Norovirus is the most common cause of foodborne gastroenteritis, affecting millions of people worldwide annually. Among the ten genotypes (GI–GX) of norovirus, only GI, GII, GIV, GVIII, and GIX ...infect humans. Some genotypes reportedly exhibit post-translational modifications (PTMs), including N- and O-glycosylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and phosphorylation, in their viral antigens. PTMs have been linked to increased viral genome replication, viral particle release, and virulence. Owing to breakthroughs in mass spectrometry (MS) technologies, more PTMs have been discovered in recent years and have contributed significantly to preventing and treating infectious diseases. However, the mechanisms by which PTMs act on noroviruses remain poorly understood. In this section, we outline the current knowledge of the three common types of PTM and investigate their impact on norovirus pathogenesis. Moreover, we summarize the strategies and techniques for the identification of PTMs.
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) plays a pivotal role in regulating the reproductive endocrine system. Accumulated lines of evidence indicated that GnRH immunocontraception vaccine is a ...potential tool for control and management of animal population. However, the poor immunogenicity of GnRH peptide has limited its efficacy and field application. In the present study, a modified antigen, containing 8 GnRH repeats and immunostimulatory fusion protein, was formulated an oil-based MONTANIDE™ ISA 206 VG adjuvant to enhance the immunogenicity of the GnRH vaccine. The vaccine was vaccinated in 4-week-old male ICR mice (n = 10) and boosted twice, 4 and 8 weeks, respectively after the primary immunization. Mice injected with saline served as the unimmunized control (n = 10). Results demonstrated that the serum GnRH-specific antibody in vaccinated mice was significantly (p < 0.05) increased 5 weeks, peaked at 12 weeks, and remained high until 18 weeks after the primary immunization. In comparison with the control, vaccinated mice had significantly (p < 0.05) reduced serum testosterone concentration (0.856 ± 0.411 v.s. 160.77 ± 1. 865 ng/ml) and hampered development of testicles (weight and spermatogenesis) at 24 weeks after the primary immunization. Finally, a mating test indicated that the conception rate of female mice housed with vaccinated and unvaccinated males was 29% and 75%, respectively. The recombinant GnRH vaccine may be a potential approach for controlling animal population through immunocontraception.
The aims of this study were to evaluate metabolic profiles obtained at -14, 14, and 28 days in milk (DIM), and to identify potential predictive biomarkers of Holstein dairy cows with purulent vaginal ...discharge (PVD) at 28 DIM. The body condition score (BCS) and hematocrit (Hct) were evaluated, and a metabolic profile test (MPT) was performed at -14, 14, and 28 DIM using serum samples. Cows at 28 DIM were classified using a vaginoscopy and divided into groups of healthy cows (n=89) and cows with PVD (n=31). Albumin (Alb), total cholesterol (TCho), calcium (Ca) and, magnesium (Mg) levels were lower in cows with PVD than in healthy cows at 14 DIM. At 28 DIM, levels of Alb, TCho, Ca, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Mg, and Hct were lower in cows with PVD. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that higher non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA; odds ratios; OR=4.47; P<0.01), lower Alb (OR=0.07; P<0.01) and lower Tcho (OR=0.99; P=0.08) at 14 DIM, and lower Hct (OR=0.83; P=0.05), lower Alb (OR=0.12; P<0.01), and lower BUN (OR=0.74; P=0.02) at 28 DIM were significantly associated with PVD. In conclusion, serum Alb levels was a potential indicator associated with PVD, reflecting dietary protein deficiency preceding disease. Our findings suggest that MPT should be considered to monitor health status during the postpartum period for early diagnosis of PVD.
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Griseofulvin (GSF) causes hepatic porphyria in mice, which mimics the liver injury associated with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) in humans. The current study investigated the ...biochemical basis of GSF-induced liver injury in mice using a metabolimic approach. GSF treatment in mice resulted in significant accumulations of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), N-methyl PPIX, bile acids, and glutathione (GSH) in the liver. Metabolomic analysis also revealed bioactivation pathways of GSF that contributed to the formation of GSF-PPIX, GSF-GSH and GSF-proline adducts. GSF-PPIX is the precursor of N-methyl PPIX. A six-fold increase of N-methyl PPIX was observed in the liver of mice after GSF treatment. N-methyl PPIX strongly inhibits ferrochelatase, the enzyme that converts PPIX to heme, and leads to PPIX accumulation. Excessive PPIX in the liver results in bile duct blockage and disturbs bile acid homeostasis. The accumulation of GSH in the liver was likely due to Nrf2-mediated upregulation of GSH synthesis. In summary, this study provides the biochemical basis of GSF-induced liver injury that can be used to understand the pathophysiology of EPP-associated liver injury in humans.
Molecular epidemiological characteristics are needed to understand the impact of Coxsackievirus B3 (CV-B3) infection, since no CV-B3 genotyping literature is available. Twenty-nine CV-B3 Taiwan ...strains obtained from 1992 to 2005 were analyzed. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the 290 nucleotide sequence of the VP1 gene of Taiwan isolates and in 91 other CV-B3 GenBank sequences. Five genotypes (GI-GV) were depicted. The GI, GII, and GIII were dominant in America and Europe, whereas GIV and GV were prevalent in Asia. In Taiwan, a transient outbreak of GIV occurred in 2000, while GV has been the main genotype circulating since 1992. Patient age ranged from 0.1 to 81 months (median, 4.3 months). The male:female ratio was 1.9:1. More than 60% (17/29) of cases involved children younger than 1 year. Half of them contracted respiratory tract infection (12/24). Nine of the 24 (37.5%) cases with available medical records had central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Eight of the nine patients were younger than 3 months. The CV-B3 has evolved and circulated for the past 60 years. Although the nucleotide sequence of the VP1 is highly variably, amino acids were relatively conserved within the same genotype of CV-B3. CNS infections were not associated with a specific strain or genotype. The CV-B3 poses a significant health threat to children younger than 1 year, especially those younger than 3 months old.
The development of modern technology has posed greater and more urgent needs for thermal management materials. Aligned carbon nanotube arrays and carbon/carbon composites have aroused extensive ...interest as ideal lightweight and stable thermal management materials because of their low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent thermal conduction and high-temperature resistance. Here, we first review the thermal conducting mechanism of carbon materials. We then describe the general fabrication methods, the main factors affecting the thermal conductivity of aligned carbon nanotube arrays and carbon/carbon composites as well as their use in thermal management. The preparation-structure-performance relationships are outlined and the strategies for achieving high thermal conductivity are summarized. Finally, a critical consideration of the challenges and prospects in the thermal management applications of aligned carbon nanotubes and carbon/carbon composites is given.
Using a naphthalene derived mesophase pitch as starting material, high oriented ribbon-shaped carbon fibers with smooth and flat surface were prepared by melt-spinning, oxidation stabilization as ...well as further carbonization and graphitization processes. The composition, morphologies and microstructure of the ribbon-shaped carbon fibers treated at various conditions were characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, XRD, Raman spectroscope, scanning electron microscope and polarized-light microscope. The results show that the carboxyl, carbonyl and ether functional groups formed during the oxidizing stabilization process are removed by subsequent carbonization treatment. The width and thickness of the ribbon-shaped fibers at the transverse section decrease from 1.6mm and 18 mu m of pitch fiber to 1.2 mm and 9 mu m of graphitized carbon fibers, respectively. The relative intensity of the diffraction peak at about 2 theta =26 degree corresponding to (002) crystal plane of hexagonal graphite increases with the heat-treatment temperature increasing. This indicates that the crystal size of graphite in this carbon fibers also increases in this process. In comparison with the carbonized fibers, the carbon fibers after graphitization treatment display more perfect crystal orientation along the main surface of ribbon-shaped carbon fibers.
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