The SAUR gene family in coffee: genome-wide identification and gene expression analysis during somatic embryogenesis

Molecular Biology Reports - Small auxin-up RNA (SAUR) genes form a wide family supposedly involved in different physiological and developmental processes in plants such as leaf senescence, auxin...     

Coupling of GABA Metabolism to Mitochondrial Glucose Phosphorylation

Neurochemical Research - Glucose and oxygen (O2) are vital to the brain. Glucose metabolism and mitochondria play a pivotal role in this process, culminating in the increase of reactive O2 species....     

A species-specific qPCR assay provides novel insight into range expansion of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) by means of eDNA analysis

Biodiversity and Conservation - The monk seal is the most endangered pinniped worldwide and the only one found in the Mediterranean, where its distribution and abundance have suffered a drastic...     

The galactose‐binding lectin isolated from Bauhinia bauhinioides Mart seeds inhibits neutrophil rolling and adhesion via primary cytokines

In this study, the amino acid sequence and anti‐inflammatory effect of Bauhinia bauhinioides (BBL) lectin were evaluated. Tandem mass spectrometry revealed that BBL possesses 86 amino acid residues. BBL (1 mg/kg) intravenously injected in rats 30 min prior to inflammatory stimuli inhibited the cellular edema induced by carrageenan in only the second phase (21% – 3 h, 19% – 4 h) and did not alter the osmotic edema induced by dextran. BBL also inhibited carrageenan peritoneal neutrophil migration (51%), leukocyte rolling (58%) and adhesion (68%) and the neutrophil migration induced by TNF‐α (64%). These effects were reversed by the association of BBL with galactose, demonstrating that the carbohydrate‐binding domain is essential for lectin activity. In addition, BBL reduced myeloperoxidase activity (84%) and TNF‐α (68%) and IL1‐β (47%) levels. In conclusion, the present investigation demonstrated that BBL contains highly homologous isolectins, resulting in a total of 86 amino acid residues, and exhibits anti‐inflammatory activity by inhibiting neutrophil migration by reducing TNF‐α and IL1‐β levels via the lectin domain. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phage Therapy: a Step Forward in the Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections

Antimicrobial resistance constitutes one of the major worldwide public health concerns. Bacteria are becoming resistant to the vast majority of antibiotics, and nowadays, a common infection can be fatal. To address this situation, the use of phages for the treatment of bacterial infections has been extensively studied as an alternative therapeutic strategy. Since Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common causes of health care-associated infections, many studies have reported the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial efficacy of phage therapy against this bacterium. This review collects data of all the P. aeruginosa phages sequenced to date, providing a better understanding about their biodiversity. This review further addresses the in vitro and in vivo results obtained by using phages to treat or prevent P. aeruginosa infections as well as the major hurdles associated with this therapy.     

Reliability-based life cycle assessment for future solid waste management alternatives in Portugal

Background, aim, and scope  

This paper presents a study related to the application of the reliability-based life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess different alternatives for solid waste management in the Setúbal peninsula, Portugal. The current system includes waste collection, transport, sorting, recycling, and mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) by means of aerobic treatment and landfill. In addition, some future expansion plans are discussed.     

Immunolocalization of IFN-gamma in the lesions of resistant and susceptible mice to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection

The important role of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in protective immunity in mycosis is well established, except for its participation in fungal granulomas. Herein, we employ immunohistochemical reactions to describe the in situ localization of IFN-γ in granulomas of susceptible (B10.A) and resistant (A/J) mice to infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). After infection with the highly virulent Pb18, IFN-γ-positive lymphomononuclear cells were localized mainly at the periphery of granulomas in both mouse strains. The numbers of positive cells found in compact granulomas of A/J mice increased significantly from 15 to 120 days postinfection. At this time, significantly more positive cells were detected in the compact granulomas of resistant mice than in the loose, multifocal lesions of the susceptible ones. In infection with the slightly virulent Pb265, the same pattern of IFN-γ localization was found as in Pb18 infection, but there was decreased staining at 120 days due to the presence of only residual lesions in both mouse strains. The marked IFN-γ staining observed in the granulomas of resistant mice at the later stage of Pb infection confirms its importance in fungal dissemination control, and suggests a contribution to the development of paracoccidioidal granuloma.