Toxicity and synergism in the feeding deterrence of some coumarins on Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The phagodepression activity of five coumarins (= 2H-1-benzopyran-2-ones), 6-hydroxy-7-isoprenyloxycoumarin (1), 6-methoxy-7-isoprenyloxycoumarin (2), 6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (3), 5-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (4), and 6-methoxy-7-(2-hydroxyethoxy)coumarin (5), from the Argentine native herb Pterocaulon polystachyum, was tested against Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae. Two analogs, scopoletin (6) and 2-methoxy-2-methyl-3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-3H-chromen-5-one (7), synthesized in our laboratory, were also evaluated for comparison. The compounds were added to an artificial diet at doses ranging from 50 to 200 microg per g of diet. Natural coumarins induced 100% of phagodepression when 200 microg were added per g of diet. Binary equimolar mixtures of the natural coumarins were phagodepressors against S. frugiperda surpassing the expected additive responses, indicating that these compounds can act synergistically against S. frugiperda larvae. Compounds 1 and 3 (non-methoxylated coumarins), and the equimolar mixture of both, displayed the strongest phagodepression. Additionally, 50 microg/g of 1 and 3 incorporated to the larval diet caused 80 and 50% of pupal mortality, respectively, while a 100 microg/g dose of compounds 2, 4, 6, and 7 produced 60, 50, 10, and 80% pupal mortality, respectively. Larval growing rate during the early larval instars was significantly reduced by treatments with the methylenedioxycoumarins 3 and 4. Coincidentally, the larval period duration was significantly increased by the latter compounds.     

New genetic maps for globe artichoke and wild cardoon and their alignment with an SSR-based consensus map

An F1 mapping population was bred by crossing an accession of wild cardoon with a single Argentinian globe artichoke plant of the variety Estrella del Sur FCA with a view to generating new Cynara cardunculus linkage maps. Genotyping was conducting using a set of 553 SRAP, SSR, AFLP and SNP markers. The 1,465.5 cM map based on the segregation of alleles present in the wild cardoon parent comprised 214 loci distributed across 16 linkage groups (LGs), while the 910.1 cM globe artichoke-based map featured 141 loci falling into 12 LGs covering the total length. Three of the morphological traits (head spininess, leaf spininess and head color) for which the parents contrasted were inherited monogenically, and the genes conditioning them were mapped. A set of 48 co-dominant loci was used to align the LGs with those derived from a reference SSR-based consensus map of the species.     

Isolation of Pseudobutyrivibrio ruminis and Pseudobutyrivibrio xylanivorans from rumen of Creole goats fed native forage diet

We isolated and identified functional groups of bacteria in the rumen of Creole goats involved in ruminal fermentation of native forage shrubs. The functional bacterial groups were evaluated by comparing the total viable, total anaerobic, cellulolytic, hemicellulolytic, and amylolytic bacterial counts in the samples taken from fistulated goats fed native forage diet (Atriplex lampa and Prosopis flexuosa). Alfalfa hay and corn were used as control diet. The roll tubes method increased the possibility of isolating and 16S rDNA gene sequencing allowed definitive identification of bacterial species involved in the ruminal fermentation. The starch and fiber contents of the diets influenced the number of total anaerobic bacteria and fibrolytic and amylolytic functional groups. Pseudobutyrivibrio ruminis and Pseudobutyrivibrio xylanivorans were the main species isolated and identified. The identification of bacterial strains involved in the rumen fermentation helps to explain the ability of these animals to digest fiber plant cell wall contained in native forage species.     

YqiC of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a membrane fusogenic protein required for mice colonization

Background  

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is an intracellular bacterial pathogen which can colonize a variety of hosts, including human, causing syndromes that vary from gastroenteritis and diarrhea to systemic disease.     

An entry to curcuphenol/elvirol core structures via a retro-Aldol reaction

Analogs of curcuphenol/elvirol, naturally occurring bisabolane sesquiterpenes, were prepared in six steps from alkyl-α-tetralones employing an aromatization reaction of cyclic dienone precursors and olefination of the key aldehyde intermediates. The in vitro antifungal activities of 6a, 6b, 6d, and 6g are also reported.     

The emerging role of cardiovascular risk factor-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in atherogenesis

An important role in atherogenesis is played by oxidative stress, which may be induced by common risk factors. Mitochondria are both sources and targets of reactive oxygen species, and there is growing evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction may be a relevant intermediate mechanism by which cardiovascular risk factors lead to the formation of vascular lesions. Mitochondrial DNA is probably the most sensitive cellular target of reactive oxygen species. Damage to mitochondrial DNA correlates with the extent of atherosclerosis. Several cardiovascular risk factors are demonstrated causes of mitochondrial damage. Oxidized low density lipoprotein and hyperglycemia may induce the production of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria of macrophages and endothelial cells. Conversely, reactive oxygen species may favor the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, mainly through the induction of insulin resistance. Similarly - in addition to being a cause of endothelial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction - hypertension may develop in the presence of mitochondrial DNA mutations. Finally, other risk factors, such as aging, hyperhomocysteinemia and cigarette smoking, are also associated with mitochondrial damage and an increased production of free radicals. So far clinical studies have been unable to demonstrate that antioxidants have any effect on human atherogenesis. Mitochondrial targeted antioxidants might provide more significant results.     

Mutagenesis of the fusion peptide-like domain of hepatitis C virus E1 glycoprotein: involvement in cell fusion and virus entry

Background  

Envelope (E) glycoprotein E2 of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) mediates binding of the virus to target cell receptors. Nevertheless, the precise role of E1 in viral entry remains elusive.     

Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells from amniotic fluid originate neural precursors with functional voltage-gated sodium channels

Background aimsAmniotic fluid (AF) contains stem cells with high proliferative and differentiative potential that might be an attractive source of multipotent stem cells. We investigated whether human AF contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and evaluated their phenotypic characteristics and differentiation potential in vitro.MethodsAF was harvested during routine pre-natal amniocentesis at 14–16 weeks of pregnancy. AF sample pellets were plated in α-minimum essential medium (MEM) with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). We evaluated cellular growth, immunophenotype, stemness markers and differentiative potential during in vitro expansion. Neural progenitor maintenance medium (NPMM), a medium normally used for the growth and maintenance of neural stem cells, containing hFGF, hEGF and NSF-1, was used for neural induction.ResultsTwenty-seven AF samples were collected and primary cells, obtained from samples containing more than 6 mL AF, had MSC characteristics. AF MSC showed high proliferative potential, were positive for CD90, CD105, CD29, CD44, CD73 and CD166, showed Oct-4 and Nanog molecular and protein expression, and differentiated into osteoblasts, adypocytes and chondrocytes. The NPMM-cultured cells expressed neural markers and increased Na⁺ channel density and channel inactivation rate, making the tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive channels more kinetically similar to native neuronal voltage-gated Na⁺ channels.ConclusionsThese data suggest that AF is an important multipotent stem cell source with a high proliferative potential able to originate potential precursors of functional neurons.