Longitudinal assessment of cognitive and psychosocial functioning after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Exploring disaster impact on middle-aged, older, and oldest-old adults

The authors examined the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on cognitive and psychosocial functioning in a lifespan sample of adults 6-14 months after the storms. Participants were recruited from the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study. Most were assessed during the immediate impact period and retested for this study. Analyses of pre- and post-disaster cognitive data confirmed that storm-related decrements in working memory for middle-aged and older adults observed in the immediate impact period had returned to pre-hurricane levels in the post-disaster recovery period. Middle-aged adults reported more storm-related stressors and greater levels of stress than the two older groups at both waves of testing. These results are consistent with a burden perspective on post-disaster psychological reactions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Casein Gene Cluster in Camelids: Comparative Genome Analysis and New Findings on Haplotype Variability and Physical Mapping

The structure of casein genes has been fully understood in llamas, whereas in other camelids, this information is still incomplete. In fact, structure and polymorphisms have been identified in three (CSN1S1, αs1-CN; CSN2, β-CN; CSN3, κ-CN) out of four casein genes, whereas controversial information is available for the CSN1S2 (αs2-CN) in terms of structure and genetic diversity. Data from the genome analysis, whose assembly is available for feral camel, Bactrian, dromedary, and alpaca, can contribute to a better knowledge. However, a majority of the scaffolds available in GenBank are still unplaced, and the comparative annotation is often inaccurate or lacking.Therefore, the aims of this study are 1) to perform a comparative genome analysis and synthesize the literature data on camelids casein cluster; 2) to analyze the casein variability in two dromedary populations (Sudanese and Nigerian) using polymorphisms at CSN1S1 (c.150G > T), CSN2 (g.2126A > G), and CSN3 (g.1029T > C); and 3) to physically map the casein cluster in alpaca. Exon structures, gene and intergenic distances, large insertion/deletion events, SNPs, and microsatellites were annotated. In all camelids, the CSN1S2 consists of 17 exons, confirming the structure of llama CSN1S2 gene. The comparative analysis of the complete casein cluster (∼190kb) shows 12,818 polymorphisms. The most polymorphic gene is the CSN1S1 (99 SNPs in Bactrian vs. 248 in dromedary vs. 626 in alpaca). The less polymorphic is the CSN3 in the Bactrian (22 SNPs) and alpaca (301 SNPs), whereas it is the CSN1S2 in dromedary (79 SNPs). In the two investigated dromedary populations, the allele frequencies for the three markers are slightly different: the allele C at CSN1S1 is very rare in Nigerian (0.054) and Sudanese dromedaries (0.094), whereas the frequency of the allele G at CSN2 is almost inverted. Haplotype analysis evidenced GAC as the most frequent (0.288) and TGC as the rarest (0.005). The analysis of R-banding metaphases hybridized with specific probes mapped the casein genes on chromosome 2q21 in alpaca. These data deepen the information on the structure of the casein cluster in camelids and add knowledge on the cytogenetic map and haplotype variability

Genetic characterization of the oxytocin-neurophysin I gene (<i>OXT</i>) and its regulatory regions analysis in domestic Old and New World camelids

<div><p>Oxytocin is a neurohypophysial peptide linked to a wide range of biological functions, including milk ejection, temperament and reproduction. Aims of the present study were a) the characterization of the <i>OXT</i> (Oxytocin-neurophysin I) gene and its regulatory regions in Old and New world camelids; b) the investigation of the genetic diversity and the discovery of markers potentially affecting the gene regulation. On average, the gene extends over 814 bp, ranging between 825 bp in dromedary, 811 bp in Bactrian and 810 bp in llama and alpaca. Such difference in size is due to a duplication event of 21 bp in dromedary. The main regulatory elements, including the composite hormone response elements (CHREs), were identified in the promoter, whereas the presence of mature microRNAs binding sequences in the 3’UTR improves the knowledge on the factors putatively involved in the <i>OXT</i> gene regulation, although their specific biological effect needs to be still elucidated. The sequencing of genomic DNA allowed the identification of 17 intraspecific polymorphisms and 69 nucleotide differences among the four species. One of these (MF464535:g.622C>G) is responsible, in alpaca, for the loss of a consensus sequence for the transcription factor SP1. Furthermore, the same SNP falls within a CpG island and it creates a new methylation site, thus opening future possibilities of investigation to verify the influence of the novel allelic variant in the <i>OXT</i> gene regulation. A PCR-RFLP method was setup for the genotyping and the frequency of the allele C was 0.93 in a population of 71 alpacas. The obtained data clarify the structure of <i>OXT</i> gene in domestic camelids and add knowledge to the genetic variability of a genomic region, which has received little investigation so far. These findings open the opportunity for new investigations, including association studies with productive and reproductive traits.</p></div

Genotyping of the g.622C>G at alpaca <i>OXT</i> promoter.

<p>Genotyping of the SNP MF464535:g.622C>G in the promoter region of <i>Vicugna pacos OXT</i> by <i>Bfo</i> I PCR-RFLP. Line 1, CC homozygous sample; line 3, GG homozygous sample; line 2, heterozygous sample. Line L, Mid Range DNA ladder 100bp-3kb (Jena Bioscience).</p

Primer sequences, annealing temperature (T_a) and amplicon size used for the sequencing and genetic diversity discovery at <i>OXT</i> locus in domestic camelids.

<p>Primer sequences, annealing temperature (T_a) and amplicon size used for the sequencing and genetic diversity discovery at <i>OXT</i> locus in domestic camelids.</p

Polymorphisms detected by the comparison among the complete sequences of <i>OXT</i> gene and the regulatory regions of domestic camelids investigated in the present study (<i>C</i>. <i>dromedarius</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>bactrianus</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>pacos</i>, <i>L</i>. <i>glama</i>).

<p>Polymorphisms detected by the comparison among the complete sequences of <i>OXT</i> gene and the regulatory regions of domestic camelids investigated in the present study (<i>C</i>. <i>dromedarius</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>bactrianus</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>pacos</i>, <i>L</i>. <i>glama</i>).</p

MicroRNA target sequences affected by SNP at 3’UTR.

<p>The transversion C>G (MF464535:g.1682C>G in alpacas and MF464534:g.1731C>G in llamas) falling 19 bp downstream the stop codon (underlined) affects different microRNA target sequences with 8mer (mir-4651, mir-608), 7mer-m8 (mir-6737-5p reported as example, but also mir-6819-5p) and 7mer-A1 (mir-6747-5p, mir-342-5p and mir-4664-5p). Binding of mature miRNAs are shown, whereas the site of the SNP is indicated in bold.</p

<i>OXT</i> gene in domestic camelids.

<p>Comparative alignment of the complete nucleotide (nt) sequences of oxytocin-neurophysin I encoding (<i>OXT</i>) gene in domestic camelids. Numbering is relative to the first nucleotide of the first exon (+1) and dashes represent nt identical to those in the first line. In lower cases the 5’- and 3’- Un-Translated Regions (UTR), the polyadenylation signal is dot-underlined. The coding region corresponding to the signal peptide is underlined, whereas the sequence coding for the nonapeptide hormone is indicated in bold, and the neurophysin I is in bold italics. The tripeptide processing signal (GKR) is double underlined and asterisks indicate the stop codon. The duplication event of 21bp in <i>C</i>. <i>dromedarius</i> is wave-underlined. Polymorphic sites within the investigated samples are indicated with R = A/G, S = C/G and Y = C/T.</p

Genetic diversity detected by the sequencing of the <i>OXT</i> gene and its regulatory regions in domestic camelids (<i>C</i>. <i>dromedarius</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>bactrianus</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>pacos</i>, <i>L</i>. <i>glama</i>).

<p>Genetic diversity detected by the sequencing of the <i>OXT</i> gene and its regulatory regions in domestic camelids (<i>C</i>. <i>dromedarius</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>bactrianus</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>pacos</i>, <i>L</i>. <i>glama</i>).</p