Establishment and characterization of Caspian horse fibroblast cell bank in Iran

Caspian horse, a rare horse breed found in 1965 by Louise Firouz in northern Iran, is a small horse which is reported to be in danger of extinction in its original homeland. There seems to be a great need to prevent extinction of this valuable horse. In this study, 51 fibroblast cell lines from Caspian horse ear marginal tissue were successfully established by sampling 60 horses using primary explant technique. Cells were authenticated and growth curve was plotted. According to results obtained, population doubling time (PDT) was calculated 23 ± 0.5 h for all cell lines. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (multiplex PCR) revealed that cell lines had no cross-contamination with other species. Bacteria, fungi, and mycoplasma contamination were checked using standard methods such as PCR, direct culture, and Hoechst staining. In addition to providing a valuable source for genomic, postgenomic, and somatic cloning researches, the established cell lines would preserve Caspian horse genetic resources. It will also create an accessible database for researchers.     

Recombinant BCG exporting ESAT-6 confers enhanced protection against tuberculosis

The live tuberculosis vaccines Mycobacterium bovis BCG (bacille Calmette-Guérin) and Mycobacterium microti both lack the potent, secreted T-cell antigens ESAT-6 (6-kDa early secretory antigenic target) and CFP-10 (10-kDa culture filtrate protein). This is a result of independent deletions in the region of deletion-1 (RD1) locus, which is intact in virulent members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. To increase their immunogenicity and protective capacity, we complemented both vaccines with different constructs containing the esxA and esxB genes, which encode ESAT-6 and CFP-10 respectively, as well as a variable number of flanking genes. Only reintroduction of the complete locus, comprising at least 11 genes, led to full secretion of the antigens and resulted in specific ESAT-6-dependent immune responses; this suggests that the flanking genes encode a secretory apparatus. Mice and guinea pigs vaccinated with the recombinant strain BCG::RD1-2F9 were better protected against challenge with M. tuberculosis, showing less severe pathology and reduced dissemination of the pathogen, as compared with control animals immunized with BCG alone.     

The genetics of stroke

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Ischaemic stroke is a heterogeneous disease caused by different pathogenic mechanisms, of which small artery and large artery stroke are the most common. The identification of the genes involved is unclear. The likely candidate genes associated with stroke are those that are associated with matrix deposition (stromelysin-1, MMP3), inflammation (IL-6), and lipid metabolism (hepatic lipase, APOE, PON1) and clotting (factor V Leiden, fibrinogen). RECENT FINDINGS: In this review we will only discuss those genes in which there has been a significant contribution to the understanding of stroke since October 2003. SUMMARY: The published data were reviewed to determine the robustness of these associations and to examine whether there is any evidence of risk modification by factors such as smoking habit, known to be associated with stroke.     

Effect of TiO2 NPs on the growth,anatomic features and biochemistry parameters of Baby sun rose (Aptenia cordifolia)

Rapid commercialization, industrialization and the use of nanotechnology has led to an increase in the distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) in the environment. The most common metal oxide NPs which is present within products is Titanium dioxide (TiO₂). TiO₂ NPs have photocatalytic nature and can affect plant growth. The current study investigated the morphological, anatomical and biochemical features of Baby sun rose (Aptenia cordifolia) after exposure to different concentrations of TiO₂ nanoparticles (0, 1, 5, 10 and 20 mg L⁻¹). Treatment with TiO₂ NPs showed changes in the morphological features and increased photosynthetic pigmentation within the plant. An increase in the level of phenolics (12%) and flavonoid compounds (13%) was observed when plants were treated with moderate levels of TiO₂ NPs. A reduction in the diameter of the vascular bundles and increased thickening of the transverse wall were observed in several samples. The number of scattered vascular bundles in the stems increased. The morphological, biochemical, and anatomical responses of Baby sun rose indicates that plants can adapt to environments contaminated with up to 20 mg L⁻¹ TiO₂ NPs_. The cultivation of Baby sun rose plants in environments polluted with TiO₂ NPs is recommended. This study enhances the knowledge of the effect of TiO₂ NPs on the growth of Baby sun rose which is an ornamental plant, widely cultivated in different regions of Iran. The results of this study suggest that contaminated environments up to 20 mg L⁻¹ TiO₂ NPs can be managed by phytoremediation. Further studies are needed to investigate this plant''s tolerance strategies against stress caused by TiO₂ NPs and bulk TiO₂ as well as the effect of other nanoparticles on plant.     

Long-lived plasma cells are early and constantly generated in New Zealand Black/New Zealand White F1 mice and their therapeutic depletion requires a combined targeting of autoreactive plasma cells and their precursors

IntroductionAutoantibodies contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Unfortunately, the long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) secreting such autoantibodies are refractory to conventional immunosuppressive treatments. Although generated long before the disease becomes clinically apparent, it remains rather unclear whether LLPC generation continues in the established disease. Here, we analyzed the generation of LLPCs, including autoreactive LLPCs, in SLE-prone New Zealand Black/New Zealand White F1 (NZB/W F1) mice over their lifetime, and their regeneration after depletion.MethodsBromodeoxyuridine pulse-chase experiments in mice of different ages were performed in order to analyze the generation of LLPCs during the development of SLE. LLPCs were enumerated by flow cytometry and autoreactive anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) plasma cells by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT). For analyzing the regeneration of LLPCs after depletion, mice were treated with bortezomib alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide and plasma cells were enumerated 12 hours, 3, 7, 11 and 15 days after the end of the bortezomib cycle.ResultsAutoreactive LLPCs are established in the spleen and bone marrow of SLE-prone mice very early in ontogeny, before week 4 and before the onset of symptoms. The generation of LLPCs then continues throughout life. LLPC counts in the spleen plateau by week 10, but continue to increase in the bone marrow and inflamed kidney. When LLPCs are depleted by the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, their numbers regenerate within two weeks. Persistent depletion of LLPCs was achieved only by combining a cycle of bortezomib with maintenance therapy, for example cyclophosphamide, depleting the precursors of LLPCs or preventing their differentiation into LLPCs.ConclusionsIn SLE-prone NZB/W F1 mice, autoreactive LLPCs are generated throughout life. Their sustained therapeutic elimination requires both the depletion of LLPCs and the inhibition of their regeneration.     

Manganese substituted Compound I of cytochrome P450 biomimetics: a comparative reactivity study of Mn(V)-oxo versus Mn(IV)-oxo species

Manganese-oxo porphyrins have been well studied as biomimetic models of cytochromes P450 and are known to be able to catalyze substrate hydroxylation reactions. Recent experimental studies [J.Y. Lee, Y.-M. Lee, H. Kotani, W. Nam, S. Fukuzumi, Chem. Commun. (2009) 704] showed that Mn(V)-oxo porphyrins react rapidly with 10-methyl-9,10-dihydroacridine (AcrH(2)) via a proton-coupled-electron-transfer followed by an electron transfer. In this work, we present a computational study on the reactivity patterns of Mn(V)-oxo and Mn(IV)-oxo with respect to AcrH(2). This study shows that although both oxidants are capable of hydroxylating AcrH(2), the Mn(V)-oxo species is the more active oxidant. We have generalized these observations with thermodynamic cycles that explain the reaction mechanisms and electron transfer processes. For the Mn(V)-oxo mechanism the reactions proceed with a fast spin state crossing from the ground state singlet to the triplet spin state prior to a hydrogen atom transfer followed by another electron transfer. The present results are fully consistent with previous studies on iron-oxo porphyrins and manganese-oxo porphyrins and shows that the interplay of low lying singlet and triplet spin state surfaces influences the reaction mechanisms and kinetics.     

Evaluation of Non-Invasive Multispectral Imaging as a Tool for Measuring the Effect of Systemic Therapy in Kaposi Sarcoma

Diffuse multi-spectral imaging has been evaluated as a potential non-invasive marker of tumor response. Multi-spectral images of Kaposi sarcoma skin lesions were taken over the course of treatment, and blood volume and oxygenation concentration maps were obtained through principal component analysis (PCA) of the data. These images were compared with clinical and pathological responses determined by conventional means. We demonstrate that cutaneous lesions have increased blood volume concentration and that changes in this parameter are a reliable indicator of treatment efficacy, differentiating responders and non-responders. Blood volume decreased by at least 20% in all lesions that responded by clinical criteria and increased in the two lesions that did not respond clinically. Responses as assessed by multi-spectral imaging also generally correlated with overall patient clinical response assessment, were often detectable earlier in the course of therapy, and are less subject to observer variability than conventional clinical assessment. Tissue oxygenation was more variable, with lesions often showing decreased oxygenation in the center surrounded by a zone of increased oxygenation. This technique could potentially be a clinically useful supplement to existing response assessment in KS, providing an early, quantitative, and non-invasive marker of treatment effect.     

Correction to: Fluoroquinolone resistance contributing mechanisms and genotypes of ciprofloxacin‑ unsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in Iran: emergence of isolates carrying qnr/aac(6)‑Ib genes

International Microbiology -     

Fluoroquinolone resistance contributing mechanisms and genotypes of ciprofloxacin- unsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in Iran: emergence of isolates carrying qnr/aac(6)-Ib genes

International Microbiology - Fluoroquinolones (FQs) including ciprofloxacin (CIP) are key antibiotics for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, but resistance to FQs is developing as...