Cardio-Protection of Salvianolic Acid B through Inhibition of Apoptosis Network

Targeting cellular function as a system rather than on the level of the single target significantly increases therapeutic potency. In the present study, we detect the target pathway of salvianolic acid B (SalB) in vivo. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced in rats followed by the treatment with 10 mg/kg SalB. Hemodynamic detection and pathological stain, 2-dimensional electrophoresis, MALDI-TOF MS/MS, Western blot, pathway identification, apoptosis assay and transmission electron microscope were used to elucidate the effects and mechanism of SalB on cardioprotection. Higher SalB concentration was found in ischemic area compared to no-ischemic area of heart, correlating with improved heart function and histological structure. Thirty-three proteins regulated by SalB in AMI rats were identified by biochemical analysis and were classified as the components of metabolism and apoptosis networks. SalB protected cardiomyocytes from apoptosis, inhibited poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 pathway, and improved the integrity of mitochondrial and nucleus of heart tissue during AMI. Furthermore, the protective effects of SalB against apoptosis were verified in H9c2 cells. Our results provide evidence that SalB regulates multi-targets involved in the apoptosis pathway during AMI and therefore may be a candidate for novel therapeutics of heart diseases

Vaccine Potential of Nipah Virus-Like Particles

Nipah virus (NiV) was first recognized in 1998 in a zoonotic disease outbreak associated with highly lethal febrile encephalitis in humans and a predominantly respiratory disease in pigs. Periodic deadly outbreaks, documentation of person-to-person transmission, and the potential of this virus as an agent of agroterror reinforce the need for effective means of therapy and prevention. In this report, we describe the vaccine potential of NiV virus-like particles (NiV VLPs) composed of three NiV proteins G, F and M. Co-expression of these proteins under optimized conditions resulted in quantifiable amounts of VLPs with many virus-like/vaccine desirable properties including some not previously described for VLPs of any paramyxovirus: The particles were fusogenic, inducing syncytia formation; PCR array analysis showed NiV VLP-induced activation of innate immune defense pathways; the surface structure of NiV VLPs imaged by cryoelectron microscopy was dense, ordered, and repetitive, and consistent with similarly derived structure of paramyxovirus measles virus. The VLPs were composed of all the three viral proteins as designed, and their intracellular processing also appeared similar to NiV virions. The size, morphology and surface composition of the VLPs were consistent with the parental virus, and importantly, they retained their antigenic potential. Finally, these particles, formulated without adjuvant, were able to induce neutralizing antibody response in Balb/c mice. These findings indicate vaccine potential of these particles and will be the basis for undertaking future protective efficacy studies in animal models of NiV disease

Systematic Analysis of Sequences and Expression Patterns of Drought-Responsive Members of the HD-Zip Gene Family in Maize

Background: Members of the homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) gene family encode transcription factors that are unique to plants and have diverse functions in plant growth and development such as various stress responses, organ formation and vascular development. Although systematic characterization of this family has been carried out in Arabidopsis and rice, little is known about HD-Zip genes in maize (Zea mays L.). Methods and Findings: In this study, we described the identification and structural characterization of HD-Zip genes in the maize genome. A complete set of 55 HD-Zip genes (Zmhdz1-55) were identified in the maize genome using Blast search tools and categorized into four classes (HD-Zip I-IV) based on phylogeny. Chromosomal location of these genes revealed that they are distributed unevenly across all 10 chromosomes. Segmental duplication contributed largely to the expansion of the maize HD-ZIP gene family, while tandem duplication was only responsible for the amplification of the HD-Zip II genes. Furthermore, most of the maize HD-Zip I genes were found to contain an overabundance of stress-related ciselements in their promoter sequences. The expression levels of the 17 HD-Zip I genes under drought stress were also investigated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). All of the 17 maize HD-ZIP I genes were found to be regulated by drought stress, and the duplicated genes within a sister pair exhibited the similar expression patterns, suggesting their conserved functions during the process of evolution

Avaliação dos níveis de zeólita em dietas para suínos em fase de crescimento e terminação

Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar níveis de zeólita em dietas para suínos e seus efeitos no desempenho, nas características de carcaça e nos parâmetros sanguíneos e histopatológicos do parênquima hepático desses animais nas fases de crescimento e terminação. Foram utilizados 84 suínos machos castrados, híbridos comerciais de alto potencial genético para deposição de carne, com peso inicial de 30,34±1,14 kg, distribuídos em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com sete níveis de adsorvente (0,0-0,0; 1,0-0,5; 1,0-1,0; 2,0-1,0; 2,0-2,0; 3,0-1,5; 3,0-3,0, respectivamente, nas fases de crescimento e terminação), com seis repetições e dois animais por baia (unidade experimental). Utilizou-se o sorgo como fonte de contaminação natural por micotoxinas. Os níveis de adsorvente das dietas experimentais foram obtidos a partir da inclusão de zeólita em substituição à areia lavada das dietas sem adsorvente. Não houve efeito dos níveis de zeólita nas dietas sobre o consumo diário de ração, o ganho de peso diário, a conversão alimentar e as características carcaça avaliadas. Os níveis de zeólita nas dietas também não influenciaram os parâmetros sanguíneos e histopatológicos nem os teores ósseos de cálcio e fósforo dos suínos. Devido ao bom índice de desempenho e às características de carcaça, bem como à normalidade dos outros parâmetros estudados dos animais que receberam dieta sem adsorvente, pode-se inferir que as dietas continham baixo grau de contaminação por micotoxinas. Os níveis de zeólita avaliados não influenciam o desempenho, as características de carcaça nem os parâmetros sanguíneos e histopatológicos do parênquima hepático de suínos nas fases de crescimento e terminação recebendo dietas com baixo nível de contaminação por micotoxinas.This study was conducted to evaluate levels of inclusion of zeolite in diets for pigs on performance, carcass characteristics, blood and liver histopathological parameters of these animals in their growing-finishing phases. Eighty-four barrows from commercial hybrids of high genetic potential for meat deposition, with initial weight of 30.34±1.14 kg were distributed in randomized blocks design, with seven levels of adsorbent (0.0-0.0; 1.0-0.5; 1.0-1.0; 2.0-1.0; 2.0-2.0; 3.0-1.5; 3.0-3.0, respectively, on growing and finishing phases), six replicates with two animals per pen, which was considered the experimental unit. Sorghum was used as naturally contaminated source of mycotoxins. The different levels of adsorbent in the diets were obtained by the supplementation of zeolite in the basal diet. The inclusion of zeolite in the diet did not affect the daily feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion or the carcass characteristics of the pigs. In the same way blood parameters, liver histopathological examination and the bone concentration neither calcium nor phosphorus were affected by the different levels of zeolita. Due to the good performance and carcass characteristics, as well as the normality of the other parameters of the animals fed diets without adsorbents analyzed, it can be inferred that the diets had low levels of mycotoxin contamination. The levels of zeolite do not affect the performance, carcass characteristics, blood parameters or liver histopathological examination in growing-finishing pigs fed diets with low level of contamination by mycotoxin

Independent Evaluation of Two Prototype Immunochromatographic Tests for Dengue Fever Developed by InBios

ABSTRACT Introduction Dengue fever, caused by any of the four dengue viruses (DENV1–4), is endemic in more than 100 countries around the world. Each year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue virus. It is one of the most important arthropod-borne viral diseases. Dengue’s global presence poses a medical threat to deploying military personnel and their dependents. An accurate diagnosis followed by attentive supportive care can improve outcomes in patients with severe dengue disease. Dengue diagnostic tests based on PCR and ELISA platforms have been developed and cleared by the U.S. FDA. However, these diagnostic assays are laborious and usually require highly trained personnel and specialized equipment, which presents a significant challenge when conducting operations in austere and resource-constrained areas. InBios International, Inc. (Seattle, WA) has developed two rapid and instrument-free immunochromatographic test prototype devices (multiplex and traditional formats) for dengue diagnosis. Materials and Methods To determine the performance of the InBios immunochromatographic tests, 183 clinical samples were tested on both prototype devices. Both assays were performed without any instruments and the results were read in 20 minutes. Results The traditional format had better overall performance (sensitivity: 97.4%; specificity: 90%) than the multiplex format (sensitivity: 86.9%; specificity: 63.3%). The traditional format was superior in serotype-specific detection with 100% overall sensitivity for DENV1, DENV3, and DENV4 and 93.3% sensitivity for DENV2 compared to the multiplex format (91.7%, 78.3%, 83.3%, and 96.3% for DENV1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively). The traditional format was easier to read than the multiplex format. The multiplex format was simpler and faster to set up than the traditional format. Conclusions The InBios traditional format had a better overall performance and readability profile than the multiplex format, while the multiplex format was easier to set up. Both formats were highly sensitive and specific, were easy to perform, and did not require sophisticated equipment. They are ideal for use in resource-limited settings where dengue is endemic. Based on our overall assessment, the traditional format should be considered for further development and used in the upcoming multicenter clinical trial toward FDA clearance. </jats:sec