CARDIOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF LEAVES OF KIGELIA AFRICANA ON ISOPRENALINE INDUCED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Kigelia Africana is an herbal medicinal plant and it is used to cure different disorders. The present study was involved in cardioprotective activity of leaves of Kigelia Africana on ISO induced myocardial injury. Male wistar rats are divided into five groups of six animals each. All the grouped rats were pre-treated with the extract and standard (propranolol 10 mg/kg) either s.c. or orally for eight days. Then, they were given 5.25 and 8.5 mg/kg isopreterenol s.c. on two consecutive days. Early treatment with extract of Kigelia Africana 100mg/kg, 200 mg/kg showed significant decrease in level of serum marker enzymes aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), changes in the oxidative stress markers like lipid peroxidase (LPO), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) caused by ISO (5.25 and 8.5 mg/kg). The defence action of leaves of Kigelia Africana concluded by observing histopathology and are more consistent at 200mg/kg. Hence, we conclude that pre-treatment with extract of leaves of Kigelia Africana more barrier aganist the ISO induced myocardial injury

Про маловідомі математичні таблиці Якова Пилипа Кулика

У статті описано маловідомі математичні таблиці професора Пражського університету Якова Пилипа Кулика. Виконано короткий аналіз складу та структури таблиць, що не тільки широко використовувались в арифметиці, алгебрі, теорії чисел і в теорії алгебраїчних рівнянь, але й мали широке практичне застосування.В статье описаны малоизвестные математические таблицы профессора Пражского университета Якова Филиппа Кулика. Произведен короткий анализ содержания и структуры таблиц, которые не только широко использовались в арифметике, алгебре, теории чисел и в теории алгебраических уравнений, но и имели широкое практическое применение.The unknown mathematical tables by Jakob Pilip Kulik – the professor of Prague University, are described in this article. The analysis of the content and structure of tables was conducted, they were not only used widely in arithmetic, algebra, the theory of numbers and in the Theory of equalizations of algebra, but They had a wide practical application

Chimpanzee reservoirs of pandemic and nonpandemic HIV-1

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the cause of human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS), is a zoonotic infection of staggering proportions and social impact. Yet uncertainty persists regarding its natural reservoir. The virus most closely related to HIV-1 is a simian immunodeficiency virus ( SIV) thus far identified only in captive members of the chimpanzee subspecies Pan troglodytes troglodytes. Here we report the detection of SIVcpz antibodies and nucleic acids in fecal samples from wild-living P.t. troglodytes apes in southern Cameroon, where prevalence rates in some communities reached 29 to 35%. By sequence analysis of endemic SIVcpz strains, we could trace the origins of pandemic ( group M) and nonpandemic ( group N) HIV-1 to distinct, geographically isolated chimpanzee communities. These findings establish P. t. troglodytes as a natural reservoir of HIV-1

High Multiplicity Infection by HIV-1 in Men Who Have Sex with Men

Elucidating virus-host interactions responsible for HIV-1 transmission is important for advancing HIV-1 prevention strategies. To this end, single genome amplification (SGA) and sequencing of HIV-1 within the context of a model of random virus evolution has made possible for the first time an unambiguous identification of transmitted/founder viruses and a precise estimation of their numbers. Here, we applied this approach to HIV-1 env analyses in a cohort of acutely infected men who have sex with men (MSM) and found that a high proportion (10 of 28; 36%) had been productively infected by more than one virus. In subjects with multivariant transmission, the minimum number of transmitted viruses ranged from 2 to 10 with viral recombination leading to rapid and extensive genetic shuffling among virus lineages. A combined analysis of these results, together with recently published findings based on identical SGA methods in largely heterosexual (HSX) cohorts, revealed a significantly higher frequency of multivariant transmission in MSM than in HSX [19 of 50 subjects (38%) versus 34 of 175 subjects (19%); Fisher's exact p = 0.008]. To further evaluate the SGA strategy for identifying transmitted/founder viruses, we analyzed 239 overlapping 5′ and 3′ half genome or env-only sequences from plasma viral RNA (vRNA) and blood mononuclear cell DNA in an MSM subject who had a particularly well-documented virus exposure history 3–6 days before symptom onset and 14–17 days before peak plasma viremia (47,600,000 vRNA molecules/ml). All 239 sequences coalesced to a single transmitted/founder virus genome in a time frame consistent with the clinical history, and a molecular clone of this genome encoded replication competent virus in accord with model predictions. Higher multiplicity of HIV-1 infection in MSM compared with HSX is consistent with the demonstrably higher epidemiological risk of virus acquisition in MSM and could indicate a greater challenge for HIV-1 vaccines than previously recognized

Low-dose rectal inoculation of rhesus macaques by SIVsmE660 or SIVmac251 recapitulates human mucosal infection by HIV-1

We recently developed a novel strategy to identify transmitted HIV-1 genomes in acutely infected humans using single-genome amplification and a model of random virus evolution. Here, we used this approach to determine the molecular features of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) transmission in 18 experimentally infected Indian rhesus macaques. Animals were inoculated intrarectally (i.r.) or intravenously (i.v.) with stocks of SIVmac251 or SIVsmE660 that exhibited sequence diversity typical of early-chronic HIV-1 infection. 987 full-length SIV env sequences (median of 48 per animal) were determined from plasma virion RNA 1–5 wk after infection. i.r. inoculation was followed by productive infection by one or a few viruses (median 1; range 1–5) that diversified randomly with near starlike phylogeny and a Poisson distribution of mutations. Consensus viral sequences from ramp-up and peak viremia were identical to viruses found in the inocula or differed from them by only one or a few nucleotides, providing direct evidence that early plasma viral sequences coalesce to transmitted/founder viruses. i.v. infection was >2,000-fold more efficient than i.r. infection, and viruses transmitted by either route represented the full genetic spectra of the inocula. These findings identify key similarities in mucosal transmission and early diversification between SIV and HIV-1, and thus validate the SIV–macaque mucosal infection model for HIV-1 vaccine and microbicide research

Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry Succession and Land Use Effect after Intensive Reclamation: A Case Study on the Yangtze River Floodplain

The coupling cycles of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) have a significant impact on biogeochemical processes and ecosystem services. For centuries, large areas of floodplain wetlands in China have been extensively reclaimed for agricultural purposes due to population growth. However, little is known about the evolution of soil C:N:P stoichiometry along a reclamation chronosequence, particularly across different land uses. In this study, we investigated the variations in soil C:N:P ratios with land use and time gradients along a reclamation chronosequence comprising c. 0, 60, 100, 280, 2000, and 3000 years. Land reclamation induced nutrient decoupling, as it facilitated C and N accumulation from biological processes but restricted P supply controlled by geochemical processes. Soil C and N sequestration reached a stable state after 2000 years, while P declined steadily from 60 years. Soil C/P and N/P increased significantly and were controlled by organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN), respectively, indicating that an increase in C and N could also promote P uptake. Soil C/N declined in the first 60 years and stabilized at a threshold of 10:1. Different land use patterns following reclamation resulted in distinct soil nutrient structures. Paddies retained more OC and TN but exhibited lower adsorption of total phosphorus (TP) compared to adjacent dryland, leading to significant differences in C/P and N/P between land uses. Based on the redundancy analysis and random forest model, soil OC and TN were mainly affected by the abundance of bacteria metabolizing cellulose, while metal oxides, including Fe2O3 and CaO, could best predict TP. Soil C/P and N/P were mainly driven by soil texture and rose significantly with the increasing proportion of clay particles. Our study suggests that as reclamation proceeds, more anthropogenic management is required to regulate potential nutrient imbalances in order to prevent adverse effects on crop growth, soil quality, and ecosystem health. Additionally, any fertilization strategy should be developed based on dryland C and N deficiencies, and lack of P in paddies

A Comprehensive Panel of Near-Full-Length Clones and Reference Sequences for Non-Subtype B Isolates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

Non-subtype B viruses cause the vast majority of new human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections worldwide and are thus the major focus of international vaccine efforts. Although their geographic dissemination is carefully monitored, their immunogenic and biological properties remain largely unknown, in part because well-characterized virological reference reagents are lacking. In particular, full-length clones and sequences are rare, since subtype classification is frequently based on small PCR-derived viral fragments. There are only five proviral clones available for viruses other than subtype B, and these represent only 3 of the 10 proposed (group M) sequence subtypes. This lack of reference sequences also confounds the identification and analysis of mosaic (recombinant) genomes, which appear to be arising with increasing frequency in areas where multiple sequence subtypes cocirculate. To generate a more representative panel of non-subtype B reference reagents, we have cloned (by long PCR or lambda phage techniques) and sequenced 10 near-full-length HIV-1 genomes (lacking less than 80 bp of long terminal repeat sequences) from primary isolates collected at major epicenters of the global AIDS pandemic. Detailed phylogenetic analyses identified six that represented nonrecombinant members of HIV-1 subtypes A (92UG037.1), C (92BR025.8), D (84ZR085.1 and 94UG114.1), F (93BR020.1), and H (90CF056.1), the last two comprising the first full-length examples of these subtypes. Four others were found to be complex mosaics of subtypes A and C (92RW009.6), A and G (92NG083.2 and 92NG003.1), and B and F (93BR029.4), again emphasizing the impact of intersubtype recombination on global HIV-1 diversification. Although a number of clones had frameshift mutations or translational stop codons in major open reading frames, all the genomes contained a complete set of genes and three had intact genomic organizations without inactivating mutations. Reconstruction of one of these (94UG114.1) yielded replication-competent virus that grew to high titers in normal donor peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures. This panel of non-subtype B reference genomes should prove valuable for structure-function studies of genetically diverse viral gene products, the generation of subtype-specific immunological reagents, and the production of DNA- and protein-based subunit vaccines directed against a broader spectrum of viruses

Antigenicity and immunogenicity of HIV-1 consensus subtype B envelope glycoproteins

“Centralized” (ancestral and consensus) HIV-1 envelope immunogens induce broadly cross-reactive T cell responses in laboratory animals; however, their potential to elicit cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies has not been fully explored. Here, we report the construction of a panel of consensus subtype B (ConB) envelopes and compare their biologic, antigenic, and immunogenic properties to those of two wild-type Env controls from individuals with early and acute HIV-1 infection. Glycoprotein expressed from full-length (gp160), uncleaved (gp160-UNC), truncated (gp145), and N-linked glycosylation site deleted (gp160-201N/S) versions of the ConB env gene were packaged into virions and, except for the fusion defective gp160-UNC, mediated infection via the CCR5 co-receptor. Pseudovirions containing ConB Envs were sensitive to neutralization by patient plasma and monoclonal antibodies, indicating the preservation of neutralizing epitopes found in contemporary subtype B viruses. When used as DNA vaccines in guinea pigs, ConB and wild-type env immunogens induced appreciable binding, but overall only low level neutralizing antibodies. However, all four ConB immunogens were significantly more potent than one wild-type vaccine at eliciting neutralizing antibodies against a panel of tier 1 and tier 2 viruses, and ConB gp145 and gp160 were significantly more potent than both wild-type vaccines at inducing neutralizing antibodies against tier 1 viruses. Thus, consensus subtype B env immunogens appear to be at least as good as, and in some instances better than, wild-type B env immunogens at inducing a neutralizing antibody response, and are amenable to further improvement by specific gene modifications