Effect of pH on the Maillard reaction of [13C5]xylose, cysteine, and thiamin

The influence of different pH values, ranging from 4.0 to 7.0, on the formation of sulfur volatiles in the Maillard reaction was studied using a model system with [13C5]xylose, cysteine, and thiamin. The use of 13C-labeled xylose allowed, by analysis of the mass spectra, volatiles that incorporated xylose carbons in the molecule from other carbon sources to be discerned. For 2-furaldehyde and 2-furfurylthiol, which were favored at low pH, the labeling experiments clearly indicated that xylose was the exclusive carbon source. On the other hand, xylose was virtually not involved in the formation of 3-mercapto-2-butanone, 4,5-dihydro-2-methyl-3-furanthiol, and 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole, which apparently stemmed from thiamin degradation. Both xylose and thiamin seemed to significantly contribute to the formation of 2-methyl-3-furanthiol, 3-mercapto-2-pentanone, and 2-mercapto-3-pentanone, and therefore different formation pathways must exist for each of these molecules. In general, the pH determined strongly which volatiles were formed, and to what extent. However, the relative contribution of xylose to the C-skeleton of a particular compound changed only slightly within the investigated pH range, when both xylose and thiamin were involved in the formation.     

Virulence-associated gene profiling of Streptococcus suis isolates by PCR

Definition of virulent Streptococcus suis strains is controversial. One successful approach for identification of virulent European strains is differentiation of capsular serotypes (or the corresponding cps types) and subsequent detection of virulence-associated factors, namely the extracellular factor (EF, epf), the muramidase-released protein (MRP, mrp) and the hemolysin suilysin (SLY, sly). In this work we present a novel multiplex PCR (MP-PCR) and an mrp variant PCR for identification and characterization of virulent S. suis strains. These new methods were used to identify association of disease with particular profiles of virulence-associated genes. The MP-PCR allowed identification of S. suis through detection of the housekeeping gene gdh, differentiation of four cps types (1, 2, 7 and 9), and detection of epf, mrp, sly and arcA (arginine deiminase from S. suis). Furthermore, this study describes the first PCR assay for differentiation of at least six mrp variants. Expression of the corresponding size variants of MRP was shown for four of the six mrp variants, but was undetectable for the two larger mrp variants in the particular strains investigated. The results of this study suggest that cps7 strains are associated with pneumonia and that variation of mrp is very pronounced among these strains. Gene profiles of invasive, pneumonia and carrier S. suis isolates by combination of PCR assays allowed differentiation of 24 different genotypes among cps1, 2, 7 and 9 strains. Forty-five percent of the invasive S. suis diseases investigated in this study were caused by only two of these genotypes, namely cps2/mrp+/epf+/sly+ and cps9/mrp(*)/epf-/sly+. Thus, this study demonstrates for the first time a uniform profile of the particular virulence-associated genes for the vast majority of the investigated invasive cps9 strains.     

A common genetic variant is associated with adult and childhood obesity

Obesity is a heritable trait and a risk factor for many common diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. We used a dense whole-genome scan of DNA samples from the Framingham Heart Study participants to identify a common genetic variant near the INSIG2 gene associated with obesity. We have replicated the finding in four separate samples composed of individuals of Western European ancestry, African Americans, and children. The obesity-predisposing genotype is present in 10% of individuals. Our study suggests that common genetic polymorphisms are important determinants of obesity.     

Structural basis of Wnt recognition by Frizzled

Wnts are lipid-modified morphogens that play critical roles in development principally through engagement of Frizzled receptors. The 3.25 angstrom structure of Xenopus Wnt8 (XWnt8) in complex with mouse Frizzled-8 (Fz8) cysteine-rich domain (CRD) reveals an unusual two-domain Wnt structure, not obviously related to known protein folds, resembling a "hand" with "thumb" and "index" fingers extended to grasp the Fz8-CRD at two distinct binding sites. One site is dominated by a palmitoleic acid lipid group projecting from serine 187 at the tip of Wnt's thumb into a deep groove in the Fz8-CRD. In the second binding site, the conserved tip of Wnt's "index finger" forms hydrophobic amino acid contacts with a depression on the opposite side of the Fz8-CRD. The conservation of amino acids in both interfaces appears to facilitate ligand-receptor cross-reactivity, which has important implications for understanding Wnt's functional pleiotropy and for developing Wnt-based drugs for cancer and regenerative medicine.     

Recovery of Fascioloides magna (Digenea) population in spite of treatment programme? Screening of Galba truncatula (Gastropoda, Lymnaeidae) from Lower Austria

During the past decade, Fascioloides magna, the large American liver fluke, has spread within free-living deer in wetlands of the Danube in Lower Austria. The aim of this study was to determine the current infection rates with F. magna and other digenean parasites in the intermediate host snail Galba truncatula from risk areas in Lower Austria. A total of 3444 G. truncatula were collected and examined microscopically for the presence of digenean trematodes. A set of randomly selected snails and isolated trematode stages were also investigated molecular biologically by PCR and sequencing. Digenean parasites were detected with a prevalence of 2.41% (1.83% Paramphistomoidea; 0.46% Echinostomatoidea; 0.09% Strigeida; 0.06% Plagiorchiida). F. magna was found with an overall prevalence of 0.23%, which may indicate a recovery of the parasite population in spite of an ongoing triclabendazole treatment programme. Moreover, high risk areas and a seasonality of infections were observed.     

Experimental infection of South American camelids with bluetongue virus serotype 8

Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, non-contagious disease of wild and domestic ruminants. It is caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) and transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. Since 1998, BT has been emerging throughout Europe, threatening not only the na?ve ruminant population. Historically, South American camelids (SAC) were considered to be resistant to BT disease. However, recent fatalities related to BTV in captive SAC have raised questions about their role in BTV epidemiology. Data on the susceptibility of SAC to experimental infection with BTV serotype 8 (BTV-8) were collected in an animal experiment. Three alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and three llamas (Lama glama) were experimentally infected with BTV-8. They displayed very mild clinical signs. Seroconversion was first measured 6-8 days after infection (dpi) by ELISA, and neutralising antibodies appeared 10-13 dpi. BTV-8 RNA levels in blood were very low, and quickly cleared after seroconversion. However, spleens collected post-mortem were still positive for BTV RNA, over 71 days after the last detection in blood samples. Virus isolation was only possible from blood samples of two alpacas by inoculation of highly sensitive interferon alpha/beta receptor-deficient (IFNAR(-/-)) mice. An in vitro experiment demonstrated that significantly lower amounts of BTV-8 adsorb to SAC blood cells than to bovine blood cells. Although this experiment showed that SAC are generally susceptible to a BTV-8 infection, it indicates that these species play a negligible role in BTV epidemiology.     

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.     

Stand Density Management Diagrams for Three Exotic Tree Species in Smallholder Plantations in Vietnam

When smallholder farmers establish tree plantations to sell wood to the wood industry, they may run into problems when the plantations are mature and to be marketed because these farmers usually (1) do not know how to estimate the growing stock and (2) do not have sufficient knowledge of the wood markets. In this study, we tackle problem (1) and present stand density management diagrams (SDMDs) as a simple tool that allows rapid estimation of standing volume from data that stem from very basic inventory. Our data come from smallholder plantations in Vietnam, from four communes in the provinces of Binh Dinh and Phu Tho. Immense afforestation activities have been taken place in the country during the past two decades and it is special to Vietnam that a large share of these afforestations are under smallholder management with the goal to generate an additional source of income for these rural poor. A certain type of SDMDs is elaborated for three important exotic tree species commonly used for establishing industrial tree plantations (Acacia hybrid, Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus urophylla). They can be used for volume estimation and are also a tool to guide stand management and silvicultural treatments in general. Both implementation of the inventory and usage of the SDMDs are straightforward and simple so that this tool may be well suited to support smallholders in a better informed marketing of their wood, as well as, a better informed silvicultural management of their plantations.     

Effects of perennial fodder crops on soil structure in agricultural headlands

In agricultural headlands, rooting and yield of crops may be limited because of soil‐structure changes as a consequence of multiple passes of turning machinery. We hypothesized that perennial forage crops can substantially alter soil structure in agricultural headlands. On one experimental field and two commercial farms on Haplic Luvisols from respectively loess and sandy loess in the Lower Rhine Bay (Germany), we investigated how 4 y of continuously grown grass/clover or alfalfa affected soil structure and the performance of subsequent spring wheat. Compared with a crop rotation with annual plowing to 30 cm soil depth, perennial forage crops led to increased soil C content (+1.3% to +22.8%) and N content (+4.2% to +15.1%), higher densities of medium and coarse biopores at a depth of 35 cm, more large water‐stable soil macroaggregates, higher biomass and abundance of anecic earthworms, and higher grain yield and grain protein content of spring wheat grown as the following crop. Root‐length density of spring wheat in the subsoil was not affected by the preceding perennial fodder crops in two of the three field trials. We concluded that besides increasing N input to the soil, perennial cropping of grass/clover or alfalfa has effects on soil structure that may substantially reduce yield losses in agricultural headlands.