Large-scale and fine-grain population structure and genetic diversity of snow leopards (Panthera uncia Schreber, 1776) from the northern and western parts of the range with an emphasis on the Russian population

Conservation Genetics - The snow leopard (Panthera uncia Schreber, 1776) population in Russia and Mongolia is situated at the northern edge of the range, where instability of ecological conditions...     

Complex Bioactive Supplements for Aquaculture—Evolutionary Development of Probiotic Concepts

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - The use of novel and effective probiotic-based immunostimulating preparations, prebiotics, metabiotics, and phytobiotics is considered as a promising...     

First description of larvae of Radulinopsis derzhavini Soldatov et Lindberg, 1930 (Scorpaeniformes: Psychrolutidae) with remarks on melanin colouration and relationships with related species

The Derzhavin's sculpin (Radulinopsis derzhavini Soldatov et Lindberg, 1930) is a psychrolutids species that leads a cryptic life in coastal waters of the Japan Sea and the southern Okhotsk Sea. To date, larvae of this species have remained unknown; therefore, their biology is poorly understood. In the present study, the early developmental stages of R. derzhavini are described for the first time. In Peter the Great Bay, Japan Sea, this species is characterized by a spring spawning season (May) and a short pelagic period of larval development, usually from mid-May to the last 10 days of June. Species identification of the described larvae was confirmed by incubation, rearing of larvae in captivity, and genotyping of a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. In addition, the development of pigmentation in larvae of this and related species was compared. Morphological analysis of both adults and larvae, together with complementary molecular genetics, confirms the previously obtained conclusions that the species of the genera Radulinopsis, Radulinus, Asemichthys, and Astrocottus form a natural group with monophyly by all types of data.     

Review of the genus Stephanospathius Belokobylskij, 1992 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), with discussion of their tribal position

A review of the Afrotropical genus Stephanospathius Belokobylskij is provided. A new species Stephanospathius benoitisp. n. from the Republic of Congo, and the male and, for the first time, the female of Stephanospathius ornatipes (Kieffer) are described. A discussion of the status and composition of the tribe Stephaniscini is given and a new name for this tribe, Leptospathiini, nom. n., is proposed. A key to the included genera and a key to species of Stephanospathius are provided.     

Solution NMR and X-ray crystal structures of membrane-associated Lipoprotein-17 domain reveal a novel fold

The conserved Lipoprotein-17 domain of membrane-associated protein Q9PRA0_UREPA from Ureaplasma parvum was selected for structure determination by the Northeast Structural Genomics Consortium, as part of the Protein Structure Initiative's program on structure-function analysis of protein domains from large domain sequence families lacking structural representatives. The 100-residue Lipoprotein-17 domain is a "domain of unknown function" (DUF) that is a member of Pfam protein family PF04200, a large domain family for which no members have characterized biochemical functions. The three-dimensional structure of the Lipoprotein-17 domain of protein Q9PRA0_UREPA was determined by both solution NMR and by X-ray crystallography at 2.5 ?. The two structures are in good agreement with each other. The domain structure features three α-helices, α1 through α3, and five β-strands. Strands β1/β2, β3/β4, β4/β5 are anti-parallel to each other. Strands β1and β2 are orthogonal to strands β3, β4, β5, while helix α3 is formed between the strands β3 and β4. One-turn helix α2 is formed between the strands β1 and β2, while helix α1 occurs in the N-terminal polypeptide segment. Searches of the Protein Data Bank do not identify any other protein with significant structural similarity to Lipoprotein-17 domain of Q9PRA0_UREPA, indicating that it is a novel protein fold.     

New target for inhibition of bacterial RNA polymerase: 'switch region'

A new drug target - the 'switch region' - has been identified within bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP), the enzyme that mediates bacterial RNA synthesis. The new target serves as the binding site for compounds that inhibit bacterial RNA synthesis and kill bacteria. Since the new target is present in most bacterial species, compounds that bind to the new target are active against a broad spectrum of bacterial species. Since the new target is different from targets of other antibacterial agents, compounds that bind to the new target are not cross-resistant with other antibacterial agents. Four antibiotics that function through the new target have been identified: myxopyronin, corallopyronin, ripostatin, and lipiarmycin. This review summarizes the switch region, switch-region inhibitors, and implications for antibacterial drug discovery.     

On the possible use of exogenous histones in cell technology

The prospect of developing transport systems using histones for site-specific delivery of therapeutic agents that have poor penetration characteristics through cellular membranes and tissue barriers has been investigated. Histones immobilized on microspheres can also be used to modify surfaces intended for cell cultivation, facilitating adhesion, proliferation and network formation by interactions of cells through contacts with several microspheres. They can be applied to three-dimensional pore matrices that are designed for producing tissue-like structures in vitro.     

Bacterial invasion of eukaryotic cells can be mediated by actin‐hydrolysing metalloproteases grimelysin and protealysin

Earlier, we have shown that spontaneously isolated non‐pathogenic bacteria Serratia grimesii and Serratia proteamaculans invade eukaryotic cells, provided that they synthesize thermolysin‐like metalloproteases ECP32/grimelysin or protealysin characterized by high specificity towards actin. To address the question of whether the proteases are active players in entry of these bacteria into host cells, in this work, human larynx carcinoma Hep‐2 cells were infected with recombinant Escherichia coli expressing grimelysin or protealysin. Using confocal and electron microscopy, we have found that the recombinant bacteria, whose extracts limitedly cleaved actin, were internalized within the eukaryotic cells residing both in vacuoles and free in cytoplasm. The E. coli‐carrying plasmids without inserts of grimelysin or protealysin gene did not enter Hep‐2 cells. Moreover, internalization of non‐invasive E. coli was not observed in the presence of protealysin introduced into the culture medium. These results are consistent with the direct participation of ECP32/grimelysin and protealysin in entry of bacteria into the host cells. We assume that ECP32/grimelysin and protealysin mediate invasion being injected into the eukaryotic cell and that the high specificity of the enzyme towards actin may be a factor contributed to the bacteria internalization.