Serologic survey for transmissible gastroenteritis virus neutralizing antibodies in selected feral and domestic swine sera in the southern United States

Serum samples collected from feral and domestic swine (Sus scrofa) in Florida and feral swine in Georgia and Texas were assayed by plaque reduction for their virus neutralizing (VN) antibodies against the porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGE). None of 560 samples collected from feral swine contained VN antibodies for TGE virus, but experimentally infected feral swine seroconverted. None of 665 samples from domestic swine contained TGE-VN antibodies. These results indicate feral swine are not a significant reservoir for TGE virus in southern states, but are capable of becoming infected and developing VN antibodies against TGE.     

The nucleotide sequence of a major species of leucine tRNA from bovine liver.

Through the use of a variety of post-labeling techniques, the nucleotide sequence of a major species of leucine tRNA from bovine liver was determined to be pG-G-U-A-G-C-G-U-G-m-G-C-ac-C-G-A-G-C-G-G-D-C-psi-A-A-G-G-C-m-G-C-U-G-G-A-psim- U-I-A-G-m-G-C-psi-C-C-A-G-U-C-psi-C-psi-U-C-G-G-G-G-G-m-C-G-U-G-G-G-T-psi-C-G-m -A-A-U-C-C-C-A-C-C-G-C-U-G-C-C-A-C-C-AOH. A comparison of known sequences of leucine tRNAs shows a consistent set of features which clearly distinguish prokaryotic and eukaryotic leucine tRNAs from each other.     

ESM-1 silencing decreased cell survival,migration, and invasion and modulated cell cycle progression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Amino Acids - Endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM-1) is a secretory proteoglycan comprising a mature polypeptide of 165 amino acids and a single dermatan sulfate. The aim of this study was to...     

Demonstration of an Antigenic Relationship Between Hog Cholera and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Viruses by Immunofluorescence

Specific staining of antigen within bovine embryo kidney tissue culture cells, infected with either Oregon C24V or NADL-MD bovine viral diarrhea virus, was accomplished using fluorescein-conjugated swine anti-hog cholera or bovine antiviral diarrhea globulin. Also specific staining of antigen within pig kidney tissue culture cells, infected with hog cholera virus, was accomplished using the same two types of conjugates. Specificity was confirmed by appropriate controls. The authors found immunofluorescence to be a convenient and sensitive method for determining an antigenic relationship between hog cholera and bovine viral diarrhea viruses.     

Molecular cloning and functional expression of the gene for a cotton Delta-12 fatty acid desaturase (FAD2).

Two overlapping genomic clones spanning 16.5 kb of cotton DNA were found to encompass a Delta-12 fatty acid desaturase (FAD2-3) gene. A partial FAD2-3 cDNA clone was also analyzed. The FAD2-3 gene has one large intron of 2967 bp entirely within its 5'-untranslated region, only 12 bp upstream from the ATG initiation codon. Several potential promoter elements, including several light-responsive motifs, occur in the 5'-flanking region. The continuous FAD2-3 coding region is 1155 bp and would encode a protein of 384 amino acids. The polypeptide has four putative membrane-spanning helices, indicative of an integral membrane protein, and is most likely localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Yeast cells transformed with a plasmid construct containing the cotton FAD2-3 coding region accumulate an appreciable amount of linoleic acid (18:2), not normally present in wild-type yeast cells, indicating that the gene encodes a functional FAD2 enzyme.     

Endothelial Transient Receptor Potential Conical Channel (TRPC)-3 Activation Induces Vasogenic Edema Formation in the Rat Piriform Cortex Following Status Epilepticus

Transient receptor potential canonical channel (TRPC) is a nonselective cation channel permeable to Ca²⁺, which express in many cell types, including neurons. However the alterations in TRPC receptor expressions in response to status epilepticus (SE) have not been explored. Therefore, the present study was designated to elucidate the roles of TRPC3 in neuronal death and vasogenic edema within the rat piriform cortex (PC) following SE. In non-SE animals, TRPC3 immunoreactivity was abundantly detected in the PC. Following SE, TRPC3 immunoreactivity was increased in neurons. Furthermore, TRPC3 expression was detected in endothelial cells that did not contain it in non-SE animals. Loss of SMI-71 (a blood–brain barrier antigen) immunoreactivity was also observed in TRPC3 positive endothelial cells. In addition, FJB positive neurons and vasogenic edema were noticeably detected in the PC. To directly determine whether TRPC3 activation is correlated to SE-induced vasogenic edema formation and neuronal damages in the PC, the effect of Pyr-3 (a TRPC3 antagonist) on SE-induced insults were investigated. Pyr-3 infusion effectively attenuated vasogenic edema in the PC as compared to the vehicle. Therefore, our findings indicate that TRPC3 activation/overexpression induced by SE may involve BBB disruption and neuronal damages in the rat PC following SE. Therefore, the present study was TRPC3 may play an important role in SE-induced vasogenic edema formation through BBB disruptions in the rat PC.     

Horizontal Transfer of Archaeal Genes into the Deinococcaceae: Detection by Molecular and Computer-Based Approaches

Members of the Deinococcaceae (e.g., Thermus, Meiothermus, Deinococcus) contain A/V-ATPases typically found in Archaea or Eukaryotes which were probably acquired by horizontal gene transfer. Two methods were used to quantify the extent to which archaeal or eukaryotic genes have been acquired by this lineage. Screening of a Meiothermus ruber library with probes made against Thermoplasma acidophilum DNA yielded a number of clones which hybridized more strongly than background. One of these contained the prolyl tRNA synthetase (RS) gene. Phylogenetic analysis shows the M. ruber and D. radiodurans prolyl RS to be more closely related to archaeal and eukaryal forms of this gene than to the typical bacterial type. Using a bioinformatics approach, putative open reading frames (ORFs) from the prerelease version of the D. radiodurans genome were screened for genes more closely related to archaeal or eukaryotic genes. Putative ORFs were searched against representative genomes from each of the three domains using automated BLAST. ORFs showing the highest matches against archaeal and eukaryotic genes were collected and ranked. Among the top-ranked hits were the A/V-ATPase catalytic and noncatalytic subunits and the prolyl RS genes. Using phylogenetic methods, ORFs were analyzed and trees assessed for evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Of the 45 genes examined, 20 showed topologies in which D. radiodurans homologues clearly group with eukaryotic or archaeal homologues, and 17 additional trees were found to show probable evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Compared to the total number of ORFs in the genome, those that can be identified as having been acquired from Archaea or Eukaryotes are relatively few (approximately 1%), suggesting that interdomain transfer is rare.