Identification of the HSP70-II gene in Leishmania braziliensis HSP70 locus: genomic organization and UTRs characterization

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The heat stress suffered by <it>Leishmania sp </it>during its digenetic life-cycle is a key trigger for its stage differentiation. In <it>Leishmania </it>subgenera two classes of <it>HSP70 </it>genes differing in their 3' UTR were described. Although the presence of <it>HSP70</it>-<it>I </it>genes was previously suggested in <it>Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis</it>, <it>HSP70</it>-<it>II </it>genes had been reluctant to be uncovered.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we report the existence of two types of <it>HSP70 </it>genes in <it>L. braziliensis </it>and the genomic organization of the <it>HSP70 </it>locus. RT-PCR experiments were used to map the untranslated regions (UTR) of both types of genes. The 3' UTR-II has a low sequence identity (55-57%) when compared with this region in other <it>Leishmania </it>species. In contrast, the 5' UTR, common to both types of genes, and the 3' UTR-I were found to be highly conserved among all <it>Leishmania </it>species (77-81%). Southern blot assays suggested that <it>L. braziliensis </it><it>HSP70 </it>gene cluster may contain around 6 tandemly-repeated <it>HSP70</it>-<it>I </it>genes followed by one <it>HSP70</it>-<it>II </it>gene, located at chromosome 28. Northern blot analysis indicated that levels of both types of mRNAs are not affected by heat shock.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study has led to establishing the composition and structure of the HSP70 locus of <it>L. braziliensis</it>, complementing the information available in the GeneDB genome database for this species. <it>L. braziliensis </it><it>HSP70 </it>gene regulation does not seem to operate by mRNA stabilization as occurs in other <it>Leishmania </it>species.</p

Morpholigical study of honey bees on the Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera)

A morphological study was made of worker bees from 49 hives located at four island from the Canary archipelago. The study analysed 18 morphological characters and we have found that the bees from Gran Canaria and Tenerife belong to the same groupe, the animals from Gomera constitute a group near the afore mentioned, and the bees from La Palma form an independent group. Also, we have compared the data with data to come from hives placed in the south of the Iberian peninsula and in the north of Africa. We have found that the bees from Africa form an independent group, and the bees from the Iberian peninsula are included in the La Palma group.Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio morfológico de las abejas obreras procedentes de 49 colmenas situadas en cuatro islas del Archipiélago Canario. Se han analizado 18 características morfológicas, encontrando que las abejas procedentes de Gran Canaria y Tenerife pertenecen al mismo grupo; los animales de Gomera constituyen un grupo cercano al anterior y las abejas de La Palma forman un grupo independiente. También hemos comparado los datos obtenidos, con los procedentes de colmenas situadas en el sur de la península Ibérica y en el norte de África. Encontramos que las abejas del norte de África constituyen un grupo independiente y que los animales del sur de la península se incluyen en el grupo de las abejas de La Palma

A first principles study of thiol-capped Au nanoparticles: Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties as a function of thiol coverage

We have studied the stability of thiolated Au38 nanoparticles (NPs) via density functional theory based calculations varying the coverage from 0 up to 32 molecules. Three different initial core arrangements were considered for the cluster, spherical, tubular, and bi-icosahedral, while thiol groups were attached to the cluster via the sulfur atom either as single molecules or forming more complex staple motifs. After molecular dynamics runs several metastable configurations are found at each coverage thus allowing to analyze the properties of the NPs in the form of ensemble averages. In particular, we address the structural and electronic properties as a function of the number of thiols. The study emphasizes the strong influence of the core structure on the stability of the NPs, and its interplay with the thiol coverage and adsorption geometries. The magnetic properties of the NPs have also been explored via spin-polarized calculations including spin-orbit coupling. No evidence for the existence of a robust intrinsic ferromagnetism is found in any of the structures. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Innovation and Science under Project No. MAT2010-18432.Peer Reviewe

Anticitrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) in the serum of heavy smokers without arthritis - a differential role of associated pulmonary disease?

2 páginas, 1 tabla.-- Póster presentado al 5º European Workshop on Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases celebrado en Sitges (Barcelona) del 1 al 3 de Diciembre de 2010.An increased risk of RA has been described in smokers, but only in ACPA-positive RA patients. The frequency of ACPA in serum of heavy smokers is not known.Peer reviewe

Manual da ferramenta Planejo: planejamento da colheita e controle da produção florestal.

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Complications and outcome of cats with congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts treated with thin film: Thirty-four cases (2008-2017)

Background: Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (CEHPSS) are rare in cats. Outcome after attenuation of CEHPSS with thin film has been described in a small number of cases. Objectives: To describe the clinical presentation, postoperative complications, and outcome of cats treated with thin film to attenuate CEHPSS. Animals: Thirty‐four cats with CEHPSS were identified from the database of 3 institutions over 9 years. Methods: Retrospective study. Medical records were reviewed to identify cats with a diagnosis of a CEHPSS that underwent surgical attenuation. Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts were suspected from clinical signs, clinicopathologic findings, and diagnostic imaging, and confirmed at exploratory laparotomy. Cats treated with thin film band attenuation were included. Postoperative complications and follow‐up were recorded. Results: Complications were recorded in 11 of 34 cats. Deaths related to CEHPSS occurred in 6 of 34; 4 cats did not survive to discharge. Persistent seizures were the cause of death in 4 cats. Seizures were recorded in 8 of 34 cats after surgery; all these cats received preoperative antiepileptic drugs. Serum bile acid concentrations normalized in 25 of 28 of the cats for which data was available. Three cats had persistently increased serum bile acid concentrations and underwent a second exploratory laparotomy. One had a patent shunt, the other 2 had multiple acquired portosystemic shunts. Median follow‐up was 8 months (0.5‐84 months). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts attenuation using thin film in cats carries a good short‐ and mid‐term prognosis if they survive the postoperative period. Seizures were the most common cause of death