Association of genetic variants rs641153 (CFB), rs2230199 (C3), and rs1410996 (CFH) with age-related macular degeneration in a Brazilian population

This study aimed to investigate the association among genetic variants of the complement pathway CFB R32Q (rs641153), C3 R102G (rs2230199), and CFH (rs1410996) with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a sample of the Brazilian population. In a case-control study, 484 AMD patients were classified according to the clinical age-related maculopathy grading system (CARMS) and compared to 479 unrelated controls. The genetic variants rs1410996 of complement H (CFH), rs641153 of complement factor B (CFB), and rs2230199 of complement 3 (C3) were evaluated through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and AMD, adjusted by age, were assessed by using logistic regression models. A statistically significant association was observed between AMD risk and rs2230199 variant with an OR of 2.01 (P  = 0.0002) for CG individuals compared to CC individuals. Regarding the comparison of advanced AMD versus the control group, the OR was 2.12 (P = 0.0036) for GG versus AA genotypes for rs1410996 variant. Similarly, the OR for rs2230199 polymorphism was 2.3034 (P  = 5.47^e-05) when comparing CG individuals to CC carriers. In contrast, the rs641153 variant showed a significant protective effect against advanced AMD for GA versus GG genotype (OR = 0.4406; P  = 0.0019). When comparing wet AMD versus controls, a significant association was detected for rs1410996 variant (OR = 2.16; P  = 0.0039) comparing carriers of the homozygous GG versus AA genotype, as well as in the comparisons of GG (OR = 3.0713; P  = 0.0046) and CG genotypes (OR = 2.2249; P  = 0.0002) versus CC genotype for rs2230199 variant, respectively. The rs641153 variant granted a significant protective effect against wet AMD for GA versus GG genotypes (OR = 0.4601; P  = 0.0044). Our study confirmed the risk association between rs2230199 and rs1410996 variants and AMD, and the protective role against AMD for rs641153 variant.     

Improvement of nutritional quality of cultured sobaity sea bream,Sparidentex hasta (Valenciennes) muscle by preharvest feeding of finisher feeds

A 6‐month long study was conducted to improve the nutritional quality of the cultured sobaity bream, Sparidentex hasta by feeding them finisher feeds containing high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at the last two months of the grow‐out stage so that the muscle DHA level be increased at par to the wild. A grow‐out feed used from the beginning until the end of the trial was considered as the control (Diet 1). Experimental diets 2 and 3 were formulated to contain 9.0% DHA (e.g. 1.68 g DHA/100 g feed) and 10.5% DHA (2.20 g DHA/100 g feed), by incorporating high DHA tuna oil into a sea bream grow‐out diet. For comparison, a commercial finisher feed (Diet 4) from Skretting, Italy was also used. The results of this study demonstrated that fish fed DHA enriched finisher diets resulted in significantly (p < .05) better growth, feed utilization and higher muscle eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA content compared to those fed grow‐out diet. The muscle DHA and EPA of fish fed finisher diets were also higher than those of the whole year average DHA and EPA content of wild sobaity. An organoleptic evaluation showed no significant (p > .05) differences between sensory attributes of muscle from cultured and wild sea bream. The results of the study demonstrated that feeding finisher feed enriched with DHA at the later part of the grow‐out operation, the n‐3 PUFA levels of cultured sobaity can cost‐effectively be increased at par to the wild.     

Host-specific plant signal and G-protein activator, mastoparan, trigger differentiation of zoospores of the phytopathogenic oomycete Aphanomyces cochlioides

We found that the gradient of a host-specific attractant, cochliophilin A (5-hydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone) isolated from the roots of spinach triggered encystment followed by germination of zoospores of Aphanomyces cochlioidesat a concentration less than micromolar order. This compound did not affect the growth and reproduction of this phytopathogen up to 10^–6 M concentration in the culture medium. We also observed that mastoparan, an activator of heterotrimeric G-protein could inhibit the motility of zoospores and then strikingly effect encystment followed by 60–80% germination of cysts. Concomitant application of cochliophilin A and mastoparan showed stronger encystment followed by 100% germination of cysts. In addition, we have observed that chemicals interfering with phospholipase C activity (neomycin) and Ca²⁺ influx/release (EGTA and loperamide) suppress cochliophilin A or mastoparan induced encystment and germination. These results suggest that G-protein mediated signal transduction mechanism may be involved in the differentiation of the A. cochlioides zoospores. This is the first report on the differentiation of oomycete zoospores initiated by a host-specific plant signal or a G-protein activator.     

Cluster of Nipah virus infection, Kushtia District, Bangladesh, 2007

Objective

In March 2007, we investigated a cluster of Nipah encephalitis to identify risk factors for Nipah infection in Bangladesh.

Methods

We defined confirmed Nipah cases by the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against Nipah virus in serum. Case-patients, who resided in the same village during the outbreak period but died before serum could be collected, were classified as probable cases.

Results

We identified three confirmed and five probable Nipah cases. There was a single index case. Five of the secondary cases came in close physical contact to the index case when she was ill. Case-patients were more likely to have physical contact with the index case (71% cases versus 0% controls, p = <0.001). The index case, on her third day of illness, and all the subsequent cases attended the same religious gathering. For three probable cases including the index case, we could not identify any known risk factors for Nipah infection such as physical contact with Nipah case-patients, consumption of raw date palm juice, or contact with sick animals or fruit bats.

Conclusion

Though person-to-person transmission remains an important mode of transmission for Nipah infection, we could not confirm the source of infection for three of the probable Nipah case-patients. Continued surveillance and outbreak investigations will help better understand the transmission of Nipah virus and develop preventive strategies.     

A Lightweight Radio Propagation Model for Vehicular Communication in Road Tunnels

Radio propagation models (RPMs) are generally employed in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) to predict path loss in multiple operating environments (e.g. modern road infrastructure such as flyovers, underpasses and road tunnels). For example, different RPMs have been developed to predict propagation behaviour in road tunnels. However, most existing RPMs for road tunnels are computationally complex and are based on field measurements in frequency band not suitable for VANET deployment. Furthermore, in tunnel applications, consequences of moving radio obstacles, such as large buses and delivery trucks, are generally not considered in existing RPMs. This paper proposes a computationally inexpensive RPM with minimal set of parameters to predict path loss in an acceptable range for road tunnels. The proposed RPM utilizes geometric properties of the tunnel, such as height and width along with the distance between sender and receiver, to predict the path loss. The proposed RPM also considers the additional attenuation caused by the moving radio obstacles in road tunnels, while requiring a negligible overhead in terms of computational complexity. To demonstrate the utility of our proposed RPM, we conduct a comparative summary and evaluate its performance. Specifically, an extensive data gathering campaign is carried out in order to evaluate the proposed RPM. The field measurements use the 5 GHz frequency band, which is suitable for vehicular communication. The results demonstrate that a close match exists between the predicted values and measured values of path loss. In particular, an average accuracy of 94% is found with R² = 0.86.     

Addition of Cryoprotectant Significantly Alters the Epididymal Sperm Proteome

Although cryopreservation has been developed and optimized over the past decades, it causes various stresses, including cold shock, osmotic stress, and ice crystal formation, thereby reducing fertility. During cryopreservation, addition of cryoprotective agent (CPA) is crucial for protecting spermatozoa from freezing damage. However, the intrinsic toxicity and osmotic stress induced by CPA cause damage to spermatozoa. To identify the effects of CPA addition during cryopreservation, we assessed the motility (%), motion kinematics, capacitation status, and viability of epididymal spermatozoa using computer-assisted sperm analysis and Hoechst 33258/chlortetracycline fluorescence staining. Moreover, the effects of CPA addition were also demonstrated at the proteome level using two-dimensional electrophoresis. Our results demonstrated that CPA addition significantly reduced sperm motility (%), curvilinear velocity, viability (%), and non-capacitated spermatozoa, whereas straightness and acrosome-reacted spermatozoa increased significantly (p < 0.05). Ten proteins were differentially expressed (two decreased and eight increased) (>3 fold, p < 0.05) after CPA, whereas NADH dehydrogenase flavoprotein 2, f-actin-capping protein subunit beta, superoxide dismutase 2, and outer dense fiber protein 2 were associated with several important signaling pathways (p < 0.05). The present study provides a mechanistic basis for specific cryostresses and potential markers of CPA-induced stress. Therefore, these might provide information about the development of safe biomaterials for cryopreservation and basic ground for sperm cryopreservation.     

Crystallographic studies on damaged DNAs IV. N( 4)-methoxycytosine shows a second face for Watson-Crick base-pairing, leading to purine transition mutagenesis

To investigate the mutation mechanism of purine transitions in DNA damaged with methoxyamine, a DNA dodecamer with the sequence d(CGCAAATTmo⁴CGCG), where mo⁴C is 2′-deoxy-N⁴-methoxycytidine, has been synthesized and the crystal structure determined by X-ray analysis. The duplex structure is similar to that of the original undamaged B-form dodecamer, indicating that the methoxylation does not affect the overall DNA conformation. Electron density maps clearly show that the two mo⁴C residues form Watson–Crick-type base pairs with the adenine residues of the opposite strand and that the methoxy groups of mo⁴C adopt the anti conformation to N³ around the C⁴–N⁴ bond. For the pair formation through hydrogen bonds the mo⁴C residues are in the imino tautomeric state. Together with previous work, the present work establishes that the methoxylated cytosine residue can present two alternate faces for Watson–Crick base-pairing, thanks to the amino↔imino tautomerism allowed by methoxylation. Based on this property, two gene transition routes are proposed.