Cloning and characterization of two ferritin subunit genes from bay scallop, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Argopecten irradians</Emphasis> (Lamarck 1819)

We have cloned two full-length cDNAs from two ferritin genes (Aifer1 and Aifer2) of the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians (Lamarck 1819). The cDNAs are 1,019 and 827 bp in length and encode proteins of 171 and 173 amino acids, respectively. The 5′ UTR of each contains a conserved iron response element (IRE) motif. Sequence analyses reveal that both proteins belong to the H-ferritin family with seven conserved amino acids in the ferroxidase center. Highest expression of Aifer1 is found in the mantle and adductor muscle, while that of Aifer2 is only in the latter tissue. These Aifer genes are differentially expressed following bacterial challenge of the scallop. The expression level of Aifer1 was acutely up-regulated (over 10 fold) at 6 h post-bacteria injection, whereas Aifer2 expression was not significantly changed by bacterial challenge. Both genes were effectively expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3), producing proteins of similar molecular weight, approximately 23 kDa. Purified Aifer1 and Aifer2 proteins exhibited iron-chelating activity of 33.1% and 30.4%, respectively, at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. Cations, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Ca²⁺, depressed iron-chelating activity of both proteins. Additionally, the E. coli cells expressing recombinant Aifer1 and Aifer2 showed tolerance to H₂O₂, providing a direct evidence of the antioxidation function of ferritin. The results presented in this study suggest important roles of Aifer1 and Aifer2 in the regulation of iron homeostasis, immune response, and antioxidative stress in A. irradians.     

Enantiospecific adjuvant activity of cationic lipid DOTAP in cancer vaccine

Commercially available DOTAP is a racemic mixture of two enantiomers. The adjuvanticity of each isomer was examined using a peptide/lipid complex as a therapeutic vaccine in an established murine cervical cancer model. This simple vaccine consists of a cationic lipid (DOTAP) and a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I–restricted epitope of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16 protein E7. Dose-dependent tumor regression experiments have been completed for racemic DOTAP/E7, (R)-DOTAP/E7 and (S)-DOTAP/E7. Tumor-bearing mice treated with (R)-DOTAP/E7 complexes have shown tumor regression in a dose-dependent manner comparable to those mice treated with a racemic DOTAP with E7 peptide. These data are supported by IFN-γ production by CD8⁺ splenocytes, in vivo cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) response, CD8⁺ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), and IFN-γ production by CD8⁺ TIL in (R)-DOTAP/E7-vaccinated mice. When (S)-DOTAP/E7 is delivered, tumor progression is delayed. While IFN-γ production is absent from CD8⁺ splenocytes in mice vaccinated with (S)-DOTAP/E7, IFN-γ production by CD8⁺ TIL is present, supporting our hypothesis that (S)-DOTAP has limited activity. Activation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells by the enantiomeric formulations has also been evaluated, as well as cytokine production and toxicity with no considerable differences between the groups. The results show the DOTAP enantiomers act differently as adjuvants in vivo, with (R)-DOTAP being more effective at stimulating a CD8⁺ anti-tumor response.     

Differential effects of testosterone,dihydrotestosterone and estradiol on carotenoid deposition in an avian sexually selected signal

Recent studies have demonstrated that carotenoid-based traits are under the control of testosterone (T) by up-regulation of carotenoid carriers (lipoproteins) and/or tissue-specific uptake of carotenoids. T can be converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (E2), and variation in conversion rate may partly explain some contradictory findings in the literature. Moreover, most studies on the effect of T on sexual signals have focused on the male sex only, while in many species females show the same signal, albeit to a lesser extent. We studied the effects of T, DHT, and E2 treatment in male and female diamond doves Geopelia cuneata in which both sexes have an enlarged red eye ring, which is more pronounced in males. We first showed that this periorbital ring contains very high concentration of carotenoids, of which most are lutein esters. Both T and DHT were effective in enhancing hue, UV-chroma and size in both sexes, while E2 was ineffective. However, E2 dramatically increased the concentration of circulating lipoproteins. We conclude that in both sexes both color and size of the secondary sexual trait are androgen dependent. The action of androgens is independent of lipoproteins regulation. Potential mechanisms and their consequences for trade-off are discussed.     

Diversity of Intestinal Bifidobacteria in Patients with Japanese Cedar Pollinosis and Possible Influence of Probiotic Intervention

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential association between intestinal bifidobacteria and Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis) and possible influences of probiotic intervention. In this study, fecal samples were the collected from 29 JCPsis patients. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of fecal bifidobacteria were conducted by quantitative real-time PCR with 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific primers before cedar pollen spread and after a 10-week intervention with fermented milk prepared with Lactobacillus GG and L. gasseri TMC0356 during pollen spread. Each JCPsis patient had a unique diversity of bifidobacteria, which varied qualitatively and quantitatively in an individual-dependent manner during pollen spread. The serum IgE concentration of JCPsis patients with more than 3 detectable Bifidobacterium species was significantly lower than that of patients with less than 2 detected species. The prevalence of B. adolescentis, B. longum, and B. catenulatum increased after probiotic intervention, although the changes were not statistically significant. These results suggest that lower diversity of intestinal Bifidobacterium species might be a pathological aspect of JCPsis. The diversity of intestinal bifidobacteria could be a prospective target for using probiotics in the management of IgE-mediated allergic disorders including JCPsis.     

Resistance to a DNA and a RNA virus in transgenic plants by using a single chimeric transgene construct

Tomato leaf curl Taiwan virus (ToLCTWV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) are two major tomato viruses that cause serious economic losses. In this study, a partial C2 gene from ToLCTWV and the middle half of the N gene of TSWV were fused as a chimeric transgene to develop multiple virus resistance in transgenic plants. This construct was introduced into Nicotiana benthamiana and tomato by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Several transgenic lines showed no symptom post agro-inoculation with ToLCTWV and displayed high resistance to TSWV. The detection of siRNAs indicated that the resistance was via RNA silencing. This study demonstrated that linkage of gene segments from two viruses with distinct genomic organization, one DNA and the other RNA, can confer multiple virus resistance in transgenic plants via gene silencing.     

A strategy to obtain axenic cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arthrospira</Emphasis> spp. cyanobacteria

A strategy to obtain axenic cultures of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira sp. (‘platensis’) Lefevre 1963/M-132-1 strain, consisting of a series of physical and chemical procedures, and the application of an optimized pool of antibiotics, is described in this paper. This strategy, which is an inexpensive and fast way to obtain axenic cultures, can be applied to Arthrospira spp. from culture collections or samples from their natural habitats to eliminate a wide spectrum of contaminants. A high alkaline treatment (pH 12, using KOH) of 72 h is a determinant initial procedure applied to eliminate protozoa and Microcystis sp. Bacteria were eliminated by an optimal antibiotic pool treatment, and Chroococcus sp. residuals were discarded by serial dilution. Optimal concentrations of the antibiotics composing the pool were obtained by a 2⁴ factorial central composite rotatable design (CCRD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM), resulting in: ampicillin 61.6 μg/ml, penicillin 85.8 μg/ml, cefoxitin 76.9 μg/ml, and meropenem 38.9 μg/ml. The results also indicate that cefoxitin was the most effective antibiotic of this pool. After obtaining the axenic culture, identification of Lefevre 1963/M-132-1 strain was performed using amplification and sequencing of the ITS region (including part of 16S rRNA, tRNA Ile, ITS, tRNA Ala and part of 23S rRNA region) and fatty acid composition data. Data base comparison revealed that Lefevre strain is closely related to A. platensis species (99% identity), while fatty acid composition data suggested A. maxima. These seemingly contradictory results are discussed.     

Dysmyelinating and demyelinating Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease associated with two myelin protein zero gene mutations

Mutations in the myelin protein zero (MPZ) gene are the third most frequent cause of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies (HMSN), also called Charcot–Marie–Tooth disorders (CMT). Only in case of recurrent mutations occurring in the MPZ gene is it possible to draw phenotype–genotype correlations essential for establishing the prognosis and outcomes of CMT1. We have surveyed a cohort of 67 Polish patients from CMT families with demyelinating neuropathy for mutations in the MPZ gene. In this study, we report two CMT families in which the Ile135Thr and Pro132Leu mutations have been identified for the MPZ gene. These MPZ gene mutations had not been identified hitherto in the Polish population. The Pro132Leu mutation segregates with a severe early-onset dysmyelinating–hypomyelinating neuropathy, whereas the Ile135Thr substitution is associated with the classical phenotype of CMT1. To the best of our knowledge, we present here, for the first time, morphological data obtained in two sural nerve biopsies pointing to a hypomyelination–dysmyelination process in a family harboring the Pro132Leu mutation in the MPZ gene.