Influence of Precocene II on the estimated changes within the haemocyte population of parasitized spodoptera littoralis larvae by microplitis rufiventris

Series of experiments were undertaken to investigate whether application of Precocene II (PII) to parasitized S. littoralis larvae can influence their THCs and DHCs. PII was applied in single dose treatments (70μg/5 μl/dose). Haemolymph samples were taken at daily intervals from day 3 to day 8 post‐treatments. Two distinct alterations were noted; first, PII‐treatments caused significant decrease in THCs. Once the parasitoid larvae emerge from either treated or untreated hosts, a sharp decline in THCs was observed. The second effect was changes in DHCs of S. littoralis larvae. In controls, haemocyte types could be arranged in descending order due to their relative occurrence into plasmatocytes (PLs), prohaemocytes (PRs), spherule cells (SPs), granular cells (GRs) and oenocytoids (OEs). This order changed in treated hosts to PLs, GRs, PRs, SPs and OEs, i.e., GRs that were less prevalent in the haemolymph of control larvae increased significantly in PII‐treated hosts. In the latters, sharp rise in GRs levels followed parasitoid emergence. OEs cells were scarce in both treated and untreated hosts. No significant difference was observed between the overall means of PLs in both types of host larvae. But GRs‐PRs was markedly altered in treated larvae.     

Distribution and function of prophage phiRv1 and phiRv2 among Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) is notorious for causing diseases, such as tuberculosis. Tuberculosis caused by M. tuberculosis remains a global public health concern. Two prophages, phiRv1 and phiRv2, can be found among most MTBC genomes. However, no precise functions have been assigned for the two prophages. In this paper, to find out the function of these two prophages, the distribution and function of phiRv1 and phiRv2 in MTBC genomes were analyzed from multiple omics data. We found that complex insertion, deletion, and reorganization appeared on the locus of two prophages in MTBC genomes; some genes of the two prophages can be translated and are functional from proteomic data; the expression of other prophage genes, such as Rv1577c, Rv2650c, Rv2652c, Rv2659c, and Rv2658c, can vary with environmental stresses and might enhance the fitness of MTBC. These data will facilitate our in-depth understanding of their function.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation against Mycobacterium tuberculosis of azole piperazine derivatives as dicyclotyrosine (cYY) mimics

Three series of azole piperazine derivatives that mimic dicyclotyrosine (cYY), the natural substrate of the essential Mycobacterium tuberculosis cytochrome P450 CYP121A1, were prepared and evaluated for binding affinity and inhibitory activity (MIC) against M. tuberculosis. Series A replaces one phenol group of cYY with a C3-imidazole moiety, series B includes a keto group on the hydrocarbon chain preceding the series A imidazole, whilst series C explores replacing the keto group of the piperidone ring of cYY with a CH₂-imidazole or CH₂-triazole moiety to enhance binding interaction with the heme of CYP121A1. The series displayed moderate to weak type II binding affinity for CYP121A1, with the exception of series B 10a, which displayed mixed type I binding. Of the three series, series C imidazole derivatives showed the best, although modest, inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis (17d MIC?=?12.5?μg/mL, 17a 50?μg/mL). Crystal structures were determined for CYP121A1 bound to series A compounds 6a and 6b that show the imidazole groups positioned directly above the haem iron with binding between the haem iron and imidazole nitrogen of both compounds at a distance of 2.2?Å. A model generated from a 1.5?Å crystal structure of CYP121A1 in complex with compound 10a showed different binding modes in agreement with the heterogeneous binding observed. Although the crystal structures of 6a and 6b would indicate binding with CYP121A1, the binding assays themselves did not allow confirmation of CYP121A1 as the target.     

Assessment of the cellular localisation of the annexin A2/S100A10 complex in human placenta

The AnxA2/S100A10 complex has been implicated in various placental functions but although the localisation of these proteins individually has been studied, there is no information about the localisation of their complex in situ at the cellular level. Using the proximity ligation technique, we have investigated the in situ localisation of AnxA2/S100A10 complex in the placenta and have compared this with the location patterns of the individual proteins. High levels of expression of AnxA2/S100A10 complexes were observed in the amniotic membrane and in blood vessel endothelial cells. Lower levels were detected in the brush border area of the syncytium and in the trophoblasts. Immunohistochemical analysis of AnxA2 and S100A10 individually revealed broadly similar patterns of localisation. The brush border staining pattern suggests that in this location at least some of the AnxA2 is not in complex with S100A10. The formal location of the AnxA2/S100A10 complex is compatible with a role in cell–cell interaction, intracellular transport and secretory processes and regulation of cell surface proteases, implying contributions to membrane integrity, nutrient exchange, placentation and vascular remodelling in different parts of the placenta. Future applications will allow specific assessment of the association of the complex with pathophysiological disorders.     

Evaluation of the alleviative role of Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis extract against ovarian dysfunctions induced by monosodium glutamate in mice

Microalgae provide a wealthy natural resource of bioactive compounds, which have many biological activities. Monosodium glutamate is a food additive that acts either as food preservatives or as tastiness enhancer. It was confirmed that monosodium glutamate poses a serious responsibility in the pathogenesis of anovulatory infertility. Therefore, the idea of this research was directed to reveal efficiency of Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis extracts against the ovarian dysfunction resulted due to monosodium glutamate consumption. Adult female albino mice were gavages orally monosodium glutamate alone or with either Chlorella vulgaris or Spirulina platensis aqueous extracts for 28?days. Female mice were subjected to superovulation to study the oocytes nuclear maturation stages. Histological and quantitative investigation was carried on ovaries. Biochemical assessment to measure the sex hormones level and ovarian enzymatic antioxidants was done. In addition, ovarian antioxidant mRNA genes were determined using quantitative PCR and Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was used as an internal control. The result revealed that monosodium glutamate reduced the oocytes quality and maturation rate, while, both algae improve the oocyte quality and maturation rate than in monosodium glutamate group. Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis improved the monosodium glutamate ovarian tissue histological alteration, sex hormones content and raised the ovarian enzymatic antioxidants level. In addition, monosodium glutamate markedly diminished the Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase mRNA expressions, However, Chlorella vulgaris or Spirulina platensis upregulated the expression of genes close to control. In conclusion, Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis showed potential alleviative role against the monosodium glutamate ovarian dysfunction.     

Sodium Acetate,Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate,and Citric Acid Impacts on Isolated Peripheral Lymphocyte Viability,Proliferation, and DNA Damage

The present study examined the impacts of sodium acetate (SA), sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP), and citric acid (CA) on the viability, proliferation, and DNA damage of isolated lymphocytes in vitro. 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays were adopted to evaluate cell viability, while comet assay was employed to assess the genotoxic effects. The cells were incubated with different levels of SA (50, 100, and 200 mM), SAPP (25, 50, and 100 mM/L), or CA (100, 200, and 300 μg/mL). The lymphocytes treated with the tested food additives showed concentration‐dependent decreases in both cell viability and proliferation. A concentration‐dependent increase in LDH release was also observed. The comet assay results indicated that SA, SAPP, and CA increased DNA damage percentage, tail DNA percentage, tail length, and tail moment in a concentration‐dependent manner. The current results showed that SA, SAPP, and CA are cytotoxic and genotoxic to isolated lymphocytes in vitro.     

Olfactory behavior and response of household ants (Hymenoptera) to different types of coffee odor: A coffee-based bait development prospect

Odor sensation is a sensory modality of considerable significance in the foraging behavior and interactional organization of ants. In the food bait technology, smell is the basis of attraction, which, in turn, is the line of bait use and a key parameter for judging efficacy. Yet, the currently available baits possess low attractiveness to many ant pests. Hence, strategies to produce ant bait with increased attractiveness are needed. Despite evidence that coffee has a diverse aroma complex that affects the behavior of honey bees and ants, its attraction to house-invading ants has yet to be investigated. In a series of Y-tube olfactometer bioassays, we examined the behavioral responses of Tapinoma indicum (TI), Monomorium pharaonis (MP) and Solenopsis geminata (SG) to various coffee-induced odor stimuli, comprised of extracts from Arabica, Robusta and Liberica. All coffee extracts showed an influence on the behavior of TI, MP and SG workers, with Arabica showed the most significant influence to the tested ants. The workers of TI, MP and SG were more attracted to the odor of 0.01% Arabica extract (ONE), in comparison with 0.05% Arabica extract (TWO) or 0.10% Arabica extract (THREE). Arabica extract mixed with sugar (S) elicited a significant attraction from workers of all three species in a balanced competition with either unsweetened Arabica extract or water. These results indicated that coffee, particularly Arabica, was attractive to the foragers of TI, MP and SG, thus, the use of coffee as a novel stimulus agent seems plausible in ant bait development.     

Organic Selenium,Probiotics, and Prebiotics Effects on Growth,Blood Biochemistry,and Carcass Traits of Growing Rabbits During Summer and Winter Seasons

Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous and toxic heavy metal and it can damage the immune system in humans and animals. Many researchers have reported that Selenium (Se) could possess various pharmacological effects in mammals. However, few studies have been carried out to investigate the protective role of Se in birds, especially in chickens. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Se against Pb-induced inflammatory responses and the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in peripheral blood neutrophils. One hundred eighty Hy-Line brown chickens were randomly divided into the control group (Con group), Se supplementation group (+Se group), Pb supplementation group (+Pb group), and the Se and Pb compound group (Se+Pb group). On the 90th day of the experiment, the peripheral blood was collected to extract neutrophils, and then, the levels of HSPs and cytokines were examined. The results showed that, after Pb treatment, the levels of IL-(1β, 1R, 4, 8, 10, and 12β), TGF-β4, and HSP (27, 40, 60, 70, and 90) mRNA were significantly increased and levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ mRNA were decreased compared with those in the control group. Compared with the control group, the protein levels of HSP60 and HSP70 were also increased in the Pb treatment group. Co-administration of Se (1 mg/kg/day) and Pb resulted in a reversal of the Pb-induced cytokine changes in neutrophils accompanied by a significant decrease in HSPs. Our study demonstrated that Pb could decrease the immune function via changing the expression of cytokines and HSPs in chicken neutrophils, but Se could relieve the toxic effect induced by Pb.