The RBP-Jκ Binding Sites within the RTA Promoter Regulate KSHV Latent Infection and Cell Proliferation

Kaposi''s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is tightly linked to at least two lymphoproliferative disorders, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and multicentric Castleman''s disease (MCD). However, the development of KSHV-mediated lymphoproliferative disease is not fully understood. Here, we generated two recombinant KSHV viruses deleted for the first RBP-Jκ binding site (RTA_1st) and all three RBP-Jκ binding sites (RTA_all) within the RTA promoter. Our results showed that RTA_1st and RTA_all recombinant viruses possess increased viral latency and a decreased capability for lytic replication in HEK 293 cells, enhancing colony formation and proliferation of infected cells. Furthermore, recombinant RTA_1st and RTA_all viruses showed greater infectivity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) relative to wt KSHV. Interestingly, KSHV BAC36 wt, RTA_1st and RTA_all recombinant viruses infected both T and B cells and all three viruses efficiently infected T and B cells in a time-dependent manner early after infection. Also, the capability of both RTA_1st and RTA_all recombinant viruses to infect CD19+ B cells was significantly enhanced. Surprisingly, RTA_1st and RTA_all recombinant viruses showed greater infectivity for CD3+ T cells up to 7 days. Furthermore, studies in Telomerase-immortalized human umbilical vein endothelial (TIVE) cells infected with KSHV corroborated our data that RTA_1st and RTA_all recombinant viruses have enhanced ability to persist in latently infected cells with increased proliferation. These recombinant viruses now provide a model to explore early stages of primary infection in human PBMCs and development of KSHV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases.     

Catalytic processes towards the production of biofuels in a palm oil and oil palm biomass-based biorefinery

In Malaysia, there has been interest in the utilization of palm oil and oil palm biomass for the production of environmental friendly biofuels. A biorefinery based on palm oil and oil palm biomass for the production of biofuels has been proposed. The catalytic technology plays major role in the different processing stages in a biorefinery for the production of liquid as well as gaseous biofuels. There are number of challenges to find suitable catalytic technology to be used in a typical biorefinery. These challenges include (1) economic barriers, (2) catalysts that facilitate highly selective conversion of substrate to desired products and (3) the issues related to design, operation and control of catalytic reactor. Therefore, the catalytic technology is one of the critical factors that control the successful operation of biorefinery. There are number of catalytic processes in a biorefinery which convert the renewable feedstocks into the desired biofuels. These include biodiesel production from palm oil, catalytic cracking of palm oil for the production of biofuels, the production of hydrogen as well as syngas from biomass gasification, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) for the conversion of syngas into liquid fuels and upgrading of liquid/gas fuels obtained from liquefaction/pyrolysis of biomass. The selection of catalysts for these processes is essential in determining the product distribution (olefins, paraffins and oxygenated products). The integration of catalytic technology with compatible separation processes is a key challenge for biorefinery operation from the economic point of view. This paper focuses on different types of catalysts and their role in the catalytic processes for the production of biofuels in a typical palm oil and oil palm biomass-based biorefinery.     

Generation and characterization of anti-MUC4 monoclonal antibodies reactive with normal and cancer cells in humans.

We have previously cloned the full-length cDNA (approximately 28 Kb) and established the complete genomic organization (25 exons/introns over 100 kb) of the human MUC4 mucin. This large molecule is predicted to protrude over 2 microm above the cell surface, in which MUC4alpha is an extracellular mucin-type glycoprotein subunit and MUC4beta is the transmembrane subunit. Over two thirds of the encoded protein sequence consists of 16-amino-acid tandem repeats (TR), which are flanked by unique sequences. In this study we generated and characterized monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the TR region of MUC4. Mice were immunized with a KLH-conjugated MUC4 TR peptide, STGDTTPLPVTDTSSV. Several clones were purified by three rounds of limited dilutions and stable clones presenting a sustained antibody production were selected for subsequent characterization. Antibodies were tested for their reactivity and specificity to recognize the MUC4 peptide and further screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting analyses. One of the MAbs (8G7) was strongly reactive against the MUC4 peptide and with native MUC4 from human tissues or pancreatic cancer cells in Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and confocal analysis. Anti-MUC4 MAb may represent a powerful tool for the study of MUC4 function under normal and pathological conditions and for diagnosis of solid tumors including those in the breast, pancreas, lungs, and ovaries.     

Fisetin,a plant flavonoid ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in experimental rats: the decisive role of caspase-3, COX-II,cTn-I,iNOs and TNF-α

Molecular Biology Reports - Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used anthracycline antibiotic for the management of carcinoma. However, it is associated with cardiotoxicity. Fisetin is a plant flavonoid...     

Meiotic anomalies induced by x-rays inCapsicum annuum L.

Various types of meiotic anomalies in Mi generation such as multivalents, fragments, bridges, mioronuclei, polyads and in particular the multispindle formation, were observed after seed X-ray irradiation inCapsicum annuum L. As the dose increased there was a gradual increase in the number of aberrations.     

Symbols, Meaning, and Origins of Mind

The mind maps symbols and the extra-symbolic relationships amongst them to specific meanings. When symbols of various levels are placed in a hierarchical ordering, one may look at such ordered classes as distinct worlds where one class represents objects and the other represents the objects’ corresponding meanings. However, such an explanation can only be partial because the number of potential levels in such an ordering is infinite and, therefore, it engenders problems of recursion and infinite regress. There are also logical problems in the form of paradoxes that emanate from the consideration of sets of sets. Given that most prior studies only consider symbols that are classical objects in associative relationships, we argue that there is a need to also consider objects with shifting boundaries and quantum objects. We believe that objects belonging to each of these three classes—that is classical objects, objects with shifting boundaries, and quantum objects—play a role in the workings of the mind.     

Enhanced photoluminescence properties of electrospun Dy3+‐doped ZnO nanofibres for white lighting devices

Dy³⁺‐doped ZnO nanofibres with diameters from 200 to 500 nm were made using an electrospinning technique. The as‐fabricated amorphous nanofibres resulted in good crystalline continuous nanofibres through calcination. Dy³⁺‐doped ZnO nanofibres were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) light spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and photoluminescence (PL). XRD showed the well defined peaks of ZnO. UV–vis spectra showed a good absorption band at 360 nm. FTIR spectra showed a Zn–O stretching vibration confirming the presence of ZnO. Photoluminescence spectra of Dy³⁺‐doped ZnO nanofibres showed an emission peak in the visible region that was free from any ZnO defect emission. Emissions at 480 nm and 575 nm in the Dy³⁺‐doped ZnO nanofibres were the characteristic peaks of dopant Dy³⁺ and implied efficient energy transfer from host to dopant. Luminescence intensity was found to be increased with increasing doping concentration and reduction in nanofibre diameter. Colour coordinates were calculated from photometric characterizations, which resembled the properties for warm white lighting devices.