Purification and characterization of alpha 2-macroglobulin from the white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

alpha(2)-Macroglobulin (alpha(2)M) is a broad-spectrum protease-binding protein abundant in plasma from vertebrates and several invertebrate phyla. This protein was purified from cell-free hemolymph of the white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, using Blue-Sepharose and Phenyl-Sepharose chromatography. The shrimp alpha(2)M is a 380 kDa protein, a homodimer of two apparently identical subunits of approximately 180 kDa linked by disulphide bridges. The amino acid sequence of the N-terminus is similar to the Limulus alpha(2)M counterpart. The shrimp alpha(2)M has a wide inhibition spectrum against different proteinase types including trypsin, leucine amino peptidase, chymotrypsin, elastase and papain. The secondary structure of shrimp alpha(2)M is mainly beta-sheet (36%), with a characteristic minimum elipticity at 217 nm. Evidence for a thiolester-mediated inhibition mechanism of proteases by alpha(2)M was provided by inactivation with methylamine.     

Surgical treatment of scoliosis in a rare disease: arthrogryposis

Background

The reported incidence of scoliosis in arthrogryposis varies from 30% to 67% and, in most cases, the curves progress rapidly and become stiff from early age. The authors report six cases of scoliosis in arthrogryposis to assess the role of surgical treatment.

Methods

Six cases (3 males, 3 females; mean age at surgery 13.2 years) with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita associated with the characteristic amyoplasia were reviewed: they were operated on for scoliosis at the authors' Spine Surgery Department between 1987 and 2008. Surgery was performed using the Harrington-Luque instrumentation (2 cases), the Luque system (1), a hybrid segmental technique with hooks and screws (1) and spinal anchoring with pedicle screws (2).

Results

The patients were clinically and radiologically reviewed at a mean follow-up of 4.2 years, ± 2.7 (range, 1 to 9 years). Three minor postoperative complications were encountered; a long-term pulmonary complication was seen in one case after reintervention and was successfully resolved after 10 days. Surgery was successful in the other 5 cases, where solid arthrodesis was achieved and no significant curve progression was observed at follow-up.

Conclusions

The experience acquired with the present case series leads the authors to assert that prompt action should be taken when treating such aggressive forms of scoliosis. In case of mild spinal deformities in arthrogryposis, brace treatment should be attempted, the evolution of the curves being unpredictable; however, when the curve exceeds 40° and presents with marked hyperkyphosis, hyperlordosis or pelvic obliquity, surgery should not be delayed.     

Yeast communities associated with stingless bees

The yeast communities associated with the stingless bees Tetragonisca angustula, Melipona quadrifasciata and Frieseomelitta varia were studied. The bees T. angustula and F. varia showed a strong association with the yeast Starmerella meliponinorum. M. quadrifasciata more frequently carried a species related to Candida apicola, but also vectored low numbers of S. meliponinorum. Some of the yeasts isolated from adult bees were typical of species known to occur in flowers. Other yeast species found in adult bees were more typical of those found in the phylloplane. S. meliponinorum and the species in the C. apicola complex, also part of the Starmerella clade, may have a mutualistic relationship with the bees studied. Many yeasts in that group are often found in bees or substrates visited by bees, suggesting that a mutually beneficial interaction exists between them.     

Influence of microalgae cell wall characteristics on protein extractability and determination of nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors

Additional evidence about the influence of the cell wall physical and chemical characteristics on protein extractability was determined by calculating the conversion factors of five different microalgae known to have different cell wall composition, and their protein extracts. The conversion factors obtained for crude rigid cell walled Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsis oculata and Haematococcus pluvialis were 6.35, 6.28 and 6.25, respectively, but for their protein extracts the values were lower with 5.96, 5.86 and 5.63. On the other hand, conversion factor obtained for fragile cell walled microalgae Porphyridium cruentum and Athrospira platensis was 6.35 for the former and 6.27 for the latter, with no significant difference for their protein extract with 6.34 for the former and 6.21 for the latter. In addition, the highest hydro-soluble protein percentage recovered from total protein was for P. cruentum 80.3 % and A. platensis 69.5 % but lower for C. vulgaris with 43.3 %, N. oculata with 33.3 % and H. pluvialis with 27.5 %. The study spotted the light on the influence of the cell wall on evaluating the conversion factor and protein extractability. In addition, it showed the necessity of finding the conversion factor every time accurate protein quantification is required, and proved that there is not a universal conversion factor that can be recommended.     

Using anticipatory life cycle assessment to enable future sustainable construction

The built environment is the largest single emitter of CO₂ and an important consumer of energy. Much research has gone into the improved efficiency of building operation and construction products. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is commonly used to assess existing buildings or building products. Classic LCA, however, is not suited for evaluating the environmental performance of developing technologies. A new approach, anticipatory LCA (a‐LCA), promises various advantages and can be used as a design constraint during the product development stage. It helps overcome four challenges: (i) data availability, (ii) stakeholder inclusion, (iii) risk assessment, and (iv) multi‐criteria problems. This article's contribution to the line of research is twofold: first, it adapts the a‐LCA approach for construction‐specific purposes in theoretical terms for the four challenges. Second, it applies the method to an innovative prefabricated modular envelope system, the CleanTechBlock (CTB), focusing on challenge (i). Thirty‐six CTB designs are tested and compared to conventional walls. Inclusion of technology foresight is achieved through structured scenario analysis. Moreover, challenge (iv) is tackled through the analysis of different environmental impact categories, transport‐related impacts, and thickness of the wall assemblies of the CTB. The case study results show that optimized material choice and product design is needed to reach the lowest environmental impact. Methodological findings highlight the importance of context‐specific solutions and the need for benchmarking new products.     

Dispersal and Burial Behavior in Larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysomya megacephala</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysomya albiceps</Emphasis> (Diptera,Calliphoridae)

Blowflies use discrete and ephemeral substrates to feed their larva. After they run out of food, the larvae begin to disperse in order to find adequate places for pupation or additional food sources, a process named post-feeding larval dispersal. Briefly state the aspects and why they are important were studied in a circular arena of 25 cm in diameter and covered with wood shavings to a height of 40 cm allowing post-feeding dispersal from the center of the arena. Larvae of both Chrysomya albiceps and C. megacephala were used in five experiments for each species. For each pupa location, determined as distance from the center, depth, and weight were evaluated. Statistical tests were done to verify the relation between weight, depth and distance for pupation and for larvae of two species shows that the media distance is significantly different for two species and for C. megacephala this distance is greater than the distance for C. albiceps. The depth too is different for each species, as the larvae of C. megacephala buries deeper than C. albiceps. With relation of weight, there is no statistic evidence that have any difference between weights for pupation for each species.     

Survivin and Cyclooxygenase-2 are co-expressed in human and mouse colon carcinoma and in terminally differentiated colonocytes

In the evolution of colon rectal cancer (CRC) the imbalance between cell proliferation and apoptosis is considered one of the prominent causes of tumor induction and/or progression. In order to establish the role of anti apoptotic proteins in colon cancer development, we studied with immunohistochemical techniques the expression of Survivin in a mouse model of colon carcinogenesis induced by 1,2-dimethyl-hydrazine treatment. In this mouse model Survivin was over-expressed during tumor development, showing a distribution mimicking that described in the correspondent human malignancies. We also correlated Survivin distribution with COX-2 and beta-Catenin expression patterns. The co-localization of COX-2/beta-Catenin/Survivin in the same epithelial cells in tumor samples lends credence to possible in vivo regulatory effects of COX-2 and beta-Catenin on the intracellular Survivin levels in mouse and human colon cancer.