Wild Rats, Laboratory Rats, Pet Rats: Global Seoul Hantavirus Disease Revisited.

Recent reports from Europe and the USA described Seoul orthohantavirus infection in pet rats and their breeders/owners, suggesting the potential emergence of a "new" public health problem. Wild and laboratory rat-induced Seoul infections have, however, been described since the early eighties, due to the omnipresence of the rodent reservoir, the brown rat . Recent studies showed no fundamental differences between the pathogenicity and phylogeny of pet rat-induced Seoul orthohantaviruses and their formerly described wild or laboratory rat counterparts.

Discovery and Description of Ebola Zaire Virus in 1976 and Relevance to the West African Epidemic During 2013-2016.

Background: In 1976, the first cases of Ebola virus disease in northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (then referred to as Zaire) were reported. This article addresses who was responsible for recognizing the disease; recovering, identifying, and naming the virus; and describing the epidemic. Key scientific approaches used in 1976 and their relevance to the 3-country (Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia) West African epidemic during 2013-2016 are presented.

Complete Genome Sequence of Seoul Virus Strain Tchoupitoulas.

Seoul virus (genus Hantavirus; family Bunyaviridae) is an emerging pathogen associated with cases of acute kidney injury in several countries across the globe. We report here the whole-genome sequence of the Tchoupitoulas strain of Seoul virus isolated in New Orleans, LA.

Identification of proteins associated with adhesive prints from Holothuria dofleinii Cuvierian tubules.

Cuvierian tubules are expelled as a defence mechanism against predators by various species within the family Holothuridae. When the tubules are expelled, they become sticky almost immediately and ensnare the predator. The mechanism of this rapid adhesion is not clear, but proteins on the surface of the expelled tubules are widely believed to be involved.

Unprecedented conformational flexibility revealed in the ligand-binding domains of the Bovicola ovis ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP) subunits.

The heterodimeric ligand-binding region of the Bovicola ovis ecdysone receptor has been crystallized either in the presence of an ecdysteroid or a synthetic methylene lactam insecticide. Two X-ray crystallographic structures, determined at 2.7 Å resolution, show that the ligand-binding domains of both subunits of this receptor, like those of other nuclear receptors, can display significant conformational flexibility.

CAHM, a long non-coding RNA gene hypermethylated in colorectal neoplasia.

The CAHM gene (Colorectal Adenocarcinoma HyperMethylated), previously LOC100526820, is located on chromosome 6, hg19 chr6:163 834 097-163 834 982. It lacks introns, encodes a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and is located adjacent to the gene QKI, which encodes an RNA binding protein. Deep bisulphite sequencing of ten colorectal cancer (CRC) and matched normal tissues demonstrated frequent hypermethylation within the CAHM gene in cancer.

CRNDE, a long non-coding RNA responsive to insulin/IGF signaling, regulates genes involved in central metabolism.

Colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) is a novel gene that is activated early in colorectal cancer but whose regulation and functions are unknown. CRNDE transcripts are recognized as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which potentially interact with chromatin-modifying complexes to regulate gene expression via epigenetic changes. Complex alternative splicing results in numerous transcripts from this gene, and we have identified novel transcripts containing a highly-conserved sequence within intron 4 ("gVC-In4").

The adhesive skin exudate of Notaden bennetti frogs (Anura: Limnodynastidae) has similarities to the prey capture glue of Euperipatoides sp. velvet worms (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae).

The dorsal adhesive secretion of the frog Notaden bennetti and the prey-capture "slime" ejected by Euperipatoides sp. velvet worms look and handle similarly. Both consist largely of protein (55-60% of dry weight), which provides the structural scaffold.

CRNDE: A Long Non-Coding RNA Involved in CanceR, Neurobiology, and DEvelopment.

CRNDE is the gene symbol for Colorectal Neoplasia Differentially Expressed (non-protein-coding), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) gene that expresses multiple splice variants and displays a very tissue-specific pattern of expression. CRNDE was initially identified as a lncRNA whose expression is highly elevated in colorectal cancer, but it is also upregulated in many other solid tumors and in leukemias. Indeed, CRNDE is the most upregulated lncRNA in gliomas and here, as in other cancers, it is associated with a "stemness" signature.

Ecdysone receptors: from the Ashburner model to structural biology.

In 1974, Ashburner and colleagues postulated a model to explain the control of the puffing sequence on Drosophila polytene chromosomes initiated by the molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. This model inspired a generation of molecular biologists to clone and characterize elements of the model, thereby providing insights into the control of gene networks by steroids, diatomic gases, and other small molecules. It led to the first cloning of the EcR subunit of the heterodimeric EcR-USP ecdysone receptor.

Colorectal Neoplasia Differentially Expressed (CRNDE), a Novel Gene with Elevated Expression in Colorectal Adenomas and Adenocarcinomas.

An uncharacterized gene locus (Chr16:hCG_1815491), now named colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (gene symbol CRNDE), is activated early in colorectal neoplasia. The locus is unrelated to any known protein-coding gene. Microarray analysis of 454 tissue specimens (discovery) and 68 previously untested specimens (validation) showed elevated expression of CRNDE in >90% of colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas.

Isoforms of the heteropteran Nezara viridula ecdysone receptor: protein characterisation, RH5992 insecticide binding and homology modelling.

Background: Certain bisacylhydrazine compounds such as tebufenozide (RH5992) have been shown to act as order-specific insecticides. Their compatibility with predatory Heteroptera, which are used as biological control agents, has also been demonstrated. However, the molecular mode of action of these ecdysone agonists has not been explored in a heteropteran, much less one that is a significant agricultural pest, such as Nezara viridula.

Chronic Q fever: different serological results in three countries--results of a follow-up study 6 years after a point source outbreak.

Background: Acute and chronic Q fever/Coxiella burnetii infection is diagnosed principally by serology. The management of patients who have serological evidence of chronic Q fever but no other manifestation of chronic infection is challenging.

Methods: This paper describes a follow-up study of individuals 6 years after a point source outbreak.

Mitochondrial respiration and succinate dehydrogenase are suppressed early during entrance into a hibernation bout, but membrane remodeling is only transient.

We examined respiration and lipid composition of liver mitochondria purified from a hibernator (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) in different stages of a torpor bout. Between interbout euthermia (body temperature, T (b), 37°C) and early entrance (T (b) 30°C), state 3 and state 4 respirations, fueled by 6 mM succinate, fell by over 50%. Mitochondrial respiration did not decline any further in the late entrance and torpor stages (T (b) 15 and 5°C, respectively).

An ecdysone receptor from the pentatomomorphan, Nezara viridula, shows similar affinities for moulting hormones makisterone A and 20-hydroxyecdysone.

It has been suggested that Pentatomomorpha utilise the C(28) ecdysteroid, makisterone A (MakA), as the major moulting hormone rather than the more common C(27) hormone, 20-hydroxyecdsyone (20E). The present study is the first to examine this postulate at the level of the ecdysone receptor protein, a heterodimer of nuclear receptors EcR and USP. cDNAs encoding two alternatively spliced isoforms of EcR and a single USP were isolated from a high-quality cDNA library prepared from a representative pentatomomorphan, Nezara viridula (Nv).

Synthesis, binding and bioactivity of gamma-methylene gamma-lactam ecdysone receptor ligands: advantages of QSAR models for flexible receptors.

Nuclear hormone receptors, such as the ecdysone receptor, often display a large amount of induced fit to ligands. The size and shape of the binding pocket in the EcR subunit changes markedly on ligand binding, making modelling methods such as docking extremely challenging. It is, however, possible to generate excellent 3D QSAR models for a given type of ligand, suggesting that the receptor adopts a relatively restricted number of binding site configurations or 'attractors'.

An ortholog of the ecdysone receptor protein (EcR) from the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus.

High concentrations (> or =4.2mM) of 20E inhibit the development of Haemonchus contortus eggs to the L3 larval stage. We report the cloning of cDNA encoding an EcR ortholog (HcEcR) from H.

Mopeia virus-related arenavirus in natal multimammate mice, Morogoro, Tanzania.

A serosurvey involving 2,520 small mammals from Tanzania identified a hot spot of arenavirus circulation in Morogoro. Molecular screening detected a new arenavirus in Natal multimammate mice (Mastomys natalensis), Morogoro virus, related to Mopeia virus. Only a small percentage of mice carry Morogoro virus, although a large proportion shows specific antibodies.

Biocompatibility and modification of the protein-based adhesive secreted by the Australian frog Notaden bennetti.

When provoked, Notaden bennetti frogs secrete a proteinaceous exudate, which rapidly forms a tacky and elastic glue. This material has potential in biomedical applications. Cultured cells attached and proliferated well on glue-coated tissue culture polystyrene, but migrated somewhat slower than on uncoated surfaces.

Case report: Eastern equine encephalitis virus imported to the UK.

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is rare, but the most severe of the mosquito-borne encephalitides in the United States with a high case fatality rate of 30%. Here, we present a patient with EEE. EEE virus causes sporadic human disease in the Eastern parts of the United States, but the case we describe was a Scottish tourist who acquired the disease from mosquito bites while in holiday in the United States.

Proteinaceous adhesive secretions from insects, and in particular the egg attachment glue of Opodiphthera sp. moths.

Biochemical and electrophoretic screening of 29 adhesive secretions from Australian insects identified six types that appeared to consist largely of protein. Most were involved in terrestrial egg attachment. Hydrogel glues were subjected to gravimetric analyses and assessed for overall amino acid composition.

Diagnostic reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction kit for filoviruses based on the strain collections of all European biosafety level 4 laboratories.

A network of European biosafety level 4 laboratories has designed the first industry-standard molecular assay for all filoviruses species, based on the strain collections of all participants. It uses 5 optimized L gene primers and 3 probes, as well as an internal control with a separate detection probe. Detection limits (probit analysis, 95% detection chance) were as follows: Zaire ebolavirus, 487 copies/mL of plasma; Sudan ebolavirus Maleo, 586 copies/mL; Sudan ebolavirus Gulu, 1128 copies/mL; Cote d'Ivoire ebolavirus, 537 copies/mL; Reston ebolavirus, 4546 copies/mL; Lake Victoria marburgvirus Musoke, 860 copies/mL; and Lake Victoria marburgvirus Ravn, 1551 copies/mL.

Epidermal secretions of terrestrial flatworms and slugs: Lehmannia valentiana mucus contains matrilin-like proteins.

We describe the epidermal mucus of two types of terrestrial invertebrates: free-living flatworms (Tricladida: Terricola), and the slug Lehmannia valentiana (Gastropoda: Pulmonata). Both exhibited similar dry shear strengths (1.4-1.

Molecular basis of the interaction between IGFBP-3 and retinoid X receptor: role in modulation of RAR-signaling.

IGFBP-3 interacts with the retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRalpha) and retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RARalpha) and thereby interferes with the formation of RXR:RAR heterodimers. Here we identify the domains in RXRalpha and IGFBP-3 that participate in this interaction. When different regions of RXRalpha were expressed independently, we found that only the DNA-binding domain (C-domain) bound IGFBP-3.