Structural and Molecular Characterization of Squalene Synthase Belonging to the Marine Thraustochytrid Species Aurantiochytrium limacinum Using Bioinformatics Approach

The marine microorganisms thraustochytrids have been explored for their potential in the production of various bioactive compounds, such as DHA, carotenoids, and squalene. Squalene is a secondary metabolite of the triterpenoid class and is known for its importance in various industrial applications. The bioinformatic analysis for squalene synthase (SQS) gene (the first key enzyme in the tri-terpenoid synthesis pathway), that is prevailing among thraustochytrids, is poorly investigated. In-silico studies combining sequence alignments and bioinformatic tools helped in the preliminary characterization of squalene synthases found in Aurantiochytrium limacinum. The sequence contained highly conserved regions for SQS found among different species indicated the enzyme had all the regions for its functionality. The signal peptide sequence and transmembrane regions were absent, indicating an important aspect of the subcellular localization. Secondary and 3-D models generated using appropriate templates demonstrated the similarities with SQS of the other species. The 3-D model also provided important insights into possible active, binding, phosphorylation, and glycosylation sites.     

Light quality treatments enhance somatic seedling production in three southern pine species

Embryogenic cultures of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) and slash pine x longleaf pine hybrids were initiated from immature seeds on an initiation medium containing 13.57 microM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2.22 microM benzylaminopurine. Embryogenic cultures proliferated and somatic embryos developed, matured and germinated following a modified protocol and media originally developed for radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don.) somatic seedling production. A discrete, light-sensitive pre-germination stage and a later germination (radicle emergence) stage were identified by the differential response of somatic embryos to light of different wavelengths. Different light quality treatments were applied during the pre-germination and germination steps, using cool white fluorescent bulbs or light-emitting diodes (LEDs), or both. In general, red wavelengths provided by LEDs during these steps resulted in higher frequencies of somatic embryo germination (up to 64%) and conversion (up to 50%), longer tap roots and more first-order lateral roots than the standard cool white fluorescent treatments or treatment with blue wavelengths from LEDs. In addition, exposure to red light allowed germination of somatic embryos of some clones that failed to produce germinants under fluorescent light. Germination and conversion were further enhanced by sequential application of cool white fluorescent light and red light, resulting in up to 100% germination and conversion in one experiment. Longleaf pine somatic embryos were especially responsive to the light quality treatments, resulting in the first report of somatic seedling production for this species.     

Nannoplankton extinction and origination across the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, approximately 55 million years ago) was an interval of global warming and ocean acidification attributed to rapid release and oxidation of buried carbon. We show that the onset of the PETM coincided with a prominent increase in the origination and extinction of calcareous phytoplankton. Yet major perturbation of the surface-water saturation state across the PETM was not detrimental to the survival of most calcareous nannoplankton taxa and did not impart a calcification or ecological bias to the pattern of evolutionary turnover. Instead, the rate of environmental change appears to have driven turnover, preferentially affecting rare taxa living close to their viable limits.     

Emergence of Salmonella epidemics: the problems related to Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis and multiple antibiotic resistance in other major serotypes

Two major changes in the epidemiology of salmonellosis occurred in the second half of the 20th century: the emergence of food-borne human infections caused by S. Enteritidis and by multiple-antibiotic resistant strains of Salmonella. This review updates information on the S. Enteritidis pandemic and focuses on the emergence of Salmonella, carrying the SGI1 antibiotic resistance gene cluster, resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, or resistant to fluoroquinolones. The factors responsible for the emergence of these Salmonella strains could be either of human origin or related to bacterial genome evolution. However, our increasing understanding of the molecular fluidity of the genome shows that any attempt to counteract bacteria results in further bacterial evolution or adaptation of other bacteria to take place in the new free ecological niche. In these conditions, we can ask who is faster: humans who want to eliminate bacterial pathogens or bacteria that continuously evolve to gain new niches.     

Human tularaemia associated with exposure to domestic dogs—United States, 2006–2016

Dogs have been implicated in the zoonotic transmission of numerous pathogens. Whereas cats are known to transmit Francisella tularensis to humans via bite and other routes, the role of dogs in facilitating infection is much less understood. We reviewed tularaemia case investigation records collected through national surveillance during 2006–2016 to summarize those with dog involvement, characterize the nature of dog‐related exposure and describe associated clinical characteristics. Among 1,814 human tularaemia cases, 735 (41%) supplemental case investigation records were available for review; and of those, 24 (3.3%) were classified as dog‐related. Median age of patients was 51 years (range: 1–82); 54% were female. Two thirds (67%) of cases presented with ulceroglandular/glandular tularaemia; pneumonic (13%) and oropharyngeal (13%) illness occurred less frequently. Dog‐related exposures were classified as follows: direct contact via bite, scratch or face snuggling/licking (n = 12; 50%); direct contact with dead animals retrieved by domestic dogs (n = 8; 33%); and contact with infected ticks acquired from domestic dogs (n = 4; 17%). Prevention of dog‐related tularaemia necessitates enhanced tularaemia awareness and tick avoidance among pet owners, veterinarians, health care providers and the general public.     

Distribution and metabolism of abamectin in larval stages of Spodoptera littoralis boisduval and Heliothis armigera hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Comparisons were made between the amounts of abamectin and total radioactivity recovered from Spodoptera littoralis and Heliothis armigera larvae after topical application of [³H]abamectin. Penetration (as shown by wash-off experiments) did not differ significantly between the Spodoptera instars. Significantly more abamectin was recovered from ventral nerve cord samples of larvae showing symptoms of poisoning than from larvae not showing these symptoms. Fifth-instar S. littoralis larvae had a significantly lower proportion of radioactivity as abamectin in the ventral nerve cord than in sixth-instar S. littoralis or fifth- and sixth-instar H. armigera. The proportion of radioactivity present as abamectin (but not total radioactivity) was significantly increased when the fifth-instar S. littoralis larvae were pre-treated with piperonyl butoxide (PB) suggesting that the relative insensitivity of fifth-instar S. littoralis larvae to abamectin is due at least in part to greater metabolism, particularly by microsomal oxidases. Fat body samples consistently had a greater proportion of radioactivity as abamectin than the nerve cord and the former may act as storage sites for abamectin.     

Interactions of insecticides with biological membranes

Many insecticides (e.g. DDT, lindane, pyrethroids) are hydrophobic molecules which bind extensively to biological membranes. Binding of insecticides to phospholipid bilayers frequently shows saturation, with binding increasing with increasing insecticide concentration up to some limit, beyond which no further insecticide is incorporated into the bilayer. For lindane, this limit has been shown to correspond to the concentration at which the aqueous phase becomes saturated. Simple alkanes show similar saturation phenomena, and binding of halogenated alkanes can be followed by fluorescence quenching methods. It is shown that effects of hydrophobic molecules on bilayer fluidity are small. Effects of alkanes and insecticides on the activity of the (Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺)-ATPase purified from sarcoplasmic reticulum follow from direct binding to the ATPase, at sites which are not at the lipid-protein interface of the ATPase.