Description of a serpin toxin in Loxosceles (Brown spider) venoms: Cloning, expression in baculovirus-infected insect cells and functional characterization.

Several classes of toxins are present in the venom of Brown spiders (Loxosceles genus), some of them are highly expressed and others are less expressed. In this work, we aimed to clone the sequence of a little expressed novel toxin from Loxosceles venom identified as a serine protease inhibitor (serpin), as well as to express and characterize its biochemical and biological properties. It was named LSPILT, derived from Loxoscelesserine protease inhibitor-like toxin.

Defensin 1 Eradicates Mouse Metastatic Lung Nodules from B16F10 Melanoma Cells.

d1 is a pea plant defensin which can be actively expressed in and shows broad antifungal activity. This activity is dependent on fungal membrane glucosylceramide (GlcCer), which is also important for its internalization, nuclear localization, and endoreduplication. Certain cancer cells present a lipid metabolism imbalance resulting in the overexpression of GlcCer in their membrane.

Evaluation of OptRx™ active optical sensor to monitor soybean response to nitrogen inputs.

Background: Active optical crop sensors have been gaining importance to determine in-season nitrogen (N) fertilization requirements for on-the-go variable rate applications. Although most of these active in-field crop sensors have been evaluated in maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.

The Geographic Distribution of Liver Cancer in Canada Does Not Associate with Cyanobacterial Toxin Exposure.

Background: The incidence of liver cancer has been increasing in Canada over the past decade, as has cyanobacterial contamination of Canadian freshwater lakes and drinking water sources. Cyanotoxins released by cyanobacteria have been implicated in the pathogenesis of liver cancer.

Objective: To determine whether a geographic association exists between liver cancer and surrogate markers of cyanobacterial contamination of freshwater lakes in Canada.

Combined venomics, venom gland transcriptomics, bioactivities, and antivenomics of two Bothrops jararaca populations from geographic isolated regions within the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest.

Bothrops jararaca is a slender and semi-arboreal medically relevant pit viper species endemic to tropical and subtropical forests in southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina (Misiones). Within its geographic range, it is often abundant and is an important cause of snakebite. Although no subspecies are currently recognized, geographic analyses have revealed the existence of two well-supported B.