Computational identification and comparative analysis of miRNA precursors in three palm species

Planta - In the present study, miRNA precursors in the genomes of three palm species were identified. Analyzes of sequence conservation and biological function of their putative targets contribute...     

Unintended irradiation of internal mammary chain – Is that enough?

Aim

To evaluate the unintentional coverage of the internal mammary chain (IMC) with tangential fields irradiation to the breast, and its relation with the type of surgery employed.

Background

The dose distribution in regions adjacent to the treatment targets (mammary gland or chest wall), with incidental irradiation of the IMC, could translate into clinical benefit, due to the proximity of these regions.

Materials and methods

One hundred and twelve consecutive conformal radiotherapy plans were correlating the average dose to the IMC with the type of surgery employed, the extent of disease and the irradiation techniques.

Results

The mean doses to IMC after modified radical mastectomy (MRM), modified radical mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (MRM + R), and breast conservative surgery (BCS) were 30.34 Gy, 30.26 Gy, and 18.67 Gy, respectively. Significant differences were identified between patients who underwent MRM or MRM + R over BCS (p = 0.01 and 0.003, respectively), but not between MRM and MRM + R (p = 0.88). Mean doses to IMC were greater in patients with T3–T4 tumors when compared with more initial stages (≤T2) (p = 0.0096). The lymph node involvement also correlated with higher average doses to IMC (node positive: 26.1 Gy × node negative: 17.8 Gy, p = 0.0017).

Conclusions

The moderate dose level to the IMC in the unintentional irradiation scenario seems to be insufficient to treat the subclinical disease, although it could have an impact in patients undergoing mastectomy.     

Life in Burrows Channelled the Morphological Evolution of the Skull in Rodents: the Case of African Mole-Rats (Bathyergidae,Rodentia)

African mole-rats are fossorial rodents that consist of five chisel-tooth digging genera (Heterocephalus, Heliophobius, Georychus, Fukomys, and Cryptomys) and one scratch digger (Bathyergus). They are characterized by striking physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations intimately related to their subterranean life. The influence of their mode of life in shaping the cranial morphology has yet to be evaluated in comparison to other Ctenohystrica, especially fossorial genera, which include the subterranean genera Spalacopus and Ctenomys. In our study, we seek to determine to what extent subterranean life affects the morpho-functional properties of the skull among fossorial ctenohystricans. 3D geometric morphometric analyses were performed on 277 skulls, encompassing 63 genera of Ctenohystrica, and complemented by biomechanical studies. African mole-rats and other subterranean Ctenohystrica, especially chisel-tooth diggers, have a short snout, a wide cranium with enlarged zygomatic arches, and a strongly hystricognathous mandible. Even if convergences are also manifest between most fossorial Ctenohystrica, subterranean rodents departed from the main ctenohystrican allometric trends in having a skull shape less size-dependent, but under stronger directional selection with intense digging activity as a major constraint. African mole-rats, notably chisel-tooth diggers, show important mechanical advantage for the temporalis muscles favoring higher forces at the bite point, while mechanical advantage of the superficial masseter muscles is lower compared to other Ctenohystrica. If subterranean species can be clearly discriminated based on their skull morphology, the intrinsic mosaic of anatomical characters of each genus (e.g., skull, teeth, and muscles) can be understood only in the light of their ecology and evolutionary history.     

Pam3CSK4 adjuvant given intranasally boosts anti-Leishmania immunogenicity but not protective immune responses conferred by LaAg vaccine against visceral leishmaniasis

The use of adjuvants in vaccine formulations is a well-established practice to improve immunogenicity and protective immunity against diseases. Previously, we have demonstrated the feasibility of intranasal vaccination with the antigen of killed Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes (LaAg) against experimental leishmaniasis. In this work, we sought to optimize the immunogenic effect and protective immunity against murine visceral leishmaniasis conferred by intranasal delivery of LaAg in combination with a synthetic TLR1/TLR2 agonist (Pam3CSK4). Intranasal vaccination with LaAg/PAM did not show toxicity or adverse effects, induced the increase of delayed-type hypersensitivity response and the production of inflammatory cytokines after parasite antigen recall. However, mice vaccinated with LaAg/PAM and challenged with Leishmania infantum presented significant reduction of parasite burden in both liver and spleen, similar to those vaccinated with LaAg. Although LaAg/PAM intranasal vaccination had induced higher frequencies of specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells and increased levels of IgG2a antibody isotype in serum, both LaAg and LaAg/PAM groups presented similar levels of IL-4 and IFN-y and decreased production of IL-10 when compared to controls. Our results provide the first evidence of the feasibility of intranasal immunization with antigens of killed Leishmania in association with a TLR agonist, which may be explored for developing an effective and alternative strategy for vaccination against visceral leishmaniasis.     

Investigating transparency regarding ecoinvent users’ system model choices

Purpose

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a data-intensive methodology; therefore, experts usually focus collection efforts on a few activities, while generic data on remaining activities are taken from databases. Even though increased availability of databases has facilitated LCA takeoff, assuring data quality is fundamental to ensure meaningful results and reliable interpretation.

Methods

Ecoinvent has become a global reference for inventory data. Its current version released three impact partition modeling options—the recycled content, “allocation at the point of substitution” (APOS), and consequential models—whose adequate choice is crucial for yielding meaningful assessments. Tutorials and manuals describe the distribution algorithm that backs each system model, to ground decision-making regarding the best fit to a study’s goals. We performed a systematic literature review to investigate—within the papers published on the International Journal of LCA (IJLCA)—how transparently authors addressed the system model choices.

Results and discussion

About 70% of LCA practitioners continued to use earlier versions of ecoinvent after version 3 was launched in 2013. The number of papers using versions 3.x only showed an increased growth trend 2 years later. Eighty-three papers actually adopted the newest version of the database. From those, only 29 papers clearly mentioned the adopted system model. Our SLR also suggests a trend regarding authorship profile of LCA-related studies: the number of studies conducted by practitioners aware of the intricacies of sound modeling of background and foreground data might have been surpassed by those conducted by non-LCA specialists who use LCA as a supporting tool for investigations in applied fields, and merely scratch the surface.

Conclusions

Our results point to a need for a caveat: ecoinvent users must take time to understand the general concept behind each system model and practice one of the most important actions when performing an LCA—state methodological choices clearly.

     

High-efficiency somatic embryogenesis of a broad range of Brazilian Saccharum spp. hybrids (sugarcane) varieties using explants from previously established in vitro plants

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant - The current study assessed the embryogenic potential of different Brazilian Saccharum spp. hybrid (sugarcane) varieties, using explants from...     

Unravelling the interactions of the environmental host Acanthamoeba castellanii with fungi through the recognition by mannose‐binding proteins

Free‐living amoebae (FLAs) are major reservoirs for a variety of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The most studied mycophagic FLA, Acanthamoeba castellanii (Ac), is a potential environmental host for endemic fungal pathogens such as Cryptococcus spp., Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitides, and Sporothrix schenckii. However, the mechanisms involved in this interaction are poorly understood. The aim of this work was to characterize the molecular instances that enable Ac to interact with and ingest fungal pathogens, a process that could lead to selection and maintenance of possible virulence factors. The interaction of Ac with a variety of fungal pathogens was analysed in a multifactorial evaluation that included the role of multiplicity of infection over time. Fungal binding to Ac surface by living image consisted of a quick process, and fungal initial extrusion (vomocytosis) was detected from 15 to 80 min depending on the organism. When these fungi were cocultured with the amoeba, only Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans were able to grow, whereas Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Sporothrix brasiliensis displayed unchanged viability. Yeasts of H. capsulatum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were rapidly killed by Ac; however, some cells remained viable after 48 hr. To evaluate changes in fungal virulence upon cocultivation with Ac, recovered yeasts were used to infect Galleria mellonella, and in all instances, they killed the larvae faster than control yeasts. Surface biotinylated extracts of Ac exhibited intense fungal binding by FACS and fluorescence microscopy. Binding was also intense to mannose, and mass spectrometry identified Ac proteins with affinity to fungal surfaces including two putative transmembrane mannose‐binding proteins (MBP, L8WXW7 and MBP1, Q6J288). Consistent with interactions with such mannose‐binding proteins, Ac–fungi interactions were inhibited by mannose. These MBPs may be involved in fungal recognition by amoeba and promotes interactions that allow the emergence and maintenance of fungal virulence for animals.     

Use of image analysis to understand enzyme stability in an aerated stirred reactor

Efficient regeneration of NAD(P)⁺ cofactors is essential for large-scale application of alcohol dehydrogenases due to the high cost and chemical instability of these cofactors. NAD(P)⁺ can be regenerated effectively using NAD(P)H oxidases (NOXs) that require molecular oxygen as a cosubstrate. In large-scale biocatalytic processes, agitation and aeration are needed for sufficient oxygen transfer into the liquid phase, both of which have been shown to significantly increase the rate of enzyme deactivation. As such, the aim of this study was to identify the existence of a correlation between enzyme stability and gas–liquid interfacial area inside the bioreactor. This was done by measuring gas–liquid interfacial areas inside an aerated stirred reactor, using an in situ optical probe, and simultaneously measuring the kinetic stability of NOXs. Following enzyme incubation at various power inputs and gas-phase compositions, the residual activity was assessed and video samples were analyzed through an image processing algorithm. Enzyme deactivation was found to be proportional to an increase in interfacial area up to a certain limit, where power input appears to have a higher impact. Furthermore, the presence of oxygen increased enzyme deactivation rates at low interfacial areas. The areas were validated with defined glass beads and found to be in the range of those in large-scale bioreactors. Finally, a correlation between the enzyme half-life and specific interfacial area was obtained. Therefore, we conclude that the method developed in this contribution can help to predict the behavior of biocatalyst stability under industrially relevant conditions, concerning specific gas–liquid interfacial areas.     

Long-term feeding a high-fat diet causes histological and parasitological effects on murine schistosomiasis mansoni outcome

This study investigated whether long-term feeding a high-fat diet (HFC) has an effect on schistosomiasis mansoni outcome compared to standard chow diet (SC). Swiss Webster female mice (3 wk old) fed each diet over 5 months, and then were infected with 50 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Their nutritional status was assessed by monitoring growth rates twice a week and measuring serum levels of lipoproteins. Mice were euthanised 63 days after infection. Parasitological and liver histological analyses were performed. The levels of TC, HDL-C and LDL-C, fecal and tissue schistosome eggs were statistically different (p<0.05) between groups. Livers from HFC mice showed exudative, exudative/exudative-productive, exudative-productive and productive granulomas, some degree of hepatic steatosis and focal necrosis. Mice fed normal-chow did not present productive granulomas and hepatic steatosis. The morphometric evaluation of hepatic granulomas did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05) between diets assayed. The high-fat diet for long-term produces effects on schistosomiasis mansoni outcome.