Pam16 and Pam18 were repurposed during Trypanosoma brucei evolution to regulate the replication of mitochondrial DNA.

Protein import and genome replication are essential processes for mitochondrial biogenesis and propagation. The J-domain proteins Pam16 and Pam18 regulate the presequence translocase of the mitochondrial inner membrane. In the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei, their counterparts are TbPam16 and TbPam18, which are essential for the procyclic form (PCF) of the parasite, though not involved in mitochondrial protein import.

Intermembrane space-localized TbTim15 is an essential subunit of the single mitochondrial inner membrane protein translocase of trypanosomes.

All mitochondria import >95% of their proteins from the cytosol. This process is mediated by protein translocases in the mitochondrial membranes, whose subunits are generally highly conserved. Most eukaryotes have two inner membrane protein translocases (TIMs) that are specialized to import either presequence-containing or mitochondrial carrier proteins.

The role of serotonin in modulating social competence in a cooperatively breeding fish.

Behavioural interactions between conspecifics rely on the appreciation of social cues, which is achieved through biochemical switching of pre-existing neurophysiological pathways. Serotonin is one of the major neurotransmitters in the central nervous system responsible for the modulation of physiological and behavioural traits, in particular social behaviour. The relative importance of serotonin in modulating optimal social responses to the available social information (i.

Single p197 molecules of the mitochondrial genome segregation system of determine the distance between basal body and outer membrane.

The tripartite attachment complex (TAC) couples the segregation of the single unit mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes with the basal body (BB) of the flagellum. Here, we studied the architecture of the exclusion zone filament (EZF) of the TAC, the only known component of which is p197, that connects the BB with the mitochondrial outer membrane (OM). We show that p197 has three domains that are all essential for mitochondrial DNA inheritance.

p166 links membrane and intramitochondrial modules of the trypanosomal tripartite attachment complex.

The protist parasite Trypanosoma brucei has a single mitochondrion with a single unit genome termed kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). Faithfull segregation of replicated kDNA is ensured by a complicated structure termed tripartite attachment complex (TAC). The TAC physically links the basal body of the flagellum with the kDNA spanning the two mitochondrial membranes.

The serotonin 1A receptor modulates the social behaviour within groups of a cooperatively-breeding cichlid.

The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) reduces aggressive behaviour in a number of vertebrates, and the 5-HT receptor is known to be involved in this regulation. However, the role of this receptor in the modulation of sociopositive behaviour remains largely unknown. Here we investigated the role of the 5-HT receptor in the regulation of aggressive, submissive and affiliative behaviour in the cooperatively-breeding cichlid Neolamprologus pulcher.

Influence of mobile air-conditioning on vehicle emissions and fuel consumption: a model approach for modern gasoline cars used in Europe.

The influence of air-conditioning activity on the emissions and fuel consumption of passenger cars is an important issue, since fleet penetration and use of these systems have reached a high level. Apart from the MOBILE6 study in the United States, little data is available on the impact of air-conditioning devices (A/Cs). Since weather conditions and A/C technologies both differ from those in the U.

Open randomized trial comparing the immunogenicity and safety of a new measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and a licensed vaccine in 12- to 24-month-old children.

Background: A trivalent measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine (MMR Berna) has been developed with a new mumps component, BBM-18, to replace a previously licensed MMR vaccine containing the Rubini mumps strain. Previous studies showed Rubini to confer insufficient long term protection against mumps infection. This study compared the immunogenicity and safety of MMR Berna, which is produced entirely in human diploid cells, with those of the licensed vaccine M-M-RVax (Merck & Co.

Oronasal vaccination with classical swine fever virus (CSFV) replicon particles with either partial or complete deletion of the E2 gene induces partial protection against lethal challenge with highly virulent CSFV.

A cDNA clone of the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain Alfort/187 [Ruggli N, Tratschin JD, Mittelholzer C, Hofmann MA. Nucleotide sequence of classical swine fever virus strain Alfort/187 and transcription of infectious RNA from stably cloned full-length cDNA. J Virol 1996;70(6):3478-87] was used to construct two E2 deletion mutants lacking either the complete E2 gene or, alternatively, a stretch of 204 nucleotides encoding 68 amino acids located in the C-terminal region of the E2 glycoprotein.

Overview of parasitism associated effects on host haemocytes in larval parasitoids and comparison with effects of the egg-larval parasitoid Chelonus inanitus on its host Spodoptera littoralis.

In the first part we review the effects of larval endoparasitoids and their polydnavirus and venom on the immune system of their hosts. In all systems investigated, haemocyte spreading and encapsulation activity was reduced; in some cases effects on total (THC) or differential (DHC) haemocyte count as well as modification of haemocyte morphology and ultrastructure were also documented. In many cases polydnavirus (and venom) were shown to play a major role in abrogation of the host's immune reaction.

Establishment and application of bicistronic classical swine fever virus genomes for foreign gene expression and complementation of E2 deletion mutants.

Bicistronic genomes of the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain Alfort/187 (A187) were established by insertion of a second cistron consisting of an internal ribosome entry site of the encephalomyocarditis virus and a coding sequence in the 3' untranslated region of the genome. Introduction of the selectable marker gene for neomycin phosphotransferase into the second cistron of the CSFV replicon A187 Delta E2-CAT allowed the establishment of porcine SK-6 cell lines constitutively expressing the respective bicistronic replicon RNA. In cells transfected with RNA representing the full-length viral genome and containing the gene coding for bacterial enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) in the second cistron infectious bicistronic virus was synthesized.

Liver carcinogen aflatoxin B1 as an inducer of mitotic recombination in a human cell line.

The mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most potent rodent and human liver carcinogens. Upon cytochrome P450-specific metabolism, it induces mutations as well as mitotic recombination events in in vitro systems. We have found that in the lower eukaryote yeast, the recombinagenic activity of AFB1 surpasses its mutagenic activity, and we speculated on possible consequences in terms of the mechanism of liver carcinogenesis.

Rescue of infectious classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease virus by RNA transfection and virus detection by RT-PCR after extended storage of samples in Trizol.

A method for storing samples containing classical swine fever virus (CSFV) or foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), respectively, was developed, which abolishes the infectivity of both plus strand RNA viruses, and allows storage of samples above 0 degrees C for an extended time, yet preserves the viral RNA in a state which allows its detection by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and even rescue of infectious virus after transfection of the extracted RNA into susceptible cells. Supernatants from infected cell cultures as well as organs from diseased animals were stored in Trizol(R) for 1-4 weeks at -20 degrees C, 4 degrees C, room temperature, or 37 degrees C. RNA was then extracted and used subsequently for RT-PCR, as well as transfection into susceptible cells to initiate the replication of progeny virus.

Cytopathogenic and noncytopathogenic RNA replicons of classical swine fever virus.

To determine the minimal requirements for autonomous RNA replication of classical swine fever virus (CSFV), genomes having in-frame deletions within the genes for structural and flanking nonstructural proteins were constructed, based on an infectious cDNA clone of CSFV Alfort/187. RNA was transcribed in vitro from the respective plasmids and transfected into SK-6 swine kidney cells. The replication competence of the RNA was determined by immunostaining transfected cells for CSFV NS3 protein and by analysis of cell extracts for viral RNA, as well as protein synthesis at different times after transfection.

Presence of polydnavirus transcripts in an egg-larval parasitoid and its lepidopterous host.

The parasitoid Chelonus inanitus (Braconidae, Hymenoptera) oviposits into eggs of Spodoptera littoralis (Noctuidae, Lepidoptera) and, along with the egg, also injects polydnaviruses and venom, which are prerequisites for successful parasitoid development. The parasitoid larva develops within the embryonic and larval stages of the host, which enters metamorphosis precociously and arrests development in the prepupal stage. Polydnaviruses are responsible for the developmental arrest and interfere with the host's endocrine system in the last larval instar.

Polydnavirus DNA of the braconid wasp Chelonus inanitus is integrated in the wasp's genome and excised only in later pupal and adult stages of the female.

Many endoparasitic wasps inject, along with the egg, polydnavirus into their insect hosts, the virus being a prerequisite for successful parasitoid development. The genome of polydnaviruses consists of multiple circular dsDNA molecules of variable size. We show for a 12 kbp segment of the braconid Chelonus inanitus (CiV12) that it is integrated into the wasp genome.

Polydnavirus of the parasitic wasp Chelonus inanitus (Braconidae): characterization, genome organization and time point of replication.

Ultrastructural analysis of the polydnavirus of the braconid wasp Chelonus inanitus revealed that virions consist of one cylindrical nucleocapsid enveloped by a single unit membrane. Nucleocapsids have a constant diameter of 33.7 +/- 1.