Human Cryptic Host Defence Peptide GVF27 Exhibits Anti-Infective Properties against Biofilm Forming Members of the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

Therapeutic solutions to counter Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) bacteria are challenging due to their intrinsically high level of antibiotic resistance. Bcc organisms display a variety of potential virulence factors, have a distinct lipopolysaccharide naturally implicated in antimicrobial resistance. and are able to form biofilms, which may further protect them from both host defence peptides (HDPs) and antibiotics. Here, we report the promising anti-biofilm and immunomodulatory activities of human HDP GVF27 on two of the most clinically relevant Bcc members, Burkholderia multivorans and Burkholderia cenocepacia. The effects of synthetic and labelled GVF27 were tested on B. cenocepacia and B. multivorans biofilms, at three different stages of formation, by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Assays on bacterial cultures and on human monocytes challenged with B. cenocepacia LPS were also performed. GVF27 exerts, at different stages of formation, anti-biofilm effects towards both Bcc strains, a significant propensity to function in combination with ciprofloxacin, a relevant affinity for LPSs isolated from B. cenocepacia as well as a good propensity to mitigate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human cells pre-treated with the same endotoxin. Overall, all these findings contribute to the elucidation of the main features that a good therapeutic agent directed against these extremely leathery biofilm-forming bacteria should possess

Computational analysis of clinical and molecular markers and new theranostic possibilities in primary open-angle glaucoma

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a paramount cause of irreversible visual disability worldwide. We focus on identifying clinical and molecular facts that may help elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease. By using ophthalmological approaches (biomicroscopy, ocular fundus, optical coherence tomography, and perimetry) and experimental tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Western blot/immunoblotting) directed to evaluate the oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and neurodegeneration processes, we gather information to build a network of data to perform a computational bioinformatics analysis. Our results showed strong interaction of the above players and its downstream effectors in POAG pathogenesis. In conclusion, specific risk factors were identified, and molecules involved in multiple pathways were found in relation to anterior and posterior eye segment glaucoma changes, pointing to new theranostic challenges for better managing POAG progression

In silico analysis of candidate genes involved in light sensing and signal transduction pathways in soybean

Several aspects of photoperception and light signal transduction have been elucidated by studies with model plants. However, the information available for economically important crops, such as Fabaceae species, is scarce. In order to incorporate the existing genomic tools into a strategy to advance soybean research, we have investigated publicly available expressed sequence tag ( EST) sequence databases in order to identify Glycine max sequences related to genes involved in light-regulated developmental control in model plants. Approximately 38,000 sequences from open-access databases were investigated, and all bona fide and putative photoreceptor gene families were found in soybean sequence databases. We have identified G. max orthologs for several families of transcriptional regulators and cytoplasmic proteins mediating photoreceptor-induced responses, although some important Arabidopsis phytochrome-signaling components are absent. Moreover, soybean and Arabidopsis gene-family homologs appear to have undergone a distinct expansion process in some cases. We propose a working model of light perception, signal transduction and response-eliciting in G. max, based on the identified key components from Arabidopsis. These results demonstrate the power of comparative genomics between model systems and crop species to elucidate several aspects of plant physiology and metabolism

Cross-Cultural Generalizability of the Theory of Planned Behavior among Young People in a Physical Activity Context

The present study tested the cross-cultural generalizability of the measurement and structural parameters of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) among youth in a physical activity context. Pupils from five cultural groups completed measures of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intentions for physical activity. Five weeks later, participants completed self-report measures of physical activity behavior. Confirmatory factor analyses and multisample structural equation models revealed well-fitting models within each sample with minimal variations in the measurement parameters across cultures. There were a few significant cross-cultural differences in the structural relations among the TPB constructs. Attitudes predicted intentions in all samples (β range = .300 to .550), whereas the effect of the subjective norms on intention was nonsignificant in all but the Hungarian sample (β = .243). Conversely, the effect of PBC on intentions was significant (β range = .302 to .573) in all but the Hungarian sample. Findings support the generalizability of the measures and pattern of effects for the TPB among young people in a physical activity context. © 2007 Human Kinetics, Inc.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Shelf life of rabbit hamburgers ageing in vacuum or modified atmosphere packaging

Consumers demand high quality meat products with natural flavour and taste. The high quality and safety of fresh meat products are important features to be conserved during the storage and distribution. An approach to overcoming the short shelf-life problem of meat products is to use vacuum or modified atmosphere packaging. Rabbit hamburguers were made from loin and thigh meat; chilled hamburgers (0\ub0C\ub11; 5\ub0C\ub11), packed with vacuum (Multivax) or modified atmosphere (30%CO2-70%N2) were analysed at 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after preparation (6 hamburgers/portion/packet/temperature/day). Lipid oxidation (Tbar\u2019s index), raw colour (CIELAB system, Minolta Chroma Meter-CR300) and pH (Testo 205) were determined. Fatty acids were analysed as methyl esters by gas chromatography. Cooking losses were determined by weight difference (grill, 71\ubaC\ub11\ubaC). Raw burgers were also analysed by an analytical panel of 8 trained assessors for overall colour, odour intensity and off-odours. Statistical analysis was performed using the Proc Mixed of SAS (2004) for repeated measurements. Differences between treatments were analysed by Tukey test (p<0.05). Vacuum and MAT packaging had similar effects on burgers quality until 28 days of storage. The longer time and higher temperature of conservation increased relative values of the colourimetric parameters, exudation and intensity of odour. Up to 28 days of storage, both lipid oxidation and the intensity of off-odour perception was very low. After 21 days, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and trombogenic index showed higher values while there was a lower content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In conclusion, vacuum and MAT atmosphere packaging showed similar effects on the qualitative traits analysed which were influenced by the origin of meat, temperature of conservation and storage time