A parallel study of different array-CGH platforms in a set of Spanish patients with developmental delay and intellectual disability

Developmental delay and intellectual disability, which occur in 1–3% of the population, account for a large number of the cases regularly seen in genetic units. Chromosomal microarray analysis has been shown to be a valuable clinical diagnostic assay and it should be the first-tier clinical diagnostic test for individuals with these conditions. However and due to several difficulties such as the platform resolution, the cost, and the inexperience with genomic data bases, the implementation of this test in many cytogenetic laboratories has been delayed. In an attempt to provide more insights of the benefits derived by using the chromosomal microarray analysis, this study presents the experience of two clinical centers using three different microarray platforms. The results obtained using a custom microarray (KaryoArray®) and two different commercial medium- and high-resolution whole-genome oligonucleotide microarrays have been compared. An overall diagnostic yield of around 15% has been obtained. However, the custom microarray platform has been shown to be more convenient for a clinical setting, since it allows the detection of more pathogenic copy number variants and less common variants.     

Quantifying the exploratory behaviour of Amphibalanus amphitrite cyprids

The behavioural response of cypris larvae from A. amphitrite (=Balanus amphitrite) exploring three model glass surfaces is quantified by close-range microscopy. Step length and step duration measurements reveal a response to both surface properties and flow. Without flow, 2-day-old cyprids took larger steps with shorter step duration on hydrophilic glass surfaces (bare and NH₂-treated) vs hydrophobic glass (CH₃-treated). These parameters suggest a more detailed, local inspection of hydrophobic surfaces and a more extensive exploration for hydrophilic surfaces. Cyprids under flow took longer steps and exhibited shorter probing times on hydrophobic glass. On hydrophilic glass, cyprids increased their step duration under flow. This active response is attributed to drag and lift forces challenging the cyprids' temporary anchoring to the substratum. Seven-day-old cyprids showed almost no discrimination between the model surfaces. Microscopic-scale observation of cyprid exploration is expected to provide new insights into interactions between cyprids and surfaces.     

Purification and partial amino acid sequence analysis of the larval settlement-inducing pheromone from adult extracts of the barnacle,Balanus amphitrite (=Amphibalanus amphitrite)

A previously undescribed larval settlement-inducing protein was purified from adult extracts of the barnacle, Balanus amphitrite (=Amphibalanus amphitrite). Results of SDS-PAGE indicated that the relative molecular mass of the protein in reduced and denatured form is 31,600 ± 500 kDa, and that it is distinct from the Settlement Inducing Protein Complex (SIPC) which has previously been determined as a larval settlement-inducing pheromone. The N-terminal 33-residue sequence of the intact protein showed no similarity with previously reported proteins in the EMBL/Genbank/DDBJ databases. The purified protein at a concentration of 10 μg ml^?1 induced approximately four times more larval settlement than the control (filtered natural seawater). In addition, results of the assay using both 24-well polystyrene plates and agarose gels indicated that this protein is probably released into seawater and attracts cypris larvae. These results suggest that the purified protein is a waterborne type pheromone which induces settlement of larvae of B. amphitrite.     

y+LAT1 and y+LAT2 contribution to arginine uptake in different human cell models: Implications in the pathophysiology of Lysinuric Protein Intolerance

y+LAT1 (encoded by SLC7A7), together with y+LAT2 (encoded by SLC7A6), is the alternative light subunits composing the heterodimeric transport system y+L for cationic and neutral amino acids. SLC7A7 mutations cause lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI), an inherited multisystem disease characterized by low plasma levels of arginine and lysine, protein‐rich food intolerance, failure to thrive, hepatosplenomegaly, osteoporosis, lung involvement, kidney failure, haematologic and immunological disorders. The reason for the heterogeneity of LPI symptoms is thus far only poorly understood. Here, we aimed to quantitatively compare the expression of SLC7A7 and SLC7A6 among different human cell types and evaluate y+LAT1 and y+LAT2 contribution to arginine transport. We demonstrate that system y+L‐mediated arginine transport is mainly accounted for by y+LAT1 in monocyte‐derived macrophages (MDM) and y+LAT2 in fibroblasts. The kinetic analysis of arginine transport indicates that y+LAT1 and y+LAT2 share a comparable affinity for the substrate. Differences have been highlighted in the expression of SLC7A6 and SLC7A7 mRNA among different cell models: while SLC7A6 is almost equally expressed, SLC7A7 is particularly abundant in MDM, intestinal Caco‐2 cells and human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HRPTEpC). The characterization of arginine uptake demonstrates that system y+L is operative in renal cells and in Caco‐2 where, at the basolateral side, it mediates arginine efflux in exchange with leucine plus sodium. These findings explain the defective absorption/reabsorption of arginine in LPI. Moreover, y+LAT1 is the prevailing transporter in MDM sustaining a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of immunological complications associated with the disease.     

The levels of natural Nosema spp. infection in Apis mellifera iberiensis brood stages

Nosema ceranae is the most prevalent endoparasite of Apis mellifera iberiensis and it is a major health problem for bees worldwide. The infective capacity of N. ceranae has been demonstrated experimentally in honey bee brood, however no data are available about its prevalence in brood under natural conditions. Thus, brood combs from 10 different hives were analyzed over two consecutive years, taking samples before and after winter. A total of 1433 larvae/pupae were analyzed individually and N. ceranae (3.53%) was the microsporidian most frequently detected, as opposed to Nosema apis (0.42%) which was more frequently detected in conjunction with N. ceranae (0.71%). The active multiplication of both microsporidians was confirmed by the expression (real-time-PCR) of the N. ceranae polar tube protein 3 gene and/or the N. apis RNA polymerase II gene in 24% of the brood samples positive for Nosema spp. Both genes are related to microsporidian multiplication. As such, N. ceranae multiplication was confirmed in 1.06% of the samples, while N. apis multiplication was only observed in co-infections with N. ceranae (0.07%). Brood cells were analyzed for the presence of Nosema spp., as those are the immediate environment where the brood stages develop. The brood samples infected by Nosema spp. were in brood cells in which that microsporidians were not detected, while brood cells positive for N. ceranae hosted brood stages that were not apparently infected, indicating that this is unlikely to be the main pathway of infection. Finally, the colonies with brood infected by N. ceranae showed higher levels (numbers) of infected adult bees, although the differences were not significant before (P = 0.260), during (P = 0.055) or after (P = 0.056) brood sampling. These results show that N. ceranae is a bee parasite ubiquitous to all members of the colony, irrespective of the age of the bee. It is also of veterinary interest and should be considered when studying the epidemiology of the disease.     

Natural occurrence in Argentina of a new fungal pathogen of cockroaches,Metarhizium argentinense sp. nov.

The aim of this study was to search for entomopathogenic fungi that infect wild cockroaches in forest ecosystems in two protected natural areas of Argentina. Two isolates of Metarhizium argentinense were obtained and identified from wild cockroaches (Blaberidae: Epilamprinae) through the use of morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses. This novel species was found in Argentina and is a member of the Metarhizium flavoviride species complex. Phylogenetic analyses, based on sequence similarity analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and a set of four protein-coding marker sequences (EF1A, RPB1, RPB2 and BTUB), supported the status of this fungus as a new species. In addition, we tested the biological activity of the new species through assays against Blattella germanica nymphs and found that the two evaluated isolates were pathogenic. However, isolate CEP424 was more virulent and caused a confirmed mortality of 76 % with a median lethal time of 7.2 d. This study reports the southernmost worldwide location of a Metarhizium species that infects cockroaches and will help expand the knowledge of the biodiversity of pathogenic fungi of Argentine cockroaches.     

卵巢癌细胞系RMG-Ⅰ Lewis(y)抗原含量变化对其卡铂耐药性的影响

利用Lewis（y）抗原稳定高表达细胞株RMG-I-H,研究细胞表面Lewis（y）抗原含量变化与细胞对卡铂耐药性的关系．利用四甲基偶氮唑盐（MTT）法测定不同浓度卡铂作用后细胞系RMG-I—H及其对照组RMG-I、RMG-I—C的细胞生长抑制率（IR）;利用流式细胞仪（FCM）分析细胞凋亡,同时检测药物作用后细胞的凋亡比率;利用荧光染色法和透射电镜进一步观察细胞凋亡状态．结果表明,RMG-I-H的半数抑制浓度（IC50）为（58．07±2．42）,明显高于对照组RMG—I（28．83±3．57）和RMG-I-C（25．71±8．24）的IC50（P〈0．01）,后两者间无统计学差异（P〉0．05）,流式细胞仪分析证实3组细胞均存在凋亡,经30mg／L、60mg／L卡铂处理后细胞再进行流式细胞仪检测,RMG—I-H的相对凋亡率分别为（20．43±0．71m和（38．11±0．33）％,为对照组的49％-63％,明显低于对照组（P〈0．05）,2个对照组间比较无统计学差异（P〉0．05）,荧光染色和透射电镜直接观察了细胞形态变化,每个浓度组RMG-I-H的凋亡程度均低于RMG-I和RMG-I-C．说明细胞表面Lewis（y）抗原含量增加的同时,卵巢癌细胞对卡铂的耐药性增强．     

Quality traits of suckling-lamb meat covered by the protected geographical indication “Lechazo de Castilla y León” European quality label

The quality of suckling-lamb meat (derived from Churra, Castellana and Ojalada breeds), covered by the protected geographical indication (PGI) “Lechazo de Castilla y León”, and the effects of carcass weight (CW), breed and sex on quality were studied. The edible portion (EP) of 81 carcasses was analysed for proximate composition, fatty acid, cholesterol, amino acid and mineral contents. The longissimus thoracis and lumborum muscle (30 samples) were analysed for proximate composition, pH, myoglobin content, water holding capacity, Warner–Bratzler shear force, and total and soluble collagen content. This study contributes to characterization of suckling-lamb meat quality recognised in the European Union with a PGI label and provides new data on the composition of the EP of the carcasses. CW and breed had a significant effect on several quality traits, most related to fatness.     

大气污染对35种园林植物生长的影响

对广东省佛山市大气监测的结果表明,酸性硫化物和毒性氟化物是陶瓷工业产生的主要污染物质。采用现场盆栽试验方法。比较分析了生长在佛山市陶瓷城附近高浓度SO2和氟化物大气污染环境下的35种园林绿化植物的株高、基径、冠幅等生长指标的差异,并采用综合生长指标评价方法对参试植物进行相应的抗性分级,选出8种抗性植物（铁冬青、菩提榕、环榕、仪花、小叶榕、红花油茶、幌伞枫、白桂木）,17种中等抗性植物（小叶胭脂、腊肠树、毛黄肉楠、红桂木、茶花、吊瓜、火焰木、铁力木、柳叶楠、猫尾木、灰莉、密花树、海南红豆、复羽叶栾树、灰木莲、大头茶、印度紫檀）,8种敏感植物（华润楠、海南木莲、格木、日本杜英、蓝花楹、观光木、蝴蝶树、白木香、乐昌含笑、无忧树）。