PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Qiang Gu

Publications and source records attributed to Qiang Gu.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Development and evaluation of a multiplex PCR-based dual-platform targeted sequencing framework for precise differentiation of lumpy skin disease virus.

BACKGROUND: Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) shares over 96% genomic identity with goatpox and sheeppox viruses, presenting severe diagnostic challenges due to cross-reactivity. METHODS: To address this bottleneck, we established a targeted sequencing framework integrating multiplex PCR with short-read and long-read platforms. By sequentially screening target pathogens, identifying low-homology genes, and designing short and gradient long-fragment primer pools, we evaluated these dual-platform panels using highly homologous poxvirus samples. RESULTS: The short-read panel stably detected target viruses at inputs as low as 5.26 ×101 copies/μL. Under strict alignment criteria, LSDV mapping rates reached 42.91%, suppressing non-target signals to 3.05%. The Nanopore-Targeted Sequencing (NTS) long-amplicon strategy successfully eliminated homologous interference. By applying length-dependent diagnostic thresholds (≥ 100 reads for short amplicons; ≥ 50 reads for long amplicons), precise species-level identification was achieved, maintaining near-zero cross-reads (0-5) in ultra-long regions. Crucially, the field-deployable NTS workflow enabled complete detection in approximately 4 h. CONCLUSION: This complementary strategy seamlessly meets both laboratory demands for high-sensitivity enrichment and frontline requirements for rapid typing, providing a reliable tool for LSDV surveillance, mutation tracking, and outbreak control.

Capripoxvirus differentiation↗

Signal stability of Cy3 and Cy5 on antibody microarrays.

BACKGROUND: The antibody microarray technique is a newly emerging proteomics tool for differential protein expression analyses that uses fluorescent dyes Cy 3 and Cy 5. Environmental factors, such as light exposure, can affect the signal intensity of fluorescent dyes on microarray slides thus, it is logical to scan microarray slides immediately after the final wash and drying processes. However, no research data are available concerning time-dependent changes of fluorescent signals on antibody microarray slides to this date. In the present study, microarray slides were preserved at -20 degrees C after regular microarray experiments and were rescanned at day 10, 20 and 30 to evaluate change in signal intensity. RESULTS: Fluorescent intensities of microarray spots were detected using a confocal laser scanner after the experiment at day 0, and re-examined at day 10, 20 and 30, respectively. Fluorescent intensities of rescanned microarray spots did not show significant changes when compared with those scanned immediately after standard microarray experiments. CONCLUSION: Microarray slides can be preserved and rescanned multiple times using a confocal laser scanner over a period of days or weeks.

Journal Article↗

Differential regulation of interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) splice variants.

IRAK family proteins play critical roles in regulating innate immunity. There are three differentially spliced variants of IRAK1, namely 1, 1b, and 1c. We and others have previously identified that the full length IRAK1 underwent covalent modifications such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination upon lipopolysaccharide challenge. In this report, we observed that IRAK1 could also undergo sumoylation which was responsible for its translocation into the nucleus. In contrast, IRAK1c remained stable and did not undergo modification upon various challenges. Furthermore, we showed that IRAK1c solely localized in the cytoplasm. IRAK1 was absent and IRAK1c was the primary form in human brains. The absence of full length IRAK1 and presence of IRAK1c may keep brain tissue in a resting non-inflammatory state. Intriguingly, the full length IRAK1 form was consistently detected in brain tissues obtained from aged humans, suggesting that differential splicing of IRAK1 may correlate with the aging process.

Adult↗

Pseudonocardia oroxyli sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from surface-sterilized Oroxylum indicum root.

A high-G+C-content, Gram-positive bacterium, strain D10(T), was isolated from the root of Oroxylum indicum, a Chinese medicinal plant. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain D10(T) was a member of the genus Pseudonocardia and was most closely related, albeit loosely, to Pseudonocardia halophobica. Morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics support the affiliation of strain D10(T) to the genus Pseudonocardia. Results of DNA-DNA hybridization and physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain D10(T) from related Pseudonocardia species. Strain D10(T) (=CGMCC 4.3143(T)=DSM 44984(T)) therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Pseudonocardia oroxyli sp. nov. is proposed.

Actinomycetales↗

[Isolation, classification and antimicrobial activity of endophytic actinomycetes from plant leaves].

Leave samples of Paeonia lactiflora and Trifalium repens were collected from Sichuan Province and Beijing respectively to study their endophytic actinmycetes. After a well-established surface-sterilized procedure, the samples were plated on agar media of TWYE, HV, YECD, NA and WA, followed by incubation at 28 degrees C for 2 - 4 weeks. With the help of light microscope, 15 actinomycetes strains were isolated from the plates. Comparison of cultural features and fingerprinting analyses of BOX-PCR products were performed to cluster the isolates, with the result that all the strains were assigned to 12 different genotypes, half of them from Paeonia lactiflora and half from Trifalium repens. A combination of morphological and 16S rRNA gene sequence data showed that except strains C4 and C5, which belonged to Pseudonocardia, 13 of the isolates were streptomycetes. Most isolates share high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to known type strains. However, strain C12 shares low values, 96.6% in maximum, and strain C5 shares 97.9% in maximum; more assays are needed to ascertain their taxonomic positions. In the tests of antimicrobial activity against 7 bacteria, 3 fungi and 1 yeast, 11 isolates were positive in one or more tests, and 55% of the positive ones could inhibit the growth of Rhizoctonia solani, a significant pathogen of plants.

Actinobacteria↗

Contribution of glutamate receptors to brain-derived neurotrophic factor-induced elevation of intracellular Ca2+levels.

In the present study, acute effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured visual cortical neurons were investigated. We examined specifically whether pharmacological blockade of glutamatergic receptors interfered with effects of BDNF on [Ca2+]i. We found that blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors significantly reduced the number of BDNF-responsive neurons, while inhibition of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) completely prevented the effect of BDNF. By contrast, blockade of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxasole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors did not affect the BDNF-induced increase of [Ca2+]i. Our results thus suggest that glutamate-mediated excitatory pathways are involved in the BDNF-induced rise of [Ca2+]i in visual cortical neurons, and that both mGluR and NMDA receptors play a critical role in this event.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

Effects of a bolaamphiphile on the structure of phosphatidylcholine liposomes.

This paper describes the morphological characterization of aqueous dispersions of PC amphiphiles and bolaamphiphile AEC by microscopy, the liposomal membrane fluidity, and the zeta potential. Results indicate that the bolaamphiphile AEC can be included within conventional egg-PC liposome bilayers. This behavior could be due to their preference for the stretched conformation within the PC membranes.

Drug Carriers↗

Contribution of acetylcholine to visual cortex plasticity.

Acetylcholine is involved in a variety of brain functions. In the visual cortex, the pattern of cholinergic innervation varies considerably across different mammalian species and across different cortical layers within the same species. The physiological effects of acetylcholine in the visual cortex display complex responses, which are likely due to cholinergic receptor subtype composition in cytoplasm membrane as well as interaction with other transmitter systems within the local neural circuitry. The functional role of acetylcholine in visual cortex is believed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of cortical neurons during visual information processing. Available evidence suggests that acetylcholine is also involved in experience-dependent visual cortex plasticity. At the level of synaptic transmission, activation of muscarinic receptors has been shown to play a permissive role in visual cortex plasticity. Among the muscarinic receptor subtypes, the M(1) receptor seems to make a predominant contribution towards modifications of neural circuitry. The signal transduction cascade of the cholinergic pathway may act synergistically with that of the NMDA receptor pathway, whose activation is a prerequisite for cortical plasticity.

Cholinergic Fibers↗