary amino group useful for conjugation with targeting moieties and drug carriers. We have developed a procedure that has provided improved yield and reproducibility of the syntheses. Both geldanamycin derivatives demonstrated antiproliferative activity towards the human ovarian carcinoma cell line, A2780.

The involvement of a stress-activated pathway in equine influenza virus-mediated apoptosis

We have shown elsewhere that equine-2 influenza virus (EIV; subtype H3N8) induced pronounced cell death in infected cells through apoptosis as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation assay and a combined TUNEL and immunostaining scheme. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of EIV-mediated cytotoxicity on a permissive mammalian epithelial cell line, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. EIV infection increased the cellular levels of oxidative stress and c-Jun/AP-1 protein (which is known to be affected by oxidative stress), as well as its DNA binding activity. Increased production of TGF-beta1, an inducer of c-Jun N-terminal kinase or stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) activation, was also detected in EIV-infected MDCK cells. It has been reported that TGF-beta may initiate a signaling cascade leading to JNK/SAPK activation. Addition of c-Jun antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), JNK/SAPK inhibitor carvedilol, or TGF-beta-neutralizing antibody effectively blocked c-Jun/AP-1 upregulation and TGF-beta1 production mediated by EIV infection. These treatments also attenuated EIV-induced cytopathogenic effects (CPE) and apoptosis. Our results suggest that a stress-activated pathway is involved in apoptosis mediated by EIV infection. It is likely that EIV infection turns on the JNK/SAPK cascade, which modulates the activity of apoptosis-promoting regulatory factor c-Jun/AP-1 and epithelial growth inhibitory cytokine TGF-beta.

Dependence of reversed-phase retention of ionizable analytes on pH, concentration of organic solvent and silanol activity

In reversed-phase chromatography, the retention of ionizable analytes is influenced by the ionic properties of the packing caused by surface silanol groups. We have measured the ion-exchange properties of both reversed-phase bonded phases and their underlying base materials. The probe used in this part of the study was bretylium tosylate. The acquired knowledge is then used for a complete and quantitative understanding of the retention behavior of ionizable compounds as a function of the pH of the mobile phase and the solvent composition. We have studied the retention pattern of a broad range of acids, bases, and polyfunctional analytes over the pH range from 2 to 11 and from water to 80% acetonitrile. A few application examples demonstrate the relevant findings.

In vitro availability of zinc from infant foods with increasing phytic acid contents

An in vitro method was used to determine the availability of Zn from infant foods containing increasing amounts of phytate, and to quantify the effect of the phytate:Zn molar ratio on the availability. During the in vitro assay, digestive conditions of infants, younger and older than 4 months of age, were carefully simulated since the solubility of phytate-Zn complexes during digestion is pH dependent. Availability was measured with a continuous flow dialysis in vitro procedure with previous intralumen digestive stage. Zn concentrations were determined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Phytic acid content was measured with HPLC. Adding phytate to infant formula lowered Zn availability to 2.84 (sd 0.17) % when the phytate:Zn molar ratio increased to 2.2 as compared with cows' milk-based formula (6.65 (sd 0.55) %). Availability from vegetables (23.83 (sd 2.17) %) significantly decreased at a ratio > 7.9 (15.12 (sd 1.63) %). Zn availability from soyabean-based formula (2.26 (sd 0.36) %) was lower compared with cows' milk-based formula (6.65 (sd 0.55) %). Availability between soyabean- and cows' milk-based formula was similar when a phytate:Zn ratio of 2.2 (2.84 (sd 0.17) %) was obtained in the cows' milk formula. The negative effect of phytic acid on Zn availability was dependent on the type of the food and the phytate content, and should be considered when using soyabean-based formulas during early infancy.

Genome of lumpy skin disease virus

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), a member of the capripoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae, is the etiologic agent of an important disease of cattle in Africa. Here we report the genomic sequence of LSDV. The 151-kbp LSDV genome consists of a central coding region bounded by identical 2.4 kbp-inverted terminal repeats and contains 156 putative genes. Comparison of LSDV with chordopoxviruses of other genera reveals 146 conserved genes which encode proteins involved in transcription and mRNA biogenesis, nucleotide metabolism, DNA replication, protein processing, virion structure and assembly, and viral virulence and host range. In the central genomic region, LSDV genes share a high degree of colinearity and amino acid identity (average of 65%) with genes of other known mammalian poxviruses, particularly suipoxvirus, yatapoxvirus, and leporipoxviruses. In the terminal regions, colinearity is disrupted and poxvirus homologues are either absent or share a lower percentage of amino acid identity (average of 43%). Most of these differences involve genes and gene families with likely functions involving viral virulence and host range. Although LSDV resembles leporipoxviruses in gene content and organization, it also contains homologues of interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-1 binding proteins, G protein-coupled CC chemokine receptor, and epidermal growth factor-like protein which are found in other poxvirus genera. These data show that although LSDV is closely related to other members of the Chordopoxvirinae, it contains a unique complement of genes responsible for viral host range and virulence.

A new method for protein coexpression in Escherichia coli using two incompatible plasmids

It is commonly believed that incompatible plasmids carrying the same replicon cannot coexist stably in one Escherichia coli cell. However, we found that two incompatible plasmids carrying different antibiotic resistance genes, if under the selection pressure of the two antibiotics, can coexist in E. coli for at least 14 h, which is adequate for routine culture and protein expression. Based on this discovery, we developed a new method to coexpress foreign proteins in E. coli using two incompatible plasmids. The coding regions of the two subunits (DFF45 and DFF40) of the human DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) were cloned into two incompatible bacterial expression vectors-pET-21a with ampicillin resistance and pET-28a with kanamycin resistance, respectively. The two resulting plasmids were used to cotransform E. coli BL21(DE3) cells. After selection by ampicillin and kanamycin simultaneously, cotransformants that contain both recombinant plasmids were obtained. Induced by isopropyl beta-d-thiogalactoside, DFF45, and DFF40 were coexpressed efficiently in the presence of the two antibiotics. The coexpression product contained adequate soluble portions for both DFF45 and DFF40, while all DFF40 was insoluble if expressed alone. The coexpression product also exhibited the same caspase-activated DNase activity as its natural counterparts, which cannot be obtained if its two subunits are expressed separately.