OLFML3 expression is decreased during prenatal muscle development and regulated by microRNA-155 in pigs

The Olfactomedin-like 3 (OLFML3) gene has matrix-related function involved in embryonic development. MicroRNA-155 (miR-155), 21- to 23-nucleotides (nt) noncoding RNA, regulated myogenesis by target mRNA. Our LongSAGE analysis suggested that OLFML3 gene was differently expressed during muscle development in pig. In this study, we cloned the porcine OLFML3 gene and detected its tissues distribution in adult Tongcheng pigs and dynamical expression in developmental skeletal muscle (12 prenatal and 10 postnatal stages) from Landrace (lean-type) and Tongcheng (obese-type) pigs. Subsequently, we analyzed the interaction between OLFML3 and miR-155. The OLFML3 was abundantly expressed in liver and pancreas, moderately in lung, small intestine and placenta, and weakly in other tissues and postnatal muscle. There were different dynamical expression patterns between Landrace and Tongcheng pigs during prenatal skeletal muscle development. The OLFML3 was down-regulated (33-50 days post coitus, dpc), subsequently up-regulated (50-70 dpc), and then down-regulated (70-100 dpc) in Landrace pigs, while in Tongcheng pigs, it was down-regulated (33-50 dpc), subsequently up-regulated (50-55 dpc) and then down-regulated (55-100 dpc). There was higher expression in Tongcheng than Landrace in prenatal muscle from 33 to 60 dpc, and opposite situation from 65 to 100 dpc. Dual luciferase assay and real time PCR documented that OLFML3 expression was regulated by miR-155 at mRNA level. Our research indicated that OLFML3 gene may affect prenatal skeletal muscle development and was regulated by miR-155. These finding will help understanding biological function and expression regulation of OLFML3 gene in mammal animals.     

Temperature is the key factor explaining interannual variability of Daphnia development in spring: a modelling study

Plankton succession during spring/early summer in temperate lakes is characterised by a highly predictable pattern: a phytoplankton bloom is grazed down by zooplankton (Daphnia) inducing a clear-water phase. This sequence of events is commonly understood as a cycle of consumer-resource dynamics, i.e. zooplankton growth is driven by food availability. Here we suggest, using a modelling study based on a size-structured Daphnia population model, that temperature and not food is the dominant factor driving interannual variability of Daphnia population dynamics during spring. Simply forcing this model with a seasonal temperature regime typical for temperate lakes is sufficient for generating the distinctive seasonal trajectory of Daphnia abundances observed in meso-eutrophic temperate lakes. According to a scenario analysis, a forward shift of the vernal temperature increase by 60 days will advance the timing of the Daphnia maximum on average by 54 days, while a forward shift in the start of the spring bloom by 60 days will advance the Daphnia maximum only by less than a third (17 days). Hence, the timing of temperature increase was more important for the timing of Daphnia development than the timing of the onset of algal growth. The effect of temperature is also large compared to the effect of applying different Daphnia mortality rates (0.055 or 0.1 day(-1), 38 days), an almost tenfold variation in phytoplankton carrying capacity (25 days) and a tenfold variation in Daphnia overwintering abundance (3 days). However, the standing stock of Daphnia at its peak was almost exclusively controlled by the phytoplankton carrying capacity of the habitat and seems to be essentially independent of temperature. Hence, whereas food availability determines the standing stock of Daphnia at its spring maximum, temperature appears to be the most important factor driving the timing of the Daphnia maximum and the clear-water phase in spring.     

山羊豆种质资源形态多样性分析

采用15个形态性状对43份山羊豆种质资源进行遗传多样性分析,结果表明,山羊豆种质资源遗传变异丰富,多样性指数为1．863,其中俄罗斯南部地区可能是山羊豆形态多样性的分布中心。基于形态性状的聚类分析把43份材料聚为5类,其中第1类15份资源的株高和主茎分枝数明显高于其他类,且叶量丰富,营养性状表现良好;结实性状中荚果长和百粒重较大,综合性状表现较好,可以从中筛选合适的材料作为引种驯化和育种的试验材料。     

Optimization of capsid-incorporated antigens for a novel adenovirus vaccine approach

Background

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the predominant cause of common cold. In addition, HRVs are implicated in the worsening of COPD and asthma, as well as the loss of lung transplants. Despite significant efforts, no anti-viral agent is approved for the prevention or treatment of HRV-infection.

Results

In this study we demonstrate that Iota-Carrageenan, a sulphated polysaccharide derived from red seaweed, is a potent anti-rhinoviral substance in-vitro. Iota-Carrageenan reduces HRV growth and inhibits the virus induced cythopathic effect of infected HeLa cells. In addition, Iota-Carrageenan effectively prevents the replication of HRV1A, HRV2, HRV8, HRV14, HRV16, HRV83 and HRV84 in primary human nasal epithelial cells in culture. The data suggest that Iota-Carrageenan acts primarily by preventing the binding or the entry of virions into the cells.

Conclusion

Since HRV infections predominately occur in the nasal cavity and the upper respiratory tract, a targeted treatment with a product containing Iota-Carrageenan is conceivable. Clinical trials are needed to determine whether Iota-Carrageenan-based products are effective in the treatment or prophylaxis of HRV infections.     

Analysis of genetic variations in the resistin gene shows no associations with obesity in women

Resistin is thought to be involved in the development of obesity and insulin resistance. Polymorphisms in the gene encoding resistin could contribute to this link, but different studies have yielded contradictory results. In this study, we investigated whether polymorphisms in resistin are involved in the development of obesity in a Belgian female population. We selected three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs1862513, rs3745367, and rs3745369) and compared their genotype and allele frequencies between female obese patients (N = 541) and control individuals (N = 235). This analysis showed association with neither obesity for any of the variants nor with the haplotypes of these SNPs. Furthermore, we also investigated whether these variants have an influence on BMI. After Kruskal-Wallis analysis, we found that there was no difference in BMI between the genotypes for all variants. Together, these results suggest that these variants in resistin are not associated with obesity in the female population.     

半胱胺盐酸盐减缓山羊手术后细胞免疫抑制效应的实验研究

Sixteen castrated male goats were randomly allocated into two groups (Control n=8; Experiment n=8) to investigate the effects of cysteamine on surgery-induced cellular immune suppression. The experiment commenced with 13 d of pre-operation (pre-Op), which contained 3 d of roughage-fed period (RP) and 10 d of roughage + concentrate-fed period (RCP), followed by first operation (Op-1) and then the second operation (Op-2). The goats were allowed to have 14 d of recovery between two operations. The fistulas were fixed to rumen walls in Op-1 and to duodenal walls in Op-2. Cysteamine (15 mg x kg(-1) x BW x d(-1)) was added to diet and fed to goats in Exp. group since RCP of pre-Op through whole experimental period. Blood was sampled through jugular vein from goats of both groups at pre-feeding of the last day of RP and RCP, 8 d after Op-1, 4 d and 13 d after Op-2, respectively to determine serum concentration of interlukin-2 (IL-2), cortisol, as well as PHA-stimulated lymphocytic proliferation rate (SI). In pre-operative periods there were no significant differences in concentration of IL-2 (0.82+/-0.1 vs 1.03+/-0.22 microg l(-1)) and cortisol (20.48+/-4.52 vs 20.80+/-9.93 microg l(-1)), as well as lymphocytic SI (90.72+/-7.25 vs 129.22+/-18.59) between Control and Exp. groups. The concentrations of IL-2 (0.82+/-0.1 vs 0.73+/-0.08 vs 0.55+/-0.12 microg l(-1)) and lymphocytic SI (90.72+/-7.25 vs 49.31+/-6.4 vs 7.09+/-1.66) in Control were depressed acutely (P<0.05), but cortisol concentration elevated (20.48+/-4.52 vs 26.67+/-10.51 vs 32.33+/-3.29 microg l(-1)) in post-operative periods (8 d after Op-1 and 4 d after Op-2), compared with those in RCP. While they remained unaltered in Exp. group except a slight decrease of lymphocytic SI at 4 d after Op-2. The different responses of Control and Exp. groups to surgery stress led to a 80-90% higher of IL-2 and about 3 times greater of SI in Exp. than those in Control, which was contributed by cysteamine administration. Our data show that in operated goats the cellular immune was suppressed by surgery stress, cysteamine administration prevented decreases of IL-2 and lymphocytic SI and increase of cortisol induced by surgery stress, consequently attenuates surgery-induced suppression of cellular immune activity.     

Measurement of leaf biomechanical properties in studies of herbivory: Opportunities,problems and procedures

Leaf biomechanical properties have the potential to act as antiherbivore defences. However, compared with studies on chemical defences, there are few studies that have demonstrated that the physical or biomechanical structure of plants can prevent or influence herbivory. This difference in focus by ecologists may relate to the dominant paradigm of plant chemical defences in ecological research and the perceived difficulties that ecologists have with the engineering principles embedded in biomechanics. The advantage of using materials engineering concepts is that each property is precisely defined and quantifiable, although the latter may be difficult in leaves because of their composite and anisotropic nature. Most herbivory studies have used simple penetrometers to measure leaf properties, often termed ‘toughness’. As defined in materials engineering, the measured properties are ‘force to fracture’ and ‘strength’, not toughness. Measurement of strength, the resistance to crack initiation, is relevant to understanding herbivory. Measurement of ‘toughness’ as defined by materials engineering is also relevant. Toughness is the resistance to crack propagation and is a measure of the energy required to fracture the leaf. This requires more sophisticated equipment than simple penetrometers because it requires a simultaneous measure of the punch displacement. In addition, purists would argue that a punch cannot be used to measure true toughness because the crack is not controlled and plastic deformation is also involved. However, it may be the only method that allows detection of fine‐scale pattern in mechanical properties across a leaf surface at a scale that is relevant to herbivory. There is very little work on the scale at which these properties vary, particularly with regard to different sized herbivores. In addition, few studies have investigated a broad range of relevant biomechanical properties in relation to herbivory. Therefore, it is not possible yet to be definitive about the relative merits of the various types of tests. A single test might show a pattern in relation to herbivore damage at a gross level. However, to really understand the functional and ecological significance of leaf texture in relation to herbivory, a more reductionist approach is needed. Only then can we move on to the larger scales of pattern that many ecologists are seeking.     

Dual targeting to mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Plant cells contain two organelles originally derived from endosymbiotic bacteria: mitochondria and plastids. Their endosymbiotic origin explains why these organelles contain their own DNA, nonetheless only a few dozens of genes are actually encoded by these genomes. Many of the other genes originally present have been transferred to the nuclear genome of the host, the product of their expression being targeted back to the corresponding organelle. Although targeting of proteins to mitochondria and chloroplasts is generally highly specific, an increasing number of examples have been discovered where the same protein is imported into both organelles. The object of this review is to compare and discuss these examples in order to try and identify common features of dual-targeted proteins. The study helps throw some light on the factors determining organelle targeting specificity, and suggests that dual-targeted proteins may well be far more common than once thought.     

Do restoration measures rehabilitate fauna diversity in raised bogs? A comparative study on aquatic macroinvertebrates

To assess whether raised bog restorationmeasures contribute to the conservation andrestoration of the fauna diversity,macroinvertebrate species assemblages werecompared between water bodies created byrewetting measures and water bodies whichhave not been subject to restorationmeasures, but are remnants offormer peat cuttings and trenches used forbuckwheat culture in the past.The restoration sites were inhabited bycharacteristic raised bog species and rarespecies, but their numbers were higher atthe remnant sites not affected byrestoration management. A considerablenumber of characteristic and rare faunaspecies were only found at the remnantsites. The remnant sites includedconsiderably more variation inmacroinvertebrate species assemblages andhad a higher cumulative species richness.The number of characteristicmacroinvertebrate species was not clearlyrelated to the presence of a characteristicraised bog vegetation. In restoration sitesnumbers of rare and characteristic speciesper site tended to increase with the timeelapsed after rewetting. However,restoration measures will not automaticallyresult in restoration of a more or lesscomplete macroinvertebrate speciesspectrum, as restoration measures have sofar resulted in habitats for only a limitednumber of the characteristic species.When planning restoration measures, it isrecommended to protect the populations ofrare and characteristic species present inthe area, as these populations may becomethe sources for colonization of rewettedsites. Safeguarding habitat diversityduring the restoration process andrestoration of different elements of thehabitat diversity of complete raised bogsystems will result in the characteristicfauna diversity being conserved andrestored more successfully.