Droplet Microfluidic Platform for the Determination of Single-Cell Lactate Release.

Cancer cells release high levels of lactate that has been correlated to increased metastasis and tumor recurrence. Single-cell measurements of lactate release can identify malignant cells and help decipher metabolic cancer pathways. We present here a novel droplet microfluidic method that allows the fast and quantitative determination of lactate release in many single cells.

Babesia bovis and B. bigemina DNA detected in cattle and ticks from Zimbabwe by polymerase chain reaction.

From blood collected from 94 cattle at 12 locations in the eastern and northeastern areas of Zimbabwe, DNA was extracted and analysed by polymerase chain reaction with primers previously reported to be specific for Babesia bigemina and Babesia borvis. Overall, DNA of Babesia bigemina was detected in the blood of 33/94 (35%) cattle and DNA from B. bovis was detected in 27/58 (47%) of cattle.

Feline coronavirus type II strains 79-1683 and 79-1146 originate from a double recombination between feline coronavirus type I and canine coronavirus.

Recent evidence suggests that the type II feline coronavirus (FCoV) strains 79-1146 and 79-1683 have arisen from a homologous RNA recombination event between FCoV type I and canine coronavirus (CCV). In both cases, the template switch apparently took place between the S and M genes, giving rise to recombinant viruses which encode a CCV-like S protein and the M, N, 7a, and 7b proteins of FCoV type I (K. Motowaka, T.

The incorporation, modification and turnover of fatty acids in adult Schistosoma mansoni.

Schistosoma mansoni is known to be unable to synthesize fatty acids and sterols de novo, but the parasite is capable of synthesizing phospholipids and triacylglycerols from precursors obtained from the host. The present study focuses on the dynamics of the incorporation of fatty acids in adult parasites. This study showed that fatty acids were rapidly metabolized into complex lipids and that oleate (18:1) was efficiently converted to eicosenoate (20:1) by chain elongation, whereas palmitate was not elongated at an appreciable rate.