Exploring the microbiome of two uterine sites in cows.

Bacterial communities in the mammalian reproductive system can be rich and diverse, differing in structure and quantity depending on location. In addition, its microbiome is associated with the state of health of this tract and reproductive success. This study evaluated the microbiome composition of the uterine body (UB) and uterine horn mucosa (UH) samples using 16S rRNA sequencing of samples extracted from cows in the Amazon region. It was observed that four main phyla were shared between the uterine sites: Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. Linear discriminant analysis effect size and heat tree analysis showed that members of Lachnospiraceae (NK3A20 group) and Oscillospiraceae were significantly more abundant in the UB than in UH. In addition, there are more unique genera in the UB than in the UH. A higher bacterial load in UB than in UH is expected because of the exposure to external factors of UB. However, comparing the site's communities through beta diversity did not generate well-defined clustering. Thus, it can be attributed to the closeness of the sites, which would make the niches similar ecologically and microbiologically. Therefore, this research provides knowledge to understand biomarkers in the prior reproduction period.

Asociación de polimorfismos en los genes CAPN y CAST con propiedades fisicoquímicas de la carne bovina: una revisión / Association of polymorphisms in CAPN and CAST genes with physicochemical properties of beef: a review / Associação de polimorfismos nos genes CAPN e CAST com propriedades físico-químicas da carne bovina: uma revisão

Resumen Las propiedades fisicoquímicas como terneza, color, jugosidad, sabor, marmoleo, pH y capacidad de retención de agua, son consideradas como los atributos que tienen mayor importancia en la calidad de la carne. El manejo post mortem influye en el funcionamiento del sistema proteolítico de las enzimas µ-calpaínas y calpastatinas, que están codificadas por los genes CAPN1 y CAST, respectivamente. Esta revisión muestra las asociaciones de los polimorfismos CAPN1 y CAST con el fin de explicar las propiedades fisicoquímicas antes mencionadas, que determinan las características relacionadas con la calidad de la carne. Existen polimorfismos de CAPN1 y CAST asociados a propiedades fisicoquímicas particulares de la carne, pero no todos los polimorfismos se asocian con las propiedades mencionadas. La actividad del sistema proteolítico de las enzimas varía según el manejo peri y post mortem. La presencia o ausencia de un polimorfismo varía entre razas. Por consiguiente, las asociaciones de polimorfismos de nucleótido simple con las propiedades fisicoquímicas de la carne mencionadas en esta revisión podrían ayudar a mejorar los indicadores de calidad de la carne bovina.

Abstract Physicochemical properties such as tenderness, color, juiciness, flavor, marbling, pH and water retention capacity, are considered the most important attributes in the meat quality. Posmortem management influences the functioning of the proteolytic system of the enzymes calpains and calpastatins, which are encoded by CAPN1 and CAST genes, respectively. This review displays the associations of CAPN1 and CAST polymorphisms in order to explain the aforementioned physicochemical properties, which determine the characteristics relate to the beef quality. There are CAPN1 and CAST polymorphisms associated with particular physicochemical properties of meat, but not all polymorphisms are associated with the mentioned properties. The activity of enzymes proteolytic system varies according to peri and posmortem management. The presence or absence of a polymorphism varies between races. Therefore, the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms with the physicochemical properties of meat mentioned in this review could help to improve the quality indicators of beef.

Resumo Propriedades físico-químicas como maciez, cor, suculência, sabor, marmorização, pH e capacidade de retenção da água, são consideradas os atributos mais importantes na qualidade da carne. O manejo pós-morte influencia o funcionamento do sistema proteolítico das enzimas calpaína e calpastatina, que são codificadas pelos genes CAPN1 e CAST, respectivamente. Esta revisão mostra as associações dos polimorfismos CAPN1 e CAST para explicar as propriedades físico-químicas citadas, que determinam as características relacionadas à qualidade da carne. Existem polimorfismos CAPN1 e CAST associados a propriedades físico-químicas específicas da carne, mas nem todos os polimorfismos estão associados às propriedades mencionadas. A atividade das enzimas do sistema proteolítico varia de acordo com o manejo peri e pos-mortem. A presença ou ausência de um polimorfismo varia entre as raças. Portanto, as associações de polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único com as propriedades físico-químicas da carne mencionadas nesta revisão poderiam ajudar a melhorar os indicadores de qualidade da carne bovina.

Circulating miR-16-5p, miR-92a-3p, and miR-451a in Plasma from Lung Cancer Patients: Potential Application in Early Detection and a Regulatory Role in Tumorigenesis Pathways.

BACKGROUND: Micro(mi)RNAs, potent gene expression regulators associated with tumorigenesis, are stable, abundant circulating molecules, and detectable in plasma. Thus, miRNAs could potentially be useful in early lung cancer detection. We aimed to identify circulating miRNA signatures in plasma from patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), and to verify whether miRNAs regulate lung oncogenesis pathways. METHODS: RNA isolated from 139 plasma samples (40 LUAD, 38 LUSC; 61 healthy/non-diseased individuals) were divided into discovery (38 patients; 21 controls for expression quantification using an 800-miRNA panel; Nanostring nCounter®) and validation (40 patients; 40 controls; TaqMan® RT-qPCR) cohorts. Elastic net, Maximizing-R-Square Analysis (MARSA), and C-Statistics were applied for miRNA signature identification. RESULTS: When compared to healthy individuals, 580 of 606 deregulated miRNAs in LUAD and 221 of 226 deregulated miRNAs in LUSC had significantly increased levels. Among the 10 most significantly overexpressed miRNAs, 6 were common to patients with LUAD and LUSC. Further analysis identified three signatures composed of 12 miRNAs. Signatures included miRNAs commonly overexpressed in patient plasma. Enriched pathways included target genes modulated by three miRNAs in the C-Statistics signature: miR-16-5p, miR-92a-3p, and miR-451a. CONCLUSIONS: The 3-miRNA signature (miR-16-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-451a) had high specificity (100%) and sensitivity (84%) to predict cancer (LUAD and LUSC). These miRNAs are predicted to modulate genes and pathways with known roles in lung tumorigenesis, including EGFR, K-RAS, and PI3K/AKT signaling, suggesting that the 3-miRNA signature is biologically relevant in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.