CD4+ and CD8+ T- lymphocytopenia in a filly with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

Decreased proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood likely contributed to susceptibility to Pneumocystis carinii in a foal. Cytological evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage was required for identification of the pathogen and serial flow-cytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes documented transient low expression of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Although immunodeficiency is uncommon, it must be included in the differential diagnosis for patients suffering from chronic or opportunistic infections and may provide an indication for immunostimulant therapy.     

Internal restriction sites: quality assurance aids in genotyping.

Improvements to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based genotyping assays currently used for detection of mutations responsible for bovine ferrochelatase and myophosphorylase deficiencies, and equine hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) are described. Reports of sporadic inhibition of restriction enzyme activity suggest a critical factor in RFLP-based genotyping assays should be assurance that restriction enzymes perform to specification with every sample. The RFLP genotyping assays that use either a mismatched recognition sequence in one or both of the oligonucleotides, or incorporate a second native site within the PCR amplicon, provide the mechanism by which efficiency of restriction enzymes can be assessed with every sample. The outcome is confirmation of the activity of the discriminating enzyme regardless of genotype.     

miRNA and piRNA expression profiles of breeder cock testes detected by next‐generation sequencing

miRNAs are small non‐coding regulatory RNAs that play key roles in diverse biological processes. In this study, we used the Solexa sequencing technique to profile miRNAs in breeder cock testes to illustrate their functions. A total of 663 co‐expressed miRNAs and 3,180 co‐expressed piRNAs were detected in three libraries. Based on Mir‐X^? miRNA qRT‐PCR, three miRNAs representing low, medium and high expression levels according to the sequencing results were selected randomly to validate the miRNAs' expression profiles. Results suggested that the miRNA expression profiles data could represent actual miRNA expression levels. Moreover, target genes prediction of the co‐expressed miRNAs and further Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were performed, which revealed that some candidate miRNAs were involved in the regulation of the spermatogenesis process, spermatozoa function and testicular metabolism. In conclusion, we provided a useful resource for further elucidation of the miRNAs' regulatory role in spermatogenesis, contributing to a preliminary database for functional and molecular mechanistic studies in testicular metabolism, spermatogenesis and other testes functions.     

Osmoregulatory balance in Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell), affected with chronic ulcerative dermatopathy

This study examined the osmoregulatory capability of Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii, affected by chronic ulcerative dermatopathy (CUD) in intensive aquaculture. This condition appears to arise only in facilities utilizing groundwater, with the causative agent suggested to be a water-borne factor. Healthy Murray cod (~ 700 g) were transferred to a CUD-affected farm to monitor the progression of the syndrome and began to show signs of CUD after approximately five months. In order to evaluate possible effects of CUD on osmoregulation; plasma electrolyte concentrations, osmolality, and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities were measured, and gill histology and immunohistochemistry were analyzed. Plasma electrolyte concentrations and osmolality of CUD-affected Murray cod were consistent with reference values determined for non CUD-affected fish. A greater number of gill mucous cells were observed in Murray cod cultured at the CUD-affected farm compared to non CUD-affected fish. We also found an un-identified cell type that was present solely in the gills of CUD-affected Murray cod. Gill Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity was significantly higher in severely CUD-affected Murray cod compared to individuals transferred to the CUD-affected farm. While there appeared to be some minor changes in the gills of CUD-affected fish, this study demonstrated that Murray cod were able to effectively osmoregulate, although, perhaps at an energetic cost.     

Fullerene pipes

Single-wall fullerene nanotubes were converted from nearly endless, highly tangled ropes into short, open-ended pipes that behave as individual macromolecules. Raw nanotube material was purified in large batches, and the ropes were cut into 100- to 300-nanometer lengths. The resulting pieces formed a stable colloidal suspension in water with the help of surfactants. These suspensions permit a variety of manipulations, such as sorting by length, derivatization, and tethering to gold surfaces.     

Circular polarization in star- formation regions: implications for biomolecular homochirality

Strong infrared circular polarization resulting from dust scattering in reflection nebulae in the Orion OMC-1 star-formation region has been observed. Circular polarization at shorter wavelengths might have been important in inducing chiral asymmetry in interstellar organic molecules that could be subsequently delivered to the early Earth by comets, interplanetary dust particles, or meteors. This could account for the excess of L-amino acids found in the Murchison meteorite and could explain the origin of the homochirality of biological molecules.