ABSTRACT
Dengue virus (DENV) and its four serotypes (DENV1-4) belong to the Flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family. DENV infection is a life-threatening disease, which results in up to 20,000 deaths each year. Viruses have been shown to encode trans-regulatory small RNAs, or microRNAs (miRNAs), which bind to messenger RNA and negatively regulate host or viral gene expression. During DENV infections, miRNAs interact with proteins in the RNAi pathway, and are processed by ribonucleases such as Dicer and Drosha. This study aims to investigate Drosha, DGCR8, and Dicer expression levels in human A-549 cells following DENV4 infection. DENV4 infected A-549 cells were collected daily for 5 days, and RNA was extracted to quantify viral load. Gene expression of Drosha, Dicer, and DGCR8 was determined using quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). We found that DENV4 infection exhibited the highest viral load 3 days post-infection. Dicer, Drosha, and DGCR8 showed reduced expression following DENV4 infection as compared with negative controls. In addition, we hypothesize that reduced expression of DGCR8 may not only be related to miRNA biogenesis, but also other small RNAs. This study may change our understanding regarding the relationship between host cells and the dengue virus.
Subject(s)
DEAD-box RNA Helicases/biosynthesis , Dengue Virus/genetics , Dengue Virus/pathogenicity , Dengue/metabolism , RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis , RNA-Binding Proteins/biosynthesis , Ribonuclease III/biosynthesis , A549 Cells , DEAD-box RNA Helicases/genetics , DEAD-box RNA Helicases/metabolism , Dengue/genetics , Dengue/virology , Down-Regulation , Gene Expression Regulation , Humans , MicroRNAs/genetics , MicroRNAs/metabolism , RNA Interference , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Ribonuclease III/genetics , Ribonuclease III/metabolism , Viral LoadABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of peanut consumption on fecal energy excretion with a balanced, non-vegetarian diet. DESIGN: Four arm parallel group design (that is, whole peanut (P), peanut butter (PB), peanut oil (PO) or peanut flour (PF) consumption) with one crossover (control and intervention). SUBJECTS: In total 63 healthy men and women from Ghana, Brazil and USA (N=15-16 per group) with an average body mass index of 21.8 kg m(-2). MEASUREMENTS: Percent fat of fecal wet weight daily energy excretion during the control and the treatment periods. RESULTS: Compared to control, the percentage of fat in the feces increased significantly for the P group (5.22+/-0.29%) relative to the other three groups ((PO=3.07+/-0.36%, PB=3.11+/-0.31% (P=0.001), and PF=3.75+/-0.40% (P=0.019)). The same findings held for kJ g(-1) of feces excreted. During the P supplementation period, the energy excretion was 21.4+/-1.0 kJ g(-1) versus 18.7+/-1.0 kJ g(-1) for PO (P=0.034), 18.8+/-0.7 kJ g(-1) for PB (P=0.042) and 18.5+/-0.8 kJ g(-1) for PF (P=0.028). CONCLUSION: Fecal fat and energy loss is greater with consumption of whole peanuts compared to peanut butter, oil or flour. This may contribute to the less than predicted change of body weight observed with peanut consumption. There were no cultural differences.
Subject(s)
Arachis , Dietary Fats, Unsaturated/pharmacology , Digestion/physiology , Energy Metabolism/physiology , Feces/chemistry , Nutritional Status/physiology , Weight Loss/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Itacaiunas and Curionopolis viruses were isolated from Culicoides midges in Parauapebas municipality, Pará state, Brazil, in 1984 and 1985, respectively. Itacaiunas virus infected newborn mice and mosquito cells (C6/36), but did not replicate in some mammalian cell lineages; while Curionopolis virus infected only mice. Neither virus showed a serological relationship with any of the 195 known arboviruses circulating in Brazil, nor against 38 other rhabdoviruses isolated worldwide. Both virus particles are bullet-shaped and similar in morphology to that observed for other members of the family Rhabdoviridae. Partial nucleotide sequencing of the N protein showed that those two viruses constitute a separate clade in the family Rhabdoviridae, which we propose to be a new genus, designated Bracorhabdovirus.
