Inhibition of Protein Synthesis by Antiviral Protein from Yucca recurvifolia Leaves

We analyzed 18S and 26S rRNA partial base sequences [positions 1451–1618 (168 bases) of 18S rRNA and positions 1611–1835 (225 bases) and 493–622 (130 bases) of 26S rRNA] of a total of three strains of Pichia jadinii and Candida utilis. The three strains had identical base sequences with the type strain of P. jadinii (IFO 0987) in the 18S rRNA partial base sequencings. In the 26S rRNA partial base sequencings, there were partial base sequences similar to each other (1–0 base difference and 87–95 percent similarities). The sequence data obtained are discussed taxonomically and phylogenetically, especially in connection with Williopsis saturnus, the type species of the genus Williopsis ZENDER.     

Production of endothelial progenitor cells obtained from human Wharton's jelly using different culture conditions

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) participate in revascularization and angiogenesis. EPC can be cultured in vitro from mononuclear cells of peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood or bone marrow; they also can be transdifferentiated from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). We isolated EPCs from Wharton's jelly (WJ) using two methods. The first method was by obtaining MSC from WJ and characterizing them by flow cytometry and their adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation, then applying endothelial growth differentiating media. The second method was by direct culture of cells derived from WJ into endothelial differentiating media. EPCs were characterized by morphology, Dil-LDL uptake/UEA-1 immunostaining and testing the expression of endothelial markers by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. We found that MSC derived from WJ differentiated into endothelial-like cells using simple culture conditions with endothelium induction agents in the medium.     

CTENO64 Is Required for Coordinated Paddling of Ciliary Comb Plate in Ctenophores

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Highly heterogeneous residual malaria risk in western Thailand

Over the past decades, the malaria burden in Thailand has substantially declined. Most infections now originate from the national border regions. In these areas, the prevalence of asymptomatic infections is still substantial and poses a challenge for the national malaria elimination program. To determine epidemiological parameters as well as risk factors for malaria infection in western Thailand, we carried out a cohort study in Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Blood samples from 999 local participants were examined for malaria infection every 4 weeks between May 2013 and Jun 2014. Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax was determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and showed a seasonal variation with values fluctuating from 1.7% to 4.2% for P. vivax and 0% to 1.3% for P. falciparum. Ninety percent of infections were asymptomatic. The annual molecular force of blood-stage infection (_molFOB) was estimated by microsatellite genotyping to be 0.24 new infections per person-year for P. vivax and 0.02 new infections per person-year for P. falciparum. The distribution of infections was heterogenous, that is, the vast majority of infections (>80%) were found in a small number of individuals (<8% of the study population) who tested positive at multiple timepoints. Significant risk factors were detected for P. vivax infections, including previous clinical malaria, occupation in agriculture and travel to Myanmar. In contrast, indoor residual spraying was associated with a protection from infection. These findings provide a recent landscape of malaria epidemiology and emphasize the importance of novel strategies to target asymptomatic and imported infections.     

Hyperglycemia differentially affects proliferation,apoptosis, and BNIP3 and p53 mRNA expression of human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly cells from non-diabetic and diabetic pregnancies

Diabetes in pregnancy constitutes an unfavorable environment for embryonic and fetal development, where the child has a higher risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality, with high incidence of congenital malformations and predisposition to long-term metabolic diseases that increase with a hypercaloric diet. To analyze whether hyperglycemia differentially affects proliferation, apoptosis, and mRNA expression in cells from children of normoglycemic pregnancies (NGPs) and diabetes mellitus pregnancies (DMPs), we used umbilical cord Wharton jelly cells as a research model. Proliferation assays were performed to analyze growth and determine the doubling time, and the rate of apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry-annexin-V assays. AMPK, BNIP3, HIF1α, and p53 mRNA gene expression was assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. We found that hyperglycemia decreased proliferation in a statistically significant manner in NGP cells treated with 40?mM D-glucose and in DMP cells treated with 30 and 40?mM D-glucose. Apoptosis increased in hyperglycemic conditions in NGP and DMP cells. mRNA expression of BNIP3 and p53 was significantly increased in cells from DMPs but not in cells from NGPs. We found evidence that maternal irregular metabolic conditions, like diabetes with hyperglycemia in culture, affect biological properties of fetal cells. These observations could be a constituent of fetal programming.     

Successful cryopreservation of honey bee drone spermatozoa with royal jelly supplemented extenders

The aim of the present study was to evaluate different concentrations of royal jelly (RJ) supplemented extenders for post-thawing quality of drone sperm. Semen samples were collected from sexually mature drones. Pooled semen was diluted with extender without RJ (control) or supplemented with different concentrations of RJ (1, 2, 4 or 8%). Sperm motility, plasma membrane functional integrity, and acrosomal integrity were evaluated. At post thaw, the highest sperm motility and acrosomal integrity rates were obtained in the RJ1 group. Functional integrity of sperm membrane was better preserved in the RJ1 and RJ2 groups compare to the other groups. The study shows that RJ supplemented extenders have beneficial effects on drone semen parameters. The results of the present study demonstrated advantage of using 1% RJ supplemented extender.     

Evolution of egg target size: an analysis of selection on correlated characters

In broadcast-spawning marine organisms, chronic sperm limitation should select for traits that improve chances of sperm-egg contact. One mechanism may involve increasing the size of the physical or chemical target for sperm. However, models of fertilization kinetics predict that increasing egg size can reduce net zygote production due to an associated decline in fecundity. An alternate method for increasing physical target size is through addition of energetically inexpensive external structures, such as the jelly coats typical of eggs in species from several phyla. In selection experiments on eggs of the echinoid Dendraster excentricus, in which sperm was used as the agent of selection, eggs with larger overall targets were favored in fertilization. Actual shifts in target size following selection matched quantitative predictions of a model that assumed fertilization was proportional to target size. Jelly volume and ovum volume, two characters that contribute to target size, were correlated both within and among females. A cross-sectional analysis of selection partitioned the independent effects of these characters on fertilization success and showed that they experience similar direct selection pressures. Coupled with data on relative organic costs of the two materials, these results suggest that, under conditions where fertilization is limited by egg target size, selection should favor investment in low-cost accessory structures and may have a relatively weak effect on the evolution of ovum size.     

Intraocular gene transfer of ciliary neurotrophic factor rescues photoreceptor degeneration in RCS rats

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is known as an important factor in the regulation of retinal cell growth. We used both recombinant CNTF and an adenovirus carrying the CNTF gene to regulate retinal photoreceptor expression in a retinal degenerative animal, Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats. Cells in the outer nuclear layer of the retinae from recombinant-CNTF-treated, adenoviral-CNTF-treated, saline-operated, and contralateral untreated preparations were examined for those exhibiting CNTF photoreceptor protective effects. Cell apoptosis in the outer nuclear layer of the retinae was also detected. It was found that CNTF had a potent effect on delaying the photoreceptor degeneration process in RCS rats. Furthermore, adenovirus CNTF gene transfer was proven to be better at rescuing photoreceptors than that when using recombinant CNTF, since adenoviral CNTF prolonged the photoreceptor protection effect. The function of the photoreceptors was also examined by taking electroretinograms of different animals. Adenoviral-CNTF-treated eyes showed better retinal function than did the contralateral control eyes. This study indicates that adenoviral CNTF effectively rescues degenerating photoreceptors in RCS rats.S.-P.H. and P.-K.L. contributed equally to this work.     

Paleodemographic comparison of a catastrophic and an attritional death assemblage

The aim of this contribution is to examine the effect of an indiscriminate epidemic on a population to assess whether or not a catastrophic event can be identified from examination of paleodemographic data. Using paleodemographic techniques, the death assemblage from the Royal Mint site, London, a Black Death cemetery dated 1349 AD, is compared with that from St. Helen-on-the-Walls, York, which dates from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries AD. The Royal Mint site represents a catastrophic cemetery, while that of St. Helen-on-the-Walls is of an attritional type. Certain features of the paleodemographic profile of the plague victims suggest that the population had been affected by factors other than natural wastage. Three factors are proposed which may define an indiscriminate catastrophic event in preindustrial populations.