In-depth analysis of the human tear proteome

The tears, a critical body fluid of the surface of the eye, contain an unknown number of molecules including proteins/peptides, lipids, small molecule metabolites, and electrolytes. There have been continued efforts for exploring the human tear proteome to develop biomarkers of disease. In this study, we used the high speed TripleTOF 5600 system as the platform to analyze the human tear proteome from healthy subjects (3 females and 1 male, average age: 36±14). We have identified 1543 proteins in the tears with less than 1% false discovery rate, which represents the largest number of human tear proteins reported to date. The data set was analyzed for gene ontology (GO) and compared with the human plasma proteome, NEIBank lacrimal gland gene dataset and NEIBank cornea gene dataset. This comprehensive tear protein list may serve as a reference list of human tear proteome for biomarker research of ocular diseases or establishment of MRM (Multiple Reaction Monitoring) assays for targeted analysis. Tear fluid is a useful and an accessible source not only for evaluating ocular surface tissues (cornea and conjunctiva), inflammation, lacrimal gland function and a number of disease conditions, such as dry eye as well as response to treatment.     

Comparison of three commercial vaccines for preventing persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus

Eighty crossbred beef heifers were randomly allocated to four groups to evaluate the efficacy of vaccination in preventing development of calves persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Group 1 (n = 11) was non-vaccinated controls, whereas three groups were vaccinated with commercially available multivalent BVDV vaccines at weaning (∼7 mo of age), 28 d post-weaning, ∼1 y of age, and 28 d later. Groups 2 (n = 23) and 3 (n = 23) were given a modified-live BVDV vaccine, whereas Group 4 was given an inactivated BVDV vaccine. Heifers were bred by AI and subsequently exposed to two bulls. At 61 d after AI, 70 heifers were pregnant (n = 10 for Group 1 and n = 20/group for Groups 2, 3, and 4). Three cattle persistently infected with BVDV were commingled with the pregnant heifers (in an isolated pasture) from 68 to 126 d after AI. Thereafter, viremias were detected in pregnant heifers from Groups 1, 3, and 4 (10/10, 1/20, and 10/20, respectively), but not in pregnant heifers from Group 2 (0/20). Resulting calves were assessed for persistent infection using serum PCR, ear notch antigen capture-ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. Persistently infected calves were only produced in Group 1 (10/10) and Group 4 (2/18). In conclusion, commercial vaccines provided effective fetal protection despite prolonged natural exposure to BVDV. Given that viremias were detected in 11 vaccinated heifers after BVDV exposure, and two vaccinated heifers gave birth to persistently infected calves, there is continued need for biosecurity and diagnostic surveillance, in addition to vaccination, to ensure effective BVDV control.     

A review of recent non-target toxicity testing of vertebrate pesticides: establishing generic guidelines

Abstract

An analysis of the range, extent and importance of New Zealand-based ecotoxicology studies has been completed to better understand the hazards and non-target risks associated with new toxins and baits. This review focuses on compounds that have been recently developed for incorporation into bait for terrestrial vertebrate pest control, namely cholecalciferol, para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) and zinc phosphide and the effects of these toxins on non-target species. Testing of these compounds has included cage and pen toxicity and bait acceptance studies. Locally conducted acute toxicity studies clarify overseas data and enhance risk assessments. Consistency in approach and selection of surrogate species, and careful selection of native non-target species for acute toxicity testing in cage and pen trials are recommended as important steps before field trials. We propose a systematic approach to cage and pen trials and offer guidelines on species selection.     

The Costs of Neighbors for a Territorial Dragonfly, Perithemis tenera

Past researchers have often considered neighbors to be beneficial to territorial residents, particularly compared with non‐neighbor conspecific competitors. However, neighbors have the potential to be costly to residents in terms of both defensive costs and lost resources. In this study, we assessed the relative costs of defending a mating territory against neighbors and non‐neighbors for the dragonfly Perithemis tenera, comparing across males with different numbers of contiguous neighbors; we also examined the possibility that the presence of contiguous neighbors might reduce the detection of potential mates. When neighbors were present, residents experienced a greater total number of intrusions by males; this increase in intrusions was due to higher numbers of intrusions by neighbors, as the number of intrusions by non‐neighbor males did not differ. Residents with immediately adjacent neighbors also made more sorties toward neighbors than did residents whose nearest neighbors’ territories were not immediately adjacent. Interestingly, although the number of visits by females did not vary with the presence of neighbors, residents with neighbors made fewer sorties toward females than did residents without neighbors. Our results suggest that defensive costs increased when neighbors were present, that residents with neighbors may have missed opportunities to acquire mates, and thus that living with neighbors can be costly in this species.     

Nucleoprotein Complexes in Simian Virus 40-Infected Cells

When African green monkey kidney cells (BSC-1) were infected with simian virus 40 (SV40) and extracted with 0.25% Triton X-100 after exposure to (3)H-thymidine, the (3)H-SV40 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was present in a form which had a sedimentation coefficient in sucrose gradients of 44S. The change from the sedimentation coefficient of purified SV40 DNA (21S) was shown to result from the association of the SV40 DNA in the Triton extracts with protein by means of sensitivity to Pronase digestion and labeling with (14)C-amino acids. Short-term labeling experiments with (3)H-thymidine demonstrated that SV40 DNA molecules in the course of replication (25S) were also present as nucleoprotein complexes in Triton-extracted material. Labeled DNA extracted with Triton in the form of nucleoprotein complexes was obtained in amounts which were quantitatively equivalent to the amounts extracted with deoxycholate in parallel experiments. This indicated that the newly synthesized pools of SV40 DNA may not occur as free DNA in the infected cell.     

Superhelix Density Heterogeneity of Intracellular Simian Virus 40 Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Covalently closed intracellular and viral simian virus 40 (SV40) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were separately isolated from infected African green monkey cells (BSC-1) grown in culture. The two DNA species form overlapping bands centered at different positions in a propidium di-iodide-cesium chloride (PDI-CsCl) buoyant density gradient capable of separating closed DNA species with different superhelix densities. When the dense side of a (32)P-labeled intracellular DNA band was mixed with the light side of a (3)H-labeled intracellular DNA band and again centrifuged in a PDI-CsCl density gradient, two overlapping bands formed with modes displaced from each other. Similar band-splitting experiments performed with viral DNA always gave superimposable bands. The foregoing experiments demonstrate that the intracellular DNA is heterogeneous in superhelix density, whereas, by the same criteria, the viral DNA is homogeneous. The mean superhelix density of the intracellular closed DNA is approximately three-fourths as large as the superhelix density of the viral DNA. These results rule out the possibility that closed SV40 DNA is drawn randomly from the intracellular pool and assembled without a further nicking-closing step into virions. When the cells were grown and infected in the presence of ethidium bromide (EB), the intracellular closed DNA was found to be homogeneous in superhelix density and to have the same superhelix density as the viral DNA which, in turn, was unaffected by the presence of the drug. The foregoing results were explained by postulating that the intracellular DNA is formed with a homogeneous superhelix density and becomes heterogeneous in the absence of EB as a result of a nicking-closing cycle that occurs in a spacially or temporally heterogeneous environment. The drug EB would inhibit this action by inhibiting the nicking enzyme(s).     

A comparative study of the extracellular and cell-wall polysaccharides of someCandida species

Candida bogoriensis, C.buffonii, C.diffluens, C.foliarum andC.javanica, produce an extracellular polysaccharide which contains galactose, glucose, mannose, fucose and rhamnose. These sugars were also found in cell-wall preparations of the same yeast species. The cell-wall preparations ofC.diffluens andC.foliarum included capsular material. The similarity in composition of the extracellular polysaccharides and components of the cell wall suggests that both are synthetized by the same enzymatic system. The fiveCandida species may be closely related.