Glucosides of ionone-related compounds in several nicotiana species

The β-glucosides of 3-oxo-α-ionol and 5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-3-hydroxy-β-ionol were isolated from fresh leaves of Nicotiana rustica. Two or more of the glucosides of 3-oxo-α-ionol, 5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-3-hydroxy-β-ionol, 3-hydroxy-β-damascone, blumenol A, 4-(3-hydroxybutylidene)-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexenl-one and blumenol C were shown to be present and the amounts measured in N. alata, N. repanda, N. rustica, N. undulata, N. accuminata, N. sylvestris and N. tabacum. No glucosides were detected in N. paniculata.     

A U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle with altered specificity induces alternative splicing of an adenovirus E1A mRNA precursor.

We have altered the specificity of U1 small nuclear RNA by replacing its 5' splice site recognition sequence (nucleotides 3 to 11) with sequences complementary to other regions of either the adenovirus E1A or the rabbit beta-globin mRNA precursor. We then used a HeLa cell transient expression assay to test whether such altered U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) could interfere with splicing of the targeted mRNA precursors. The altered U1 snRNPs were able to cause novel splicing of the E1A mRNA precursor, minor changes in the ratio of E1A 12 to 13S mRNAs, and modest nuclear accumulation of beta-globin mRNA precursors with either one of the two introns removed. Most of the altered U1 snRNPs did not affect the level of mature cytoplasmic mRNA significantly, but in one case an altered U1 snRNP (alpha 1) whose intended target was located downstream from the adenovirus E1A 12S 5' splice site was able to reduce the level of cytoplasmic 12S mRNA by approximately 60% and that of 13S mRNA by 90%. This alpha 1 snRNP induced an additional E1A splice, resulting in the appearance of 10 and 11S E1A mRNAs normally found only late in adenovirus infection. Thus, a trans-acting factor can induce alternative splicing. Surprisingly, the effects of alpha 1 on E1A splicing were not abolished by deleting the intended target sequence on the mRNA precursor.     

Significant sex difference in the association between C‐reactive protein concentration and anthropometry among 13‐ to 19‐year olds,but not 6‐ to 12‐year olds in Nepal

Life history theory predicts a trade‐off between immunostimulation and growth. Using a cross‐sectional study design, this study aims to test the hypothesis that C‐reactive protein (CRP) is negatively associated with height‐for‐age z‐scores (HAZ scores) and BMI‐for‐age z‐scores (BAZ scores) among 6‐ to 19‐year olds (N = 426) residing in five Nepalese communities. Dried blood spot (DBS) samples were collected and assayed for CRP using an in‐house enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Sex‐ and age‐group‐specific CRP quartiles were used to examine its association with growth in linear mixed‐effects (LME) models. A significant difference was found in the proportion of elevated CRP (>2 mg/L, equivalent to ～3.2 mg/L serum CRP) between 13‐ and 19‐year‐old boys (12%) and girls (4%). Concentrations of CRP were positively associated with HAZ score among adolescent (13–19 years) boys, which may indicate that individuals with greater energy resources have better growth and a better response to infections, thus eliminating the expected trade‐off between body maintenance (immunostimulation) and growth. Adolescent boys with low BAZ and HAZ scores had low CRP values, suggesting that those who do not have enough energy for growth cannot increase their CRP level even when infected with pathogens. Among adolescent girls a positive association was observed between CRP and BAZ scores suggesting the possible effects of chronic low‐grade inflammation due to body fat rather than infection. The association between CRP and growth was less evident among children (6–12 years) compared with adolescents, indicating that the elevated energy requirement needed for the adolescent growth spurt and puberty may play some role. Am J Phys Anthropol 154:42–51, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Prevention of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> O157:H7 infection in gnotobiotic mice associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bifidobacterium</Emphasis> strains

Previous reports have shown that Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection is strongly modified by intestinal microbes. In this paper, we examined whether bifidobacteria protect against E. coli O157:H7 infections using gnotobiotic mice di-associated with Bifidobacterium strains (6 species, 9 strains) and E. coli O157:H7. Seven days after oral administration of each Bifidobacterium strain, the mice were orally infected with E. coli O157:H7 and their mortality was examined. Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis 157F-4-1 (B. infantis 157F) and B. longum subsp. longum NCC2705 (B. longum NS) protected against the lethal infection, while mice associated with all other Bifidobacterium strains, including type strains of B. longum subsp. infantis and B. longum subsp. longum, died. There were no significant differences in the numbers of E. coli O157:H7 in the faeces among the Bifidobacterium-associated mouse groups. However, the Shiga toxin concentrations in the cecal contents and sera of the GB mice associated with B. infantis 157F and B. longum NS were significantly lower than those of the other groups. However, there were no significant differences in the volatile fatty acid concentrations and histopathological lesions between these two groups. These data suggest that some strains of B. longum subsp. longum/infantis can protect against the lethal infections of E. coli O157:H7 by preventing Shiga toxin production in the cecum and/or Shiga toxin transfer from the intestinal lumen to the bloodstream.     

A simple and reliable method for DNA extraction from bivalve mantle

A simple and reliable method was developed for extracting genomic DNA from preserved mantle tissues of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas for reproducible PCR amplification. The method was based on destruction of the tissue using Proteinase K, Chelex 100 resin, detergents, and urea, followed by preferential capturing of genomic DNA with silica particles. Approximately 5 mg of mantle tissue provided a sufficient quality and quantity of DNA for several hundreds of PCR reactions amplifying the hypervariable mitochondrial DNA intergenic spacer, which is a useful genetic marker for population structure analysis of Pacific oyster. The method can be applied for DNA preparation from not only fresh and frozen but also ethanol-preserved mantle tissues, so this rapid and economical method can serve for investigating a large number of bivalve specimens collected in the field and next transported in ethanol at ambient temperature.     

Protective roles of mast cells and mast cell-derived TNF in murine malaria

TNF plays important roles in the protection and onset of malaria. Although mast cells are known as a source of TNF, little is known about the relationship between mast cells and pathogenesis of malaria. In this study, mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/W(v) (W/W(v)) and the control littermate WBB6F1+/+ (+/+) mice were infected with 1 x 10(5) of Plasmodium berghei ANKA. +/+ mice had lower parasitemia with higher TNF levels, as compared with W/W(v) mice. Diminished resistance in W/W(v) mice was considered to be due to mast cells and TNF. This fact was confirmed by experiments in W/W(v) mice reconstituted with bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) of +/+ mice or of TNF-/- mice. W/W(v) mice with BMMCs of +/+ mice exhibit lower parasitemia and mortality accompanying significantly higher TNF levels than those of W/W(v) mice. Parasitemia in W/W(v) mice with BMMCs of TNF-/- mice was higher than that in +/+ mice. Activation of mast cells by anti-IgE or compound 48/80 resulted in release of TNF and decrease of parasitemia. In addition, splenic hypertrophy and increased number of mast cells in the spleen were observed after infection in +/+ mice and W/W(v) mice reconstituted with BMMCs of +/+ mice as compared with W/W(v) mice. These findings propose a novel mechanism that mast cells and mast cell-derived TNF play protective roles in malaria.