Genome‐wide association mapping and pathway analysis of leukosis incidence in a US Holstein cattle population

Bovine leukosis virus is an oncogenic virus that infects B cells, causing bovine leukosis disease. This disease is known to have a negative impact on dairy cattle production and, because no treatment or vaccine is available, finding a possible genetic solution is important. Our objective was to perform a comprehensive genetic analysis of leukosis incidence in dairy cattle. Data on leukosis occurrence, pedigree and molecular information were combined into multitrait GBLUP models with milk yield (MY) and somatic cell score (SCS) to estimate genetic parameters and to perform whole‐genome scans and pathway analysis. Leukosis data were available for 11 554 Holsteins daughters of 3002 sires from 112 herds in 16 US states. Genotypes from a 60K SNP panel were available for 961 of those bulls as well as for 2039 additional bulls. Heritability for leukosis incidence was estimated at about 8%, and the genetic correlations of leukosis disease incidence with MY and SCS were moderate at 0.18 and 0.20 respectively. The genome‐wide scan indicated that leukosis is a complex trait, possibly modulated by many genes. The gene set analysis identified many functional terms that showed significant enrichment of genes associated with leukosis. Many of these terms, such as G‐Protein Coupled Receptor Signaling Pathway, Regulation of Nucleotide Metabolic Process and different calcium‐related processes, are known to be related to retrovirus infection. Overall, our findings contribute to a better understanding of the genetic architecture of this complex disease. The functional categories associated with leukosis may be useful in future studies on fine mapping of genes and development of dairy cattle breeding strategies.     

A comparison of the phenotypic and genetic stability of recombinant Trichoderma spp. generated by protoplast- and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation

Four different Trichoderma strains, T. harzianum CECT 2413, T. asperellum T53, T. atroviride T11 and T. longibrachiatum T52, which represent three of the four sections contained in this genus, were transformed by two different techniques: a protocol based on the isolation of protoplasts and a protocol based on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Both methods were set up using hygromycin B or phleomycin resistance as the selection markers. Using these techniques, we obtained phenotypically stable transformants of these four different strains. The highest transformation efficiencies were obtained with the T. longibrachiatum T52 strain: 65-70 transformants/microg DNA when transformed with the plasmid pAN7-1 (hygromycin B resistance) and 280 transformants/107 spores when the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was performed with the plasmid pUR5750 (hygromycin B resistance). Overall, the genetic analysis of the transformants showed that some of the strains integrated and maintained the transforming DNA in their genome throughout the entire transformation and selection process. In other cases, the integrated DNA was lost.     

The O-chain structure from the LPS of the bacterium Naxibacter alkalitolerans YIM 31775T

The O-chain polysaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide from the bacterium Naxibacter alkalitolerans strain YIM 31775(T) was characterized. The structure was studied by means of chemical analysis and 2D NMR spectroscopy and shown to be built up by the following tetrasaccharide repeating unit: -->3)-alpha-D-FucpNAc-(1-->2)-beta-D-Quip3NHBu-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Rhap-(1-->)-beta-D-Galp-(1--> where HBu is hydroxy-butanoyl.     

A biofilm model to understand the onset of sulfate reduction in denitrifying membrane biofilm reactors

This work presents a multispecies biofilm model that describes the co‐existence of nitrate‐ and sulfate‐reducing bacteria in the H₂‐based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR). The new model adapts the framework of a biofilm model for simultaneous nitrate and perchlorate removal by considering the unique metabolic and physiological characteristics of autotrophic sulfate‐reducing bacteria that use H₂ as their electron donor. To evaluate the model, the simulated effluent H₂, UAP (substrate‐utilization‐associated products), and BAP (biomass‐associated products) concentrations are compared to experimental results, and the simulated biomass distributions are compared to real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) data in the experiments for parameter optimization. Model outputs and experimental results match for all major trends and explain when sulfate reduction does or does not occur in parallel with denitrification. The onset of sulfate reduction occurs only when the nitrate concentration at the fiber's outer surface is low enough so that the growth rate of the denitrifying bacteria is equal to that of the sulfate‐reducing bacteria. An example shows how to use the model to design an MBfR that achieves satisfactory nitrate reduction, but suppresses sulfate reduction. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 763–772. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis and antiplatelet activity of gemfibrozil chiral analogues

The chiral analogues of gemfibrozil 5-(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)-2-methylpentanoic acid and 5-(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)-2-ethylpentanoic acid were synthesized in optically active form using (S)-4-(1-methylethyl)-2-oxazolidinone as chiral auxiliary. All compounds inhibit human platelet aggregation. From these data, one can surmise that all tested compounds and gemfibrozil act at the platelet level with different mechanism than that of ASA, even if with a different potency.     

Heavy metals and arsenic uptake by wild vegetation in the Guadiamar river area after the toxic spill of the Aznalcóllar mine

On 25 April 1998, approximately 4.5 hm(3) of pyritic sludge, containing 5000 mg of As kg(-1) among other pollutants, was spilled into the Agrio and Guadiamar rivers and the surrounding agricultural areas (Aznalcóllar, Seville, Southern Spain). Many trace metals such as Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Tl, Sb and As reached the Do?ana National Park, the largest wetland area in Europe, affecting soils, different plant and animal species. In order to recuperate the affected lands by employing plants capable of accumulating high levels of contaminants in shoots, periodical field surveys have been made to identify the metal-tolerant species that are spontaneously growing in the polluted soils, and are able to uptake one or various of the contaminants. Among the 99 different plant species studied, Anchusa azurea, Beta vulgaris, Chamaemelum fuscatum, Convolvulus arvensis, Cynodon dactylon, Diplotaxis virgata, Erodium aethiopicum, Lavatera cretica, Malva nicaeensis, Silybum marianum and, above all, Amaranthus blitoides highlight as the most promising to be used in the remediation of the affected area.     

The importance of naturally attenuated SARS-CoV-2in the fight against COVID-19

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is wreaking havoc throughout the world and has rapidly become a global health emergency. A central question concerning COVID-19 is why some individuals become sick and others not. Many have pointed already at variation in risk factors between individuals. However, the variable outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infections may, at least in part, be due also to differences between the viral subspecies with which individuals are infected. A more pertinent question is how we are to overcome the current pandemic. A vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 would offer significant relief, although vaccine developers have warned that design, testing and production of vaccines may take a year if not longer. Vaccines are based on a handful of different designs (i), but the earliest vaccines were based on the live, attenuated virus. As has been the case for other viruses during earlier pandemics, SARS-CoV-2 will mutate and may naturally attenuate over time (ii). What makes the current pandemic unique is that, thanks to state-of-the-art nucleic acid sequencing technologies, we can follow in detail how SARS-CoV-2 evolves while it spreads. We argue that knowledge of naturally emerging attenuated SARS-CoV-2 variants across the globe should be of key interest in our fight against the pandemic.     

Ischemic and hypoxic preconditioning protect cardiac muscles via intracellular ROS signaling

Oxidative stress can cause extensive damage to cardiac tissue under reperfusion conditions. However, preconditioning the myocardium may diminish these negative effects and alleviate reperfusion injury. There are a variety of preconditioning therapies, such as ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and hypoxic preconditioning (HPC), each targeting specific channels, receptors, and/or intracellular molecules. Ischemic preconditioning involves brief periods of ischemia followed by brief periods of reperfusion, thus strengthening the cardiac resistance for a longer period of ischemia. IPC involves complex mechanisms, some of which are still not completely understood today. Nevertheless, many studies have already established models of IPC. In addition, similar to IPC, HPC has also been recognized as preventing reperfusion injury. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known mediators of IPC and HPC. Particularly, mitochondria-generated ROS initiate activity of several beneficial preconditioning pathways. The role of ROS is paradoxical; low levels of ROS are key factors in signaling IPC/HPC, but high levels of ROS can contribute to increased oxidative stress on cardiomyocytes. Therefore, it is important to determine the molecular mechanism of IPC and HPC to avoid excessive accumulation of ROS to prevent cardiac injury. In this review, we will outline IPC and HPC, explaining the putative role of ROS in both pathways. We will also discuss preconditioning efficacy in certain conditions such as exercise and how the aging myocardium responds to preconditioning therapies.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of cyano-bridged cluster-metal layered coordination polymers [Cu(dien)]3[W4Te4(CN)12] · 9H2O and [Ni(en)(NH3)]3[W4Se4(CN)12] · 7.5H2O

Two new tetrahedral tungsten cyanide cluster compounds, [Cu(dien)]₃[W₄Te₄(CN)₁₂] · 9H₂O (1) (dien=diethylenetriamine) and [Ni(en)(NH₃)]₃[W₄Se₄(CN)₁₂] · 7.5H₂O (2) (en=ethylenediamine), were synthesized by treating aqueous solutions of the saltlike cluster compound K₆[W₄Te₄(CN)₁₂] · 5H₂O/K₆[W₄Se₄(CN)₁₂] · 6H₂O with copper(II)/nickel(II) chloride in aqueous ammonia containing dien/en. The cyano-bridged layered coordination polymeric compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis: monoclinic, space group P2₁ for 1; trigonal, space group for 2. Structures of 1 and 2 consist of infinite neutral layers of cluster components {W₄Te₄(CN)₁₂}/{W₄Se₄(CN)₁₂} connected, one another by {Cu(dien)} or {Ni(en)(NH₃)} fragments, respectively.