Structure of the O-polysaccharides of the lipopolysaccharides of Mesorhizobium loti HAMBI 1148 and Mesorhizobium amorphae ATCC 19655 containing two O-methylated monosaccharides

The O-polysaccharide of Mesorhizobium loti HAMBI 1148 was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide and studied by sugar and methylation analyses, Smith degradation, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, including 2D ¹H/¹H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, and H-detected ¹H/¹³C HSQC experiments. The O-polysaccharide was found to have a branched hexasaccharide-repeating unit of the following structure:where 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-O-methyl-d-glucose (d-GlcNAc4Me) and methyl group on 2-substituted d-rhamnose (Me) shown in italics are present in ∼80% and ∼40% repeating units, respectively. Similar studies of the O-polysaccharide from Mesorhizobium amorphae ATCC 19655 by sugar analysis and NMR spectroscopy revealed essentially the same structure but a higher content of 3-O-methyl-d-rhamnose (∼70%).     

A multinodular goiter as the initial presentation of a renal cell carcinoma harbouring a novel VHL mutation

Background

The major cause of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune mediated with progressive and permanent destruction of the thyroid gland resulting in life-long replacement therapy. Treatable and reversible hypothyroidism is unusual and here forth is such a case due to infection of the thyroid gland with Tropheryma whippleii, Whipple disease.

Case presentation

A 45 year-old female presented with symptoms and signs consistent with primary hypothyroidism, which was also confirmed biochemically. Her response to thyroxine replacement therapy was poor however, requiring a significantly elevated amount. Further investigation revealed the presence of Whipple's disease involving the gastrointestinal trace and possibly the thyroid gland. Her thyroxine requirement decreased drastically following appropriate antimicrobial therapy for Whipple's disease to the extent that it was ceased. Thyrotropin releasing hormone testing in the steady state suggested there was diminished thyroid reserve due to Whipple's disease.

Conclusion

This is the first ante-mortem case report studying the possible involvement of the thyroid gland by Whipple's disease. Despite the normalization of her thyroid function test biochemically after antibiotic therapy, there is diminished thyroid reserve thus requiring close and regular monitoring.     

Synthesis, characterization, antitumoral and osteogenic activities of quercetin vanadyl(IV) complexes

The development of new vanadium derivatives with organic ligands, which improve the beneficial actions (insulin-mimetic, antitumoral) and decrease the toxic effects, is of great interest. A good candidate for the generation of a new vanadium compound is the flavonoid quercetin because of its own anticarcinogenic effect. The complex [VO(Quer)₂EtOH] _n (QuerVO) has been synthesized and characterized by means of different spectroscopic techniques (UV–vis, Fourier transform IR, electron paramagnetic resonance) and its magnetic and stability properties. The inhibitory effect on bovine alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity has been tested for the free ligand, the complex as well as for the vanadyl(IV) (comparative purposes). The biological activity of the complex on the proliferation of two osteoblast-like cells in culture, a normal one (MC3T3E1) and a tumoral one (UMR106), has been compared with that of the vanadyl(IV) cation and quercetin. The differentiation osteoblast markers ALP specific activity and collagen synthesis have been also tested. In addition, the effect of QuerVO on the activation of the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is reported. The bone antitumoral effect of quercetin alone was established with the cell proliferation assays (it inhibits the proliferation of the tumoral cells and does not exert any effect on the normal osteoblasts). Moreover, the complex exerts osteogenic effects since it stimulates the type I collagen production and is a weak inhibitory agent upon ALP activity. Finally, QuerVO stimulated the ERK phosphorylation in a dose–response manner and this activation seems to be involved as one of the possible mechanisms for the biological effects of the complex.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of cationic peptides: application to the treatment of acne vulgaris

Cationic antimicrobial peptides exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against clinically relevant microorganisms including Propionibacterium acnes. Recent studies showed that, in addition to the antimicrobial activity, these peptides can exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect. These properties make cationic peptides attractive drug candidates for the treatment of acne vulgaris, a disease with both bacterial and inflammatory components. This review focuses on the anti-inflammatory activity of cationic antimicrobial peptides and its application for the treatment of acne vulgaris. The anti-inflammatory activity of cationic peptides in acne vulgaris can be explained by their ability to both bind proinflammatory bacterial factors (e.g. lipoteichoic acid), sequestering them from the site of inflammation, and to inhibit the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1) by host cells. These anti-inflammatory effects combined with potent antimicrobial activity may translate into a novel therapeutic option for acne vulgaris.     

Role of oxidative stress in the antitumoral action of a new vanadyl(IV) complex with the flavonoid chrysin in two osteoblast cell lines: relationship with the radical scavenger activity

The new complex [VO(chrysin)₂EtOH]₂ (VOchrys) has been synthesized and thoroughly characterized. Fourier transform IR, UV–vis, diffuse reflectance, and EPR spectroscopies as well as elemental analysis and thermal measurements were performed. In solution, different species could be detected by EPR spectroscopy as a function of the ligand-to-metal ratio. The stoichiometry of the chelate complex formed at pH 5 was also determined by spectrophotometric titrations. Since flavonoids are natural antioxidant compounds, the antioxidant capacity of chrysin and its vanadyl(IV) complex was investigated using different radicals. Chrysin and its complex were not able to diminish the level of superoxide and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals to a great extent. In contrast, they were strong scavengers for 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid diammonium salt radical cations and OH· radicals with a greater potency for VOchrys. Taking into account their selective antioxidant properties, we investigated the bioactivity of these compounds in two osteoblast-like cells in culture. Chrysin and VOchrys caused an inhibition of cell proliferation in MC3T3E1 normal osteoblasts and UMR106 tumor cells in a dose-response manner, with a greater effect in the latter cell line. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated in both cell lines and a correlation could be established between the antiproliferative effects of chrysin and the increase in the ROS levels. The complex did not generate types of ROS that can be detected by the dihydrorhodamine 123 technique so the antiproliferative effect may be attributed to the formation of other radicals such as superoxide, which is not detected by this probe. The morphological alterations were in agreement with these changes.     

Structure of the O-polysaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide of Rahnella aquatilis 1-95

The O-polysaccharide was isolated by mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide of Rahnella aquatilis 1-95 and studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including NOESY and 1H,13C HSQC experiments for linkage and sequence analysis. The following structure of the branched trisaccharide repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide was established: [carbohydrate structure: see text].     

The caspase-6–p62 axis modulates p62 droplets based autophagy in a dominant-negative manner

SQSTM1/p62, as a major autophagy receptor, forms droplets that are critical for cargo recognition, nucleation, and clearance. p62 droplets also function as liquid assembly platforms to allow the formation of autophagosomes at their surfaces. It is unknown how p62-droplet formation is regulated under physiological or pathological conditions. Here, we report that p62-droplet formation is selectively blocked by inflammatory toxicity, which induces cleavage of p62 by caspase-6 at a novel cleavage site D256, a conserved site across human, mouse, rat, and zebrafish. The N-terminal cleavage product is relatively stable, whereas the C-terminal product appears undetectable. Using a variety of cellular models, we show that the p62 N-terminal caspase-6 cleavage product (p62-N) plays a dominant-negative role to block p62-droplet formation. In vitro p62 phase separation assays confirm this observation. Dominant-negative regulation of p62-droplet formation by caspase-6 cleavage attenuates p62 droplets dependent autophagosome formation. Our study suggests a novel pathway to modulate autophagy through the caspase-6–p62 axis under certain stress stimuli.Subject terms: Macroautophagy, Proteases     

Evaluation of antibody serology to determine current helminth and Plasmodium falciparum infections in a co-endemic area in Southern Mozambique

BackgroundSoil-transmitted helminths (STH), Schistosoma spp. and Plasmodium falciparum are parasites of major public health importance and co-endemic in many sub-Saharan African countries. Management of these infections requires detection and treatment of infected people and evaluation of large-scale measures implemented. Diagnostic tools are available but their low sensitivity, especially for low intensity helminth infections, leaves room for improvement. Antibody serology could be a useful approach thanks to its potential to detect both current infection and past exposure.MethodologyWe evaluated total IgE responses and specific-IgG levels to 9 antigens from STH, 2 from Schistosoma spp., and 16 from P. falciparum, as potential markers of current infection in a population of children and adults from Southern Mozambique (N = 715). Antibody responses were measured by quantitative suspension array Luminex technology and their performance was evaluated by ROC curve analysis using microscopic and molecular detection of infections as reference.Principal findingsIgG against the combination of EXP1, AMA1 and MSP2 (P. falciparum) in children and NIE (Strongyloides stercoralis) in adults and children had the highest accuracies (AUC = 0.942 and AUC = 0.872, respectively) as markers of current infection. IgG against the combination of MEA and Sm25 (Schistosoma spp.) were also reliable markers of current infection (AUC = 0.779). In addition, IgG seropositivity against 20 out of the 27 antigens in the panel differentiated the seropositive endemic population from the non-endemic population, suggesting a possible role as markers of exposure although sensitivity could not be assessed.ConclusionsWe provided evidence for the utility of antibody serology to detect current infection with parasites causing tropical diseases in endemic populations. In addition, most of the markers have potential good specificity as markers of exposure. We also showed the feasibility of measuring antibody serology with a platform that allows the integration of control and elimination programs for different pathogens.     

Plasma membrane temperature gradients and multiple cell permeabilization induced by low peak power density femtosecond lasers

Calculations indicate that selectively heating the extracellular media induces membrane temperature gradients that combine with electric fields and a temperature-induced reduction in the electropermeabilization threshold to potentially facilitate exogenous molecular delivery. Experiments by a wide-field, pulsed femtosecond laser with peak power density far below typical single cell optical delivery systems confirmed this hypothesis. Operating this laser in continuous wave mode at the same average power permeabilized many fewer cells, suggesting that bulk heating alone is insufficient and temperature gradients are crucial for permeabilization. This work suggests promising opportunities for a high throughput, low cost, contactless method for laser mediated exogenous molecule delivery without the complex optics of typical single cell optoinjection, for potential integration into microscope imaging and microfluidic systems.