In Vitro Effect of Crude Extract from Traganum Nudatum on Glucose-Uptake in Liver Slices Isolated from Westar Rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. There are many classes of drugs used for treatment, and these include insulin sensitizers, insulin secretagogues, and agents that delay the absorption of carbohydrates from the bowel. This study intends to investigate the effect of crude extract from a plant from South Algeria Traganum nudatum (Chenopodiaceae) on glucose uptake in liver slices isolated from  Wistar rats. Methods: The liver slices were incubated for 90 min at 37° in normoglycaemic (1g/l of glucose)  and hyperglycaemic (3g/l of glucose) KRBA Krebs Ringer Bicarbonate Albumin 4% media using  24 well-polyethylene plates. In each, well different concentrations of insulin (10, 50 and 100µU/ml)  and hydromethanolic crude extract (100, 200 and 500µg/ml) were added. After every 30 minutes, aliquots of the culture media were assayed for the determination of glucose left. Results: Tests showed that the glucose left after 90 minutes in the media which contained insulin at 100µg/ml was the lowest (0.44 and 1.41 )g/l in the normo and hyperglycaemic media respectively, which reflect that insulin at this concentration was the most effective on the stimulation of glucose uptake. The extract had the highest effect at 500µg/ml, the concentrations of glucose left after 90 minutes of incubation were found to be (0.38 and 1.31)g/l in the normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic media respectively. Conclusion: From the obtained results, it can be concluded that our extract seems to have an insulin-like effect on glucose uptake in liver slices isolated from Wistar rats

Comparative Genomics of Emerging Human Ehrlichiosis Agents

Anaplasma (formerly Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Neorickettsia (formerly Ehrlichia) sennetsu are intracellular vector-borne pathogens that cause human ehrlichiosis, an emerging infectious disease. We present the complete genome sequences of these organisms along with comparisons to other organisms in the Rickettsiales order. Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. display a unique large expansion of immunodominant outer membrane proteins facilitating antigenic variation. All Rickettsiales have a diminished ability to synthesize amino acids compared to their closest free-living relatives. Unlike members of the Rickettsiaceae family, these pathogenic Anaplasmataceae are capable of making all major vitamins, cofactors, and nucleotides, which could confer a beneficial role in the invertebrate vector or the vertebrate host. Further analysis identified proteins potentially involved in vacuole confinement of the Anaplasmataceae, a life cycle involving a hematophagous vector, vertebrate pathogenesis, human pathogenesis, and lack of transovarial transmission. These discoveries provide significant insights into the biology of these obligate intracellular pathogens

Whole-Genome Sequencing of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Cubana Strains Isolated from Agricultural Sources.

We report the draft genomes of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Cubana strain CVM42234, isolated from chick feed in 2012, and S. Cubana strain 76814, isolated from swine in 2004. The genome sizes are 4,975,046 and 4,936,251 bp, respectively

Whole-Genome Sequencing of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Cubana Strains Isolated from Agricultural Sources

We report the draft genomes of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Cubana strain CVM42234, isolated from chick feed in 2012, and S. Cubana strain 76814, isolated from swine in 2004. The genome sizes are 4,975,046 and 4,936,251 bp, respectively

Two new complete genome sequences offer insight into host and tissue specificity of plant pathogenic Xanthomonas spp.

Xanthomonas is a large genus of bacteria that collectively cause disease on more than 300 plant species. The broad host range of the genus contrasts with stringent host and tissue specificity for individual species and pathovars. Whole-genome sequences of Xanthomonas campestris pv. raphani strain 756C and X. oryzae pv. oryzicola strain BLS256, pathogens that infect the mesophyll tissue of the leading models for plant biology, Arabidopsis thaliana and rice, respectively, were determined and provided insight into the genetic determinants of host and tissue specificity. Comparisons were made with genomes of closely related strains that infect the vascular tissue of the same hosts and across a larger collection of complete Xanthomonas genomes. The results suggest a model in which complex sets of adaptations at the level of gene content account for host specificity and subtler adaptations at the level of amino acid or noncoding regulatory nucleotide sequence determine tissue specificity

Comparison of the Rickettsiales Gene Sets

<p>The composition of ortholog clusters (see <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.0020021#s3" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>) of representative Rickettsiales (A), <i>Ehrlichia</i> spp. (B), and <i>Anaplasma</i> spp. (C) were compared. Numbers within the intersections of different ovals indicate ortholog clusters shared by 2, 3, 4, or 5 organisms. Species compared are indicated in diagram intersections as follows. A, <i>R. prowazekii;</i> B, <i>N. sennetsu;</i> C, <i>W. pipientis;</i> D, <i>A. phagocytophilum;</i> E, <i>E. chaffeensis;</i> F, <i>A. marginale;</i> G, E. ruminantium Gardel; and H, E. ruminantium Welgevonden.</p

Phylogenetic Tree of the α-Proteobacteria

<p>The protein sequences of select conserved genes were concatenated and aligned, and a phylogenetic tree was inferred of all sequenced α-Proteobacteria (see <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.0020021#s3" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>). The Anaplasmataceae (purple) and the Rickettsiaceae (yellow) are highlighted.</p