Effects of Pro-Tex® on the expression of Hsp70 gene and immune response parameters in the Persian sturgeon fingerlings,Acipenser persicus,infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

The induction of Hsps (heat shock protein) recognized as a promising approach to limiting disease and improving health in aquaculture. This investigation aimed to study the impacts of Pro-Tex®, an extract from the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica), on the expression of Hsp70 gene and induction of immune response parameters in Acipenser persicus infected with Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC^®7966^TM. Fish were pretreated with 25, 50 and 100 mg/L of Pro-Tex and then injected in the intra-peritoneal cavity with A. hydrophila. The expression level of Hsp70 gene, lysozyme activity (LYZ) and complement C3 (C3), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were assessed in liver, gill, and intestine on the days 3 and 7 post-infection. Tex-OE® increased expression of Hsp70 in a dose-dependent way in A. persicus, but this expression significantly reduced on the 7-days post-injection. The Hsp70 expression pattern was variable in each tissue, also, LYZ activity, C3, and IgM increased, depending on the concentration, and showed a decreasing trend in a time-dependent way. In conclusion, our data indicated that Pro-Tex as an Hsp70 inducer increases the resistance of sturgeon fry against fish pathogens by induction of different immunity factors.     

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles: A novel therapeutic paradigm

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been revealed to hold great potential for the development of new treatment approaches for various diseases. However, the clinical use of these cells is limited due to their tumorigenic effects. The therapeutic benefits of MSCs are largely dependent on paracrine factors including extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are nano-sized bilayer membrane structures containing lipids, microRNAs and proteins which play key roles in cell-to-cell communications. Because of their lower immunogenicity, tumorigenicity, and easier management, EVs have emerged as a new promising alternative to whole-cell therapy. Therefore, this paper reviews current preclinical studies on the use of EVs derived from human umbilical cord MSCs (hucMSCs) as a therapeutic approach in treatment of several diseases including neurological, cardiovascular, liver, kidney, and bone diseases as well as the cutaneous wound, inflammatory bowel disease, cancers, infertility, and other disorders.     

Distribution and impact of virus associated diseases of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in northern Iran

Different viral diseases infect common bean crops in Iran. A total of 248 symptomatic samples were collected from common bean fields throughout main growing fields of Guilan province in Iran during the summer of 2006. Eight viruses were detected using double antibody-sandwich – enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). Bean common mosaic virus – BCMV (1%), Bean leaf roll virus – BLRV (9%), Cowpea mild mottle virus – CpMMV (6%), Southern bean mosaic virus – SBMV (3%), Cucumber mosaic virus – CMV (15%), Bean golden mosaic virus – BGMV (2%), Bean common mosaic necrosis virus – BCMNV (1%) and Bean yellow mosaic virus – BYMV (1%) were detected. Comparatively CMV (15%) was found to be more prevalent in Guilan province. Multiple infections of viruses were recorded in many samples. Weed species belonging to Chenopodiaceae, Solanaceae, Malvaceae and Amaranthaceae families were also found to be infected with the viruses.     

Different patterns of DNA methylation of the two distinct O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (O6-MGMT) promoter regions in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Colorectal cancer incidence differs widely among different geographic regions. In addition to mutational changes, epigenetic mechanisms also play important roles in the pathogenesis of CRCs. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (O ⁶ -MGMT) is a DNA repair protein and in the absence of MGMT activity, G-to-A transition may accumulate in the specific genes such as K-ras and p53. To identify which CpG sites are critical for its downregulation, we analyzed the methylation status of the MGMT gene promoter in two sites in CRC patients. Then we compared the frequency of their methylation changes with the results of our previously reported K-ras gene mutation, APC2 and p16 methylation. MGMT methylation was examined in 92 tumor samples. A methylation specific PCR (MSP) method was performed for two loci of MGMT gene which described as MGMT-A and MGMT-B. The prevalence of MGMT-A, and MGMT-B methylation was 49/91 (53.8 %), and 83/92 (90.2 %), respectively. We detected high frequency of MGMT-B but not MGMT-A methylation in tumor tissues with APC2 methylation. Our results showed that MGMT-B methylation is significantly associated with K-ras gene mutation rather than MGMT-A (p = 0.04). Simultaneously, an inverse correlation was found between p16 and MGMT-B methylation simultaneously (p = 0.02). Our study indicated that hypermethylation of the specific locus near the MGMT start codon is critical for cancer progression. MGMT-B assessment that is associated with K-ras mutation can have a prognostic value in patients with CRC.     

Association of BMPR-1B and GDF9 genes polymorphisms and secondary protein structure changes with reproduction traits in Mehraban ewes

BMPR-1B and GDF9 genes are well known due to their important effects on litter size and mechanisms controlling ovulation rate in sheep. In the present study, polymorphisms of BMPR-1B gene exon 8 and GDF9 gene exon 1 were detected by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing methods in 100 Mehraban ewes. The PCR reaction forced to amplify 140 and 380-bp fragments of BMPR-1B and GDF9 genes, respectively. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP_S) were identified in two different SSCP patterns of BMPR-1B gene (CC and CA genotypes) that deduced one amino acid exchange. Also, two SNP_S were identified in three different SSCP patterns of GDF9 gene (AA, AG and GG genotypes) that deduced one amino acid exchanges. Two different secondary structures of protein were predicted for BMPR-1B exon 8, but the secondary protein structures predicted for GDF9 exon 1 were similar together. The evaluation of the associations between the SSCP patterns and the protein structure changes with reproduction traits showed that BMPR-1B exon 8 genotypes have significant effects on some of reproduction traits but the GDF9 genotypes did not have any significant effect. The CA genotype of BMPR-1B exon 8 had a significant positive effect on reproduction performance and could be considered as an important and new mutation, affecting the ewes reproduction performance. Marker assisted selection using BMPR-IB gene could be noticed to improve the reproduction traits in Mehraban sheep.     

Designing a new chitinase with more chitin binding and antifungal activity

Chitinases have the ability of chitin digestion that constitutes a main compound of the cell wall in many of the phytopathogens such as fungi. Chitinase Chit42 from Trichoderma atroviride PTCC5220 is considered to play an important role in the biocontrol activity of this fungus against plant pathogens. Chit42 lacks a chitin binding domain (ChBD). We have produced a chimeric chitinase with stronger chitin-binding capacity by fusing to Chit42 a ChBD from Serratia marcescens Chitinase B. The fusion of ChBD improved the affinity to crystalline and colloidal chitin and also the enzyme activity of the chimeric chitinase when compared with the native Chit42. The chimeric chitinase showed higher antifungal activity toward phytopathogenic fungi.     

Biostratigraphy of the Peri-Gondwana Cambrian trilobite fauna (northern Kerman,Iran) and correlation with other countries

Polymeroid trilobite fauna from two stratigraphic sections (Godbondar and Kuhbanan) of the Kuhbanan Formation in northern Kerman (central Iran) were studied and subjected to biostratigraphic analysis. Eleven genera and species are recognised from the latest Early Cambrian and Middle Cambrian Peri-Gondwanian successions of the study sections. The recognised fauna includes Afghanocare lategenatum, Blountia blountia, Iranoleesia sp., Iranoleesia pisiformis, Kermanella kuhbananensis, Kermanella lata lata, Kermanella lata minuta, Kermanella sp., Redlichia chinensis, Redlichia noetlingi and Redlichia sp. Based on trilobite distribution, three trilobite biozones were recognised in the study sections, namely Redlichia noetlingi biozone, Kermanella kuhbananensis biozone and Iranoleesia pisiformis biozone. The age of the study sections is late Early Cambrian to late Middle Cambrian based on the recognised trilobite biozones. The recognised late Early Cambrian trilobite assemblages (especially Redlichia and Kermanella) from northern Kerman are similar to those found from some other parts of Gondwana or Peri-Gondwana terrains (north India, Pakistan, northwestern Kashmir, Tajikistan, South Australia, South China and Afghanistan) and show affinities with fauna found in some other parts of Iran (Alborz, northern Iran; Tabas, eastern Iran; southeast Karman).     

An evaluation of sequencing coverage and genotyping strategies to assess neutral and adaptive diversity

Whole genome sequences (WGS) greatly increase our ability to precisely infer population genetic parameters, demographic processes, and selection signatures. However, WGS may still be not affordable for a representative number of individuals/populations. In this context, our goal was to assess the efficiency of several SNP genotyping strategies by testing their ability to accurately estimate parameters describing neutral diversity and to detect signatures of selection. We analysed 110 WGS at 12× coverage for four different species, i.e., sheep, goats and their wild counterparts. From these data we generated 946 data sets corresponding to random panels of 1K to 5M variants, commercial SNP chips and exome capture, for sample sizes of five to 48 individuals. We also extracted low‐coverage genome resequencing of 1×, 2× and 5× by randomly subsampling reads from the 12× resequencing data. Globally, 5K to 10K random variants were enough for an accurate estimation of genome diversity. Conversely, commercial panels and exome capture displayed strong ascertainment biases. Besides the characterization of neutral diversity, the detection of the signature of selection and the accurate estimation of linkage disequilibrium (LD) required high‐density panels of at least 1M variants. Finally, genotype likelihoods increased the quality of variant calling from low coverage resequencing but proportions of incorrect genotypes remained substantial, especially for heterozygote sites. Whole genome resequencing coverage of at least 5× appeared to be necessary for accurate assessment of genomic variations. These results have implications for studies seeking to deploy low‐density SNP collections or genome scans across genetically diverse populations/species showing similar genetic characteristics and patterns of LD decay for a wide variety of purposes.     

Feeding corn germ instead of corn grain on the performance of Holstein dairy cows fed low-forage diet and human-edible feed conversion efficiency

Using corn germ (CG) instead of corn grain could maintain dairy cow performance and might increase the efficiency of human food production. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing corn grain with CG on the performance, nutrient intake, and digestibility of dairy cows. It also aimed to investigate the effect of CG on the efficiency of human food production in high-producing Holstein dairy cows in early lactation. Nine multiparous Holstein cows with 65.6 ± 8.5 DIM, milk yield of 55.6 ± 4.5 kg/d, and body weight of 611.3 ± 43.3 kg (mean ± SD) were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Treatments were (1) control treatment (CT, diet contains corn grain), (2) alternative treatment (AT, diet where corn grain was replaced with CG), and (3) balanced treatment (BT, diet where corn grain was replaced with CG but with the same energy content as CT). Control and balanced diets were isoenergetic (6.61 MJ/kg of DM); however, AT had higher energy (6.77 MJ/kg of DM). Treatments had no effect on dry and organic matter intake. NDF intake, however, was higher in CG diets compared with CT (P = 0.0001). Total-tract digestibility of DM tended to be reduced (P = 0.08), and OM digestibility was reduced (P = 0.05) by the inclusion of CG in diets. Whole and energy-corrected milk production were greater in AT compared with CT and BT (P < 0.05). Milk yield was similar in cows fed CT and BT. Treatments had no effect on milk composition or feed efficiency. Diet CT, when compared with CG diets, had lower efficiency in terms of human-edible feed conversion efficiency (HeFCE) and net food production (P < 0.05). Diet BT had greater HeFCE and net production of human-edible CP than AT (P < 0.05). Plasma BHBA, non-esterified fatty acids, and glucose concentrations were not affected by treatments, but plasma cholesterol was higher in cows that consumed CG diets (P = 0.04). The results indicate that, in high-producing early lactation dairy cows fed high concentrate diets, net food protein production can be substantially improved without lowering milk production through the reduction of dietary starch from 30.2 to 24.8% by replacing corn grain with CG.