Recombination and gene duplication in the evolutionary diversification of P1 proteins in the family Potyviridae.

Genome structure and sequence are notably conserved between members of the family Potyviridae. However, some genomic regions of these viruses, such as that encoding the P1 protein, show strikingly high variability. In this study, some partially conserved motifs were identified upstream of the quite well-conserved protease domain located near the P1 C terminus.

Determination of phytotoxicity of soluble elements in soils, based on a bioassay with lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

In this work the different concentrations of soluble elements in soils from natural (peridotitic soils) and anthropogenic (soils affected by a pyrite-mine spill) origin, are used to determine the phytotoxicity in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The solutions are obtained from soil:water extracts (1:1), having neutral pH and high concentrations of As, Pb, Zn, Mn, Co and Ni, with values exceeding the toxic level for soil solution [Bohn HL, McNeal BL, O'Connor GA.

An antibody derivative expressed from viral vectors passively immunizes pigs against transmissible gastroenteritis virus infection when supplied orally in crude plant extracts.

To investigate the potential of antibody derivatives to provide passive protection against enteric infections when supplied orally in crude plant extracts, we have expressed a small immune protein (SIP) in plants using two different plant virus vectors based on potato virus X (PVX) and cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV). The epsilonSIP molecule consisted of a single-chain antibody (scFv) specific for the porcine coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) linked to the epsilon-CH4 domain from human immunoglobulin E (IgE). In some constructs, the sequence encoding the epsilonSIP molecule was flanked by the leader peptide from the original murine antibody at its N-terminus and an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal (HDEL) at its C-terminus to allow the expressed protein to be directed to, and retained within, the endoplasmic reticulum.

On-line preconcentration strategies for analyzing pesticides in fruits and vegetables by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

Five pesticides (fludioxonil, procymidone, pyriproxyfen, dinoseb and carbendazim) were separated in reversed migration micellar electrokinetic chromatography (RM-MEKC) using 20 mmol l(-1) phosphate buffer at pH 2.3, containing 25 mmol l(-1) sodium dodecylsulfate and 10% methanol. Three on-line concentration strategies, sweeping (SW), normal stacking with reversed migration and a water plug (SRW) and stacking with reverse migration and removal of sample matrix using polarity switching (SRMM), were compared.

Telomerase activity is a prognostic factor for recurrence and survival in rectal cancer.

Purpose: This study was designed to determine whether telomerase activity measured in samples of tumoral tissue, transitional mucosa, and normal mucosa from patients with sporadic colorectal cancer is a prognostic factor for recurrence and overall survival.

Methods: Telomerase activity was determined by fluorescence-based telomeric repeat amplification in tissue samples from 108 patients with sporadic colorectal cancer. A telomerase index was determined by using the formula log (telomerase activity of cancer tissue - telomerase activity of normal mucosa).

[The influence of decision task and deliberation style on the verdict of the juries].

The influence of decision task and deliberation style on the verdict of the juries. In the Kameda's Deliberation Style Model the emission of verdicts of responsibility when the deliberation style of the juries (elemental/compound) and the type of decision task (disjunctive/conjunctive) are jointly manipulated, is favoured in certain conditions. Given the consequences that these approaches could have in real judicial processes, this model is analyzed using a manslaughter crime under the Spanish judicial context conditions (nine members juries and seven or five members majorities emitting a verdict of guilty or not guilty, respectively).

Attitude to primary prevention advice of the European Code against cancer in relatives of cancer patients: implications for the development of preventive programmes.

Achieving a preventive attitude is the first step in eliminating cancer risk behaviours. This cross-sectional study evaluated the attitude towards the European Code against Cancer, in 3,031 relatives of cancer patients. The study looked for keys to improve attitude by means of educational interventions.

Regulatory network construction in Arabidopsis by using genome-wide gene expression quantitative trait loci.

Accessions of a plant species can show considerable genetic differences that are analyzed effectively by using recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations. Here we describe the results of genome-wide expression variation analysis in an RIL population of Arabidopsis thaliana. For many genes, variation in expression could be explained by expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs).

Bioavailability of a commercial formulation of ivermectin after subcutaneous administration to sheep.

Objective: To evaluate bioavailability and other pharmacokinetic variables of a commercial formulation of ivermectin after IV administration to sheep.

Animals: 6 healthy adult sheep.

Procedures: A single dose of a commercial formulation of ivermectin (200 microg/kg) was administered IV to each sheep.

Enhanced fungal resistance in transgenic cotton expressing an endochitinase gene from Trichoderma virens.

Mycoparasitic fungi are proving to be rich sources of antifungal genes that can be utilized to genetically engineer important crops for resistance against fungal pathogens. We have transformed cotton and tobacco plants with a cDNA clone encoding a 42 kDa endochitinase from the mycoparasitic fungus, Trichoderma virens. Plants from 82 independently transformed callus lines of cotton were regenerated and analysed for transgene expression.

The presence of STAT1-positive tumor-associated macrophages and their relation to outcome in patients with follicular lymphoma.

Background And Objectives: The presence of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) is a prognostic factor for survival in follicular lymphoma (FL). Overexpression and/or activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) in these TAM have also been observed. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which macrophages are present in FL and to investigate the expression of STAT1 in these cells.

Exercise-induced stress enhances mammary tumor growth in rats: beneficial effect of the hormone melatonin.

We hypothesized that intense exercise training (forced swimming for 30 min, 5 days/week) may enhance the progression of mammary carcinogenesis through the involvement of stress hormones, such as catecholamines and prolactin, which can promote breast cancer. After the appearance of the DMBA-induced tumors in Sprague-Dawley rats, the effect was evaluated of exercise-induced stress (with or without administration of the hormone melatonin) on the survival time, tumor multiplicity, and tumor growth until the death of the animals. In a second set of experiments, after one month of exercise, the NK cells count in blood, and the plasma concentrations of catecholamines and prolactin were determined.

Auditing secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease in rural areas of Spain: an opportunity for improvement.

Aim: To describe the standard of secondary prevention received by individuals with a history of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in Spanish rural areas, and the factors associated with low standards of quality.

Methods: Medical audit of patients with a history of IHD, whose data were provided by 72 rural physicians in 12 autonomous regions (1030 cases). Quality criteria were used based on international guidelines.

Isolation of Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) from the Chagas disease vector, Triatoma infestans Klug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in an endemic area in Argentina.

A survey for entomopathogenic fungi of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma infestans was conducted in two provinces of Argentina from March-December 2003. Field-collected insects that died in the laboratory were individually maintained in moist chamber and incubated at 22 degrees C. Triatominae adults infected with the fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus were found at El Quebracho (27 degrees 34'S-64 degrees 31'W), Santiago del Estero province, Argentina, in December 2003.

High reliability outdoor sonar prototype based on efficient signal coding.

Many mobile robots and autonomous vehicles designed for outdoor operation have incorporated ultrasonic sensors in their navigation systems, whose function is mainly to avoid possible collisions with very close obstacles. The use of these systems in more precise tasks requires signal encoding and the incorporation of pulse compression techniques that have already been used with success in the design of high-performance indoor sonars. However, the transmission of ultrasonic encoded signals outdoors entails a new challenge because of the effects of atmospheric turbulence.

SECRET AGENT, an Arabidopsis thaliana O-GlcNAc transferase, modifies the Plum pox virus capsid protein.

The capsid protein of Plum pox virus (PPV-CP) is modified with O-linked GlcNAc (O-GlcNAc). While Arabidopsis has two O-GlcNAc transferases, SECRET AGENT (SEC) and SPINDLY (SPY), previous work suggests that SEC modifies PPV-CP and that the modification plays a role in the infection process. Here, we show that when co-expressed in Escherichia coli SEC modifies PPV-CP.

Salicylic acid-mediated and RNA-silencing defense mechanisms cooperate in the restriction of systemic spread of plum pox virus in tobacco.

Plum pox virus (PPV) is able to replicate in inoculated leaves of Nicotiana tabacum, but is defective in systemic movement in this host. However, PPV produces a systemic infection in transgenic tobacco expressing the silencing suppressor P1/HC-Pro from tobacco etch virus (TEV). In this work we show that PPV is able to move to upper non-inoculated leaves of tobacco plants expressing bacterial salicylate hydroxylase (NahG) that degrades salicylic acid (SA).

Mapping of two O-GlcNAc modification sites in the capsid protein of the potyvirus Plum pox virus.

A large number of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) residues have been mapped in vertebrate proteins, however targets of O-GlcNAcylation in plants still have not been characterized. We show here that O-GlcNAcylation of the N-terminal region of the capsid protein of Plum pox virus resembles that of animal proteins in introducing O-GlcNAc monomers. Thr-19 and Thr-24 were specifically O-GlcNAcylated.

RNA silencing suppression by a second copy of the P1 serine protease of Cucumber vein yellowing ipomovirus, a member of the family Potyviridae that lacks the cysteine protease HCPro.

The P1 protein of viruses of the family Potyviridae is a serine proteinase, which is highly variable in length and sequence, and its role in the virus infection cycle is not clear. One of the proposed activities of P1 is to assist HCPro, the product that viruses of the genus Potyvirus use to counteract antiviral defense mediated by RNA silencing. Indeed, an HCPro-coding region is present in all the genomes of members of the genera Potyvirus, Rymovirus, and Tritimovirus that have been sequenced.

Use of virus vectors for the expression in plants of active full-length and single chain anti-coronavirus antibodies.

To extend the potential of antibodies and their derivatives to provide passive protection against enteric infections when supplied orally in crude plant extracts, we have expressed both a small immune protein (SIP) and a full-length antibody in plants using two different plant virus vectors based on potato virus X (PVX) and cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV). The alphaSIP molecule consisted of a single chain antibody (scFv) specific for the porcine coronavirus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) linked to the alpha-CH3 domain from human IgA. To express the full-length IgA, the individual light and heavy chains from the TGEV-specific mAb 6A.

Homozygous deletions localize novel tumor suppressor genes in B-cell lymphomas.

Integrative genomic and gene-expression analyses have identified amplified oncogenes in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), but the capability of such technologies to localize tumor suppressor genes within homozygous deletions remains unexplored. Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and gene-expression microarray analysis of 48 cell lines derived from patients with different B-NHLs delineated 20 homozygous deletions at 7 chromosome areas, all of which contained tumor suppressor gene targets. Further investigation revealed that only a fraction of primary biopsies presented inactivation of these genes by point mutation or intragenic deletion, but instead some of them were frequently silenced by epigenetic mechanisms.

In vitro evaluation of Nd:YAG laser radiation at three different wavelengths (1064, 532, and 355 nm) on calculus removal in comparison with ultrasonic scaling.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of laser treatment for calculus removal at different wavelengths and compare it with that of ultrasonic scaling (US).

Background Data: Conventional methods of treatment of periodontal tissues can be limited by morphology, root anatomy, and the periodontal pocket. In the search for an effective therapy to achieve a biocompatible root surface, laser treatment appeared in the field of periodontology.

Predation efficiency of indigenous larvivorous fish species on Culex pipiens L. larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in drainage ditches in Argentina.

Two neotropical freshwater fish species, Cnesterodom decemmaculatus (Poeciliidae) and Jenynsia multidentata (Anablepidae), were collected from human-made ditches, a common habitat of the house mosquito Culex pipiens in La Plata, Argentina. Cnesterodom decemmaculatus was recorded in 62 of the 100 examined ditches, whereas J. multidentata was collected from only 21 ditches sympatrically with C.