Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Malaria Vector Control Measures in Urban Settings of Dakar by a Specific Anopheles Salivary Biomarker

Standard entomological methods for evaluating the impact of vector control lack sensitivity in low-malaria-risk areas. The detection of human IgG specific to Anopheles gSG6-P1 salivary antigen reflects a direct measure of human–vector contact. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a range of vector control measures (VCMs) in urban settings by using this biomarker approach. The study was conducted from October to December 2008 on 2,774 residents of 45 districts of urban Dakar. IgG responses to gSG6-P1 and the use of malaria VCMs highly varied between districts. At the district level, specific IgG levels significantly increased with age and decreased with season and with VCM use. The use of insecticide-treated nets, by drastically reducing specific IgG levels, was by far the most efficient VCM regardless of age, season or exposure level to mosquito bites. The use of spray bombs was also associated with a significant reduction of specific IgG levels, whereas the use of mosquito coils or electric fans/air conditioning did not show a significant effect. Human IgG response to gSG6-P1 as biomarker of vector exposure represents a reliable alternative for accurately assessing the effectiveness of malaria VCM in low-malaria-risk areas. This biomarker tool could be especially relevant for malaria control monitoring and surveillance programmes in low-exposure/low-transmission settings.     

Photodynamic therapy with redaporfin targets the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus

Preclinical evidence depicts the capacity of redaporfin (Redp) to act as potent photosensitizer, causing direct antineoplastic effects as well as indirect immune‐dependent destruction of malignant lesions. Here, we investigated the mechanisms through which photodynamic therapy (PDT) with redaporfin kills cancer cells. Subcellular localization and fractionation studies based on the physicochemical properties of redaporfin revealed its selective tropism for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus (GA). When activated, redaporfin caused rapid reactive oxygen species‐dependent perturbation of ER/GA compartments, coupled to ER stress and an inhibition of the GA‐dependent secretory pathway. This led to a general inhibition of protein secretion by PDT‐treated cancer cells. The ER/GA play a role upstream of mitochondria in the lethal signaling pathway triggered by redaporfin‐based PDT. Pharmacological perturbation of GA function or homeostasis reduces mitochondrial permeabilization. In contrast, removal of the pro‐apoptotic multidomain proteins BAX and BAK or pretreatment with protease inhibitors reduced cell killing, yet left the GA perturbation unaffected. Altogether, these results point to the capacity of redaporfin to kill tumor cells via destroying ER/GA function.     

Molecular diagnosis of neonatal diabetes mellitus using next-generation sequencing of the whole exome

Background

Accurate molecular diagnosis of monogenic non-autoimmune neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is critical for patient care, as patients carrying a mutation in KCNJ11 or ABCC8 can be treated by oral sulfonylurea drugs instead of insulin therapy. This diagnosis is currently based on Sanger sequencing of at least 42 PCR fragments from the KCNJ11, ABCC8, and INS genes. Here, we assessed the feasibility of using the next-generation whole exome sequencing (WES) for the NDM molecular diagnosis.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We carried out WES for a patient presenting with permanent NDM, for whom mutations in KCNJ11, ABCC8 and INS and abnormalities in chromosome 6q24 had been previously excluded. A solution hybridization selection was performed to generate WES in 76 bp paired-end reads, by using two channels of the sequencing instrument. WES quality was assessed using a high-resolution oligonucleotide whole-genome genotyping array. From our WES with high-quality reads, we identified a novel non-synonymous mutation in ABCC8 (c.1455G>C/p.Q485H), despite a previous negative sequencing of this gene. This mutation, confirmed by Sanger sequencing, was not present in 348 controls and in the patient''s mother, father and young brother, all of whom are normoglycemic.

Conclusions/Significance

WES identified a novel de novo ABCC8 mutation in a NDM patient. Compared to the current Sanger protocol, WES is a comprehensive, cost-efficient and rapid method to identify mutations in NDM patients. We suggest WES as a near future tool of choice for further molecular diagnosis of NDM cases, negative for chr6q24, KCNJ11 and INS abnormalities.     

Binding of human SLBP on the 3'-UTR of histone precursor H4-12 mRNA induces structural rearrangements that enable U7 snRNA anchoring

In metazoans, cell-cycle-dependent histones are produced from poly(A)-lacking mRNAs. The 3′ end of histone mRNAs is formed by an endonucleolytic cleavage of longer precursors between a conserved stem–loop structure and a purine-rich histone downstream element (HDE). The cleavage requires at least two trans-acting factors: the stem–loop binding protein (SLBP), which binds to the stem–loop and the U7 snRNP, which anchors to histone pre-mRNAs by annealing to the HDE. Using RNA structure-probing techniques, we determined the secondary structure of the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of mouse histone pre-mRNAs H4–12, H1t and H2a–614. Surprisingly, the HDE is embedded in hairpin structures and is therefore not easily accessible for U7 snRNP anchoring. Probing of the 3′-UTR in complex with SLBP revealed structural rearrangements leading to an overall opening of the structure especially at the level of the HDE. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that the SLBP-induced opening of HDE actually facilitates U7 snRNA anchoring on the histone H4–12 pre-mRNAs 3′ end. These results suggest that initial binding of the SLBP functions in making the HDE more accessible for U7 snRNA anchoring.     

clonality V.0.4: a randomization-based program to test for heterozygosity-genet size relationships in clonal organisms

clonality V.0.4 is a program for testing heterozygosity-genet size relationships in clonal organisms using a randomization procedure. The software has been developed under the Borland Delphi developing environment and a Windows-executable version is freely downloadable from http://gemi.mpl.ird.fr/SiteSGASS/Prugnolle/ClonalityPage.html. The program compares the observed F(IS) of the population with the F(IS) expected if genets (multilocus genotypes present in multiple copies within the population) were chosen randomly from the set of different multilocus genotypes. The randomization procedure is performed with the same number of genets and the same number of repetitions per genet as what is observed in the original data set.     

Hyperhydricity of Prunus avium shoots cultured on gelrite: a controlled stress response.

Hyperhydricity is a physiological disorder frequently affecting shoots vegetatively propagated in vitro. Hyperhydric shoots are characterised by a translucent aspect due to a chlorophyll deficiency, a not very developed cell wall and a high water content. Hyperhydricity of Prunus avium shoots was expressed in vitro in one multiplication cycle by replacing the gelling agent agar (normal shoots: NS) by gelrite (hyperhydric shoots: HS). P. avium shoots evolving towards the hyperhydric state produced higher amounts of ethylene, polyamines (PAs) and proline, which are substances considered as stress markers. A higher activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX; EC 1.11.1.9), involved in organic hydroperoxide elimination, suggested an increased production of these compounds in HS. The unchanged free fatty acid composition indicated no HS membrane damages compared to NS. The ploidy level of HS nuclei was not affected, but the bigger size and the lower percentage of nuclei during the S phase suggested a slowing down of the cell cycle. The results argued for a stress response of the HS, but no signs of oxidative damages of lipid membrane and nucleus were observed. The discussion points out paradoxical results in a classical analysis of stress and suggests an alternative way of defense mechanisms in HS, involving homeostatic regulation and controlled degradation processes to maintain integrity and vital functions of the cell.     

Predominance of bacteriophage SP82 over bacteriophage SP01 in mixed infections of Bacillus subtilis

In mixed infections with Bacillus subtilis phages SP82 and SP01, the SP82 genotype is predominant among the progeny. This predominance is determined by a specific region of the genome, the pos region, which apparently is located near genes 29 to 32 (by the SP01 numbering system). Recombination between SP82 and SP01 yields phage which have both the SP82 pos region and an SP01 mutation. This mutation then behaves in mixed infection as if it were part of an SP82 genome.     

Focus on Weed Control: Natural Compounds as Next-Generation Herbicides

Herbicides with new modes of action (MOAs) are badly needed due to the rapidly evolving resistance to commercial herbicides, but a new MOA has not been introduced in over 20 years. The greatest pest management challenge for organic agriculture is the lack of effective natural product herbicides. The structural diversity and evolved biological activity of natural phytotoxins offer opportunities for the development of both directly used natural compounds and synthetic herbicides with new target sites based on the structures of natural phytotoxins. Natural phytotoxins are also a source for the discovery of new herbicide target sites that can serve as the focus of traditional herbicide discovery efforts. There are many examples of strong natural phytotoxins with MOAs other than those used by commercial herbicides, which indicates that there are molecular targets of herbicides that can be added to the current repertoire of commercial herbicide MOAs.The evolutionary forces driving the survival of species include chemical interactions between organisms, which function in positive interactions such as mutualistic and symbiotic relationships and negative interactions such as competitive and parasitic relationships. These processes have led to the emergence of novel secondary metabolic pathways (often through gene duplication), producing a vast array of structurally diverse and biologically active molecules (Moore and Purugganan, 2005; Ober, 2005; Flagel and Wendel, 2009; Jiang et al., 2013). This evolutionary process is similar to a high-throughput screen. However, unlike conventional in vitro screens, which test many compounds on a single biochemical target over a very short period of time, this natural high-throughput process selects molecules based on their whole-organism activities, involving numerous chemical interactions between countless organisms and target sites over millions of years. To date, approximately 200,000 secondary metabolites have been identified (Tulp and Bohlin, 2005), with many more expected to be discovered. Few of these compounds have been examined for phytotoxicity, and the modes or mechanisms of action (MOAs) of even fewer known phytotoxins have been elucidated.The negative chemical interactions between organisms are often characterized using anthropomorphic language, such as chemical warfare, referring to the production of phytotoxins used by plant pathogens to invade their host plants (Maor and Shirasu, 2005), and the novel weapons hypothesis, which is associated with the chemical-based advantage of some invasive plant species over native plant populations (Callaway and Aschehoug, 2000; Callaway and Ridenour, 2004; Callaway and Maron, 2006; Cappuccino and Arnason, 2006; Callaway et al., 2008). While simplistic, this terminology illustrates how these toxin-based interactions exploit biochemical weaknesses between an organism and its host or enemy/competitor to enhance its own survival (Verhoeven et al., 2009). In fact, these interactions can even be multitrophic, such as when exotic plants enhance their invasiveness by promoting the growth of certain native soil pathogens noxious to native plants (Mangla et al., 2008; Barto et al., 2011).As humans evolved from a nomadic hunter-gatherer subsistence existence to an agricultural lifestyle, they learned to utilize certain biologically active secondary metabolites to manage agricultural pests. Indeed, the concept that nature is an excellent source of natural pesticides is captured in the following ancient Lithica poem (circa 400 B.C.): “All the pests that out of earth arise, the earth itself the antidote supplies” (Ibn et al., 1781). Less than a century later, Greek and Roman treatises described practices to control agricultural pests that include the use of essential oils. Similar documents are found in Chinese literature, such as a survey describing plant species used to control plant pests (Yang and Tang, 1988). The mid-20th century ushered in the use of synthetic pesticides, which have revolutionized agriculture. Like pharmaceuticals (Harvey, 1999, 2008; Newman and Cragg, 2012), many pesticides are based on natural compounds. However, natural products have not played a major role in herbicide discovery (Copping and Duke, 2007; Hüter, 2011).     

Extensive phenotypic variation in early flowering mutants of Arabidopsis

Flowering time, the major regulatory transition of plant sequential development, is modulated by multiple endogenous and environmental factors. By phenotypic profiling of 80 early flowering mutants of Arabidopsis, we examine how mutational reduction of floral repression is associated with changes in phenotypic plasticity and stability. Flowering time measurements in mutants reveal deviations from the linear relationship between the number of leaves and number of days to bolting described for natural accessions and late flowering mutants. The deviations correspond to relative early bolting and relative late bolting phenotypes. Only a minority of mutants presents no detectable phenotypic variation. Mutants are characterized by a broad release of morphological pleiotropy under short days, with leaf characters being most variable. They also exhibit changes in phenotypic plasticity across environments for florigenic-related responses, including the reaction to light and dark, photoperiodic behavior, and Suc sensitivity. Morphological pleiotropy and plasticity modifications are differentially distributed among mutants, resulting in a large diversity of multiple phenotypic changes. The pleiotropic effects observed may indicate that floral repression defects are linked to global developmental perturbations. This first, to our knowledge, extensive characterization of phenotypic variation in early flowering mutants correlates with the reports that most factors recruited in floral repression at the molecular genetic level correspond to ubiquitous regulators. We discuss the importance of functional ubiquity for floral repression with respect to robustness and flexibility of network biological systems.