Multibiomarker responses after exposure to a sublethal concentration of thiamethoxam in the African honeybee (Apis mellifera intermissa).

Thiamethoxam is an insecticide mainly used in agriculture to control insect pests. However, non-target insect species, such as honeybees, may also be impacted. In this study, adults of Apis mellifera intermissa were orally exposed under laboratory conditions to a sublethal concentration of thiamethoxam (CL25= 0.17 ng/µl) for 9 days and the effects were evaluated at the biochemical level, by monitoring specific oxidative stress and neuronal biomarkers. Results showed an increase in the antioxidant enzymes, glutatione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and in content of malondialdehyde (MDA). The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was downregulated as evidence of a neurotoxic action and no significant change was observed in glutathione (GSH). Exposure to the insecticide thiamethoxam induced oxidative stress and defense mechanisms affecting honeybee physiology.

Next-generation sequence data demonstrate several pathogenic bee viruses in Middle East and African honey bee subspecies (Apis mellifera syriaca, Apis mellifera intermissa) as well as their cohabiting pathogenic mites (Varroa destructor).

RNA viruses are associated with honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony losses in many parts of the world. Their consequences may be exacerbated when the ectoparasite mite Varroa destructor is present in hives. While evidence of pathogenic, viral-induced disease is abundant in western honey bees (Apis mellifera mellifera) from many parts of the world, less information exists regarding the pathogen load of Apis mellifera syriaca and Apis mellifera intermissa, honey bees from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that play substantial roles in regional beekeeping. Here, we used next-generation sequencing to evaluate the viral populations of these subspecies and their associated mites. We found that both A. m. syriaca and A. m. intermissa, as well as the Varroa mites infecting their colonies, bear a suite of RNA viruses including major pathogenic viruses like Deformed wing virus, Acute bee paralysis virus, Black queen cell virus and Sacbrood virus, and less common viruses (e.g., bee Macula-like virus and Apis mellifera filamentous virus). The two native honey bee MENA subspecies have acquired different but overlapping suites of pathogens, which also differ, but overlap, with the suites detected in the mites. The presence of plant viruses suggests that they were acquired from foraging for pollen and nectar. Phylogenetic analysis of the above common pathogenic RNA viruses showed unexpected genetic relationships with other known strains, indicative of import to MENA from outside of the region. Our findings indicate that it is important to carefully consider the impact of the movement of queens and mobile colonies, and the effects such movement have, on the transmission of disease.

Combination of the Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reaction with Engineered Transaminases.

The combination of enzymatic and chemical reaction steps is one important area of research in organic synthesis, preferentially as cascade reactions in one-pot to improve total conversion and achieve high operational stability. Here, the combination of the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction is described to synthesize biaryl compounds followed by a transamination reaction. Careful optimization of the reaction conditions required for the chemo- and biocatalysis reaction enabled an efficient two-step-one-pot reaction yielding the final chiral amines with excellent optical purity (>99 % ee) in up to 84 % total conversion. Key to the success was the protein engineering of the amine transaminases from Asperguillus fumigatus (4CHI-TA) where single alanine mutations increased the conversion up to 2.3-fold. Finally, the transfer to a continuous flow system after immobilization of the best 4CHI-TA variant is demonstrated.

Highly efficient and easy protease-mediated protein purification.

As both research on and application of proteins are rarely focused on the resistance towards nonspecific proteases, this property remained widely unnoticed, in particular in terms of protein purification and related fields. In the present study, diverse aspects of protease-mediated protein purification (PMPP) were explored on the basis of the complementary proteases trypsin and proteinase K as well as the model proteins green fluorescent protein (GFP) from Aequorea victoria, lipase A from Candida antarctica (CAL-A), a transaminase from Aspergillus fumigatus (AspFum), quorum quenching lactonase AiiA from Bacillus sp., and an alanine dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus (AlaDH). While GFP and AiiA were already known to be protease resistant, the thermostable enzymes CAL-A, AspFum, and AlaDH were selected due to the documented correlation between thermostability and protease resistance. As proof of principle for PMPP, recombinant GFP remained unaffected whereas most Escherichia coli (E. coli) host proteins were degraded by trypsin. PMPP was highly advantageous compared to the widely used heat-mediated purification of commercial CAL-A. The resistance of AspFum towards trypsin was improved by rational protein design introducing point mutation R20Q. Trypsin also served as economical and efficient substitute for site-specific endopeptidases for the removal of a His-tag fused to AiiA. Moreover, proteolysis of host enzymes with interfering properties led to a strongly improved sensitivity and accuracy of the NADH assay in E. coli cell lysate for AlaDH activity measurements. Thus, PMPP is an attractive alternative to common protein purification methods and facilitates also enzyme characterization in cell lysate.

[Radiation-induced submandibular extra-osseous osteogenic sarcoma]. / Strahleninduziertes submandibulares extraossäres osteogenes Sarkom.

Extraskeletal osteogenic sarcoma of the head and neck are extremely rare. This case report describes a 55-year-old patient who has suffered from four squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the mouth since 1985. Thirteen years after successful radical resection of the SCC of the planum buccale left and radiotherapy, the patient developed a radiation-induced extraskeletal submandibular sarcoma on the left [7, 8, 9, 12]. The primary sarcoma developed in the planum buccale, the area which had been repeatedly exposed to radiotherapy, and spread into the soft tissue. The difficulties of the clinical diagnosis, the morphology of the tumor and therapeutic procedure are described. This case demonstrates the problems of radiotherapy in SCC.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the mandibular canal. Possible differential diagnosis of cystic processes of the mandible]. / Leiomyosarkome im Canalis mandibularis. Mögliche Differentialdiagnose zystischer Prozesse im Unterkiefer.

Leiomyosarcomas in the mandible are extremely rare. The cases of a 40-year-old woman with a leiomyosarcoma in the mandible is reported. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems are discussed.

[Results of a comparative prospective randomized study of surgical removal of mandibular wisdom teeth with and without rubber drainage]. / Ergebnisse einer prospektiv randomisierten Studie zur operativen Entfernung unterer Weisheitszähne mit und ohne Gummi-Drainage im Vergleich.

This investigation compared the results of 2 types of wound closure - primary closure technique with and without Penrose drains (Naturallatex) - after mandibular third Molar removal. In both the test group (n = 27) and control group (n = 25), the molar were removed using a buccal mucoperiosteal flap. The test group received a drain partially submerged into the socket to secure more drainage of woundsecrete. Examination were performed 1 day, 3 days and 7 days after surgery, and swelling, trismus, pain and analgetic consommation were recorded. Analysis of Variance indicated that there was significant difference between the 2 methods. The drain method appears to minimize postoperative edema, trismus, pain and analgetic consommation, and thus contributes to enhanced patient comfort.

Cerebral atrophy: a schistosomiasis manifestation?

Preliminary studies with sonography indicated that a reduced brain mantle index and dilated ventricles were frequently seen in patients with chronic Schistosoma mansoni infection. Computerized tomography (CT) was used to confirm our earlier observations and to obtain more accurate measures. Brain scans of 25 patients with chronic S. mansoni infection showed mild to moderate degrees of cortical atrophy in 9 cases (36%) and central atrophy in 3 (12%). The remaining 16 subjects and 10 controls showed normal brain scans. The present study is the first report documented by CT showing a significant correlation between chronic S. mansoni infection and cerebral atrophy.

Study of chemical constituents of thoracic duct lymph in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.

Concentrations of serum and thoracic duct proteins, immunoglobulins, lipids, enzymes and electrolytes were estimated in 15 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and presinusoidal obstruction and in 12 controls. There was a significant decrease of thoracic duct total proteins, albumin and triglycerides, with marked and significant increase in IgG and IgM in SHF, compared to the controls. The levels of transaminases, alkaline phosphatases and inorganic phosphorus were significantly higher in the lymph of SHF patients compared with healthy controls. It is presumed that these changes represent the pattern of lymph constituents in presinusoidal obstruction.