In silico screening for tumour-specific expressed sequences in human genome.

A computer-based differential display tool named HsAnalyst has been developed and successfully used for the comparison of expression patterns in a set of tumours versus a set of normal tissues. A list of EST clusters highly represented in tumours and rarely observed in normal tissues has been developed as a resulting output file of the program. These differentially expressed EST clusters (genes) can be useful for developing new tumour markers and prognostic indicators for a wide set of human malignancies. Tumour-specific protein-coding genes may be considered a manifestation of tumour-specific gene expression.     

Use of adsorbents for optimizing the process of isolating nisin from the culture broth

The results of the study on optimization of the process of nisin isolation from the cultural liquid are presented. Different adsorbents, streptococcal cells, medium solid particles (biomass fermentalysates) and silica gel, were used for antibiotic adsorption.     

The Effect of Environmental Electromagnetic Radiation on Associate Formation in Aqueous Solutions

Biophysics - Abstract—We present the results of studies of the nature of the features known in modern biophysics in the manifestation of the associative properties of aqueous solutions of...     

Role of secondary phosphoinositide messengers in storage of Ca2+ ions in retinal rod microsomes

The influence of guanosine-5'-triphosphate and secondary messengers forming in rod outer segment membranes during light-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides on the ATP-dependent Ca(2+)-uptake in microsomes of the retinal rod inner segment was studied. The water-soluble cytoplasmic components of the retinal rod outer segment were shown to be capable of stimulating the Ca(2+)-pump of endoplasmic reticulum after light illumination. This process is likely to proceed with the participation of 1,2-diacylglycerol localized in microsome membrane.     

Role of human CD36 in bacterial recognition, phagocytosis, and pathogen-induced JNK-mediated signaling

Scavenger receptor CD36 mediates Staphylococcus aureus phagocytosis and initiates TLR2/6 signaling. We analyzed the role of CD36 in the uptake and TLR-independent signaling of various bacterium, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, S. aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. Expression of human CD36 in HeLa cells increased the uptake of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria compared with the control mock-transfected cells. Bacterial adhesion was associated with pathogen phagocytosis. Upon CD36 transfection, HEK293 cells, which demonstrate no TLR2/4 expression, acquired LPS responsiveness as assessed by IL-8 production. The cells demonstrated a marked 5- to 15-fold increase in cytokine release upon exposure to gram-negative bacteria, while the increase was much smaller (1.5- to 3-fold) with gram-positive bacteria and lipoteichoic acid. CD36 down-regulation utilizing CD36 small interfering RNA reduced cytokine release by 40-50% in human fibroblasts induced by both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria as well as LPS. Of all MAPK signaling cascade inhibitors tested, only the inhibitor of JNK, a stress-activated protein kinase, potently blocked E. coli/LPS-stimulated cytokine production. NF-kappaB inhibitors were ineffective, indicating direct TLR-independent signaling. JNK activation was confirmed by Western blot analyses of phosphorylated JKN1/2 products. Synthetic amphipathic peptides with an alpha-helical motif were shown to be efficient inhibitors of E. coli- and LPS-induced IL-8 secretion as well as JNK1/2 activation/phosphorylation in CD36-overexpressing cells. These results indicate that CD36 functions as a phagocytic receptor for a variety of bacteria and mediates signaling induced by gram-negative bacteria and LPS via a JNK-mediated signaling pathway in a TLR2/4-independent manner.     

Influence of genotype,explant type,and component of culture medium on in vitro callus induction and shoot organogenesis of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

The influence of explant type as well as of the type of growth regulators and concentration on callus induction and somatic organogenesis of shoots was studied in vitro on four tomato genotypes of Russian breeding. Cytological study of callus tissue was conducted. It was established that tomato varieties have a substantially greater ability to indirect shoot organogenesis compared with the F1 hybrid. The highest frequency of somatic organogenesis of shoots, as well as their number per explant, was observed for most of the genotypes studied during the cultivation of cotyledons on Murashige-Skoog culture medium containing 2 mg/L of zeatin in combination with 0.1 mg/L of 3-indoleacetic acid. An effective protocol of indirect somatic organogenesis of shoots from different explants of tomato varieties with a frequency of more than 80% was developed.     

Genomic and proteomic profiles of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acholeplasma laidlawii</Emphasis> strains differing in sensitivity to ciprofloxacin

As a result of comparative analysis of complete genomes as well as cell and vesicular proteomes of A. laidlawii strains differing in sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, it was first shown that the mycoplasma resistance to the antibiotic is associated with the reorganization of genomic and proteomic profiles, which concerns many genes and proteins involved in fundamental cellular processes and realization of bacterial virulence.     

Expression analysis of proteins encoded by genes of the tag7/tagL (PGRP-S,L) family in human peripheral blood cells

Various types of human blood cells were tested for expression of the Tag7/PGRP-SA and TagL/PGRP-L proteins, which belong to the family of proteins possessing the lysozyme-like peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP) domain. Expression regulation by several factors was demonstrated.     

Long non‐coding RNAs in melanoma

Melanoma is the most lethal cutaneous cancer with a highly aggressive and metastatic phenotype. While recent genetic and epigenetic studies have shed new insights into the mechanism of melanoma development, the involvement of regulatory non‐coding RNAs remain unclear. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of endogenous non‐protein‐coding RNAs with the capacity to regulate gene expression at multiple levels. Recent evidences have shown that lncRNAs can regulate many cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and invasion. In the melanoma, deregulation of a number of lncRNAs, such as HOTAIR, MALAT1, BANCR, ANRIL, SPRY‐IT1 and SAMMSON, have been reported. Our review summarizes the functional role of lncRNAs in melanoma and their potential clinical application for diagnosis, prognostication and treatment.     

Class B scavenger receptor types I and II and CD36 targeting improves sepsis survival and acute outcomes in mice

Class B scavenger receptors (SR-Bs), such as SR-BI/II or CD36, bind lipoproteins but also mediate bacterial recognition and phagocytosis. In evaluating whether blocking receptors can prevent intracellular bacterial proliferation, phagocyte cytotoxicity, and proinflammatory signaling in bacterial infection/sepsis, we found that SR-BI/II- or CD36-deficient phagocytes are characterized by a reduced intracellular bacterial survival and a lower cytokine response and were protected from bacterial cytotoxicity in the presence of antibiotics. Mice deficient in either SR-BI/II or CD36 are protected from antibiotic-treated cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis, with greatly increased peritoneal granulocytic phagocyte survival (8-fold), a drastic diminution in peritoneal bacteria counts, and a 50-70% reduction in systemic inflammation (serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10) and organ damage relative to CLP in wild-type mice. The survival rate of CD36-deficient mice after CLP was 58% compared with 17% in control mice. When compensated for mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid deficiency, SR-BI/II-deficient mice had nearly a 50% survival rate versus 5% in mineralo-/glucocorticoid-treated controls. Targeting SR-B receptors with L-37pA, a peptide that functions as an antagonist of SR-BI/II and CD36 receptors, also increased peritoneal granulocyte counts, as well as reduced peritoneal bacteria and bacterium-induced cytokine secretion. In the CLP mouse sepsis model, L-37pA improved survival from 6 to 27%, reduced multiple organ damage, and improved kidney function. These results demonstrate that the reduction of both SR-BI/II- and CD36-dependent bacterial invasion and inflammatory response in the presence of antibiotic treatment results in granulocyte survival and local bacterial containment, as well as reduces systemic inflammation and organ damage and improves animal survival during severe infections.