Handling Missing Data Problems with Sampling Methods

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A novel Streptomyces strain isolated by functional bioprospecting for laccases

In discovering novel laccase enzymes with interesting catalytic and stability properties, there is still scope for improvement in exploring new sites in Algeria. The bio-prospecting approach allowed the isolation of a novel strain, Streptomyces sp. HBD30 from the Agrioun River, northern Algeria. Following a functional approach, two laccases (LacI and LacII) were purified and characterised, showing appealing properties as thermostable enzymes, and oxidised typical phenolic and non-phenolic substrates with a higher affinity towards syringaldazine, followed by 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid). Further analyses revealed that the Streptomyces sp. HDB30 genome contained an array of genes coding for carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZome) and lignin-degrading enzymes to degrade lignocellulose. In addition to enlarging the repertoire of thermostable laccases, this study uncovered the metabolic potential of a new Streptomyces strain, which is useful for a wide range of applications

Persistent infection of thymic epithelial cells with coxsackievirus B4 results in a decreased expression of insulin-like growth factor 2

It has been hypothesized that a disturbance of central self-tolerance to islet β-cell may play a role in the enteroviral pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Whether enteroviruses can induce an impaired expression of β-cell self-antigens in thymic epithelial cells has been investigated in a murine thymic epithelial (MTE) cell line. This cell line was permissive to the diabetogenic strain CV-B4 E2 and spontaneously expressed type 2 insulin-like growth factor (Igf2), the dominant self-antigen of the insulin family. In this model, a persistent replication of CV-B4 E2 was obtained as attested by the prolonged detection of intracellular positive and negative-strand viral RNA by RT-PCR, and capsid protein VP1 by IF and by the release of infectious particles in culture supernatant fluids. The chronic stage of the infection was characterized by a low proportion of VP1-positive cells (1-2%) whereas many cells harbored enteroviral RNA as displayed by RT-PCR without extraction applied directly on a few cells. Igf2 mRNA and IGF-2 protein were dramatically decreased in CV-B4 E2-infected MTE cultures compared with mock-infected cultures, whereas housekeeping and Il6 genes expression were maintained and Igf1 mRNA was decreased but at a lower extent. Inoculation of CV-B3-, CV-B4 JVB- or Echovirus 1 resulted in a low level of IGF-2 in culture supernatant fluids as well, whereas HSV-1 stimulated the production of the protein. Thus, a persistent infection of a thymic epithelial cell line with enteroviruses, like CV-B4 E2 can result in a disturbed production of IGF-2, a protein involved in central self-tolerance towards islet β-cells.FP6 Integrated Project Eurothymaid

Structure of the archaeal pab87 peptidase reveals a novel self-compartmentalizing protease family.

Self-compartmentalizing proteases orchestrate protein turnover through an original architecture characterized by a central catalytic chamber. Here we report the first structure of an archaeal member of a new self-compartmentalizing protease family forming a cubic-shaped octamer with D(4) symmetry and referred to as CubicO. We solved the structure of the Pyrococcus abyssi Pab87 protein at 2.2 A resolution using the anomalous signal of the high-phasing-power lanthanide derivative Lu-HPDO3A. A 20 A wide channel runs through this supramolecular assembly of 0.4 MDa, giving access to a 60 A wide central chamber holding the eight active sites. Surprisingly, activity assays revealed that Pab87 degrades specifically d-amino acid containing peptides, which have never been observed in archaea. Genomic context of the Pab87 gene showed that it is surrounded by genes involved in the amino acid/peptide transport or metabolism. We propose that CubicO proteases are involved in the processing of d-peptides from environmental origins

The role of the thymus in integrated evolution of the recombinase-dependent adaptive immune response and the neuroendocrine system

Before being able to react against infectious non-self antigens, the immune system has to be educated in recognition and tolerance of neuroendocrine self-proteins. This sophisticated educational process takes place only in the thymus. The development of an autoimmune response directed to neuroendocrine glands has been shown to result from a thymus dysfunction in programming immunological self-tolerance to neuroendocrine-related antigens. This thymus dysfunction leads to a breakdown of immune homeostasis with an enrichment of ‘forbidden’ self-reactive T cells and a deficiency in self-antigen specific natural regulatory T cells (nTreg) in the peripheral T-lymphocyte repertoire. A large number of neuroendocrine self-antigens are expressed by the thymic epithelium, under the control of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene/protein in the medulla. Based on the close homology and cross-tolerance between thymic type 1 diabetes-related self-antigens and peripheral antigens targeted in β cells by autoimmunity, a novel type of vaccination is currently developed for prevention and cure of type 1 diabetes. If this approach were found to be effective in reprogramming immunological tolerance that is absent or broken in this disease, it could pave the way for the design of negative/tolerogenic self-vaccines against other endocrine and organ-specific autoimmune disorders.Tolediab - Eurothymaid