A method for the quantitative determination of glycerolipids containing O-alkyl and O-alk-1-enyl moieties.

We have developed a spectrophotometric procedure, based on a combination of established methods, for the quantitative determination of aklyl and alk-1-enyl (plasmalogens) ether-linked glycerolipids. It depends upon the release of alkylglycerols and alk-1-enylglycerols from phospholipids by phosphlipase C (Bacillus cereus) followed by saponification or by Vitride reduction the phospholipids; aldehydes are subsequently formed and measured colorimetrically after reacting them with a fuchsin reagent. The total alkyl and alk-1-enyl content of glycerolipids is determined oxidation of the sample withperiodate to form aldehydes and alkylglycolic aldehydes. The O-alk-1-enyl lipid content is determined on a separate sample by measuring the aldehydes produced after acid hydrolysis. The quantity of O-alkyl lipids is calculated from the difference between the values obtained for the total ether-lipid content and that of the O-alk-1enyl lipid content. Alternately, direct determination of alk-1-enylglycerols and alkylglycerols can be made if these hydrolytic products are first separated by thin-layer chromatography.     

Tomato yellow leaf curl viruses: ménage à trois between the virus complex,the plant and the whitefly vector

Tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD) is one of the most devastating viral diseases affecting tomato crops in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world. Here, we focus on the interactions through recombination between the different begomovirus species causing TYLCD, provide an overview of the interactions with the cellular genes involved in viral replication, and highlight recent progress on the relationships between these viruses and their vector, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Taxonomy: The tomato yellow leaf curl virus‐like viruses (TYLCVs) are a complex of begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus) including 10 accepted species: Tomato yellow leaf curl Axarquia virus (TYLCAxV), Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Guangdong virus (TYLCGuV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (TYLCIDV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Kanchanaburi virus (TYLVKaV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Malaga virus (TYLCMalV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Mali virus (TYLCMLV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus (TYLCTHV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Vietnam virus (TYLCVNV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus(TYLCV). We follow the species demarcation criteria of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), the most important of which is an 89% nucleotide identity threshold between full‐length DNA‐A component nucleotide sequences for begomovirus species. Strains of a species are defined by a 93% nucleotide identity threshold. Host range: The primary host of TYLCVs is tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), but they can also naturally infect other crops [common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), chilli pepper (C. chinense) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)], a number of ornamentals [petunia (Petunia×hybrida) and lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflora)], as well as common weeds (Solanum nigrum and Datura stramonium). TYLCVs also infect the experimental host Nicotiana benthamiana. Disease symptoms: Infected tomato plants are stunted or dwarfed, with leaflets rolled upwards and inwards; young leaves are slightly chlorotic; in recently infected plants, fruits might not be produced or, if produced, are small and unmarketable. In common bean, some TYLCVs produce the bean leaf crumple disease, with thickening, epinasty, crumpling, blade reduction and upward curling of leaves, as well as abnormal shoot proliferation and internode reduction; the very small leaves result in a bushy appearance.     

Genetic basis of murine responses to hyperoxia-induced lung injury

To evaluate the effect of genetic background on oxygen (O₂) toxicity, nine genetically diverse mouse strains (129/SvIm, A/J, BALB/cJ, BTBR+(T)/tf/tf, CAST/Ei, C3H/HeJ, C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and FVB/NJ) were exposed to more than 99% O₂ for 72 h. Immediately following the hyperoxic challenge, the mouse strains demonstrated distinct pathophysiologic responses. The BALB/cJ and CAST/Ei strains, which were the only strains to demonstrate mortality from the hyperoxic challenges, were also the only strains to display significant neutrophil infiltration into their lower respiratory tract. In addition, the O₂-challenged BALB/cJ and CAST/Ei mice were among six strains (A/J, BALB/cJ, CAST/Ei, BTBR+(T)/tf/tf, DBA/2J, and C3H/HeJ) that had significantly increased interleukin 6 concentrations in the whole lung lavage fluid and were among all but one strain that had large increases in lung permeability compared with air-exposed controls. In contrast, the DBA/2J strain was the only strain not to have any significant alterations in lung permeability following hyperoxic challenge. The expression of the extracellular matrix proteins, including collagens I, III, and IV, fibronectin I, and tenascin C, also varied markedly among the mouse strains, as did the activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and manganese-SOD (Mn-SOD or SOD2). These data suggest that the response to O₂ depends, in part, on the genetic background and that some of the strains analyzed can be used to identify specific loci and genes underlying the response to O₂.     

The co-distribution of Plasmodium falciparum and hookworm among African schoolchildren

Background

On the island of Bioko (Equatorial Guinea), insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been the main tool used to control malaria over the last 13 years. In 2004, started an indoor residual spraying (IRS) campaign to control malaria. The purpose of this study is to asses the impact of the two control strategies on the island of Bioko (Equatorial Guinea), with regards to Plasmodium infection and anaemia in the children under five years of age.

Methods

Two transversal studies, the first one prior to the start of the IRS campaign and the second one year later. Sampling was carried out by stratified clusters. Malaria infection was measured by means of thick and thin film, and the packed cell volume (PCV) percentage. Data related to ITN use and information regarding IRS were collected. The Pearson's chi-square and logistic regression statistical tests were used to calculate odds ratios (OR)

Results

In the first survey, 168 children were sampled and 433 children in the second one. The prevalence of infection was 40% in 2004, and significantly lower at 21.7% in 2005. PCV was 41% and 39%, respectively. 58% of the children surveyed in 2004 and 44.3% in 2005 had slept under an ITN. 78% of the dwellings studied in 2005 had been sprayed. In the 2005 survey, sleeping without a mosquito net meant a risk of infection 3 times greater than sleeping protected with a net hanged correctly and with no holes (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

IRS and ITNs have proven to be effective control strategies on the island of Bioko. The choice of one or other strategy is, above all, a question of operational feasibility and availability of local resources.     

Duodenal cytochrome b: a novel ferrireductase in airway epithelial cells

Catalytically active iron in the lung causes oxidative stress and promotes microbial growth that can be limited by intracellular sequestration of iron within ferritin. Because cellular iron uptake requires membrane ferrireductase activity that in the gut can be provided by duodenal cytochrome b (Dcytb), we sought Dcytb in the lung to test the hypothesis that it contributes to epithelial iron regulation by reducing Fe(3+) for cellular iron transport. Dcytb expression was found in respiratory epithelium in vitro and in vivo and was responsive to iron concentration. Iron transport was measured in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and was demonstrated to be partially inhibited in the presence of Dcytb-blocking antibody, suggesting that Dcytb reduces Fe(3+) for cellular iron transport. A definite source of reducing equivalents for Dcytb was sought but not identified. We found no evidence that ascorbate was involved but did demonstrate that O(2)(-). production decreased when Dcytb function was blocked. The presence of Dcytb in airway epithelial cells and its regulation by iron therefore may contribute to pulmonary cytoprotection.     

入侵种喜旱莲子草和莲子草的营养生长和光合作用对温度的响应

比较温度对入侵种喜旱莲子草(Alternantheraphiloxeroides(Mart.)Griseb.)和其本土近缘种莲子草(A.sessilis(L.)DC.)的营养生长、叶片光合作用及叶绿素荧光的影响。实验将生长均衡的这两种植物放在不同温度(10℃、15℃、20℃、25℃、30℃)的光照培养箱中处理28d。结果表明,喜旱莲子草营养生长的速率和对温度的响应明显不同于莲子草:前者主茎生长的有效积温明显低于后者,分别是11.6d℃和27.0d℃;而新叶萌发的有效积温高于后者,分别是12.1d℃和6.7d℃。入侵种主茎和叶的发育起点温度都比本土种低,分别是10.4℃、11.0℃和12.8℃、14.9℃,表明喜旱莲子草的发育对低温反应不及莲子草敏感。对两种植物叶片的光合作用和叶绿素荧光的测定结果还表明:入侵种比本土种有较高的最大净光合速率和光饱和点,尤其在25℃时;10-30℃的温度范围内喜旱莲子草的最大光化学效率Fv/Fm没有显著变化,而莲子草在10℃低温条件下Fv/Fm值显著降低。较快的主茎生长速率、较宽的温度适应范围以及较高的光合能力可能使喜旱莲子草比本地种具有更强的竞争力,从而在其入侵过程中起了重要作用。     

Plant Vascular Biology and Agriculture

The evolution of animal and plant vascular systems played a pivotal role in the advancement from simple to complex organisms, through the provision of a delivery system for the distribution     

不同术式的经内镜下行乳头括约肌切开术（EST）对肠胆反流的影响

目的：目前认为,十二指肠胆道反流是引起胆道反复感染,进而导致胆道结石再发和胆道狭窄的原因之一。近年来应用以内镜下逆行胆胰管造影术（endoscopicretrogradecholangiopancreatography,ERCP）为基础的微创治疗胆总管结束的技术开展颇为广泛。它主要包括ERCP、Oddi括约肌切开术（endoscopicsphincterotomy,EST）、十二指肠乳头球囊扩张术（endoscopicpapillarybal—Iondilation,EPBD）、胆管结石碎石取石术、胆总管支架植入术和鼻胆管引流术六大技术。本文主要研究了采用不同术式的EST,即EST中切口和EST小切口＋EPBD术,在术后早期对患者十二指肠胆道反流的影响。方法：63例胆总管结石患者,男30例,女33例,予行经内镜下逆行的胆胰管造影（ERCP）后分别采用不同术式EST,术后安放胆总管引流管。术后l周留取胆汁采用口服核素和测定胆汁中的胃蛋白酶I、II的浓度,对十二指肠胆道反流进行定量和定性的测定。结果：EST中切口术组、EST小切口＋球囊扩张（EPBD）组分别与无EST组相比,年龄和性别无统计学意义（P=0．07,P=0．416）。行EST中切开和小切开＋球囊扩张患者胆汁中的锝计数明显高于无EST组,且这两组不同术式的患者锝计数存在显著的统计学差异（P〈0．05）。行EST中切口者、EST小切口＋球囊扩张术者胆汁中的PGII质量浓度明显低于无EST组（P〈0．05）,但是EST中切口者和EST小切口＋球囊扩张术后两组间胆汁中PGII的质量浓度无统计学差异。结论：行EST中切口取胆总管结石的患者在手术早期较易发生十二指肠胆道的反流。因此,建议对于胆总管结石患者尽量选择行EST小切口＋球裳扩张术（EPBD）的手术方式。