Detection of Vero Cells Infected with Herpes Simplex Types 1 and 2 and Varicella Zoster Viruses Using Raman Spectroscopy and Advanced Statistical Methods

Of the eight members of the herpes family of viruses, HSV1, HSV2, and varicella zoster are the most common and are mainly involved in cutaneous disorders. These viruses usually are not life-threatening, but in some cases they might cause serious infections to the eyes and the brain that can lead to blindness and possibly death. An effective drug (acyclovir and its derivatives) is available against these viruses. Therefore, early detection and identification of these viral infections is highly important for an effective treatment. Raman spectroscopy, which has been widely used in the past years in medicine and biology, was used as a powerful spectroscopic tool for the detection and identification of these viral infections in cell culture, due to its sensitivity, rapidity and reliability. Our results showed that it was possible to differentiate, with a 97% identification success rate, the uninfected Vero cells that served as a control, from the Vero cells that were infected with HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV. For that, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was performed on the Raman spectra after principal component analysis (PCA) with a leave one out (LOO) approach. Raman spectroscopy in tandem with PCA and LDA enable to differentiate among the different herpes viral infections of Vero cells in time span of few minutes with high accuracy rate. Understanding cell molecular changes due to herpes viral infections using Raman spectroscopy may help in early detection and effective treatment.     

First report of Culicoides boyi (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in France

Culicoides boyi Nielsen, Kristensen & Pape 2015 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), described in Denmark in 2015, is reported in France. This species is closely related to Culicoides pulicaris (Linnaeus 1758) and can only be distinguished from this species by a subtle variation in spot wing pattern and by calculation of maxillary palpal ratio.     

The genetic association study of TP53 polymorphisms in Saudi obese patients

Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by low grade chronic inflammation. Rare and novel mutations in genes which are vital in several key pathways have been reported to alter the energy expenditure which regulates body weight. The TP53 or p53 gene plays a prominent role in regulating various metabolic activities such as glycolysis, lipolysis, and glycogen synthesis. Recent genome-wide association studies reported that tumor suppressor gene p53 variants play a critical role in the predisposition of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Till date, no reports are available from the Arabian population; hence the present study was intended to assess the association between p53 variants with risk of obesity development in the Saudi population. We have selected three p53 polymorphisms, rs1642785 (C > G), and rs9894946 (A > G), and rs1042522 (Pro72Arg; C > G) and assessed their association with obesity risk in the Saudi population. Phenotypic and biochemical parameters were also evaluated to check their association with p53 genotypes and obesity. Genotyping was carried out on 136 obese and 122 normal samples. We observed that there is significantly increased prevalence p52 Pro72Arg (rs1042522) polymorphism in obese persons when compared to controls at GG genotype in overall comparison (OR: 2.169, 95% CI: 1.086-4.334, p = 0.02716). Male obese subjects showed three-fold higher risk at GG genotype (OR: 3.275, 95% CI: 1.230-8.716, p = 0.01560) and two-fold risk at G allele (OR: 1.827, 95% CI: 1.128-2.958, p = 0.01388) of p53 variant Pro72Arg respectively. This variant has also shown significant influence on cholesterol, LDL level, and random insulin levels in obese subjects (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, p53 Pro72Arg variant is highly prevalent among obese individuals and may act as a genetic modifier for obesity development among Saudis.     

Evaluation of anticancer effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles on mouse fibrosarcoma cell line

Cerium oxide nanoparticles are associated with anticancer effects. While protecting normal cells, these nanoparticles exert their anticancer effects via oxidative stress and apoptosis in the cancer cells. In this study, the anticancer properties of nanoceria on fibrosarcoma cell line are evaluated. Cerium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by the coprecipitation method and their anticancer effects on mouse fibrosarcoma tumor cells (WEHI164) were investigated. Viability assay was evaluated by MTT, and the DC-FDA assay performed for the detection of reactive oxygen species. For apoptosis assay, the annexin V/PI test was done as well as measuring the mRNA and protein expression levels of Bax and Bcl2 by real-time PCR and western blot method, respectively. Characterization of nanoceria reveals that synthesized nanoceria has cubic floruit structure with a size of about 30 nm. Toxicity assessment results show that nanoceria increases ROS levels and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in cancer cells (WEHI164), whereas low levels of toxicity were observed in normal cells (L929), even at the concentrations above 250 µg/ml in MTT assay. Real-time PCR and western blot assays showed that nanoceria could significantly increase the Bax expression in cancer cells. The results showed that nanoceria could act as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of fibrosarcoma.     

Signaling Crosstalk of FHIT,p53, and p38 in etoposide-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells

Fragile histidine trail (FHIT) is a tumor suppressor in response to DNA damage which has been deleted in various tumors. However, the signaling mechanisms and interactions of FHIT with regard to apoptotic proteins including p53 and p38 in the DNA damage-induced apoptosis are not well described. In the present study, we used etoposide-induced DNA damage in MCF-7 as a model to address these crosstalks. The time course study showed that the expression of FHIT, p53, and p38MAPK started after 1 hour following etoposide treatment. FHIT overexpression led to increase p53 expression, p38 activation, and augmented apoptosis following etoposide-induced DNA damage compared to wild-type cells. However, FHIT knockdown blocked p53 expression, delayed p38 activation, and completely inhibited etoposide-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of p38 activity prevented induction of p53, FHIT, and apoptosis in this model. Thus, activation of p38 upon etoposide treatment leads to increase in FHIT and p53 expression. In p53 knockdown MCF-7, the FHIT induction was hampered but p38 activation was induced in lower doses of etoposide. In p53 knockdown cells, inhibition of p38 induced FHIT expression and apoptosis. Our data demonstrated that the exposure of MCF-7 cells to etoposide increases apoptosis through a mechanism involving the activation of the p38-FHIT-p53 pathway. Moreover, our findings suggest signaling interaction for these pathways may represent a promising therapy for breast cancer.     

Effects of social and inanimate enrichment on the behavior of yearling rhesus monkeys

Certain types of inanimate environmental enrichment have been shown to positively affect the behavior of laboratory primates, as has housing them in appropriate social conditions. While social housing is generally advocated as an important environmental enhancement, few studies have attempted to measure the influence of social conditions on the effects of inanimate enrichment or to compare the relative merits of social and inanimate enhancements. In the present study, inanimate enrichment (predominately physical and feeding enhancements) resulted in increased species-typical behavior for socially restricted subjects. However, social enrichment (living in groups) appeared to be more beneficial for young rhesus monkeys, leading to increased species-typical activities and decreased abnormal activities. The behavior of one cohort of yearling rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) housed in small peer groups was compared with the behavior of four yearling cohorts housed in single cages. Half the animals in each cohort received a three-phase enrichment program and the rest served as controls. Group-housed yearlings spent significantly more time feeding and exploring and significantly less time behaving abnormally, self-grooming, and drinking than did singly housed yearlings. Enriched subjects spent significantly more time playing by themselves, and significantly less time self-grooming and exploring than did controls. Among group-housed subjects only, there were no differences between enriched and control monkeys. Captive primates should be housed socially, whenever appropriate, as the first and most important step in an enrichment program, with the provision of inanimate enhancements being considerably less important. Limited resources for inanimate enrichment programs instead should be focused on those individuals who can not be housed socially. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Exudates as a fallback food for Callimico goeldii

Fallback foods have been defined as resources for which a species has evolved specific masticatory and digestive adaptations, and are consumed principally when preferred foods are scarce. In the present field investigation, we examine fungi, fruit, and exudate consumption in one group of Callimico goeldii in order to determine the importance of exudates as a fallback food for this species. Based on a total of 1,198 hr of quantitative behavioral data collected between mid-November 2002-August 2003, we found that pod exudates of Parkia velutina accounted for 19% of callimico feeding time in the dry season. This resource was not consumed in the wet season when fruits and fungi were the most common items in the diet. In the dry season of 2005 (July), the same callimico study group did not consume Parkia pod exudates. Instead, the group ate exudates obtained from holes gouged in tree trunks by pygmy marmosets and exudates resulting from natural weathering and insect damage on trunks, roots, and lianas. Pod exudates are reported to contain greater amounts of readily available energy than do trunk and root exudates, and were consumed throughout all periods of the day, particularly in the late afternoon. Trunk and root exudates were consumed principally in the morning. We propose that digestive adaptations of the hindgut, which enable callimicos to exploit fungi (a resource high in structural carbohydrates) year-round, predispose them to efficiently exploit and process exudates as fallback foods when other resources, such as ripe fruits, are scarce.