Specificity of the rapid rK39 antigen-based immunochromatographic test Kalazar Detect(r) in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the specificity of a rapid immunochromatographic test that was developed to detect antibodies against the rK39 antigen for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). This evaluation was performed using sera from patients with a confirmed diagnosis of active cutaneous leishmaniasis. The sera from 272 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of localised cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) who resided in an area endemic for Leishmania braziliensis in Brazil were obtained before the initiation of antileishmanial treatment. Kalazar Detect^(r)(InBios, Seattle, WA) recombinant K39 antigen-based immunochromatographic strips were used according to the manufacturer''s instructions. The test results were evaluated independently by two examiners in sequential order. The positive controls for the test included five serum samples from five patients with parasitologically confirmed diagnosis of VL caused by Leishmania infantum in Brazil. Overall, 100% of the samples obtained from patients with CL were negative, confirming the absence of a serological cross-reaction for individuals with cutaneous disease when these patients were evaluated using the rapid test. The lack of a cross-reaction in patients who were infected by parasites of the same genus highlights the specificity of the rK39 antigen for the diagnosis of VL in areas with the sympatric circulation of L. braziliensis and L. infantum.     

Efficient in vitro regeneration systems for Vaccinium species

Efficient protocols for shoot regeneration from leaf explants suitable for micropropagation as well as for the development of transgenic plants were developed for blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) cultivars. Nodal segments were used to initiate in vitro shoot cultures of lingonberry cultivar ‘Red Pearl’ and southern highbush blueberry cultivar ‘Ozarkblue’. In order to develop an optimized regeneration procedure, different types and concentrations of plant growth regulators were tested to induce adventitious shoot regeneration on excised leaves from micropropagated shoots of both cultivars. The effect on percentage regeneration and number of shoots per explant was investigated. Results indicated that zeatin was superior to TDZ and meta-topolin in promoting adventitious shoot formation. A concentration of 20 μM zeatin was most effective in promoting shoot regeneration in both cultivars, in case of ‘Red Pearl’ along with 1 μM NAA. Shoots were either allowed to root in vitro on medium containing IBA or NAA or ex vitro in a fog tunnel. IBA was superior to NAA for induction of root development in vitro in both Vaccinium cultivars. Ex vitro rooting under high humidity was tested with cuttings from mature field-grown plants, from acclimatized tissue culture derived plants and with unrooted in vitro proliferated shoots planted directly. It was found that in vitro shoots rooted better under fog than cuttings from the other plant sources and rooting was equivalent to that achieved in vitro.     

Increased nonsterol isoprenoids, dolichol and ubiquinone, in the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome: effects of dietary cholesterol

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is an inherited autosomal recessive cholesterol deficiency disorder. Our studies have shown that in SLOS children, urinary mevalonate excretion is normal and reflects hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity but not ultimate sterol synthesis. Hence, we hypothesized that in SLOS there may be increased diversion of mevalonate to nonsterol isoprenoid synthesis. To test our hypothesis, we measured urinary dolichol and ubiquinone, two nonsterol isoprenoids, in 16 children with SLOS and 15 controls, all fed a low-cholesterol diet. The urinary excretion of both dolichol (P < 0.002) and ubiquinone (P < 0.02) in SLOS children was 7-fold higher than in control children, whereas mevalonate excretion was comparable. In a subset of 12 SLOS children, a high-cholesterol diet decreased urinary mevalonate excretion by 61% (P < 0.001), dolichol by 70% (P < 0.001), and ubiquinone by 67% (P < 0.03). Our hypothesis that in SLOS children, normal urinary mevalonate excretion results from increased diversion of mevalonate into the production of nonsterol isoprenoids is supported. Dietary cholesterol supplementation reduced urinary mevalonate and nonsterol isoprenoid excretion but did not change the relative ratios of their excretion. Therefore, in SLOS, a secondary peripheral regulation of isoprenoid synthesis may be stimulated.     

Tracking changing environments using stable carbon isotopes in fossil tooth enamel: an example from the South African hominin sites

The environmental contexts of the karstic hominin sites in South Africa have been established largely by means of faunal associations; taken together these data suggest a trend from relatively closed and more mesic to open, drier environments from about 3 to 1.5 Ma. Vrba argued for a major shift within this trend ca. 2.4-2.6 Ma, an influential proposal that posited links between bovid (and hominin) radiation in Africa and the intensification of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation. Yet faunal approaches often rely on habitat and feeding preferences of modern taxa that may differ from those of their extinct predecessors. Here we explore ways of extending ¹³C/¹²C data from fossil mammals beyond denoting “presence” or “absence” of C₄ grasses using the evolution of open environments in South Africa as a case study. To do so we calculated the relative proportions of C₃-, mixed-, and C₄-feeding herbivores for all the hominin sites for which we have sufficient data based on ¹³C/¹²C analyses of fossil tooth enamel. The results confirm a general trend towards more open environments since 3 Ma, but they also emphasize a marked change to open grassy habitats in the latest Pliocene/early Pleistocene. Mean ¹³C/¹²C for large felids also mirrored this trend.     

Phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate activation and conserved substrate specificity of the myotubularin phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphatases

Phosphoinositides control many different processes required for normal cellular function. Myotubularins are a family of Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P) phosphatases identified by the positional cloning of the MTM1 gene in patients suffering from X-linked myotubular myopathy and the MTMR2 gene in patients suffering from the demyelinating neuropathy Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4B. MTM1 is a phosphatidylinositol phosphatase with reported specificity toward PtdIns3P, while the related proteins MTMR2 and MTMR3 hydrolyze both PtdIns3P and PtdIns(3,5)P2. We have investigated MTM1 and MTMR6 and find that they use PtdIns(3,5)P2 in addition to PtdIns3P as a substrate in vitro. The product of PtdIns(3,5)P2 hydrolysis, PtdIns5P, causes MTM1 to form a heptameric ring that is 12.5 nm in diameter, and it is a specific allosteric activator of MTM1, MTMR3, and MTMR6. A disease-causing mutation at arginine 69 of MTM1 falling within a putative pleckstrin homology domain reduces the ability of the enzyme to respond to PtdIns5P. We propose that the myotubularin family of enzymes utilize both PtdIns3P and PtdIns(3,5)P2 as substrates, and that PtdIns5P functions in a positive feedback loop controlling their activity. These findings highlight the importance of regulated phosphatase activity for the control of phosphoinositide metabolism.     

Inhibition of MAPK by prolactin signaling through the short form of its receptor in the ovary and decidua: involvement of a novel phosphatase

Prolactin (PRL) is essential for normal reproduction and signals through two types of receptors, the short (PRL-RS) and long (PRL-RL) form. We have previously shown that transgenic mice expressing only PRL-RS (PRLR(-/-)RS) display abnormal follicular development and premature ovarian failure. Here, we report that MAPK, essential for normal follicular development, is critically inhibited by PRL in reproductive tissues of PRLR(-/-)RS mice. Consequently, the phosphorylation of MAPK downstream targets are also markedly inhibited by PRL without affecting immediate upstream kinases, suggesting involvement of MAPK specific phosphatase(s) in this inhibition. Similar results are obtained in a PRL-responsive ovary-derived cell line (GG-CL) that expresses only PRL-RS. However, we found the expression/activation of several known MAPK phosphatases not to be affected by PRL, suggesting a role of unidentified phosphatase(s). We detected a 27-kDa protein that binds to the intracellular domain of PRL-RS and identified it as dual specific phosphatase DUPD1. PRL does not induce expression of DUDP1 but represses its phosphorylation on Thr-155. We also show a physical association of this phosphatase with ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK. Using an in vitro phosphatase assay and overexpression studies, we established that DUPD1 is a MAPK phosphatase. Dual specific phosphatase inhibitors as well as siRNA to DUPD1, completely prevent PRL-mediated MAPK inhibition in ovarian cells. Our results strongly suggest that deactivation of MAPK by PRL/PRL-RS contributes to the severe ovarian defect in PRLR(-/-)RS mice and demonstrate the novel association of PRL-RS with DUPD1 and a role for this phosphatase in MAPK deactivation.     

New Approaches for Absolute Quantification of Stable‐Isotope‐Labeled Peptide Standards for Targeted Proteomics Based on a UV Active Tag

Targeted proteomics depends on the availability of stable isotope labeled (SIL) peptide standards, which for absolute protein quantification need to be absolutely quantified. In the present study, three new approaches for absolute quantification of SIL peptides are developed. All approaches rely on a quantification tag (Qtag) with a specific UV absorption. The Qtag is attached to the peptide during synthesis and is removed by tryptic digestion under standard proteomics workflow conditions. While one quantification method (method A) is designed to allow the fast and economic production of absolutely quantified SIL peptides, two other methods (methods B and C) are developed to enable the straightforward re‐quantification of SIL peptides after reconstitution to control and monitor known problems related to peptide solubility, precipitation, and adhesion to vials. All methods yield consistent results when compared to each other and when compared to quantification by amino acid analysis. The precise quantitation methods are used to characterize the in vivo specificity of the H3 specific histone methyltransferase EZH2.     

Launch of a new report: “Road testing organizational life cycle assessment around the world: applications,experiences and lessons learned”

Purpose

Organizational life cycle assessment (O-LCA) is still a rather young proposal, but moving towards becoming more broadly accepted as a scientifically mature and practical method. The UNEP/SETAC flagship project “LCA of organizations” concluded its “road-testing” phase and is glad to announce the publication of the final report “Road testing organizational life cycle assessment around the world: applications, experiences and lessons learned.” The full report can be accessed at http://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/download/6060. This article shortly summarizes the flagship project phases and main outcomes, particularly the report recently launched, and pinpoints future actions.

Methods

In 2015, the “Guidance on Organizational Life Cycle Assessment” was published. During the following 2 years, the flagship project accompanied 12 organizations in the road testing of that O-LCA Guidance. They represent four world regions, different sectors and sizes. The road testers’ case studies and their feedback are the basis of the Road-testing Report.

Results and discussion

The Road-testing Report aims to complement the O-LCA Guidance through the road testers’ experience, thus delivering advice for future practitioners and inspiration to method developers. It includes executive summaries of the O-LCA road testers’ case studies and the main results of a comprehensive survey through which the road testers share their experience, feedback, and lessons learned. The road testing confirmed the application potential of the O-LCA method and the positive outcomes of the road testing have shown that no immediate updates to the O-LCA Guidance are needed, but some priority actions were identified in order to further ease the application of O-LCA.

Conclusions

Three main tasks for the coming years are identified by the authors: firstly, the challenges highlighted during the road testing should be addressed in the future by the LCA community; specific methodological difficulties of certain kinds of organizations, like the service sector, should be targeted; and finally, the potential revealed by the organizational perspective can be deployed in adjacent LCA fields. The flagship project team hopes that this second publication, together with the great acceptance of the O-LCA Guidance and the contribution of third parties, will pave the way to make O-LCA a mainstream tool.