Whole genome structural predictions reveal hidden diversity in putative oxidative enzymes of the lignocellulose-degrading ascomycete Parascedosporium putredinis NO1

IMPORTANCE

An annotated reference genome has revealed P. putredinis NO1 as a useful resource for the identification of new lignocellulose-degrading enzymes for biorefining of woody plant biomass. Utilizing a "structure-omics"-based searching strategy, we identified new potentially lignocellulose-active sequences that would have been missed by traditional sequence searching methods. These new identifications, alongside the discovery of novel enzymatic functions from this underexplored lineage with the recent discovery of a new phenol oxidase that cleaves the main structural β-O-4 linkage in lignin from P. putredinis NO1, highlight the underexplored and poorly represented family Microascaceae as a particularly interesting candidate worthy of further exploration toward the valorization of high value biorenewable products.

Incisional hernia following colorectal cancer surgery according to suture technique: Hughes Abdominal Repair Randomized Trial (HART)

BACKGROUND

Incisional hernias cause morbidity and may require further surgery. HART (Hughes Abdominal Repair Trial) assessed the effect of an alternative suture method on the incidence of incisional hernia following colorectal cancer surgery.

METHODS

A pragmatic multicentre single-blind RCT allocated patients undergoing midline incision for colorectal cancer to either Hughes closure (double far-near-near-far sutures of 1 nylon suture at 2-cm intervals along the fascia combined with conventional mass closure) or the surgeon's standard closure. The primary outcome was the incidence of incisional hernia at 1 year assessed by clinical examination. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Between August 2014 and February 2018, 802 patients were randomized to either Hughes closure (401) or the standard mass closure group (401). At 1 year after surgery, 672 patients (83.7 per cent) were included in the primary outcome analysis; 50 of 339 patients (14.8 per cent) in the Hughes group and 57 of 333 (17.1 per cent) in the standard closure group had incisional hernia (OR 0.84, 95 per cent c.i. 0.55 to 1.27; P = 0.402). At 2 years, 78 patients (28.7 per cent) in the Hughes repair group and 84 (31.8 per cent) in the standard closure group had incisional hernia (OR 0.86, 0.59 to 1.25; P = 0.429). Adverse events were similar in the two groups, apart from the rate of surgical-site infection, which was higher in the Hughes group (13.2 versus 7.7 per cent; OR 1.82, 1.14 to 2.91; P = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of incisional hernia after colorectal cancer surgery is high. There was no statistical difference in incidence between Hughes closure and mass closure at 1 or 2 years.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN25616490 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).

NSW Cannabis Medicines Advisory Service preliminary survey results - Enquirer perceptions and patient outcomes

Background

In 2018, an innovative, State government‐funded cannabis medicines drug information service was established for health professionals in New South Wales (NSW). The NSW Cannabis Medicines Advisory Service (CMAS) provides expert clinical guidance and support to medical practitioners considering prescribing a cannabis medicine to their patient(s).

Aims

This research examines quality assurance and patient outcomes related to enquirers' experience with NSW CMAS.

Methods

Data collection involved an online, anonymous survey with two components. Following a health professional enquiry, quality assurance data were collected about the enquirers' experience with NSW CMAS. The second survey focussed on patient outcomes and provides real‐world observational data about cannabis medicines safety and effectiveness across a wide range of indications.

Results

Data collection occurred between January 2020 and June 2021. Preliminary analyses were based on 68 quality assurance and 50 patient outcomes survey responses. General practitioners represented the highest proportion of survey responses (n = 33; 49%). The most common enquiry involved ‘patient‐specific advice’ (n = 50; 74%). Patient‐specific information provided by the service was mainly used for prescribing decision support (n = 45; 90%).

Conclusions

Preliminary findings highlight the impact of an innovative cannabis medicines drug information service in supporting health professional clinical practice in an area of rapid knowledge translation. Quality assurance data indicate that the service is perceived well by the majority of enquirers. Patient outcomes data across a wide range of indications suggest some effectiveness and a reasonable safety profile for prescribed cannabis medicines for most patients.

Arable fields as potential reservoirs of biodiversity: Earthworm populations increase in new leys

Managing soil to support biodiversity is important to sustain the ecosystem services provided by soils upon which society depends. There is increasing evidence that functional diversity of soil biota is important for ecosystem services, and has been degraded by intensive agriculture. Importantly, the spatial distribution of reservoirs of soil biota in and surrounding arable fields is poorly understood. In a field experiment, grass-clover ley strips were introduced into four arable fields which had been under continuous intensive/conventional arable rotation for more than 10 years. Earthworm communities in arable fields and newly established grass-clover leys, as well as field boundary land uses (hedgerows and grassy field margins), were monitored over 2 years after arable-to-ley conversions. Within 2 years, earthworm abundance in new leys was 732 ± 244 earthworms m^-2, similar to that in field margin soils (619 ± 355 earthworms m^-2 yr^-1) and four times higher than in adjacent arable soil (185 ± 132 earthworms m^-2). Relative to the arable soils, earthworm abundance under the new leys showed changes in community composition, structure and functional group, which were particularly associated with an increase in anecic earthworms; thus new leys became more similar to grassy field margins. Earthworm abundance was similar in new leys that were either connected to biodiversity reservoirs i.e. field margins and hedgerows, or not (installed earthworm barriers). This suggests that, for earthworm communities in typical arable fields, biodiversity reservoirs in adjacent field margins and hedgerows may not be critical for earthworm populations to increase. We conclude that the increase in earthworm abundance in the new leys observed over 2 years was driven by recruitment from the existing residual population in arable soils. Therefore, arable soils are also potential reservoirs of biodiversity.

Chlorophyll-a, dissolved organic carbon, turbidity and other variables of ecological importance in river basins in southern Ontario and British Columbia, Canada

Optical sensing of chlorophyll-a (chl-a), turbidity, and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (fDOM) is often used to characterize the quality of water. There are many site-specific factors and environmental conditions that can affect optically sensed readings; notwithstanding the comparative implication of different procedures used to measure these properties in the laboratory. In this study, we measured these water quality properties using standard laboratory methods, and in the field using optical sensors (sonde-based) at water quality monitoring sites located in four watersheds in Canada. The overall objective of this work was to explore the relationships among sonde-based and standard laboratory measurements of the aforementioned water properties, and evaluate associations among these eco-hydrological properties and land use, environmental, and ancillary water quality variables such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total suspended solids (TSS). Differences among sonde versus laboratory relationships for chl-a suggest such relationships are impacted by laboratory methods and/or site specific conditions. Data mining analysis indicated that interactive site-specific factors predominately impacting chl-a values across sites were specific conductivity and turbidity (variables with positive global associations with chl-a). The overall linear regression predicting DOC from fDOM was relatively strong (R² = 0.77). However, slope differences in the watershed-specific models suggest laboratory DOC versus fDOM relationships could be impacted by unknown localized water quality properties affecting fDOM readings, and/or the different standard laboratory methods used to estimate DOC. Artificial neural network analyses (ANN) indicated that higher relative chl-a concentrations were associated with low to no tree cover around sample sites and higher daily rainfall in the watersheds examined. Response surfaces derived from ANN indicated that chl-a concentrations were higher where combined agricultural and urban land uses were relatively higher.

Phylogeny and expression analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid-P (SAP) like genes reveal two distinct groups in fish

The acute phase response (APR) is an early innate immune function that is initiated by inflammatory signals, leading to the release of acute phase proteins to the bloodstream to re-establish homeostasis following microbial infection. In this study we analysed the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) whole-genome database and identified five C-reactive protein (CRP)/serum amyloid P component (SAP) like molecules namely CRP/SAP-1a, CRP/SAP-1b, CRP/SAP-1c, CRP/SAP-2 and CRP/SAP-3. These CRP/SAP genes formed two distinct sub-families, a universal group (group I) present in all vertebrates and a fish/amphibian specific group (group II). Salmon CRP/SAP-1a, CRP/SAP-1b and CRP/SAP-1c and CRP/SAP-2 belong to the group I family whilst salmon CRP/SAP-3 is a member of group II. Gene expression analysis showed that the salmon CRP/SAP-1a as well as serum amyloid A-5 (SAA-5), one of the major acute phase proteins, were significantly up-regulated by recombinant cytokines (rIL-1β and rIFNγ) in primary head kidney cells whilst the other four CRP/SAPs remained refractory. Furthermore, SAA-5 was produced as the main acute phase protein (APP) in Atlantic salmon challenged with Aeromonas salmonicida (aroA(-) strain) whilst salmon CRP/SAPs remained unaltered. Overall, these data illustrate the potential different functions of expanded salmon CRP/SAPs to their mammalian homologues.

A randomized phase 2 study of MK-2206 versus everolimus in refractory renal cell carcinoma

Background

Activation of the phosphoinisitide-3 kinase (PI3K) pathway through mutation and constitutive upregulation has been described in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), making it an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. We performed a randomized phase II study in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy refractory patients to determine whether MK-2206, an allosteric inhibitor of AKT, was more efficacious than the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus.

Patients and methods

A total of 43 patients were randomized in a 2:1 distribution, with 29 patients assigned to the MK-2206 arm and 14 to the everolimus arm. Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint.

Results

The trial was closed at the first futility analysis with an observed PFS of 3.68 months in the MK-2206 arm and 5.98 months in the everolimus arm. Dichotomous response rate profiles were seen in the MK-2206 arm with one complete response and three partial responses in the MK-2206 arm versus none in the everolimus arm. On the other hand, progressive disease was best response in 44.8% of MK2206 versus 14.3% of everolimus-treated patients. MK-2206 induced significantly more rash and pruritis than everolimus, and dose reduction occurred in 37.9% of MK-2206 versus 21.4% of everolimus-treated patients. Genomic analysis revealed that 57.1% of the patients in the PD group had either deleterious TP53 mutations or ATM mutations or deletions. In contrast, none of the patients in the non-PD group had TP53 or ATM defects. No predictive marker for response was observed in this small dataset.

Conclusions

Dichotomous outcomes are observed when VEGF therapy refractory patients are treated with MK-2206, and MK-2206 does not demonstrate superiority to everolimus. Additionally, mutations in DNA repair genes are associated with early disease progression, indicating that dysregulation of DNA repair is associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype in RCC.

The reliability of the Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index (CDASI) among dermatologists, rheumatologists and neurologists

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that skin disease in dermatomyositis (DM) is best assessed using the Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index (CDASI). Although the CDASI has been validated for use by dermatologists, it has not been validated for use by other physicians such as rheumatologists and neurologists, who also manage patients with DM and assess skin activity in clinical trials.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the reliability of the CDASI among dermatologists, rheumatologists and neurologists.

METHODS

Fifteen patients with cutaneous DM were assessed using the CDASI and the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) by five dermatologists, five rheumatologists and five neurologists.

RESULTS

The mean CDASI activity scores for dermatologists, rheumatologists and neurologists were 21·0, 21·8 and 20·8, respectively. These mean scores were not different among the specialists. The CDASI damage score means for dermatologists, rheumatologists and neurologists were 5·3, 7·0 and 4·8, respectively. The mean scores between dermatologists and rheumatologists were significantly different, but the means between dermatologists and neurologists were not. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for interrater reliability for CDASI activity and damage were good to excellent for dermatologists and rheumatologists, and moderate to excellent for neurologists. The ICCs for intrarater reliability for CDASI activity and damage were excellent for dermatologists and rheumatologists and moderate to excellent for neurologists. The PGA displayed lower interrater and intrarater reliability relative to the CDASI.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm the reliability of the CDASI when used by dermatologists and rheumatologists. The data for its use by neurologists were not as robust.

First- and second-trimester tests to predict stillbirth in unselected pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several biophysical and biochemical tests have been proposed to predict stillbirth but their predictive ability remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the accuracy of tests performed during the first and/or second trimester of pregnancy to predict stillbirth in unselected women with singleton, structurally and chromosomally normal fetuses through use of formal methods for systematic reviews and meta-analytic techniques.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Electronic databases, bibliographies and conference proceedings.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Observational studies that evaluated the predictive accuracy for stillbirth of tests performed during the first two trimesters of pregnancy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers selected studies, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves, pooled sensitivities, specificities and likelihood ratios (LRs) were generated. Data were synthesised separately for stillbirth as a sole category and for specific stillbirth categories.

MAIN RESULTS

Seventy-one studies, evaluating 16 single and five combined tests, met the inclusion criteria. A uterine artery pulsatility index >90th centile during the second trimester and low levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) during the first trimester had a moderate to high predictive accuracy for stillbirth related to placental abruption, small-for-gestational-age or pre-eclampsia (positive and negative LRs from 6.3 to 14.1, and from 0.1 to 0.4, respectively). All biophysical and biochemical tests assessed had a low predictive accuracy for stillbirth as a sole category.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, there is no clinically useful first-trimester or second-trimester test to predict stillbirth as a sole category. Uterine artery pulsatility index and maternal serum PAPP-A levels appeared to be good predictors of stillbirth related to placental dysfunction disorders.

Movement patterns and genetic diversity of wild and reintroduced common dormice, Muscardinus avellanarius

Movement is an important life history trait that can have an impact on local adaptation, and other evolutionary phenomena. We used a combination of nestbox survey data and genetic techniques (genotyping at 10 microsatellite loci) to quantify patterns of movement in common dormice Muscardinus avellanarius at two distinct sites in the UK: 1) Bontuchel (a natural population) and 2) Wych (captive-bred individuals that were reintroduced to this site), over three consecutive years (2006-2008). Both methods revealed a consistent pattern of sex-biased movement (movements by adult males and females) in both populations that allowed isolation-by-distance genetic structure to develop within 1 km. The similarity of data from captive-bred and natural individuals indicated that ex situ programing has not significantly altered the natural movement behavior of common dormice; consequently, the two populations could be managed with the same conservation strategies. We also found that the reintroduced dormice in Wych maintained relatively high levels of genetic diversity. This first report of movement patterns in reintroduced and natural populations of M. avellanarius combining genetic and field-survey data highlights the role of genetic studies in the investigation of ecological behaviour and for conservation management.

HIGH EXPRESSION OF OSMOTICALLY RESPONSIVE GENES1 is required for circadian periodicity through the promotion of nucleo-cytoplasmic mRNA export in Arabidopsis

Cold acclimation has been shown to be attenuated by the degradation of the INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION1 protein by the E3 ubiquitin ligase HIGH EXPRESSION OF OSMOTICALLY RESPONSIVE GENES1 (HOS1). However, recent work has suggested that HOS1 may have a wider range of roles in plants than previously appreciated. Here, we show that hos1 mutants are affected in circadian clock function, exhibiting a long-period phenotype in a wide range of temperature and light environments. We demonstrate that hos1 mutants accumulate polyadenylated mRNA in the nucleus and that the circadian defect in hos1 is shared by multiple mutants with aberrant mRNA export, but not in a mutant attenuated in nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of microRNAs. As revealed by RNA sequencing, hos1 exhibits gross changes to the transcriptome with genes in multiple functional categories being affected. In addition, we show that hos1 and other previously described mutants with altered mRNA export affect cold signaling in a similar manner. Our data support a model in which altered mRNA export is important for the manifestation of hos1 circadian clock defects and suggest that HOS1 may indirectly affect cold signaling through disruption of the circadian clock.

Does growth under elevated CO₂ moderate photoacclimation in rice?

Acclimation of plant photosynthesis to light irradiance (photoacclimation) involves adjustments in levels of pigments and proteins and larger scale changes in leaf morphology. To investigate the impact of rising atmospheric CO₂ on crop physiology, we hypothesize that elevated CO₂ interacts with photoacclimation in rice (Oryza sativa). Rice was grown under high light (HL: 700 µmol m⁻²  s⁻¹), low light (LL: 200 µmol m⁻²  s⁻¹), ambient CO₂ (400 µl l⁻¹) and elevated CO₂ (1000 µl l⁻¹). Leaf six was measured throughout. Obscuring meristem tissue during development did not alter leaf thickness indicating that mature leaves are responsible for sensing light during photoacclimation. Elevated CO₂ raised growth chamber photosynthesis and increased tiller formation at both light levels, while it increased leaf length under LL but not under HL. Elevated CO₂ always resulted in increased leaf growth rate and tiller production. Changes in leaf thickness, leaf area, Rubisco content, stem and leaf starch, sucrose and fructose content were all dominated by irradiance and unaffected by CO₂. However, stomata responded differently; they were significantly smaller in LL grown plants compared to HL but this effect was significantly suppressed under elevated CO₂. Stomatal density was lower under LL, but this required elevated CO₂ and the magnitude was adaxial or abaxial surface-dependent. We conclude that photoacclimation in rice involves a systemic signal. Furthermore, extra carbohydrate produced under elevated CO₂ is utilized in enhancing leaf and tiller growth and does not enhance or inhibit any feature of photoacclimation with the exception of stomatal morphology.

Isolation of RAG-1 and IgM transcripts from the striped trumpeter (Latris lineata), and their expression as markers for development of the adaptive immune response

A partial sequence of the recombination activating gene-1 (RAG-1) and several full length sequences of the immunoglobulin M (IgM) heavy chain mRNA were obtained from the striped trumpeter (Latris lineata). The RAG-1 fragment consisted of 205 aa and fell within the core region of the open reading frame. The complete IgM heavy chain sequences translated into peptides ranging between 581 and 591 aa. Both genes showed good homology to other vertebrate sequences. The expression of the two genes was assessed throughout the early developmental stages of striped trumpeter larvae (5-100 dph) and used as markers to follow the ontogeny of the adaptive immune response. Using RT-PCR, RAG-1 mRNA expression was detectable at 5 dph and remained so until 80 dph, before becoming undetectable at 100 dph. IgM expression was also detectable at 5 dph, and remained so throughout. These patterns of expression may suggest that the striped trumpeter possess mature B cells with surface IgM at 100 dph. However, complete immunological competence is likely not reached until some time later. The early detection of IgM mRNA at 5 dph led to the investigation of its presence in oocytes. Both RAG-1 and IgM mRNA transcripts were detected in unfertilized oocytes, suggesting that they are maternally transferred. The biological significance of such a phenomenon remains to be investigated.

Identification, cloning and characterisation of interleukin-1F5 (IL-36RN) in the chicken

The human IL-1 family contains eleven genes encoded at three separate loci. Nine, including IL-36 receptor antagonist (IL-36RN), also known as IL-1F5, are present at a single locus on chromosome 2, whereas IL-18 and IL-33 lie on chromosomes 11 and 9 respectively. There are currently only three known orthologues in the chicken - IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-1RN - which are encoded on chromosomes 22, 24 and unplaced, respectively. A novel chicken IL-1 family sequence representing IL-36RN (IL-1F5) was initially identified from an expressed sequence tag (EST) library by its similarity to both chicken IL-1RN and chicken IL-1β. Following isolation of the cDNA from the liver of an uninfected bird, a number of unique sequence features were identified. The predicted protein has a longer NH(2)-terminus than the human protein; however, as in mammals, this region contains neither a prodomain nor a signal peptide. A putative nuclear export sequence is also apparent, yet a similar motif is absent in mammalian IL-36RN. Although chIL-36RN exhibits low homology with its mammalian orthologues, it encodes a predicted β-trefoil structure whose β-strands are conserved with those of the mouse sequence. Unlike in mammals, chIL-36RN expression was constitutive in all tissues and cell subsets examined. In response to viral infection, expression was significantly downregulated in a line of birds which are susceptible to the virus. Chicken IL-36RN, like chIL-1RN, is not encoded at the chIL-1β locus, further emphasising the genomic fragmentation of the large IL-1 gene cluster found in mammals. This suggests differential evolution of this cytokine family since the divergence of birds and mammals from a common ancestor, and underlines the difficulty of determining the full repertoire of chIL-1 family members.

The interleukins of fish

Interleukins are a subgroup of cytokines, molecules involved in the intercellular regulation of the immune system. The term interleukin was first coined in 1979 to refer to molecules that signal between different leucocyte types, although not exclusively restricted to leucocyte communication. Whilst it is now known that interleukins are produced by a wide variety of cell types, nevertheless many are synthesised by CD4(+) T helper cells, macrophages/monocytes and endothelial cells. The nomenclature is relatively straightforward, with interleukin 1 the first discovered and interleukin 2 the second, etc. However, whilst 35 interleukins are currently described in mammals, several are in fact terms referring to subfamilies of more molecules, as with the IL-1 family where 11 members (IL-1F1-IL-1F11) are present, and the IL-17 family where 6 members (IL-17A-IL-17F) are present. So the total is much higher and splice variants and allelic variation increase this diversity further. This review will focus on what is known about interleukins in fish, and will refer to the major subfamilies rather than try to work through 35 descriptions in a row. It is clear that many direct homologues of molecules known in mammals are present in fish, but that not all are present and some novel interleukins exist that may have arisen from fish specific gene duplication events.

Ezetimibe added to atorvastatin compared with doubling the atorvastatin dose in patients at high risk for coronary heart disease with diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome or neither

AIM

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are both associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD). Thus, it is useful to know the relative efficacy of lipid-altering drugs in these patient populations.

METHODS

A double-blind, parallel group trial of adult patients with hypercholesterolaemia at high-CHD risk receiving atorvastatin 40 mg/day compared atorvastatin 40 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg (ezetimibe) vs. doubling atorvastatin to 80 mg. This post hoc analysis reports lipid efficacy results in patients grouped by diagnosis of T2DM, MetS without T2DM or neither. Per cent change from baseline at week 6 was assessed for LDL-C, total cholesterol, HDL-C , non-HDL-C , Apo A-I, Apo B and triglycerides. Safety was monitored through clinical and laboratory adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

Compared with doubling atorvastatin, atorvastatin plus ezetimibe resulted in greater reductions in LDL-C, triglycerides, Apo B, non-HDL-C, total cholesterol and lipid ratios in the T2DM, MetS and neither groups. Treatment effects were of similar magnitude across patient groups with both treatments, except triglycerides, which were slightly greater in the T2DM and MetS groups vs. neither group. Changes in HDL-C , Apo A-I and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were comparable for both treatments in all three groups. Safety and tolerability profiles were generally similar between treatments and across patient groups, as were the incidence of liver and muscle AEs.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with doubling atorvastatin to 80 mg, addition of ezetimibe to atorvastatin 40 mg produced greater improvements in multiple lipid parameters in high-CHD risk patients with T2DM, MetS or neither, consistent with the significantly greater changes observed in the full study cohort (clinical trial # NCT00276484).

Rainbow trout interleukin-2: cloning, expression and bioactivity analysis

In this study the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) interleukin-2 (IL-2) cDNA has been cloned, and its expression and bioactivity analysed in head kidney leucocytes. The IL-2 precursor encoded an open reading frame of 429 bp, that translates into a predicted protein of 142 aa, with a 20 aa signal peptide. The trout IL-2 had moderate protein homology (30.9% identity/48.3% similarity) with Fugu IL-2, the only IL-2 homologue identified in fish to date, with lower homology to avian (17.8% identity/23.2% similarity) and mammalian (34.2 identity/46.5% similarity) IL-2s. IL-2 expression was induced by the T cell mitogen PHA and by the mixed leucocyte reaction, where leucocytes from pairs of fish were cultured together for four days. Expression was also induced in vivo during bacterial (Yersinia ruckeri) infection. The Escherichia coli produced recombinant IL-2 was shown to increase the expression of two transcription factors, STAT5 and Blimp-1, known to be involved in IL-2 signalling in mammals, as well as IFN-gamma, gIP and IL-2 itself. The potential signalling pathways involved and possible use as an adjuvant for fish vaccines are discussed.

Cloning and expression analysis of three striped trumpeter (Latris lineata) pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-8, in response to infection by the ectoparasitic, Chondracanthus goldsmidi

This study reports the cloning and sequencing of three striped trumpeter (Latris lineata Forster) pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-8, as well as their differential expression in response to an infection by the ectoparasite Chondracanthus goldsmidi. The striped trumpeter TNF-alpha transcript consisted of 1093 bp, including a 759 bp ORF which translated into a 253 aa transmembrane peptide. The sequence contained a TACE cut site, that would produce a 167 aa soluble peptide containing the TNF ligand family signature. The IL-1beta sequence consisted of 963 bp, including a 774 bp ORF which translated into a 258 aa protein. The protein lacked both a signal peptide and an ICE cleavage site, but did contain the IL-1 family signature. The sequence for the chemokine IL-8 contained 906 bp, with an ORF of 297 bp, which translated into a 99 aa protein. The protein lacked an ELR motif as is common with many teleost IL-8 sequences. The differential expression of the three cytokine genes in parasitized fish was investigated via quantitative real-time PCR. A significant up-regulation of all three pro-inflammatory cytokines was found in the gills, which were the site of parasite attachment. Examination of head kidney cells revealed a significant up-regulation of TNF-alpha, but not IL-1beta or IL-8. Conversely, the spleen cells showed significant up-regulation of both IL-1beta and IL-8, but not TNF-alpha. These findings allow for more detailed investigations of the striped trumpeter immune response.

Molecular characterization of IRF3 and IRF7 in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss: functional analysis and transcriptional modulation

Interferon regulatory factors (IRF) 3 and 7 in mammals are known to be crucial in regulating the type I interferon (IFN) response to viral infection as part of transcriptional complexes binding to IRF-binding elements (IRF-Es) and interferon stimulatory response elements (ISREs) within IFN and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Here we report the sequencing and characterization of full-length cDNA homologues of rainbow trout (rt)IRF7 and, for the first time in fish, IRF3. RtIRF3 consists of 2127 bp with a 159 bp 5'-UTR-containing two upstream AUGs and a 573 bp 3'-UTR. RtIRF7 was found to be 2055 bp, with a 102 bp 5'-UTR and a 705 bp 3'-UTR. The open reading frames (ORFs) translate into 464 amino acid and 415 amino acid proteins, respectively, each possessing a putative DNA-binding domain (DBD) containing a tryptophan cluster, which is characteristic of all IRF family members. The presence of putative IRF association domain (IAD)s, serine-rich C terminal domains (poorly conserved in trout IRF3), and phylogenetic analysis places the two genes in the IRF3 subfamily. Both genes were found to be upregulated by poly I:C, type I recombinant rainbow trout (r) IFN (second isoform, type I rIFN), type II rIFN (rIFNgamma), LPS, and rIL-1beta in the trout macrophage cell line, RTS-11. Poly I:C and type I rIFN also induced IRF3 and IRF7 expression in a trout fibroblast cell line (RTG-2). Transient transfection of RTG-2 cells with each IRF fused to GFP revealed a predominant cytoplasmic distribution found most intensely around the nucleus and, to a lesser extent, within cell nuclei. Transient transfection of rtIRF3 in the Mx-1-luciferase reporter cell line, RTG-P1, revealed a modest increase in luciferase activity relative to the vehicle control, which was lost in cells over-expressing a DBD-truncated form of rtIRF3. Both full-length and DBD-truncated forms of rtIRF7 increased reporter activity relative to the control, although to a non-significant extent. Electromobility shift assays (EMSAs) did not reveal a specific interaction between each IRF and the ISRE element found in the Mx-1 promoter, although the Mx-1 ISRE bound specifically to endogenous transcriptional complexes. These data support the premise that rtIRF3 and rtIRF7 are important molecules in the regulation of antiviral responses in fish, with the impact of rIFNgamma on rtIRF3/7 expression implying a role for these IRFs in immune processes other than type I IFN-driven antiviral responses.

Sedentary, active and athletic lifestyles: Right and left ventricular long axis diastolic function

The early relaxation velocity of the atrioventricular plane (long axis function) of the left ventricle is reported for sedentary, active and athletic men aged 30-45 years. At the left ventricular free wall this velocity is significantly greater for active men than it is for both sedentary and athletic men.

RAG-1 and IgM genes, markers for early development of the immune system in the gadoid haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus, L

The full sequence of the heavy chain of Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and a partial fragment of the recombination activating gene-1 (RAG-1) gene were sequenced in haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus, L. The complete transcript of haddock IgM consisted of 1865 bp and translated into a 572-aa peptide. The RAG-1 fragment was 1776 bp and was identified as the core region of RAG-1. These two immune genes were used in expression studies as markers of early development in haddock larvae. A DIG labelled oligoprobe of the RAG-1 gene was used in whole-mount in situ hybridisation (WISH). A hybridisation signal for RAG-1 was first detected in larvae at 25 days post-hatching (dph) in two bilateral symmetric regions of the head identified as the thymus. Further expression studies were carried out by RT-PCR analysis of RAG-1 and IgM on larval samples obtained during early development, i.e. from fertilisation to weaning. Haddock RAG-1 expression was detected after 21 days post-fertilisation (dpf) whilst IgM transcripts were not detected until 40 dpf, equivalent to day 29 post-hatching. These results suggest that the immune system in haddock starts to develop in larvae of 6-7 mm in length (25-29 dph).