Modulation of HIV pathogenesis and T-cell signaling by HIV-1 Nef

HIV-1 Nef protein is an approximately 27-kDa myristoylated protein that is a virulence factor essential for efficient viral replication and infection in CD4(+) T cells. The functions of CD4(+) T cells are directly impeded after HIV infection. HIV-1 Nef plays a crucial role in manipulating host cellular machinery and in HIV pathogenesis by reducing the ability of infected lymphocytes to form immunological synapses by promoting virological synapses with APCs, and by affecting T-cell stimulation. This article reviews the current status of the efficient Nef-mediated spread of virus in the unreceptive environment of the immune system by altering CD4(+) T-lymphocyte signaling, intracellular trafficking, cell migration and apoptotic pathways.     

Edible Lepidoptera in Mexico: Geographic distribution, ethnicity, economic and nutritional importance for rural people

In this paper, we reported the butterflies and moths that are consumed in Mexico. We identified 67 species of Lepidoptera that are eaten principally in their larval stage in 17 states of Mexico. These species belong to 16 families: Arctiidae, Bombycidae, Castniidae, Cossidae, Geometridae, Hepialidae, Hesperiidae, Lasiocampidae, Noctuidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Pyralidae, Saturniidae, Sesiidae, and Sphingidae. Saturniidae, Pieridae, Noctuidae and Nymphalidae were the more species consumed with 16, 11, 9, and 8 species, respectively. The genera with the largest numbers of species were: Phassus, Phoebis, Hylesia and Spodoptera, with three species. Their local distribution, corresponding to each state of Mexico, is also presented.     

Screening,Diversity and Partial Sequence Comparison of Vegetative Insecticidal Protein (<Emphasis Type="Italic">vip3A</Emphasis>) Genes in the Local Isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> Berliner

Characterization, direct sequencing of the PCR amplicon and phylogenetic relationship was done to discover a novel Vip protein genes of the Bt isolates, to improve the prospects for insect control, more Vip proteins should be sought out and researched to predict their insecticidal activity. Characterization was based on direct sequencing of PCR amplicon using primers specific to vip3A gene was presented here. 12 out of 18 isolates screened were positive for vip gene-specific primers. Homology search for the partial sequences using BLAST showed that 11 isolates had high similarity to vip3Aa gene and only one fragment with vip3Ae gene (25–100% at nucleotide and amino acid level). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the gene sequences were responsible for geographic separation for divergence within vip genes, consistent with the evaluation of distinct bacterial population. Despite the geographical distances, strains harbouring vip genes have originated from common ancestors may significantly contribute to control resistant insect pests. Some strains have evolved to be quite distinct and others remain as members of closely related groups. The reported method is a powerful tool to find novel Vip3A proteins from large-scale Bt strains which is effective in terms of time and cost. Further the Vip proteins produced by different strains of B. thuringiensis are unique in terms of the sequence divergence and hence may also differ in their insecticidal activities.     

Influence of triacontanol and jasmonic acid on metabolomics during early stages of root induction in cultured tissue of tomato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lycopersicon esculentum)</Emphasis>

Influence of n-triacontanol (TRIA) and jasmonic acid (JA) on metabolic profiling during root morphogenesis was studied in Lycopersicon esculentum (cv. PKM-1). Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) based metabolomics was employed to investigate the variations in metabolic profile. Chenomx NMR suite v.8.1 was used to identify and quantify metabolites based on their respective signature spectra. The levels of 47 metabolites were monitored for 72 h at specific time intervals (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h). Principal component analysis was performed to determine the variations in the metabolic profile between control and treatments during in vitro rhizogenesis. TRIA was observed to promote early root emergence (24 h) and also influence the metabolic variation during rhizogenesis between 9 and 24 h post exposure. Compounds such as IAA, ATP, NADPH, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and gallate predominated at 9 h. Unlike TRIA, JA was unable to promote an early root induction. However, it influenced the synthesis of a relatively higher concentration of IAA at 6 h when compared to ATP, NADPH and trigonelline at 9 h. In the presence of both TRIA and JA (TRIA?+?JA), significant changes in the metabolic profiles were observed 24 h post exposure and the rooting was observed only after 72 h. The study suggests that TRIA may accelerate in vitro rhizogenesis of cultured tomato tissues by mainly increasing the synthesis of other growth promoting metabolites. But in the presence of JA, TRIA’s effect appears to be reduced.     

Characterization of two heparan sulphate-binding sites in the mycobacterial adhesin Hlp

Background  

The histone-like Hlp protein is emerging as a key component in mycobacterial pathogenesis, being involved in the initial events of host colonization by interacting with laminin and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). In the present study, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to map the binding site(s) of Hlp to heparan sulfate and identify the nature of the amino acid residues directly involved in this interaction.     

Purification and Characterization of Carboxylesterase from the Seeds of Jatropha curcas

Carboxylesterases are hydrolases which catalyze the hydrolysis of various types of esters. Carboxylesterase from the seeds of Jatropha curcas has been purified to homogeneity using ammonium sulfate fractionation, CM-cellulose chromatography, Sephadex G-100 chromatography and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The homogeneity of the purified enzyme was confirmed by PAGE, iso-electrofocusing and SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was determined by both gel-permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-150 and SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight determined by Sephadex G-150 chromatography and SDS-PAGE both in the presence and absence of 2-mercaptoethanol was 31 kDa. The isoelectric point of the purified enzyme was found to be 8.9. JCSE-I (J. curcas seed esterase-I) was classified as carboxylesterase on the basis of substrate and inhibitor specificity. The K_m of JCSE-I with 1-naphthyl acetate, 1-naphthyl propionate, 1-naphthyl butyrate and 2-naphthyl acetate as substrates were found to be 0.0,794, 0.0,658, 0.0,567 and 0.1 mM, respectively. The enzyme exhibited an optimum temperature of 45 °C and an optimum pH of 6.5. The enzyme was stable up to 15 min at 65 °C. The enzyme was resistant towards carbamates (carbaryl and eserine sulfate) and sulphydryl inhibitors (p-chloromercuricbenzoate, PCMB) and inhibited by organophosphates (dichlorvos, parathion and phosphamidon).     

The prognostic value of baseline erosions in undifferentiated arthritis

Introduction  

Undifferentiated arthritis (UA) has a variable disease course; 40 to 50% of UA patients remit spontaneously, while 30% develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Identifying the UA patients who will develop RA is essential to initiate early disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. Although the presence of bone erosions at baseline is predictive for a severe destructive disease course in RA, the prognostic importance of erosive joints for disease outcome in UA is unknown. This study evaluates the predictive value of erosive joints for the disease outcome in UA as measured by RA development and disease persistency.