Biochemical characterisation of a Kunitz-type inhibitor from Tamarindus indica L. seeds and its efficacy in reducing plasma leptin in an experimental model of obesity

A trypsin inhibitor isolated from tamarind seed (TTI) has satietogenic effects in animals, increasing the cholecystokinin (CCK) in eutrophy and reducing leptin in obesity. We purified TTI (pTTI), characterised, and observed its effect upon CCK and leptin in obese Wistar rats. By HPLC, and after amplification of resolution, two protein fractions were observed: Fr1 and Fr2, with average mass of [M?+?14H]⁺?=?19,594,690?Da and [M?+?13H]⁺?=?19,578,266?Da, respectively. The protein fractions showed 54 and 53 amino acid residues with the same sequence. pTTI presented resistance to temperature and pH variations; IC₅₀ was 2.7?×?10^?10?mol.L^?1 and Ki was 2.9?×?10^?11?mol.L^?1. The 2-DE revealed spots with isoelectric points between pH 5 and 6, and one near pH 8. pTTI action on leptin decrease was confirmed. We conclude that pTTI is a Kunitz trypsin inhibitor with possible biotechnological health-related application.     

Strategies of leaf water uptake based on anatomical traits

• The ability of leaves to absorb fog water can positively contribute to the water and carbon balance of plants in montane ecosystems, especially in periods of soil water deficit. However, the ecophysiological traits and mechanisms responsible for variations in the speed and total water absorption capacity of leaves are still poorly known.
• This study investigated leaf anatomical attributes of seven species occurring in seasonal tropical high‐altitude ecosystems (rocky outcrop and forest), which could explain differences in leaf water uptake (LWU) capacities. We tested the hypothesis that different sets of anatomical leaf attributes will be more marked in plant individuals living under these contrasting environmental conditions. Anatomical variations will affect the initial rate of water absorption and the total storage capacity, resulting in different strategies for using the water supplied by fog events.
• Water absorption by leaves was inferred indirectly, based on leaf anatomical structure and visual observation of the main access routes (using an apoplastic marker), the diffusion of water through the cuticle, and non‐glandular or glandular trichomes in all species.
• The results suggest that three LWU strategies coexist in the species studied. The different anatomical patterns influenced the speed and maximum LWU capacity. The three LWU strategies can provide different adaptive advantages to adjust to temporal and spatial variations of water availability in these tropical high‐altitude environments.

     

Enrichment of syngas‐converting communities from a multi‐orifice baffled bioreactor

The substitution of natural gas by renewable biomethane is an interesting option to reduce global carbon footprint. Syngas fermentation has potential in this context, as a diverse range of low‐biodegradable materials that can be used. In this study, anaerobic sludge acclimatized to syngas in a multi‐orifice baffled bioreactor (MOBB) was used to start enrichments with CO. The main goals were to identify the key players in CO conversion and evaluate potential interspecies metabolic interactions conferring robustness to the process. Anaerobic sludge incubated with 0.7 × 10⁵ Pa CO produced methane and acetate. When the antibiotics vancomycin and/or erythromycin were added, no methane was produced, indicating that direct methanogenesis from CO did not occur. Acetobacterium and Sporomusa were the predominant bacterial species in CO‐converting enrichments, together with methanogens from the genera Methanobacterium and Methanospirillum. Subsequently, a highly enriched culture mainly composed of a Sporomusa sp. was obtained that could convert up to 1.7 × 10⁵ Pa CO to hydrogen and acetate. These results attest the role of Sporomusa species in the enrichment as primary CO utilizers and show their importance for methane production as conveyers of hydrogen to methanogens present in the culture.     

Efficient protocol for <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> mass micropropagation of slash pine

An efficient protocol was developed for large-scale micropropagation of slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii). For that, explants consisting of shoot apices 1.5–2.0 cm in length from 4 wk-old seedlings were cultured on two different basal media (Murashige & Skoog (MS) and Westvaco WV5 (WV5)). All media were supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), to stimulate the formation of axillary buds. Best bud induction was achieved, after 4 wk, on Westvaco WV5 medium (with 10-μM BAP) with rates close to 100%, and an average number of ~?7 new buds formed per explant. Elongation took place for 6 wk on Westvaco WV5 medium containing activated charcoal (0.2% (w/v)) and without growth regulators. Rooting took place on half-strength Westvaco WV5 medium containing 9.8-μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). After 6 wk, root primordia were visible in ~?43% of shoots. The acclimatization protocol was also optimized by controlling relative humidity, light/photoperiod, temperature, and nutrition, which led to an acclimatization success of ~?89%. Flow cytometry analysis of DNA-ploidy did not show any variation between micropropagated plants and seedlings. With the protocol here described, it is possible to obtain a high number of genetically uniform plants per explant, 1 yr after in vitro germination of slash pine seeds.     

Exit from Naive Pluripotency Induces a Transient X Chromosome Inactivation-like State in Males

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Population structure of a vector of human diseases: Aedes aegypti in its ancestral range,Africa

Aedes aegypti, the major vector of dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, remains of great medical and public health concern. There is little doubt that the ancestral home of the species is Africa. This mosquito invaded the New World 400‐500 years ago and later, Asia. However, little is known about the genetic structure and history of Ae. aegypti across Africa, as well as the possible origin(s) of the New World invasion. Here, we use ~17,000 genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to characterize a heretofore undocumented complex picture of this mosquito across its ancestral range in Africa. We find signatures of human‐assisted migrations, connectivity across long distances in sylvan populations, and of local admixture between domestic and sylvan populations. Finally, through a phylogenetic analysis combined with the genetic structure analyses, we suggest West Africa and especially Angola as the source of the New World's invasion, a scenario that fits well with the historic record of 16th‐century slave trade between Africa and Americas.     

Pain management using photobiomodulation: Mechanisms,location, and repeatability quantified by pain threshold and neural biomarkers in mice

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a simple, efficient and cost‐effective treatment for both acute and chronic pain. We previously showed that PBM applied to the mouse head inhibited nociception in the foot. Nevertheless, the optimum parameters, location for irradiation, duration of the effect and the mechanisms of action remain unclear. In the present study, the pain threshold in the right hind paw of mice was studied, after PBM (810 nm CW laser, spot size 1 or 6 cm², 1.2–36 J/cm²) applied to various anatomical locations. The pain threshold, measured with von Frey filaments, was increased more than 3‐fold by PBM to the lower back (dorsal root ganglion, DRG), as well as to other neural structures along the pathway such as the head, neck and ipsilateral (right) paw. On the other hand, application of PBM to the contralateral (left) paw, abdomen and tail had no effect. The optimal effect occurred 2 to 3 hours post‐PBM and disappeared by 24 hours. Seven daily irradiations showed no development of tolerance. Type 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors decreased, and prostatic acid phosphatase and tubulin‐positive varicosities were increased as shown by immunofluorescence of DRG samples. These findings elucidate the mechanisms of PBM for pain and provide insights for clinical practice.      

Assessment of trans‐scleral iontophoresis delivery of lutein to the human retina

The efficacy of novel scleral iontophoresis device for in situ delivery of lutein to the human retina was assessed by Resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) technique. Eight human donor eye globes were used for experiments, 6 of which underwent trans‐scleral iontophoresis delivery of lutein and the other 2 were used as controls. The scleral iontophoresis applicator was filled with liposome‐enriched 0.1% lutein solution and the generator's current was set at 2.5 mA and delivered for 4 min. A custom RRS setup was used for detecting lutein in the inner sclera, choroid, retinal periphery and macula of treated samples and controls. Forty minutes after iontophoresis, the inner sclera, choroid and retinal periphery were greatly enriched with lutein (P < .05); no lutein was found in the same ocular regions of non‐treated samples. In the same period, the average concentration of lutein in the macula (4.8 ± 1.7 ng/mm²) of treated samples was 1.3 times greater than controls (3.7 ± 1.0 ng/mm²; P = .4). Scleral iontophoresis was shown to be effective in delivering lutein to the human retina. Future studies will aim at assessing if this therapeutic strategy is valuable to enrich the macular pigment in human subjects.      

Temporal Variation of Allozyme Frequencies in Aedes albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Argentina

Aedes albifasciatus is a floodwater mosquito widely distributed in Argentina. It is important from economic and medical points of view. A 4-year survey of seasonal variation in allele frequencies in a population of this species was undertaken to determine possible changes in the genetic structure and their correlation with environmental conditions. Significant temporal variation was detected at most of the loci, but it did not follow a cyclic or seasonal pattern. Multivariate analysis of principal components showed a remarkable homogeneity of samples collected from December 1993 to April 1995 and a clear differentiation of the November 1991, March 1992, and November 1993 samples. This variation could be correlated with the magnitude of rainfall occurring in the area. Passive transport of larvae by water streams and river freshets produced by floods would have mixed larvae from breeding sites with different allele frequencies, causing the genetic differentiation observed.