Structural characterization of imazalil/beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex

An equimolar inclusion complex between imazalil, a selected fungicide, and beta-cyclodextrin using an aqueous standard solution procedure has been obtained. The complex has been investigated in solution by (1)H and (13)C NMR techniques in combination with computational methods in order to establish a valuable analytical protocol through which to gain insight into the interactions of the inclusion complex in aqueous solution. Intramolecular NMR distance constraints have been detected and used for three-dimensional complex structure determination.     

Cell therapy of alpha-sarcoglycan null dystrophic mice through intra-arterial delivery of mesoangioblasts

Preclinical or clinical trials for muscular dystrophies have met with modest success, mainly because of inefficient delivery of viral vectors or donor cells to dystrophic muscles. We report here that intra-arterial delivery of wild-type mesoangioblasts, a class of vessel-associated stem cells, corrects morphologically and functionally the dystrophic phenotype of virtually all downstream muscles in adult immunocompetent alpha-sarcoglycan (alpha-SG) null mice, a model organism for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. When mesoangioblasts isolated from juvenile dystrophic mice and transduced with a lentiviral vector expressing alpha-SG were injected into the femoral artery of dystrophic mice, they reconstituted skeletal muscle in a manner similar to that seen in wild-type cells. The success of this protocol was mainly due to widespread distribution of donor stem cells through the capillary network, a distinct advantage of this strategy over previous approaches.     

Evaluation of biological quality of protein concentrates from different vegetable protein sources

The quality of protein concentrates coming from conventional and non-conventional vegetable sources was evaluated. The protein quality was assessed by the multi-point assay RPV. Whole body weight gain, weight gain corrected for the gastrointestinal content (G.I.), total body nitrogen and total liver nitrogen were used as response parameters. The various protein sources ranked differently depending upon the response parameters utilized, but a great majority of the sources had a good nutritional value (over 0.5). The gastrointestinal content is one of the principal factors responsible for the differences found. However, even after correcting for the G.I. content, some differences remained. For the various protein sources, the nitrogen deposition in the liver correlates satisfactorily with the whole body nitrogen deposition, if in the calculation of the regression line, the data for faba bean and tobacco were omitted (respectivelyr=0.610 andr=0.925). On the whole, these data indicate that most plant protein concentrates in suitable combinations and properly processed, may become a promising alternative to animal proteins.     

Growth and shape modelling of the rabbit tibia: study of the dynamics of developing skeleton

The proliferative impulse of the growth plate cartilage and related structures and its effect on the dimensions of long bones are well documented. The modulation of shape, however, is less known, and in general, it is referred to the coupled resorption/apposition process of bone modelling. A morphometric study was carried out on rabbit tibiae comparing size increments and shape changes in relation to age. Utilizing measurements made using dried bones, radiography and computerized tomography, it was possible to perform a three-dimensional analysis of shape modulation occurring during a period of growth extending from 3 months to 1 year of age. The dynamics of the shape changes related to growth were studied with a fluorescent tetracycline labelling. This enabled correlation of shape modulation with the 3-D distribution of apposition and resorption. The current thinking behind the influences and mechanical forces affecting bone architecture was discussed in the light of these findings. Several factors play a role in the structural organization of the human and upper vertebrates' skeleton, whose shape is genetically determined in the complex process usually referred as 'modelling'. This does not conflict with the existing evidence of remodelling being influenced by mechanical stimuli, but the unsolved question remains how physical forces (strains) act on the biological substrate of cartilage and bone cells.     

Selection for tetracycline-resistant Chlamydia suis in treated pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate Chlamydia suis in a pig farm with an outbreak of conjunctivitis and diarrhea. Eye swabs and pooled fecal samples were investigated for the presence of C. suis by real-time PCR and ArrayTube microarray. Samples positive for C. suis by ArrayTube microarray assay were further tested for the presence of the tet(C) resistance gene by PCR. In the first examination, C. suis was identified in 12 six-week-old pigs showing conjunctivitis. Of these, the tet(C) gene-coding region was amplified in one pooled fecal sample and one eye swab, respectively. After oral treatment with tetracycline, clinical symptoms disappeared. Subsequently, all eye swabs investigated from 10 healthy pigs were positive for C. suis and the tet(C) gene-coding region. The present study reports rapid selection for tetracycline-resistant C. suis after antibiotic treatment.     

The novel Sinupret® dry extract exhibits anti-inflammatory effectiveness in vivo

Sinupret® is frequently used as a herbal medicinal product to treat sinusitis, and it was assumed that anti-inflammatory effects might contribute to its overall beneficial properties. Here, we investigated the effects of a Sinupret® drug mixture (SIN) as well as of the novel Sinupret® dry extract (SIN DE) with the latter containing higher concentrations of active ingredients, in an in vivo model of acute inflammation, the carrageenan-induced pleurisy in rats. Both SIN and SIN DE were administered to rats orally at doses of 100 mg/kg (low dose) and 500 mg/kg (high dose) 1 h prior to intrapleural injection of carrageenan. Although both SIN and SIN DE significantly reduced the exudate volume and leukocyte numbers in the pleural exudate at the high and the low dose 4 h after carrageenan injection, the novel SIN DE was more efficient than SIN at the low dose, implying higher efficiency. In parallel, the novel dry extract SIN DE, but not SIN, at 500 mg/kg significantly lowered the levels of prostaglandin (PG)E₂ in the exudates and reduced the amounts of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein in the lungs. Together, SIN and SIN DE exert significant oral anti-inflammatory effects, which rationalize their therapeutic use in the management of sinusitis and other viral/microbial nasal infections that are associated with inflammation. Moreover, our results suggest that based on the higher efficiency and the accompanied reduction of COX-2 expression and PGE₂ formation, the novel dry extract SIN DE might be superior over the former SIN drug mixture.     

Characterization and genetic analysis of field isolates ofBotryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea) resistant to dichlofluanid

Field isolates ofBotryotinia fuckeliana were collected from naturally infected plants. Their responses to the multisite fungicide dichlofluanid in mycelium growth test fell into three phenotypic classes, characterized by the following EC₅₀ (and MIC) values ing ml^–1: sensitivity, 1–3 (6–10); low resistance, 3–10 (> 100); high resistance, 10–30 (> 100). The corresponding values obtained for these classes in a spore germination test were respectively: 0.05 (0.2), 0.05–0.1 (0.5), 0.5–1 (0.9–1.5). Resistant isolates were crossed with two sensitive and two resistant strains of appropriate mating type to determine the genetic basis of resistance. Distribution of resistance phenotypes in ascospore progeny indicated that a gene, namedDic1, was probably responsible for the low or high resistance of 14 mutants selectively collected from experimental plots of greenhouse-grown gerbera sprayed several times with dichlofluanid or tolyfluanid. A second gene, namedDic2, was probably responsible for the low resistance displayed by two isolates (from grapevine and from carnation) maintained in the laboratory collection. As a result of the investigation, the use of dichlofluanid in integrated management programmes against grey mould is discussed.     

Uracil as an index of lactic acid bacteria contamination of tomato products

The aim of this research was to evaluate the suitability of uracil as an hygienic quality index of tomato products. Whereas uridine was naturally present throughout tomato fruits' ripening, uracil appeared only after microbial contamination. In tomato pulp inoculated with nine different microbial strains, all five lactic acid bacteria (LAB) studied released relevant quantities of uracil (150-1040 mg/kg of dm), with a correlated partial or total decrease of uridine. Uracil production by yeasts and molds was very low or nonexistent; the starting uridine concentration (approximately 960 mg/kg of dm) remained constant or increased. Uracil thermostability was also verified. Twenty-six samples of tomato paste (30 degrees Brix) were collected from bag-in-drums produced in an industrial processing plant, some with evident swelling symptoms. All of the samples with high microbial count presented uracil. Uracil was also present in samples with microbial contamination under the detection limit and Howard mold count below legislation limits, implying the reprocessing, at least partial, of altered tomato product. The results indicate that uracil presence in tomato products is an index of LAB contamination that has occurred before heat treatment.     

Aurantoside J: a new tetramic acid glycoside from Theonella swinhoei. Insights into the antifungal potential of aurantosides

The chemical investigation of an Indonesian specimen of Theonella swinhoei afforded four aurantosides, one of which, aurantoside J (5), is a new compound. The structure of this metabolite, exhibiting the unprecedented N-α-glycosidic linkage between the pentose and the tetramate units, has been determined through detailed spectroscopic analysis. The four obtained aurantosides have been tested against five fungal strains (four Candida and one Fusarium) responsible of invasive infections in immuno-compromised patients. The non-cytotoxic aurantoside I (4) was the single compound to show an excellent potency against all the tested strains, thus providing valuable insights about the antifungal potential of this class of compounds and the structure-activity relationships.