Hormonal regulation of platypus Beta-lactoglobulin and monotreme lactation protein genes

Endocrine regulation of milk protein gene expression in marsupials and eutherians is well studied. However, the evolution of this complex regulation that began with monotremes is unknown. Monotremes represent the oldest lineage of extant mammals and the endocrine regulation of lactation in these mammals has not been investigated. Here we characterised the proximal promoter and hormonal regulation of two platypus milk protein genes, Beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), a whey protein and monotreme lactation protein (MLP), a monotreme specific milk protein, using in vitro reporter assays and a bovine mammary epithelial cell line (BME-UV1). Insulin and dexamethasone alone provided partial induction of MLP, while the combination of insulin, dexamethasone and prolactin was required for maximal induction. Partial induction of BLG was achieved by insulin, dexamethasone and prolactin alone, with maximal induction using all three hormones. Platypus MLP and BLG core promoter regions comprised transcription factor binding sites (e.g. STAT5, NF-1 and C/EBPα) that were conserved in marsupial and eutherian lineages that regulate caseins and whey protein gene expression. Our analysis suggests that insulin, dexamethasone and/or prolactin alone can regulate the platypus MLP and BLG gene expression, unlike those of therian lineage. The induction of platypus milk protein genes by lactogenic hormones suggests they originated before the divergence of marsupial and eutherians.

The impact of a line probe assay based diagnostic algorithm on time to treatment initiation and treatment outcomes for multidrug resistant TB patients in Arkhangelsk region, Russia

BACKGROUND: In the Arkhangelsk region of Northern Russia, multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) rates in new cases are amongst the highest in the world. In 2014, MDR-TB rates reached 31.7% among new cases and 56.9% among retreatment cases. The development of new diagnostic tools allows for faster detection of both TB and MDR-TB and should lead to reduced transmission by earlier initiation of anti-TB therapy. STUDY AIM: The PROVE-IT (Policy Relevant Outcomes from Validating Evidence on Impact) Russia study aimed to assess the impact of the implementation of line probe assay (LPA) as part of an LPA-based diagnostic algorithm for patients with presumptive MDR-TB focusing on time to treatment initiation with time from first-care seeking visit to the initiation of MDR-TB treatment rather than diagnostic accuracy as the primary outcome, and to assess treatment outcomes. We hypothesized that the implementation of LPA would result in faster time to treatment initiation and better treatment outcomes.

METHODS: A culture-based diagnostic algorithm used prior to LPA implementation was compared to an LPA-based algorithm that replaced BacTAlert and Löwenstein Jensen (LJ) for drug sensitivity testing. A total of 295 MDR-TB patients were included in the study, 163 diagnosed with the culture-based algorithm, 132 with the LPA-based algorithm.

RESULTS: Among smear positive patients, the implementation of the LPA-based algorithm was associated with a median decrease in time to MDR-TB treatment initiation of 50 and 66 days compared to the culture-based algorithm (BacTAlert and LJ respectively, p<0.001). In smear negative patients, the LPA-based algorithm was associated with a median decrease in time to MDR-TB treatment initiation of 78 days when compared to the culture-based algorithm (LJ, p<0.001). However, several weeks were still needed for treatment initiation in LPA-based algorithm, 24 days in smear positive, and 62 days in smear negative patients. Overall treatment outcomes were better in LPA-based algorithm compared to culture-based algorithm (p = 0.003). Treatment success rates at 20 months of treatment were higher in patients diagnosed with the LPA-based algorithm (65.2%) as compared to those diagnosed with the culture-based algorithm (44.8%). Mortality was also lower in the LPA-based algorithm group (7.6%) compared to the culture-based algorithm group (15.9%). There was no statistically significant difference in smear and culture conversion rates between the two algorithms.

CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that the introduction of LPA leads to faster time to MDR diagnosis and earlier treatment initiation as well as better treatment outcomes for patients with MDR-TB. These findings also highlight the need for further improvements within the health system to reduce both patient and diagnostic delays to truly optimize the impact of new, rapid diagnostics.

4-Hydroxy-N-propyl-1,8-naphthalimide esters: new fluorescence-based assay for analysing lipase and esterase activity

Research using 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives has expanded rapidly in recent years owing to their cell-permeable nature, ability to target certain cellular locations and fluorescent properties. Here we describe the synthesis of three new esters of 4-hydroxy-N-propyl-1,8-naphthalimide (NAP) and the development of a simple and sensitive assay protocol to measure the activity of carboxylester hydrolases. The NAP fluorophore was esterified with short (butyrate), medium (octanoate) and long (palmitate) chain fatty acids. The esters were spectroscopically characterised and their properties investigated for their suitability as assay substrates. The esters were found to be relatively stable under the conditions of the assay and levels of spontaneous hydrolysis were negligible. Non-specific hydrolysis by proteins such as bovine serum albumin was also minimal. A simple and rapid assay methodology was developed and used to analyse a range of commercially available enzymes that included enzymes defined as lipases, esterases and phospholipases. Clear differences were observed between the enzyme classes with respect to the hydrolysis of the various chain length esters, with lipases preferentially hydrolysing the medium chain ester, whereas esterases reacted more favourably with the short ester. The assay was found to be highly sensitive with the fluorophore detectable to the low nM range. These esters provide alternate substrates from established coumarin-based fluorophores, possessing distinctly different excitation (447 nm) and emission (555 nm) optima. Absorbing at 440-450 nm also offers the flexibility of analysis by UV-visible spectrophotometry. This represents the first instance of a naphthalimide-derived compound being used to analyse these enzymes.

An inter-laboratory validation of a real time PCR assay to measure host excretion of bacterial pathogens, particularly of Mycobacterium bovis

Advances in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in wildlife hosts may benefit the development of sustainable approaches to the management of bovine tuberculosis in cattle. In the present study, three laboratories from two different countries participated in a validation trial to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of a real time PCR assay in the detection and quantification of M. bovis from environmental samples. The sample panels consisted of negative badger faeces spiked with a dilution series of M. bovis BCG Pasteur and of field samples of faeces from badgers of unknown infection status taken from badger latrines in areas with high and low incidence of bovine TB (bTB) in cattle. Samples were tested with a previously optimised methodology. The experimental design involved rigorous testing which highlighted a number of potential pitfalls in the analysis of environmental samples using real time PCR. Despite minor variation between operators and laboratories, the validation study demonstrated good concordance between the three laboratories: on the spiked panels, the test showed high levels of agreement in terms of positive/negative detection, with high specificity (100%) and high sensitivity (97%) at levels of 10(5) cells g(-1) and above. Quantitative analysis of the data revealed low variability in recovery of BCG cells between laboratories and operators. On the field samples, the test showed high reproducibility both in terms of positive/negative detection and in the number of cells detected, despite low numbers of samples identified as positive by any laboratory. Use of a parallel PCR inhibition control assay revealed negligible PCR-interfering chemicals co-extracted with the DNA. This is the first example of a multi-laboratory validation of a real time PCR assay for the detection of mycobacteria in environmental samples. Field studies are now required to determine how best to apply the assay for population-level bTB surveillance in wildlife.

Estabelecimento de protocolo para análise multi-hormonal em gemas de macieira durante o período de endodormência.

A macieira se torna endodormente durante o outono/inverno em resposta a estímulos ambientais, requerendo um somatório de frio para superar este estado. O controle deste processo está intimamente associado ao genótipo e as condições de cultivo. Já existem resultados isolados da variação de alguns hormônios, mas não consideram a inter-relação e o balanço destes compostos ao longo do período hibernal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um protocolo para uma análise simultânea de diferentes hormônios (ácido abscísico, auxina, giberelina, zeatina, ácido salicílico e jasmonato) em gemas, visando caracterizar o balanço destes compostos durante o processo de endodormência.