Expressed sequence tag analysis of the erythrocytic stage of Plasmodium berghei.

Rodent malaria parasites, such as Plasmodium berghei, are practical and useful model organisms for human malaria research because of their analogies to the human malaria in terms of structure, physiology, and life cycle. Exploiting the available genetic sequence information, we constructed a cDNA library from the erythrocytic stages of P. berghei and analyzed the expressed sequence tag (EST). A total of 10,040 ESTs were generated and assembled into 2,462 clusters. These EST clusters were compared against public protein databases and 48 putative new transcripts, most of which were hypothetical proteins with unknown function, were identified. Genes encoding ribosomal or membrane proteins and purine nucleotide phosphorylases were highly abundant clusters in P. berghei. Protein domain analyses and the Gene Ontology functional categorization revealed translation/protein folding, metabolism, protein degradation, and multiple family of variant antigens to be mainly prevalent. The presently-collected ESTs and its bioinformatic analysis will be useful resources to identify for drug target and vaccine candidates and validate gene predictions of P. berghei.

Safety of appendectomy during pregnancy in the totally laparoscopic age.

Purpose: Acute appendicitis is the most common nonobstetric indication for surgical intervention during pregnancy. In the argument of the optimal surgical approach to acute appendicitis in pregnancy, laparoscopy seems to be won with a similar complication rate and shorter postoperative recovery than open. We aimed to compare perioperative outcomes of appendectomy in pregnant and nonpregnant women in the totally laparoscopic age. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 556 nonincidental appendectomies performed in women (aged 18-45 years) between January 2014 and December 2018. To reduce the confounding effects, we used propensity score considering the variables age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, and the operative finding; whether the appendicitis was simple or complicated. After propensity score matching, the outcomes of 15 pregnant women were compared with those of the 30 nonpregnant women. Results: All the operations were performed with laparoscopy. Most of the pregnant cases were in their first and second trimester. The postoperative morbidity rate was significantly higher in the pregnant group before propensity score matching; however, the significance disappeared after matching. Operative outcomes and the parameters related to the postoperative recovery were not different between the two groups. Two patients in their first trimester decided to terminate the pregnancy after appendectomy. One patient in her second trimester experienced preterm labor which was resolved spontaneously. There was no other obstetric adverse outcome. Conclusion: In the laparoscopy age, appendectomy during pregnancy is safe and not associated with a significantly increased risk of postoperative complication.

Complete genome sequence of Paenibacillus yonginensis DCY84T, a novel plant Symbiont that promotes growth via induced systemic resistance.

This article reports the full genome sequence of Paenibacillus yonginensis DCY84T (KCTC33428, JCM19885), which is a Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium isolated from humus soil of Yongin Forest in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The genome sequence of strain DCY84T provides greater understanding of the Paenibacillus species for practical use. This bacterium displays plant growth promotion via induced systemic resistance of abiotic stresses.

M17 leucine aminopeptidase of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax.

Amino acids derived from hemoglobin are essential to protein synthesis required for growth and development of the Plasmodium vivax malaria parasite. M17 leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) is a cytosolic metallo-exopeptidase that catalyzes the removal of amino acids from the peptide generated in the process of hemoglobin degradation. Inhibitors of the enzyme have shown promise as drugs against Plasmodium infections, implicating aminopeptidases as a novel potential anti-malarial chemotherapy target. In this study, we isolated a cDNA encoding a 68kDa P. vivax LAP (PvLAP). Deduced amino acid sequence of PvLAP exhibited significant sequence homology with LAP from Plasmodium falciparum. Biochemical analysis of the recombinant PvLAP protein produced in Escherichia coli demonstrated preferential substrate specificity for the fluorogenic peptide Leu-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin hydroxide and inhibition by EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, and bestatin, which are conserved characteristics of the M17 family of LAP. PvLAP was optimally active at slightly alkaline pH and its activity was dependent on divalent metal ions. Based on the biochemical properties and immunofluorescence localization, PvLAP is concluded to represent a LAP in P. vivax. The enzyme is most likely responsible for the catabolism of host hemoglobin and, hence, represents a potential target of both P. falciparum and P. vivax chemotherapy.

Transcriptome analysis of the zebrafish mind bomb mutant.

Mind bomb (Mib) facilitates Notch signaling pathway by promoting the endocytosis of Notch ligand. The zebrafish mib ( ta52b ) mutant has a defect in its ubiquitin ligase activity which is necessary to inhibit the neurogenesis, resulting in a neuronal hyperplasia. Several genes regulated in the mib ( ta52b ) mutant have been well established, however, there were relatively few reports about the transcriptome profile. To identify the genes differentially expressed in the mib ( ta52b ) mutant, genome-wide analysis was performed using serial analysis of gene expression. Three hundred and thirty-five transcripts were identified whose expressions were significantly altered in the mib ( ta52b ) mutant as compared with the wild-type. Interestingly, it was suggested that the mib ( ta52b ) mutation may affect not only neurogenesis but also mesoderm development. These results provide new insights into Notch signaling pathway.

Stable transcriptional status in the apoptotic erythroid genome.

When a cell is destined for apoptosis, will its genome reprogram its transcriptional machinery to overcome the life-threatening challenge? To address this issue, we performed a genome-wide transcriptome analysis in EPO (erythropoietin) deprivation-induced apoptotic erythroid cells using the SAGE method. The results show that the transcript contents for the majority of the genes remain unchanged in the apoptotic cells, including the apoptotic genes and the heat shock genes. Of the small number of genes with an altered expression, they are mainly associated with cellular structure. Our study reveals that there is no genetic reprogramming for the transcriptional machinery in the apoptotic genome. Apoptosis, as defined by programmed cell death, is not a crisis but a peaceful physiological process.