Impairment of Visual Function and Retinal ER Stress Activation in Wfs1-Deficient Mice

Wolfram syndrome is an early onset genetic disease (1/180,000) featuring diabetes mellitus and optic neuropathy, associated to mutations in the WFS1 gene. Wfs1−/− mouse model shows pancreatic beta cell atrophy, but its visual performance has not been investigated, prompting us to study its visual function and histopathology of the retina and optic nerve. Electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were performed in Wfs1^−/− and Wfs1^+/+ mice at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Fundi were pictured with Micron III apparatus. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) abundance was determined from Brn3a immunolabeling of retinal sections. RGC axonal loss was quantified by electron microscopy in transversal optic nerve sections. Endoplasmic reticulum stress was assessed using immunoglobulin binding protein (BiP), protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (Ire1α) markers. Electroretinograms amplitudes were slightly reduced and latencies increased with time in Wfs1^−/− mice. Similarly, VEPs showed decreased N+P amplitudes and increased N-wave latency. Analysis of unfolded protein response signaling revealed an activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in Wfs1 ^−/− mutant mouse retinas. Altogether, progressive VEPs alterations with minimal neuronal cell loss suggest functional alteration of the action potential in the Wfs1 ^−/− optic pathways.     

Diversity of Microbial Communities in Production and Injection Waters of Algerian Oilfields Revealed by 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon 454 Pyrosequencing

The microorganisms inhabiting many petroleum reservoirs are multi-extremophiles capable of surviving in environments with high temperature, pressure and salinity. Their activity influences oil quality and they are an important reservoir of enzymes of industrial interest. To study these microbial assemblages and to assess any modifications that may be caused by industrial practices, the bacterial and archaeal communities in waters from four Algerian oilfields were described and compared. Three different types of samples were analyzed: production waters from flooded wells, production waters from non-flooded wells and injection waters used for flooding (water-bearing formations). Microbial communities of production and injection waters appeared to be significantly different. From a quantitative point of view, injection waters harbored roughly ten times more microbial cells than production waters. Bacteria dominated in injection waters, while Archaea dominated in production waters. Statistical analysis based on the relative abundance and bacterial community composition (BCC) revealed significant differences between production and injection waters at both OTUs_0.03 and phylum level. However, no significant difference was found between production waters from flooded and non-flooded wells, suggesting that most of the microorganisms introduced by the injection waters were unable to survive in the production waters. Furthermore, a Venn diagram generated to compare the BCC of production and injection waters of one flooded well revealed only 4% of shared bacterial OTUs. Phylogenetic analysis of bacterial sequences indicated that Alpha-, Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria were the main classes in most of the water samples. Archaeal sequences were only obtained from production wells and each well had a unique archaeal community composition, mainly belonging to Methanobacteria, Methanomicrobia, Thermoprotei and Halobacteria classes. Many of the bacterial genera retrieved had already been reported as degraders of complex organic molecules and pollutants. Nevertheless, a large number of unclassified bacterial and archaeal sequences were found in the analyzed samples, indicating that subsurface waters in oilfields could harbor new and still-non-described microbial species.     

Matrix metalloproteinase 3 and 9 as genetic biomarkers for the occurrence of cardiovascular complications in coronary artery disease: a prospective cohort study

Molecular Biology Reports - Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are widely expressed in atherosclerosis lesions. The disequilibrium of MMPs driving to an overexpression or a lack of its level can be...     

Mitochondrial DNA and Alzheimer’s disease: a first case–control study of the Tunisian population

Molecular Biology Reports - Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in humans and presents a major health problem throughout the world. The etiology of AD is...     

At the end of the rope: Geophilus hadesi sp. n. – the world’s deepest cave-dwelling centipede (Chilopoda,Geophilomorpha, Geophilidae)

A new geophilomorph centipede, Geophilus hadesi sp. n., is described from caves in the Velebit Mountain, central Croatia. Together with Geophilus persephones Foddai & Minelli, 1999, described from Pierre Saint-Martin cave in France, they are the only two remarkably troglomorphic geophilomorphs hitherto known. The new species apparently belongs to a group of Geophilus species inhabiting mainly Western and Southern Europe, with a uniquely modified pretarsus in the second maxillae. Geophilus hadesi sp. n. shows unusual traits, some of which commonly found in troglobitic arthropods, including exceptionally elongated antennae, trunk segments and leg claws. The species is described upon specimens found in two caves at a depth below -250 m. Another two specimens apparently belonging to the same species have been recorded in another deep vertical cave at -980 m and -1100 m. The latter represents the world’s deepest record of Chilopoda as a whole.     

Robustness of two MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry systems for bacterial identification

MALDI-TOF-MS systems (Microflex-Bruker Daltonics/BioTyper? and Axima-Assurance-Shimadzu/SARAMIS-AnagnosTec) were assessed for bacterial identification. Focusing on bacteria difficult to identify routinely, 296 strains were identified by molecular biology techniques as gold standard. MALDI-TOF-MS identification provided correct results at genus and species level for 94.9%, 83.4% and 83.8%, 65.9% with Biotyper and Saramis respectively.     

LINGO-1 siRNA nanoparticles promote central remyelination in ethidium bromide-induced demyelination in rats

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - Multiple sclerosis is among the most common causes of neurological disabilities in young adults. Over the past decade, several therapeutic strategies have...     

Genome sequence of Vibrio splendidus: an abundant planctonic marine species with a large genotypic diversity

Vibrio splendidus is a dominant Vibrio species in seawater presenting a remarkable genetic diversity; several strains have been linked to invertebrate's mortality. We report the complete genome sequence of V. splendidus LGP32, an oyster pathogen, and its comparison with partial genome sequences from related strains. As is typical for the genus, V. splendidus LGP32 contains two chromosomes (3.29 and 1.67 Mb) and most essential cellular processes are encoded by chromosome 1. Comparison with two other V. splendidus partial genome sequences (strains 12B01 and Med222) confirms the previously suggested high genotypic diversity within this species and led to the identification of numerous strain-specific regions that could frequently not be assigned to a specific mechanisms of recombination. Surprisingly, the chromosomal integron, the most variable genetic element in all other Vibrio species analysed to date, is absent from 12B01 and inactivated by a mobile element in Med222, while in LGP32 it only contains a limited number of cassettes. Finally, we found that the LGP32 integron contains a new dfrA cassette, related to those found in resistance integrons of Gram-negative clinical isolates. Those results suggest that marine Vibrio can be a source of antibiotic resistance genes.     

Lymphocytes in cancer development: Polarization towards pro-tumor immunity

The classic view that the role of immune cells in cancer is primarily one of tumor rejection has been supplanted by a more complex view of leukocytes having both pro- and anti-tumor properties. This shift is due to the now well recognized capabilities of several myeloid cell types that foster pro-tumor programming of premalignant tissue, as well as the discovery that subsets of leukocytes also suppress development and effector functions of lymphocytes important for mediating anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we focus on the underappreciated role that T lymphocytes play in promoting tumor development. This includes, in addition to the role of T regulatory cells, a role for natural killer T cells and CD4⁺ T helper cells in suppressing anti-tumor immunity and promoting cancer growth and metastasis.     

New approach for upgrading pulp & paper quality: Mild potassium permanganate treatment of already bleached pulps

The present work introduces mild – room temperature – potassium permanganate treatment of cellulosic materials, namely already bleached pulps. Such treatment represents a new approach for upgrading pulp and paper quality, which is lacking in the literature. Potassium permanganate was investigated as a purifying and mild oxidizing agent for commercial already bleached softwood and bagasse pulps. It was found that treatment of the bleached beaten pulps, with 0.25–2% KMnO₄ (based on pulp weight), led to significant improvement in paper properties. The strength (breaking length) increased greatly and the brightness increased significantly due to treatment. The improvements were related to the degree of polymerization, and to the alphacellulose content of pulps.Moreover, potassium permanganate serves as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Thus treatment of bleached pulps with KMnO₄ is a promising remedy for the side effects which pulps suffer, during transportation and storage, before papermaking.