The Family of Major Royal Jelly Proteins and Its Evolution

A cDNA encoding a new member of the gene family of major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) from the honeybee, Apis mellifera, was isolated and sequenced. Royal jelly (RJ) is a secretion of the cephalic glands of nurse bees. The origin and biological function of the protein component (12.5%, w/w) of RJ is unknown. We show that the MRJP gene family encodes a group of closely related proteins that share a common evolutionary origin with the yellow protein of Drosophila melanogaster. Yellow protein functions in cuticle pigmentation in D. melanogaster. The MRJPs appear to have evolved a novel nutritional function in the honeybee. Received: 26 September 1998 / Accepted: 28 February 1999     

Individual responses to a single oral dose of albendazole indicate reduced efficacy against soil-transmitted helminths in an area with high drug pressure

BackgroundAlbendazole (ALB) is administered annually to millions of children through global deworming programs targeting soil-transmitted helminths (STHs: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms, Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale). However, due to the lack of large individual patient datasets collected using standardized protocols and the application of population-based statistical methods, little is known about factors that may affect individual responses to treatment.Methodology/Principal findingsWe re-analyzed 645 individual patient data from three standardized clinical trials designed to assess the efficacy of a single 400 mg oral dose of ALB against STHs in schoolchildren from different study sites, each with varying history of drug pressure based on duration of mass drug administration programs: Ethiopia, low; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), moderate; Pemba Island (Tanzania), high. Using a Bayesian statistical modelling approach to estimate individual responses (individual egg reduction rates, ERR_i), we found that efficacy was lower in Pemba Island, particularly for T. trichiura. For this STH, the proportion of participants with a satisfactory response (ERR_i ≥50%), was 65% in Ethiopia, 61% in Lao PDR but only 29% in Pemba Island. There was a significant correlation between ERR_i and infection intensity prior to drug administration (ERR_i decreasing as a function of increasing infection intensity). Individual age and sex also affected the drug response, but these were of negligible clinical significance and not consistent across STHs and study sites.Conclusions/SignificanceWe found decreased efficacy of ALB against all the STHs analyzed in Pemba Island (Tanzania), an area with high drug pressure. This does not indicate causality, as this association may also be partially explained by differences in infection intensity prior to drug administration. Notwithstanding, our results indicate that without alternative treatment regimens, program targets will not be achievable on Pemba Island because of inadequate efficacy of ALB.Trial registrationThe study was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (ID: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT03465488","term_id":"NCT03465488"}}NCT03465488) on March 7, 2018.     

Tight linkage between myotonic dystrophy and apolipoprotein E genes revealed with allele-specific oligonucleotides

Summary The X chromosomes of individuals with isolated steroid sulphatase deficiency (X-linked ichthyosis) from ten families were studied by flow karyotype analysis. In four of the families, a small but significant reduction in the relative fluorescence of the X chromosome was detected consistent with a deletion ranging from 1.2%–3.4% of the X and amounting to a DNA loss of 1.9–5.2 million base pairs. In the remaining six families, three of which demonstrated a molecular deletion of the DNA sequence GMGX9 (DXS237), the relative fluorescence of the X chromosomes was indistinguishable from normal. The phenotypes of those with X deletions detectable by flow cytometry were similar to those of patients without such deletions.     

Experience with using Ellenberg’s <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis> indicator values in Slovakia: Oligotrophic and mesotrophic submontane broad-leaved forests

Ellenberg’s indicator values have been suggested as useful method of estimating site conditions using plants. We examined whether Ellenberg’s R values are suitable for indicating soil reaction and if calibration to physical pH measurements can improve bioindication in oligotrophic and mesotrophic submontane broad-leaved forests in Slovakia. Vegetation relevés and pH-H₂O and pH-CaCl₂ soil reaction were recorded for this purpose. Ellenberg’s R values (R _e) were compared to Jurko’s indicator values (R _j) and a set of species R values and tolerances (T), which were calibrated with physical pH data using the weighted averaging (R _w, T _w) and Huisman-Olff-Fresco modelling (R _h, T _h). Original R _e values were then recalibrated with measured pH data to establish new, adjusted set of scores (R _c, T _c) at Ellenberg’s scale. The Re values are significantly correlated with the other R values, and they demonstrate similar frequency distribution to R _j and R _w values for the studied species pool. The frequency distribution becomes similar across all the R values when indifferent species were excluded. The performance of all the indicator values in terms of bioindication was tested. Relevé means of the R values were regressed on the field pH measurements. The performance of bioindication varied from 36% to 49% of the explained variance for pH-CaCl₂, with the R _e and R _c values yielding 46% and 49% respectively. The bioindication slightly improved for all calibrated methods (R _w, R _h and R _c) when species were weighted inversely with their tolerances — the performance varied from 42% to 51%, and the R _c values performed most effectively. We concluded that Ellenberg’s R values represent a powerful system for bioindicating soil acidity when compared to the other alternatives, with pH-CaCl₂ showing better results than pH-H₂O. Recalibration of Ellenberg’s values to the measured data improved the indicator system.     

Shared evolutionary footprints suggest mitochondrial oxidative damage underlies multiple complex I losses in fungi

Oxidative phosphorylation is among the most conserved mitochondrial pathways. However, one of the cornerstones of this pathway, the multi-protein complex NADH : ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) has been lost multiple independent times in diverse eukaryotic lineages. The causes and consequences of these convergent losses remain poorly understood. Here, we used a comparative genomics approach to reconstruct evolutionary paths leading to complex I loss and infer possible evolutionary scenarios. By mining available mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, we identified eight independent events of mitochondrial complex I loss across eukaryotes, of which six occurred in fungal lineages. We focused on three recent loss events that affect closely related fungal species, and inferred genomic changes convergently associated with complex I loss. Based on these results, we predict novel complex I functional partners and relate the loss of complex I with the presence of increased mitochondrial antioxidants, higher fermentative capabilities, duplications of alternative dehydrogenases, loss of alternative oxidases and adaptation to antifungal compounds. To explain these findings, we hypothesize that a combination of previously acquired compensatory mechanisms and exposure to environmental triggers of oxidative stress (such as hypoxia and/or toxic chemicals) induced complex I loss in fungi.