Evaluation of Eosinophilic Cationic Protein as a Marker of Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis.

Echinococcosis is a neglected zoonotic disease and a worldwide public health problem caused by infection with the larval stages of taeniid cestodes of the genus Echinococcus. In vitro studies have demonstrated a protoscolecidal effect of eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP), a granule protein of eosinophilic granulocytes, against E. granulosus. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate ECP as a biomarker in the treatment of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE). Data were collected retrospectively from the Vienna Echinococcosis Cohort over 7 years until December 2020. Altogether, 32 patients (16 AE and 16 CE) were included. In the selected patients, serum ECP values were compared before and after the beginning of an operative and/or benzimidazole (BMZ) therapy. Mean ECP serum levels before intervention were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated at 34.0 ± 22.9 µg/L in AE patients and at 38.6 ± 19.9 µg/L in CE patients compared to the control group. After the intervention, mean ECP levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05) to 20.4 ± 14.6 µg/L in AE patients and to 22.4 ± 8.3 µg/L in CE patients. Furthermore, ECP showed a significant (p < 0.05) correlation of k = 0.56 with PET-CTI. Based on the significant decrease after operative and/or BMZ treatment and the correlation with clinical markers such as PET-CTI, it is recommended to investigate ECP more intensively as a marker of AE and CE in prospective studies with larger cohorts.

Synergistic Effect of Cefazolin Plus Fosfomycin Against Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in vivo in an Experimental Galleria mellonella Model.

Objectives: This study investigated the synergistic in vitro and in vivo activity of cefazolin plus fosfomycin against methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MSSA and MRSA) to provide the basis for a potential treatment alternative. Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility and in vitro synergy tests were performed with five MSSA and five MRSA isolates using the broth microdilution and chequerboard assays, respectively. The in vivo efficacy of cefazolin plus fosfomycin for the treatment of MRSA infections was assessed using the Galleria mellonella survival assay. Results: Using fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI), the evaluated combination of cefazolin plus fosfomycin showed synergistic in vitro activity against all MSSA and MRSA isolates tested. In addition, cefazolin susceptibility was recovered in all MRSA isolates except one fosfomycin-resistant strain when combined with fosfomycin at readily achievable concentrations. The G. mellonella survival assay demonstrated highly synergistic in vivo activity of cefazolin plus fosfomycin, resulting in a 44-52% reduction in mortality when compared to cefazolin-alone and fosfomycin-alone, respectively. Conclusion: If susceptibility to fosfomycin is either confirmed or can be assumed based on local resistance patterns, combination therapy with cefazolin plus fosfomycin could be a valuable treatment option for empirical as well as targeted therapy of S. aureus and MRSA infections. Future studies proving the clinical significance of this combination therapy are therefore warranted.

Characters of DNA constitution in the rye B chromosome.

We have used chromosome microdissection and microcloning to construct a DNA library of the entire B chromosome (B) of rye. New rye B-specific sequences have been screened from this pool, blasted with other sequences and analyzed to elucidate the characters of DNA constitution and the possible pathway of the origin of the rye B chromosome. We report the discovery of a new sequence that is specific to the rye B centromere.

[Analysis on genetic diversity of different Salvia miltiorrhiza geographical populations in China].

OBJECTIVE: To research on genetic diversity of different Salvia miltiorrhiza geographical populations in China. METHOD: The genetic diversity of 27 S. miltiorrhiza geographical populations from ten provinces in China was estimated using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. The data of amplified bands were analyzed by the software POPGENE and SPSS. RESULT: The ten primers employed produced a total of 528 discernable and reproduceable amplified fragments. There were 476 polymorphic brands. The percentage of polymorphic bands with in different populations was 90.15%. Genetic diversity analysis showed that Neis gene diversity (He) was 0.261 2 and Shannon's genetic diversity index (1) was 0.403 3. The coefficient of gene similarity was 0.504 0-0.789 0 between populations. The cluster map including all samples were obtained by UPGMA. In the map, there were seven cluster groups and one individual outside the groups. CONCLUSION: The genetic diversity with in different geographical population of S. miltiorrhiza in China is plentiful.

[Multicolor FISH analysis of rDNA and telomere on spin-ach].

In this study, multicolor FISH analysis on metaphase chromosomes of spinach with biotin-labeled 25S rDNA, DIG-labeled telomere sequences and biotin-labeled and DIG-labeled 5S rDNA was performed. There were six 25S rDNA loci, which were located on the satellites of the third, the fifth and the sixth chromosomes, four 5S rDNA loci, which were located on the long arms of the third and the fifth chromosomes. The telomere loci were located on the end of the sixth chromosome and also on both the end and centromeric regions of other chromosomes. This study is an important complement to both traditional karyotype analysis and FISH karyotype analysis in spinach.

[Studies on cytogeography of Pinellia ternata poliploid complex].

OBJECTIVE: In order to clarify the genetic background of Pinellia ternata germplasm resources in China, the chromosomal constitution and cytogeographical distribution of P. ternata were investigated in 27 different populations among 16 provinces and regions in China systematically. METHOD: Cytological and cytogeographical methods were used in the study. RESULT: P. ternata in China is a polyploid complex, which contains septuploid (2n = 7x = 91) , octoploid (2n = 8x = 104) , nonuploid (2n = 9x = 117) and decaploid (2n = 10x = 130). Meanwhile the aneuploid series (2n = 92, 103, 105, 115) of a minority of P. ternata were also found. CONCLUSION: The genetic differentiation and the phenomenon of ploidy miscellany commonly exist in the species of P. ternata in China, both for natural populations and cultivated populations. Toxicity and chemical components of different ploidy P. ternata should be clarified before the superior multiploid is selected for normalized plantation of the plant.

[Karyotypes analysis of Ferula fukanensis].

OBJECTIVE: Study on the karyotypes analysis of Ferula fukanensis. METHOD: The young roots were treated with 0.000 2 mol x L(1) 8-Hydroxyquinoline for 3 h, carnoy's for 3 h, 1 mol x L(-1) HCl in 5 min,carbol fuchsin coloration for 2 min and the treated roots were utilizied to make the plate for observation. RESULT: The fukanensis is diploid. The chromosome number of somatic cells was 2n = 22. The karyotype formula is 2n = 2x = 20 = 16m + 4sm. The 4th and 10th are submetacentric, and the others are metacentric. CONCLUSION: The karyotype of F. fukanensis belongs to "2A" type of stebbins', and it is a primitive species.

[Study of a DNA sequence from brine shrimp artemia containing a novel DM domain].

Sex-determining mechanisms are highly variable between phyla. However, there is an apparent exception in which structurally and functionally related genes control sex determination in different phyla: the sexual regulators DSX of Drosophila melanogaster and MAB-3 of Caenorhabditis elegans both containing a DNA-binding motif, DM domain. Proteins containing the domain may also play a role in sexual development of vertebrates. For examples, both the human DMRT1 (doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1) gene and mouse Dmrt1 gene are necessary for male development. In this paper, through the degenerated PCR, a DNA fragment ADM was amplified out from genomic DNA of brine shrimp, Artemia sinica from YunCheng Salt Lake, Shanxi, China and Artemia parthenogenetica from GaHai, Qinghai, China, respectively. ADM encodes 47 amino acids and is highly homologous to amino acid sequence of the known DM domains. By comparing total of 27 DM domains in distant related species, a phylogenic tree of DM domain was constructed. In the tree, these DM domains were divided into different branches according to their subtypes. Among the DM domains that were compared, ADM is most homologous to the DM domain contained in human DMRT3 and mouse Dmrt3, which shares 83% identity between them. In addition, the same length of ADM could also be amplified out from cDNA of Artemia sinica and Artemia parthenogenetica, which indicated that ADM was expressed and located in one exon. The DM domain in brine shrimp reported here would make it possible for cloning the full-length cDNA containing the DM domain and further elucidating their functions.

The molecular characterization of maize B chromosome specific AFLPs.

The origin and evolution of B chromosomes could be explained by the specific DNA sequence on them. But the specific sequences known were quite limited. To investigate maize B chromosome sqicific DNA sequeces, maize genomes with and without B chromosomes were analyzed by AFLP. Only 5 markers were found specific to genomes with B chromosomes among about 2000 AFLP markers. Southern hybridization and sequence analysis revealed that only the sequence of M8-2D was a B chromosome specific sequence. This sequence contained the telomeric repeat unit AGG