Regulation of inflammation is a critical process for maintaining physiological homeostasis. The λ-carrageenan (λ-CGN) is a mucopolysaccharide extracted from the cell wall of red algae (
Chondrus ...crispus
) capable of inducing acute intestinal inflammation, which is translated into the production of acute phase reactants secreted into the blood circulation. However, the associated mechanisms in vertebrates are not well understood. Here, we investigated the crucial factors behind the inflammatory milieu of λ-CGN-mediated inflammation administered at 0, 1.75, and 3.5% (v/w) by i.p. injection into the peritoneal cavity of adult zebrafish (ZF) (
Danio rerio
). We found that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils) and lymphocytes infiltrating the ZF peritoneal cavity had short-term persistence. Nevertheless, they generate a strong pattern of inflammation that affects systemically and is enough to produce edema in the cavity. Consistent with these findings, cell infiltration, which causes notable tissue changes, resulted in the overexpression of several acute inflammatory markers at the protein level. Using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography followed by a hybrid linear ion-trap mass spectrometry shotgun proteomic approach, we identified 2938 plasma proteins among the animals injected with PBS and 3.5% λ-CGN. First, the bioinformatic analysis revealed the composition of the plasma proteome. Interestingly, 72 commonly expressed proteins were recorded among the treated and control groups, but, surprisingly, 2830 novel proteins were differentially expressed exclusively in the λ-CGN-induced group. Furthermore, from the commonly expressed proteins, compared to the control group 62 proteins got a significant (
p
< 0.05) upregulation in the λ-CGN-treated group, while the remaining ten proteins were downregulated. Next, we obtained the major protein-protein interaction networks between hub protein clusters in the blood plasma of the λ-CGN induced group. Moreover, to understand the molecular underpinnings of these effects based on the unveiled protein sets, we performed a bioinformatic structural similarity analysis and generated overlapping 3D reconstructions between ZF and humans during acute inflammation. Biological pathway analysis pointed to the activation and abundance of diverse classical immune and acute phase reactants, several catalytic enzymes, and varied proteins supporting the immune response. Together, this information can be used for testing and finding novel pharmacological targets to treat human intestinal inflammatory diseases.
BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of oral lesions in the floor of the mouth from representative oral pathology centres in Latin America. MATERIAL AND METHODSThis study ...was conducted on biopsies obtained from January of 1978 to December of 2018 at nine Latin America oral and maxillofacial pathology centres. Gender, age and histopathological diagnosis were evaluated. Data were analysed using descriptive methods. Chi-square test was used for pairwise comparisons. RESULTSFrom 114,893 samples, 4,016 lesions (3.49%) occurred in the floor of the mouth. Brazil showed 3,777 cases (94%), Mexico 182 cases (4.5%) and Argentina 57 cases (1.4%). Benign lesions represented 65.1% (2,617 cases), followed by 34.9% (1,404 cases) of malignant disorders. Lesions of epithelial origin were more frequent (1,964 cases; 48.9%), followed by salivary glands (1,245 cases; 31%) and soft tissue lesions (475 cases; 11.7%). The most common histological subtypes were oral squamous cell carcinoma (1,347 cases; 33.5%), ranula (724 cases; 18%), oral leukoplakia (476 cases; 11.8%) and inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (239 cases; 5.9%). The lesion affected males in 2,129 cases and females in 1,897 cases. CONCLUSIONSIn the current study, lesions in the floor of the mouth represented 3.49% of biopsies submitted to oral pathology services and oral squamous cell carcinoma, ranula and leukoplakia were the most common lesions.
In this paper a nonlinear algorithm for adaptive control of a fed-batch bioreactor for high density cultures is proposed. The control of these processes is difficult due to parameter variations and ...process disturbances. The control scheme is based on a reduced model used to estimate the uncertainties with adaptive techniques. Convergence of estimated biomass to a desired neighborhood was proved based on the reduced model. The good performance of the control scheme was verified with full model simulations of the bioreactor simulations.
Solid Substrate fermentation (SSF) of Monascus purpureus on rice is a promising new technology for obtaining natural pigments. However, before attempts can be made at maximizing pigment yield, all ...significant macroscopic compounds should be assayed. Here, Monascus purpureus has been grown on rice in batch mode, and the evolution of the main components, biomass, residual rice, O2, CO2, ethanol, acetic acid, and pigments, have been followed. This set of data, never previously studied for Monascus SSF, allowed both the performance of a macroscopic elemental balance, which accounted for 83–94% of the initial substrate carbon, and a check of data consistency. Standard consistency analysis showed a significant underestimation of the nitrogen fraction of biomass, but it was unable to discriminate the errors in the carbon balance as a result of the simultaneous presence of two gross errors in the system. A simple stoichiometric model in tandem with consistency analysis explained unaccounted carbon as an underestimation of CO2 and ethanol. Using the simplified method to estimate ethanol, the macroscopic balance accounted for 87–99% of the initial carbon.
The isolation and characterization of six rhizobial strains isolated from
Anagyris latifolia, a shrub legume endemic to the Canary Islands, is reported in this study. The isolates were characterized ...by 16S-ARDRA, and sequencing of the ribosomal 16S
rRNA gene, the 16S–23S
rDNA intergenic spacer region, and the housekeeping gene for glutamine synthetase II (
glnII). The phylogenies based on the three types of sequences matched, showing that the isolates belonged to three distinct lineages within the genus
Mesorhizobium that could represent different species. However, the ribosomal and
glnII phylogenies revealed some discrepancies in the relationships between the isolates and the named species in this genus. Despite their different taxonomic affiliation, all the isolates showed identical
nodC sequences which were closely related (95% similarity) to that of the
Mesorhizobium tianshanense type strain, indicating that they must have acquired the nodulation genes by a phenomenon of lateral gene transfer.
The genetic diversity of 45 bradyrhizobial isolates that nodulate several
Lupinus and
Ornithopus species in different geographic locations was investigated by 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP and sequence analysis, ...16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer (IGS) PCR-RFLP analysis, and ERIC-PCR genomic fingerprinting. Reference strains of
Bradyrhizobium japonicum,
B. liaoningense and
B. elkanii and some Canarian isolates from endemic woody legumes in the tribe
Genisteae were also included. The 16S rDNA-RFLP analysis resolved 9 genotypes of lupin isolates, a group of fourteen isolates presented restriction-genotypes identical or very similar to
B. japonicum, while another two main groups of isolates (69%) presented genotypes that clearly separated them from the reference species of soybean. 16S rDNA sequencing of representative strains largely agreed with restriction analysis, except for a group of six isolates, and showed that all the lupin isolates are relatives of
B. japonicum, but different lineages were observed. The 16S-23S IGS-RFLP analysis showed a high resolution level, resolving 19 distinct genotypes among 30 strains analysed, and so demonstrating the heterogeneity of the 16S-RFLP groups. ERIC-PCR fingerprint analysis showed an enormous genetic diversity producing a different pattern for each but two of the isolates. Phylogeny of
nodC gene was independent from the 16S rRNA phylogeny, and showed a tight relationship in the symbiotic region of the lupin isolates with isolates from Canarian genistoid woody legumes, and in concordance, cross-nodulation was found. We conclude that
Lupinus is a promiscuous host legume that is nodulated by rhizobia with very different chromosomal genotypes, which could even belong to several species of
Bradyrhizobium. No correlation among genomic background, original host plant and geographic location was found, so, different chromosomal genotypes could be detected at a single site and in a same plant species, on the contrary, an identical genotype was detected in very different geographical locations and plants.
Dissolved oxygen control is critical to ensure microorganisms' growth in high-cell-density cultures. Since biological oxygen consumption strongly depends on biomass concentration, high-cell-density ...cultures demand an increasing and continuous oxygen supply. This is a challenging control problem and one of the major limitations of this type of cultures. The aim of this paper is to provide a simple dissolved oxygen control strategy capable of achieving high biomass levels by manipulating three process variables: agitation, aeration and oxygenation. This strategy was developed using a split-range control scheme specially designed so that the controller action is linear with respect to the maximum transfer rate (kLa*DO*). The controller parameters were tuned through simulation and later implemented and validated in Escherichia coli fed-batch cultivations. The strategy presented here allowed reaching high biomass concentrations while maintaining oxygen concentration at an appropriate level. The implementation of this strategy in high-cell-density cultures will help improve the productivity of aerobic cultures.
A state observer with integral action, robust and applicable to uniformly observable systems,is presented in this paper. Asymptotic stability of these observers is demonstrated applying Lyapunov ...convergence functions. In addition, it is shown that high-gain observers with integral action (NL-PI) provide robust estimation, despite parametric variabilities normally observed in bioreactors. The advantages of the proposed design are compared with a classical high gain observerthrough simulations and real-time cultivations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Background: evaluation of reproductive traits of red deer is important to understand its performance. Objective: to evaluate seminal traits of red deer (Cervus elaphus) at three different stages of ...the breeding season (beginning, middle, and end) and to relate semen quality traits with pregnancy rate of hinds. Methods: scrotal circumference, semen volume, mass motility, individual motility, sperm concentration, morphology, and intact acrosomes were evaluated in seven stags. After evaluation, each of five stags was bred to 23 to 30 hinds. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out using ultrasonography 45 days after the breeding season. Data were analyzed using the Student's t and chi-square tests, and simple correlation procedures. Results: scrotal circumference was reduced 5.4 cm (p<0.05) from the beginning to the end of the reproductive season, although semen volume was similar at the three different stages of the season. Sperm concentration (194 vs. 622.7/10(6)), mass motility (1.6 vs. 2.8), individual motility (28.6 vs. 63.3%), and intact acrosome (52.7 vs. 75.5%) were greater (p<0.05) at the middle of the breeding season in comparison with values found at the beginning. Percentage of abnormal spermatozoa was similar at the beginning and middle of the breeding season (p>0.05). No spermatozoa were found in stags at the end of the breeding season. Pregnancy rates were similar among bucks (p>0.05), ranging from 80% to 91.3%, and there was no relationship between pregnancy rate and semen traits. Conclusions: there was a clear seasonality of semen traits of red deer and no relationship between semen traits and pregnancy rate.
Antecedentes: a avaliação reprodutiva do cervo rojo é muito importante para entender seu comportamento reprodutivo no sistema em que eles são produzidos. Objetivo: avaliar algumas caraterísticas do sêmen do cervo rojo (Cervus elaphus) em diferentes momentos da estação reprodutiva (inicio, meio e final) e relacionar a qualidade seminal com a taxa de prenhez das fêmeas. Métodos: foram utilizados sete machos para medir a circunferência escrotal, volume seminal, motilidade masal, motilidade individual, concentração de espermatozóides, morfologia e acrossomas intactos. Depois da avaliação, cinco machos foram acasalados com 23-30 fêmeas cada um. El diagnóstico de gestação foi realizado por ultrassonografia, 45 dias depois da estação de acasalamento. Os dados foram analisados usando provas de t de Student e chi-quadrado, e procedimentos de correlação simples. Resultados: a circunferência escrotal se reduz 5,4 cm (p<0,05) do inicio ao final da estação reprodutiva, ainda o volume de sêmen foi similar nos três momentos da estação reprodutiva. A concentração de espermatozoides (194 vs 622,7/10(6)), motilidade masal (1,6 vs 2,8), motilidade individual (28,6 vs 63,3%) e acrossomas intactos (52,7 vs 75,5%) foram melhores (p<0,05) na parte meia em comparação com os valores do inicio da estação reprodutiva. A porcentagem de espermatozoides anormais foi similar ao inicio e em meio da estação reprodutiva (p>0,05). No se encontraram espermatozoides ao final da estação reprodutiva. As taxas de prenhez foram similares entre machos (p>0,05) variando de 80 a 91,3%, e não se encontrou relação entre a taxa de prenhez e os rasgos seminais. Conclusões: houve uma clara estacionalidade dos rasgos seminais do cervo rojo sob as condiciones tropicais e uma falta de relação entre os rasgos seminais e a taxa de prenhez.
Antecedentes: la evaluación reproductiva de los ciervos es de suma importancia para entender su comportamiento reproductivo bajo el sistema en el cual se producen. Objetivo: evaluar algunos rasgos seminales del venado rojo (Cervus elaphus) en diferentes momentos de la estación reproductiva (inicio, medio y final) y relacionar la calidad seminal con la tasa de preñez de las hembras. Métodos: se utilizaron siete machos para medir la circunferencia escrotal, volumen seminal, motilidad masal, motilidad individual, concentración de espermatozoides, morfología y acrosomas intactos. Después de la evaluación, cinco machos fueron apareados con 23 a 30 hembras cada uno. El diagnóstico de preñez se realizó por ultrasonografía, 45 días después de la estación de apareamiento. Los datos se analizaron mediante las pruebas de t de Student y chi cuadrado, y procedimientos de correlación simple. Resultados: la circunferencia escrotal se redujo 5,4 cm (p<0,05) del inicio al final de la estación reproductiva, aunque el volumen de semen fue similar en los tres momentos de la estación reproductiva. La concentración de espermatozoides (194 vs 622,7/106), motilidad masal (1,6 vs 2,8), motilidad individual (28,6 vs 63,3%) y acrosomas intactos (52,7 vs 75,5%) fueron mejores (p<0,05) en la mitad de la estación reproductiva que en comparación con los valores del inicio de la misma. El porcentaje de espermatozoides anormales fue similar al inicio y en la mitad de la estación reproductiva (p>0,05). No se encontraron espermatozoides al final de la estación reproductiva. Las tasas de preñez fueron similares entre machos (p>0,05) variando de 80 a 91,3%, y no se encontró relación entre la tasa de preñez y los rasgos seminales. Conclusiones: hubo una clara estacionalidad de los rasgos seminales del venado rojo bajo las condiciones tropicales y una falta de relación entre los rasgos seminales y la tasa de preñez.
Solid substrate fermentation (SSF) of Monascus purpureus on rice is a promising new technology for obtaining natural pigments. However, before attempts can be made at maximizing pigment yield, all ...significant macroscopic compounds should be assayed. Here, Monascus purpureus has been grown on rice in batch mode, and the evolution of the main components, biomass, residual rice, O sub(2), CO sub(2), ethanol, acetic acid, and pigments, have been followed. This set of data, never previously studied for Monascus SSF, allowed both the performance of a macroscopic elemental balance, which accounted for 83-94% of the initial substrate carbon, and a check of data consistency. Standard consistency analysis showed a significant underestimation of the nitrogen fraction of biomass, but it was unable to discriminate the errors in the carbon balance as a result of the simultaneous presence of two gross errors in the system. A simple stoichiometric model in tandem with consistency analysis explained unaccounted carbon as an underestimation of CO sub(2) and ethanol. Using the simplified method to estimate ethanol, the macroscopic balance accounted for 87-99% of the initial carbon.
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