A new case of reciprocal translocation in a young bull: rcp(11;21)(q28;q12)

Routine cytogenetic investigations of the Chianina cattle (BTA) breed revealed the presence of longer and smaller chromosomes than the largest (BTA1) and smallest (BTA29) chromosomes in the cells of a young, normal-looking bull used for reproduction. Application of both RBA-banding and Ag-NOR techniques, as well as the use of the FISH technique and specific molecular markers of both BTA11 (IL1B, ASS and LGB) and BTA21 (SERPINA and D21S45) established that these two abnormal chromosomes were the product of a reciprocal translocation between BTA11 and BTA21. Both der(11) and der(21) were C-band positive and the chromosome regions affected were rcp(11;21)(q28;q12). The young bull had a normal body conformation, including external genitalia, normal levels of testosterone (as in the control) and non-detectable levels of both 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone (as in the control). The animal never showed libido in the presence of both males and females in oestrus. After slaughter at 18 months, histological evaluation revealed normal organized testes, seminiferous tubules and epididymis but with poor proliferative germ cells consisting mainly of spermatogonia, middle pachytene spermatocytes and early spermatids with late spermatids and spermatozoa being very rare.     

Biodiversity of Lactobacillus plantarum from traditional Italian wines

In this study, 23 samples of traditional wines produced in Southern Italy were subjected to microbiological analyses with the aim to identify and biotype the predominant species of lactic acid bacilli. For this purpose, a multiple approach, consisting in the application of both phenotypic (API 50CHL test) and biomolecular methods (polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing) was used. The results showed that Lactobacillus plantarum was the predominant species, whereas Lb. brevis was detected in lower amount. In detail, out of 80 isolates 58 were ascribable to Lb. plantarum and 22 to Lb. brevis. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction was used to highlight intraspecific variability among Lb. plantarum strains. Interestingly, the cluster analysis evidenced a relationship between different biotypes of Lb. plantarum and their origin, in terms of wine variety. Data acquired in this work show the possibility to obtain several malolactic fermentation starter cultures, composed by different Lb. plantarum biotypes, for their proper use in winemaking processes which are distinctive for each wine.     

Taxonomical examination and characterization of a methanol-utilizing yeast

The morphological, cultural, and physiological characteristics are described of a yeast, LI70, which uses methanol as its source of energy and carbon; these characteristics have made it possible to identify the strain as Candida boidinii Ramirez. The identification was confirmed by a DNA-DNA genetic homology of 99.43% with the type strain of C. boidinii. Strain LI70 is not pathogenic.     

Computational modeling of the immune response to tumor antigens

Vaccination protocols designed to elicit anti-cancer immune responses have, many times, failed in producing tumor eradication and in prolonging patient survival. Usually in cancer vaccination, epitopes from one organism are included in the genome or linked with some protein of another in the hope that the immunogenic properties of the latter will boost an immune response to the former. However, recent results have demonstrated that injections of two different vectors encoding the same recombinant antigen generate high levels of specific immunity. Systematic comparison of the efficacy of different vaccination protocols has been hampered by technical limitations, and clear evidence that the use of multiple vectors has advantages over single carrier injections is lacking. We used a computational model to investigate the dynamics of the immune response to different anti-cancer vaccines based on randomly generated antigen/carrier compounds. The computer model was adapted for simulations to this new area in immunology research and carefully validated to the purpose. As a matter of fact, it reproduces a relevant number of experimental observations. The model shows that when priming and boosting with the same construct, competition rather than cooperation develops amongst T cell clones of different specificities. Moreover, from the simulations, it appears that the sequential use of multiple carriers may generate more robust anti-tumor immune responses and may lead to effective tumor eradication in a higher percentage of cases. Our results provide a rational background for the design of novel strategies for the achievement of immune control of cancer.     

Correction to: Comparing the impacts of an invasive grass on nitrogen cycling and ammonia-oxidizing prokaryotes in high-nitrogen forests,open fields,and wetlands

Plant and Soil - Crop genotypes may respond differently to various physical soil conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the responses of the root architectures of two maize...     

Identification of tomato miRNAs responsive to root colonization by endophytic Pochonia chlamydosporia

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - The molecular mechanisms active during the endophytic phase of the fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia are still poorly understood. In particular, few data are...     

A case of azoospermia in a bull carrying a Y-autosome reciprocal translocation

During normal cytogenetic investigations on the Chianina cattle (BTA) breed, a normal looking young bull was found to carry an abnormal Y chromosome which was a product of a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes Y and 9. This was revealed by both CBA- and RBG-banding techniques and was clearly confirmed by FISH-mapping analysis with IDVGA50 (which paints the complete Yq arm in a normal Y), as well as with AMD1, CGA, IGF2R (mapping to BTA9q16, BTA9q22 and BTA9q27-->q28, respectively) and SRY (mapping to normal BTAYq23). Analysis on sperm from four different samples revealed azoospermia in the carrier, indicating that the rcp(Y;9) induces sterility in the bull.     

Identification of chronic heart failure patients with a high 12-month mortality risk using biomarkers including plasma C-terminal pro-endothelin-1

Objectives

We hypothesised that assessment of plasma C-terminal pro-endothelin-1 (CT-proET-1), a stable endothelin-1 precursor fragment, is of prognostic value in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), beyond other prognosticators, including N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).

Methods

We examined 491 patients with systolic CHF (age: 63±11 years, 91% men, New York Heart Association [NYHA] class [I/II/III/IV]: 9%/45%/38%/8%, 69% ischemic etiology). Plasma CT-proET-1 was detected using a chemiluminescence immunoassay.

Results

Increasing CT-proET-1 was a predictor of increased cardiovascular mortality at 12-months of follow-up (standardized hazard ratio 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.95, p = 0.03) after adjusting for NT-proBNP, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), age, creatinine, NYHA class. In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, areas under curve for 12-month follow-up were similar for CT-proET-1 and NT-proBNP (p = 0.40). Both NT-proBNP and CT-proET-1 added prognostic value to a base model that included LVEF, age, creatinine, and NYHA class. Adding CT-proET-1 to the base model had stronger prognostic power (p<0.01) than adding NT-proBNP (p<0.01). Adding CT-proET-1 to NT-proBNP in this model yielded further prognostic information (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Plasma CT-proET-1 constitutes a novel predictor of increased 12-month cardiovascular mortality in patients with CHF. High CT-proET-1 together with high NT-proBNP enable to identify patients with CHF and particularly unfavourable outcomes.     

Preservation by freezing of potentially probiotic strains ofLactobacillus rhamnosus

The aim of this work was to detect the best conditions to preserve by freezing potentially probiotic strains ofLactobacillus rhamnosus isolated from food. Four strains isolated from Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, the commercial strainLactobacillus GG and the type strain ATCC 7469T were used in the present study. Two different pre-incubation times (5 and 24 h), three protective media (Skim milk, Skim milk plus glucose and MRS plus glycerol) and two storage temperatures (?20 and ?80 °C) were used for a preservation period of 90 days. A sensible loss of survival of the strains was detected and the acidifying activity decreased depending on the different factors analysed. Moreover, plate counts performed in MRS plus bile salts evidenced that a considerable percentage of cells suffers damages deriving from cold. This study showed that the growth phase of the cells plays an important role for the resistance to the storage by freezing. Finally, Skim milk had the best protective action, showing the highest activity at ?80 °C.