Retroviruses use CD169-mediated trans-infection of permissive lymphocytes to establish infection

Dendritic cells can capture and transfer retroviruses in vitro across synaptic cell-cell contacts to uninfected cells, a process called trans-infection. Whether trans-infection contributes to retroviral spread in vivo remains unknown. Here, we visualize how retroviruses disseminate in secondary lymphoid tissues of living mice. We demonstrate that murine leukemia virus (MLV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are first captured by sinus-lining macrophages. CD169/Siglec-1, an I-type lectin that recognizes gangliosides, captures the virus. MLV-laden macrophages then form long-lived synaptic contacts to trans-infect B-1 cells. Infected B-1 cells subsequently migrate into the lymph node to spread the infection through virological synapses. Robust infection in lymph nodes and spleen requires CD169, suggesting that a combination of fluid-based movement followed by CD169-dependent trans-infection can contribute to viral spread

Production of Polyhydroxybutyrate by Bacillus axaraqunsis BIPC01 using Petrochemical Wastewater as Carbon Source

The aim of this study was to use petrochemical wastewater as the source of carbon for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in an effort to decrease its cost of production. For this purpose, PHA producing bacteria were isolated from the petrochemical wastewater of Bandar Imam, Iran. The purified colonies were screened for PHA by Sudan Black B and Nile Blue A staining. Among positively stained bacteria, the best PHA producer was selected on the basis of cell growth, PHA content and the monomer composition of PHA. The phenotypic and genotypic identification this isolate showed it to be Bacillus axaraqunsis. The PHA was produced at a cell density of about 9.46 g/l of maximum concentration of 6.33g/l l, corresponding to 66% of cell dry weight. These results showed that B. axaraqunsis BIPC01 could be a potent PHA producer using wastewater for industrial purpose and simultaneously reducing the environmental pollution

Oral health and quality of life in children: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: The relationship of oral health (OH) with the quality of life (QL) is multidimensional; the extent to which oral disorders disrupt an individual′s normal function may affect health-related QL, particularly among children. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between clinical OH variables, psychological, social, and demographic factors with regard to OH-related QL (OHRQL) in the children of Isfahan province, Iran. Materials and Methods: Data relevant to the characteristics, psychological, dental, and demographic factors of 336 children aged 11-15 were assessed. These characteristics included sociodemographic data, sense of coherence (SOC), self-esteem, and children′s health locus of control (HLC). The clinical variables that were implicated to be effective on the QL were assessed via an oral examination. The parameters assessed included caries, periodontal disease, malocclusion, and traumatic dental injuries. Finally, the data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software and P-value was set at 0.05. Results: The results indicate that oral disease, the extent of treatment-need, self-reported symptoms, and degree of dysfunction were influential in QL. Bivariate (Spearman and Pearson) analysis showed that there was a relationship between decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) and QL score (r = 0.4, P-value = 0.03) and gender and total self-esteem (r = 0.8, P-value = 0.009). Self-esteem and index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN) (P-value = 0.01), education level of the parents (P-value = 0.03), and overall health (P-value = 0.001) significantly influenced OHRQL. Conclusions: The findings of our study indicate that oral disease, the extent of treatment-need, self-reported symptoms, and degree of dysfunction were influential in the QL

The effect of aqueous cinnamon extract on the apoptotic process in acute myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells

Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is an acute leukemia diagnosed by translocation of chromosomes 15 and 17 [T (15,17)] and aggregation of neoplastic promyelocytes which are incapable of being converted into mature cells. Today, many tend to use medicinal herbs in studies and clinical applications for treatment of cancers. Cinnamon with scientific name "cinnamomumzelanicum" is a shrub of Laurales order, lauraceae family with cinnamomum genus. It is a medicinal shrub with anti-proliferation effect on tumor cells. This study was conducted to determine the effects of aqueous cinnamon extract on HL-60 cells as a model for APL. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, HL-60 cell line was cultured under the influence of cinnamon extract′s concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 2 mg/ml in with intervals of 24, 48, and 72 h. Growth inhibition and toxic effects of cinnamon extract were evaluated through tetrazolium salt reduction. The effect of this herb on the cell cycle was studied by flow cytometry. The Hoechst stain was used to detect apoptotic cell nuclei. Results: Cinnamon extract inhibited the growth of HL-60 cells as correlated with concentration and time. After 72 h of treating HL-60 cells with 0.01 mg/l cinnamon extract, the growth of cells was inhibited by 90.1%. Cinnamon extract stopped the cell cycle in G1 phase and the Hoechst staining verified the apoptotic process in those cells. Conclusion: Considering the inhibitory property of cinnamon extract, we recommend it as a single drug or besides other medications for treating promyelocytic leukemia

Expression of DNAJB12 or DNAJB14 Causes Coordinate Invasion of the Nucleus by Membranes Associated with a Novel Nuclear Pore Structure

<div><p>DNAJB12 and DNAJB14 are transmembrane proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that serve as co-chaperones for Hsc70/Hsp70 heat shock proteins. We demonstrate that over-expression of DNAJB12 or DNAJB14 causes the formation of elaborate membranous structures within cell nuclei, which we designate DJANGOS for <i>D</i>NA<i>J</i>-<i>a</i>ssociated <i>n</i>uclear <i>g</i>l<i>o</i>bular <i>s</i>tructures. DJANGOS contain DNAJB12, DNAJB14, Hsc70 and markers of the ER lumen and ER and nuclear membranes. Strikingly, they are evenly distributed underneath the nuclear envelope and are of uniform size in any one nucleus. DJANGOS are composed primarily of single-walled membrane tubes and sheets that connect to the nuclear envelope via a unique configuration of membranes, in which the nuclear pore complex appears anchored exclusively to the outer nuclear membrane, allowing both the inner and outer nuclear membranes to flow past the circumference of the nuclear pore complex into the nucleus. DJANGOS break down rapidly during cell division and reform synchronously in the daughter cell nuclei, demonstrating that they are dynamic structures that undergo coordinate formation and dissolution. Genetic studies showed that the chaperone activity of DNAJ/Hsc70 is required for the formation of DJANGOS. Further analysis of these structures will provide insight into nuclear pore formation and function, activities of molecular chaperones, and mechanisms that maintain membrane identity.</p></div

DJANGOS formation requires DNAJ/Hsc70 activity.

<p><b>A.</b> RIPA buffer extracts were prepared from unmodified HeLa cells (H) or cells transduced with genes encoding wild-type B12-HA (B12) or the H138Q-HA mutant (12Q). Extracts were immunoprecipitated with anti-B12 and subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or electrophoresed without immunoprecipitation (lane 1). Top and bottom panels show anti-HA and Hsc70 immunoblots, respectively. <b>B.</b> HeLa cells were infected with retroviruses expressing the indicated wild-type or mutant B12-HA (top panels) or B14-HA (bottom panels) gene and stained with anti-HA to detect B12 or B14. Images are individual confocal slices. The left panels show cells expressing wild-type B12 or B14, the middle panels the J-domain mutants and the right panel the carboxy- truncated B12ΔC.</p

Live-cell imaging of DJANGOS.

<p>Static images retrieved from live cell imaging of HeLaM or CV1 cells co-transfected with plasmids expressing B12-mCherry and LBR-eGFP. <b>A.</b> Top panels show two images of a HeLaM cell separated by 15 minutes acquired shortly before mitosis. Bottom panels shows images acquired one hour apart of the daughter cells of the cell shown in the top panels. See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0094322#pone.0094322.s006" target="_blank">Movie S3</a>. <b>B.</b> Left panel shows cytoplasmic billowing of B12 structures in CV1 cells; right panel shows cytoplasmic B12 “balloons on strings” in CV1 cells. See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0094322#pone.0094322.s007" target="_blank">Movies S4</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0094322#pone.0094322.s008" target="_blank">S5</a>.</p