Precursor-Directed Biosynthesis Mediated Amplification of Minor Aza Phenylpropanoid Piperazines in an Australian Marine Fish-Gut-Derived Fungus,Chrysosporium sp. CMB-F214

Chemical analysis of an M1 agar plate cultivation of a marine fish-gut-derived fungus, Chrysosporium sp. CMB-F214, revealed the known chrysosporazines A–D (11–14) in addition to a suite of very minor aza analogues 1–6. A microbioreactor (MATRIX) cultivation profiling analysis failed to deliver cultivation conditions that significantly improved the yields of 1–6; however, it did reveal that M2 agar cultivation produced the new natural product 15. A precursor-directed biosynthesis strategy adopting supplementation of a CMB-F214 M1 solid agar culture with sodium nicotinate enhanced production of otherwise inaccessible azachrysposorazines A1 (1), A2 (2), B1 (3), C1 (4), C2 (5) and D1 (6), in addition to four new chrysosporazines; chrysosporazines N–P (7–9) and spirochrysosporazine A (10). Structures inclusive of absolute configurations were assigned to 1–15 based on detailed spectroscopic and chemical analyses, and biosynthetic considerations. Non-cytotoxic to human carcinoma cells, azachrysosporazies 1–5 were capable of reversing doxorubicin resistance in P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-overexpressing human colon carcinoma cells (SW620 Ad300), with optimum activity exhibited by the C-2′ substituted analogues 3–5.     

Growth and Metabolic Changes of Cowpea Plants as Affected by Water Deficiency and Indole-3-Yl-Acetic Acid

Cowpea plants ( Vigna sinensis Savi.) were grown in pots for two successive years. These plants were daily maintained water holding capacities (15, 25, 45, 65 %).
The foliage of plants grown at every level of soil moisture was sprayed till dripping with IAA solutions (0, 10, 50, 100 mg/l) three times after 3, 6 and 9 weeks from sowing. Samples were taken at the two physiological stages before flowering and during flowering for growth measurements and determinations of nitrogen fractions.
Water shortage led to retardation of stem length, number of internodes, number of leaves and dry weight shoots. IAA increasing the same parameters only when applied at concentrations of 10 and 50mg/1 at moisture level 65 %, 45 % and 25 % of W.H.C.
Water stress decreased total-N and protein-N contents of cowpea shoots. On the other hand total soluble- N content was increased under the same conditions. IAA increased total-N and protein-N content of cowpea shoots. Meanwhile, the same growth regulator decreased total soluble-N when applied at 45% 25 % and 15 % W.H.C. levels.     

Utilization of blue panic (Panicum antidotale) as an alternative feed resource for feeding Barky sheep in arid regions

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study aimed at elucidating effects of replacing sorghum with blue panic (BP) on total dry matter intake (TDMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed...     

Factors affecting reproductive performance in dromedary camel herds in Saudi Arabia

A survey of 7122 dromedary camels in 115 herds in Saudi Arabia was used to estimate the effects of herd size (HZ; <?25 vs. 25–49 vs. 50–100 vs. >?100 camels), herder/camels ratio (H/C; 1:<?25 vs. 1:25–50 vs. 1:>?50), manager experience (ME; <?5 vs. 5–10 vs. >?10 years), male/females ratio (M/F), housing system (HS; free vs. closed vs. mixed), length of the breeding season (winter vs. winter and spring vs. fall, winter and spring), age at first mating (3 vs. >?3 years), and time of mating after parturition (≤?3 vs. >?3 months) and their interactions on the overall pregnancy rate. Barren females of these herds (n?=?886) were examined for the causes of infertility. Results showed that herds with H/C of 1:<?25 had higher overall pregnancy rate (95.29%) than herds with H/C of 1:25–50 (79.84%) and those with H/C of 1:>?50 (72.79%) (p?=?0.003). Herds having ME of >?10 years revealed greater overall pregnancy rate (94.89%) than herds with ME of 5–10 years (80.54%) and those with ME of <?5 years (72.5%) (p?=?0.001). There were significant interactions between H/C × HZ (p?=?0.003), H/C × HS (p?=?0.006), and ME × HS (p?=?0.02). The overall pregnancy rate did not significantly differ between herds bred females by age of 3 years and those bred females by age >?3 years and in females bred within 3 months after parturition and in those bred after 3 months. The mean calving interval was shorter (p?=?0.008) in camels mated within 3 months of parturition (15.25?±?2.8 months) than in those mated after that time (24.33?±?6.5 months). Clinical endometritis, ovarian hydrobursitis, and vaginal adhesions were the common clinical findings in barren females. Thus, efforts to reduce the age at first mating and the interval after calving, increase the number of herders/camels, and control reproductive disorders could improve the reproductive performance and quality of camel herds in Saudi Arabia.

     

B cell receptor signal transduction in the GC is short-circuited by high phosphatase activity

Germinal centers (GCs) generate memory B and plasma cells, which are essential for long-lived humoral immunity. GC B cells with high-affinity B cell receptors (BCRs) are selectively expanded. To enable this selection, BCRs of such cells are thought to signal differently from those with lower affinity. We show that, surprisingly, most proliferating GC B cells did not demonstrate active BCR signaling. Rather, spontaneous and induced signaling was limited by increased phosphatase activity. Accordingly, both SH2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) and SH2 domain-containing inositol 5 phosphatase were hyperphosphorylated in GC cells and remained colocalized with BCRs after ligation. Furthermore, SHP-1 was required for GC maintenance. Intriguingly, GC B cells in the cell-cycle G(2) period regained responsiveness to BCR stimulation. These data have implications for how higher-affinity B cells are selected in the GC.     

Efficacy of methanolic extract of Balanites aegyptiaca fruits on Toxocara vitulorum

In this study, the effect of the methanolic extract of Balanites aegyptiaca fruits (BAE) on adult Toxocara vitulorum was evaluated after incubating the parasites in Ringer solution containing 10, 30, 60, 120 and 240 μg/ml of the methanolic extract, for 24h using light and scanning electron microscopic observations. Differences in response to BAE action were concentration dependent. These changes occurred in definite sequences in response to BAE concentration and were consisted of slightly swelling which became pronounced and so severe, with lips showed wrinkled cuticular surface and deformed sensory papillae on increasing the BAE concentration. The strongest effects were reached with the highest BAE concentration, where disorganization of the cuticle and body musculature was observed. Additionally, the ovicidal effect of BAE, at the previous concentrations, on the development of T. vitulorum eggs was examined after 12h exposure. The inhibitory activity of BAE on egg development was concentration dependent and the highest value reached to 100% with the concentration of 240 μg/ml. These results were compared with those observed in the worm cuticle and eggs following incubation in albendazole, as it was a broad-spectrum nematodicidal compound with well-known ovicidal activity.     

Factors affecting the harem formation process by young Misaki feral stallions.

For the past 12 years, a study was conducted in the Misaki area (southern Kyushu Island, Japan) to investigate young males form new harems, how they acquire the mares and the factors affecting the process of new harem formation. Young males formed new harems between the ages of 3.8 and 7.6 yr, and 93% of these new harem groups were formed at the beginning of the breeding season. The most common way (87%) for young males to form a new harem was by acquiring wandering mares which had separated from their groups, whereas 13% stole unstable mares from established bands. The fact that all young males obtained harems the new at an early age, with an average age of 5.2 yr (n = 15) could be explained high female biased sex ratio (3:1), and great number of wandering mares per stallion (2.5:1). At the time new harem groups were formed, aggression, fighting or such behavior as active herding or driving mares was not observed among stallions because the "unstable" mares were most likely to be abducted by stallions.     

The African monogenean gyrodactylid genus Macrogyrodactylus Malmberg, 1957, and the reporting of three species of the genus of Clarias gariepinus in South Africa

Three different species of the genus Macrogyrodactylus Malmberg, 1957, collected from the gills and skin of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) from the Middle Letaba Dam and Mokgoma-Matlala Dam in South Africa were examined and identified. This is the first record of a species of the genus in South Africa. The three species are M. congolensis (Prudhoe, 1957)--found on the skin, M. clarii Gussev, 1961 and M. karibae Douellou & Chishawa, 1995--found on the gills. The last species is elevated to the status of a species having been described previously as a subspecies of M. congolensis. The present study presents and discusses the value of some of the taxonomic characters which can be used to differentiate the species of the genus. The shape and size of the sclerites of the haptor are found to be the most reliable characters. Only four species of the genus, namely M. polypteri and the three above-named species are regarded to be valid. Three species, namely M. latesi Paperna, 1969, M. anabantii Paperna, 1973 and M. ctenopomii Paperna, 1973 are regarded as species inquirenda. Generic diagnoses, measurements and illustrations of the sclerites of the four valid species are presented and a key for their differentiation is provided. The development of the gyrodactylid population on C. gariepinus during the filling of the Middle Letaba Dam in South Africa is discussed.     

Identification and characterisation of coding tandem repeat variants in incA gene of Chlamydophila pecorum

Bacteria of the family Chlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular pathogens of human and animals. Chlamydophila pecorum is associated with different pathological conditions in ruminants, swine and koala. To characterize a coding tandem repeat (CTR) identified at the 3' end of incA gene of C. pecorum, 51 strains of different chlamydial species were examined. The CTR were observed in 18 of 18 tested C. pecorum isolates including symptomatic and asymptomatic animals from diverse geographical origins. The CTR were also found in two strains of C. abortus respectively isolated from faeces from a healthy ewe and from a goat belonging to asymptomatic herds, but were absent in C. abortus strains isolated from clinical disease specimens, and in tested strains of C. psittaci, C. caviae, C. felis and C. trachomatis. The number of CTR repeats is variable and encode several motifs that are rich in alanine and proline. The CTR-derived variable structure of incA, which encode the Chlamydiaceae-specific type III secreted inclusion membrane protein, IncA, may be involved in the adaptation of C. pecorum to its environment by allowing it to persist in the host cell.