Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Gastrointestinal Parasites in Australian Merino Sheep.

The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions and genes associated with resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes in Australian Merino sheep in Uruguay, using the single-step GWAS methodology (ssGWAS), which is based on genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) obtained from a combination of pedigree, genomic, and phenotypic data. This methodology converts GEBVs into SNP effects. The analysis included 26,638 animals with fecal egg count (FEC) records obtained in two independent parasitic cycles (FEC1 and FEC2) and 1700 50K SNP genotypes.

Identification of Candidate Genes and Pathways Linked to the Temperament Trait in Sheep.

Temperament can be defined as the emotional variability among animals of the same species in response to the same stimulus, grouping animals by their reactivity as nervous, intermediate, or calm. Our goal was to identify genomic regions with the temperament phenotype measured by the Isolation Box Test (IBT) by single-step genome-wide association studies (ssGWAS). The database consisted of 4317 animals with temperament records, and 1697 genotyped animals with 38,268 effective Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) after quality control.

Genomic Regions Associated with Wool, Growth and Reproduction Traits in Uruguayan Merino Sheep.

The aim of this study was to identify genomic regions and genes associated with the fiber diameter (FD), clean fleece weight (CFW), live weight (LW), body condition score (BCS), pregnancy rate (PR) and lambing potential (LP) of Uruguayan Merino sheep. Phenotypic records of approximately 2000 mixed-age ewes were obtained from a Merino nucleus flock. Genome-wide association studies were performed utilizing single-step Bayesian analysis.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Parasite Resistance to Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Corriedale Sheep.

Selection of genetically resistant animals is one alternative to reduce the negative impact of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) on sheep production. The aim of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with GIN resistance in Corriedale sheep by single-step genome-wide association studies (ssGWAS) using 170, 507 and 50K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Analysis included 19,547 lambs with faecal egg counts (FEC) records, a pedigree file of 40,056 animals and 454, 711 and 383 genotypes from 170, 507 and 50K SNPs, respectively.

New aryloxy-quinone derivatives with promising activity on Trypanosoma cruzi.

Continuing with a program to develop new quinone derivatives as biologically active compounds, we designed and synthesized a new series of aryloxy-quinones, which were evaluated in vitro against Trypanosoma cruzi in epimastigote form. Chemical modifications in three specific moieties on the aryloxy-quinone core were considered for developing new anti-T. cruzi agents.

Trypanothione Reductase: A Target for the Development of Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi Drugs.

Background & Objective: Chagas disease or American trypanosomiasis is a major parasitic disease in Latin America with restricted available treatment: nifurtimox and benznidazole. These two drugs are ineffective in the chronic phase of the disease; therefore, there is a need for the development of new, efficient and safe drugs for the treatment of this pathology. With this goal, one of the promising targets is trypanothione reductase (TR), a key enzyme in the metabolism of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Structural analysis and molecular docking of trypanocidal aryloxy-quinones in trypanothione and glutathione reductases: a comparison with biochemical data.

A set of aryloxy-quinones, previously synthesized and evaluated against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes cultures, were found more potent and selective than nifurtimox. One of the possible mechanisms of the trypanocidal activity of these quinones could be inhibition of trypanothione reductase (TR). Considering that glutathione reductase (GR) is the equivalent of TR in humans, biochemical, kinetic, and molecular docking studies in TR and GR were envisaged and compared with the trypanocidal and cytotoxic data of a set of aryloxy-quinones.