Dietary extra-virgin olive oil rich in phenolic antioxidants and the aging process: long-term effects in the rat

The aim of the present work was to verify whether extra-virgin olive oil, a food naturally containing phenolic antioxidants, has the potential to protect from the pro-aging effects of a high-calorie diet. Male rats were fed from age 12 months to senescence a high-calorie diet containing either corn oil (CO), or extra-virgin olive oil with high (H-EVOO) or low (L-EVOO) amounts of phenols. The prolonged high fat intake led to obesity, liver lipid degeneration and insulin resistance, which were not counteracted by high phenol intake. No difference in overall survival was found at the end of the experiment in the animals treated with H-EVOO compared to the other groups. However, we did detect a protective effect of olive oil on some age-related pathologies and on blood pressure, of which the former was associated with the antioxidant content. Concomitantly, a decrease in DNA oxidative damage in blood cells and plasma TBARS and an increase in liver superoxide dismutase were detected following H-EVOO consumption. Thus, although olive oil phenols cannot reverse the detrimental effects of a prolonged intake of high amounts of fat, improving the quality of olive oil in terms of antioxidant content can be beneficial.     

Next generation sequencing of Apis mellifera syriaca identifies genes for Varroa resistance and beneficial bee keeping traits

Apis mellifera syriaca exhibits a high degree of tolerance to pests and pathogens including varroa mites. This native honey bee subspecies of Jordan expresses behavioral adaptations to high temperature and dry seasons typical of the region. However, persistent honey bee imports of commercial breeder lines are endangering local honey bee population. This study reports the use of next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technology to study the A. m. syriaca genome and to identify genetic factors possibly contributing toward mite resistance and other favorable traits. We obtained a total of 46.2 million raw reads by applying the NGS to sequence A. m. syriaca and used extensive bioinformatics approach to identify several candidate genes for Varroa mite resistance, behavioral and immune responses characteristic for these bees. As a part of characterizing the functional regulation of molecular genetic pathway, we have mapped the pathway genes potentially involved using information from Drosophila melanogaster and present possible functional changes implicated in responses to Varroa destructor mite infestation toward this. We performed in‐depth functional annotation methods to identify ～600 candidates that are relevant, genes involved in pathways such as microbial recognition and phagocytosis, peptidoglycan recognition protein family, Gram negative binding protein family, phagocytosis receptors, serpins, Toll signaling pathway, Imd pathway, Tnf, JAK‐STAT and MAPK pathway, heamatopioesis and cellular response pathways, antiviral, RNAi pathway, stress factors, etc. were selected. Finally, we have cataloged function‐specific polymorphisms between A. mellifera and A. m. syriaca that could give better understanding of varroa mite resistance mechanisms and assist in breeding. We have identified immune related embryonic development (Cactus, Relish, dorsal, Ank2, baz), Varroa hygiene (NorpA2, Zasp, LanA, gasp, impl3) and Varroa resistance (Pug, pcmt, elk, elf3‐s10, Dscam2, Dhc64C, gro, futsch) functional variations genes between A. mellifera and A. m. syriaca that could be used to develop an effective molecular tool for bee conservation and breeding programs to improve locally adapted strains such as syriaca and utilize their advantageous traits for the benefit of apiculture industry.     

Adverse effects of pneumoperitoneum on renal function: involvement of the endothelin and nitric oxide systems

Increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) during laparoscopy adversely affects kidney function. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon is largely unknown. This study was designed to investigate the involvement of endothelin (ET)-1 and nitric oxide (NO) systems in IAP-induced renal dysfunction. Rats were subjected to IAP of 14 mmHg for 1 h, followed by a deflation for 60 min (recovery). Four additional groups were pretreated with 1) ABT-627, an ET(A) antagonist; 2) A-192621, an ET(B) antagonist; 3) nitroglycerine; and 4) N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a NO synthase inhibitor, before IAP. Urine flow rate (V), absolute Na+ excretion (U(Na)V), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and renal plasma flow (RPF) were determined. Significant reductions in kidney function and hemodynamics were observed when IAP was applied. V decreased from 8.1 +/- 1.0 to 5.8 +/- 0.5 microl/min, U(Na)V from 1.08 +/- 0.31 to 0.43 +/- 0.10 microeq/min, GFR from 1.84 +/- 0.12 to 1.05 +/- 0.06 ml/min (-46.9 +/- 2.7% from baseline), and RPF from 8.62 +/- 0.87 to 3.82 +/- 0.16 ml/min (-54 +/- 3.5% from baseline). When the animals were pretreated with either ABT-627 or A-192621, given alone or combined, the adverse effects of IAP on GFR, RPF, V, and U(Na)V were significantly augmented. When the animals were pretreated with nitroglycerine, the adverse effects of pneumoperitoneum on GFR and RPF were substantially improved. In contrast, pretreatment with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester remarkably aggravated pneumoperitoneum-induced renal dysfunction. In conclusion, decreased renal excretory function and hypofiltration are induced by increased IAP. These effects are related to impairment of renal hemodynamics and could be partially ameliorated by pretreatment with nitroglycerine and aggravated by NO and ET blockade.     

Differences in Stylet Sheath Occurrence and the Fibrous Ring (Sclerenchyma) between xCitroncirus Plants Relatively Resistant or Susceptible to Adults of the Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP, Diaphorina citri, Hemiptera: Liviidae), is the principal vector of the phloem-limited bacteria strongly associated with huanglongbing (HLB), the world’s most serious disease of citrus. Host plant resistance may provide an environmentally safe and sustainable method of controlling ACP and/or HLB. Two xCitroncirus accessions (hybrids of Poncirus trifoliata and Citrus spp.), that are relatively resistant (UN-3881) or relatively susceptible (Troyer-1459) to ACP adults with regard to adult longevity, were compared in relation to ACP feeding behavior and some structural features of the leaf midrib. The settling (putative feeding/probing) sites of ACP adults on various parts of the leaf were not influenced primarily by plant accession. However, fewer ACP stylet sheaths were found in the midrib and fewer stylet sheath termini reached the vascular bundle (phloem and/or xylem) in UN-3881 compared to Troyer-1459 plants. Furthermore, in midribs of UN-3881 leaves the fibrous ring (sclerenchyma) around the phloem was significantly wider (thicker) compared to that in midribs of Troyer-1459 leaves. Our data indicate that feeding and/or probing by ACP adults into the vascular bundle is less frequent in the more resistant (UN-3881) than in the more susceptible (Troyer-1459) accessions. Our results also suggest that the thickness of the fibrous ring may be a barrier to stylet penetration into the vascular bundle, which is important for successful ACP feeding on the phloem and for transmitting HLB-associated bacteria. These results may help in the development of citrus plants resistant to ACP, which in turn could halt or slow the spread of the HLB-associated bacteria by this vector.     

Carotenoids,Birdsong and Oxidative Status: Administration of Dietary Lutein Is Associated with an Increase in Song Rate and Circulating Antioxidants (Albumin and Cholesterol) and a Decrease in Oxidative Damage

Despite the appealing hypothesis that carotenoid-based colouration signals oxidative status, evidence supporting the antioxidant function of these pigments is scarce. Recent studies have shown that lutein, the most common carotenoid used by birds, can enhance the expression of non-visual traits, such as birdsong. Nevertheless, the underlying physiological mechanisms remain unclear. In this study we hypothesized that male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) fed extra lutein increase their song rate as a consequence of an improved oxidative status. Although birdsong may be especially sensitive to the redox status, this has, to the best of our knowledge, never been tested. Together with the determination of circulating oxidative damage (ROMs, reactive oxygen metabolites), we quantified uric acid, albumin, total proteins, cholesterol, and testosterone, which are physiological parameters potentially sensitive to oxidation and/or related to both carotenoid functions and birdsong expression. We found that the birds fed extra lutein sang more frequently than control birds and showed an increase of albumin and cholesterol together with a decrease of oxidative damage. Moreover, we could show that song rate was associated with high levels of albumin and cholesterol and low levels of oxidative damage, independently from testosterone levels. Our study shows for the first time that song rate honestly signals the oxidative status of males and that dietary lutein is associated with the circulation of albumin and cholesterol in birds, providing a novel insight to the theoretical framework related to the honest signalling of carotenoid-based traits.     

A Comparison of Assays for Accurate Copy Number Measurement of the Low-Affinity Fc Gamma Receptor Genes FCGR3A and FCGR3B

The FCGR3 locus encoding the low affinity activating receptor FcγRIII, plays a vital role in immunity triggered by cellular effector and regulatory functions. Copy number of the genes FCGR3A and FCGR3B has previously been reported to affect susceptibility to several autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions. However, such genetic association studies often yield inconsistent results; hence require assays that are robust with low error rate. We investigated the accuracy and efficiency in estimating FCGR3 CNV by comparing Sequenom MassARRAY and paralogue ratio test-restriction enzyme digest variant ratio (PRT-REDVR). In addition, since many genetic association studies of FCGR3B CNV were carried out using real-time quantitative PCR, we have also included the evaluation of that method’s performance in estimating the multi-allelic CNV of FCGR3B. The qPCR assay exhibited a considerably broader distribution of signal intensity, potentially introducing error in estimation of copy number and higher false positive rates. Both Sequenom and PRT-REDVR showed lesser systematic bias, but Sequenom skewed towards copy number normal (CN = 2). The discrepancy between Sequenom and PRT-REDVR might be attributed either to batch effects noise in individual measurements. Our study suggests that PRT-REDVR is more robust and accurate in genotyping the CNV of FCGR3, but highlights the needs of multiple independent assays for extensive validation when performing a genetic association study with multi-allelic CNVs.     

Silene vulgaris subsp. macrocarpa leaves and roots from Morocco: assessment of the efficiency of different extraction techniques and solvents on their antioxidant capacity,brine shrimp toxicity and phenolic characterization

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of various solvents and techniques on the extractability of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenolics, from leaves and roots of Silene vulgaris subsp. macrocarpa grown wild in Morocco. Maceration and hot extraction with methanol or water and Soxhlet ethanol extraction were utilized. Aimed at establishing the potential safety of the extracts, Artemia salina lethality bioassay was performed. All the extracts were found to be non-toxic, except for the leaf Soxhlet ethanol. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was evaluated in vitro by DPPH, reducing power, and ferrous ions chelating activity assays. The leaf extracts displayed noticeable radical scavenging and chelating activities, and maceration with methanol (Mac-MeOH) resulted the most suitable extraction method for an effective recovery of antioxidants; further, the root Mac-MeOH extract demonstrated good chelating properties (IC₅₀ = 335.49?±?0.70?µg/mL). Thus, leaf and root Mac-MeOH extracts were subjected to phytochemical investigations. The total phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannin content was determined spectrophotometrically. Thirteen polyphenolic compounds were positively identified, by HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS, in the leaf extract for the first time, with p-coumaric acid derivatives being the most abundant ones (81%), whereas only catechin and procyanidin B1 were found in the root extract.     

Dynamic Modeling of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 (HSV-2) Transmission: Issues in Structural Uncertainty

The sexually transmitted infection (STI) Herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) is of public health concern because it is a very common frequently unrecognized lifelong infection, which may facilitate HIV transmission. Within HIV/STI modeling, structural uncertainty has received less attention than parametric uncertainty. By merging the compartments of a “complex” model, a “simple” HSV-2 model is developed. Sexual interactions between female sex workers (FSWs) and clients are modeled using data from India. Latin Hypercube Sampling selects from parameter distributions and both models are run for each of the 10,000 parameter sets generated. Outputs are compared (except for 2,450 unrealistic simulations). The simple model is a good approximation to the complex model once the HSV-2 epidemic has reached 60% of the equilibrium prevalence (95% of the 7,550 runs produced <10% relative error). The simple model is a reduced version of the complex model that retains details implicitly. For late-stage epidemics, the simple model gives similar prevalence trends to the complex model. As HSV-2 epidemics in many populations are advanced, the simple model is accurate in most instances, although the complex model may be preferable for early epidemics. The analysis highlights the issue of structural uncertainty and the value of reducing complexity.     

Influence of brown stink bug feeding,planting date and sampling time on common smut infection of maize

Phytopathogen infections are frequently influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors in a crop field. The effect of brown stink bug, Euschistus servus （Hemiptera： Pentatomidae）, feeding and planting date and sampling time on common smut （Ustilago maydis） infection percentage of maize plants was examined in 2005 and 2006, and 2010 and 2011, respectively. Brown stink bug adult feeding on maize hybrid ＂DKC6971＂ at flowering in 2005 and 2006 did not influence smut infection percentage when examined using 3 treatments （i.e., 0 adult, 5 adults, and 5 adults mixed with the smut spores）. The smut infection percentages were 〈 3% （n =12） in the 3 treatments. The smut infection percentage among the 4 weekly samplings was the same, so was natural aflatoxin contamination at harvest among the treatments. The 2nd experiment showed that planting date did not affect the smut infection percentage in either 2010 or 2011. But, the smut infection percentage from the postflowering sampling was greater than preflowering sampling in both years. The smut infection percentage varied among the germplasm lines in 2010, but not in 2011. This study demonstrated that brown stink bug feeding at flowering had no effect on smut infection in maize, and the best time for smut evaluation would be after flowering. The temperature and precipitation might have also influenced the percentage of smut-infected maize plants during the 4 years when the experiments were conducted. The similarity between kernel-colonizing U. maydis and Aspergillus flavus infections and genotype × environment interaction were also discussed.