Possible mechanisms for adverse effects on zebrafish sperm and testes associated with low-level chronic PFOA exposure.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is widely used during the manufacturing of fluoropolymer coatings and polytetrafluoroethylene, is now a widespread pollutant in the environment and within the human body. This study used zebrafish, an aquatic model species, to investigate how low levels of chronic PFOA exposure affect the reproductive system. The results of the experiments in which zebrafish were exposed to 414 ng/L or 4140 ng/L for 60 days showed a variety of adverse effects on testicular tissue and sperm, including dose-dependent changes in plasma estradiol and testosterone levels, various sperm malformations, decreased sperm motility and concentration, and PFOA-induced oxidative stress and testicular damage with increased rates of apoptosis.

Permethrin exposure impacts zebrafish lipid metabolism via the KRAS-PPAR-GLUT signaling pathway, which is mediated by oxidative stress.

Permethrin (Per) is a widely used and frequently detected pyrethroid pesticide in agricultural products and the environment. It may pose potential toxicity to non-target organisms. Per has been reported to affect lipid homeostasis, although the mechanism is undefined.

RGNNV-induced cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase enhanced viral replication via p53-dependent pathway in GS cells.

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) is a ubiquitous pathogen in the aquaculture worldwide. Little is known about the relationship between NNV virus and host cells. Our studies showed that RGNNV infection could induce cell cycle arrest via activation of p53 signaling in cultured host cells.

Nervous necrosis virus capsid protein exploits nucleolar phosphoprotein Nucleophosmin (B23) function for viral replication.

Nucleolar proteins facilitate the replication of certain human and animal viruses through interaction with viral proteins. In this study, an interaction between nervous necrosis virus capsid protein and nucleolar phosphoprotein B23 was identified using in vitro experimental approaches. The capsid protein binds to B23 early during the viral infection and accumulates in the nucleus, particularly in the nucleolus.

Analysis of BmNPV orf101 disruption: orf101 is essential for mediating budded virus production.

In our previous study, Orf101 (Bm101) of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) was identified as a component of the budded virions important for viral late gene expression. In this study we demonstrate that Bm101 is actually a previously unrecognized core gene and that it is essential for mediating budded virus production. To determine the role of Bm101 in the baculovirus life cycle, a Bm101 knockout bacmid containing the BmNPV genome was generated through homologous recombination in Escherichia coli.

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus ORF101 encodes a budded virus envelope associated protein.

Orf101 (Bm101) of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a highly conserved gene in lepidopteran nucleopolyhedroviruses, but its function remains unknown. In this study, Bm101 was characterized. Transcripts of Bm101 were detected from 24 through 96 h post infection (h p.

The role of EaIκB-α, an IκB-α homologue in Epinephelus akaara, involved in innate immune response.

The inhibitor κB (IκB) protein is an important component of the nuclear factor kB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. We have cloned and characterized the IκB-α homologue gene (named EaIκB-α) from grouper (Epinephelus akaara), expressed it in Escherichia coli and generated a rabbit polyclonal antibody. EaIκB-α encodes a 308-amino acid protein with evolutionarily and functionally homology to mammalian IκB-α.

Cloning and immune characterization of the c-type lysozyme gene in red-spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara.

Lysozyme is an important component of the innate immune response against pathogen infection. The gene coding for c-type lysozyme in red-spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara was cloned and designated EaClys. The complete cDNA contains a 432 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 144 amino acids displaying 65-91% similarity with the amino acid sequences of human, mouse, chicken, and fish counterparts.

Codon optimization enhances protein expression of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus DNA polymerase in E. coli.

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a major viral agent that causes deadly grasserie disease in silkworms, while BmNPV DNA polymerase (BmNPV-pol), encoded by ORF53 gene, plays a central role in viral DNA replication. Efficacy studies of BmNPV-POL are limited because of poor heterologous protein expression in E. coli.

Characterization of the tilapia p53 gene and its role in chemical-induced apoptosis.

Roles of p53 in mammals have been extensively studied but little is known about its functions in lower vertebrates. We have cloned and characterized the p53 gene from tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), expressed it in Escherichia coli, generated a rabbit polyclonal antibody and examined the gene's expression patterns at both transcript and protein levels. The full-length p53 cDNA was 1288 bp with an ORF of 1,138 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 364 amino acids.

P50, the small subunit of DNA polymerase delta, is required for mediation of the interaction of polymerase delta subassemblies with PCNA.

Mammalian DNA polymerase δ (pol δ), a four-subunit enzyme, plays a crucial and versatile role in DNA replication and various DNA repair processes. Its function as a chromosomal DNA polymerase is dependent on the association with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) which functions as a molecular sliding clamp. All four of the pol δ subunits (p125, p50, p68, and p12) have been reported to bind to PCNA.

Acute acidic exposure induces p53-mediated oxidative stress and DNA damage in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) blood cells.

Acid rain and inputs of acidic effluent can result in increased acidity in aquatic ecosystems, where it is known to have a significant impact and possibly, to cause the decline of some populations of aquatic organisms. In previous studies, intracellular acid-induced oxidative stress has been shown to cause DNA damage, and cooperatively activate the expression of the p53 gene. The acute effects of acidic environments on shrimp and fish have been widely studied.

Protection of blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) against the White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) when injected with shrimp lysozyme.

In this study we found that a blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) lysozyme gene (Lslzm) was up-regulated in WSSV-infected shrimp, suggesting that lysozyme is involved in the innate response of shrimp to this virus. Shrimp were intramuscularly injected with Lslzm protein to identify how this recombinant protein protects L. stylirostris from WSSV infection and to determine how this protein influences nonspecific cellular and humoral defense mechanisms.

Molecular cloning, characterization, expression and antibacterial analysis of a lysozyme homologue from Fenneropenaeus merguiensis.

The gene coding for lysozyme in banana prawn (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis) was cloned, sequenced and expressed in pET-32a vector. The deduced amino acid sequence of F. merguiensis lysozyme showed 37-93% similarity with the mouse, human, chicken, and tiger prawn counterparts.