Developmental variation of the blow fly Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) by different substrate tissue types

The green bottle blow fly Lucilia sericata is recognized as being among the first wave of the faunal succession on human cadavers. Thus, it is used to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI). The nutritional intake of larvae is likely to vary subject to the part of a corpse on which they are feeding. A study was therefore conducted to investigate the effect for the type of food substrate on larval growth in this species. Larvae were reared on cow liver, brain, heart, lung, kidney, intestine or minced meat. Results showed significant differences in the duration of the feeding, postfeeding larval, and pupal stages from different substrata (F = 42.43; 74.71 and 655.71; P < 0.0001, respectively). Larval growth measured as length varied significantly between different tissues (F = 3.56; P < 0.05). Larvae that were reared on heart were smaller than those reared on other tissues. Also, there was a significant effect for the type of tissue on the adult size of males (F = 2.41, P < 0.05) and females (F = 2.85, P < 0.05). These results may have important implications for forensic entomologists, since initial infestations commonly occur in wounds or in the cranial area. Therefore, the position at which larvae have been feeding on a body will be a crucial observation at a crime scene and is very important in PMI estimation.     

Lipophilic statins antagonistically alter the major epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition signaling pathways in breast cancer stem–like cells via inhibition of the mevalonate pathway

Resistance to therapies, recurrence, and metastasis remain challenging issues for breast cancer patients, particularly for triple-negative and breast cancer stem cells. The activation of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an indispensable role in the poor prognosis of those types. The accumulating proofs indicated that the mevalonate pathway crucially mediates a poor prognosis. Here, the effects of lipophilic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A inhibitors, atorvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin, were investigated on expression and function of a selected profile of EMT-related genes in breast cancer stem–like cells. A nontoxic dose of statins (5 μM for 4 days) significantly (P < 0.05 and >2-fold change) altered expression of 50 of 71 studied genes with a shared cluster of 37 genes that are coding chief operator of signaling pathways in Hippo, Notch, Wnt, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and cell death. They also significantly decreased the levels of Yap/Taz proteins and shifted the expression of vimentin/E-cadherin in favor of induction of differentiation. Statins significantly chemosensitized the treated cells to doxorubicin and also reduced in vitro migration of the cells. Whereas lovastatin and simvastatin significantly decreased the expression of CD44, atorvastatin drastically increased CD24 and caused more wide-ranging impacts. In summary, the statins hold back the process of EMT by the antagonizing of EMT-promoting pathways. High degree of overlapping findings is supportive of the central role of the mevalonate pathway in cancer stem–like cells, but further studies are required to find the optimized chemical structure for the maximum abrogation of orchestrated EMT pathways.     

Endothelins and their receptors in embryo implantation

As a critical stage of pregnancy, the implantation of blastocysts into the endometrium is a progressive, excessively regulated local tissue remodeling step involving a complex sequence of genetic and cellular interplay executed within an optimal time frame. For better understanding the causes of infertility and, more importantly, for developing powerful strategies for successful implantations and combating infertility, an increasing number of recent studies have been focused on the identification and study of newly described substances in the reproductive tree. The endothelins (ET), a 21-aminoacidic family of genes, have been reported to be responsible for the contraction of vascular and nonvascular smooth muscles, including the smooth muscles of the uterus. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively discuss the physiological role of endothelins and signaling through their receptors, as well as their probable involvement in the implantation process.     

Development of a Lentivirus Vector-Based Assay for Non-Destructive Monitoring of Cell Fusion Activity

Cell-to-cell fusion can be quantified by endowing acceptor and donor cells with latent reporter genes/proteins and activators of these genes/proteins, respectively. One way to accomplish this goal is by using a bipartite lentivirus vector (LV)-based cell fusion assay system in which the cellular fusion partners are transduced with a flippase-activatable Photinus pyralis luciferase (PpLuc) expression unit (acceptor cells) or with a recombinant gene encoding FLPe^NLS+, a nuclear-targeted and molecularly evolved version of flippase (donor cells). Fusion of both cell populations will lead to the FLPe-dependent generation of a functional PpLuc gene. PpLuc activity is typically measured in cell lysates, precluding consecutive analysis of one cell culture. Therefore, in this study the PpLuc-coding sequence was replaced by that of Gaussia princeps luciferase (GpLuc), a secretory protein allowing repeated analysis of the same cell culture. In myotubes the spread of FLPe^NLS+ may be limited due to its nuclear localization signal (NLS) causing low signal outputs. To test this hypothesis, myoblasts were transduced with LVs encoding either FLPe^NLS+ or an NLS-less version of FLPe (FLPe^NLS−) and subsequently co-cultured in different ratios with myoblasts containing the FLPe-activatable GpLuc expression cassette. At different times after induction of cell-to-cell fusion the GpLuc activity in the culture medium was determined. FLPe^NLS+ and FLPe^NLS− both activated the latent GpLuc gene but when the percentage of FLPe-expressing myoblasts was limiting, FLPe^NLS+ generally yielded slightly higher signals than FLPe^NLS− while at low acceptor-to-donor cell ratios FLPe^NLS− was usually superior. The ability of FLPe^NLS+ to spread through myofibers and to induce reporter gene expression is thus not limited by its NLS. However, at high FLPe concentrations the presence of the NLS negatively affected reporter gene expression. In summary, a rapid and simple chemiluminescence assay for quantifying cell-to-cell fusion progression based on GpLuc has been developed.     

A glucoside of urospermal A

The aerial parts of Urospermum picroides afforded, in addition to urospermal A a p-hydroxylphenyl acetate of a glucoside of urospermal A.     

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) Detection of Diphtheria Toxoid Using Gold Nanoparticle-Monoclonal Antibody Conjugates

Plasmonics - Detection of diphtheria toxin (DT) which is produced by Corynebacterium diphtheria, a zoonotic pathogen and a leading cause of diphtheria, is the critical step in the clinical...     

Threatening biomarkers in lupus pregnancy: Biochemistry and genetic challenges

Objective

Using genetic markers and miRs work strongly beside other sensitive biomarkers in lupus management during sensitive period of pregnancy.

Methods

PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched from 2000 to 2017 using the terms “lupus,” “lupus pregnancy,” “biomarkers,” “micro-RNA,” “polymorphisms,” “anti-phospholipid antibodies,” and “cluster differentiation markers.”

Discussion

Complement is a valuable biomarker in lupus pregnancy. However, the complement profile has ambiguous meaning because decreased levels of C3 and C4 reflect inflammation and because they are also prognostic biomarkers for abortion. Furthermore, increased C3 and C4 levels indicate hepatic protein synthesis in hepatocytes. Anti-phospholipid (APL) antibodies are present in 25% to 50% of lupus patients, and can lead to thrombotic and obstetric complications in some pregnancies and increase the risk of abortion, especially in a pregnant woman in the active phase of lupus. Several studies have associated APL with HELLP syndrome. However, other pregnancy complications have not been associated with APL. Autoantibodies against the major vault protein and anti-double strand DNA antibodies are valuable biomarkers in evaluating lupus activity. The expression pattern of micro-RNAs (miRs) differs in various diseases. Current studies have demonstrated the potential of miRs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in various diseases; for example, the level of miR-126 is higher in lupus.

Conclusion

Mir-223-3p and miR-451 are informative biomarkers in estimating disease activity. TWEAK, BAFF, and APOL1 genes, and their polymorphisms are informative in estimating disease activity, especially renal effects, and in monitoring higher-risk pregnant women. Further studies of these genes and their relevant polymorphisms are needed.

     

Sublethal effects of spirodiclofen,abamectin and pyridaben on life-history traits and life-table parameters of two-spotted spider mite, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus urticae</Emphasis> (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Tuckerella japonica Ehara (Acari: Tetranychoidea: Tuckerellidae) was found on stems of seedling plants of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze (Theaceae) in the continental USA. This mite is able to pierce exposed green periderm tissue with its paired stylets on 1- to 3- or 4-year-old stems where the outer bark had split longitudinally. The mite was not found on branches older than 3 or 4 years, where splitting diminished and, eventually, a uniform covering of bark was formed. The mouthparts of T. japonica were examined under scanning electron microscopy and their external morphology was compared with known Tetranychoidea. There were usually one or two feeding holes in an area where the female subsequently deposited one or more eggs. Females were observed defending the areas where their eggs and/or young occurred. This behavior along with potentially limited access to exposed periderm or availability of shoots in the rows of plants may restrict higher populations of T. japonica from becoming established. The potential of T. japonica as an economic pest remains unknown at this time.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Ambrosia maritima (Damssissa)

Six sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the aerial parts of Ambrosia maritima. Four pseudoguaianolides were isolated for the first time in addition to parthenin and neoambrosin.