Group B Streptococcus: global incidence and vaccine development

An ongoing public health challenge is to develop vaccines that are effective against infectious diseases that have global relevance. Vaccines against serotypes of group B Streptococcus (GBS) that are prevalent in the United States and Europe are not optimally efficacious against serotypes common to other parts of the world. New technologies and innovative approaches are being used to identify GBS antigens that overcome serotype-specificity and that could form the basis of a globally effective vaccine against this opportunistic pathogen. This Review highlights efforts towards this goal and describes a template that can be followed to develop vaccines against other bacterial pathogens.     

Simulated microgravity‐induced epigenetic changes in human lymphocytes

Real space flight and modeled microgravity conditions result in changes in the expression of genes that control important cellular functions. However, the mechanisms for microgravity‐induced gene expression changes are not clear. The epigenetic changes of DNA methylation and chromatin histones modifications are known to regulate gene expression. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether simulated microgravity alters (a) the DNA methylation and histone acetylation, and (b) the expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, and HDAC1 genes that regulate epigenetic events. To achieve these objectives, human T‐lymphocyte cells were grown in a rotary cell culture system (RCCS) that simulates microgravity, and in parallel under normal gravitational conditions as control. The microgravity‐induced DNA methylation changes were detected by methylation sensitive‐random amplified polymorphic DNA (MS‐RAPD) analysis of genomic DNA. The gene expression was measured by Quantitative Real‐time PCR. The expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b was found to be increased at 72 h, and decreased at 7 days in microgravity exposed cells. The MS‐RAPD analysis revealed that simulated microgravity exposure results in DNA hypomethylation and mutational changes. Gene expression analysis revealed microgravity exposure time‐dependent decreased expression of HDAC1. Decreased expression of HDAC1 should result in increased level of acetylated histone H3, however a decreased level of acetylated H3 was observed in microgravity condition, indicating thereby that other HDACs may be involved in regulation of H3 deacetylation. The findings of this study suggest that epigenetic events could be one of the mechanistic bases for microgravity‐induced gene expression changes and associated adverse health effects. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 123–129, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Genetic control of leaf-blade morphogenesis by the <Emphasis Type="Italic">INSECATUS</Emphasis> gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis>

To understand the role of INSECATUS (INS) gene in pea, the leaf blades of wild-type, ins mutant and seven other genotypes, constructed by recombining ins with uni-tac, af, tl and mfp gene mutations, were quantitatively compared. The ins was inherited as a recessive mutant allele and expressed its phenotype in proximal leaflets of full size leaf blades. In ins leaflets, the midvein development was arrested in distal domain and a cleft was formed in lamina above this point. There was change in the identity of ins leaflets such that the intercalary interrupted midvein bore a leaf blade. Such adventitious blades in ins, ins tl and ins tl mfp were like the distal segment of respective main leaf blade. The ins phenotype was not seen in ins af and ins af uni-tac genotypes. There was epistasis of uni-tac over ins. The ins, tl and mfp mutations interacted synergistically to produce highly pronounced ins phenotype in the ins tl mfp triple mutant. The role(s) of INS in leaf-blade organogenesis are: positive regulation of vascular patterning in leaflets, repression of UNI activity in leaflet primordia for ectopic growth and in leaf-blade primordium for indeterminate growth of rachis, delimitation of proximal leaflet domain and together with TL and MFP homeostasis for meristematic activity in leaflet primordia. The variant apically bifid shape of the affected ins leaflets demonstrated that the leaflet shape is dependent on the venation pattern.     

Cardioprotective effect of lycopene in the experimental model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

The continuous advancements in cancer research have contributed to the overwhelming evidence of the presence of telomerase in primary and secondary tumours together with hsp90 and c-Myc. This review will discuss the important role of telomerase together with hsp90 and c-Myc within the initiation and progression of gliomas. Also it will review the differential expression of these genes in the different grades of gliomas and the possibility of new treatments targeting these specific genes.     

Comparative evaluation of possible ocular photochemical toxicity of fluoroquinolones meant for ocular use in experimental models

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are extensively used in bacterial keratitis and other intraocular infections. Since eye is constantly exposed to light, incidence of ocular phototoxicity due to commonly used FQs is of great interest for their safe use. Phototoxicity of commonly used FQs (ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, pefloxacin, ofloxacin, sparfloxacin and gatifloxacin), has been evaluated by using HET-CAM-UV model (Photo Hen Egg Test-C Chorioallantoic Membrane model). This study was further extended by adding lomefloxacin dissolved in bovine vitreous (0.5 ml) on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Using a standard scale, the phototoxic damage was assessed at different time intervals. Respective controls were kept in dark to distinguish the toxicity of the drugs per se. The results showed that the phototoxicity induced by lomefloxacin was very high followed by gatifloxacin and sparfloxacin and least for other drugs studied. Interestingly, lomefloxacin along with vitreous showed significantly low phototoxicity. This could be due to the antioxidant property of ascorbic acid present in the vitreous.     

Jasmonic acid induced changes in protein pattern, antioxidative enzyme activities and peroxidase isozymes in peanut seedlings

Protein pattern, ammonia content, glutamine synthetase activity, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and peroxidase isoforms were studied in the leaves and roots of 7-d-old peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. JL-24) seedlings treated by 25, 100 and 250 μM jasmonic acid (JA). SDS-PAGE protein profile of leaves and roots after JA application showed a significant increase in 18, 21, 30, 45, 47 and 97.4 kDa proteins and significant decrease in 22 and 36 kDa proteins. Pathogenesis related PR-18 was specific in leaves at 250 μM JA and PR-21 have cross reacted differently with 21 and 30 kDa proteins in leaves and roots treated by all JA concentrations. Further, the immunoblot analysis with glutamine synthetase, GS-45 antibodies revealed a specific cross reaction with 45 and 47 kDa proteins of both control and JA treated leaves, however, higher at 100 and 250 μM JA treated leaves than control ones. Further, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content significantly increased in leaves and roots treated with JA, indicated membrane damage with JA treatments that led to the generation of peroxidation products. The peroxidase isozymic pattern showed two specific isoforms. Besides, the activities of SOD and catalase were significantly elevated in JA treated leaves.     

Changes in protein profile of pigeonpea genotypes in response to NaCl and boron stress

Two pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] genotypes, a salt tolerant Manak and a salt sensitive ICPL 88039 were subjected to stress treatment of 3 mM boron, 60 mM NaCl and boron + NaCl at the seedling stage. Radicle and plumule proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Boron treatment increased 28.3 kDa proteins in plumule and 38.3 and 51.9 kDa proteins in radicle of Manak, however, there was no specific protein in ICPL 88039 either in plumule or in radicle. In NaCl treatment 95.6 kDa proteins appeared in plumule and 67.5 kDa proteins in radicle of Manak. Conversely content of some proteins decreased by boron treatment alone or in combination with NaCl although they were present in the controls. Thus, 54.3 kDa protein disappeared in ICPL 88039 plumule, 68.4 kDa in Manak radicle and 28.1 kDa in ICPL 88039 radicle.     

Microwave-promoted hydrolysis of plant seed gums on alumina support

Using a catalytic amount of potassium persulfate (1.48 x 10(-4)M), eight different seed gums were fully hydrolyzed on alumina support under microwave irradiation. The hydrolysis time varied between 1.33 and 2.33 min depending upon the seed gum structure. The used solid support could be easily separated from the hydrolyzates and recycled. However, under microwave field in an aqueous medium, the same amount of persulfate was unable to hydrolyze the seed gums. Solid-supported microwave hydrolysis has been compared with the microwave-enhanced aqueous hydrolysis (using K2S2O8 or 0.1N H2SO4) and also with the conventional hydrolysis procedures.     

Dietary administration of bovine lactoferrin influences the immune ability of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) and its resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila infection and nitrite stress

Haemocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, agglutinin levels, total protein content, bacterial clearance efficiency, resistance to the pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila and nitrite stress were measured in the giant freshwater inter-moult sub-adult prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (15-20 g) which had been fed diets containing bovine lactoferrin (Lf) at 50, 100, 200mg kg(-1) feed for 7 or 14 days. M. rosenbergii fed a diet containing 100mg Lf kg(-1) diet for 7 days showed significant (P<0.05) increase in total protein levels, agglutination titres against bacteria A. hydrophila and rabbit RBC, phenoloxidase activity, bacterial clearance (as observed through reduced number of circulating bacteria) as well as survival against A. hydrophila challenge. Increased bacterial clearance was also noticed in prawns fed Lf at 50 or 200mg kg(-1) for 14 days compared to control. Feeding of Lf at 50mg kg(-1) diet for 7 or 14 days was able to enhance only PO activity and reduce percent mortality against A. hydrophila challenge compared to its control. Total haemocyte count was higher in the lowest dose of Lf feeding, i.e. 50mg kg(-1) for 7 days. However, there was no significant alteration in the differential haemocyte population with respect to graded levels of Lf feeding for 7 or 14 days. A notable reduction in mortality percent after 120 h of nitrite stress was observed in prawn fed Lf at 100mg kg(-1) diet for 14 days. On the contrary, feeding of the highest dose of Lf, i.e. 200mg kg(-1) diet for 14 days failed to stimulate most of the innate immune parameters or reduce the percent mortality against A. hydrophila challenge or nitrite stress. It is therefore concluded that administration of Lf in the diet at 100mg kg(-1) for 7 days could enhance the immune ability of M. rosenbergii and increase its resistance to A. hydrophila infection or nitrite stress.