Hominoid visual brain structure volumes and the position of the lunate sulcus

It has been argued that changes in the relative sizes of visual system structures predated an increase in brain size and provide evidence of brain reorganization in hominins. However, data about the volume and anatomical limits of visual brain structures in the extant taxa phylogenetically closest to humans-the apes-remain scarce, thus complicating tests of hypotheses about evolutionary changes. Here, we analyze new volumetric data for the primary visual cortex and the lateral geniculate nucleus to determine whether or not the human brain departs from allometrically-expected patterns of brain organization. Primary visual cortex volumes were compared to lunate sulcus position in apes to investigate whether or not inferences about brain reorganization made from fossil hominin endocasts are reliable in this context. In contrast to previous studies, in which all species were relatively poorly sampled, the current study attempted to evaluate the degree of intraspecific variability by including numerous hominoid individuals (particularly Pan troglodytes and Homo sapiens). In addition, we present and compare volumetric data from three new hominoid species-Pan paniscus, Pongo pygmaeus, and Symphalangus syndactylus. These new data demonstrate that hominoid visual brain structure volumes vary more than previously appreciated. In addition, humans have relatively reduced primary visual cortex and lateral geniculate nucleus volumes as compared to allometric predictions from other hominoids. These results suggest that inferences about the position of the lunate sulcus on fossil endocasts may provide information about brain organization.     

Enzymatic and structural characterization of a basic phospholipase A2 from the sea anemone Condylactis gigantea

This work aimed at the isolation and structural/functional characterization of a phospholipase A₂ (CgPLA₂) from the extract of the anemone Condylactis gigantea. CgPLA₂ was isolated with a high purity level through three chromatographic steps, showing pI ˜ 8.6 and molecular weights of 14,500 and 29,000 for the monomer and dimer, respectively. CgPLA₂ showed a high catalytic activity upon fluorescent phospholipids inducing no direct hemolytic activity. This enzyme, which is Ca²⁺-dependent, showed a lower stability against temperature and pH variations when compared with snake venom enzymes. The enzymatic activity was significantly reduced or completely abolished after chemical modification of CgPLA₂ with BPB. Its cDNA was then obtained, with 357 base pairs which codified for a mature protein of 119 amino acid residues. A comparative analysis of the primary structure of CgPLA₂ revealed 84%, 61%, 43% and 42% similarity to the PLA₂s from Adamsia carciniopados, Nematostella vectensis, Vipera russelli russelli and Bothrops jararacussu, respectively.     

A novel subclassification for Kunitz proteinase inhibitors from leguminous seeds

Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitors from legume seeds have been characterized structurally. The presence of Cys–Cys in single or double chains shows a new pattern of proteins structurally not so closely related to STI. Therefore, briefly, with regard to cysteine content, plant Kunitz proteinase inhibitors may be classifed into four groups: no Cys–Cys at all, one, two and more than two Cys residues. Functional properties and diversity of these proteins are also briefly discussed.     

中国柯萨奇病毒B5的全基因组测序及其序列分析

本文对我国首株与手足口病相关的柯萨奇病毒B5(01/CVB5/SD/CHN/09,CVB5/09)进行了基因组测序并与现有的相关序列进行了比较和进化分析。CVB5/09基因组长7399nt,共编码氨基酸2185aa,与现有的CVB5基因组核酸序列相似性在80.6%～85.3%之间,氨基酸序列相似性在96.1%～96.9%。进化分析发现,利用不同的基因组片段P1、P2和P3区构建的进化树中,CVB5/09分别处在不同的进化分支上,不同基因组片段有着不同的进化速率。Simplot相似性分析没有发现基因组有明显的重组发生。本文完成了我国第1株柯萨奇病毒B5全基因组序列的测定,通过与其它相关病毒的比较分析深入了解其遗传特征,以期为手足口病的流行病学调查和预防控制提供有价值的信息。     

A comparison of the biological characteristics of EV71 C4 subtypes from different epidemic strains

The comparative analysis of the biological characterization and the genetic background study of EV71 circulating strains is commonly recognized as basic work necessary for development of an effective EV71 vaccine. In this study, we sequenced five EV71 circulating strains, isolated from Fuyang, Hefei, Kunming and Shenzhen city of China and named them FY-23, FY-22, H44, K9 and S1 respectively. The sequence alignment demonstrated their genotypes be C4. The genetic distance of the VP1 gene from these isolates suggested that they were highly co-related with genetic identity similar to other previously reported EV71 strains in China. Additionally, these strains were identified to display some obvious proliferation dynamics and plaque morphology when propagated in Vero cells. However, a distinctive difference in pathogenic ability in neonatal mice was found. Some differences in cross neutralization test &; immunogenic analysis were also found. All these results are related to the biological characterization of circulating EV71 strains in China and aid in the development of an EV71 vaccine in the future.     

Proximal embolic protection in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction (PREPARE): core lab adjudicated angiographic outcomes of a randomised controlled trial

Background. Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the Proxis system (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) achieved significantly better microvascular flow as measured by ST-segment resolution. However, no differences were observed in left ventricular ejection fraction or infarct size as obtained by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of combined proximal embolic protection and thrombus aspiration on core-lab adjudicated angiographic outcomes.Methods. In the PRoximal Embolic Protection in Acute myocardial infarction and Resolution of ST-Elevation (PREPARE) study, patients were randomised to primary PCI with the Proxis system (n=141) or primary PCI alone (n=143). An independent core laboratory re-evaluated all angiograms and adjudicated the angiographic outcomes and computerised quantitative blush evaluation (QuBE) value.Results. There were no significant differences in Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade, myocardial blush grade, or angiographic signs of distal embolisation among the two arms. QuBE values did not significantly differ between the Proxis-treated patients and control patients (15.1±5.4 vs. 15.8±5.5, respectively, p=0.34).Conclusion. Primary PCI with combined proximal embolic protection and thrombus aspiration in STEMI patients more frequently resulted in complete immediate ST resolution compared with control patients. However, there were no significant differences in core laboratory adjudicated angiographic outcomes. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:531–6.)     

Effect of repeated exposure to Plasmodium relictum (lineage SGS1) on infection dynamics in domestic canaries

Parasites are known to exert strong selection pressures on their hosts and, as such, favour the evolution of defence mechanisms. The negative impact of parasites on their host can have substantial consequences in terms of population persistence and the epidemiology of the infection. In natural populations, however, it is difficult to assess the cost of infection while controlling for other potentially confounding factors. For instance, individuals are repeatedly exposed to a variety of parasite strains, some of which can elicit immunological memory, further protecting the host from subsequent infections. Cost of infection is, therefore, expected to be particularly strong for primary infections and to decrease for individuals surviving the first infectious episode that are re-exposed to the pathogen. We tested this hypothesis experimentally using avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium relictum-lineage SGS1) and domestic canaries (Serinus canaria) as a model. Hosts were infected with a controlled dose of P. relictum as a primary infection and control birds were injected with non-infected blood. The changes in haematocrit and body mass were monitored during a 20 day period. A protein of the acute phase response (haptoglobin) was assessed as a marker of the inflammatory response mounted in response to the infection. Parasite intensity was also monitored. Surviving birds were then re-infected 37 days post primary infection. In agreement with the predictions, we found that primary infected birds paid a substantially higher cost in terms of infection-induced reduction in haematocrit compared with re-exposed birds. After the secondary infection, re-exposed hosts were also able to clear the infection at a faster rate than after the primary infection. These results have potential consequences for the epidemiology of avian malaria, since birds re-exposed to the pathogen can maintain parasitemia with low fitness costs, allowing the persistence of the pathogen within the host population.     

Cells from an anhydrobiotic chironomid survive almost complete desiccation

Dry-preservation of nucleated cells from multicellular animals represents a significant challenge in life science. As anhydrobionts can tolerate a desiccated state, their cells and organs are expected to show high desiccation tolerance in vitro. In the present study, we established cell lines derived from embryonic tissues of an anhydrobiotic chironomid, Polypedilum vanderplanki, designated as Pv11 and Pv210. Salinity stress induced the expression of a set of anhydrobiosis-related genes in both Pv11 and Pv210 cells, suggesting that at least a part of cells can autonomously control the physiological changes for the entry into anhydrobiosis. When desiccated with medium supplemented with 300 mM trehalose or sucrose and stored for 4 weeks in dry air (approximately 5% relative humidity), a small percentage of the cells was found to be viable upon rehydration, although surviving cells seemed not to be able to multiply. We also attempted dry-preservation of organs isolated from P. vanderplanki larvae, and found that a proportion of cells in some organs, including fat body, testis, nerve and dorsal vessel, tolerated in vitro desiccation.     

Xenopus Meis3 protein lies at a nexus downstream to Zic1 and Pax3 proteins, regulating multiple cell-fates during early nervous system development

In Xenopus embryos, XMeis3 protein activity is required for normal hindbrain formation. Our results show that XMeis3 protein knock down also causes a loss of primary neuron and neural crest cell lineages, without altering expression of Zic, Sox or Pax3 genes. Knock down or inhibition of the Pax3, Zic1 or Zic5 protein activities extinguishes embryonic expression of the XMeis3 gene, as well as triggering the loss of hindbrain, neural crest and primary neuron cell fates. Ectopic XMeis3 expression can rescue the Zic knock down phenotype. HoxD1 is an XMeis3 direct-target gene, and ectopic HoxD1 expression rescues cell fate losses in either XMeis3 or Zic protein knock down embryos. FGF3 and FGF8 are direct target genes of XMeis3 protein and their expression is lost in XMeis3 morphant embryos. In the genetic cascade controlling embryonic neural cell specification, XMeis3 lies below general-neuralizing, but upstream of FGF and regional-specific genes. Thus, XMeis3 protein is positioned at a key regulatory point, simultaneously regulating multiple neural cell fates during early vertebrate nervous system development.     

Characterization of two tropomyosin isoforms from the fast skeletal muscle of bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnusorientalis

Fast skeletal muscle tropomyosin (TM) of tunas is composed of nearly equimolar amount of two isoforms designated α-TM and β-TM expediently based on their migration behavior in SDS-PAGE, whereas corresponding TMs from the other fish species are homogenous (α-type). The presence of β-TM is thus specific to tunas so far. The amino acid sequence of β-TM from bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus orientalis, which has not been revealed to date unlike α-TM, was successfully obtained in this study by cDNA cloning. The coding region of β-TM cDNA comprised of an open reading frame of 855 bp encoding 284 amino acid residues, like most of the TMs. Unexpectedly, the sequence of β-TM showed high similarity to those of other vertebrate α-type TMs including tuna α-TM. Phylogenetic analysis also showed that β-TM has the closest relationship with α-TM of tuna. This fact was quite unlike the relation of mammalian α- and β-TMs. Based on the distribution of amino acid substitutions, it was suggested that tuna TM isoforms are the products of different genes. By thermodynamic analysis of native and reconstituted TMs, it was demonstrated that β-TM is less thermostable than α-TM. Proteolytic digestion also supported the lower stability of the former.