Roles of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma on Brain and Peripheral Inflammation

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) has been implicated in the pathology of numerous diseases involving diabetes, stroke, cancer, or obesity. It is expressed in diverse cell types, including vessels, immune and glial cells, and neurons. PPARγ plays crucial roles in the regulation of cellular differentiation, lipid metabolism, or glucose homeostasis. PPARγ ligands also exert effects on attenuating degenerative processes in the brain, as well as in peripheral systems, and it has been associated with the control of anti-inflammatory mechanisms, oxidative stress, neuronal death, neurogenesis, differentiation, and angiogenesis. This review will highlight key advances in the understanding of the PPARγ-related mechanisms responsible for neuroprotection after brain injuries, both ischemia and traumatic brain injury, and it will also cover the natural and synthetic agonist for PPARγ, angiotensin receptor blockers, and PPARγ antagonists, used in experimental and clinical research. A better understanding of the pleiotropic mechanisms and applications of these drugs to improve the recovery and to repair the acute and chronic induced neuroinflammation after brain injuries will pave the way for more effective therapeutic strategies after brain deficits.     

Data quality aware analysis of differential expression in RNA-seq with NOISeq R/Bioc package

As the use of RNA-seq has popularized, there is an increasing consciousness of the importance of experimental design, bias removal, accurate quantification and control of false positives for proper data analysis. We introduce the NOISeq R-package for quality control and analysis of count data. We show how the available diagnostic tools can be used to monitor quality issues, make pre-processing decisions and improve analysis. We demonstrate that the non-parametric NOISeqBIO efficiently controls false discoveries in experiments with biological replication and outperforms state-of-the-art methods. NOISeq is a comprehensive resource that meets current needs for robust data-aware analysis of RNA-seq differential expression.     

Vertical partitioning between sister species of Rhizopogon fungi on mesic and xeric sites in an interior Douglas‐fir forest

Understanding ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) community structure is limited by a lack of taxonomic resolution and autecological information. Rhizopogon vesiculosus and Rhizopogon vinicolor (Basidiomycota) are morphologically and genetically related species. They are dominant members of interior Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) EMF communities, but mechanisms leading to their coexistence are unknown. We investigated the microsite associations and foraging strategy of individual R. vesiculosus and R. vinicolor genets. Mycelia spatial patterns, pervasiveness and root colonization patterns of fungal genets were compared between Rhizopogon species and between xeric and mesic soil moisture regimes. Rhizopogon spp. mycelia were systematically excavated from the soil and identified using microsatellite DNA markers. Rhizopogon vesiculosus mycelia occurred at greater depth, were more spatially pervasive, and colonized more tree roots than R. vinicolor mycelia. Both species were frequently encountered in organic layers and between the interface of organic and mineral horizons. They were particularly abundant within microsites associated with soil moisture retention. The occurrence of R. vesiculosus shifted in the presence of R. vinicolor towards mineral soil horizons, where R. vinicolor was mostly absent. This suggests that competition and foraging strategy may contribute towards the vertical partitioning observed between these species. Rhizopogon vesiculosus and R. vinicolor mycelia systems occurred at greater mean depths and were more pervasive in mesic plots compared with xeric plots. The spatial continuity and number of trees colonized by genets of each species did not significantly differ between soil moisture regimes.     

Incidence of cystic fibrosis in Saguenay-Lac-St.-Jean (Quebec, Canada).

The incidence of cystic fibrosis (CF) in Saguenay-Lac-St.-Jean, a geographically isolated region of Quebec, was estimated to be 1 in 902 during the period 1975-1988. The carrier rate was calculated to be 1 in 15 inhabitants. The high incidence of CF in Saguenay-Lac-St.-Jean is probably the result of a founder effect and genetic drift for one or more mutations. Historical, demographic, and social factors also may have contributed to the high incidence.     

Factors affecting male-production in Hydatina

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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Factors affecting male-production in Hydatina

     

Legionella pneumophila in Cooling Towers: Fluctuations in Counts, Determination of Genetic Variability by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), and Persistence of PFGE Patterns

The concentrations of Legionella pneumophila in cooling towers may vary considerably over short periods of time, producing significant fluctuations throughout the year. Despite genetic variability, in small geographical areas the same indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns may be shared among different cooling towers and persist over time.