The First Report of Infection in Two Imported Wapitis () in Slovenia.

This study describes two female wapitis () with neurological signs associated with an () infection. The original host of the nematode parasite is the Eurasian red deer (), although other cervids and small ruminants may also be affected. The two wapitis imported from Canada were kept in an enclosure with the Slovenian red deer herd.

Extracellular production of the engineered thermostable protease pernisine from Aeropyrum pernix K1 in Streptomyces rimosus.

Background: The thermostable serine protease pernisine originates from the hyperthermophilic Archaeaon Aeropyrum pernix and has valuable industrial applications. Due to its properties, A. pernix cannot be cultivated in standard industrial fermentation facilities.

APS8 Delays Tumor Growth in Mice by Inducing Apoptosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Expressing High Number of α7 Nicotinic Receptors.

The alkylpyridinium polymer APS8, a potent antagonist of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), selectively induces apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells but not in normal lung fibroblasts. To explore the potential therapeutic value of APS8 for at least certain types of lung cancer, we determined its systemic and organ-specific toxicity in mice, evaluated its antitumor activity against adenocarcinoma xenograft models, and examined the mechanisms of APS8 in terms of apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and viability. We also measured Ca influx into cells, and evaluated the effects of APS8 on Ca uptake while siRNA silencing of the gene for α7 nAChRs, .

A decade of using small-to-medium throughput allele discrimination assay to determine prion protein gene ( Prnp) genotypes in sheep in Slovenia.

Sheep with valine (V) at codon 136 and glutamine (Q) at codon 171 of the prion protein gene ( Prnp) are highly susceptible to classical scrapie, whereas phenylalanine (F) at codon 141 and histidine (H) at codon 154 play a major role in the susceptibility to atypical scrapie. A TaqMan real-time PCR assay was developed to determine Prnp alleles at codons 136, 141, 154, and 171 and used in classical scrapie eradication and breeding programs adopted in Slovenia. The frequency of the most resistant genotypes ARR/ARR and ARR/ARQ increased significantly in tested animals ( n = 35,138) from 6.

Enzymatic degradation of PrPSc by a protease secreted from Aeropyrum pernix K1.

Background: An R30 fraction from the growth medium of Aeropyrum pernix was analyzed for the protease that can digest the pathological prion protein isoform (PrP(Sc)) from different species (human, bovine, deer and mouse).

Methodology/principal Findings: Degradation of the PrP(Sc) isoform by the R30 fraction and the purified protease was evaluated using the 6H4 anti-PrP monoclonal antibody. Fragments from the N-terminal and C-terminal of PrP(Sc) were also monitored by Western blotting using the EB8 anti-PrP monoclonal antibody, and by dot blotting using the C7/5 anti-PrP monoclonal antibody, respectively.