Attenuation of fibrosis <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> with <Emphasis Type="Italic">SPARC</Emphasis> siRNA

Introduction  

SPARC is a matricellular protein, which, along with other extracellular matrix components including collagens, is commonly over-expressed in fibrotic diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine whether inhibition of SPARC can regulate collagen expression in vitro and in vivo, and subsequently attenuate fibrotic stimulation by bleomycin in mouse skin and lungs.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> bioassay as a predictor of <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> response

Background  

There is a substantial discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo experiments. The purpose of the present work was development of a theoretical framework to enable improved prediction of in vivo response from in vitro bioassay results.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> gene regulatory networks predict <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> function of liver

Background  

Evolution of toxicity testing is predicated upon using in vitro cell based systems to rapidly screen and predict how a chemical might cause toxicity to an organ in vivo. However, the degree to which we can extend in vitro results to in vivo activity and possible mechanisms of action remains to be fully addressed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> evaluation of an <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acetobacter xylinum</Emphasis> synthesized microbial cellulose membrane intended for guided tissue repair

Background  

Barrier materials as cellulose membranes are used for guided tissue repair. However, it is essential that the surrounding tissues accept the device. The present study histologically evaluated tissue reaction to a microbial cellulose membrane after subcutaneous implantation in mice. Furthermore, the interaction between mesenchymal stem cells and the biomaterial was studied in vitro to evaluate its ability to act as cellular scaffold for tissue engineering.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex vivo</Emphasis> effect of hyaluronic acid on erythrocyte flow properties

Background  

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is present in many tissues; its presence in serum may be related to certain inflammatory conditions, tissue damage, sepsis, liver malfunction and some malignancies. In the present work, our goal was to investigate the significance of hyaluronic acid effect on erythrocyte flow properties. Therefore we performed in vitro experiments incubating red blood cells (RBCs) with several HA concentrations. Afterwards, in order to corroborate the pathophysiological significance of the results obtained, we replicated the in vitro experiment with ex vivo RBCs from diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, a serum HA-increasing pathology.     

Factors acting on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mos1</Emphasis> transposition efficiency

Background  

Mariner-like elements (MLEs) are widespread DNA transposons in animal genomes. Although in vitro transposition reactions require only the transposase, various factors depending on the host, the physico-chemical environment and the transposon sequence can interfere with the MLEs transposition in vivo.     

Embryonic sympathoblasts transiently express TrkB <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> and proliferate in response to brain-derived neurotrophic factor <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Background  

Nerve growth factor and neurotrophin-3 are involved in the development of sympathetic neurons; however, whether brain derived neurotrophic factor also plays a role is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine whether BDNF and its receptor, TrkB, are expressed during the development of paravertebral sympathetic ganglia in vivo and to determine the effect of BDNF in vitro.     

Evolution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">mal</Emphasis> ABC transporter operons in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thermococcales</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thermotogales</Emphasis>

Background  

The mal genes that encode maltose transporters have undergone extensive lateral transfer among ancestors of the archaea Thermococcus litoralis and Pyrococcus furiosus. Bacterial hyperthermophiles of the order Thermotogales live among these archaea and so may have shared in these transfers. The genome sequence of Thermotoga maritima bears evidence of extensive acquisition of archaeal genes, so its ancestors clearly had the capacity to do so. We examined deep phylogenetic relationships among the mal genes of these hyperthermophiles and their close relatives to look for evidence of shared ancestry.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> Cystic Fibrosis isolates of similar RAPD genotype exhibit diversity in biofilm forming ability <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Background  

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered to grow in a biofilm in cystic fibrosis (CF) chronic lung infections. Bacterial cell motility is one of the main factors that have been connected with P. aeruginosa adherence to both biotic and abiotic surfaces. In this investigation, we employed molecular and microscopic methods to determine the presence or absence of motility in P. aeruginosa CF isolates, and statistically correlated this with their biofilm forming ability in vitro.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In planta</Emphasis> gene expression analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas oryzae</Emphasis> pathovar <Emphasis Type="Italic">oryzae</Emphasis>, African strain MAI1

Background  

Bacterial leaf blight causes significant yield losses in rice crops throughout Asia and Africa. Although both the Asian and African strains of the pathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), induce similar symptoms, they are nevertheless genetically different, with the African strains being more closely related to the Asian X. oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc).     

Common genomic features of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campylobacter jejuni</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">doylei</Emphasis> strains distinguish them from <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. jejuni</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">jejuni</Emphasis>

Background  

Campylobacter jejuni has been divided into two subspecies: C. jejuni subsp. jejuni (Cjj) and C. jejuni subsp. doylei (Cjd). Nearly all of the C. jejuni strains isolated are Cjj; nevertheless, although Cjd strains are isolated infrequently, they differ from Cjj in two key aspects: they are obtained primarily from human clinical samples and are associated often with bacteremia, in addition to gastroenteritis. In this study, we utilized multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and a DNA microarray-based comparative genomic indexing (CGI) approach to examine the genomic diversity and gene content of Cjd strains.     

Demonstration of IS<Emphasis Type="Italic">711</Emphasis> transposition in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella ovis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella pinnipedialis</Emphasis>

Background  

The Brucella genome contains an insertion sequence (IS) element called IS711 or IS6501, which is specific to the genus. The copy number of IS711 varies in the genome of the different Brucella species, ranging from 7 in B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis to more than 30 in B. ovis and in Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals. At present, there is no experimental evidence of transposition of IS711, but the occurrence of this element with a high copy number in some species, and the isolation of Brucella strains with "ectopic" copies of IS711 suggested that this IS could still transpose.     

Ultrastructure of isolated mouse ovarian follicles cultured <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Background  

In vitro maturation of ovarian follicles, in combination with cryopreservation, might be a valuable method for preserving and/or restoring fertility in mammals with impaired reproductive function. Several culture systems capable of sustaining mammalian follicle growth in vitro have been developed and many studies exist on factors influencing the development of in vitro grown oocytes. However, a very few reports concern the ultrastructural morphology of in vitro grown follicles.     

Molecular modeling and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in silico</Emphasis> characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis> TlyA: Possible misannotation of this tubercle bacilli-hemolysin

Background  

The TlyA protein has a controversial function as a virulence factor in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). At present, its dual activity as hemolysin and RNA methyltransferase in M. tuberculosis has been indirectly proposed based on in vitro results. There is no evidence however for TlyA relevance in the survival of tubercle bacilli inside host cells or whether both activities are functionally linked. A thorough analysis of structure prediction for this mycobacterial protein in this study shows the need for reevaluating TlyA's function in virulence.     

In vitro adhesion and invasion inhibition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shigella dysenteriae</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shigella flexneri</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shigella sonnei</Emphasis> clinical strains by human milk proteins

Background  

Shigella is the etiological agent of shigellosis, a disease responsible for more than 500,000 deaths of children per year, in developing countries. These pathogens colonize the intestinal colon, invade, spreading to the other enterocytes. Breastfeeding plays a very important role in protecting infants from intestinal infections. Amongst milk compounds, glycosylated proteins prevent the adhesion of many enteropathogens in vitro. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of human milk proteins on the colonization potential of Shigella dysenteriae, S. flexneri and S. sonnei. To fulfill this purpose, pooled milk samples from five donors, were fractionated by gel filtration and affinity chromatography. Using tissue culture, the milk fractions obtained were tested in Shigella adhesion and invasion assays.     

Mixed infections with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamydia</Emphasis> and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus - a new <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> model of chlamydial persistence

Background  

Chlamydiae induce persistent infections, which have been associated with a wide range of chronic diseases in humans and animals. Mixed infections with Chlamydia and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) may result in generation of persistent chlamydial infections. To test this hypothesis, an in vitro model of dual infection with cell culture-adapted PEDV and Chlamydia abortus or Chlamydia pecorum in Vero cells was established.     

Possible use of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ail</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">foxA</Emphasis> polymorphisms for detecting pathogenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yersinia enterocolitica</Emphasis>

Background  

Yersinia enterocolitica is an enteric pathogen that invades the intestinal mucosa and proliferates within the lymphoid follicles (Peyer's patches). The attachment invasion locus (ail) mediates invasion by Y. enterocolitica and confers an invasive phenotype upon non-invasive E. coli; ail is the primary virulence factor of Y. enterocolitica. The ferrioxamine receptor (foxA) located on the Y. enterocolitica chromosome, together with its transport protein, transports a siderophore specific for ferric ion. Currently, ail is the primary target gene for nucleic acid detection of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica.     

Remobilization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tol2</Emphasis> transposons in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenopus tropicalis</Emphasis>

Background  

The Class II DNA transposons are mobile genetic elements that move DNA sequence from one position in the genome to another. We have previously demonstrated that the naturally occurring Tol2 element from Oryzias latipes efficiently integrates its corresponding non-autonomous transposable element into the genome of the diploid frog, Xenopus tropicalis. Tol2 transposons are stable in the frog genome and are transmitted to the offspring at the expected Mendelian frequency.