An overview of malaria transmission from the perspective of Amazon Anopheles vectors

In the Americas, areas with a high risk of malaria transmission are mainly located in the Amazon Forest, which extends across nine countries. One keystone step to understanding the Plasmodium life cycle in Anopheles species from the Amazon Region is to obtain experimentally infected mosquito vectors. Several attempts to colonise Ano- pheles species have been conducted, but with only short-lived success or no success at all. In this review, we review the literature on malaria transmission from the perspective of its Amazon vectors. Currently, it is possible to develop experimental Plasmodium vivax infection of the colonised and field-captured vectors in laboratories located close to Amazonian endemic areas. We are also reviewing studies related to the immune response to P. vivax infection of Anopheles aquasalis, a coastal mosquito species. Finally, we discuss the importance of the modulation of Plasmodium infection by the vector microbiota and also consider the anopheline genomes. The establishment of experimental mosquito infections with Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium yoelii and Plasmodium berghei parasites that could provide interesting models for studying malaria in the Amazonian scenario is important. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of the parasites in New World vectors is crucial in order to better determine the interaction process and vectorial competence.     

Destruction of human blood cells upon interaction with detonation nanodiamonds in experiments in vitro

The influence of nanodiamonds synthesized by detonation on human red and white blood cells in vitro was studied. Nine nanodiamond samples produced by different manufacturers and two samples of modified nanodiamonds with high colloidal stability were used in the study. It was shown that nanoparticles cause the destruction of white cells and the hemolysis of erythrocytes. Possible mechanisms of the desctructive effect of detonation nanodiamonds on blood-forming elements are discussed.     

Structure based virtual screening of ligands to identify cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 antagonist

Montelukast and Zafirlukast are known leukotriene receptor antagonists prescribed in asthma treatment. However, these fall short as mono therapy and are frequently used in combination with inhaled glucocorticosteroids with or without long acting beta 2 agonists. Therefore, it is of interest to apply ligand and structure based virtual screening strategies to identify compounds akin to lead compounds Montelukast and Zafirlukast. Hence, compounds with structures having 95% similarity to these compounds were retrieved from NCBI׳s PubChem database. Compounds similar to lead were grouped and docked at the antagonist binding site of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1. This exercise identified compounds UNII 70RV86E50Q (Pub Cid 71587778) and Sure CN 9587085 (Pub Cid 19793614) with higher predicted binding compared to Montelukast and Zafirlukast. It is shown that the compound Sure CN 9587085 showed appreciable ligand receptor interaction compared to UNII 70RV86E50Q. Thus, the compound Sure CN 9587085 is selected as a potent antagonist to cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 for further consideration in vitro and in vivo validation.     

Effect or preliminary filtration on the functional characteristics of bacterioplankton from Lake Khanka]

The dependence of the functional characteristics of bacterioplankton from the loess of Lake Khanka on the pore size of filtering materials was investigated. Soluble organic matter (SOM), bacteria, and bacterial consumers adsorbed on particles suspended in the lake water were found to filter differently depending on the pore size of the filtering material. Filters with pore size 4.5 microns (filters II) retained up to 20% of SOM and 20-30% of bacterial cells. Filters III with pore size 2.87 microns retained almost 50% SOM and about 40% of bacteria. The double layer of gauze no. 72 (referred to as filter I) with pores size 40 microns was unable to completely retain bacterial consumers. In the case of filtrates I and II, the generation time of bacterioplankton decreased with its increasing average daily concentration. In the case of filtrate III, the generation time of bacterioplankton was minimum and did not depend on its concentration. Oxygen consumption rates per one bacterial cell and per unit biomass in filtrates increased with decreasing pore size of the filters through which they had passed. The bacterial biomass and oxygen consumption rate increased exponentially in filtrates III and logarithmically in filtrates I.     

Identification of structural DNA variations in human cell cultures after long-term passage

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was adapted for genomic identification of cell cultures and evaluation of DNA stability in cells of different origin at different culture passages. DNA stability was observed in cultures after no more than 5 passages. Adipose-derived stromal cells demonstrated increased DNA instability. RAPD fragments from different cell lines after different number of passages were cloned and sequenced. The chromosomal localization of these fragments was identified and single-nucleotide variations in RAPD fragments isolated from cell lines after 8–12 passages were revealed. Some of them had permanent localization, while most variations demonstrated random distribution and can be considered as de novo mutations.     

Phenotypic characteristics of the population of normal killers of autologous erythrocytes

The presence of antigenic markers of T-lymphocytes (Thy-1, HKO-10, HKO-11 antigens) in phenotype of normal killers of autologous erythrocytes (NKAE) has been shown. Heterogeneity of NKAE in respect to sensitivity to PHA activating the cytotoxic activity of NKAE of mouse thymus and NKAE of people peripheral blood, but not NKAE of mouse bone marrow has been registered. A part of lymphocytes of T-row is supposed to possess the NKAE-function and to be responsible for homeostasis of red sprout of normal hemopoiesis.     

Combined prime-boost vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) using a recombinant vaccinia virus and a bacterial plasmid both expressing TBE virus non-structural NS1 protein

Background  

Heterologous prime-boost immunization protocols using different gene expression systems have proven to be successful tools in protecting against various diseases in experimental animal models. The main reason for using this approach is to exploit the ability of expression cassettes to prime or boost the immune system in different ways during vaccination procedures. The purpose of the project was to study the ability of recombinant vaccinia virus (VV) and bacterial plasmid, both carrying the NS1 gene from tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus under the control of different promoters, to protect mice against lethal challenge using a heterologous prime-boost vaccination protocol.     

Characteristics of bacterioplankton in the Loess-containing Lake Khanka

Some characteristics of bacterioplankton--generation time, daily (P) and specific (P/B) bacterioplankton production, and bacterial metabolic coefficient K2--in the loess-containing Lake Khanka were determined using five modifications of the bacterial-count procedure with the fluorescent dyes fluorescamin and erythrosin. Experiments showed that the organomineral complex (OMC) in this lake is broken down by chemoorganoheterotrophic bacteria. The increase in the loess content of the lake water intensified bacterial growth and the cycles of potassium, silicon, and other biogenic elements. The addition of starch to a loess suspension activated the breakdown of OMC due to the adsorption of starch on the OMC/water interface and stimulation of the metabolism of attached bacteria.     

Genetic diversity and relationships in mulberry (genusMorus) as revealed by RAPD and ISSR marker assays

Background  

The genus Morus, known as mulberry, is a dioecious and cross-pollinating plant that is the sole food for the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori. Traditional methods using morphological traits for classification are largely unsuccessful in establishing the diversity and relationships among different mulberry species because of environmental influence on traits of interest. As a more robust alternative, PCR based marker assays including RAPD and ISSR were employed to study the genetic diversity and interrelationships among twelve domesticated and three wild mulberry species.     

Collagenase-3 expression in periapical lesions: an immunohistochemical study

Collagenase-3 (matrix metalloproteinase-13) is a metalloproteinase (MMP) that is associated with bone lesions and exhibits variable expression patterns in odontogenic cysts; it may play a role in regulating focal proliferation and maturation of jaw cyst epithelium. We studied the localization, staining intensity and distribution of collagenase-3 in 13 periapical granulomas with epithelium, 16 periapical granulomas without epithelium and 10 radicular cysts using archived formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues. A monoclonal antibody against human collagenase-3 was used to evaluate its expression. Immunohistochemical staining intensities of collagenase-3 in all periapical lesions were (?), 4 (10%); (+), 1 (3%); (++), 22 (56%) and (+++), 12 (31%); differences were not statistically significant. Immunohistochemical distribution of collagenase-3 in epithelial cells was (?), 17 (44%); (+), 17 (44%); (++), 5 (13%); in fibroblasts it was (?), 8 (20%); (+), 23 (59%); (++), 8 (21%); in plasma cells it was (?), 7 (18%); (+), 22 (56%); (++), 10 (26%); in macrophages it was (?), 7 (18%); (+), and 15 (38%); and (++), 17 (44%). Statistically significant differences were found in epithelial cells (p = 0.00) and fibroblasts (p = 0.02), whereas differences were not statistically significant for plasma cells and macrophages. Collagenase-3 may play a role in the conversion of a periapical granuloma with epithelium to radicular cyst. MMP's influence not only epithelial rest cell migration, but also invasion of various stromal cells into granulomatous tissue.