Bacterial and Protozoan Lipoxygenases Could be Involved in Cell-to-Cell Signaling and Immune Response Suppression.

Lipoxygenases are found in animals, plants, and fungi, where they are involved in a wide range of cell-to-cell signaling processes. The presence of lipoxygenases in a number of bacteria and protozoa has been also established, but their biological significance remains poorly understood. Several hypothetical functions of lipoxygenases in bacteria and protozoa have been suggested without experimental validation. The objective of our study was evaluating the functions of bacterial and protozoan lipoxygenases by evolutionary and taxonomic analysis using bioinformatics tools. Lipoxygenase sequences were identified and examined using BLAST, followed by analysis of constructed phylogenetic trees and networks. Our results support the theory on the involvement of lipoxygenases in the formation of multicellular structures by microorganisms and their possible evolutionary significance in the emergence of multicellularity. Furthermore, we observed association of lipoxygenases with the suppression of host immune response by parasitic and symbiotic bacteria including dangerous opportunistic pathogens.

[Analysis of nucleotide sequences of cytochrome C oxidase I (CO1) gene of mtDNA of Arctic Liopsetta glacialis and striped Liopsetta pinnifasciata flounder (Pleuronectidae) of the Sea of Okhotsk].

The first data on nucleotide sequences of cytochrome C oxidase I (CO1) gene of Arctic and striped flounders of the Sea of Okhotsk are analyzed. Nucleotide diversity of CO1 gene for 10 individuals of arctic flounder (π = 0,00370) is slightly less than that for 28 individuals of a striped flounder (π = 0,00446), caught in the Taui Lip, the Sea of Okhotsk. The size of the disparity index found on variability of nucleotides at individuals of a polar flounder indicates not selective nature of replacements, whereas at individuals of a striped flounder about a third of replacements is selective. The size of nucleotide distinctions between individuals arctic and striped flounders confirms the specific status of these fishes.

The BLUP method in evaluation of breeding values of Russian spring wheat lines using micro- and macroelements in seeds.

Genomic selection is a technology that allows for the determination of the genetic value of varieties of agricultural plants and animal breeds, based on information about genotypes and phenotypes. The measured breeding value (BV) for varieties and breeds in relation to the target trait allows breeding stages to be thoroughly planned and the parent forms suitable for crossing to be chosen. In this work, the BLUP method was used to assess the breeding value of 149 Russian varieties and introgression lines (4 measurements for each variety or line, 596 phenotypic points) of spring wheat according to the content of seven chemical elements in the grain - K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu. The quality of the evaluation of breeding values was assessed using cross-validation, when the sample was randomly divided into five parts, one of which was chosen as a test population. The following average values of the Pearson correlation were obtained for predicting the concentration of trace elements: K - 0.67, Ca - 0.61, Mg - 0.4, Mn - 0.5, Fe - 0.38, Zn - 0.46, Cu - 0.48. Out of the 35 models studied, the p-value was below the nominal significant threshold (p-value < 0.05) for 28 models. For 11 models, the p-value was significant after correction for multiple testing (p-value < 0.001). For Ca and K, four out of five models and for Mn two out of five models had a p-value below the threshold adjusted for multiple testing. For 30 varieties that showed the best varietal values for Ca, K and Mn, the average breeding value was 296.43, 785.11 and 4.87 mg/kg higher, respectively, than the average breeding value of the population. The results obtained show the relevance of the application of genomic selection models even in such limited-size samples. The models for K, Ca and Mn are suitable for assessing the breeding value of Russian wheat varieties based on these characteristics.

Polymorphism of human blood groups and incidence of influenza A/Hong Kong (H3N2).

During three epidemics of influenza A/Hong Kong (H3N2) and experimentally in vaccines, the relation between influenza infection and ABo, Rh and MN blood groups was studied. Examinations of 2760 patients with laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of influenza and 749 persons vaccinated with live influenza vaccine showed that individuals of blood groups O and B were susceptible to influenza 1.67 and 1.20 times more, respectively, than individuals of blood group A. The difference in incidence was most manifested in first attacks and decreased in subsequent epidemics. The increased incidence in individuals of blood groups O and B as compared to those of blood group A was not associated with factors of specific (antibody) and nonspecific (interferon) resistance to influenza but was related to a greater capacity of leukocytes from these individuals to adsorb the virus. No relation between blood groups Ph and MN and incidence of influenza A/Hong Kong (H3N2) was established.