Effect of gluten diet on blood innate immune gene expressions and stool consistency in Spix's Saddleback Tamarin (Leontocebus fuscicollis) raised in captivity

The callitrichids are non-human primates that feed on insects and plant matter in nature, but in captivity, they are fed mostly an artificial diet containing amounts of gluten, in their toxic forms in items such as wheat, barley and rye. The aim of this research was to estimate the blood β-defensin and Toll like receptor 5 (TLR5) gene expressions and to analyze the stool consistency (firm, soft, diarrheic) in Leontocebus fuscicollis raised in captivity. Blood samples of animals under gluten-free and gluten diets were collected and their fecal output quality was periodically monitored and classified during the course of the study. Gene expression was evaluated using real-time PCR. The stool consistencies of individuals fed a gluten diet were most frequently soft or diarrheic, while it was mostly normal in individuals fed a gluten-free diet. β-Defensin expression increased in individuals fed a gluten diet, but decreased after 15 days. Expression normalized between 30 and 45 days on a gluten-free diet. However, expression of the TLR5 gene did not change under a gluten diet. A gluten diet affects stool quality, and brings about an immediate increase in blood β-defensin expression in the beginning but decreases after 15 days.

Association of polymorphisms of the β-defensin 1 gene with nematode and protozoan infection traits in goat

This study's purpose was to identify polymorphisms (SNP) in the goat β-defensin 1 gene and to associate these SNPs with traits related to nematodean and protozoan infections in Anglo-Nubian goats from semiarid region of Brazil. A total of 184 animals were used for DNA extraction, PCR and DNA automatic sequencing. The association analyses included the fixed effects of animal age, bloodline and genotype of the SNP marker in the statistical model. The means of genotypes were compared by the Fisher test (P < 0.05). Twelve polymorphism genotypes were found: two in intron 1, seven in exon 2 and three in 3' untranslated region. The SNPs of exon 2 were responsible for amino acid substitutions in six genetic codes, and the changes in the 25th and 33rd codes affected the protein function. The SNP 1937 was significantly associated with number of protozoan oocysts, whereas SNP 2001 was associated with degree of anaemia (Famacha©). Polymorphism 2046, in turn, showed a significant association with Famacha© degree and number of protozoan oocysts. SNP 2140 associated with maximum EPG of the animal. Results from this study suggest that the β-defensin 1 gene can be used as a molecular marker for selection of goats regarding the susceptibility to endoparasites infections.

Polymorphisms in the melatonin receptor gene promoter and their associations with fertility characteristics in buffalo herd in Eastern Amazon

Buffalo production is spreading globally because of its economic advantage. Then, it has become necessary to improve the reproductive and productive efficiency of these animals, as well as to look for genetic factors that increase this efficiency. The objectives of this study were to characterize the promoter region of the melatonin 1A receptor gene (MTRN1A), to detect possible SNPs and associate them with fertility characteristics, and identify binding sites of transcription factors involved in the regulation of genetic expression in buffaloes in the Amazon. The conventional PCR method was carried out using the two primers designed from the reference sequence deposited in the GenBank AY52466.1. The products of the PCRs were purified, sequenced, and subsequently edited and aligned. Twenty-six SNPs were found, where 73% presented allele frequencies of wild nucleotides above 0.5, and 73% presented deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05) and F_IS varying between 0.06 and 1.00, characterizing high degrees of inbreeding within the population. A block of ACAA deletion (position -1483) was observed in 25% of samples. The associations between these SNPs and reproductive characteristics were observed for calving interval and 5 SNPs: -1289, -1139, -911, -724, and -656 (P < 0.05), and three other SNPs: -1395, -724, and -94 (P < 0.05) were associated significantly with age at first calving, and were not associated with calving concentration. The promoter region was characterized by the different types of binding factors, where only 11 sites are significantly strong enough for transcription factor bindings. The ACAA deletion also exhibited a strong association with transcription factors. As a result, it would be necessary to test the SNPs above with other reproductive characteristics of economic relevance to approve the gene as a strong candidate for the selection of buffaloes in the Amazon.

Polymorphisms in the leptin gene promoter in Brazilian beef herds

Brazil is the world's largest producer of beef cattle; however, the quality of its herds needs to be improved. The use of molecular markers as auxiliary tools in selecting animals for reproduction with high pattern for beef production would significantly improve the quality of the final beef product in Brazil. The leptin gene has been demonstrated to be an excellent candidate gene for bovine breeding. The objective of this study was to sequence and compare the leptin gene promoter of Brazil's important cattle breeds in order to identify polymorphisms in it. Blood samples of the Nellore, Guzerat, Tabapuã, and Senepol breeds were collected for genomic DNA extraction. The genomic DNA was used as a template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a 1575-bp fragment, which in turn was sequenced, aligned, and compared between animals of different breeds. Twenty-three single nucleotide polymorphic sites, including transitions and transversions, were detected at positions -1457, -1452, -1446, -1397, -1392, -1361, -1238, -963,-901, -578, -516, -483, -478, -470, -432, -430, -292, -282, -272, -211, -202, -170, and -147. Additionally, two insertion sites at positions -680 and -416 and two deletion sites at positions -1255 and -1059 were detected. As the promoter region of the leptin gene has been demonstrated to vary among breeds, these variations must be tested for their use as potential molecular markers for artificial selection of animals for enhanced beef production in different systems of bovine production in Brazil.

Corrigendum Polymorphism in the melatonin receptor gene in buffalo populations of the Brazilian Amazon - Genet. Mol. Res. 15 (2): gmr.15027960

The correction is only in the name of the first author and should be: E.M. Barbosa(1), B.B. Souza(2), R.C. Guimarães(2), J.S.N. Azevedo(3), E.C. Gonçalves(4), H.F.L. Ribeiro(2), S.T. Rolim Filho(2), E. Silva Filho(2).

Towards functional repertoire of the earliest proteins

The conserved protein sequence motifs present in all prokaryotic proteomes, "omnipresent motifs," presumably, correspond to the earliest proteins of the Last Universal Cellular Ancestor, from which all the proteomes have descended. Fifteen proteomes, each representing one of the total 15 diverse phyla of 131 Eubacteria and Archea, from which the omnipresent elements have been originally derived, are exhaustively screened. All those proteins which harbor the omnipresent motifs are identified. Six "omnipresent" protein types are revealed which are located in all 15 proteomes: ABC cassettes, FtsH proteases, translation initiation factors, translation elongation factors, isoleucyl-tRNA synthases, and RNA polymerases β'. In addition to the omnipresent motifs, these proteins also contain other highly conserved motifs, standing for additional modules of the proteins. Remarkably, the identified tentative earliest proteins are responsible for only three basic functions: supply of monomers (ABC transporters and proteases), protein synthesis (initiation and elongation factors, aminoacyl-tRNA synthases), and RNA synthesis (polymerases). No enzymes involved in metabolic activities are present in the list of the earliest proteins derived by this approach. Some of the omnipresent sequence motifs are found, indeed, in the metabolic enzymes (e.g. NTP binding motifs), but these enzymes do not make a sequence matching collection of 15 sequences, i.e. they are not omnipresent. Future analysis of less conserved sequence motifs may reveal at what degree of conservation (stage of evolution) the metabolic enzymes could have entered the scene.

Noninvasive classification of liver disease in asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic male alcoholics

The predominant type of liver alteration in asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic chronic male alcoholics (N = 169) admitted to a psychiatric hospital for detoxification was classified by two independent methods: liver palpation and multiple quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), the latter applied to two parameters reported by the patient (duration of alcoholism and daily amount ingested) and to the data obtained from eight biochemical blood determinations (total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, glycemia, potassium, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, globulin, and sodium). All 11 soft and sensitive, and 13 firm and sensitive livers formed fully concordant groups as determined by QDA. Among the 22 soft and not sensitive livers, 95% were concordant by QDA grouping. Concordance rates were low (55%) in the 73 firm and not sensitive livers, and intermediate (76%) in the 50 not palpable livers. Prediction of the liver palpation characteristics by QDA was 95% correct for the firm and not sensitive livers and moderate for the other groups. On a preliminary basis, the variables considered to be most informative by QDA were the two anamnestic data and bilirubin levels, followed by alkaline phosphatase, glycemia and potassium, and then by aspartate aminotransferase and albumin. We conclude that, when biopsies would be too costly or potentially injurious to the patients to varying extents, clinical data could be considered valid to guide patient care, at least in the three groups (soft, not sensitive; soft, sensitive; firm, sensitive livers) in which the two noninvasive procedures were highly concordant in the present study.

Phase II trial of the use of paclitaxel and gemcitabine as a salvage treatment in metastatic breast cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate gemcitabine plus paclitaxel in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Patients with MBC with second or third relapse to anthracycline-containing regimens received a 3-hour infusion of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 on day 1, and gemcitabine 1.0 g/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15, every 28 days. Because of unacceptable thrombocytopenia seen in the first 5 patients, the gemcitabine schedule was changed to days 1 and 8 (G-1,8) for the remainder of the study, every 21 days. Twenty-nine patients (median age, 46 years; range, 32-68 years) received 137 cycles (median: 4 per patient). The regimen was well tolerated. World Health Organization grades III and IV thrombocytopenia were observed in 5 (18.5%) of the first 27 cycles (G-1,8,15), and in 6 (5.4%) of the 110 subsequent cycles (G-1,8)--p = 0.04 for the difference between schedules. Five patients had grade I and two had grade III neuropathy. Eight patients had grade III neutropenia, two had grade IV neutropenia associated with fever (G-1,8,15), and eight had grades I and II myalgia and fatigue. There were 16 (55%) objective responses (95% CI 36-73%); 5 (17%) complete responses, 11 (38%) partial responses (95% CI 3-30% and 19-56%, respectively), and 6 (20.5%) patients with stable disease. Median response duration was 8 months (range, 4-26 months). Median overall survival was 12 months (range, 4-28+ months), and 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 45% and 30%, respectively. This phase II study demonstrated a manageable toxicity profile with the gemcitabine day 1, 8 schedule in combination with paclitaxel and significant and promising activity in heavily pretreated patients with MBC. A confirmatory phase III trial is warranted.

Gemcitabine and paclitaxel as salvage therapy in metastatic breast cancer

In a phase II trial, 29 patients with anthracycline-pretreated or anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer in whom anthracycline-containing first- or second-line chemotherapy failed received combination paclitaxel (Taxol)/gemcitabine (Gemzar). The initial regimen of paclitaxel at 175 mg/m2 on day 1 and gemcitabine at 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle was given to five patients for a total of 27 cycles. The regimen resulted in excessive thrombocytopenia and was subsequently changed to gemcitabine at the same dose on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle, with study treatment being given for a maximum of eight cycles. This regimen was well tolerated. Further evaluation of this regimen in minimally and heavily pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer is warranted.

Liver synthesis function in chronic asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic alcoholics: correlation with other liver tests

Liver function and its correlation with bilirubin and hepatic enzymes were evaluated in 30 male chronic asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic alcoholics admitted into the psychiatric hospital for detoxification and treatment of alcoholism. Hypoalbuminemia, lowered prothrombin activity, hypotransferrinemia and hypofibrinogenemia were detected in 32%, 32%, 28%, and 24% of patients, respectively. Transferrin was elevated in 8%. Greater prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia was found in patients with lowered prothrombin activity, hypofibrinogenemia, or hypotransferrinemia. No correlation was found between serum bilirubin or aminotransferase levels and normal or elevated albumin levels, time or activity of prothrombin, and fibrinogen levels. Serum alkaline phosphatase was elevated in normoalbuminemics and gamma-glutamyltransferase in patients with lowered prothrombin activity. Hypoalbuminemia was associated with hypofibrinogenemia, hypotransferrinemia with elevated aspartate aminotransferase or gamma-glutamyltransferase, and hypertransferrinemia with elevation of alanine aminotransferase. These data indicated the occurrence of hepatic dysfunction due to liver damage caused directly by alcohol or by alcoholism-associated nutritional deficiencies.

Indicators of inflammation and cellular damage in chronic asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic alcoholics: correlation with alteration of bilirubin and hepatic and pancreatic enzymes

Biochemical and hematimetric indicators of inflammation and cell damage were correlated with bilirubin and hepatic and pancreatic enzymes in 30 chronic male alcoholics admitted into psychiatric hospital for detoxification and treatment of alcoholism. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin were altered, respectively, in 90%, 63%, 87%, 23% and 23% of the cases. None of the indicators of inflammation (lactic dehydrogenase, altered in 16% of the cases; alpha-1 globulin, 24%; alpha-2 globulin, 88%; leucocyte counts, 28%) was correlated with alterations of bilirubin or liver enzymes. Lactic dehydrogenase was poorly sensitive for detection of hepatocytic or muscular damage. Alterations of alpha-globulins seemed to have been due more to alcohol metabolism-induced increase of lipoproteins than to inflammation. Among indicators of cell damage, serum iron, increased in 40% of the cases, seemed to be related to liver damage while creatine phosphokinase, increased in 84% of the cases, related to muscle damage. Hyperamylasemia was found in 20% of the cases and significantly correlated with levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. It was indicated that injuries of liver, pancreas, salivary glands, and muscle occurred in asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic chronic alcoholics.

Taxonomy of 5 S ribosomal RNA by the linguistic technique: probing with mitochondrial and mammalian sequences

Linguistic similarities and dissimilarities between 5 S rRNA sequences allowed taxonomical separation of species and classes. Comparisons with the molecule from mammals distinguished fungi and plants from protists and animals. Similarities to mammalians progressively increased from protists to invertebrates and to somatic-type molecules of the vertebrates lineage. In this, deviations were detected in avian, oocyte type, and pseudogene sequences. Among bacteria, actinobacteria were most similar to the mammalians, which could be related to the high frequency of associations among members of these groups. Some archaebacterial species most similar to the mammalians belonged to the Thermoproteales and Halobacteria groups. Comparisons with the soybean mitochondrial molecule revealed high internal homogeneity among plant mitochondria. The eubacterial groups most similar to it were Thermus and Rhodobacteria gamma-1 and alpha-2. Other procedures have already indicated similarities of Rhodobacteria alpha to mitochondria but the linguistic similarities were on the average higher with the first two groups.

Serum uric acid levels in Chagas' disease

Uricemia was studied in a sample of 192 individuals from a highly endemic site for Chagas' disease (Bambuí, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil). The sample had 50 serologically negative individuals (controls) and the positive ones were classified on the basis of the presence of electrocardiographic alterations (63), altered esophageal emptying (16), or without any sign on symptom of the disease (76). Only the individuals with the digestive form of chronic Chagas' disease showed hyperuricemia, when compared with the appropriate controls. Family data suggest that hyperuricemia is an effect of the digestive pathology, rather than a cause, since the non-infected sibs of the megaesophagous patients did not show elevated levels of serum uric acid. Possible mechanisms responsible for these findings are postulated.