Inhibition of an extracellular polygalacturonase from Geotrichum candidum by a proteinaceous inhibitor isolated from lemon fruits

An extracellular polygalacturonase [EC 3.2.1.15], named PG-543, was purified from the culture of Geotrichum candidum IEV 543, a phytopathogenic fungi isolated from infected lemon. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 26 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The pH optimum determined was 5.5; the enzyme showed high stability in the pH range between 4.0 and 6.0. The temperature optimum was 37 ºC. Furthermore, a proteinaceous inhibitor of the polygalacturonase (PG) named PGIP was isolated from lemon albedo. This protein was able to maintain the inhibitory activity in a wide range of pH and temperature. The maximal interaction between PG-PGIP was reached after 20 min of contact. PGIP did not show toxic effect on Artemia salina in the concentration range that was active on PG enzyme. Also, the proteinaceous inhibitor did not show mutagenic nor phytotoxic effects.Our results suggest that, the PGIP isolated from lemon could be used as a natural product to decrease the propagation of pathogenic fungi responsible for postharvest diseases in citrus by the inhibition of hydrolytic enzymes secreted by pathogens.Fil: Rodriguez, Ivana Fabiola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Sebastián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Sayago, Jorge Esteban. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Zampini, Iris Catiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Isla, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Ordóñez, Roxana Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentin

Association of Thymidylate Synthase Polymorphisms with Acute Pancreatitis and/or Peripheral Neuropathy in HIV-Infected Patients on Stavudine-Based Therapy

Altres ajuts: Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS 02/1280, 05/1591, 07/0976, 08/00256), Fundación para la Prevención del SIDA en España (FIPSE 36610, 36572/06), and Red de Investigación en SIDA (RIS RD06/006/0022)Low expression thymidylate synthase (TS) polymorphism has been associated with increased stavudine triphosphate intracellular (d4T-TP) levels and the lipodystrophy syndrome. The use of d4T has been associated with acute pancreatitis and peripheral neuropathy. However, no relationship has ever been proved between TS polymorphisms and pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy. We performed a case-control study to assess the relationship of TS and methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms with acute pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy in patients exposed to d4T. Student's t test, Pearson's correlations, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction and stepwise logistic regression analyses were done. Forty-three cases and 129 controls were studied. Eight patients (18.6%) had acute pancreatitis, and 35 (81.4%) had peripheral neuropathy. Prior AIDS was more frequent in cases than in controls (OR = 2.36; 95%CI 1.10-5.07, P = 0.0247). L7ow expression TS and MTHFR genotype associated with increased activity were more frequent in patients with acute pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy than in controls (72.1% vs. 46.5%, OR = 2.97; 95%CI: 1.33-6.90, P = 0.0062, and 79.1% vs. 56.6%, OR = 2.90, 95%CI: 1.23-7.41, P = 0.0142, respectively). Independent positive or negative predictors for the development of d4T-associated pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy were: combined TS and MTHFR genotypes (reference: A+A; P = 0.002; OR = 0.34 [95%CI: 0.08 to 1.44], OR = 3.38 [95%CI: 1.33 to 8.57], OR = 1.13 [95%CI: 0.34 to 3.71]), nadir CD4 cell count >200 cells/mm 3 (OR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.17-0.86, P = 0.021), and HALS (OR = 0.39 95%CI: 0.18-0.85, P = 0.018). Low expression TS plus a MTHFR genotype associated with increased activity is associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy in d4T-exposed patients

Potential signals of natural selection in the top risk loci for coronary artery disease: 9p21 and 10q11

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a complex disease and the leading cause of death in the world. Populations of different ancestry do not always share the same risk markers. Natural selective processes may be the cause of some of the population differences detected for specific risk mutations. Objective: In this study, 384 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in four genomic regions associated with CAD (1p13, 1q41, 9p21 and 10q11) are analysed in a set of 19 populations from Europe, Middle East and North Africa and also in Asian and African samples from the 1000 Genomes Project. The aim of this survey is to explore for the first time whether the genetic variability in these genomic regions is better explained by demography or by natural selection. Results: The results indicate significant differences in the structure of genetic variation and in the LD patterns among populations that probably explain the population disparities found in markers of susceptibility to CAD. Conclusions: The results are consistent with potential signature of positive selection in the 9p21 region and of balancing selection in the 9p21 and 10q11. Specifically, in Europe three CAD risk markers in the 9p21 region (rs9632884, rs1537371 and rs1333042) show consistent signals of positive selection. The results of this study are consistent with a potential selective role of CAD in the configuration of genetic diversity in current human populations

TELEVISION AND CONSUMER THEORY: THE CASE OF MEXICAN SCHOOLCHILDREN

Introduction: The Pan American Health Organization in 2014 published strategic for the primary health care and healthy eating, for the prevention of malnutrition, including the restriction of advertising in foods with high-calorie schedule and kids channels. Television became the best choice for the promotion of these foods by the easy access that has in this group. Objective: To evaluate the degree of Association of the consumption of caloric food, broadcast television, and malnutrition through the theory of the consumption in school children of the school primary Miguel Hidalgo of the municipality of Temamatla, Mexico State. Method: Study transversal, descriptive, quantitative; shows statistics stratified by clusters of 140 schoolchildren. Instrument: "TV and consumption", Cronbach's Alpha of 0.789; data processed by the IBM SPSS Statistics 20 statistical package. Results: The direct relationship between consumption of caloric foods and the use of broadcast through the Association of P Pearson, with a contention between: 0.35, and greater than 0.05, playing: Association with positive linearity. Conclusions: Broadcast television keeps, a positive association with regard to consumption, preference and choice of food energy, promoted through advertising campaigns, based on the use of games, dreams, fantasies and characters from fashionable to establish long-term relationships between the school and the brand, which is part of an ephemeral happiness, conditioning perpetual stages of malnutrition.Introduction: The Pan American Health Organization in 2014 published strategic for the primary health care and healthy eating, for the prevention of malnutrition, including the restriction of advertising in foods with high-calorie schedule and kids channels. Television became the best choice for the promotion of these foods by the easy access that has in this group. Objective: To evaluate the degree of Association of the consumption of caloric food, broadcast television, and malnutrition through the theory of the consumption in school children of the school primary Miguel Hidalgo of the municipality of Temamatla, Mexico State. Method: Study transversal, descriptive, quantitative; shows statistics stratified by clusters of 140 schoolchildren. Instrument: "TV and consumption", Cronbach's Alpha of 0.789; data processed by the IBM SPSS Statistics 20 statistical package. Results: The direct relationship between consumption of caloric foods and the use of broadcast through the Association of P Pearson, with a contention between: 0.35, and greater than 0.05, playing: Association with positive linearity. Conclusions: Broadcast television keeps, a positive association with regard to consumption, preference and choice of food energy, promoted through advertising campaigns, based on the use of games, dreams, fantasies and characters from fashionable to establish long-term relationships between the school and the brand, which is part of an ephemeral happiness, conditioning perpetual stages of malnutrition

Very long time persistent hyperCKemia as the first manifestation of McLeod syndrome: a case report.

McLeod syndrome (MLS) is a very rare genetic X-linked condition due to XK gene mutations and characterized by the development of chorea, psychiatric and cognitive impairment, seizures, cardiomyopathy, muscular involvement and the presence of acanthocytes. We present the case of a patient with very long lasting mild myalgia and elevated creatine kinase (CK) who developed lateonset chorea and was finally diagnosed with MLS

Helminth fauna of small mammals (insectivores and rodents) in Doñana (southeastern Iberian Peninsula)

Peer Reviewe

Association of thymidylate synthase polymorphisms with acute pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy in HIV-infected patients on Stavudine-Based Therapy

BACKGROUND: Low expression thymidylate synthase (TS) polymorphism has been associated with increased stavudine triphosphate intracellular (d4T-TP) levels and the lipodystrophy syndrome. The use of d4T has been associated with acute pancreatitis and peripheral neuropathy. However, no relationship has ever been proved between TS polymorphisms and pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy. METHODS: We performed a case-control study to assess the relationship of TS and methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms with acute pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy in patients exposed to d4T. Student's t test, Pearson's correlations, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction and stepwise logistic regression analyses were done. RESULTS: Forty-three cases and 129 controls were studied. Eight patients (18.6%) had acute pancreatitis, and 35 (81.4%) had peripheral neuropathy. Prior AIDS was more frequent in cases than in controls (OR = 2.36; 95%CI 1.10-5.07, P = 0.0247). L7ow expression TS and MTHFR genotype associated with increased activity were more frequent in patients with acute pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy than in controls (72.1% vs. 46.5%, OR = 2.97; 95%CI: 1.33-6.90, P = 0.0062, and 79.1% vs. 56.6%, OR = 2.90, 95%CI: 1.23-7.41, P = 0.0142, respectively). Independent positive or negative predictors for the development of d4T-associated pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy were: combined TS and MTHFR genotypes (reference: A+A; P = 0.002; ORA+B = 0.34 [95%CI: 0.08 to 1.44], ORB+A = 3.38 [95%CI: 1.33 to 8.57], ORB+B = 1.13 [95%CI: 0.34 to 3.71]), nadir CD4 cell count >200 cells/mm(3) (OR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.17-0.86, P = 0.021), and HALS (OR = 0.39 95%CI: 0.18-0.85, P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Low expression TS plus a MTHFR genotype associated with increased activity is associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy in d4T-exposed patients

Human diversity in Jordan: polymorphic alu insertions in general jordanian and bedouin groups

Jordan, located in the Levant region, is an area crucial for the investigation of human migration between Africa and Eurasia. However, the genetic history of Jordanians has yet to be clarified, including the origin of the Bedouins today resident in Jordan. Here, we provide new genetic data on autosomal independent markers in two Jordanian population samples (Bedouins and the general population) to begin to examine the genetic diversity inside this country and to provide new information about the genetic position of these populations in the context of the Mediterranean and Middle East area. The markers analyzed were 18 Alu polymorphic insertions characterized by their identity by descent, known ancestral state (lack of insertion), and apparent selective neutrality. The results indicate significant genetic differences between Bedouins and general Jordanians (p = 0.038). Whereas Bedouins show a close genetic proximity to North Africans, general Jordanians appear genetically more similar to other Middle East populations. In general, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that Bedouins had an important role in the peopling of Jordan and constitute the original substrate of the current population. However, migration into Jordan in recent years likely has contributed to the diversity among current Jordanian population groups

Oxygen-limited cellobiose fermentation and the characterization of the cellobiase of an industrial Dekkera/Brettanomyces bruxellensis strain

The discovery of a novel yeast with a natural capacity to produce ethanol from lignocellulosic substrates (second-generation ethanol) is of great significance for bioethanol technology. While there are some yeast strains capable of assimilating cellobiose in aerobic laboratory conditions, the predominant sugar in the treatment of lignocellulosic material, little is known about this ability in real industrial conditions. Fermentations designed to simulate industrial conditions were conducted in synthetic medium with glucose, sucrose, cellobiose and hydrolyzed pre-treated cane bagasse as a different carbon source, with the aim of further characterizing the fermentation capacity of a promising Dekkera bruxellensis yeast strain, isolated from the bioethanol process in Brazil. As a result, it was found (for the first time in oxygen-limiting conditions) that the strain Dekkera bruxellensis GDB 248 could produce ethanol from cellobiose. Moreover, it was corroborated that the cellobiase activity characterizes the enzyme candidate in semi-purified extracts (β-glucosidase). In addition, it was demonstrated that GDB 248 strain had the capacity to produce a higher acetic acid concentration than ethanol and glycerol, which confirms the absence of the Custer effect with this strain in oxygen-limiting conditions. Moreover, it is also being suggested that D. bruxellensis could benefit Saccharomyces cerevisiae and outcompete it in the industrial environment. In this way, it was confirmed that D. bruxellensis GDB 248 has the potential to produce ethanol from cellobiose, and is a promising strain for the fermentation of lignocellulosic substrates

VLT Echelle Spectrophotometry of the Planetary Nebula NGC 5307 and Temperature Variations

Echelle spectrophotometry of the planetary nebula NGC 5307 is presented. The data consists of VLT UVES observations in the 3100 to 10360 A range. Electron temperatures and densities have been determined using different line intensity ratios. We determine the H, He, C, and O abundances based on recombination lines, these abundances are almost independent of the temperature structure of the nebula. We also determine the N, O, Ne, S, Cl, and Ar abundances based on collisionally excited lines, the ratios of these abundances relative to that of H depend strongly on the temperature structure of the nebula. From the OII/[OIII] ratio we find a t^2 = 0.056+-0.005. The chemical composition of NGC 5307 is compared with those of the Sun and the Orion nebula. From the study of the relative intensities of the OII recombination lines of multiplet 1 in this and other nebulae it isfound that for electron densities smaller than about 5000 cm-3 collisional redistribution is not complete, this effect has to be taken into account to derive the O abundances for those cases in which not all the lines of the multiplet are observed. From the 4649 OII versus N_e$(ClIII) diagram we find a critical electron density of 1325 cm-3 for collisional redistribution of the OII lines of multiplet 1. Also based on this diagram we argue that the OII and the [OIII] lines originate in the same regions. We also find that the radial velocities and the FWHM of the OII and [OIII] lines in NGC 5307 are similar supporting the previous result. These two results imply that for NGC 5307 and probably for many other gaseous nebulae chemical inhomogeneities are not responsible for the large temperature fluctuations observed.Comment: 37 pages, 2 figures, submitted to the Astrophysical Journa