A new lichenicolous teleomorph is related to plant pathogens in Laetisaria and Limonomyces (Basidiomycota, Corticiales)

Molecular and morphological data were used to assess the taxonomic placement of an undescribed lichenicolous basidiomycete teleomorph collected in Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany. The new species is ecologically and morphologically similar to Marchandiobasidium aurantiacum, teleomorph of the common bulbilliferous lichen pathogen Marchandiomyces aurantiacus. However phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial rDNA sequences indicated a close relationship of the new species-not to M. aurantiacum but to turf grass pathogens in genera Laetisaria and Limonomyces, including the generic type of Laetisaria. We are including the new species in Laetisaria based on strong statistical support for the clade containing these teleomorphs and several Marchandiomyces anamorphs. The morphological and ecological diversity of this clade indicates a potentially significant evolutionary role played by lichen-associated species in the Corticiales.     

Autosomal recessive mental retardation: homozygosity mapping identifies 27 single linkage intervals, at least 14 novel loci and several mutation hotspots

Mental retardation (MR) has a worldwide prevalence of around 2% and is a frequent cause of severe disability. Significant excess of MR in the progeny of consanguineous matings as well as functional considerations suggest that autosomal recessive forms of MR (ARMR) must be relatively common. To shed more light on the causes of autosomal recessive MR (ARMR), we have set out in 2003 to perform systematic clinical studies and autozygosity mapping in large consanguineous Iranian families with non-syndromic ARMR (NS-ARMR). As previously reported (Najmabadi et al. in Hum Genet 121:43-48, 2007), this led us to the identification of 12 novel ARMR loci, 8 of which had a significant LOD score (OMIM: MRT5-12). In the meantime, we and others have found causative gene defects in two of these intervals. Moreover, as reported here, tripling the size of our cohort has enabled us to identify 27 additional unrelated families with NS-ARMR and single-linkage intervals; 14 of these define novel loci for non-syndromic ARMR. Altogether, 13 out of 39 single linkage intervals observed in our cohort were found to cluster at 6 different loci on chromosomes, i.e., 1p34, 4q27, 5p15, 9q34, 11p11-q13 and 19q13, respectively. Five of these clusters consist of two significantly overlapping linkage intervals, and on chr 1p34, three single linkage intervals coincide, including the previously described MRT12 locus. The probability for this distribution to be due to chance is only 1.14 × 10(-5), as shown by Monte Carlo simulation. Thus, in contrast to our previous conclusions, these novel data indicate that common molecular causes of NS-ARMR do exist, and in the Iranian population, the most frequent ones may well account for several percent of the patients. These findings will be instrumental in the identification of the underlying genes.     

The Anti-fibrotic Effects of Heat-Killed Akkermansia muciniphila MucT on Liver Fibrosis Markers and Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is a key phenomenon in development of liver fibrosis. Recently, Akkermansia muciniphila has been introduced as a...     

Novel coumarin derivatives bearing N-benzyl pyridinium moiety: Potent and dual binding site acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

A novel series of coumarin derivatives linked to benzyl pyridinium group were synthesized and biologically evaluated as inhibitors of both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). The enzyme inhibitory activity of synthesized compounds was measured using colorimetric Ellman’s method. It was revealed that compounds 3e, 3h, 3l, 3r and 3s have shown higher activity compared with donepezil hydrochloride as standard drug. Most of the compounds in these series had nanomolar range IC₅₀ in which compound 3r (IC₅₀ = 0.11 nM) was the most active compound against acetylcholinesterase enzyme.     

Linkage of gut microbiome with cognition in hepatic encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) has been related to gut bacteria and inflammation in the setting of intestinal barrier dysfunction. We aimed to link the gut microbiome with cognition and inflammation in HE using a systems biology approach. Multitag pyrosequencing (MTPS) was performed on stool of cirrhotics and age-matched controls. Cirrhotics with/without HE underwent cognitive testing, inflammatory cytokines, and endotoxin analysis. Patients with HE were compared with those without HE using a correlation-network analysis. A select group of patients with HE (n = 7) on lactulose underwent stool MTPS before and after lactulose withdrawal over 14 days. Twenty-five patients [17 HE (all on lactulose, 6 also on rifaximin) and 8 without HE, age 56 ± 6 yr, model for end-stage liver disease score 16 ± 6] and ten controls were included. Fecal microbiota in cirrhotics were significantly different (higher Enterobacteriaceae, Alcaligeneceae, and Fusobacteriaceae and lower Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae) compared with controls. We found altered flora (higher Veillonellaceae), poor cognition, endotoxemia, and inflammation (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-13) in HE compared with cirrhotics without HE. In the cirrhosis group, Alcaligeneceae and Porphyromonadaceae were positively correlated with cognitive impairment. Fusobacteriaceae, Veillonellaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae were positively and Ruminococcaceae negatively related to inflammation. Network-analysis comparison showed robust correlations (all P < 1E-5) only in the HE group between the microbiome, cognition, and IL-23, IL-2, and IL-13. Lactulose withdrawal did not change the microbiome significantly beyond Fecalibacterium reduction. We concluded that cirrhosis, especially when complicated with HE, is associated with significant alterations in the stool microbiome compared with healthy individuals. Specific bacterial families (Alcaligeneceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae) are strongly associated with cognition and inflammation in HE.     

Circulating HSPs Levels and Risk of Human Gastrointestinal Related Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Heat shock proteins (HSPs) have over-expression in the human malignancies. However, many studies reported inconsistent results. The...     

A Mathematical Model of Chlamydial Infection Incorporating Movement of Chlamydial Particles

We present a spatiotemporal mathematical model of chlamydial infection, host immune response, and movement of infectious particles. The resulting partial differential equations model both the dynamics of the infection and changes in infection profile observed spatially along the length of the host genital tract. This model advances previous Chlamydia modelling by incorporating spatial change. Numerical solutions and model analysis are carried out, and we present a hypothesis regarding the potential for treatment and prevention of infection by increasing chlamydial particle motility.     

Alginate/chitosan hydrogel containing olfactory ectomesenchymal stem cells for sciatic nerve tissue engineering

Regeneration and functional recovery after peripheral nerve damage still remain a significant clinical problem. In this study, alginate/chitosan (alg/chit) hydrogel was used for the transplantation of olfactory ectomesenchymal stem cells (OE-MSCs) to promote peripheral nerve regeneration. The OE-MSCs were isolated from olfactory mucosa biopsies and evaluated by different cell surface markers and differentiation capacity. After creating sciatic nerve injury in a rat model, OE-MSCs were transplanted to the injured area with alg/chit hydrogel which was prepared and well-characterized. The prepared hydrogel had the porosity of 91.3 ± 1.27%, the swelling ratio of 379% after 240 min, weight loss percentages of 80 ± 5.56% after 14 days, and good blood compatibility. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, and LIVE/DEAD staining were done to assay the behavior of OE-MSCs on alg/chit hydrogel and the results confirmed that the hydrogel can provide a suitable substrate for cell survival. For functional analysis, alg/chit hydrogel with and without OE- MSCs was injected into a 3-mm sciatic nerve defect of Wistar rats. The results of the sciatic functional index, hot plate latency, electrophysiological assessment, weight-loss percentage of wet gastrocnemius muscle, and histopathological examination using hematoxylin–eosin and Luxol fast blue staining showed that utilizing alg/chit hydrogel with OE-MSCs to the sciatic nerve defect enhance regeneration compared to the control group and hydrogel without cells.     

Real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for rapid detection and virulence evaluation of the environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates

Molecular Biology Reports - Rapid and species-specific detection, and virulence evaluation of opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are issues that increasingly has attracted the...