Rats' urinary metabolomes reveal the potential roles of functional foods and exercise in obesity management.

The complexity of the metabolic changes in obese individuals still presents a challenge for the understanding of obesity-related metabolic disruptions and for obesity management. In this study, a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based metabolomics approach targeting urine metabolism has been applied to assess the potential roles of functional foods and exercise for obesity management in rats. Male albino rats diagnosed as obese via histopathology and biochemical assays were administered functional foods in common use for obesity management including pomegranate, grapefruit, and red cabbage juice extracts in parallel with swimming exercise. Urine samples were collected from these rats, and likewise from healthy control animals, for metabolite analysis using (GC-MS) coupled to multivariate data analysis. The results revealed a significant elevation in oxalate and phosphate levels in obese rat urine concurrent with lower lactate levels as compared to the control group. Furthermore, and to pinpoint the bioactive agents in the administered functional foods, ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) was employed for secondary metabolite profiling. The different phenolic classes found in the examined functional foods, viz. ellagitannins in pomegranate, flavanones in grapefruit and flavonols in red cabbage, are likely to mediate their anti-obesity effects. The results indicate that these functional foods and exercise were quite effective in reverting obesity-related metabolic disruptions back to normal status, as revealed by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA).

Genetic differences between strains of Biomphalaria glabrata (Planorbidae) that are susceptible and unsusceptible to schistosomiasis.

Despite the implementation control programs, schistosomiasis continues to spread throughout the world. Among modern control strategies, vector control is currently being emphasized. Within this context, analysis of the genetic variability of intermediate host snails (Biomphalaria spp) is important because it allows identification of specific sequences of the genome of this mollusk related to susceptibility/resistance to Schistosoma mansoni infection. We investigated Brazilian albino (non-pigmented) and pigmented (wild type) strains of Biomphalaria glabrata; these strains differ in their susceptibility to S. mansoni infection. Genetic variability was studied by RAPD-PCR using different random primers. The electrophoretic patterns resulting from amplification showed specific polymorphic markers for the albino and pigmented strains of B. glabrata. This information will help in the identification and isolation of genes specifically related to susceptibility, demonstrating that RAPD-PCR is an appropriate and efficient methodological approach for analysis of the genetic variability of schistosomiasis vectors.

Schistosome/mollusk: genetic compatibility.

Schistosomiasis remains one of the most prevalent parasitic infections and has significant economic and public health consequences in many developing countries. Economic development and improvement in standard of living in these countries are dependent on the elimination of this odious disease. For the control of Schistosomiasis, understanding the host/parasite association is important, since the host parasite relationship is often complex and since questions remain concerning the susceptibility of snails to infection by respective trematodes and their specificity and suitability as hosts for continued parasite development. Thus, the long term aim of this research is to learn more about the genetic basis of the snail/parasite relationship with the hope of finding novel ways to disrupt the transmission of this disease. In the current research, genetic variability among susceptible and resistant strains within and between Biomphalaria glabrata and B. tenagophila was investigated using RAPD-PCR. The results indicate great genetic variations within the two snail species using three different primers (intrapopulational variations), while specimens from the same snail species showed few individual differences between the susceptible and resistant strains (interpopulational variation).

Schistosome/mollusk: genetic compatibility

Schistosomiasis remains one of the most prevalent parasitic infections and has significant economic and public health consequences in many developing countries. Economic development and improvement in standard of living in these countries are dependent on the elimination of this odious disease. For the control of Schistosomiasis, understanding the host/parasite association is important, since the host parasite relationship is often complex and since questions remain concerning the susceptibility of snails to infection by respective trematodes and their specificity and suitability as hosts for continued parasite development. Thus, the long term aim of this research is to learn more about the genetic basis of the snail/parasite relationship with the hope of finding novel ways to disrupt the transmission of this disease. In the current research, genetic variability among susceptible and resistant strains within and between Biomphalaria glabrata and B. tenagophila was investigated using RAPD-PCR. The results indicate great genetic variations within the two snail species using three different primers (intrapopulational variations), while specimens from the same snail species showed few individual differences between the susceptible and resistant strains (interpopulational variation).

Genetic markers between Biomphalaria glabrata snails susceptible and resistant to Schistosoma mansoni infection.

The analysis of the genetic variability related to susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni infection in the vector of the genus Biomphalaria is important in terms of a better understanding of the epidemiology of schistosomiasis itself, the possible pathological implications of this interaction in vertebrate hosts, and the formulation of new strategies and approaches for disease control. In the present study, the genetic variability of B. glabrata strains found to be resistant or susceptible to S. mansoni infection was investigated using DNA amplification by random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). The amplification products were analyzed on 8% polyacrylamide gel and stained with silver. We selected 10 primers, since they have previously been useful to detect polymorphism among B. glabrata and/or B. tenagophila. The results showed polymorphisms with 5 primers. Polymorphic bands observed only in the susceptible strain. The RAPD-PCR methodology represents an adequate approach for the analysis of genetic polymorphisms. The understanding of the genetic polymorphisms associated to resistance may contribute to the future identification of genomic sequences related to the resistance/susceptibility of Biomphalaria to the larval forms of S. mansoni and to the development of new strategies for the control of schistosomiasis.

Genetic markers between Biomphalaria glabrata snails susceptible and resistant to Schistosoma mansoni infection

The analysis of the genetic variability related to susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni infection in the vector of the genus Biomphalaria is important in terms of a better understanding of the epidemiology of schistosomiasis itself, the possible pathological implications of this interaction in vertebrate hosts, and the formulation of new strategies and approaches for disease control. In the present study, the genetic variability of B. glabrata strains found to be resistant or susceptible to S. mansoni infection was investigated using DNA amplification by random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). The amplification products were analyzed on 8 percent polyacrylamide gel and stained with silver. We selected 10 primers, since they have previously been useful to detect polymorphism among B. glabrata and/or B. tenagophila. The results showed polymorphisms with 5 primers. Polymorphic bands observed only in the susceptible strain. The RAPD-PCR methodology represents an adequate approach for the analysis of genetic polymorphisms. The understanding of the genetic polymorphisms associated to resistance may contribute to the future identification of genomic sequences related to the resistance/susceptibility of Biomphalaria to the larval forms of S. mansoni and to the development of new strategies for the control of schistosomiasis

Development of bait formulations for control of intermediate hosts of African schistosome species.

Exploration of methods of snail control indicated a need for a new method because many failures in control programmes are due to lack of contact between molluscicides and the target snail population. The incorporation of molluscicides inside food pellets that are attractive to and ingestible by the target snails is suggested. Different concentrations of alcoholic extracts of Ambrosia maritima, Cucumis prophetarum and Rhynchosia minima-molluscicides of plant origin-were compared with niclosamide (Bayluscide) which is a strong synthetic molluscicide. They were incorporated into attractive food pellets and the lethal doses were determined. The results showed that Biomphalaria alexandrina snails are sensitive to only bait formulations with low concentrations of molluscicides. Laboratory and semi-field trials were conducted to study the efficacy of the prepared bait formulations on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. The stability of these bait formulations was studied and it was observed that their effectiveness was reduced after long storage periods (> 3 weeks). The results revealed that Ambrosia maritima was the most effective molluscicide.

Studies on the nucleic acid of human bladder carcinoma.

DNA was isolated from different histopathologic types and grades of human bladder carcinoma. The isolated DNA was submitted to quantitative determination and base composition analysis. A pilot study was done on the effect of gamma irradiation as a physical mutagen on characteristics of DNA in the examined tissues. Identity in the genetic components in the urinary bilharziasis snails and the human bladder cancer was observed. The same was observed in both intestinal bilharziasis snails and the cancerous intestinal tissues.

Studies on fresh water snails, specific intermediate hosts for schistosomiasis 1--isolation of total lipids from native and irradiated snails.

Total lipids were isolated from native and irradiated Biomphalaria alexandrina snails, specific intermediate hosts for Schistosoma mansoni.