Transcriptome response and spatial pattern of gene expression in the primate subventricular zone neurogenic niche after cerebral ischemia

The main stem cell niche for neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain is the subventricular zone (SVZ) that extends along the cerebral lateral ventricles. We aimed at characterizing the initial molecular responses of the macaque monkey SVZ to transient, global cerebral ischemia. We microdissected tissue lining the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle (SVZa) from 7 day post-ischemic and sham-operated monkeys. Transcriptomics shows that in ischemic SVZa, 541 genes were upregulated and 488 genes were down-regulated. The transcription data encompassing the upregulated genes revealed a profile typical for quiescent stem cells and astrocytes. In the primate brain the SVZ is morphologically subdivided in distinct and separate ependymal and subependymal regions. The subependymal contains predominantly neural stem cells (NSC) and differentiated progenitors. To determine in which SVZa region ischemia had evoked transcriptional upregulation, sections through control and ischemic SVZa were analyzed by high-throughput in situ hybridization for a total of 150 upregulated genes shown in the www.monkey-niche.org image database. The majority of the differentially expressed genes mapped to the subependymal layers on the striatal or callosal aspect of the SVZa. Moreover, a substantial number of upregulated genes was expressed in the ependymal layer, implicating a contribution of the ependyma to stem cell biology. The transcriptome analysis yielded several novel gene markers for primate SVZa including the apelin receptor that is strongly expressed in the primate SVZa niche upon ischemic insult

Blood serum concentrations of total proteins and main protein fractions in weaning rabbits experimentally infected with E. coli

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the changes in the concentrations of major blood proteins associated with experimental E. coli infection in weaning rabbits. For that, in the assay group. 12 weaning White New Zealand rabbits (45 days old) were orally infected with a bacterial suspension of enteropathogenic E. coli strain type O15:H- (6.107 cfu) whereas the 6 control rabbits received only 0.9% NaCI solution. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin and lysozyme concentrations as well as plasma fibrinogen concentrations were measured before (0h) and I, 3, 7, 11, 18 and 30 days after oral treatment. In parallel, presence of coliforms was investigated in rectal samples on days 0, 1.6. 11, 16, 25 and 30. Infected rabbits began to excrete E. coli strains on day 2 after administration, whereas the first signs of diarrhoea were observed on day 5. Between days 11 and 18 severe diarrhoea was found in all rabbits and then clinical signs gradually disappeared although 3 rabbits continue to excrete the bacteria on day 30. In inoculated rabbits, hypoproteinemia and hypo-albuminemia compared to control values were evidenced since the 7th day whereas the blood concentrations of lysozyme and fibrinogen at a lesser extend were dramatically increased on days 11-18 and on days 3-18 respectively, leading to a significantly lowered albumin/globulin ratio since the 11th day. These results confirm that albumin is a negative acute phase protein (APP) while fibrinogen and lysozyme were 2 positive APP in response to an experimental bacterial infection in rabbits

Variations of acute phase protein (haptoglobin, fibrinogen and ceruloplasmin) concentrations in weaning rabbits after experimental infection with E.coli

Infections with E. coli are a common cause of diarrhoea in weaning rabbits. The present study was conducted to evaluate the changes in the blood concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp), ceruloplasmin (Cp) and fibrinogen (Fb) during experimentally induced E. coli infection in weaning rabbits. A total of 18 rabbits, 40-45 days old and weaned at 4 weeks were used: 12 were inoculated with the E. coli strain type 015:H- suspension (6. 107 cfu) and the 6 remained rabbits served as controls. Blood samples for acute phase proteins (APPs) analysis were collected before (0 h) and at 24 th and 72th hours and on days 7, 11, 18 and 30 after inoculation. The presence of coliforms was investigated in rectal samples on days 1, 6, 11, 16, 25 and 31. The excretion of the 015:H- type began 2 days after experimental challenge in 3 rabbits and was intensified on day 3 whereas mild to severe diarrhoea episodes were observed between the 5 th day to the 21st day in all rabbits except 2. In parallel, bacterial excretion gradually declined. Moreover, Hp concentrations dramatically increased after E. coli inoculation since 24th hours, reached maximal values on day 7 (multiplied by a factor 9) and remained significantly elevated compared to basal values until the 30th day. By contrast, significant changes in Fb and Cp concentrations compared to initial values appeared later (on days 3 and 7 respectively), less intense (maximal concentrations observed on day 11 were only roughly doubled) and were more transient (normal values were obtained on days 30 and 18 respectively). Increases of all APP concentrations were associated with the intensity of the diarrhoea. Moderate positive correlations were evidenced between Hp and Cp or Fb concentrations while Cp and Fb concentrations were strongly correlated. The time course and the magnitude of changes of these APPs induce to consider Cp and Fb as slow reacting positive APPs while Hp has to be classified as a rapid major positive APP useful for early detection of bacterial infections in weaning rabbits, before the clinical appearance of diarrhoea and faecal excretion of E. coli

Histoplasmosis in Europe : report on an epidemiological survey from the European Confederation of Medical Mycology Working Group

The purpose of this survey was to systematically collect data on individuals with histoplasmosis in Europe over a 5-year period (from January 1995 to December 1999). This included information on where and how the infection was acquired, the patient's risk factors, the causative organism, how the infection was diagnosed and what therapy the patients received. Data were sent on a standardized survey form via a national convenor to the coordinator. During the survey, 118 cases were reported, with 62 patients having disseminated disease, 31 acute pulmonary infection, chronic pulmonary infection in 6 and localized disease in 2 patients. For 17 patients, the diagnosis of histoplasmosis was incidental, usually secondary to investigations for lung cancer. Most patients had travelled to known endemic areas, but 8 patients (from Italy, Germany and Turkey) indicated that they had not been outside their countries of origin and hence these cases appear to be autochthonous. Notable observations during the survey were the reactivation of the disease up to 50 years after the initial infection in some patients and transmission of the infection by a transplanted liver. Itraconazole was the most commonly used therapy in both pulmonary and disseminated disease. The observation of autochthonous cases of disease suggests that the endemic area of histoplasmosis is wider than classically reported and supports continued surveillance of the disease throughout Europe