ZOOMICS: comparative metabolomics of red blood cells from dogs, cows, horses and donkeys during refrigerated storage for up to 42 days

The use of omics technologies in human transfusion medicine has improved our understanding of the red blood cell (RBC) storage lesion(s). Despite significant progress towards understanding the storage lesion(s) of human RBCs, a comparison of basal and post-storage RBC metabolism across multiple species using omics technologies has not yet been reported, and is the focus of this study

Effect of leukoreduction on the metabolism of equine packed red blood cells during refrigerated storage

Abstract Background Understanding of the biochemical and morphological lesions associated with storage of equine blood is limited. Objective To demonstrate the temporal sequences of lipid and metabolic profiles of equine fresh and stored (up to 42 days) and leukoreduced packed red blood cells (LR‐pRBC) and non‐leukoreduced packed RBC (nLR‐pRBC). Animals Packed RBC units were obtained from 6 healthy blood donor horses enrolled in 2 blood banks. Methods Observational study. Whole blood was collected from each donor using transfusion bags with a LR filter. Leukoreduction pRBC and nLR‐pRBC units were obtained and stored at 4°C for up 42 days. Sterile weekly sampling was performed from each unit for analyses. Results Red blood cells and supernatants progressively accumulated lactate products while high‐energy phosphate compounds (adenosine triphosphate and 2,3‐Diphosphoglycerate) declined. Hypoxanthine, xanthine, and free fatty acids accumulated in stored RBC and supernatants. These lesions were exacerbated in non‐LR‐pRBC. Conclusion and Clinical Importance Leukoreduction has a beneficial effect on RBC energy and redox metabolism of equine pRBC and the onset and severity of the metabolic storage lesions RBC

Genetic Homogeneity of Clostridium botulinum Type A1 Strains with Unique Toxin Gene Clusters▿ †

A group of five clonally related Clostridium botulinum type A strains isolated from different sources over a period of nearly 40 years harbored several conserved genetic properties. These strains contained a variant bont/A1 with five nucleotide polymorphisms compared to the gene in C. botulinum strain ATCC 3502. The strains also had a common toxin gene cluster composition (ha−/orfX+) similar to that associated with bont/A in type A strains containing an unexpressed bont/B [termed A(B) strains]. However, bont/B was not identified in the strains examined. Comparative genomic hybridization demonstrated identical genomic content among the strains relative to C. botulinum strain ATCC 3502. In addition, microarray data demonstrated the absence of several genes flanking the toxin gene cluster among the ha−/orfX+ A1 strains, suggesting the presence of genomic rearrangements with respect to this region compared to the C. botulinum ATCC 3502 strain. All five strains were shown to have identical flaA variable region nucleotide sequences. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns of the strains were indistinguishable when digested with SmaI, and a shift in the size of at least one band was observed in a single strain when digested with XhoI. These results demonstrate surprising genomic homogeneity among a cluster of unique C. botulinum type A strains of diverse origin