The spectrum of median craniofacial dysplasia

Given the multiple permutations in craniofacial malformations, classification of median craniofacial dysplasia or midline Tessier no. 0 to 14 clefts has been difficult and disjointed. In this review, the authors present a summary of normal embryology, prior terminology, and their proposed new classification system. Median craniofacial dysplasia has tissue agenesis and holoprosencephaly at one end (the hypoplasias), frontonasal hyperplasia and excessive tissue (the hyperplasias) at the other end, and abnormal splitting or clefting and normal tissue volume (dysraphia) occupying the middle portion of the spectrum. These three distinct subclassifications have different forms of anomalies within their groups.     

HvFT1 (VrnH3) drives latitudinal adaptation in Spanish barleys

In barley, three genes are responsible for the vernalization requirement: VrnH1, VrnH2 and VrnH3. The winter growth habit of barley requires the presence of a recessive VrnH1 allele, together with an active VrnH2 allele. The candidate for VrnH3 (HvFT1) has been recently identified, with evidences pointing at a central role in the integration of the vernalization and photoperiod pathways. Functional polymorphisms have been proposed, but experimental evidence of their role on agronomic performance and adaptation is needed. We examined allelic variation at the promoter and intron 1 of the HvFT1 gene in a landrace collection of barley, finding a high diversity level, with its geographic distribution correlated with latitude. Focusing on genotypes with winter alleles in VrnH1 and VrnH2, an association analysis of the four main HvFT1 haplotypes found in the landrace collection detected differences in time to flowering. Landraces with the intron 1 TC allele, prevalent in the south, flowered 6?C7?days earlier than those with the AG allele, under natural conditions. These results were validated in an independent F₂ population. In both data sets, the effect found was similar, but in opposite direction to that described in literature. The polymorphism reported at intron 1 contributes to variation in flowering time under field conditions. We have found that polymorphisms at the promoter also contribute to the effect of the gene on flowering time under field and controlled conditions. The variety of HvFT1 alleles described constitutes an allelic series that may have been a factor in agro-ecological adaptation of barley.     

Efficiency of diagnostic biomarkers among colonic schistosomiasis Egyptian patients

The schistosomal parasite plays a critical role in the development of malignant lesions in different organs. The pathogenesis of cancer is currently under intense investigation to identify reliable prognostic indices for disease detection. The objective of this paper is to evaluate certain biochemical parameters as diagnostic tools to efficiently differentiate between colonic carcinoma and colonic carcinoma associated with schistosomal infection among Egyptian patients. The parameters under investigation are interleukin 2 (IL-2), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, tissue telomerase, pyruvate kinase (PK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme activities. The results revealed a significant elevation in the level of the tumour markers IL-2, TNF-α and CEA as well as the activities of LDH, telomerase and G-6-PD among non-bilharzial and bilharzial colonic cancer groups, with a more potent effect in bilharzial infection-associated colonic cancer. A significant inhibition in PK activity was recorded in the same manner as compared to normal tissues. The efficacy of this biomarker was also evaluated through detecting sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values. In conclusion, schistosomal colonic carcinoma patients displayed more drastic changes in all parameters under investigation. The combination of the selected parameters succeeded in serving as biomarkers to differentiate between the two malignant types.     

An investigation of the activity of recombinant rat skeletal muscle cytosolic sialidase

Rat cytosolic sialidase is expressed at elevated levels in skeletal muscle and is believed to play a role in the myogenic differentiation of muscle cells. Here, we observed varying levels of enhancement of sialidase activity in the presence a range of divalent cations. In particular, a significant enhancement of activity was observed in the presence of Ca2+. Conversely, inhibition of the sialidase activity was found when the enzyme was incubated in the presence of Cu2+, EDTA, and a range of carbohydrate-based inhibitors. Finally, an investigation of the enzymatic hydrolysis of a synthetic substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-alpha-D-neuraminide, by 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed that the reaction catalysed by rat skeletal muscle cytosolic sialidase proceeds with overall retention of anomeric configuration. This result further supports the notion that all sialidases appear to be retaining enzymes.     

Identification and characterization of "rd22" dehydration responsive gene in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

To identify and isolate genes related to abiotic stresses (salinity and drought) tolerance in grapevine, a candidate gene approach was developed and allowed isolating a full-length cDNA of rd22 gene from the Cabernet Sauvignon variety. The latter, named Vvrd22, is a dehydration-responsive gene that is usually induced by the application of exogenous ABA. Details of the physicochemical parameters and structural properties (molecular mass, secondary structure, conserved domains and motives, putative post-translational modification sites...) of the encoded protein have also been elucidated. The expression study of Vvrd22 was carried out at the berry growth stages and at the level of plant organs and tissues as well as under both drought and salt stresses. The results showed that Vvrd22 is constitutively expressed at a low level in all analyzed tissues. Moreover, salt stress induced Vvrd22 expression, particularly for the tolerant variety (Razegui), contrary to the sensitive one (Syrah), which did not display any expression variation during the stress, which means that Vvrd22 is involved in salt stress response and that its expression level depends on regulatory mechanisms that are efficient only for the tolerant variety. On the other hand, under drought stress, Vvrd22 is induced in an identical manner for both tolerant and sensitive varieties. In addition, stress signal molecules such as ABA (lonely applied or in combination with sucrose) induced Vvrd22 expression, even at a low level. A minimal knowledge about the role and the functionality of this gene is necessary and constitutes a prerequisite condition before starting and including Vvrd22 in any program of improvement of grapevine's abiotic stress tolerance.     

Synthesis of glyoxylyl peptides using an Fmoc-protected alpha,alpha'-diaminoacetic acid derivative.

The synthesis of glyoxylyl peptides by coupling the masked glyoxylic acid derivative (FmocNH)(2)CHCO(2)H, 1, to a peptidyl resin assembled using Fmoc/tert-butyl chemistry has been described recently. Deprotection and cleavage of the peptide from the solid support using TFA was followed by unmasking of the glyoxylyl group in solution in the presence of DBU. [] The glyoxylyl peptide was thus generated using non-oxidizing conditions by comparison with the method based on the periodic oxidation of a seryl-precursor. However, base treatment of the (FmocNH)(2)CHCO(2)-peptide led to the formation of a byproduct besides the desired glyoxylyl peptide. This paper describes an optimized procedure for unmasking the Fmoc-protected alpha,alpha'-diaminoacetic acid moiety in solution which suppressed byproduct formation. Also presented is a series of experiments that permitted a structure and a mechanism of formation for the byproduct to be suggested.     

Woodland strawberry axillary bud fate is dictated by a crosstalk of environmental and endogenous factors

Plant architecture is defined by fates and positions of meristematic tissues and has direct consequences on yield potential and environmental adaptation of the plant. In strawberries (Fragaria vesca L. and F. × ananassa Duch.), shoot apical meristems can remain vegetative or differentiate into a terminal inflorescence meristem. Strawberry axillary buds (AXBs) are located in leaf axils and can either remain dormant or follow one of the two possible developmental fates. AXBs can either develop into stolons needed for clonal reproduction or into branch crowns (BCs) that can bear their own terminal inflorescences under favorable conditions. Although AXB fate has direct consequences on yield potential and vegetative propagation of strawberries, the regulation of AXB fate has so far remained obscure. We subjected a number of woodland strawberry (F. vesca L.) natural accessions and transgenic genotypes to different environmental conditions and growth regulator treatments to demonstrate that strawberry AXB fate is regulated either by environmental or endogenous factors, depending on the AXB position on the plant. We confirm that the F. vesca GIBBERELLIN20-oxidase4 (FvGA20ox4) gene is indispensable for stolon development and under tight environmental regulation. Moreover, our data show that apical dominance inhibits the outgrowth of the youngest AXB as BCs, although the effect of apical dominance can be overrun by the activity of FvGA20ox4. Finally, we demonstrate that the FvGA20ox4 is photoperiodically regulated via FvSOC1 (F. vesca SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1) at 18°C, but at higher temperature of 22°C an unidentified FvSOC1-independent pathway promotes stolon development.

Environmental conditions and apical dominance dictate woodland strawberry plant architecture by regulating axillary bud fate.     

Plasticity of Ly-6C(hi) myeloid cells in T cell regulation

CD11b(+)Ly-6C(hi) cells, including inflammatory monocytes (IMCs) and inflammatory dendritic cells (IDCs), are important in infectious, autoimmune, and tumor models. However, their role in T cell regulation is controversial. In this article, we show that T cell regulation by IMCs and IDCs is determined by their activation state and is plastic during an immune response. Nonactivated IMCs and IDCs function as APCs, but activated IMCs and IDCs suppress T cells through NO production. Suppressive IMCs are induced by IFN-γ, GM-CSF, TNF-α, and CD154 derived from activated T cells during their interaction. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, CD11b(+)Ly-6C(hi) cells in the CNS are increasingly activated from disease onset to peak and switch their function from Ag presentation to T cell suppression. Furthermore, transfer of activated IMCs or IDCs enhances T cell apoptosis in the CNS and suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. These data highlight the interplay between innate and adaptive immunity: immunization leads to the expansion of Ly-6C(hi) myeloid cells initially promoting T cell function. As T cells become highly activated in the target tissue, they induce activation and NO production in Ly-6C(hi) myeloid cells, which in turn suppress T cells and lead to the contraction of local immune response.     

Evaluation of various serum and animal protein free media for the production of a veterinary rabies vaccine in BHK-21 cells

We have carried out the adaptation of BHK-21 cells to two serum free (Ex Cell 520 and HyQ PF CHO) and three animal protein free media: Ex Cell 302, HyQ PF CHO MPS and Rencyte BHK. After a direct switch or a gradual adaptation, we have achieved BHK-21 cells growth in the following media: HyQ PF CHO, HyQ PF CHO MPS, Rencyte BHK and Ex Cell 302. The most suitable media for BHK-21 cells growth, with respect to cell density and specific growth rate, were HyQ PF CHO and HyQ PF CHO MPS. Hence we have selected these media to study cell growth and the production of rabies virus. Kinetic studies of cell growth in spinner flasks using the selected media have shown that a maximal cell density of 2x10(6) cells x ml(-1) was reached in both media. For rabies virus production, the viral titer obtained was 1.7x10(6) FFU x ml(-1) in HyQ PF CHO as well as in HyQ PF CHO MPS medium. The optimization of rabies virus production by BHK-21 cells grown in a 2 l bioreactor using the selected media, pointed to the following parameters: culture mode, perfusion rate and multiplicity of infection (MOI), as being the critical factors for achieving a good virus yield. When tested in mice, the activity of the experimental vaccines prepared on HyQ PF CHO MPS medium has shown a protective activity that meets WHO requirements.