Draft Genome Sequences of 6 Actinobacterial Strains Isolated from Rock Surfaces Obtained from Indian Stone Ruins in Tamil Nadu, India, and Rocks from New England, United States

Here, we report the draft genome sequences obtained for 6 actinobacterial strains isolated from stone surfaces acquired from New England and Indian ruins. These strains were sequenced to determine their potential functional roles in the stone microbiome. The strains belong to the genera Allobranchiibius, Agrococcus, Dermococcus, Leifsonia, and Mycobacterium

Dating the emergence of Influenza A (H5N1) Virus

Since the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus in geese in Guangdong, China, H5N1 viruses have transmitted to poultry throughout southern China. In late 2003 the first transmission wave spread the virus to multiple Southeast Asian countries. In May 2005, the second transmission wave of H5N1 virus westwards to Europe and Africa was initiated following a major outbreak in migratory birds at Qinghai Lake, China, while a third transmission wave has been initiated since mid-2005. Those viruses are now endemic in poultry populations in some affected regions and cause repeated outbreaks in poultry and increasing human infection cases, creating persistent pandemic concerns. Genetic data from systematic surveillance of H5N1 for the past seven years in marketing poultry, along with sequence data from outbreaks throughout the region, provide us with a unique opportunity to estimate the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) and postulate the dates of introduction of H5N1 variants into different affected countries. In this study, we estimated the time of emergence of those three transmission waves …postprin

Evolutionary dynamics of avian influenza A virus in the natural reservoir

Poster Presentations: Animal Influenza EcologyAvian influenza viruses were thought to exist in a form of evolutionary stasis within their natural reservoirs, i.e. waterfowls. However, a recent study demonstrated very high evolutionary rates, with epidemic-like population growth, for individual influenza subtypes in both aquatic birds and poultry, suggesting the stasis theory may be incorrect. Yet the evolutionary dynamics of the influenza gene pool within one species of migratory waterfowl remains unclear. We therefore tested influenza virus population behavior by estimating rates of nucleotide substitution of the internal genes from different subtypes of influenza viruses exclusively from mallard ducks …postprin

Identification of precursors of Indonesia and Vietnam avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses from southern China

Poster Presentations - Genetic and Antigenic EvolutionThe transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus to Southeast Asian countries triggered the first outbreak wave of this virus in late 2003. Subsequently H5N1 influenza virus has become endemic in poultry in this region, which has lead to the sustained transmission of those viruses and repeated outbreaks in poultry and human infection cases. This situation has raised global concern of a coming influenza pandemic sometime in the near future. Although surveillance work in market poultry had been strengthened following this initial outbreak in Southeast Asian countries, the lack of influenza surveillance prior to the outbreaks made it difficult to identify the precursors and transmission pathways of those H5N1 viruses. To determine the possible source of those H5N1 viruses responsible for this first transmission wave we recently conducted further sequencing of samples collected in live-poultry markets from Guangdong, Hunan and Yunnan Provinces in southern China from 2001 to 2003. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA gene of 50 H5N1 isolates from this period indicated that eight viruses, exclusively from Yunnan, fell as the direct progenitor to viruses isolated from Vietnam. A further two viruses isolated from Hunan were the direct precursor to those viruses from Indonesia. In general, phylogenetic analysis revealed similar relationships for the NA gene and each of the 6 internal genes, indicating that these viruses also belonged to the same H5N1 genotype Z that is predominant throughout Southeast Asia. These results clearly show a transmission of H5N1 viruses from Yunnan to Vietnam and from Hunan to Indonesia. Trade of poultry may be the major route of virus transmission between Yunnan and Vietnam, while the transmission route from Hunan to Indonesia remains unclear and could be either via migratory birds or poultry movement.postprin

Ferroelectric Properties and Transmission Response ofPZN-PT Single Crystals for Underwater Communication

Single crystal of Pb[(Zn1/3Nb2/3)0.91Ti0.09]O3 (PZN-PT) at the composition of morphotropicphase boundary (MPB) shows a very high electromechanical coupling coefficient, piezoelectriccoefficient, and dielectric constant compared to conventional PZT ceramics. These exceptionalproperties of these single crystals find enormous applications in medical ultrasound imaging andunderwater communication (Sonar). The growth of PZN-PT single crystals has been carried outby bottom-supported flux Bridgman method. There are many growth issues to be addressedduring the process of growth. The grown crystals are oriented and cut along <001> directionwith the crystal dimension of 8 x 6 x 1.5 mm3 for further analysis. The oriented crystals were poledat a rate of 1 kV/mm. The poled crystals have been characterised for dielectric, strain andpiezoelectric values. Further, the poled specimen were tested for transmitting response at variousfrequencies in acoustic test facility and the difficulties in their growth

Molecular profiling of human prostate tissues: insights into gene expression patterns of prostate development during puberty

Testosterone production surges during puberty and orchestrates massive growth and reorganization of the prostate gland, and this glandular architecture is maintained thereafter throughout adulthood. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate adenocarcinoma (PCA) are common diseases in adulthood that do not develop in the absence of androgens. Our objective was to gain insight into gene expression changes of the prostate gland at puberty, a crucial juncture in prostate development that is androgen dependent. Understanding the role played by androgens in normal prostate development may provide greater insight into androgen involvement in prostatic diseases. Benign prostate tissues obtained from pubertal and adult age group cadaveric organ donors were harvested and profiled using 20,000 element cDNA microarrays. Statistical analysis of the microarray data identified 375 genes that were differentially expressed in pubertal prostates relative to adult prostates including genes such as Nkx3.1, TMEPAI, TGFBR3, FASN, ANKH, TGFBR2, FAAH, S100P, HoxB13, fibronectin, and TSC2 among others. Comparisons of pubertal and BPH expression profiles revealed a subset of genes that shared the expression pattern between the two groups. In addition, we observed that several genes from this list were previously demonstrated to be regulated by androgen and hence could also be potential in vivo targets of androgen action in the pubertal human prostate. Promoter searches revealed the presence of androgen response elements in a cohort of genes including tumor necrosis factor‐α induced adipose related protein, which was found to be induced by androgen. In summary, this is the first report that provides a comprehensive view of the molecular events that occur during puberty in the human prostate and provides a cohort of genes that could be potential in vivo targets of androgenic action during puberty.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154303/1/fsb2fj042415fje.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154303/2/fsb2fj042415fje-sup-0001.pd

CRAFTing Delivery of Membrane Proteins into Protocells using Nanodiscs

For the successfulgenerativeengineeringof functionalartificialcells,a convenientandcontrollablemeansof deliveringmembraneproteinsinto membranelipidbilayersis necessary.Herewereporta deliverysystemthatachievesthis by employingmembraneprotein-carryingnanodiscsandthecalcium-dependentfusionofphosphatidylserinelipidmembranes.We showthat lipidnanodiscscanfuse a transportedlipidbilayerwith the lipidbilayersof smallunilamellarvesicles(SUVs)or giantunilamellarvesicles(GUVs)whileavoidingrecipientvesiclesaggregation.Thisis triggeredby a simple,transientincreasein calciumconcentration,whichresultsin efficientand rapidfusionin a one-potreaction.Furthermore,nanodiscscan be loadedwithmembraneproteinsthatcan be deliveredintotargetSUVor GUVmembranesin a detergent-independentfashionwhileretainingtheirfunctionality.Nanodiscshavea provenabilityto carrya widerangeof membraneproteins,controltheiroligomericstate,and arehighlyadaptable.Giventhis, our approachmay be the basisfor the developmentof usefultoolsthat will allowbespokedeliveryofmembraneproteinsto protocells,equippingthemwith the cell-likeabilityto exchangematerialacrossouter/subcellularmembranes

Bench-to-bedside review : targeting antioxidants to mitochondria in sepsis

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

CD4 + T cells recognize conserved influenza A epitopes through shared patterns of V-Gene usage and complementary biochemical features

T cell recognition of peptides presented by human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) is mediated by the highly variable T cell receptor (TCR). Despite this built-in TCR variability, individuals can mount immune responses against viral epitopes by using identical or highly related TCRs expressed on CD8+ T cells. Characterization of these TCRs has extended our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern the recognition of peptide-HLA. However, few examples exist for CD4+ T cells. Here, we investigate CD4+ T cell responses to the internal proteins of the influenza A virus that correlate with protective immunity. We identify five internal epitopes that are commonly recognized by CD4+ T cells in five HLA-DR1+ subjects and show conservation across viral strains and zoonotic reservoirs. TCR repertoire analysis demonstrates several shared gene usage biases underpinned by complementary biochemical features evident in a structural comparison. These epitopes are attractive targets for vaccination and other T cell therapies