Natural infection ofBlastocystis ST6 among commercial quails (Coturnix coturnix) in Penang, Malaysia.

Blastocystis sp. is a unicellular, anaerobic intestinal protist regularly reported in humans and various animals worldwide. There seems to be little research on Blastocystis infection in poultry in Malaysia, and none on Blastocystis in quail specifically. In Malaysia, the consumption of quail meat and eggs is rapidly gaining popularity as a significant source of protein. It is, therefore, essential to explore the presence of Blastocystis in Malaysian quails in order to aid in the understanding of Blastocystis in this group of birds and their role in its transmission. Intestinal contents were collected from 90 commercial quails raised on two farms in Penang, Malaysia, in a multi-layer cage system with adequate farm management. Detection of Blastocystis sp. was by cultivation in modified Jones' medium supplemented with 10% horse serum. Giemsa-stained slides made from positive cultures were used for morphological studies whereas Blastocystis subtyping was conducted by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A prevalence of 17.8% (16/90) was recorded for Blastocystis sp. in quail in this study. The most common forms detected in the in vitro culture medium were vacuolar and granular forms with cell diameters ranging from 9.09 µm to 33.33 µm. None of the quail birds screened had any visible gastrointestinal symptoms or signs. All successfully sequenced isolates were identified as Blastocystis sp. ST6, one of the potentially zoonotic subtypes of Blastocystis. This study posits that the quail birds may serve as reservoirs of zoonotic subtypes of Blastocystis. More studies are required to understand the source of Blastocystis infection to poultry under intensive care and the role of poultry animals in the transmission of Blastocystis to humans.

Natural infection of Blastocystis ST6 among commercial quails (Coturnix coturnix) in Penang, Malaysia

@#Blastocystis sp. is a unicellular, anaerobic intestinal protist regularly reported in humans and various animals worldwide. There seems to be little research on Blastocystis infection in poultry in Malaysia, and none on Blastocystis in quail specifically. In Malaysia, the consumption of quail meat and eggs is rapidly gaining popularity as a significant source of protein. It is, therefore, essential to explore the presence of Blastocystis in Malaysian quails in order to aid in the understanding of Blastocystis in this group of birds and their role in its transmission. Intestinal contents were collected from 90 commercial quails raised on two farms in Penang, Malaysia, in a multi-layer cage system with adequate farm management. Detection of Blastocystis sp. was by cultivation in modified Jones’ medium supplemented with 10% horse serum. Giemsa-stained slides made from positive cultures were used for morphological studies whereas Blastocystis subtyping was conducted by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A prevalence of 17.8% (16/90) was recorded for Blastocystis sp. in quail in this study. The most common forms detected in the in vitro culture medium were vacuolar and granular forms with cell diameters ranging from 9.09μm to 33.33μm. None of the quail birds screened had any visible gastrointestinal symptoms or signs. All successfully sequenced isolates were identified as Blastocystis sp. ST6, one of the potentially zoonotic subtypes of Blastocystis. This study posits that the quail birds may serve as reservoirs of zoonotic subtypes of Blastocystis. More studies are required to understand the source of Blastocystis infection to poultry under intensive care and the role of poultry animals in the transmission of Blastocystis to humans.

Pleiotropy of the Drosophila melanogaster foraging gene on larval feeding-related traits.

Little is known about the molecular underpinning of behavioral pleiotropy. The Drosophila melanogaster foraging gene is highly pleiotropic, affecting many independent larval and adult phenotypes. Included in foraging's multiple phenotypes are larval foraging path length, triglyceride levels, and food intake. foraging has a complex structure with four promoters and 21 transcripts that encode nine protein isoforms of a cGMP dependent protein kinase (PKG). We examined if foraging's complex molecular structure underlies the behavioral pleiotropy associated with this gene. Using a promotor analysis strategy, we cloned DNA fragments upstream of each of foraging's transcription start sites and generated four separate forpr-Gal4s. Supporting our hypothesis of modular function, they had discrete, restricted expression patterns throughout the larva. In the CNS, forpr1-Gal4 and forpr4-Gal4 were expressed in neurons while forpr2-Gal4 and forpr3-Gal4 were expressed in glia cells. In the gastric system, forpr1-Gal4 and forpr3-Gal4 were expressed in enteroendocrine cells of the midgut while forpr2-Gal4 was expressed in the stem cells of the midgut. forpr3-Gal4 was expressed in the midgut enterocytes, and midgut and hindgut visceral muscle. forpr4-Gal4's gastric system expression was restricted to the hindgut. We also found promoter specific expression in the larval fat body, salivary glands, and body muscle. The modularity of foraging's molecular structure was also apparent in the phenotypic rescues. We rescued larval path length, triglyceride levels (bordered on significance), and food intake of for0 null larvae using different forpr-Gal4s to drive UAS-forcDNA. In a foraging null genetic background, forpr1-Gal4 was the only promoter driven Gal4 to rescue larval path length, forpr3-Gal4 altered triglyceride levels, and forpr4-Gal4 rescued food intake. Our results refine the spatial expression responsible for foraging's associated phenotypes, as well as the sub-regions of the locus responsible for their expression. foraging's pleiotropy arises at least in part from the individual contributions of its four promoters.

The foraging gene of Drosophila melanogaster: spatial-expression analysis and sucrose responsiveness.

The ability to identify and respond to food is essential for survival, yet little is known about the neural substrates that regulate natural variation in food-related traits. The foraging (for) gene in Drosophila melanogaster encodes a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) and has been shown to function in food-related traits. To investigate the tissue distribution of FOR protein, we generated an antibody against a common region of the FOR isoforms. In the adult brain we localized FOR to neuronal clusters and projections including neurons that project to the central complex, a cluster within the dorsoposterior region of the brain hemispheres, a separate cluster medial to optic lobes and lateral to brain hemispheres, a broadly distributed frontal-brain cluster, axon bundles of the antennal nerve and of certain subesophageal-ganglion nerves, and the medulla optic lobe. These newly described tissue distribution patterns of FOR protein provide candidate neural clusters and brain regions for investigation of neural networks that govern foraging-related traits. To determine whether FOR has a behavioral function in neurons we expressed UAS-for in neurons using an elav-gal4 driver and measured the effect on adult sucrose responsiveness (SR), known to be higher in rovers than sitters, the two natural variants of foraging. We found that pan-neuronal expression of for caused an increase in the SR of sitters, demonstrating a neural function for PKG in this food-related behavior.

Nanoparticles in drug delivery.

Alkylcyanoacrylates can be polymerized in acidified aqueous media by a process of anionic polymerization. The small particles produced tend to be monodisperse and have sizes in the range of 20 to 3000 nm depending upon the polymerization conditions and the presence of additives in the form of surfactants and other stabilizers. The polyalkylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles so produced have been studied in recent years as a possible means of targeting drugs to specific sites in the body, with particular emphasis in cancer chemotherapy. The small colloidal carriers are biodegradable and drug substances can be incorporated normally by a process of surface adsorption. The review by Davis and others considers the formulation of nanoparticles, the important physicochemical variables such as pH, monomer concentration, added stabilizers, ionic strengths, etc., as well as the characteristics of the particle so created in terms of surface charge, particle size, and molecular weight. Monodisperse particles in the range of 20 to 3000 nm can be obtained. In addition, by the use of stabilizers such as dextran and its derivatives, which can be incorporated into the nanoparticle surface by a process of polymer grafting, it is possible to make nanoparticles with interesting surface characteristics and different surface charges (sign). The stability of nanoparticles in vitro and their biodegradation in vivo are examined, and the possible formation of toxic products such as formaldehyde is highlighted. Alternative biodegradable acrylates are mentioned. Drugs can be incorporated into nanoparticles by either direct incorporation during the polymerization process or adsorption to preformed nanoparticles. The efficiency of the incorporation and the release characteristics of model compounds as well as anticancer drugs are discussed. Methods for examining these processes, including the determination of adsorption and desorption, kinetics, and isotherms, are mentioned. Selectivity in drug targeting can, in theory, be achieved by the attachment of some form of homing device, normally a monoclonal antibody or a lectin. Work in vitro and in vivo, where nanoparticles have been coated with monoclonal antibodies, is described. Finally, methods for the labeling of nanoparticles with gamma-emitting radionuclides are presented, and results obtained in animal species are given.