Transient DNMT1 suppression reveals hidden heritable marks in the genome

Genome-wide demethylation and remethylation of DNA during early embryogenesis is essential for development. Imprinted germline differentially methylated domains (gDMDs) established by sex-specific methylation in either male or female germ cells, must escape these dynamic changes and sustain precise inheritance of both methylated and unmethylated parental alleles. To identify other, gDMD-like sequences with the same epigenetic inheritance properties, we used a modified embryonic stem (ES) cell line that emulates the early embryonic demethylation and remethylation waves. Transient DNMT1 suppression revealed gDMD-like sequences requiring continuous DNMT1 activity to sustain a highly methylated state. Remethylation of these sequences was also compromised in vivo in a mouse model of transient DNMT1 loss in the preimplantation embryo. These novel regions, possessing heritable epigenetic features similar to imprinted-gDMDs are required for normal physiological and developmental processes and when disrupted are associated with disorders such as cancer and autism spectrum disorders. This study presents new perspectives on DNA methylation heritability during early embryo development that extend beyond conventional imprinted-gDMDs.     

Prioritising Infectious Disease Mapping

BackgroundIncreasing volumes of data and computational capacity afford unprecedented opportunities to scale up infectious disease (ID) mapping for public health uses. Whilst a large number of IDs show global spatial variation, comprehensive knowledge of these geographic patterns is poor. Here we use an objective method to prioritise mapping efforts to begin to address the large deficit in global disease maps currently available.Conclusions/SignificanceA quantitative, easily-updated and flexible framework for prioritising diseases is presented here. The study identifies a possible future strategy for those diseases where significant knowledge gaps remain, as well as recognising those where global mapping programs have already made significant progress. For many conditions, potential shared epidemiological information has yet to be exploited.     

Controlling of Meloidgyne incognita (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae) using nematicides,Linum usitatissimum extract and certain organic acids on four peppers cultivars under greenhouse conditions

Organic acids and plant extracts, which have a nemacidal action and may be used instead of nematicides that pollute the environment, are one way for controlling the pepper root-knot nematode. We provide in this study for a first time a new strategy for management Meloidgyne incognita (Kofoid and White) by using organic acids and plant extract compared to nematicides on four peppers cultivars (Super amarr, Super mard, Super noura and Werta) under greenhouse conditions compared to nematicides. This study aimed to evaluate 0.1% of organic acids (humic and salicylic acid) and 0.1% of Linum usitatissimum extract on plant parameters of pepper varieties (Super amarr, Super mard, Super noura and Werta) and control of M. incognita under greenhouse conditions compared to four nematicides (Oxamyl 24% SL, Fosthiazates 75% EC, Ethoprophos N40% EC and Fenamiphos 40% EC). Our data obtained four nematicides were more effectiveness than other treatments in reduced galls and egg masses of M. incognita. Whilst, humic and salicylic acids have remarkably higher nematicidal activity than L. usitatissimum in all lines of pepper. Therefore, plant extract and organic acids may be used a best alternative of nematicides to control PPNs and caused the longitudinal growth of plant. Also, ultimately reduce environmental risk from nematicide pollution.     

Nano- and Micro-Scale Surface Modification of FCC Metal Using High Submerged Cavitating Water Jet

The aim of this paper is to establish a possible application of the cavitation phenomenon as an efficient method to modify surface properties at the nano and micro levels. Commercial-purity copper was subjected to high submerged cavitating jets under different initial conditions, for time periods between 15 and 1,800 s. The force generated by jet cavitation is employed to modify the surface roughness in the order of nano and micro scales. The target surface was analyzed with optical as well as scanning probe electron microscopy. The results showed the possibility to use cavitation bubbles to establish a nanofabrication method for the surface preparation, shoot-less surface peening (nano/micro level). Also, the cavitation is assumed to be one of the miniaturized testing methods that have to be developed to reliably measure mechanical properties in small dimensions and to identify the behavior caused by the size dependence. With optical, SEM, and atomic force microscopy observation techniques in this study, the deformation mechanism and the formation of planar or wavy slip were also studied. The results indicate that even at short exposure times, observed roughness having a characteristic “serpentine” configuration can be related to the start of the plastic deformation of the specimen surface. Longer exposure times inevitably result in a greater number of jet–specimen interactions leading to specimen fracture.     

Metabolomics reveals ionones upregulation in MeJA elicited Cinnamomum camphora (camphor tree) cell culture

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Cell suspension culture offers an approach for elucidating secondary metabolites biosynthetic pathways and its regulatory mechanism. In this work,...     

Statistical optimization of crude oil bio-degradation by a local marine bacterium isolate Pseudomonas sp. sp48

Pseudomonas sp. sp48, a marine bacterium isolated from Bahary area (Alexandria, Egypt), showed a high potency for oil degradation up to 1.5%. Additionally, it showed an ability to consume aromatic hydrocarbons (phenol & naphthalene) and aliphatic (pentadecane) reaching to 79; 73; 62%, respectively. In the current study, Plackett-Burman factorial design was applied to evaluate culture conditions affecting the degradation potency. Analysis of Plackett-Burman design results revealed that, the most significant variables affecting oil removal were magnesium sulfate, inoculum size, glucose and Triton X-100. To optimize the levels of these significant variables Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was followed. In this respect, the three-level Box–Behnken design was employed and a polynomial model was created to correlate the relationship between the three variables and oil removal. The optimal combinations of the major constituents of media that was evaluated from the non-linear optimization algorithm of EXCEL-Solver was as follows: (w/v%) 1 crude oil, 0.5 peptone, 0.5 yeast-extract, 1 ammonium chloride, 0.7418 D-glucose, 0.5 MgSO₄·7H₂O, 0.1 Triton X-100 and inoculums size 4.18?ml% in natural sea water at pH 7; 30?°C incubation temperature, 200?rpm for 6?days. The predicted optimum oil removal was 89%, which is 2.4 times more than the basal medium.     

The effect of adrenal and gonadal hormones on vascular permeability in rat skin

The effect of adrenal and gonadal hormones on vascular permeability induced by intradermal injection of prostaglandins (PGs) E1, F2alfa, arachidonic acid and compound 48/80 have been examined in the rate. PGE1, arachidonic acid and compound 48/80 produced an increase in local vascular permeability. PGF2alfa decreased the action of these vasoactive agents, when it was injected in a mixture intradermally with PGE1, arachidonic acid and compound 48/80. Vasoactive response induced by PGE1, arachidonic acid and compound 48/80 was inhibited by the removal of adrenals and testes, and it was restored to normal by injection either of cortisol, deoxycorticosterone (DOC) or testosterone. In adrenalectomized rats, no change was observed in the inhibition of vascular permeability elicited by PGF2alfa response to compound 48/80. The blocking effect of PGF2alfa on vascular permeability evoked by PGE1 and arachidonic acid showed a considerable decrease. After orchidectomy the inhibitory effect of PGF2alfa on the vascular permeability induced by arachidonic acid and compound 48/80 was completely blocked, while in the case of PGE1 the inhibition was partial. Testosterone treatment restored the anti-inflammatory effect of PGF2alfa against compound 48/80. Ovariectomy was without any effect on vascular response.     

In Silico Analysis of the Metabolic Potential and Niche Specialization of Candidate Phylum "Latescibacteria" (WS3)

The “Latescibacteria” (formerly WS3), member of the Fibrobacteres–Chlorobi–Bacteroidetes (FCB) superphylum, represents a ubiquitous candidate phylum found in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems. Recently, single-cell amplified genomes (SAGs) representing the “Latescibacteria” were obtained from the anoxic monimolimnion layers of Sakinaw Lake (British Columbia, Canada), and anoxic sediments of a coastal lagoon (Etoliko lagoon, Western Greece). Here, we present a detailed in-silico analysis of the four SAGs to gain some insights on their metabolic potential and apparent ecological roles. Metabolic reconstruction suggests an anaerobic fermentative mode of metabolism, as well as the capability to degrade multiple polysaccharides and glycoproteins that represent integral components of green (Charophyta and Chlorophyta) and brown (Phaeophycaea) algae cell walls (pectin, alginate, ulvan, fucan, hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins), storage molecules (starch and trehalose), and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). The analyzed SAGs also encode dedicated transporters for the uptake of produced sugars and amino acids/oligopeptides, as well as an extensive machinery for the catabolism of all transported sugars, including the production of a bacterial microcompartment (BMC) to sequester propionaldehyde, a toxic intermediate produced during fucose and rhamnose metabolism. Finally, genes for the formation of gas vesicles, flagella, type IV pili, and oxidative stress response were found, features that could aid in cellular association with algal detritus. Collectively, these results indicate that the analyzed “Latescibacteria” mediate the turnover of multiple complex organic polymers of algal origin that reach deeper anoxic/microoxic habitats in lakes and lagoons. The implications of such process on our understanding of niche specialization in microbial communities mediating organic carbon turnover in stratified water bodies are discussed.