The environmental fate and behaviour of antifouling paint booster biocides: A review

Antifouling paint booster biocides are a group of organic compounds added to antifouling paints to improve their efficacy. They have become prevalent since the requirement for alternative antifouling paints formulations for small boats (< 25 m). This need followed a ban on the use of triorganotin biocides in antifouling paints for small boats, in the late 1980's. Worldwide, around eighteen compounds are currently used as antifouling biocides, viz. benzmethylamide, chlorothalonil, copper pyrithione, dichlofluanid, diuron, fluorofolpet, Irgarol 1051, Sea‐Nine 211, Mancozeb, Polyphase, pyridine‐triphenyl‐borane, TCMS (2,3,5,6‐tetrachloro‐4‐methylsulfonyl) pyridine, TCMTB [2‐(thiocyanomethylthio)benzothia‐zole], Thiram, tolyfluanid, zinc pyrithione (ZPT), ziram and Zineb. Any booster biocide released into the environment is subjected to a complex set of processes. These processes include transport mechanisms, transformation, degradation, cross media partitioning, and bioaccumulation. This paper reviews the fate and behaviour data currently available in the public domain concerning antifouling paint booster biocides.     

In vivo NMR studies of regional cerebral energetics in MPTP model of Parkinson's disease: recovery of cerebral metabolism with acute levodopa treatment

In this study, we have evaluated cerebral atrophy, neurometabolite homeostasis, and neural energetics in 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridin (MPTP) model of Parkinson's disease. In addition, the efficacy of acute l ‐DOPA treatment for the reversal of altered metabolic functions was also evaluated. Cerebral atrophy and neurochemical profile were monitored in vivo using MRI and ¹H MR Spectroscopy. Cerebral energetics was studied by ¹H‐[¹³C]‐NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with infusion of ¹³C labeled [1,6^‐13C₂]glucose or [2‐¹³C]acetate. MPTP treatment led to reduction in paw grip strength and increased level of GABA and myo‐inositol in striatum and olfactory bulb. ¹³C Labeling of glutamate‐C4 (1.93 ± 0.24 vs. 1.48 ± 0.06 μmol/g), GABA‐C2 (0.24 ± 0.04 vs. 0.18 ± 0.02 μmol/g) and glutamaine‐C4 (0.26 ± 0.04 vs. 0.20 ± 0.04 μmol/g) from [1,6‐¹³C₂]glucose was found to be decreased with MPTP exposure in striatum as well as in other brain regions. However, glutamine‐C4 labeling from [2‐¹³C]acetate was found to be increased in the striatum of the MPTP‐treated mice. Acute l ‐DOPA treatment failed to normalize the increased ventricular size and level of metabolites but recovered the paw grip strength and ¹³C labeling of amino acids from [1,6‐¹³C₂]glucose and [2‐¹³C]acetate in MPTP‐treated mice. These data indicate that brain energy metabolism is impaired in Parkinson's disease and acute l ‐DOPA therapy could temporarily recover the cerebral metabolism.

     

Functional evolution of two subtly different (similar) folds

Background

The function of proteins is a direct consequence of their three-dimensional structure. The structural classification of proteins describes the ways of folding patterns all proteins could adopt. Although, the protein folds were described in many ways the functional properties of individual folds were not studied.

Results

We have analyzed two β-barrel folds generally adopted by small proteins to be looking similar but have different topology. On the basis of the topology they could be divided into two different folds named SH3-fold and OB-fold. There was no sequence homology between any of the proteins considered. The sequence diversity and loop variability was found to be important for various binding functions.

Conclusions

The function of Oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding (OB) fold proteins was restricted to either DNA/RNA binding or sugar binding whereas the Src homology 3 (SH3) domain like proteins bind to a variety of ligands through loop modulations. A question was raised whether the evolution of these two folds was through DNA shuffling.     

ProViDE: A software tool for accurate estimation of viral diversity in metagenomic samples

Given the absence of universal marker genes in the viral kingdom, researchers typically use BLAST (with stringent E-values) for taxonomic classification of viral metagenomic sequences. Since majority of metagenomic sequences originate from hitherto unknown viral groups, using stringent e-values results in most sequences remaining unclassified. Furthermore, using less stringent e-values results in a high number of incorrect taxonomic assignments. The SOrt-ITEMS algorithm provides an approach to address the above issues. Based on alignment parameters, SOrt-ITEMS follows an elaborate work-flow for assigning reads originating from hitherto unknown archaeal/bacterial genomes. In SOrt-ITEMS, alignment parameter thresholds were generated by observing patterns of sequence divergence within and across various taxonomic groups belonging to bacterial and archaeal kingdoms. However, many taxonomic groups within the viral kingdom lack a typical Linnean-like taxonomic hierarchy. In this paper, we present ProViDE (Program for Viral Diversity Estimation), an algorithm that uses a customized set of alignment parameter thresholds, specifically suited for viral metagenomic sequences. These thresholds capture the pattern of sequence divergence and the non-uniform taxonomic hierarchy observed within/across various taxonomic groups of the viral kingdom. Validation results indicate that the percentage of 'correct' assignments by ProViDE is around 1.7 to 3 times higher than that by the widely used similarity based method MEGAN. The misclassification rate of ProViDE is around 3 to 19% (as compared to 5 to 42% by MEGAN) indicating significantly better assignment accuracy. ProViDE software and a supplementary file (containing supplementary figures and tables referred to in this article) is available for download from http://metagenomics.atc.tcs.com/binning/ProViDE/     

AML-loaded DC generate Th1-type cellular immune responses in vitro

BACKGROUND: The generation of AML-specific T-lymphocyte responses by leukemia-derived DC has been documented by multiple investigators and is being pursued clinically. An obstacle to widespread use of this strategy is that it has not been possible to generate leukemic DC from all patients, and an alternative approach is needed if the majority of leukemia patients are to receive therapeutic vaccination in conjunction with other treatment protocols. METHODS: In the present study, we generated DC from CD14-selected monocytes isolated from healthy donor PBPC and loaded them with a total cell lysate from AML patient blasts. RESULTS: Immature in vitro-derived DC exhibited robust phagocytic activity, and mature DC demonstrated high expression of CD80, CD83, CD86 and the chemokine receptor CCR7, important for DC migration to local lymph nodes. Mature, Ag-loaded DC were used as APC for leukemia-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) induction and demonstrated cytotoxic activity against leukemic targets. CTL lysis was Ag-specific, with killing of both allogeneic leukemic blasts and autologous DC loaded with allogeneic AML lysate. HLA-matched controls were not lysed in our system. DISCUSSION: These data support further research into the use of this strategy as an alternative approach to leukemia-derived DC vaccination.     

Ex vivo expanded umbilical cord blood T cells maintain naive phenotype and TCR diversity

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord blood (CB) is a promising source of hematopoietic stem cells for allogeneic transplantation. However, delayed engraftment and impaired immune reconstitution remain major limitations. Enrichment of donor grafts with CB T cells expanded ex vivo might facilitate improved T-cell immune reconstitution post-transplant. We hypothesized that CB T cells could be expanded using paramagnetic microbeads covalently linked to anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 Ab. METHODS: CB units were divided into three fractions: (1) cells cultured without beads, (2) cells cultured with beads and (3) cells cultured with beads following CD3+ magnetic enrichment. All fractions were cultured for 14 days in the presence of IL-2 (200 IU/mL). RESULTS: A mean 100-fold expansion (range 49-154) of total nucleated cells was observed in the CD3+ magnetically enriched fraction. Following expansion, CB T cells retained a naive and/or central memory phenotype and contained a polyclonal TCR diversity demonstrated by spectratyping. DISCUSSION: Our data provide evidence that naive and diverse CB T cells may be expanded ex vivo and warrant additional studies in the setting of human CB transplantation.     

Virus isolation and molecular epidemiology of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) from an outbreak in free-ranging wild birds,India 2016

We report the molecular epidemiology of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus involved in an outbreak causing death in free-ranging wild birds at Mysore, Karnataka state of India. The virus was typed as HPAI A(H5N8) by conventional and TaqMan probe based real-time PCR assays. Six isolates of HPAI virus were recovered in 9-day-old embryonated chicken eggs. Haemagglutinin gene-based phylogeny of virus isolates showed >?99.9% nucleotide sequence identity with HPAI A(H5N8) isolates from migratory birds and domestic poultry from China and Korea indicating either these wild birds have routed their migration through Korea and/or eastern China or these dead birds must have directly or indirectly contacted with wild birds migrating from Eastern China and/or Korean regions. The study emphasises the role of migratory wild birds in spread of HPAI across the globe.     

Associations of Forest Type,Parasitism and Body Condition of Two European Passerines,Fringilla coelebs and Sylvia atricapilla

Human-induced forest modification can alter parasite-host interactions and might change the persistence of host populations. We captured individuals of two widespread European passerines (Fringilla coelebs and Sylvia atricapilla) in southwestern Germany to disentangle the associations of forest types and parasitism by haemosporidian parasites on the body condition of birds. We compared parasite prevalence and parasite intensity, fluctuating asymmetries, leukocyte numbers, and the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (H/L-ratio) among individuals from beech, mixed-deciduous and spruce forest stands. Based on the biology of bird species, we expected to find fewer infected individuals in beech or mixed-deciduous than in spruce forest stands. We found the highest parasite prevalence and intensity in beech forests for F. coelebs. Although, we found the highest prevalence in spruce forests for S. atricapilla, the highest intensity was detected in beech forests, partially supporting our hypothesis. Other body condition or health status metrics, such as the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (H/L-ratio), revealed only slight differences between bird populations inhabiting the three different forest types, with the highest values in spruce for F. coelebs and in mixed-deciduous forests for S. atricapilla. A comparison of parasitized versus non-parasitized individuals suggests that parasite infection increased the immune response of a bird, which was detectable as high H/L-ratio. Higher infections with blood parasites for S. atricapilla in spruce forest indicate that this forest type might be a less suitable habitat than beech and mixed-deciduous forests, whereas beech forests seem to be a suboptimal habitat regarding parasitism for F. coelebs.     

Successful Treatment of Invasive Fungal Infection Due to Highly Resistant Aspergillus calidoustus in an Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipient

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common invasive fungal infection following a hematopoietic cell transplant, with emerging cryptic species exhibiting resistance to commonly used antifungals such as azoles. These species have been increasingly found after the introduction of anti-mold prophylaxis. We report a case of a 56-year-old female with primary myelofibrosis whose allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant was complicated by disseminated fungal infection (skin, lung) due to Aspergillus calidoustus, a cryptic specie. Treatment of Aspergillus species remains challenging as these cryptic species are usually resistant to azoles including voriconazole which is the first line of treatment of IA. Infection was successfully treated with surgical excision and combination antifungal therapy based on in vitro susceptibility and synergy testing. Therapy included isavuconazole, a drug that has been shown to be non-inferior to voriconazole in the treatment of invasive mold infections.

     

Stochastic analysis of the GAL genetic switch in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Modeling and experiments reveal hierarchy in glucose repression

Background

Most mathematical models of biochemical pathways consider either signalling events that take place within a single cell in isolation, or an 'average' cell which is considered to be representative of a cell population. Likewise, experimental measurements are often averaged over populations consisting of hundreds of thousands of cells. This approach ignores the fact that even within a genetically-homogeneous population, local conditions may influence cell signalling and result in phenotypic heterogeneity. We have developed a multi-scale computational model that accounts for emergent heterogeneity arising from the influences of intercellular signalling on individual cells within a population. Our approach was to develop an ODE model of juxtacrine EGFR-ligand activation of the MAPK intracellular pathway and to couple this to an agent-based representation of individual cells in an expanding epithelial cell culture population. This multi-scale, multi-paradigm approach has enabled us to simulate Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) activation in a population of cells and to examine the consequences of interpretation at a single cell or population-based level using virtual assays.

Results

A model consisting of a single pair of interacting agents predicted very different Erk activation (phosphorylation) profiles, depending on the formation rate and stability of intercellular contacts, with the slow formation of stable contacts resulting in low but sustained activation of Erk, and transient contacts resulting in a transient Erk signal. Extension of this model to a population consisting of hundreds to thousands of interacting virtual cells revealed that the activated Erk profile measured across the entire cell population was very different and may appear to contradict individual cell findings, reflecting heterogeneity in population density across the culture. This prediction was supported by immunolabelling of an epithelial cell population grown in vitro, which confirmed heterogeneity of Erk activation.

Conclusion

These results illustrate that mean experimental data obtained from analysing entire cell populations is an oversimplification, and should not be extrapolated to deduce the signal:response paradigm of individual cells. This multi-scale, multi-paradigm approach to biological simulation provides an important conceptual tool in addressing how information may be integrated over multiple scales to predict the behaviour of a biological system.