Parasites in peril: abundance of batflies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) declines along an urbanisation gradient

Journal of Insect Conservation - Urbanisation has a wide range of impacts on biodiversity, but its effects on parasitic arthropods, particularly those of bats, remain poorly studied. Ectoparasites...     

Novel secondary Ig VH gene rearrangement and in-frame Ig heavy chain complementarity-determining region III insertion/deletion variants in de novo follicular lymphoma

Human germinal center B cell tumors retain the ability of their nontransformed counterparts to somatically hypermutate Ig V genes by nucleotide substitution. Among a survey of 60 primary previously untreated, clonal, follicular lymphomas we have identified a rare V(H) rearrangement variant and two other in-frame nucleotide insertion/deletion variants within complementarity-determining region III of the Ig heavy chain. The neoplastic origin of the V(H) rearrangement variant was directly demonstrated in cells isolated by microdissection from malignant follicles. In all three cases a common clonal origin for the variants was demonstrated by complementarity-determining region III nucleotide sequence homology and shared somatic mutations in germline encoded positions in framework region IV. The monoclonal nature of the tumors was independently confirmed by demonstrating a single t(14;18) translocation breakpoint in the two cases with a detectable translocation. All the variants occurred in functional V(H) rearrangements, which in two cases were directly shown to encode functional Ab molecules. Both recombination-activating genes 1 and 2 were expressed in lymph node tumor cells containing the V(H) rearrangement variant, although recombination-activating gene expression among a panel of lymphomas was not limited to this variant.     

LvsA, a protein related to the mouse beige protein, is required for cytokinesis in Dictyostelium

We isolated a Dictyostelium cytokinesis mutant with a defect in a novel locus called large volume sphere A (lvsA). lvsA mutants exhibit an unusual phenotype when attempting to undergo cytokinesis in suspension culture. Early in cytokinesis, they initiate furrow formation with concomitant myosin II localization at the cleavage furrow. However, the furrow is later disrupted by a bulge that forms in the middle of the cell. This bulge is bounded by furrows on both sides, which are often enriched in myosin II. The bulge can increase and decrease in size multiple times as the cell attempts to divide. Interestingly, this phenotype is similar to the cytokinesis failure of Dictyostelium clathrin heavy-chain mutants. Furthermore, both cell lines cap ConA receptors but form only a C-shaped loose cap. Unlike clathrin mutants, lvsA mutants are not defective in endocytosis or development. The LvsA protein shares several domains in common with the molecules beige and Chediak-Higashi syndrome proteins that are important for lysosomal membrane traffic. Thus, on the basis of the sequence analysis of the LvsA protein and the phenotype of the lvsA mutants, we postulate that LvsA plays an important role in a membrane-processing pathway that is essential for cytokinesis.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel angiopoietin family protein, angiopoietin-3

Using homology-based PCR, we have isolated cDNA encoding a novel member (491 amino acids) of the angiopoietin (Ang) family from human adult heart cDNA and have designated it angiopoietin-3 (Ang3). The NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal portions of Ang-3 contain the characteristic coiled-coil domain and fibrinogen-like domain that are conserved in other known Angs. Ang3 has a highly hydrophobic region at the N-terminus (approximately 21 amino acids) that is typical of a signal sequence for protein secretion. Ang3 mRNA is most abundant in adrenal gland, placenta, thyroid gland, heart and small intestine in human adult tissues. Additionally, Ang3 is a secretory protein, but is not a mitogen in endothelial cells.     

The effect of sugar,amino acid,metal ion,and NaCl on model Maillard reaction under pH control

Summary. The color intensities was determined of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) prepared by heating each of five sugars (maltose, fructose, glucose, arabinose, and xylose) with each of 12 amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, serine, cysteine, phenylalanine, arginine, and lysine). The remaining percentages of glucose and rate of change of color intensity due to the addition of a metal ion and NaCl were monitored for nine MRPs that had been formed between glucose and each of nine amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, valine, serine, cysteine, phenylalanine, arginine, and lysine). Model MRPs were prepared in a block heater at 100°C for 1–12h with the pH value controlled at 6.5. The resulting color intensity of each MRPs formed from the basic amino acids was greater due to the higher reactivity than those from the acidic amino acids. The remaining percentage of glucose in each MRPs from the basic amino acids was lower than those from the acidic amino acids. The MRPs from the nonpolar amino acids showed an intermediate color intensity and remaining percentages of glucose between those formed from the basic and acidic amino acids. Browning tended to be accelerated in the presence of metal ions, especially Fe²⁺ and Cu²⁺, although it was affected by the property of the amino acid and heating time as well as by the type of metal ion. On the other hand, browning was greatly inhibited by a high concentration of NaCl.     

Synthesis and evaluation of lasonolide A analogues

Homolasonolide A and 10-desmethyllasonolide A are biologically less active than lasonolide A. The ethyl ester analogue of lasonolide A exhibited higher activity than the parent compound in some biological test.     

Enhancement of in situ hybridization to detect bovine herpesvirus 4 in paraffin sections

In situ hybridization (ISH) protocols including different pre-treatment regimes were developed and compared for their effects on detecting bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue. Results were compared for the hybridization and background signal intensities, and cellular morphology. We found that optimum results were obtained using enzyme treatment-thermal cycling as a pre-treatment of ISH. The results showed that the combination of protease and thermal cycling would be recommended as a means of supplementing in situ hybridization methods, especially when using long-term formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue.     

The limited immunomodulatory effects of escharectomy on the kinetics of endotoxin, cytokines, and adhesion molecules in major burns

Escharectomy has been shown to improve the survival rates and the outcomes in burns. This observational study was conducted to assess the role of escharectomy on the inflammatory mediators in major burns. Seventeen ASA physical status II or status III adult surviving major burn patients were recruited. When the escharectomy was scheduled, a series of blood samples was obtained at -3 and -1 days preoperation, and +1 and +3 postoperation. The changing levels of endotoxin, cytokines, and adhesion molecules were measured with a quantitative sandwich immunoassay. Extensive escharectomy did not appear to have any significant impact on the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-10, soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1. Meanwhile, endotoxin and E-selectin were significantly decreased after escharectomy. Escharectomy appeared to have a limited immunomodulatory effect on the inflammatory mediators in systemic inflammatory responses induced by major burns. This is probably related to the timing and extent of surgery, and the complex nature of burn-related inflammation.     

Expression patterns of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide and its type I receptor mRNAs in the rat placenta

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) was first isolated from ovine hypothalamus and is known to act as a tropic factor in various cells. Recent report revealed the expression of PACAP and the PACAP type I (PAC(1)) receptor in human and rat placentas at term. Placenta is a critical organ that synthesizes several growth and angiogenic factors for its own growth as well as fetal development. However, there is little information regarding the expression pattern and cellular localization of PACAP and PAC(1) during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to define the expression and distribution of PACAP and PAC(1) receptor mRNAs in the rat placenta during pregnancy. PACAP and PAC(1) receptor mRNAs were expressed in decidual cells, chorionic vessels, and stromal cells of the chorionic villi. Interestingly, the expression of these genes varied with the day of gestation. For example, PACAP and PAC(1) receptor mRNAs expressed in decidual cells on day 13.5 and 15.5, their expression was strong in chorionic vessels and stromal cells of the chorionic villi within the labyrinth zone on day 17.5, 19.5, and 21.5. In fact, as gestation advanced, the expression of PACAP and PAC(1) receptor mRNAs in the decidua cells disappeared, as their high expression became evident in the chorionic vessels and stromal cells of the chorionic villi. Our finding that PACAP and the PAC(1) receptor are co-localized and their genes seemingly co-regulated within specific placental areas, strongly suggest that this peptide may play an important role, as an autoregulator or pararegulator via its PAC(1) receptor, in physiological functioning of the placenta for gestational maintenance.     

Non-classic characteristics define prominent DNase activities from the intestine and other tissues of Haemonchus contortus

The anthelmintic fenbendazole (FBZ) induces nuclear DNA fragmentation (DF) in intestinal cells of Haemonchus contortus. The DNA fragments had 3'-OH, which suggests involvement of a neutral DNase. To identify candidate DNase(s) involved, DNase activity in H. contortus intestine and other worm fractions was characterized relative to classic DNases I (neutral) and II (acidic). Seven distinct DNase activities were identified and had Mrs of 34, 36, 37 or 38.5 kDa on zymographic analysis. The different activities were distinguished according to pH requirement, sensitivity to 10 mM EDTA and worm compartment. Activities of intestinal DNases at 34, 36 and 38.5 kDa were sensitive to EDTA at pH 5.0 and 7.0. Sensitivity to EDTA at pH 5.0 was unexpected compared to classic acidic DNase II activity, suggesting unusual properties of these DNases. In whole worms, however, the activities at 36 and 38.5 kDa were relatively insensitive to EDTA, indicating predominance of DNases that are distinct from the intestine. The activity at 37 kDa in excretory/secretory products had an acidic pH requirement and was insensitive to EDTA, resembling classic acidic DNase activity. Under conditions of pH 5.0 and 7.0, intestinal DNases produced 3'-ends that could be labeled by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, indicating presence of 3'-OH. The labeling of 3'-ends at pH 5.0, again, was unexpected for acidic DNase activity. These results and several other activities suggest that multiple H. contortus DNases have characteristics distinct from the classic mammalian DNases I and II. Treatment of H. contortus with FBZ did not induce any detectable DNase activities distinct from normal intestine, although relative activities of intestinal DNases appear to have been altered by this treatment.