Acoustic and structural differences between musically portrayed subtypes of fear

Fear is a frequently studied emotion category in music and emotion research. However, research in music theory suggests that music can convey finer-grained subtypes of fear, such as terror and anxiety. Previous research on musically expressed emotions has neglected to investigate subtypes of fearful emotions. This study seeks to fill this gap in the literature. To that end, 99 participants rated the emotional impression of short excerpts of horror film music predicted to convey terror and anxiety, respectively. Then, the excerpts that most effectively conveyed these target emotions were analyzed descriptively and acoustically to demonstrate the sonic differences between musically conveyed terror and anxiety. The results support the hypothesis that music conveys terror and anxiety with markedly different musical structures and acoustic features. Terrifying music has a brighter, rougher, harsher timbre, is musically denser, and may be faster and louder than anxious music. Anxious music has a greater degree of loudness variability. Both types of fearful music tend towards minor modalities and are rhythmically unpredictable. These findings further support the application of emotional granularity in music and emotion research.

Rationale and design of the CRAFT (Continuous ReAssessment with Flexible ExTension in Rare Malignancies) multicenter phase II trial

BACKGROUND

Approvals of cancer therapeutics are primarily disease entity specific. Current molecular diagnostic approaches frequently identify actionable alterations in rare cancers or rare subtypes of common cancers for which the corresponding treatments are not approved and unavailable within clinical trials due to entity-related eligibility criteria. Access may be negotiated with health insurances. However, approval rates vary, and critical information required for a scientific evaluation of treatment-associated risks and benefits is not systematically collected. Thus clinical trials with optimized patient selection and comprehensive molecular characterization are essential for translating experimental treatments into standard care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Continuous ReAssessment with Flexible ExTension in Rare Malignancies (CRAFT) is an open-label phase II trial for adults with pretreated, locally advanced, or metastatic solid tumors. Based on the evaluation by a molecular tumor board, patients are assigned to combinations of six molecularly targeted agents and a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antagonist within seven study arms focusing on (i) BRAF V600 mutations; (ii) ERBB2 amplification and/or overexpression, activating ERBB2 mutations; (iii) ALK rearrangements, activating ALK mutations; (iv and v) activating PIK3CA and AKT mutations, other aberrations predicting increased PI3K-AKT pathway activity; (vi) aberrations predicting increased RAF-MEK-ERK pathway activity; (vii) high tumor mutational burden and other alterations predicting sensitivity to PD-L1 inhibition. The primary endpoint is the disease control rate (DCR) at week 16; secondary and exploratory endpoints include the progression-free survival ratio, overall survival, and patient-reported outcomes. Using Simon's optimal two-stage design, 14 patients are accrued for each study arm. If three or fewer patients achieve disease control, the study arm is stopped. Otherwise, 11 additional patients are accrued. If the DCR exceeds 7 of 25 patients, the null hypothesis is rejected for the respective study arm.

CONCLUSIONS

CRAFT was activated in October 2021 and will recruit at 10 centers in Germany.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS

EudraCT: 2019-003192-18; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04551521.

Optic Nerve Degeneration after Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion in a Rodent Model

Retinal ischemia is a common pathomechanism in many ocular disorders such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or retinal vascular occlusion. Several studies demonstrated that ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) leads to morphological and functional changes of different retinal cell types. However, little is known about the ischemic effects on the optic nerve. The goal of this study was to evaluate these effects. Ischemia was induced by raising the intraocular pressure (IOP) in one eye of rats to 140 mmHg for 1 h followed by natural reperfusion. After 21 days, histological as well as quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses of optic nerves were performed. Ischemic optic nerves showed an infiltration of cells and also degeneration with signs of demyelination. Furthermore, a migration and an activation of microglia could be observed histologically as well as on mRNA level. In regard to macroglia, a trend toward gliosis could be noted after ischemia induction by vimentin staining. Additionally, an up-regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA was found in ischemic optic nerves. Counting of oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 positive (Olig2⁺) cells revealed a decrease of oligodendrocytes in the ischemic group. Also, myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) mRNA expression was down-regulated after induction of I/R. On immunohistological level, a decrease of MOG was detectable in ischemic optic nerves as well. In addition, SMI-32 stained neurofilaments of longitudinal optic nerve sections showed a strong structural damage of the ischemic optic nerves in comparison to controls. Consequently, retinal ischemia impacts optic nerve degeneration. These findings could help to better understand the course of destruction in the optic nerve after an ischemic insult. Especially for therapeutic studies, the optic nerve is important because of its susceptibility to be damaged as a result to retinal ischemic injury and also its connecting function between the eye and the brain. So, future drug screenings should target not only the retina, but also the functionality and structure of the optic nerve. In the future, these results could lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for treatment of ischemic injury.

Protective effects on the retina after ranibizumab treatment in an ischemia model

Retinal ischemia is common in eye disorders, like diabetic retinopathy or retinal vascular occlusion. The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential protective effects of an intravitreally injected vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor (ranibizumab) on retinal cells in an ischemia animal model via immunohistochemistry (IF) and quantitative real-time PCR (PCR). A positive binding of ranibizumab to rat VEGF-A was confirmed via dot blot. One eye underwent ischemia and a subgroup received ranibizumab. A significant VEGF increase was detected in aqueous humor of ischemic eyes (p = 0.032), whereas VEGF levels were low in ranibizumab eyes (p = 0.99). Ischemic retinas showed a significantly lower retinal ganglion cell number (RGC; IF Brn-3a: p<0.001, IF RBPMS: p<0.001; PCR: p = 0.002). The ranibizumab group displayed fewer RGCs (IF Brn-3a: 0.3, IF RBPMS: p<0.001; PCR: p = 0.007), but more than the ischemia group (IF Brn-3a: p = 0.04, IF RBPMS: p = 0.03). Photoreceptor area was decreased after ischemia (IF: p = 0.049; PCR: p = 0.511), while the ranibizumab group (IF: p = 0.947; PCR: p = 0.122) was comparable to controls. In the ischemia (p<0.001) and ranibizumab group (p<0.001) a decrease of ChAT⁺ amacrine cells was found, which was less prominent in the ranibizumab group. VEGF-receptor 2 (VEGF-R2; IF: p<0.001; PCR: p = 0.021) and macroglia (GFAP; IF: p<0.001; PCR: p<0.001) activation was present in ischemic retinas. The activation was weaker in ranibizumab retinas (VEGF-R2: IF: p = 0.1; PCR: p = 0.03; GFAP: IF: p = 0.1; PCR: p = 0.015). An increase in the number of total (IF: p = 0.003; PCR: p = 0.023) and activated microglia (IF: p<0.001; PCR: p = 0.009) was detected after ischemia. These levels were higher in the ranibizumab group (Iba1: IF: p<0.001; PCR: p = 0.018; CD68: IF: p<0.001; PCR: p = 0.004). Our findings demonstrate that photoreceptors and RGCs are protected by ranibizumab treatment. Only amacrine cells cannot be rescued. They seem to be particularly sensitive to ischemic damage and need maybe an earlier intervention.

Curcumin and Viscum album Extract Decrease Proliferation and Cell Viability of Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Cells: An In Vitro Analysis of Eight Cell Lines Using Real-Time Monitoring and Colorimetric Assays

BACKGROUND

The cytostatic effects of the polyphenol curcumin and Viscum album extract (VAE) were assessed in soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) cells.

METHODS

Eight human STS cell lines were used: fibrosarcoma (HT1080), liposarcoma (SW872, T778, MLS-402), synovial sarcoma (SW982, SYO1, 1273), and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (U2197). Primary human fibroblasts served as control cells. Cell proliferation, viability, and cell index (CI) were analyzed by BrdU assay, MTT assay, and real-time cell analysis (RTCA).

RESULTS

As indicated by BrdU and MTT, curcumin significantly decreased the cell proliferation of five cell lines (HT1080, SW872, SYO1, 1273, and U2197) and the viability of two cell lines (SW872 and SW982). VAE led to significant decreases of proliferation in eight cell lines (HT1080, SW872, T778, MLS-402, SW982, SYO1, 1293, and U2197) and reduced viability in seven STS lines (HT1080, SW872, T778, MLS-402, SW982, SYO1, and 1273). As indicated by RTCA for 160 h, curcumin decreased the CI of all synovial sarcoma cell lines as well as T778 and HT1080. VAE diminished the CI in most of the synovial sarcoma (SW982, SYO1) and liposarcoma (SW872, T778) cell lines as well as HT1080. Primary fibroblasts were not affected adversely by the two compounds in RTCA.

CONCLUSION

Curcumin and VAE can inhibit the proliferation and viability of STS cells.

Assessment of UV spectrophotometry for determination of plasmid DNA concentration in vector preparations for human gene therapy products

The European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) general chapter 5.14. Gene transfer medicinal products for human use suggests the use of absorbance measurements at 260 nm to determine the DNA concentration of plasmid vectors used for the preparation of gene therapy products for human use. An international collaborative study was organised by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) to confirm the suitability of UV spectrophotometry for the quantification of plasmid vectors used in gene therapy (GT). Three Official Medicine Control Laboratories (OMCLs of the European OMCL Network) and members of the OMCL Working Group for GT products took part in the study, in which various types of spectrophotometers were assessed using common test samples. Results of the study demonstrated that UV spectrophotometry can be considered suitable for the quantification of plasmid DNA in GT products regardless of the instrument used.

Loss of inner retinal neurons after retinal ischemia in rats

PURPOSE

Ischemia is a risk factor for eye diseases like ocular vein occlusion or glaucoma. To investigate effects of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) a lot of different animal models are used, studying one or two different cell types, which creates heterogeneity of data. The aim of this study was to investigate the function and morphology of the whole retina and different retinal cell types in an I/R model.

METHODS

I/R was induced by elevating the intraocular pressure in the right eyes of rats. Twenty-one days after ischemia, electroretinogram measurements were performed. Changes in layer thickness were investigated. Changes of RGC, amacrine-, rod bipolar-, and glia cells as well as presence of apoptosis were analyzed immunohistologically.

RESULTS

A-wave- and b-wave amplitudes were decreased; histology showed a reduction of RGC- and inner plexiform layer thickness and a 29% loss of RGCs occurred in ischemic eyes (P = 0.016). An increase of apoptotic cells was detected in the GCL and INL of ischemic retinas (P < 0.05). Also, a loss of cholinergic amacrine cells (control: 11 ± 1 cells/mm, I/R: 4 ± 1 cells/mm, P < 0.001), but no change in rod bipolar cell numbers was noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study allowed a comparison of the effects of I/R for different retinal cell types. Cells in the outer retina seemed to be more resistant to ischemic damage compared with cells of the inner retina. We hypothesize that a degenerative process, like a secondary wave of apoptosis, occurs 21 days after I/R, causing progressive damage in the retina.

Protein aggregation and prionopathies

Prion protein and prion-like proteins share a number of characteristics. From the molecular point of view, they are constitutive proteins that aggregate following conformational changes into insoluble particles. These particles escape the cellular clearance machinery and amplify by recruiting the soluble for of their constituting proteins. The resulting protein aggregates are responsible for a number of neurodegenerative diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob, Alzheimer, Parkinson and Huntington diseases. In addition, there are increasing evidences supporting the inter-cellular trafficking of these aggregates, meaning that they are "transmissible" between cells. There are also evidences that brain homogenates from individuals developing Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases propagate the disease in recipient model animals in a manner similar to brain extracts of patients developing Creutzfeldt-Jacob's disease. Thus, the propagation of protein aggregates from cell to cell may be a generic phenomenon that contributes to the evolution of neurodegenerative diseases, which has important consequences on human health issues. Moreover, although the distribution of protein aggregates is characteristic for each disease, new evidences indicate the possibility of overlaps and crosstalk between the different disorders. Despite the increasing evidences that support prion or prion-like propagation of protein aggregates, there are many unanswered questions regarding the mechanisms of toxicity and this is a field of intensive research nowadays.

SS18-SSX fusion protein-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a therapeutic target in synovial sarcoma

Synovial sarcoma is a high-grade soft tissue malignancy characterized by a specific reciprocal translocation t(X;18), which leads to the fusion of the SS18 (SYT) gene to one of three SSX genes (SSX1, SSX2 or SSX4). The resulting chimeric SS18-SSX protein is suggested to act as an oncogenic transcriptional regulator. Despite multimodal therapeutic approaches, metastatic disease is often lethal and the development of novel targeted therapeutic strategies is required. Several expression-profiling studies identified distinct gene expression signatures, implying a consistent role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in synovial sarcoma tumorigenesis. Here we investigate the functional and therapeutic relevance of Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation in vitro and in vivo. Immunohistochemical analyses of nuclear β-catenin and Wnt downstream targets revealed activation of canonical Wnt signaling in a significant subset of 30 primary synovial sarcoma specimens. Functional aspects of Wnt signaling including dependence of Tcf/β-catenin complex activity on the SS18-SSX fusion proteins were analyzed. Efficient SS18-SSX-dependent activation of the Tcf/β-catenin transcriptional complex was confirmed by TOPflash reporter luciferase assays and immunoblotting. In five human synovial sarcoma cell lines, inhibition of the Tcf/β-catenin protein-protein interaction significantly blocked the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade, accompanied by the effective downregulation of Wnt targets (AXIN2, CDC25A, c-MYC, DKK1, CyclinD1 and Survivin) and the specific suppression of cell viability associated with the induction of apoptosis. In SYO-1 synovial sarcoma xenografts, administration of small molecule Tcf/β-catenin complex inhibitors significantly reduced tumor growth, associated with diminished AXIN2 protein levels. In summary, SS18-SSX-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling appears to be of crucial biological importance in synovial sarcoma tumorigenesis and progression, representing a potential molecular target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Regulatory requirements for clinical trial and marketing authorisation application for gene therapy medicinal products

Over the last two decades, clinical trials using gene therapy medicinal products (GTMPs) have been carried out for a large number of rare, inherited monogeneic disorders as well as common multigeneic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and infectious diseases including AIDS. Despite some early difficulties and setbacks, the gene therapy field has slowly progressed and, nowadays, offers the promise of novel treatments for a growing number of diseases. On the other hand, gene therapy approaches are often associated with additional risks due to limited clinical experience with a given gene transfer system, long-lasting effects of the therapeutic gene, and/or a complex mode of action. As a result, specific regulations and guidelines have been introduced within the EU to help address these uncertainties. This article summarises the legislative framework and will provide an overview on the regulatory requirements for clinical trials and marketing authorisation applications.

Respiratory Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumours 1 (DMBT1) levels increase during lung maturation and infection

Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumours 1 (DMBT1) is a secreted scavenger receptor cysteine-rich protein that binds and aggregates various bacteria and viruses in vitro. Studies in adults have shown that DMBT1 is expressed mainly by mucosal epithelia and glands, in particular within the respiratory tract, and plays a role in innate immune defence. We hypothesized that respiratory DMBT1 levels may be influenced by various developmental and clinical factors such as maturity, age and bacterial infection. DMBT1 levels were studied in 205 tracheal aspirate samples of 82 ventilated preterm and full-term infants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Possible effects of various clinical parameters were tested by multiple regression analysis. DMBT1 levels increased significantly with lung maturity (P < 0.0001 for both gestational and postnatal age) and in small-for-gestational-age infants (P = 0.0179). An increase of respiratory DMBT1 levels was detected in neonatal infections (P < 0.0001). These results were supported by Western blotting. Immunohistochemical analyses of archived newborn lung sections (n = 17) demonstrated high concentrations of DMBT1 in lungs of neonates with bacterial infections. Our data show that preterm infants are able to up-regulate DMBT1 in infection as an unspecific immune reaction.

Simian immunodeficiency virus vector pseudotypes differ in transduction efficiency and target cell specificity in brain

Lentiviral vectors have proven to be promising tools for transduction of brain cells in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we have examined the central nervous system (CNS) transduction efficiencies and patterns of a self-inactivating simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac)-derived lentiviral vector pseudotyped with glycoproteins from the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G), the amphotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV4070Aenv), the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV-GP), the Ross River virus (RRV-GP) and the rabies virus (RV-G). All glycoproteins were efficiently incorporated into SIV virions, allowing efficient transduction of neuronal cell lines as well as of primary dissociated mouse brain cell cultures. After injection of highly concentrated vector stocks into the striatum of adult mice, quantitative analyses revealed high transduction efficiency with VSV-G pseudotypes, while LCMV-GP and RV-G pseudotypes exhibited moderate transduction efficiencies. MLV4070Aenv and RRV-GP pseudotypes, however, showed only weak levels of transduction after stereotactic injection into the brain. Regarding cell tropism in vivo, VSV-G-pseudotyped SIV vectors transduced neuronal as well as glial cells, whereas all other pseudotypes preferentially transduced neuroglial cells. In addition, we analyzed the influence of the central polypurine tract (cPPT) in context of the VSV-G-pseudotyped SIV transfer vector for infection of brain cells. Deletion of the cPPT sequence from the transfer vector decreased the in vivo transduction efficiency by fourfold, and, more importantly, this modification changed the transduction pattern, since these vectors were no longer able to infect neuronal cells in vivo. Vector injection into the brain did elicit a humoral immune response in the injected hemisphere; however, no gross signs of inflammation could be detected. Analysis of the biodistribution of the vector revealed that, besides the injected brain region, no vector-specific sequences could be detected in any of the organs evaluated. These data indicate SIV vectors as efficient gene delivery vehicles for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Task-specific association of photoreceptor systems and steering parameters in Drosophila

Visual motion processing enables moving fruit flies to stabilize their course and altitude and to approach selected objects. Earlier attempts to identify task-specific pathways between two photoreceptor systems (peripheral retinula cells 1-6, and central retinula cells 7 + 8) and three steering parameters (wingstroke asymmetry, abdomen deflection, hindleg deflection) attributed course control and object fixation to peripheral retinula cells 1-6-mediated simultaneous reactions of these parameters. The present investigation includes first results from fixed flying or freely walking ninaE17 mutants which cannot synthesize the peripheral retinula cells 1-6 photoreceptor-specific opsin. Retention of about 12% of the normal course control and about 58% of the object fixation in these flies suggests partial input sharing for both responses and, possibly, a specialization for large-field (peripheral retinula cells 1-6) and small-field (central retinula cells 7 + 8) motion. Such signals must be combined to perceive relative motion between an object and its background. The combining links found in larger species might explain a previously neglected interdependence of course control and object fixation in Drosophila. -Output decomposition revealed an unexpected orchestration of steering. Wingstroke asymmetry and abdomen deflection do not contribute in fixed proportions to the yaw torque of the flight system. Different steering modes seem to be selected according to their actual efficiency under closed-loop conditions and to the degree of intended turning. An easy experimental access to abdominal steering is introduced.

Microencapsulated cell-mediated treatment of inoperable pancreatic carcinoma

Pancreatic cancer can seldom be resected, and chemotherapy has only a limited effect on survival or tumour load. We did a phase I/II trial in 14 patients with pancreatic cancer to assess the safety of local activation of low-dose ifosfamide. We encapsulated genetically modified allogeneic cells, which expressed a cytochrome P450 enzyme, in cellulose sulphate and delivered them by supraselective angiography to the tumour vasculature. These cells locally activated systemically administered ifosfamide. The tumours of four patients regressed after treatment, and those of the other ten individuals who completed the study remained stable. Median survival was doubled in the treatment group by comparison with historic controls, and 1-year survival rate was three times better. Further studies of this cell-therapy-based treatment combined with chemotherapy for inoperable pancreatic cancer are warranted.

Necrotic, rather than apoptotic, cell death caused by cytochrome P450-activated ifosfamide

Feline kidney cells were transfected with a vector overexpressing cytochrome P450 2B1 (CYP2B1). Transfected cells acquired a new specific biochemical activity, which could be demonstrated by a rapid CYP2B1 detection assay and showed selective sensitivity to the antitumorigenic prodrug ifosfamide (IFO). Further, the cell-killing effect was also mediated on nonmodified cells like feline kidney cells, mouse lymphoma, and human pancreatic cells in the vicinity of the CYP2B1-expressing cells due to the diffusible nature of the activated IFO metabolites. One of these, phosphoramide mustard, causes interstrand DNA cross-linking and it has been thought that the inability to repair this damage results in apoptosis. Surprisingly, our results clearly demonstrate a necrotic mechanism of IFO-induced cell death. This may have important implications for the activation of the immune system during CYP2B1/IFO suicide gene therapy of cancer.

Rapid and sensitive detection of enhanced green fluorescent protein expression in paraffin sections by confocal laser scanning microscopy

Various forms of green fluorescent protein (GFP) have become important reporters of gene transfer and expression after transfection or infection of cells in cell culture. Frequently, molecular biological assays (Northern blots, PCR) are applied to detect reporter gene expression in target organs. However, these methods are not suitable for evaluation of tissue- or cell-specific expression which would be of great interest especially in case of using tissue-specific promoters. Therefore, organs of transgenic mice with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene under control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter were processed for histology by formaldehyde fixation and embedding in paraffin. Sections were deparaffinized, mounted and evaluated for fluorescence in a confocal laser scanning microscope. This method combines the advantages of direct exploitation of tissue sections without further staining procedures with evaluable tissue-, cell-, and even subcellular-specific distribution patterns of EGFP expression in tissues. Results obtained by direct evaluation of EGFP fluorescence in paraffin sections were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-EGFP. In the present report, we demonstrate that application of confocal microscopy on routinely processed histological preparations is very suitable for determining gene transfer efficiency and promotor activities.

Characterization of a human cell clone expressing cytochrome P450 for safe use in human somatic cell therapy

We have previously demonstrated the therapeutic effect and efficacy of implantation of cells genetically modified to express cytochrome P450 2B1 in a nude mouse tumor model. The cells are encapsulated in polymerized cellulose sulphate and injected into preformed tumors. Upon administration of ifosfamide, the P450 enzyme converts the ifosfamide into antitumorigenic toxic metabolites at the site required, thereby significantly reducing tumor burden. Feline kidney epithelial cells were chosen for these studies, because they are easy to culture and can readily be transfected. However, these cells are not suitable for eventual use in human patients, since they are known to express endogenous retroviruses that are able to infect mammalian cells. They thus represent a safety risk. Here we describe the establishment of a human cell line that has been genetically modified to express the same cytochrome P450 construct and their characterization. The usefulness of mitomycin C treatment, both to protect the cells from the toxic metabolites that they produce and to incapacitate these cells from replicating, should they escape from the capsules, has also been investigated.

Species-specific alternative splicing of transgenic RNA in the mammary glands of pigs, rabbits, and mice

Gene-farming techniques provide an effective tool for the production of recombinant proteins in livestock. Transgenes consisting of genomic DNA sequences are as a rule more efficiently expressed than those in which the product of interest is encoded by a cDNA. However, the processing of pre-mRNA from genomic constructs may yield unexpected messenger RNAs and subsequently protein variants. We describe the appearance of different alternative mRNA splice patterns of a gene construct in which a mutant human growth hormone (hGH-N) gene is transcriptionally controlled by 2.5 kb of mouse whey acidic protein (WAP2) regulatory sequences in the mammary gland of different livestock species. Compared to the transcription products in transgenic mice harboring the same gene construct and to cell transfection experiments, expression analysis in transgenic pigs and rabbits revealed different mRNA splice patterns with regard to the proportion of the processed transcripts. Apart from already-known physiological mRNA splice products, previously undescribed processed hGH transcripts were observed in these species. Sequence analysis of the transgenes suggests that the species-specific hGH mRNA patterns may be caused by species- and tissue-specific differences in trans-acting splice factors.

Cytopathic effects of Blastocystis hominis on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and adeno carcinoma HT29 cell cultures

Blastocystis hominis isolates from asymptomatic carriers and symptomatic patients were cultured in vitro, purified from the co-cultivated bacterial flora and tested for cytopathic effects on monolayers of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and Adeno Carcinoma HT29 cells. In the case of the CHO cells, living B. hominis cells and B. hominis cell lysates were able to cause significant cytopathic effects, which were dependent on the concentration of cells employed. Destruction of the cell monolayers was observed to the same extent with patient isolates derived from healthy or symptomatic B. hominis carriers. HT29 cells were less susceptible: B. hominis cells and cell lysates caused only minor effects which were not statistically significant. Culture filtrates of B. hominis exhibited cytopathic potential on CHO and HT29 cells; however, the control which consisted of filtrates from Robinson's cultures in which B. hominis failed to grow showed similar effects, too. Therefore the culture supernatants could not be proven to produce a specific cytopathic effect on CHO and HT29 cells.

The hepatitis B virus MHBst167 protein is a pleiotropic transactivator mediating its effect via ubiquitous cellular transcription factors

C-terminally truncated surface proteins of hepatitis B virus (HBV) are frequently translated from genomically integrated viral sequences. They may be relevant for hepatocarcinogenesis by stimulating gene expression. First, we examined the transactivating potential of middle hepatitis B surface protein truncated at amino acid (aa) position 167 (MHBst167) on the HBV regulatory element. In transient cotransfection assays using Chang liver or HepG2 cell lines and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter constructs only the HBV enhancer I, but no other HBV regulatory elements like the X promoter, the S1 or S2 promoter or the enhancer II/core promoter could be stimulated by MHBst167. Since there is no evidence for a direct interaction of MHBst167 with DNA, we subsequently analysed whether cellular transcription factors were involved in mediating transactivation. This was tested both with isolated transcription-factor-binding sites and in the natural context of viral and cellular promoter elements. Deletion analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that Sp1, AP1 and NF-kappa B can mediate transactivation by MHBst167. No involvement of CREB, NF1 or the liver-specific factor C/EBP was found. These data indicate that MHBst167 is a pleiotropic, non-liver-specific transactivator which exerts its effect via ubiquitous cellular transcription factors that are also involved in the regulation of expression of cellular genes relevant for proliferation and inflammation.

[Prophylactic effect of specific egg yolk antibodies in diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli K88 (F4) in weaned piglets]

In this study, the protective effect of specific egg yolk antibodies on diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli K88 (F4) was investigated with 179 weaning piglets in a double-blind field trial. The piglets were divided into three groups. The antibody group received egg powder with specific antibodies to E. coli K88, K99, 987P, and rotavirus, while one control group was fed with egg powder without specific antibodies and a second control group received no egg powder at all. The piglets were fed ad libitum. The egg powder was offered in a 5% feed ration. Compared with the control groups, the piglets of the antibody group showed significant differences (P < 0.05, chi 2-test) in the parameters rate of diarrhea (17.2%) (antibody group) to 60.7% (control egg group) or 56.7% (control group without egg powder), severity of symptoms (5.2-39.3% or 26.7%) and frequency of additional treatments (8.6-55.7% or 51.7%). Because of the additional treatments, no difference could be found in body-weight gain. In control groups, three piglets died, while no pigs died in the antibody group.

Changes in functional abilities of the microbial community during composting of manure

The objective of this study was (a) to detect changes of the functional abilities of the microflora during composting of manure as a result of windrow turning frequency and (b) to detect differences between distinct zones within the windrows. Biolog GN microtiter plates containing 95 different carbon sources were inoculated with diluted suspensions of compost material containing 15,000 microorganisms per well (120 μl). We found a dramatic shift in functional microbial community structure during the 8-week composting process. The shift was more rapid when the compost windrows were turned. The substrate use pattern in the outer, well-aerated zone of the unturned windrow was similar to that of the turned windrows. Microbial biomass and respiration decreased more rapidly in the turned than in the unturned windrows, indicating a different pace of compost maturation. The data suggest that the Biolog assay may be a suitable approach to determine compost maturity.

Transactivating function and expression of the x gene of hepatitis B virus

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The x gene of hepatitis B virus encodes a transactivating factor of 154 amino acids, termed HBx, which stimulates transcription of multiple viral and cellular genes. The transactivating function is probably associated with a tumorigenic potential of HBx, since x gene sequences, encoding functional HBx, have been repeatedly found integrated into the genome of liver carcinoma cells.

METHODS

To identify the transactivating domain of HBx, we constructed x gene plasmids encoding full length HBx or HBx fragments. We determined their transactivating function after cotransfection of cells, along with a plasmid that contains a reporter gene driven by the SV40 early promoter/enhancer region.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrate that a 95-amino acid fragment of HBx, encompassing amino acids 49 to 143, contains all the elements that are required for the transactivating function. Within this fragment a sequence element, encompassing amino acids 107 to 130, which contains a relatively high number of amino acids with charged side chains, appears to be crucial for the stimulation of gene expression. The influence of deletion mutations on x mRNA steady-state levels and HBx stability was examined. In essence, stable RNA and protein were produced if at least codons 1-82 or 70-154 were present in the deletion plasmids.

CONCLUSION

This finding strongly suggests that the deletion of functional domains between codons 49 and 143, but not an instability of RNA and/or protein, was critical for the loss of transactivation.

Convenient single-step, one tube purification of PCR products for direct sequencing

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Kinetic control of Ca(II) signaling: tuning the ion dissociation rates of EF-hand Ca(II) binding sites

EF-hand Ca(II) binding sites share a conserved architecture and are prevalent in Ca(II) signaling pathways. The ion binding kinetics of these sites are carefully tuned to provide the physiologically appropriate activation and inactivation time scales. Here we examine kinetic tuning by the side chain at the ninth position of the EF-loop. A model is proposed in which both the size and charge of the side chain contribute to kinetic tuning. To test this model, the ninth loop position of the EF-hand-like site in the Escherichia coli D-galactose binding protein has been engineered and the Tb(III) dissociation kinetics of the resulting sites have been analyzed. Substitutions at this position are observed to generate up to 10(4)-fold changes in Tb(III) dissociation rates, with little effect on Tb(III) affinity. Furthermore, the observed pattern of rate changes confirm the model's predictions; long side chains at the ninth loop position yield slow dissociation kinetics as predicted for a steric block, whereas acidic side chains yield slow dissociation kinetics as expected for an electrostatic barrier.

Activation of beta-adrenergic receptors inhibits Ca2+ entry-mediated generation of inositol phosphates in the guinea pig myometrium, a cyclic AMP-independent event

In the guinea pig myometrium, carbachol, oxytocin, and fluoroaluminates stimulated the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, which was insensitive to pertussis toxin [Biochem. J. 255:705-713 (1988)]. We now demonstrate that an increased accumulation of inositol phosphates, with an early production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3], could also be obtained with K+ (30 mM) and the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ or addition of the Ca2+ channel antagonists nifedipine and verapamil almost totally abolished stimulations elicited by high K+ and partially attenuated receptor- and fluoroaluminate-mediated increases in inositol phosphates. Isoproterenol similarly attenuated the accumulation of inositol phosphates elicited by carbachol, oxytocin, and fluoroaluminates (maximal inhibition, 35%; EC50, 0.5 nM), with no change in the rate of Ins(1,4,5)P3, inositol bisphosphate, and inositol monophosphate generation. The beta-adrenergic receptor-induced inhibition was prevented by pertussis toxin and could not be reproduced by forskolin, indicating that cAMP was not involved. Experimental findings were, rather, consistent with a predominant role for Ca2+. Thus, inhibition due to isoproterenol was lost in a Ca(2+)-depleted medium and was not additive with that caused by nifedipine. Accumulation of inositol phosphates triggered by high K+ was insensitive to the beta-adrenergic receptor inhibition. The inhibitory effect of isoproterenol, similar to that of nifedipine, was counteracted by ionomycin and also by the Ca2+ channel agonist Bay K 8644. These data indicate that in the myometrium 1) phospholipase C can be activated through a voltage-gated Ca2+ entry-dependent process that contributes at least partially to the stimulations triggered by receptor- and/or guanine nucleotide-binding protein-mediated activation and 2) beta-adrenergic receptor activation is linked via a cAMP-independent, pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway to an inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, resulting in an attenuation of the Ca(2+)-associated generation of inositol phosphates.