6-hydroxydopamine lesions in anuran amphibians: a new model system for Parkinson's disease?

We investigated the effects of dopamine depletion on acoustically guided behavior of anurans by conducting phonotaxis experiments with female gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) before and 90 min after bilateral injections of 3, 6, or 12 microg 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the telencephalic ventricles. In experiments with one loudspeaker playing back a standard artificial mating call, we analyzed the effects of 6-OHDA on phonotactic response time. In choice tests we measured the degree of distraction from the standard call (20 pulses/s) by three different variants with altered pulse-rate (30/s, 40/s, 60/s). Five days after experiments, brains were immunostained for tyrosine hydroxylase. Labeled neurons were counted in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, posterior tuberculum, interpeduncular nucleus, and locus coeruleus, and correlation between neuronal numbers and behavioral scores was tested. Response times increased together with 6-OHDA concentrations, which was mainly due to longer immobile periods before the animals started movement. In choice tests the most irrelevant stimulus (60/s) distracted 6-OHDA injected females from the standard stimulus, while sham injected controls were undistracted. The number of catecholaminergic neurons decreased with increasing 6-OHDA concentration in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, posterior tuberculum, and interpeduncular nucleus. The normalized number of immunoreactive neurons in the posterior tuberculum was positively correlated with phonotaxis scores in the one-speaker test, demonstrating that motor deficits are a function of tubercular cell loss. We conclude that bilateral 6-OHDA lesions in anuran amphibians cause motor (difficulty to start movements) as well as cognitive symptoms (higher distraction by irrelevant stimuli) that have also been described for human Parkinson patients.     

Physiological concept for a blood based CFTR test.

We tested the hypothesis that the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) could be involved in the volume regulation of human red blood cells (RBC). Experiments were based on two gadolinium (Gd(3+)) sensitive mechanisms, i.e. inhibition of ATP release (thetaATP(i)) and membrane destabilization. RBC of either cystic fibrosis (CF) patients or healthy donors (non-CF) were exposed to KCl buffer containing Gd(3+). A significantly larger quantity of non-CF RBC (2.55 %) hemolyzed as compared to CF RBC (0.89 %). It was found that both of the Gd(3+) mechanisms simultaneously are needed to achieve hemolysis, since either overriding thetaATP(i) by exogenous ATP addition prevented Gd(3+) induced hemolysis, or mimicking thetaATP(i) by apyrase in absence of Gd(3+) could not trigger hemolysis. Additionally, ion driven volume uptake was found to be a prerequisite for Gd3+ induced hemolysis as chloride and potassium channel blockers reduced the Gd(3+) response. The results show that in non-CF RBC Gd(3+) exerts its dual effect leading to hemolysis. On the contrary, in CF RBC, lacking CFTR dependent ATP release, the sole Gd(3+) effect of membrane destabilization is not sufficient to induce hemolysis similar to non-CF. This concept could form the basis of a novel method suitable for testing CFTR function in a blood sample.     

Multiplex amplification of ancient DNA

This method is designed to assemble long, continuous DNA sequences using minimal amounts of fragmented ancient DNA as template. This is achieved by a two-step approach. In the first step, multiple fragments are simultaneously amplified in a single multiplex reaction. Subsequently, each of the generated fragments is amplified individually using a single primer pair, in a standard simplex (monoplex) PCR. The ability to amplify multiple fragments simultaneously in the first step allows the generation of large amounts of sequence from rare template DNA, whereas the second nested step increases specificity and decreases amplification of contaminating DNA. In contrast to current protocols using many template-consuming simplex PCRs, the method described allows amplification of several kilobases of sequence in just one reaction. It thus combines optimal template usage with a high specificity and can be performed within a day.     

An anthocyanin/polyphenolic-rich fruit juice reduces oxidative DNA damage and increases glutathione level in healthy probands

Oxidative cell damage is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes and other diseases. Uptake of fruit juice with especially high content of antioxidant flavonoids/polyphenols, might reduce oxidative cell damage. Therefore, an intervention study was performed with a red mixed berry juice [trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity (TEAC): 19.1 mmol/L trolox] and a corresponding polyphenol-depleted juice (polyphenols largely removed, TEAC 2.4 mmol/L trolox), serving as control. After a 3-week run-in period, 18 male probands daily consumed 700 mL juice, and 9 consumed control juice, in a 4-week intervention, followed by a 3-week wash-out. Samples were collected weekly to analyze DNA damage (comet assay), lipid peroxidation (plasma malondialdehyde: HPLC/fluorescence; urinary isoprostanes: GC-MS), blood glutathione (photometrically), DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (ELISA) and plasma carotenoid/alpha-tocopherol levels (HPLC-DAD). During intervention with the fruit juice, a decrease of oxidative DNA damage (p<5x10(-4)) and an increase of reduced glutathione (p<5x10(-4)) and of glutathione status (p<0.05) were observed, which returned to the run-in levels in the subsequent wash-out phase. The other biomarkers were not significantly modulated by the juice supplement. Intervention with the control juice did not result in reduction of oxidative damage. In conclusion, the fruit juice clearly reduces oxidative cell damage in healthy probands.     

Achalasia: will genetic studies provide insights?

Despite increasing understanding of the pathophysiology of achalasia, the etiology of this esophageal motility disorder remains largely unknown. However, the occurrence of familial achalasia and its association with well-defined genetic syndromes suggest the involvement of genetic factors. Mutant mouse models display gastrointestinal disturbances that are similar to those observed in achalasia patients. The candidate gene approach has revealed some promising results; however, it has not established conclusive links to specific genes so far. The aim of this review was to summarize current knowledge of the genetics of achalasia. We also discuss the extent to which our understanding of achalasia is likely to be enhanced through future molecular genetic research.     

Organisms in evolution

Organisms constitute one of the most remarkable features of our living world. However, they have not yet received any accepted characterization within the framework of the evolutionary theory. The reasons for this contrast between the saliency of organisms in the biological landscape and their theoretical status are multiple and they are analyzed in the first part of this paper. Starting from this contrast, I argue for a theoretically grounded concept of organism within the framework of evolutionary theory itself. To this effect I argue that the theory of major transitions in evolution (Maynard Smith and Szathmáry 1995; Michod 1999) provides us with the theoretical basis for an understanding of the individuality of organisms and I propose a first characterization of organisms as evolutionary units structured by a division of reproductive labor among their parts. I also discuss one of the most important implications of this definition, namely that some colonial entities are to be counted as superorganisms. Finally, I show that though theoretically satisfying, this definition does not suffice in order fully to individuate the organisms and superorganisms in practice. To this end, physiology is needed, because it offers us some criteria for their individuation in ecological space. These criteria, however, are not immune to errors through misidentification and their shortcomings are discussed in the last section. In conclusion, I emphasize the positive implications of these criteria concerning the ecological significance of organisms.     

Nanomolar affinity,iminosugar-based chemical probes for specific labeling of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase

Three different photoprobes were synthesized to label β-glucosidases; one probe was based on glucose, two probes on the iminosugar deoxynojirimycin. The affinity of the probes for three different β-glucosidases was determined. Furthermore, their labeling efficiencies, binding specificities through competition with deoxynojirimycin, and binding specificities in the presence of cell lysate, were evaluated. Especially one showed very high affinity towards non-lysosomal glucoceramidase (IC₅₀ = 20 nM).     

Neuraminidase Receptor Binding Variants of Human Influenza A(H3N2) Viruses Resulting from Substitution of Aspartic Acid 151 in the Catalytic Site: a Role in Virus Attachment?

Changes in the receptor binding characteristics of human H3N2 viruses have been evident from changes in the agglutination of different red blood cells (RBCs) and the reduced growth capacity of recently isolated viruses, particularly in embryonated eggs. An additional peculiarity of viruses circulating in 2005 to 2009 has been the poor inhibition of hemagglutination by postinfection ferret antisera for many viruses isolated in MDCK cells, including homologous reference viruses. This was shown not to be due to an antigenic change in hemagglutinin (HA) but was shown to be the result of a mutation in aspartic acid 151 of neuraminidase (NA) to glycine, asparagine, or alanine, which caused an oseltamivir-sensitive agglutination of RBCs. The D151G substitution was shown to cause a change in the specificity of NA such that it acquired the capacity to bind receptors, which were refractory to enzymatic cleavage, without altering its ability to remove receptors for HA. Thus, the inhibition of NA-dependent agglutination by the inclusion of oseltamivir carboxylate in the assay was effective in restoring the anti-HA specificity of the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay for monitoring antigenic changes in HA. Since the NA-dependent binding activity did not affect virus neutralization, and virus populations in clinical specimens possessed, at most, low levels of the “151 mutant,” the biological significance of this feature of NA in, for example, immune evasion is unclear. It is apparent, however, that an important role of aspartic acid 151 in the activity of NA may be to restrict the specificity of the NA interaction and its receptor-destroying activity to complement that of HA receptor binding.A characteristic feature of human influenza viruses is their frequent antigenic change to evade host immunity and cause recurrent annual epidemics of disease. As a consequence, available vaccines do not confer long-term immunity, and their composition is regularly reviewed by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN) and updated to reflect changes in the antigenic characteristics of circulating viruses (2, 43).The two surface glycoproteins of the virus, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), perform clearly defined complementary roles in virus infection. Virus HA is responsible for the attachment of virus to sialic acid-containing glycoconjugates on susceptible cells, and it is antibody to HA, which neutralizes virus infectivity, that is of prime importance in immunity (37). Antibody to NA also contributes to the suppression of disease (3, 16). NA is responsible for destroying receptors for HA by removing the terminal sialic acid moieties from, and thereby inactivating, potentially inhibitory molecules such as mucins in the respiratory tract and from receptors on the surface of virus-infected cells to promote the release of progeny virus, thereby aiding virus transmission (1, 21, 26, 34). Thus, since NA may also cleave receptors from target cells, the maintenance of a balance between the receptor binding and receptor-destroying properties of HA and NA, respectively, is important in optimizing their respective functions in virus replication and maintaining epidemic potential (29, 41).Virus neutralization is principally the result of the inhibition of the attachment of HA to its receptor (9), and the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay is a simple and generally robust surrogate assay for monitoring antigenic relationships among viruses and is the principal basis for changes in vaccine composition recommended by the WHO (2, 43). Many mutations resulting in antibody escape cause amino acid substitutions close to the HA receptor binding site, which may influence receptor binding affinity and/or specificity as well as antigenicity (7, 37, 44). In turn, changes in receptor avidity and binding characteristics of HA, possibly associated with antigenic changes, may influence the effectiveness of the antibody inhibition of the agglutination of red blood cells (RBCs) in the standard HI assay and thereby complicate the interpretation of antigenic relationships (8, 12, 44).Antigenic drift among H3N2 viruses has been more muted in recent years. Whereas the antigenic drift of viruses between 1992 and 1997 required four changes in the H3N2 vaccine component, there was little progressive antigenic change in the HAs of A/Sydney/5/97(H3N2)-like viruses during the subsequent 5 years prior to the emergence of the A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2)-like viruses (20) or among the more recently isolated A/Wisconsin/67/2005(H3N2)-like viruses between 2005 and 2009 (see below). Changes in the receptor binding characteristics of HA have been apparent from changes in the spectrum of RBCs agglutinated by the viruses, e.g., the loss of agglutination of chicken RBCs by H3N2 viruses circulating in the early 1990s (28, 31) and more recently by the poorer growth characteristics following the emergence of A/Fujian/411/2002-like viruses, particularly in embryonated eggs (22), which has “hampered” the selection of suitable vaccine candidates. Amino acid substitutions in residues 190 and 226 in the HA receptor binding site were implicated in the changes in hemagglutination (28, 31), while changes that increased the receptor binding of HA or decreased the enzyme activity of NA were shown to increase the growth of virus in eggs (22). Studies of differences among H3N2 viruses in their relative abilities to bind to and elute from RBCs of different species led Gulati et al. (11) to conclude that the more recently isolated Fujian/411/2002-like viruses bound different forms of sialic acid, which were not cleaved by the virus enzyme. However, studies using glycan arrays failed to identify any differences in receptor binding specificities, or in the amino acid sequences, of HAs that correlated with differences in hemagglutination (18).Another peculiar feature of many MDCK cell isolates of A/Wisconsin/67/2005-like viruses, isolated between 2005 and 2009, has been the poor inhibition of agglutination of turkey (and guinea pig) RBCs by reference postinfection ferret antisera, with the consequent difficulty in interpreting antigenic relationships from HI data (as reported herein). Here we describe the results of a series of experiments that demonstrate that this phenomenon is not due to changes in antigenicity or simply to changes in HA receptor binding but is the result of the selection in MDCK cells of changes in NA that promote NA-dependent, NA inhibitor-sensitive hemagglutination, which is refractory to inhibition by anti-HA antibody. The replacement of aspartic acid 151 of NA by glycine, which did not affect significantly the activity of the enzyme or its ability to remove receptors for HA, was shown to alter the specificity of NA, resulting in the attachment of virus via its NA to sialic acid receptors refractory to catalytic cleavage.     

Patient specific finite element analysis results in more accurate prediction of stent fractures: Application to percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation

Stent fracture is a recognised complication following device implantation. Magnetic resonance data from a patient who underwent percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) and had subsequent stent fractures was used to create a finite element (FE) model of the patient's implantation site. Simulated expansion of the PPVI stent into this right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) geometry was compared with free expansions of the PPVI stent up to a uniformly deployed configuration (conventional method employed in bench testing protocols), using FE analysis. PPVI biplane fluoroscopy images from the same patient were used to reconstruct the 3D shape and deformation of the stent in-situ and verify the FE geometrical results. Asymmetries were measured in all 3 orthogonal directions, in early systole and diastole.Although a simplified FE modelling of stent/implantation site interaction was adopted, this analysis gave useful information about the influence of the RVOT on the final geometry and mechanical performance of the stent. When deployed into the RVOT, the FE stent showed a non-uniform shape, similar to the geometry seen in the “real” fluoroscopy reconstructed stent, where the most expanded cells corresponded to the fracture locations. This asymmetrical geometry, when compared to the free-expanded stent, resulted in higher stresses in the portion of the stent where fractures occurred. Furthermore, fatigue fractures that were not predicted in the free-deployed stents, developed in the asymmetrically expanded device.In conclusion, the interaction between the PPVI device and the patient's RVOT is likely to be the crucial factor involved with this undesired event.