Emerging and re-emerging viral infections in Europe

Emerging viral infections are becoming a serious problem in Europe in the recent years. This is particularly true for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), West Nile virus (WNV) disease, Toscana virus (TOSV) disease, and potentially for avian influenza virus (H5N1). In contrast, emergence or re-emergence of severe viral infections, including tick borne encephalitis virus, and viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Hantavirus and dengue virus have been frequently reported in several European countries. Laboratory diagnosis of these viral infections based on viral isolation or detection by immune electron microscopy, immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has dramatically improved in the recent years, and SARS represents a good example of a diagnostic approach to emerging viral infections. Finally, old and new promising agents are in the pipeline of pharmaceutical companies to treat emerging viral infections. However only prevention based on large epidemiological studies, and research and development of new vaccines may be able to control and eventually eradicate these deadly viral infections.     

Modulation of the proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (gelatinase A) on fibrinogen

The proteolytic processing of bovine fibrinogen by MMP-2 (gelatinase A), which brings about the formation of a product unable to form fibrin clots, has been studied at 37 degrees C. Catalytic parameters, although showing a somewhat lower catalytic efficiency with respect to thrombin and plasmin, indeed display values indicating a pathophysiological significance of this process. A parallel molecular modelling study predicts preferential binding of MMP-2 to the beta-chain of fibrinogen through its haemopexin-like domain, which has been directly demonstrated by the inhibitory effect in the presence of the exogenous haemopexin-like domain. However, the removal of this domain does not impair the interaction between MMP-2 and fibrinogen, but it dramatically alters the proteolytic mechanism, producing different fragmentation intermediates. The investigation at various pH values between 6.0 and 9.3 indicates a proton-linked behaviour, which is relevant for interpreting the influence on the process by environmental conditions occurring at the site of an injury. Furthermore, the action of MMP-2 on peroxynitrite-treated fibrinogen has been investigated, a situation possibly occurring under oxidative stress. The chemical alteration of fibrinogen, which has been shown to abolish its clotting activity, brings about only limited modifications of the catalytic parameters without altering the main enzymatic mechanism.     

Endothelin-1-mediated vasoconstriction at rest and during dynamic exercise in healthy humans

It is now generally accepted that alpha-adrenoreceptor-mediated vasoconstriction is attenuated during exercise, but the efficacy of nonadrenergic vasoconstrictor pathways during exercise remains unclear. Thus, in eight young (23 +/- 1 yr), healthy volunteers, we contrasted changes in leg blood flow (ultrasound Doppler) before and during intra-arterial infusion of the alpha(1)-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) with that of the nonadrenergic endothelin A (ET(A))/ET(B) receptor agonist ET-1. Heart rate, arterial blood pressure, common femoral artery diameter, and mean blood velocity were measured at rest and during knee-extensor exercise at 20%, 40%, and 60% of maximal work rate (WR(max)). Drug infusion rates were adjusted for blood flow to maintain comparable doses across all subjects and conditions. At rest, PE infusion (8 ng x ml(-1) x min(-1)) provoked a rapid and significant decrease in leg blood flow (-51 +/- 3%) within 2.5 min. Resting ET-1 infusion (40 pg x ml(-1) x min(-1)) significantly decreased leg blood flow within 5 min, reaching a maximal vasoconstriction (-34 +/- 3%) after 25-30 min of continuous infusion. Compared with rest, an exercise intensity-dependent attenuation to PE-mediated vasoconstriction was observed (-18 +/- 5%, -7 +/- 2%, and -1 +/- 3% change in leg blood flow at 20%, 40%, and 60% of WR(max), respectively). Vasoconstriction in response to ET-1 was also blunted in an exercise intensity-dependent manner (-13 +/- 3%, -7 +/- 4%, and 2 +/- 3% change in leg blood flow at 20%, 40%, and 60% of WR(max), respectively). These findings support a significant contribution of ET-1 and alpha-adrenergic receptors in the regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow in the human leg at rest and suggest a similar, intensity-dependent "lysis" of peripheral ET and alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction during dynamic exercise.     

Hormonal Responses to Water Deficit in Cambial Tissues of Populus alba L.

Changes in the concentrations of bioactive gibberellins and abscisic acid in the cambial region of white poplar (Populus alba L.) were investigated in 1-year-old plants, to highlight how these phytohormone signals are modulated in response to water deficit. Plants were cultivated in pots outdoor and, at the time of maximum cambial growth (T ₀), irrigation was withdrawn for 8 days, inducing a mild water deficit, thus mimicking a condition that is recurrent in Mediterranean climates when white poplar attains its maximum growth rate. The water deficit was suspended by resuming irrigation (T _max) throughout a recovery period of 2 weeks (T _rec). Cambial tissues were sampled at T ₀, T _max, and T _rec. Significant changes of leaf and stem relative water content, leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, transpiration, carbon assimilation, stem shrinkage, and leaf number were induced by soil water shortage, which also negatively affected cambium development. Nevertheless, these responses were almost fully reversed following the resumption of irrigation. Water deficit induced the accumulation of large amounts of abscisic acid in cambial tissues, but the hormone was brought back to pre-stress levels after the recovery period. With regard to bioactive gibberellins, GA₁ was several folds more abundant than GA₄ and reached the greatest level in the plants recovering from the water status imbalance. The possible functions of gibberellins and abscisic acid in the response of cambial tissues to water deficit are discussed in view of the known physiological roles and molecular mechanisms of action of these hormonal signals.     

Effect of chronic Sildenafil treatment on the prostate of C57Bl/6 mice

Sildenafil is a potent and selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) and is considered first-line therapy for erectile dysfunction. Nowadays, Sildenafil is used extensively throughout the world on patients with pulmonary hypertension. However, few studies have evaluated the possible side effects of chronic Sildenafil treatment on the male reproductive system, specifically in the prostate. In the present study, it was demonstrated via morphological and ultrastructural analysis that chronic treatment with Sildenafil induced an enhancement of the glandular activity of the prostate. In addition, mice treated with Sildenafil showed a significant increase in testosterone serum levels. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in nitric oxide serum levels, or in sGC, eNOS, PSA and TGF-β prostatic expression. In conclusion, the present study suggests that chronic use of Sildenafil does not cause evident prostatic damage, and therefore, can be used pharmacologically to treat a variety of disorders.     

A new species of Larsia Fittkau, 1962 (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae) from phytotelmata of Aechmea distichantha Lemaire, 1853 (Bromeliaceae) in Argentina

A new species of Larsia Fittkau, 1962 Fittkau, E.J. (1962), ‘Die Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) (Die Tribus Anatopyniini, Macropelopiini und Pentaneurini)’, Abhandlungen zur Larvalsystematik der Insekten, 6, 1–453. [Google Scholar], viz. Larsia angusticornis sp. n., is described and adults and immatures are figured. The study is based on larvae collected from phytotelmata of the bromeliad Aechmea distichantha Lemaire, 1853 Lemaire, A.C. (1853), Le Jardin Fleuriste; Journal General des Progres et des Interets Horticoles et Botaniques, 3: pl. 269. [Google Scholar] in northeastern Argentina that were reared to the adult stage. The pupa bears thoracic horns unusual for the genus, which distinguish this new species from other Larsia species.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:41DFD96D-98E2-4FFC-9CDE-C290BCA84D45     

Phosphocaveolin-1 Enforces Tumor Growth and Chemoresistance in Rhabdomyosarcoma

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) can ambiguously behave as either tumor suppressor or oncogene depending on its phosphorylation state and the type of cancer. In this study we show that Cav-1 was phosphorylated on tyrosine 14 (pCav-1) by Src-kinase family members in various human cell lines and primary mouse cultures of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most frequent soft-tissue sarcoma affecting childhood. Cav-1 overexpression in the human embryonal RD or alveolar RH30 cells yielded increased pCav-1 levels and reinforced the phosphorylation state of either ERK or AKT kinase, respectively, in turn enhancing in vitro cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness and chemoresistance. In contrast, reducing the pCav-1 levels by administration of a Src-kinase inhibitor or through targeted Cav-1 silencing counteracted the malignant in vitro phenotype of RMS cells. Consistent with these results, xenotransplantation of Cav-1 overexpressing RD cells into nude mice resulted in substantial tumor growth in comparison to control cells. Taken together, these data point to pCav-1 as an important and therapeutically valuable target for overcoming the progression and multidrug resistance of RMS.     

Small Molecule Deubiquitinase Inhibitors Promote Macrophage Anti-Infective Capacity

The global spread of anti-microbial resistance requires urgent attention, and diverse alternative strategies have been suggested to address this public health concern. Host-directed immunomodulatory therapies represent one approach that could reduce selection for resistant bacterial strains. Recently, the small molecule deubiquitinase inhibitor WP1130 was reported as a potential anti-infective drug against important human food-borne pathogens, notably Listeria monocytogenes and noroviruses. Utilization of WP1130 itself is limited due to poor solubility, but given the potential of this new compound, we initiated an iterative rational design approach to synthesize new derivatives with increased solubility that retained anti-infective activity. Here, we test a small library of novel synthetic molecules based on the structure of the parent compound, WP1130, for anti-infective activity in vitro. Our studies identify a promising candidate, compound 9, which reduced intracellular growth of L. monocytogenes at concentrations that caused minimal cellular toxicity. Compound 9 itself had no bactericidal activity and only modestly slowed Listeria growth rate in liquid broth culture, suggesting that this drug acts as an anti-infective compound by modulating host-cell function. Moreover, this new compound also showed anti-infective activity against murine norovirus (MNV-1) and human norovirus, using the Norwalk virus replicon system. This small molecule inhibitor may provide a chemical platform for further development of therapeutic deubiquitinase inhibitors with broad-spectrum anti-infective activity.