Malaria Plasmodium agent induces alteration in the head proteome of their Anopheles mosquito host

Despite increasing evidence of behavioural manipulation of their vectors by pathogens, the underlying mechanisms causing infected vectors to act in ways that benefit pathogen transmission remain enigmatic in most cases. Here, 2-D DIGE coupled with MS were employed to analyse and compare the head proteome of mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (Giles)) infected with the malarial parasite (Plasmodium berghei) with that of uninfected mosquitoes. This approach detected altered levels of 12 protein spots in the head of mosquitoes infected with sporozoites. These proteins were subsequently identified using MS and functionally classified as belonging to metabolic, synaptic, molecular chaperone, signalling, and cytoskeletal groups. Our results indicate an altered energy metabolism in the head of sporozoite-infected mosquitoes. Some of the up-/down-regulated proteins identified, such as synapse-associated protein, 14-3-3 protein and calmodulin, have previously been shown to play critical roles in the CNS of both invertebrates and vertebrates. Furthermore, a heat shock response (HSP 20) and a variation of cytoarchitecture (tropomyosins) have been shown. Discovery of these proteins sheds light on potential molecular mechanisms that underlie behavioural modifications and offers new insights into the study of intimate interactions between Plasmodium and its Anopheles vector.     

A screening method to analyse the sensitivity of a lower limb multibody kinematic model

The study presents a screening method used to identify the influential parameters of a lower limb model including ligaments, at low numerical cost. Concerning multibody kinematics optimisation, the ligament parameters (isometric length) were found the most influential ones in a previous study. The screening method tested if they remain influential with minimised length variations. The most important parameters for tibiofemoral kinematics were the skin markers, segment lengths and joint parameters, including two ligaments. This was confirmed by a quantitative sensitivity analysis. The screening method has the potential to be used as a stand-alone procedure for a sensitivity analysis.     

Karyotypes of 33 patients with clonal aberrations in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Review of 216 abnormal karyotypes in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

We report on 33 unpublished patients with clonal anomalies in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The literature was thoroughly reviewed in order 1) to quantify the frequency of anomalies found in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and to give new status to the rarest, 2) to determine whether a given anomaly was an additional anomaly and/or a primary anomaly, and 3) to find out whether strong associations between different anomalies exist in this disease.     

t(Y; 15) translocation in a fertile male, detected at the time of amniocentesis

Cytogenetic studies on a phenotypically normal fertile male revealed an unbalanced Y; 15 translocation. His wife referred for a prenatal diagnosis because of maternal age. The foetus was male and carried the same translocation.     

Proteome analysis of cultivar-specific deregulations of Oryza sativa indica and O. sativa japonica cellular suspensions undergoing rice yellow mottle virus infection

We have used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with mass spectrometry analysis to study the temporal patterns of protein expression during RYMV (Rice yellow mottle virus) infection in rice cells of two cultivars: IR64, Oryza sativa indica, susceptible, and Azucena, O. sativa japonica, partially resistant to RYMV. Proteomic analysis of nonstressed and RYMV inoculated cells showed statistically significant changes in the relative levels of 40 IR64 proteins and 24 Azucena proteins. Protein identification using mass spectrometry was attempted for all the differentially regulated proteins. This global analysis detected 32 hypothetical "new" proteins. Nineteen differentially regulated proteins were identified for IR64 cultivar, while 13 were identified for Azucena cultivar, including proteins in three functional categories: metabolism, stress-related proteins, and translation. These data revealed that a number of proteins regulated by abiotic stress response pathway were activated by RYMV in both cultivars (such as salt-induced protein, heat shock proteins (HSPs), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and others have functions consistent with the susceptibility or partially resistance trait (such as dehydrin, proteins involved in glycolysis pathway).     

Blood‐feeding and immunogenic Aedes aegypti saliva proteins

Mosquito‐transmitted pathogens pass through the insect's midgut (MG) and salivary gland (SG). What occurs in these organs in response to a blood meal is poorly understood, but identifying the physiological differences between sugar‐fed and blood‐fed (BF) mosquitoes could shed light on factors important in pathogens transmission. We compared differential protein expression in the MGs and SGs of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes after a sugar‐ or blood‐based diet. No difference was observed in the MG protein expression levels but certain SG proteins were highly expressed only in BF mosquitoes. In sugar‐fed mosquitoes, housekeeping proteins were highly expressed (especially those related to energy metabolism) and actin was up‐regulated. The immunofluorescence assay shows that there is no disruption of the SG cytoskeletal after the blood meal. We have generated for the first time the 2‐DE profiles of immunogenic Ae. aegypti SG BF‐related proteins. These new data could contribute to the understanding of the physiological processes that appear during the blood meal.     

Toxic factors of Vibrio strains pathogenic to shrimp

Vibriosis is a major disease problem in shrimp aquaculture. 'Syndrome 93' is a seasonal juvenile vibriosis caused by Vibrio penaeicida which affects Litopenaeus stylirostris in grow-out ponds in New Caledonia. This study assessed the toxic activities of extracellular products (ECPs) from V. penaeicida, V. alginolyticus and V. nigripulchritudo using in vivo injections in healthy juvenile L. stylirostris (= Penaeus stylirostris) and in vitro assays on shrimp primary cell cultures and the fish cell line epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC). Toxic effects of ECPs were demonstrated for all pathogenic Vibrio strains tested both in vivo and in vitro, but for shrimp only; no effect was observed on the fish cell line. ECP toxicity for New Caledonian V. penaeicida was found only after cultivation at low temperature (20 degrees C) and not at higher temperature (30 degrees C). This points to the fact that 'Syndrome 93' episodes are triggered by temperature drops. The assays used here demonstrate the usefulness of primary shrimp cell cultures to study virulence mechanisms of shrimp pathogenic bacteria.