Effect of Ca2+ on the detoxification of Cd2+ byScenedesmus obliquus cells at low or high temperature

Scenedesmus obliquus was incubated with Cd²⁺ in the presence or absence of calcium at low (10°C) or high (40°C) temperature. The Cd²⁺ uptake was affected not only by Ca²⁺ but also by temperature. Growth rate was inhibited by Cd²⁺ especially at low temperature. In all Ca²⁺-containing cultures,S. obliquus exhibited higher rates of growth, dry matter and pigment fractions than in those containing Cd²⁺ alone. Proteins exhibited a similar response. Ca²⁺ in the presence of Cd²⁺ was most efficient where protein contents were mostly doubled. On the other hand Ca²⁺ reduced the solute leakage by the test alga at 10 and 40°C.     

Regulation of TGF-beta 1-induced connective tissue growth factor expression in airway smooth muscle cells

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta may play an important role in airway remodeling, and the fibrogenic effect of TGF-beta may be mediated through connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) release. We investigated the role of MAPKs and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and the effects of inflammatory cytokines on TGF-beta-induced CTGF expression in human airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC). We examined whether Smad signal was involved in the regulatory mechanisms. TGF-beta 1 induced a time- and concentration-dependent expression of CTGF gene and protein as analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot. Inhibition of ERK and c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK), but not of p38 MAPK and PI3K, blocked the effect of TGF-beta 1 on CTGF mRNA and protein expression and on Smad2/3 phosphorylation. T helper lymphocyte 2-derived cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, attenuated TGF-beta 1-stimulated mRNA and protein expression of CTGF and inhibited TGF-beta 1-stimulated ERK1/2 and Smad2/3 activation in ASMC. The proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-1 beta reduced TGF-beta 1-stimulated mRNA expression of CTGF but did not inhibit TGF-beta-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation. TGF-beta 1-stimulated CTGF expression is mediated by mechanisms involving ERK and JNK pathways and is downregulated by IL-4 and IL-13 through modulation of Smad and ERK signals.     

Genome informatics: taming the avalanche of genomic data

A report on the fourth Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory/Wellcome Trust Conference on Genome Informatics, Hinxton, UK, 22-26 September 2004.     

Small high density lipoprotein subclasses: some of their physico-chemical properties and stability in solution

Small high density lipoproteins (SHDL) contribute to the protection from atherosclerosis, but detailed information about their properties is not available yet. We isolated four of the smallest HDL subclasses that contain apoA-I alone, the small lipoprotein A-I (SLpAI), by their separation on gradient polyacrylamide gel followed by electroelution. Their physico-chemical properties were calculated from their displacement in non-denaturing gradient polyacrylamide gel under the effect of electrical potential. The properties are: Stokes' radii 2.96-3.56 nm; molecular masses 42-70 kDa; net negative charge 7.2-13.5; surface charge densities 3139-4069 -esu.cm(-2); surface potentials 10.6-15.7 -mV; coefficients of friction 5.74-6.90 x 10(-8) g.s(-1); and diffusion coefficients 5.76-6.94 7times; 10(-7) cm(2).s(-1). We found that these particles were of low stability as they underwent molecular transformation into larger particles on storage. The estimated dimensions of these particles do not support ellipsoidal shape, therefore, the most probable shape is spherical; consequently, their hydrated characteristics were estimated. We conclude that these particles have high values of negative surface charge and diffusion coefficients, and are of low stability. Their small Stokes' radii were similar to each other and they are spherical and highly hydrated.     

Prevalence of trypanosomes,salivary gland hypertrophy virus and Wolbachia in wild populations of tsetse flies from West Africa

Background

Tsetse flies are vectors of African trypanosomes, protozoan parasites that cause sleeping sickness (or human African trypanosomosis) in humans and nagana (or animal African trypanosomosis) in livestock. In addition to trypanosomes, four symbiotic bacteria Wigglesworthia glossinidia, Sodalis glossinidius, Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and one pathogen, the salivary gland hypertrophy virus (SGHV), have been reported in different tsetse species. We evaluated the prevalence and coinfection dynamics between Wolbachia, trypanosomes, and SGHV in four tsetse species (Glossina palpalis gambiensis, G. tachinoides, G. morsitans submorsitans, and G. medicorum) that were collected between 2008 and 2015 from 46 geographical locations in West Africa, i.e. Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana, Guinea, and Senegal.

Results

The results indicated an overall low prevalence of SGHV and Wolbachia and a high prevalence of trypanosomes in the sampled wild tsetse populations. The prevalence of all three infections varied among tsetse species and sample origin. The highest trypanosome prevalence was found in Glossina tachinoides (61.1%) from Ghana and in Glossina palpalis gambiensis (43.7%) from Senegal. The trypanosome prevalence in the four species from Burkina Faso was lower, i.e. 39.6% in Glossina medicorum, 18.08%; in Glossina morsitans submorsitans, 16.8%; in Glossina tachinoides and 10.5% in Glossina palpalis gambiensis. The trypanosome prevalence in Glossina palpalis gambiensis was lowest in Mali (6.9%) and Guinea (2.2%). The prevalence of SGHV and Wolbachia was very low irrespective of location or tsetse species with an average of 1.7% for SGHV and 1.0% for Wolbachia. In some cases, mixed infections with different trypanosome species were detected. The highest prevalence of coinfection was Trypanosoma vivax and other Trypanosoma species (9.5%) followed by coinfection of T. congolense with other trypanosomes (7.5%). The prevalence of coinfection of T. vivax and T. congolense was (1.0%) and no mixed infection of trypanosomes, SGHV and Wolbachia was detected.

Conclusion

The results indicated a high rate of trypanosome infection in tsetse wild populations in West African countries but lower infection rate of both Wolbachia and SGHV. Double or triple mixed trypanosome infections were found. In addition, mixed trypanosome and SGHV infections existed however no mixed infections of trypanosome and/or SGHV with Wolbachia were found.