IL-10 is not required for the alleviation of collagen-induced arthritis by non-lethal malarial infection in mice.

We previously reported that Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL (Py), a non-lethal rodent malarial parasite, could suppress collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and increase the production of T cell-derived interleukin (IL)-10. However, it remained unclear whether IL-10 is essential for the Py-induced suppression of CIA. Male IL-10 knockout (KO) DBA/1 J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen (CII) and subsequently infected with Py at one week post-immunization.

Double-Locking Mechanism of Self-Compatibility in : The Synergistic Effect of Transcriptional Depression and Disruption of Coding Region in the Male Specificity Gene.

Self-compatibility in represents the relatively recent disruption of ancestral obligate cross pollination, recognized as one of the prevalent evolutionary pathways in flowering plants, as noted by Darwin. Our previous study found that inversion of the male specificity gene (/) disrupted self-incompatibility, which was restored by overexpressing the with the reversed inversion. However, in has other mutations aside from the pivotal inversion, in both promoter and coding regions, with probable effects on transcriptional regulation.

A phytotoxic bicyclic lactone and other compounds from endophyte Xylaria curta.

A new compound, (3aS,6aR)-4,5-dimethyl-3,3a,6,6a-tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta [b]furan-2-one (2), along with two known metabolites, myrotheciumone A (1) and 4-oxo-4H-pyron-3-acetic acid (3) was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of fermentation broth of Xylaria curta 92092022. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, HRESITOFMS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR). Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate antibacterial and phytotoxic activities.