Abstract:The CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology directs Cas9 protein to recognize, bind and cleave the target site specifically by using artificial single-guide RNA (sgRNA), through non-homologous end joining or homologous end-recombinant repair mechanisms of cells, which can be engineered to knockout or knock-in of genomes. RIG-I is a pattern recognition receptor that recognizes the 5′-triphosphate-containing RNA in the cytoplasm and activates IRF3/7 and NF-κB by interacting with the downstream signaling molecule MAVS, thus initiating the expression of type I interferons and inflammatory factors. Previous studies found that influenza B virus (IBV) can up-regulate the expression of RIG-I. In the present study, to explore whether RIG-I is the major receptor for IBV to active the antiviral innate immune response and its effect on IBV replication, RIG-I gene in 293T cells was knocked out by CRISPR-Cas9 system, and a stable RIG-I knockout 293T (RIG-I-/- 293T) cell line was screened by puromycin pressure. The results of Western blotting showed that RIG-I was not expressed in this cell line after IBV or Sendai virus (SeV) infection, indicating that the RIG-I-/- 293T cell line was successfully constructed. The transcription levels of interferons, inflammatory factors and interferon-stimulated genes in RIG-I-/- 293T cells which were infected by IBV decreased significantly compared with those in wild-type 293T cells. Moreover, the phosphorylation of p65 and IRF3 were not detected in IBV or SeV infected RIG-I-/- 293T cells. It is indicated that the expression of cytokines mainly depends on the RIG-I-mediated signaling pathway at the early stage of IBV infection. Furthermore, the multi-step growth curves of IBV in the wild type and RIG-I-/- 293T cells showed that RIG-I inhibited the replication of IBV. Collectively, the RIG-I knockout 293T cell line was successfully constructed. We found that RIG-I is the main receptor for IBV to active the antiviral innate immune response and is critical for inhibiting IBV replication, which lays the foundation for further study of IBV infection mechanism.

Abstract:Signaling lymphocyte activation family 7 (SLAMF7/CS1) is a cell surface glycoprotein that is highly expressed in multiple myeloma cells. CS1 is a sensitive and specific biomarker for multiple myeloma. CAR-T cell immunotherapy is a new method for the treatment of multiple myeloma. CS1 CAR-T cell immunotherapy has good effect on relapsed refractory multiple myeloma. To detect the expression efficiency of CS1 CAR on CS1 CAR-T cells and to find an auxiliary means to CAR-T cell immunotherapy, we prepared a CS1-Fc fusion protein. First, the extracellular domain of CS1 was amplified from the existing plasmid by PCR and ligated with human IgG1-Fc fragment by overlap extension PCR. The recombinant fragment was ligated into pMH3 eukaryotic expression vector. After restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing, the pMH3-CS1-Fc-his recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cell (CHO-S) by liposome. The expression of the CS1-Fc fusion protein in CHO-S cells was identified by flow cytometry after G418 pressure screening. Next, the CS1-Fc fusion protein was purified by nickel column. Western-blot analysis showed that molecular weight of the fusion protein was about 70 kDa was identified by Western blotting. The CS1-Fc fusion protein couldeffectively detect the expression rate of CS1 CAR and promote the activation, proliferation andcytokines secretion of the CS1 CAR-T cells. The results will lay the experimental foundation for the in vitro detection and potentiation of CAR-T cells in multiple myeloma treated with CS1 CAR-T cell.

Abstract:Homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting(HOPS) is a protein complex consisting of VPS11, VPS16, VPS18, VPS33, VPS39, VPS41 and regulates membrane transport in vivo through membrane fusion mechanisms. The evidence suggests that HOPS complex as a fusion factor, facilitates autophagosome-lysosome fusion. To determine whether the HOPS complex directly interacts with the autophagic SNARE protein STX17 in vitro, the coding sequence of the six genes were amplified from the existing plasmids by PCR, and then ligated to the prokaryotic expression vector pGEX 4T-1-GST or pET-His-NusA. After identification through colony PCR and DNA sequencing, 6 recombinant plasmids were constructed and transferred into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant proteins were purified by glutathione sepharose 4B and nickel column. We used the tobacco etch virus protease to cut off the GST-tag or His-NusA-tag, to obtain HA-VPS11 protein of about 105 kDa, Flag-VPS16 protein of about 97 kDa, HA-VPS18 protein of about 108 kDa, Flag-VPS33 protein of about 70?kDa, HA-VPS39 protein of about 97 kDa, and Flag-VPS41 protein of about 98 kDa. The function of the purified proteins was verified by in vitro glutathione S-transferases pull-down assay, confirming that autophagic SNARE protein STX17 interacted directly with HOPS components. Our findings provide experimental basis to further study the function and mechanism of HOPS complex in the process of autophagosome-lysosome fusion.

Abstract:Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are acquired immune system in bacteria and archaea. This system is used in site-directed gene editing. Recently, scientists discovered new CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins, in which Cas12a-mediated gene editing can significantly reduce the off-target rate. In this article, we review CRISPR/Cas system’s discovery of history, composition, classification, and working principle. The latest research progress of the CRISPR/Cas system, and its application in zebrafish are introduced.

Abstract:African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating disease of pigs caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), which is considered to be the No. 1 killer to the global pig industry. Highly virulent strains are usually responsible for the peracute and acute forms that provoke high mortality rates that may reach 100%. Since ASF was first introduced in August 2018 into China, 137 outbreaks in domestic and wild pigs had been reported from 32 provinces by June 06, 2019, causing severe socioeconomic consequences. Efforts to develop an ASFV vaccine began in the 1960s, but all failed, the major reason is the lack of in-depth research on the biological characteristics of ASFV. It will be a great challenge for China to control the spread of current ASF, develop safe and effective vaccines. In this review, we outline the biological characteristics of ASFV, including its morphology and basic structure, transmission routes, pathogenicity, genome and proteins, entry mechanism, immune escape, and analyzed the difficulties in vaccine development. We hope to provide basic information for the control of current ASF and understanding of etiology in China.

Abstract:Currently, HIV-1 vaccine development has still been a hot pot in the AIDS research. HIV-1 glycoprotein Env is the sole target in the virion surface that mediates the membrane fusion between the virion and cell in the HIV-1 infection process. Env protein is the significant immunogen for HIV-1 vaccine development. In recent years, there have been breakthroughs in the Env trimer research. For example, the strategies including SOSIP, NFL2P, and UFO had been applied to design and generate HIV-1 Env trimer. The improvement of quantity and stability is beneficial to achieve the HIV-1 native-like Env trimer for elicitation of strong neutralizing antibody responsing in animal immunization. This review focuses on the different strategies for Env trimer design and compares their advantages and disadvantages, combining with our work to give some advice, which might provide relevant information for the future HIV-1 immunogen design.

Abstract:Bispecific antibody (BsAbs) are antibodies (Abs) containing two different antigen-binding sites in one molecule. In the last decade, three BsAbs drugs have been approved for therapeutic use. Meanwhile there are a number of BsAbs in preclinical or clinical studies. In this review, we describe BsAb design, discovery, mechanism of action, and the recent research progress in developing BsAbs.

Abstract:This article briefly introduces the strategic framework of genetic technology of Chinese government and Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the remarkable progress of genetic technology under this guidance. Using bibliometric and patent analysis methods, we reveal the current status of genetic technology research and development in China. China has made great achievements, both in terms of quantity and quality of academic publications, and quantity of patent applications. However, there are still something need to be improved, such as international cooperation and combination the efforts of enterprises, universities and research institutes. In the future, China will improve top-level planning and government guidance and supervision. In addition, it is also crucial to encourage investment from enterprise and communities, and to broadcast the science and technology to the whole society. Moreover, actions have to be taken to reduce the risks of bio-safety and bio-security. The innovation and breakthrough of genetic technology is a key to sustainable development in the bio-industry and bio-economy in China.

Abstract:To evaluate and compare of the immunogenicity differences of flagellins FliC and FljB of Salmonella abortus equi, and lay the experimental foundation for the further utilization of the two recombinant proteins, FliC and FljB recombinant proteins were induced, expressed and purified. The purified FliC and FljB were used to immunize mice separately. The antibody level, titer and subtype of mice serum were detected after immunization. Immune-related receptors and histopathological changes were observed in immunized mice after challenged. The recombinant proteins FliC and FljB were successfully induced and expressed. Proteins of about 52 kDa and 42 kDa were purified. High levels of specific IgG antibodies were induced in mice immunized with these two proteins, the antibody level of FljB-immunized group was higher than that of FliC-immunized group, and IgG1 was the dominant subtype of antibody. The challenge protection rate of the FljB-immunized group was 87.5%, higher than that of FliC immunized group. Bacterial loads and observation pathological of FljB-immunized group were better than that of FliC immunized group, the levels of TCR2, TCR4, MHC-I and TCR induced by FljB-immunized group were higher than those of FliC-immunized group. The of immune response induced by FljB group was better than that of FliC group.

Abstract:The genetic background such as copy number, integration site and chromosome karyotype of exogenous genes of transgenic animals obtained by random integration is still unclear. There may be some problems such as silent integration, invalid integration, toxic integration and unpredictable expression level of exogenous genes. In this study, six primary (F0) and their corresponding offspring (F1) of human lactoferrin (hLF) transgenic goats were selected as the research objects, and blood samples were collected from jugular vein and DNA were extracted. The genetic background and expression level of exogenous genes were studied by chromosome karyotype analysis, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), ELISA and Western blotting. The chromosomes of six F0 transgenic goats had no obvious morphological variation, number change and other abnormalities. The relative copy number was different (2–16) and could be steadily inherited to the next generation. The copy number of F0 and F1 hLF gene was the same. The highest expression level of hLF was 1.12 g/L in F1 transgenic goats (L3-1, 8 copies). The results proved that the integrated exogenous genes could steadily inherit the next generation, and did not cause obstacles to the growth and development of transgenic goat individuals. Moreover, there was no obvious correlation between the number of copies and the expression level of hLF. This laid a foundation for the new varieties cultivation of transgenic goats and other transgenic animals, and analysis of genetic background.

Abstract:The introduction of the mevalonate pathway (MVA pathway) in recombinant Escherichia coli can improve the synthesis of terpenoids. But the imbalance expression of MVA pathway genes and accumulation of intermediates inhibit cell growth and terpenoids production. In this study, each gene of MVA pathway and key genes of lycopene synthesis pathway were cloned in plasmid to express in the recombinant E. coli LYC103 with optimizing the expression of the key genes of the 2-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway (MEP pathway), chromosome recombinant MVA pathway and the lycopene synthesis pathway. The results showed that the overexpression of ispA, crtE, mvaK1, idi and mvaD genes did not affect the cell growth, while lycopene production increased by 13.5%, 16.5%, 17.95%, 33.7% and 61.1% respectively, indicating that these genes may be the rate-limiting steps for the synthesis of lycopene. mvaK1, mvaK2, mvaD of MVA pathway were the rate-limiting steps and were in an operon. The mvaK1, mvaK2, mvaD operon was regulated by mRS (mRNA stabilizing region) library in front of mvaK1, obtaining strain LYC104. Lycopene yield of LYC104 was doubled and cell growth was increased by 32% compared with the control strain LYC103. CRISPR-cas9 technology was used to integrate idi into chromosome at lacZ site to obtain LYC105 strain. Cell growth of LYC105 was increased by 147% and lycopene yield was increased by 2.28 times compared with that of LYC103. In this study, each gene of lycopene synthesis pathway was expressed in plasmid to certify the rate-limiting gene based on the complete MVA pathway on the chromosome. Then the rate-limiting gene was integrated in chromosome with homologous recombination to release the rate-limiting, which providing a new strategy for the construction of high-yield strains for metabolic engineering.

Abstract:Farnesol (FOH) is produced by dephosphorylation of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) derived from two universal building blocks, dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) and isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP). In Rhodobacter sphaeroides these building blocks are generated by MEP pathway, however, many of the biosynthetic reactions and biotransformations in the MEP pathway are limited by low availability of NADPH. Improvement of the amount of intracellular NADPH may enhance the synthesis of FOH. In this study, we utilized the strategies of increasing the production of NADPH and decreasing the consumption of NADPH. The expression of glucose 6-phosphate isomerase (pgi) and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdhA) were inhibited by RNA interference, respectively, and overexpression of 6-glucose phosphate dehydrogenase (zwf) and 6-glucose phosphate dehydrogenase (gnd) in the pentose phosphate pathway were carried out. The results showed that the content of NADPH in the recombinant strains increased significantly, the highest FOH production of RSpgii in the RNA interfered strain was 3.91 mg/g, and the FOH production increased to 3.43 mg/g after zwf gene and gnd gene has been overexpressed. In order to obtain strains with higher FOH production, we used RSpgii as the starting strain, and zwf, gnd and co-overexpressed zwf + gnd gene were overexpressed in RSpgii, respectively. The highest FOH production of the strain RSzgpi reached to 4.48 mg/g which was 2.24 times that of the starting strain RS-GY2.

Abstract:Bombyx mori is a lepidopteran insect with important economic value. Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) causes huge economic loss to silkworm industry in China every year. The objective of this study is to determine the anti-BmNPV mechanism of Bombyx mori strain NC99R, and to provide a basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of the silkworm resistance strain. The normal control Dazao (DZ) strain and the NC99R resistant strain were fed with occlusion bodies (OB). The median lethal dose (LD50) analysis of the DZ and NC99R showed that the LD50 of DZ was 1.2×105 OBs/larva, while NC99R was 1.8×106 OBs/larva. The LD50 of the NC99R was about 15 times higher than the DZ. The mortality of DZ and NC99R were analyzed, which were fed with 1×106 OBs/larva and injection with 1×106 BVs/larva. The results showed that the death peak of DZ was concentrated in the 4th to 6th day. And the death peak of NC99R was concentrated in the 6th to 8th day, with a delay of 1–2 days compared with the control. The BmNPV DNA copy number showed that the BmNPV genome in DZ proliferated rapidly. The copy number of BmNPV DNA in NC99R were increased slowly after oral infection and body injection. HE staining showed that midgut tissue has no significant difference between DZ and NC99R in the early stage of oral infection. At 96 h p.i., the nucleus of DZ midgut became larger and shedding. The NC99R had enlarged nuclei, but the cells were still arranged neatly. Finally, the expression of virus genes in different periods were analyzed by RT-PCR. The results indicated that the immediate early gene ie-1 expression levels began to down-regulate after 24 h p.i.. The early, late, and extremely late genes were also down-regulated, and finally maintained at a lower expression level.

Abstract:In recent years, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated base editing has been developed to a powerful genome editing tool, providing advantages such as without introducing double-stranded DNA break, a donor template and relying on host homologous recombination repair pathway, and has been widely applied in animals, plants, yeast and bacteria. In previous study, our group developed a multiplex automated base editing method (MACBETH) in the important industrial model strain Corynebacterium glutamicum. In this study, to further optimize the method and improve the base editing efficiency in C.?glutamicum, we first constructed a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter-based detection system. The point mutation in the inactivated GFP protein can be edited to restore the GFP fluorescence. By combining with flow cytometry analysis, the base-editing efficiency can be quickly calculated. Then, the base editor with the target gRNA was constructed, and the editing efficiency with the initial editing condition was (13.11±0.21)%. Based on this result, the editing conditions were optimized and the result indicated that the best medium is CGXII, the best initial OD600 of induction is 0.05, the best induction time is 20 h, and the best IPTG concentration is 0.01 mmol/L. After optimization, the editing efficiency was improved to (30.35±0.75)%, which was 1.3-fold of that in initial condition. Finally, endogenous genomic loci of C. glutamicum were selected to assess if the optimized condition can improve genome editing in other loci. Editing efficiency of different loci in optimized condition were improved to 1.7–2.5 fold of that in original condition, indicating the effectiveness and versatility of the optimized condition. Our research will promote the better application of base editing technology in C. glutamicum.

Abstract:Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is widely distributed in organisms and has physiological functions such as boosting body growth, maintaining mitochondrial function, promoting synthesis of nerve growth factor and regulating free radical levels in the body. It has broad application prospects in the fields of medicine, food and cosmetics. In order to improve the PQQ production of Hyphamicrobium denitrificans FJNU-6, the high-concentration methanol was used as the antagonistic factor for laboratory adaptive domestication. The PQQ positive mutants were selected using rapid screening system by spectroscopy. After 6 rounds of adaptive domestication, about 10% mutants were acquired with a doubled yield, and over 90% positive mutation rate of each round of domestication was reached. Subsequently, the mutant strain FJNU-R8 was fermented by 5 L fermenter. Compared with the original strain, the expression of pqq and moxF gene clusters were higher at different methanol concentrations and similar to each other. Meanwhile, the methanol consumption rate and growth rate were slower than the original strain. Finally, the PQQ yield was increased by 1.42 times to 1 087.81 mg/L (143 h), indicating good industrial application potential. The adaptive domestication combined with rapid screening system described in this study can easily and rapidly obtain mutants with high yield of PQQ, which can be used as reference for high-throughput screening of other high-yield PQQ mutants of methylotrophic bacteria.