Simplified approaches for the development of an ELISA to detect circulating autoantibodies to p53 in cancer patients

Background  

The recognition that human tumors stimulate the production of autoantibodies has initiated the use of this immune response as serological markers for the early diagnosis and management of cancer. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most common method used in detecting autoantibodies, which involves coating the microtiter plate with the tumor associated antigen (TAA) of interest and allowing serum antibodies to bind. The patient's sample is directly in contact with the coating antigen so the protein used for coating must be pure to avoid non-specific binding. In this study, a simplified method to selectively and specifically immobilize TAAs onto microtiter plates in order to detect circulating autoantibodies in cancer patients without prior purification process was described. Wild type full-length p53 protein was produced in fusion with biotin carboxyl carrier peptide (BCCP) or hexahistidine [(His)6] using pAK400 and pET15b(+) vectors, respectively. The recombinant p53 fusion protein produced was then subjected to react with either a commercial p53 monoclonal antibody (mAb) or sera from lung cancer patients and healthy volunteers in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format.     

Distribution and diversity of palms in a tropical biodiversity hotspot (Thailand) assessed by species distribution modeling

Species distribution modeling has been widely used to address questions related to ecology, biogeography and species conservation on global and regional scales. Here, we study palms (Arecaceae) in a tropical biodiversity hotspot (Thailand) using species distribution modeling to assess range‐limiting factors and estimate distribution and diversity patterns based on a comprehensive compilation of occurrence records. We focused on palms as a model group due to their key‐stone importance for ecosystem functioning and socio‐economics. Different combinations of climatic, non‐climatic environmental and spatial predictors were used. The most accurate models as indicated by the ‘area under the receiver operating characteristic curve’ (AUC) statistic were those that combined all predictors. The four strongest single predictors of palm species distributions were, in decreasing order of importance, 1) latitude, 2) precipitation of driest quarter, 3) annual precipitation, and 4) minimum temperature of the coldest month, suggesting rainfall patterns and latitudinal spatial constraints as the main range determinants. Overlaying the predicted distributions revealed that potential palm hotspots are situated in the provinces of Satun and Yala in southern Thailand where vast areas remain relatively open to the discovery of new palm records and perhaps even new species.     

Changes in physicochemical properties of waxy corn starches at different stages of harvesting

Starches were isolated from immature waxy corn kernels harvested at 0, 2, 4 and 6 days after optimum stage (DAO) and from mature kernels at 16 DAO. The starch contents showed varied according to genotypes and harvesting stages. The accumulation of starches showed an increasing trend in relation to delayed harvesting time, from the optimum stage until the physiological maturity stage. Among all harvesting stages, medium granules had the highest contribution to the total starch volume (60.8–81.5%), followed by large (5.7–30.1%), and small granules (9.1–15.3%). Average chain length distribution of amylopectin ranged from DP 14.7 to 16.9 for KKU–UB, DP 16.9 to 17.4 for KKU–JD, and DP 5.7 to 30.1 for Violet white. The pasting behaviors of starches were greatly affected by harvesting times. The peak viscosity of starches increased with delayed harvesting until physiological maturity and then decreased until dried kernels at 35 days after pollination.     

In Thai Nationals,the ApoE4 Allele Affects Multiple Domains of Neuropsychological,Biobehavioral, and Social Functioning Thereby Contributing to Alzheimer’s Disorder,while the ApoE3 Allele Protects Against Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Psychosocial Deficits

The apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 (ApoE4) allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disorder (AD) and is associated with semantic and episodic memory deficits. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between ApoE alleles (E2, E3, E4) and genotypes and neuropsychological tests, behavioral functions, and dementia symptoms as assessed using Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD). This study included 60 patients with Alzheimer’s disorder (AD), 60 with mild cognitive disorder (MCI), and 62 normal volunteers. ApoE4 carriers and individuals with E3/E4 and E4/E4 genotypes show an increased incidence of AD, but not MCI. ApoE4 carriers and especially E4/E4 homozygotes show a worse outcome on the CERAD total score, Blessed Dementia Scale, and Short Blessed Test and lower scores on the Verbal Fluency Test, Boston Naming Test, Constructional Praxis Recall, and Word List Memory, Recall, and Recognition. ApoE4 carriers and E4/E3 heterozygotes show higher scores on the Clock Drawing Test. ApoE4 carriers show a worse outcome on the CERAD clinical history scores of memory, language, personality, ADL, orientation, and social skills, while allele AopE3 carriers show better scores on activities of daily living (ADL) and social skills. ApoE3 carriers show lower total weighted, irritability/aggression, and behavioral dysregulation scores on the Behavior Rating Scale for Dementia. The results show that in Thai individuals, the presence of ApoE4 allele is accompanied by a multifarious decline in neurocognitive functions and behavioral features and that ApoE3 may convey protection against neuropsychiatric symptoms and a decline in social skills. ApoE4 and especially the E4/E4 genotype may affect multiple domains of cognitive, biobehavioral, and social functioning thereby contributing to AD phenomenology.     

Tetraploid induction of Mitracarpus hirtus L. by colchicine and its characterization including antibacterial activity

Tetraploid plants were successfully induced for the first time in Mitracarpus hirtus L., by overnight immersion of shoot meristems in 0.1 % colchicine solution, followed by in vitro culture leading to plant regeneration. Examination of ploidy level by flow cytometric analysis and counting chromosome number at metaphase confirmed that original diploid plant (WT1) contained chromosome number as 2n = 2x = 28, whereas 2n = 4x = 56 was observed in the tetraploids induced with colchicine treatment (CC102 and CC110). Thicker root formation, larger stomata (1.3–2 times), and lower density of stomata (1.7–4 times) were observed in these tetraploid plants. After transplantation to the pot, tetraploid plant (CC110) showed higher fresh weights of aerial part and leaves (1.5 and 1.4 times respectively) than diploid. However, the methanolic extracts from leaves of tetraploid line CC102 showed inhibition against human pathogenic bacterium, S. aureus while WT1 and CC110 showed no activity. GC–MS revealed 40 unique compounds present in CC102, but absent in WT1 and CC110. Through hierarchical clustering analysis the 40 unique compounds in CC102 formed a cluster group found to correlate with anti-S. aurens activity. These results suggested that tetraploid M. hirtus CC102 created in this study provides a novel source of compounds useful in fighting infectious disease.