Charting plant interactomes: possibilities and challenges

Protein-protein interactions are essential for nearly all cellular processes. Therefore, an important goal of post-genomic research for defining gene function and understanding the function of macromolecular complexes involves creating 'interactome' maps from empirical or inferred datasets. Systematic efforts to conduct high-throughput surveys of protein-protein interactions in plants are needed to chart the complex and dynamic interaction networks that occur throughout plant development. However, no single approach can build a complete map of the interactome. Here, we review the utility and potential of various experimental approaches for creating large-scale protein-protein interaction maps in plants. Bioinformatics approaches for curating and assessing the confidence of these datasets through inter-species comparisons will be crucial in achieving a complete understanding of protein interaction networks in plants.     

A novel approach for the management of the chalkbrood disease infesting honeybee Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies in Egypt

Except for, very few articles regarding the influence of some organic acids on the causative pathogen, Ascosphaera apis Maassen, no other studies pertaining to the management of the chalkbrood disease were performed, so far in Egypt. Laboratory investigations indicated that the fungicides, i.e (Galben C 46%, Radomil gold pluse WP 42.5% and Daconil 2787) at their recommended rates did not exert any effect on the mycelical growth of the fungus. Therefore, these fungicides were completely excluded from the subsequent apiary trials. As to the Mycostatin, it was found clearly that this mycostatic compound was effective at the rates of 50.000 and 100.000 IU. Regarding the essential oils (ceder, clove, peppermint, parsley, black cumin, garden rocket, and ricin), ceder oil surpassed the other oils and materials in controlling the subject disease. It is peculiar that no studies on the efficacy of ceder are available in the literature, so the present work using ceder oil is recorded for the first time worldwide. Thymol substance at the rate of 2% showed also a great success in managing the CHB disease. Baised on the obtained results, the promising materials in controlling the disease could be arranged according to their efficacy in a descending order as follows: ceder oil>thymol>mycostatin and oxalic acid, so these highly effective materials were again tested under the apiary conditions. Outdoors (apiary) studies revealed that ceder oil 4% gave 100% reduction in mummies numbers. Reductions in number of fallen mummies ranged from 63.22 to 96.94, 18.93 to 81.74, and 10.11 to 68.16%, on average, for thymol, mycostatin, and oxalic acid, respectively. From the practical point of view, thymol could be recommended for controlling the CHB disease, as it is the cheapest material and proved to increase the brood nest as well. In addition, thymol has other uses in the field of apiculture.     

Defining the cost of the Egyptian lymphatic filariasis elimination programme

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography (USG) is known to be a suitable tool for diagnosis in lymphatic filariasis as the adult filarial nematode Wuchereria bancrofti in scrotal lymphatic vessels of infected men can be detected by the characteristic pattern of movement, the Filaria Dance Sign. In onchocerciasis, moving adult worms have not yet been demonstrated by USG. In addition the verification of drug effects on living adult Onchocerca volvulus filariae in trials is hampered by the lack of tools for longitudinal observation of alterations induced by potentially macrofilaricidal drugs in vivo. The present study was carried out to determine the frequency of detection of moving adult filariae of O. volvulus by USG. METHODS: In an endemic region for onchocerciasis in Ghana, 61 patients infected with onchocerciasis were recruited by palpation and onchocercomas examined by USG using an ultrasound system equipped with a 7.5 - 10 MHz linear transducer. Onchocercomas were recorded on videotape and evaluated with regard to location, number and size, as well as to movements of adult filariae. RESULTS: In the 61 patients 303 onchocercomas were found by palpation and 401 onchocercomas were detected by USG. In 18 out of 61 patients (29.5%), altogether 22 nodules with moving adult O. volvulus filariae were detected and are presented in animated ultrasound images as mp-4 videos. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographical examinations of onchocercomas where living adult filariae can be displayed may serve as a new tool for the longitudinal observation in vivo of patients with onchocerciasis undergoing treatment and as an adjunct to histological evaluation.     

Protective effects of nebivolol against cold restraint stress-induced gastric ulcer in rats: role of NO, HO-1, and COX-1,2

Nebivolol, a β(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, exhibits vasodilatory and anti-oxidative properties that rendering it attractive candidate for protecting against gastric ulcer. The aim of this study therefore is to evaluate the protective effects of nebivolol against cold restraint stress (CRS)-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Rats were restrained, and maintained at 4°C for 3 h. Nebivolol (5 mg/kg, p.o.) was suspended in 0.5% aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose and was administered 30 min before CRS. Nebivolol exhibited gastroprotective effects as evidenced by significant decreases in ulcer index as well as free and total acid output, and pepsin activity in gastric juice in addition to gastric mucosal malondialdehyde concentration, with concomitant increases in gastric juice pH and mucin concentration along with gastric mucosal reduced glutathione and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations compared with CRS rats. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that nebivolol treatment markedly enhanced heme oxygenase-1 as well as cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 expressions. The protective effects of nebivolol were confirmed by gastric histopathological examination. Pretreatment with N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine, a NO synthase inhibitor, partly altered the protection afforded by nebivolol. In conclusion, nebivolol protected rats' gastric mucosa against CRS-induced gastric ulceration possibly through anti-oxidant activity, enhancement of gastric mucosal barrier and reduction in acid secretory parameters.     

Structures of new amphidinols with truncated polyhydroxyl chain and their membrane-permeabilizing activities

Two new homologues of amphidinols (AM14 and AM15) were isolated from the cultured dinoflagellate Amphidinium klebsii. The structures were elucidated on the basis of 2D NMR and collision-induced dissociation MS/MS and turned out to be closely related homologues of AM7. Their weak membrane-disrupting activity indicates that the hydrophobic polyene chain is essential for the potent biological activities. Structure-activity relationship for the polyhydroxyl part was then examined with use of AM homologues possessing various chain lengths, indicating that the pore size of the channel/lesion formed by AMs was not greatly affected by the length of the polyhydroxyl chain.     

Evidence for an early evolutionary emergence of γ-type carbonic anhydrases as components of mitochondrial respiratory complex I

Background  

The complexity of mitochondrial complex I (CI; NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) has increased considerably relative to the homologous complex in bacteria. Comparative analyses of CI composition in animals, fungi and land plants/green algae suggest that novel components of mitochondrial CI include a set of 18 proteins common to all eukaryotes and a variable number of lineage-specific subunits. In plants and green algae, several purportedly plant-specific proteins homologous to γ-type carbonic anhydrases (γCA) have been identified as components of CI. However, relatively little is known about CI composition in the unicellular protists, the characterizations of which are essential to our understanding of CI evolution.     

Effects of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-Canavanine and ozone on vascular reactivity in septicemic rats

Septicemia leads to oxidative stress with overproduction of reactive-oxygen species (ROS) and consumption of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. We tested a twofold hypothesis: (1) does oxidative stress (OxS) induced by sepsis acting alone or in concert with augmented inflammatory processes contributes to sepsis-related vascular dysfunction, and, (2) whether ozone (O₃) and l-canavanine (CAV) mitigate the negative impact of the aforementioned phenomena. We investigated the relative impact of treatment with CAV and/or O₃ on vascular OxS associated vascular functional changes in septicemic rats. For this study, 60 male Sprague–Dawley rats were used and divided into six experimental groups (n = 10): control group (C), sham-operated (Sham), septicemic rats (S), S rats treated with CAV (100 mg/kg. i.p; S + CAV), S rats treated with O₃ (1.2 mg/kg, i.p.; S + O₃) and S rats treated with both O₃ and CAV (S + O₃ + CAV). After 22 h, the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), the aortic ring vascular reactivity to phenylephrine, abdominal aortic blood flow (AABF), serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx) concentration were measured. In addition, hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities sodium dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were estimated. Septicemia caused significant elevation of serum TNF-α (p < 0.001) and plasma NOx (p < 0.001) and significant (p < 0.001) reduction of AABF (p < 0.001), aortic vascular response to phenylephrine (p < 0.001), MAP (p < 0.001) and hepatic SOD and GSH-Px activity (p < 0.001) compared with the C group, while treatment with O₃ and/or CAV induced significant amelioration of all those increases. Abnormalities were attenuated to a similar extent with treatment with both O₃ and CAV. These results suggested that concomitant administration of O₃ and CAV alleviated the compromised vascular reactivity in septicemic conditions and prevent its progression into septic shock compared with each alone.