Kurilosides A1, A2, C1, D,E and F—Triterpene Glycosides from the Far Eastern Sea Cucumber Thyonidium (= Duasmodactyla) kurilensis (Levin): Structures with Unusual Non-Holostane Aglycones and Cytotoxicities

Six new monosulfated triterpene tetra-, penta- and hexaosides, namely, the kurilosides A₁ (1), A₂ (2), C₁ (3), D (4), E (5) and F (6), as well as the known earlier kuriloside A (7), having unusual non-holostane aglycones without lactone, have been isolated from the sea cucumber Thyonidium (= Duasmodactyla) kurilensis (Levin) (Cucumariidae, Dendrochirotida), collected in the Sea of Okhotsk near Onekotan Island from a depth of 100 m. Structures of the glycosides were established by 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI mass spectrometry. Kurilosides of the groups A and E contain carbohydrate moieties with a rare architecture (a pentasaccharide branched by C(4) Xyl1), differing from each other in the second monosaccharide residue (quinovose or glucose, correspondingly); kurilosides of the group C are characterized by a unique tetrasaccharide branched by a C(4) Xyl1 sugar chain; and kurilosides of the groups D and F are hexaosides differing from each other in the presence of an O-methyl group in the fourth (terminal) sugar unit. All these glycosides contain a sulfate group at C-6 of the glucose residue attached to C-4 Xyl1 and the non-holostane aglycones have a 9(11) double bond and lack γ-lactone. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1–7 against mouse neuroblastoma Neuro 2a, normal epithelial JB-6 cells and erythrocytes were studied. Kuriloside A₁ (1) was the most active compound in the series, demonstrating strong cytotoxicity against the erythrocytes and JB-6 cells and a moderate effect against Neuro 2a cells.     

Seasoned Sprat Products’ Acceptance in Estonia and in Thailand

The aim of the study was to describe and evaluate competitiveness of Estonian spice-cured sprat products in Estonia and Thailand. Sample A was saltiest, Sample B had lowest overall spiciness, and Sample C had highest pepper flavor and sour taste intensity. The main drivers of consumer acceptance for the spice-cured sprat products were different: flavor and appearance in Estonia and appearance and odor in Thailand. In Estonia, one cluster of consumers liked the traditional (Sample A) and lightly spiced (Sample B) sprat products, while the other cluster liked the traditional (Sample A) and the marinated (Sample C) sprat products. In Thailand, all samples scored low, but manual clustering indicated that marinated (Sample C) sprat products are most acceptable. The current study showed that spice-cured sprat products in general can be accepted by Thai consumers, especially as part of meals, if further flavor development is carried out with the products.     

Defining the immune response to Ehrlichia species using murine models

Pathogenic bacteria belonging to the family Anaplasmataceae include species of the genera Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. Ehrlichia chaffeensis, first known as the causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, also infects several vertebrate hosts including white-tailed deer, dogs, coyotes and goats. E. chaffeensis is transmitted from the bite of an infected hard tick, such as Amblyomma americanum. E. chaffeensis and other tick-transmitted pathogens have adapted to both the tick and vertebrate host cell environments. Although E. chaffeensis persists in both vertebrate and tick hosts for long periods of time, little is known about that process. Immunological studies will be valuable in assessing how the pathogen persists in nature in both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Understanding the host immune response to the pathogen originating from dual host backgrounds is also important to develop effective methods of diagnosis, control and treatment. In this paper, we provide our perspective of the current understanding of the immune response against E. chaffeensis in relation to other related Anaplasmataceae pathogens.     

Evaluation of a combined transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure and pulse oximetry sensor in adult sheep and dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a combined transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure (tcPCO(2)) and pulse oximetry sensor in sheep and dogs. ANIMALS: 13 adult sheep and 11 adult dogs. PROCEDURES: During inhalation anesthesia, for the first 10 minutes following sensor placement, arterial blood gas was analyzed and tcPCO(2) was recorded every 2 minutes. Subsequently, the animals were hyper-, normo-, and hypoventilated. The simultaneously obtained tcPCO(2) and PaCO(2) values were analyzed by use of Bland-Altman statistical analysis. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD overall difference between tcPCO(2) and PaCO(2) 10 minutes after sensor application was 13.3 +/- 8.4 mm Hg in sheep and 8.9 +/- 12 mm Hg in dogs. During hyper-, normo-, and hypoventilation, mean difference (bias) and precision (limits of agreement [bias +/- 2 SD]) between tcPCO(2) and PaCO(2) values were 13.2 +/- 10.4 mm Hg (limits of agreement, -7.1 and 33.5 mm Hg) in sheep and 10.6 +/- 10.5 mm Hg (limits of agreement, -9.9 and 31.2 mm Hg) in dogs, respectively. Changes in PaCO(2) induced by different ventilation settings were detected by the tcPCO(2) sensor with a lag (response) time of 4.9 +/- 3.5 minutes for sheep and 6.2 +/- 3.6 minutes for dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The tcPCO(2) sensor overestimated PaCO(2) in sheep and dogs and followed changes in PaCO(2) with a considerable lag time. The tcPCO(2) sensor might be useful for noninvasive monitoring of changes but cannot be used as a surrogate measure for PaCO(2).     

Development of resistance to pyrethroids in insects resistant to other insecticides

Resistance to pyrethroids in insects is rare, but its recent rapid development in the field suggests that this resistance may be facilitated by previous exposure to or by resistance to insecticides of unrelated groups. To test this houseflies of strain 49_r2b, originally resistant to dimethoate in the field, were selected eight times during ten generations with either pyrethrum extract or bioresmethrin with or without piperonyl butoxide or with dimethoate. Selecting with any of the pyrethroids led to resistance to these insecticides and in particular to pyrethrum/piperonyl butoxide. Selecting with pyrethrum/piperonyl butoxide resulted in strongest resistance to the pyrethroids tested, whereas selecting with bioresmethrin/piperonyl butoxide resulted in least resistance. These results show that dimethoate-resistant flies selected with pyrethroids can readily develop resistance to these insecticides, but development of resistance can be minimised by using bioresmethrin/piperonyl butoxide. The implications of these findings on the sequential use of insecticides are discussed.     

Neuroprotective Metabolites from Vietnamese Marine Derived Fungi of Aspergillus and Penicillium Genera

Low molecular weight secondary metabolites of marine fungi Aspergillus flocculosus, Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium sp. from Van Phong and Nha Trang Bays (Vietnam) were studied and a number of polyketides, bis-indole quinones and terpenoids were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. Stereochemistry of some compounds was established based on ECD data. A chemical structure of asterriquinone F (6) was thoroughly described for the first time. Anthraquinone (13) was firstly obtained from a natural source. Neuroprotective influences of the isolated compounds against 6-OHDA, paraquat and rotenone toxicity were investigated. 4-Hydroxyscytalone (1), 4-hydroxy-6-dehydroxyscytalone (2) and demethylcitreoviranol (3) have shown significant increasing of paraquat- and rotenone-treated Neuro-2a cell viability and anti-ROS activity.     

Effect of temperature on growth and survival of maraena whitefish Coregonus maraena (Bloch 1779) larvae in controlled conditions

This 28‐day study investigated the effect of three rearing temperatures, 11, 15 and 19°C, on survival and growth of maraena whitefish fry in a recirculating aquaculture system. Three groups of larvae in three repetitions were reared in recirculating system. Each group comprised 200 larvae. Feeding level was fixed at 500–700 Artemia sp. metanauplii per fish per day. Larvae were fed fresh live brine shrimp at 10 ml/tank every 3 hr. Significantly higher body weight (p = 0.00), total length (p = 0.00), larval yield (p = 0.00) and condition factor (p = 0.00) were obtained at 19°C compared to 15 and 11°C, as well as at 15°C compared to 11°C. Significantly higher survival (p = 0.00) was observed in larvae reared at 11 and 15°C compare to 19°C and no significant differences were observed between 11°C compared to 15°C. No significant differences in size heterogeneity among treatments were found (p = 0.46). In larviculture, the optimal assessed temperature for growth of maraena whitefish was 19°C, with highest survival observed at 11°C, at the end of this 28 days trial. The findings in this study apply to the particular study location and may not be applicable more broadly.     

Novel technique for definite blastomere inhibition and distribution of maternal RNA in sterlet Acipenser ruthenus embryo

Fisheries Science - The cleavage pattern of a vertebrate’s embryo is either holoblastic (complete) or meroblastic (partial). Sturgeon and other basal bony fishes represent a transition of the...     

Effect of pH on Structural Changes in Perch Hemoglobin that Can Alter Redox Stability and Heme Affinity

pH can be manipulated to alter the oxidative stability of fish-based foods during storage. X-ray diffraction was used to investigate the ability of reduced pH to cause structural changes in fish hemoglobins that lead to enhanced oxidative degradation. Decreasing pH from 8.0 to 6.3 and 5.7 created a large channel for solvent entry into the heme crevice of perch hemoglobin beta chains. The proton-induced opening of this channel occurred between site CD3 and the heme-6-propionate. Solvent entry into the heme crevice can enhance metHb formation and hemin loss, processes that accelerate lipid oxidation. Reduced pH also decreased the distance between Ile at E11 in one of the alpha chains and the ligand above the heme iron atom. This sterically displaces O₂ and protonated O₂ which increases metHb formation. These studies demonstrate that pH reduction causes structural changes in perch hemoglobin which increase oxidative degradation of the heme pigment.