Efficiency of spinosad, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichogramma brassicae</Emphasis> against the tomato leafminer in greenhouse

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of three eco-friendly control agents, either singly or in a pairwise combination, for the control of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lep: Gelechiidae). They include the naturally derived pesticide spinosad, a commercially available formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki (Bt), and a native population of Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hym: Trichogrammatidae). Tomato plants containing the T. absoluta were treated with one of the seven following treatments in a greenhouse: (1) a single release of T. brassicae against the eggs; (2) two applications of Bt (2 kg ha^?1); (3) and (4) one application of spinosad at two rates (60 and 120 g a.i. ha^?1); (5) T. brassicae release?+?Bt spray; (6) T. brassicae release?+?spinosad spray; and (7) spinosad spray?+?Bt spray. The highest mortality rate was recorded for the spinosad?+?Bt (88.33?±?1.43%) and T. brassicae?+?spinosad (78.33?±?3.74%) combinations, respectively; while the lowest mortality rate was obtained through the single application of T. brassicae (31.67?±?4.84%). Based on our results, the Bt and spinosad seem to be suitable candidates for combination with other biological and cultural techniques towards an integrated management of the tomato leafminer.     

Bilayered,non-cross-linked collagen matrix for regeneration of facial defects after skin cancer removal: a new perspective for biomaterial-based tissue reconstruction

Classically skin defects are covered by split thickness skin grafts or by means of local or regional skin flaps. In the presented case series for the first time a bilayered, non-crossed-linked collagen matrix has been used in an off-label fashion in order to reconstruct facial skin defects following different types of skin cancer resection. The material is of porcine origin and consists of a spongy and a compact layer. The ratio of the two layers is 1:3 in favour of the spongy layer. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of this matrix for skin regeneration as an alternative to the standard techniques of skin grafts or flaps. Six patients between 39 and 83 years old were included in the study based on a therapeutic trial. The collagen matrix was used in seven defects involving the nose, eyelid, forehead- and posterior scalp regions, and ranging from 1,2 to 6 cm in diameter. Two different head and neck surgeons at two different institutions performed the operations. Each used a different technique in covering the wound following surgery, i.e. with and without a latex-based sheet under the pressure dressing. In three cases cylindrical biopsies were taken after 14 days. In all cases the biomaterial application was performed without any complication and no adverse effects were observed. Clinically, the collagen matrix contributed to a tension-free skin regeneration, independent of the wound dressing used. The newly regenerated skin showed strong similarity to the adjacent normal tissue both in quality and colour. Histological analysis indicated that the spongy layer replaced the defective connective tissue, by providing stepwise integration into the surrounding implantation bed, while the compact layer was infiltrated by mononuclear cells and contributed to its epithelialization by means of a ?conductive“process from the surrounding epithelial cells. The clinical and histological data demonstrate that the collagen bilayered matrix used in this series contributes to a ?Guided-Integrative-Regeneration-Process“, which still needs to be further understood. The biomimetic nature of this material seems to contribute to physiological matrix remodelling, which probably involves other matricellular proteins essential for soft tissue regeneration. A deeper understanding of the mechanism, involved in the tissue integration of this material and its contribution to soft tissue regeneration based on the direct and indirect effect of matricellular proteins could open new therapeutic avenues for biomaterial-based soft tissue regeneration as an alternative to traditional flap-based plastic surgery.     

Localization of 3′, 5′-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in isolated thyroid cells and intact thyroid tissue

Summary Cytochemical localization of 3,5-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (cPDEase) has been investigated by light and electron microscopy in dissociated bovine thyroid cells and in intact bovine thyroid tissue. By light microscopy in isolated thyroid cells reaction product deposition associated with cPDEase activity was localized at the level of the plasma membrane. In intact cryostat cut thyroid tissue, the activity was primarily observed in the cytoplasm and to a lesser extent at the level of the plasma membrane. By electron microscopy, cPDEase activity in isolated cells was found on the plasma membrane and was also encountered on the inner surface of membrane bound vacuoles, presumably pinocytic in origin. In intact tissue, cPDEase activity appeared mostly localized on the apical and lateral plasma membranes and was also present on the outer surface of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).Even though cPDEase and 5-AMPase did share the same plasma membrane localization, the inhibitory response to theophylline and stimulation with Imidazole permitted the dissociation of their respective activities. 5-AMPase failed to respond to either theophylline or Imidazole suggesting absence of cross reactivity between 5-AMP and cyclic AMP. Thyrotropin (TSH) had no effect on cPDEase activity.We conclude that: (1) regardless of the nature of the material used, the cytomembranes of thyroid cells possess cPDEase activity; and that (2) the variability in distribution as well as in staining intensity recorded by light and electron microscopy between isolated thyroid cells and cryostat cut thyroid tissue is probably inherent to the methodology used.This paper was presented, in part, at the 60th Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Pathology, Montreal, Canada, March 1971 and was initiated in the Department of Pathology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, R.I., supported from a Grant-in-Aid of the American Cancer Society, Rhode Island Division, Inc. and the Brown-Hazen Fund.     

Calumenin knockdown,by intronic artificial microRNA,to improve expression efficiency of the recombinant human coagulation factor IX

Biotechnology Letters - To improve the expression efficiency of recombinant hFIX, by enhancing its γ-carboxylation, which is inhibited by Calumenin (CALU), we used intronic artificial...     

Biotransformation of methyl tert-butyl ether by human cytochrome P450 2A6

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is widely used as gasoline oxygenate and octane number enhancer for more complete combustion in order to reduce the air pollution caused by motor vehicle exhaust. The possible adverse effects of MTBE on human health are of major public concern. However, information on the metabolism of MTBE in human tissues is scarce. The present study demonstrates that human cytochrome P450 2A6 is able to metabolize MTBE to tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), a major circulating metabolite and marker for exposure to MTBE. As CYP2A6 is known to be constitutively expressed in human livers, we infer that it may play a significant role in metabolism of gasoline ethers in liver tissue.     

Chlamydia trachomatis-derived deubiquitinating enzymes in mammalian cells during infection

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes a variety of diseases in humans. C. trachomatis has a complex developmental cycle that depends on host cells for replication, during which gene expression is tightly regulated. Here we identify two C. trachomatis proteases that possess deubiquitinating and deneddylating activities. We have designated these proteins ChlaDub1 and ChlaDub2. The genes encoding ChlaDub1 and ChlaDub2 are present in all Chlamydia species except for Chlamydia pneumoniae, and their catalytic domains bear similarity to the catalytic domains of other eukaryotic ubiquitin-like proteases (Ulp). The C. trachomatis DUBs react with activity-based probes and hydrolyse ubiquitinated and neddylated substrates. ChlaDub1 and ChlaDub2 represent the first known bacterial DUBs that possess both deubiquitinating and deneddylating activities.