Selenium supplementation influences growth performance, antioxidant status and immune response in lambs

To investigate and compare the effect of inorganic and organic Se supplementation, 18 male lambs (24.68 ± 2.89 kg mean body weight, about 8–9 months of age) were divided into three groups of six animals in each, following randomized block design. While animals in the control group (Gr I) were fed a standard TMR containing 195 g/kg crushed maize grain, 175.5 g/kg soybean meal, 260 g/kg wheat bran, 13 g/kg mineral mixture (without Se), 6.5 g/kg common salt and 350 g/kg wheat straw, animals in Gr II and Gr III were additionally supplemented with 0.15 mg Se/kg of diet through sodium selenite (inorganic Se) and Jevsel-101 (organic Se), respectively. Experimental feeding was done for a period of 90 days. To assess the humoral immune response, all the lambs were intramuscularly inoculated with a single dose (2 mL) of Haemorrhagic septicaemia oil adjuvant vaccine on day 0; and blood samples were collected on day 0, 30, 60 and 90. Supplementation of Se had no effect on serum total cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin:globulin ratio, T₃, T₄, T₄:T₃ ratio; serum Ca and P levels and SGOT and SGPT activity. However, there was a significant increase in the serum Se level, RBC GSH-Px activity and humoral immune response in both the Se supplemented groups as compared to control group. Average daily gain (g) was highest (110) in Gr III, followed by Gr II (98.2) and lowest in Gr I (89.1). Thus, supplementation of organic as well as inorganic Se was found to improve the growth rate, humoral immune response and antioxidant status of the lambs; and between two sources, organic Se was more effective than inorganic Se.     

Trypanosoma cruzi infection disturbs mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS production rate in cardiomyocytes

In this study, we investigated the role of Trypanosoma cruzi invasion and inflammatory processes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in a mouse atrial cardiomyocyte line (HL-1) and primary adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes were incubated with T. cruzi (Tc) trypomastigotes, Tc lysate (TcTL), or Tc secreted proteins (TcSP) for 0–72 h, and ROS were measured by amplex red assay. Cardiomyocytes infected by T. cruzi (but not those incubated with TcTL or TcSP) exhibited a linear increase in ROS production for 2–48 h postinfection (max 18-fold increase), which was further enhanced by recombinant cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ). We observed no increase in NADPH oxidase, xanthine oxidase, or myeloperoxidase activity, and specific inhibitors of these enzymes did not block the increased rate of ROS production in infected cardiomyocytes. Instead, the mitochondrial membrane potential was perturbed and resulted in inefficient electron transport chain (ETC) activity and enhanced electron leakage and ROS formation in infected cardiomyocytes. HL-1 rho (ρ) cardiomyocytes lacked a functional ETC and exhibited no increase in ROS formation in response to T. cruzi. Together, these results demonstrate that invasion by T. cruzi and an inflammatory milieu affect mitochondrial integrity and contribute to electron transport chain inefficiency and ROS production in cardiomyocytes.     

Ceramides: Branched alkyl chains in the sphingolipid siblings of diacylglycerol improve biological potency

The synthesis of a small number of ceramide analogues containing a combination of linear and highly branched alkyl chains on either the d-sphingosine or the N-acyl core of the molecule is reported. Regardless of location, the presence of the branched chain improves potency relative to the positive control, C2 ceramide; however, the most potent compound (4) has the branched side chain as part of the d-sphingosine core. The induction of apoptosis by 4 in terms of Annexin V binding and DiOC₆ labeling was superior to that achieved with C2 ceramide.     

Self-assembling diblock copolymers of poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] and a beta-sheet peptide

The self-assembly of hybrid diblock copolymers composed of poly(HPMA) and beta-sheet peptide P11 (CH(3)CO-QQRFQWQFEQQ-NH(2)) blocks was investigated. Copolymers were synthesized via thiol-maleimide coupling reaction, by conjugation of semitelechelic poly(HPMA)-SH with maleimide-modified beta-sheet peptide. As expected, CD and CR binding studies showed that the peptide block imposed its beta-sheet structural arrangement on the structure of diblock copolymers. TEM and AFM proved that peptide and these copolymers had the ability to self-assemble into fibrils.     

Production of wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica chromosome addition lines

Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng (2n = 14; N(h)N(h)) is an endangered wheat-related species, with a distribution in the Huashan region of central China. It has many agronomically promising characters including resistance to disease and drought and winter hardiness. We produced hybrids between common wheat as the female parent and P. huashanica as the male parent. From the offspring, we selected chromosome addition lines of common wheat carrying each of all seven chromosomes of P. huashanica. Four chromosomes (B, D, E and F) were recovered in disomic lines and three (A, C and G) in monosomic addition lines. These alien chromosomes were distinguished from each other by cytological analyses. Chromosome A was characterized by a 45S rDNA site in the subtelomeric region of the short arm. Chromosome B carried one 5S and one 45S rDNA sites co-localized in an interstitial region of the short arm, and the expression of the alien high-molecular-weight glutenin was observed in the endosperm of line B. Chromosome D had a 45S rDNA signal in the interstitial region of the long arm. Chromosomes C, E, and F were distinguished by the EST-SSR markers Ltc0464, Ltc0096, and Xcfe175, respectively. The homoeologous group of each alien chromosome was implied from the results above, and the utilization of these addition lines for wheat breeding was discussed.     

Gene structure,transcripts and calciotropic effects of the PTH family of peptides in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenopus</Emphasis> and chicken

Background  

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) belong to a family of endocrine factors that share a highly conserved N-terminal region (amino acids 1-34) and play key roles in calcium homeostasis, bone formation and skeletal development. Recently, PTH-like peptide (PTH-L) was identified in teleost fish raising questions about the evolution of these proteins. Although PTH and PTHrP have been intensively studied in mammals their function in other vertebrates is poorly documented. Amphibians and birds occupy unique phylogenetic positions, the former at the transition of aquatic to terrestrial life and the latter at the transition to homeothermy. Moreover, both organisms have characteristics indicative of a complex system in calcium regulation. This study investigated PTH family evolution in vertebrates with special emphasis on Xenopus and chicken.     

Thyroid receptor ligands. Part 5: novel bicyclic agonist ligands selective for the thyroid hormone receptor beta

Based on the examination of the crystal structure of rat TRbeta complexed with 3,5,3'-triiodo-l-thyronine (2) a novel TRbeta-selective indole derivative 6b was prepared and tested in vitro. This compound was found to be 14 times selective for TRbeta over TRalpha in binding and its beta-selectivity could be rationalized through the comparison of the X-ray crystallographic structures of 6b complexed with TRalpha and TRbeta.     

Recent developments in the molecular, biochemical and functional characterization of GPI8 and the GPI-anchoring mechanism [review

Glycoconjugates are utilized by eukaryotic organisms ranging from yeast to humans for the cell surface expression of a wide variety of proteins and lipids. These glycoconjugates are expressed as enzymes or receptors and serve a diversity of functions, including cell signaling and cell survival. In parasitic protozoans, glycoconjugates play roles in infectivity, survival, virulence and immune evasion. Among the alternate glycoconjugate structures that have been identified, glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) represent a universal structure for the anchorage of proteins, lipids, and phosphosaccharides to cellular membranes. Biosynthesis of the GPI is a multi-step process that culminates in the attachment of the assembled GPI to a precursor protein. This final step in the transfer of the GPI to a protein is catalyzed by GPI8 of the putative transamidase complex (TAM). GPI8 functions dually to perform the proteolytic cleavage of the C-terminal signal sequence of the precursor protein, followed by the formation of an amide bond between the protein and the ethanolamine phosphate of the GPI. This review summarizes the current aggregate of biochemical, gene-disruption and active site mutagenesis studies, which provide evidence that GPI8 is responsible for the protein-GPI anchoring reaction. We describe recently published studies that have identified other potential components of the TAM complex and that have elucidated their likely role in protein-GPI attachment. Further, we discuss the biochemical, molecular and functional differences between protozoan and mammalian GPI8 and the protein-GPI anchoring machinery. Finally, we will present the implications of these studies for the development of anti-parasite drug therapies.     

Rapid Implementation of an Integrated Large-Scale HIV Counseling and Testing,Malaria, and Diarrhea Prevention Campaign in Rural Kenya

Background

Integrated disease prevention in low resource settings can increase coverage, equity and efficiency in controlling high burden infectious diseases. A public-private partnership with the Ministry of Health, CDC, Vestergaard Frandsen and CHF International implemented a one-week integrated multi-disease prevention campaign.

Method

Residents of Lurambi, Western Kenya were eligible for participation. The aim was to offer services to at least 80% of those aged 15–49. 31 temporary sites in strategically dispersed locations offered: HIV counseling and testing, 60 male condoms, an insecticide-treated bednet, a household water filter for women or an individual filter for men, and for those testing positive, a 3-month supply of cotrimoxazole and referral for follow-up care and treatment.

Findings

Over 7 days, 47,311 people attended the campaign with a 96% uptake of the multi-disease preventive package. Of these, 99.7% were tested for HIV (87% in the target 15–49 age group); 80% had previously never tested. 4% of those tested were positive, 61% were women (5% of women and 3% of men), 6% had median CD4 counts of 541 cell/µL (IQR; 356, 754). 386 certified counselors attended to an average 17 participants per day, consistent with recommended national figures for mass campaigns. Among women, HIV infection varied by age, and was more likely with an ended marriage (e.g. widowed vs. never married, OR.3.91; 95% CI. 2.87–5.34), and lack of occupation. In men, quantitatively stronger relationships were found (e.g. widowed vs. never married, OR.7.0; 95% CI. 3.5–13.9). Always using condoms with a non-steady partner was more common among HIV-infected women participants who knew their status compared to those who did not (OR.5.4 95% CI. 2.3–12.8).

Conclusion

Through integrated campaigns it is feasible to efficiently cover large proportions of eligible adults in rural underserved communities with multiple disease preventive services simultaneously achieving various national and international health development goals.