Bioinformatic analysis of eosinophil activity and its implications for model and target species.

Eosinophils are important immune cells that have been implicated in resistance to gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections in both naturally and experimentally infected sheep. Proteins of particular importance appear to be IgA-Fc alpha receptor (FcαRI), C-C chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3), proteoglycan 3 (PRG3, major basic protein 2) and EPX (eosinophil peroxidase). We used known human nucleotide sequences to search the ruminant genomes, followed by translation to protein and sequence alignments to visualize differences between sequences and species. Where a sequence was retrieved for cow, but not for sheep and goat, this was used additionally as a reference sequence. In this review, we show that eosinophil function varies among host species. Consequently, investigations into the mechanisms of ruminant immune responses to GIN should be conducted using the natural host. Specifically, we address differences in protein sequence and structure for eosinophil proteins.

Introduction of marine-derived Streptomyces sp. UTMC 1334 as a source of pyrrole derivatives with anti-acetylcholinesterase activity.

AIM: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are the most viable therapeutic target for its symptomatic treatment. The present study was aimed at exploring anti-AChE metabolite producing marine Actinobacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 220 isolates, 34 Actinobacteria extracts were tested for the presence of AChE inhibitors. The obtained results showed that bacterial strain UTMC 1334, inhibited AChE activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50  = 0·36 ± 0·019 mg ml-1 ). Based on anti-oxidant and cytotoxicity studies, the most potent extract was able to scavenge DPPH radicals with an IC50 value of 45·67 µg ml-1 with the least cytotoxicity. The GC-MS analysis demonstrated that the mentioned activities could be related to pyrrole-derived compounds as were found the predominant constituents in the extract. The most active extract belonged to the strain that shows 99·41% similarity with Streptomyces lateritius based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show anti-AChE activity is prevalent in marine Actinobacteria, and even in rather comparable prevalence with the antibiotics. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study highlights that exploring new lead anti-AChE compounds may result in discovering novel adjuvant candidates with potency in the treatment of cognitive diseases such as AD.

Self-similarity of Mn(II)-induced trypsin activity oscillations. Experimental evidence.

Aperiodic self-similar oscillations of trypsin activity were shown by experiments conducted in the presence of Mn2+ ion at pH 8.2 and -10 degrees C in frozen (cryo-oscillations) and at 0 degrees and 25 degrees C under unstirred conditions, respectively. The solution of trypsin obtained by trypsinogen activation and of 0.1 M MnCl2 was distributed into samples or kept in batches at the experimental temperature and sampled. At given time intervals the samples were tested for tryptic activity. In experiments at -10 degrees C the samples were frozen at the initiating of the series. The irregular shapes of activity curves as well as the trajectory of a next-amplitude plot is discussed as a result of a sensitive coupling between the chemical/conformational and diffusional controls of the enzyme activity in the far-from-equilibrium heterogeneous system. These indicate that the self-similar character of the trypsin activity oscillations can be considered on a phenomenological level.