Modulation of kernel storage proteins in grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

Sorghum prolamins, termed kafirins, are categorized into subgroups α, β, and γ. The kafirins are co‐translationally translocated to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where they are assembled into discrete protein bodies that tend to be poorly digestible with low functionality in food and feed applications. As a means to address the issues surrounding functionality and digestibility in sorghum, we employed a biotechnology approach that is designed to alter protein body structure, with the concomitant synthesis of a co‐protein in the endosperm fraction of the grain. Wherein perturbation of protein body architecture may provide a route to impact digestibility by reducing disulphide bonds about the periphery of the body, while synthesis of a co‐protein, with known functionality attributes, theoretically could impact structure of the protein body through direct association and/or augment end‐use applications of sorghum flour by stabilizing ß‐sheet formation of the kafirins in sorghum dough preparations. This in turn may improve viscoelasticity of sorghum dough. To this end, we report here on the molecular and phenotypic characterizations of transgenic sorghum events that are down‐regulated in γ‐ and the 29‐kDa α‐kafirins and the expression of a wheat Dy10/Dx 5 hybrid high‐molecular weight glutenin protein. The results demonstrate that down‐regulation of γ‐kafirin alone does not alter protein body formation or impacts protein digestibility of cooked flour samples. However, reduction in accumulation of a predicted 29‐kDa α‐kafirin alters the morphology of protein body and enhances protein digestibility in both raw and cooked samples.     

Aspirin increases NMDA receptor subunit 2A concentrations in rat hippocampus

The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), a heteromeric protein, is a glutamate receptor that has three classes of subunits: NR1, NR2, and NR3. It has been reported that these receptors are involved in synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and many other processes in the central nervous system. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of aspirin on hippocampal NMDARs. Sixteen rats were studied in two groups, with eight animals in each group. The first group was the control group, and the second one was the aspirin-given group. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) was administered orally to the rats (200 mg/kg). Tissue samples were obtained after 3 h. The brain was removed, and both hippocampi were dissected out for evaluation. It was found that acute doses of aspirin caused increases on the levels of NMDAR 2A (NR2A) receptors and malondialdehyde (MDA), the end product of lipid peroxidation. Production was significantly increased in the aspirin-given group. We know that MDA is a marker for free radical-mediated tissue damage. In conclusion, lipid peroxidation, caused by acute doses of aspirin may lead to excitotoxicity effects by a hippocampal NR2A-mediated mechanism.     

Sociocultural and dietary practices among Malay subjects in the north-eastern region of Peninsular Malaysia: a region of low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection

Background and Aim: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is exceptionally low among the Malays in the north‐eastern region of Peninsular Malaysia. The reasons are unknown. Our aim was to compare environmental factors that differed in relation to H. pylori prevalence among Malays born and residing in Kelantan. Methods: A case–control study was conducted among Malays in Kelantan who underwent upper endoscopy between 2000 and 2008. Helicobacter pylori status was determined by gastric histology. Sociocultural and dietary factors were assessed using a validated investigator‐directed questionnaire administered after 2008, and the data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: The study group consisted of 161 subjects (79 H. pylori positive and 82 controls). Univariable analysis identified five poor sanitary practices associated with an increased prevalence of H. pylori infection: use of well water, use of pit latrine, less frequent boiling of drinking water, and infrequent hand wash practice after toilet use and before meals. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified three variables inversely associated with H. pylori infection: frequent consumption of tea (OR: 0.023, 95% CI: 0.01–0.07), frequent use of “budu” or local anchovy sauce (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.1–0.7), and frequent use of “pegaga” or centenella asiatica (OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.1–0.65). Conclusions: Under the assumption that sanitary, sociocultural, and dietary habits have not changed over the years, we can conclude that an increased risk of H. pylori was associated with unsanitary practices whereas protection was associated with consumption of tea and locally produced foods, “pegaga” and “budu.” These dietary factors are candidates for future study on the effects on H. pylori transmission.     

Modeling partial monosomy for human chromosome 21q11.2-q21.1 reveals haploinsufficient genes influencing behavior and fat deposition

Haploinsufficiency of part of human chromosome 21 results in a rare condition known as Monosomy 21. This disease displays a variety of clinical phenotypes, including intellectual disability, craniofacial dysmorphology, skeletal and cardiac abnormalities, and respiratory complications. To search for dosage-sensitive genes involved in this disorder, we used chromosome engineering to generate a mouse model carrying a deletion of the Lipi-Usp25 interval, syntenic with 21q11.2-q21.1 in humans. Haploinsufficiency for the 6 genes in this interval resulted in no gross morphological defects and behavioral analysis performed using an open field test, a test of anxiety, and tests for social interaction were normal in monosomic mice. Monosomic mice did, however, display impaired memory retention compared to control animals. Moreover, when fed a high-fat diet (HFD) monosomic mice exhibited a significant increase in fat mass/fat percentage estimate compared with controls, severe fatty changes in their livers, and thickened subcutaneous fat. Thus, genes within the Lipi-Usp25 interval may participate in memory retention and in the regulation of fat deposition.     

Integrated management of foot rot of lentil using biocontrol agents under field condition

The efficacy of cowdung, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA)-biofertilizer, and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU)-biofungicide, alone or in combination, was evaluated for controlling foot rot disease of lentil. The results exhibited that BINA-biofertilizer and BAUbiofungicide (peat soil-based Rhizobium leguminosarum and black gram bran-based Trichoderma harzianum) are compatible and have combined effects in controlling the pathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum and Sclerotium rolfsii, which cause the root rot of lentil. Cowdung mixing with soil (at 5 t/ha) during final land preparation and seed coating with BINA-biofertilizer and BAU-biofungicide (at 2.5% of seed weight) before sowing recorded 81.50% field emergence of lentil, which showed up to 19.85% higher field emergence over the control. Post-emergence deaths of plants due to foot rot disease were significantly reduced after combined seed treatment with BINA-biofertilizer and BAU-biofungicide. Among the treatments used, only BAU-biofungicide as the seed treating agent resulted in higher plant stand (84.82%). Use of BINA-biofertilizer and BAU-biofungicide as seed treating biocontrol agents and application of cowdung in the soil as an organic source of nutrient resulted in higher shoot and root lengths, and dry shoot and root weights of lentil. BINA-biofertilizer significantly increased the number of nodules per plant and nodules weight of lentil. Seeds treating with BAUbiofungicide and BINA-biofertilizer and soil amendment with cowdung increased the biomass production of lentil up to 75.56% over the control.     

A novel cry2Ab gene from the indigenous isolate Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki

A novel cry2Ab gene was cloned and sequenced from the indigenous isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. This gene was designated as cry2Ab25 and its sequence revealed an open reading frame of 1,902 bp encoding a 633 aa protein with calculated molecular mass of 70 kDa and pI value of 8.98. The amino acid sequence of the Cry2Ab25 protein was compared with previously known Cry2Ab toxins, and the phylogenetic relationships among them were determined. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Cry2Ab25 protein showed 99% homology to the known Cry2Ab proteins, except for Cry2Ab10 and Cry2Ab12 with 97% homology, and a variation in one amino acid residue in comparison with all known Cry2Ab proteins. The cry2Ab25 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that the Cry2Ab25 protein is about 70 kDa. The toxin expressed in BL21(DE3) exhibited high toxicity against Malacosoma neustria and Rhagoletis cerasi with 73% and 75% mortality after 5 days of treatment, respectively.     

Potential of Artesunate in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum: Efficacy evidence from a randomized field trial

Leishmaniasis is among the world’s most neglected diseases. Dogs are the main reservoirs/hosts of Leishmania infantum, causative agent of both canine and human visceral leishmaniosis. Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) represents a public health problem as one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases worldwide. Current therapeutics present drawbacks; thus, there is a need for more effective, safer, and cheaper drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare the efficacy of oral administration of artesunate or meglumine antimoniate/allopurinol in dogs with clinical leishmaniasis. Forty-two dogs with naturally occurring clinical leishmaniasis were included in this open-label, simple randomized positive-control clinical field trial with 6 months of follow-up. Dogs received meglumine antimoniate 100 mg/kg/day and allopurinol 30 mg/kg/day for 28 days (control group, n = 26) or artesunate 25 mg/kg/day for 6 days (test group, n = 16). The animals were evaluated for their clinical evolution, parasite load (by qPCR) and humoral response at different time points: 0, 30, 90, and 180 days after treatment. Data analyses showed a significant improvement in both groups in clinical scores, parasitemia and antibody titers after treatment. Compared to the control group, the artesunate group showed significantly lower clinical score (P = 0.0001), lower parasitemia (P = 0.0001) and antibody titers after 6 months of follow-up. Compared to baseline values, a rapid, significant reduction (P < 0.012) in antibody levels, 2.28- versus 3.04-fold for the control versus artesunate groups, respectively, was observed 30 days after treatment. Antibody levels continued to decrease further in the artesunate group, where 58% of cases became seronegative at the 6-month follow-up. All qPCR-positive dogs were negative after treatment with artesunate, while 14.3% remained positive with the appearance of two new cases in the control group. Artesunate was well tolerated, and no side effects were recorded. Treatment failures were similar in both groups with 27.27% (6/22), including 18.18% (4/22) mortality in the control group, versus 26.66% (4/15), including 13.33% (2/15) mortality in the artesunate group. This is the first report showing the potential of artesunate in the treatment of dogs with clinical leishmaniasis. Artesunate showed higher efficacy than the current first-line treatment for CanL without any adverse effects. It could be a good alternative chemotherapy for CanL, and may be considered for further studies in human leishmaniases. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings, to determine if there are relapses after treatment and if dogs remain infective to sandflies, to define the ideal therapeutic dosage and duration of treatment with artesunate.