Molecular cloning of <Emphasis Type="Italic">BmTUDOR-SN</Emphasis> and analysis of its role in the RNAi pathway in the silkworm, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombyx mori</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)

Tudor-sn, a conserved nuclease, was first isolated from RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and was subsequently implicated in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway in humans, flies and nematodes. However, in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L, the RNAi mechanism and the components of RISC were quite unclear. Here, we cloned the full-length cDNA of TUDOR-SN (BmTUDOR-SN) from the silkworm. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that BmTudor-sn had a high homology with Tudor-sn proteins in other insects. Fluorescent microscopic observation indicated that the subcellular localization of enhanced green fluorescent protein fused BmTudor-sn was mainly in the cytoplasm of silkworm BmN4 cells. Knockdown of BmTUDOR-SN did not, however, affect the RNAi efficiency in BmN4 cells.     

Biased sex ratio in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) swim-bladder parasite Anguillicola crassus, experimentally induced by 11-ketotestosterone

Parasites are intimately connected to the host in which they live, and some may be affected by the polluted environment of their host. The present study describes the effect of a steroid hormone (11-ketotestosterone) on the sex ratio of the invasive hematophagous nematode Anguillicola crassus Kuwahara, Niimi & Itagaki, 1974, when experimentally injected to European eels, Anguilla anguilla. Our results showed that this steroid induced a significant male-biased ratio in the nematode A. crassus infrapopulations, suggesting that the presence of endocrine disruptors in the environment may lead to skewed sex ratios among parasites.     

Molecular and evolutionary analysis of a plant Y chromosome.

Plants have evolved a great diversity of sex determination systems. Among these, the XY system, also found in mammals, is one of the most exciting since it gives the opportunity to compare the evolution of sex chromosomes in two different kingdoms. Whereas genetic and molecular mechanisms controlling sex determination in drosophila and mammals, have been well studied, very little is known about such processes in plants. White campion (Silene latifolia) is an example of plant with X and Y chromosomes. What is the origin of the X and Y chromosomes? How did they evolve from a pair of autosomes? In our laboratory, we have isolated the first active genes located on a plant Y chromosome. We are using them as markers to trace the origin and evolution of sex chromosomes in the Silene genus.     

Are Husbands Involving in Their Spouses’ Utilization of Maternal Care Services?: A Cross-Sectional Study in Yangon,Myanmar

IntroductionHusbands can play a crucial role in pregnancy and childbirth, especially in patriarchal societies of developing countries. In Myanmar, despite the critical influence of husbands on the health of mothers and newborns, their roles in maternal health have not been well explored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with husbands’ involvement in maternal health in Myanmar. This study also examined the associations between husbands’ involvement and their spouses’ utilization of maternal care services during antenatal, delivery and postnatal periods.MethodsA community-based, cross sectional study was conducted with 426 husbands in Thingangyun Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Participants were husbands aged 18 years or older who had at least one child within two years at the time of interview. Face to face interviews were conducted using a pretested structured questionnaire. Factors associated with the characteristics of husband’s involvement as well as their spouses’ utilization of maternal care services were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression models.ResultsOf 426 husbands, 64.8% accompanied their spouses for an antenatal visit more than once while 51.6% accompanied them for a postnatal visit. Husbands were major financial supporters for both antenatal (95.8%) and postnatal care (68.5%). Overall, 69.7% were involved in decision making about the place of delivery. Regarding birth preparedness, the majority of husbands prepared for skilled birth attendance (91.1%), delivery place (83.6%), and money saving (81.7%) before their spouses gave birth. In contrast, fewer planned for a potential blood donor (15.5%) and a safe delivery kit (21.1%). In the context of maternal health, predictors of husband’s involvement were parity, educational level, type of marriage, decision making level in family, exposure to maternal health education and perception of risk during pregnancy and childbirth. Increased utilization of maternal health services was found among spouses of husbands who accompanied them to antenatal visits (AOR 5.82, 95% CI, 3.34–10.15) and those who had a well birth plan (AOR 2.42, 95% CI, 1.34–4.39 for antenatal visit and AOR 2.88, 95% CI, 1.52–5.47 for postnatal visit).ConclusionThe majority of husbands supported their spouses’ maternal care services use financially; however, they were less involved in birth preparedness and postnatal care. Exposure to maternal health education and their maternal health knowledge were main predictors of their involvement. Women were more likely to use maternal care services when their husbands company them for ANC visits and had a well-birth plan in advance.     

Lipid composition of envelopes,prolamellar bodies and other plastid membranes in etiolated,green and greening wheat leaves

Summary Comparative studies of lipid composition were made on prolamellar bodies, envelopes and other plastid membranes separately extracted from etiolated, green or greening (intermittent or continuous light) wheat (Triticum sativum L.) leaves. The different membrane fractions were examined by electron microscopy.The major lipid was digalactosyldiglyceride in the envelopes and prolamellar bodies and monogalactosyldiglyceride in stroma lamellae and grana. Phosphatidylcholine represented 60% of total phospholipids in the envelopes, 30% in prolamellar bodies and 14% in grana. All types of envelopes had the same lipid proportions.For all lipids the lowest fatty acid unsaturation was always found in the envelope membranes. The relative amount of {ie193-1} acid in the phosphatidylglycerol of envelopes increased from 4% (etioplasts) to an average of 15% (etiochloroplasts and chloroplasts).Abbreviations DGDG digalactosyldiglyceride - MGDG monogalactosyldiglyceride - PC phosphatidylcholine - PE phosphatidylethanolamine - PG phosphatidylglycerol - PI phosphatidylinositol - PS phosphatidylserine - SL sulfolipid     

Production of a biologically active human basic fibroblast growth factor using silkworm-baculovirus expression vector system

As a therapeutic treatment, recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (rhbFGF) is usually employed in tissue regeneration, and as an essential component in culture medium for maintaining the induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell and embryonic stem (ES) cell in an undifferentiated state. Therefore, a large amount of biologically active rhbFGF is required. In this study, silkworm-baculovirus expression vector system (silkworm-BEVS) is employed to achieve a high productivity of recombinant rhbFGF with two small affinity tags (His-tag and STREP-tag) at the N or C-terminus. It is observed that rhbFGF with 30?K signal peptide of silkworm were successfully expressed but are not sufficiently secreted into the culture medium of cultured insect cells. Then we purified the N- or C-tagged intracellular rhbFGF protein and obtained a yield of about 0.7?mg/larva and 1.2?mg/larva, respectively. Although the final yield of the C-tagged rhbFGF is higher than that of the N-tagged, rhbFGF with N-tag demonstrated promising and comparable biological activity, which is evaluated through a mammalian cell proliferation assay. Taken together, these results indicate that silkworm-BEVS could contribute to the mass-production of the biologically active rhbFGF for medical uses.     

A functional polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (PGANT) initiates O-glycosylation in cultured silkworm BmN4 cells

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Mucin-type O-glycosylation is initiated by UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (ppGalNAc-Ts or PGANTs), attaching GalNAc to serine or...     

Echinoparyphium elegans (Looss, 1899) (Digenea: Echinostomatidae): the life cycle and redescription of the adult with a revision of the 43-spined members of the genusEchinoparyphium

The adult morphology ofEchinoparyphium elegans is redescribed. The life cycle is described. The first intermediate host is the freshwater snail,Bulinus truncatus. This and other freshwater snails, such asBulinus globosus, Physa acuta and albinoBiomphalaria glabrata, serve as second intermediate hosts. Adult worms were obtained experimentally from canaries, chicks, pigeons and albino rats, but not from albino mice. The 43-spinedEchinoparyphium species with a collar spined arrangement 5-5-3-3-27,E. bioccalerouxi, E. ralphaudyi andE. combesi, are placed into synonymy withE. elegans after examination of the paratypes.