Occult hepatitis B virus co-infection in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients: A review of prevalence, diagnosis and clinical significance

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) and hepatitis B virus(HBV) co-infection is high as they share similar mechanisms of transmission. The development and widespread use of highly sensitive tests for HBV diagnosis has demonstrated that a significant proportion of apparently healthy individuals with evidence of exposure to HBV continue to carry fully functional HBV DNA in their hepatocytes, a situation that predisposes them to the development of progressive liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. The presence of co-infections frequently influences the natural evolution of each of the participating infections present by either facilitating their virulence or competing for resources. Furthermore, the drugs used to treat these infections may also contribute to changes in the natural course of these infections, making the analysis of the impact of co-infection more difficult. The majority of studies has examined the impact of HIV on overt chronic hepatitis B, finding that co-infection carries an increased risk of progressive liver disease and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the effect of HIV on the natural history of occult hepatitis B infection(OBI) has not been fully assessed, all available data suggest a persisting risk of repeated flares of hepatitis and progressive liver disease. We describe studies regarding the diagnosis, prevalence and clinical significance of OBI in HIVpositive patients in this short review. Discrepancies in worldwide prevalence show the urgent need for the standardization of diagnostic criteria, as established by the Taormina statements. Ideally, standardized protocols for testing should be employed to enable the comparison of data from different groups. Additional studies are needed to define the differences in risk for OBI without HIV and in HIV-HBV co-infected patients with or without overt disease.

Genome-wide QTL analysis of tomato fruit cuticle deposition and composition

Genetics of traits related to fruit cuticle deposition and composition was studied in two red-fruited tomato species.Two mapping populations derived from the cross between the cultivated tomato(Solanum lycopersicum L.)and its closest relative wild species Solanum pimpinellifolium L.were employed to conduct a QTL analysis.A combination of fruit cuticle deposition,components and anatomical traits were investigated and the individual effect of each QTL evaluated.A total of 70 QTLs were identified,indicating that all the cuticle traits analyzed have a complex polygenic nature.A combination of additive and epistatic interactions was observed for all the traits,with positive contribution of both parental lines to most of them.Colocalization of QTLs for various traits uncovered novel genomic regions producing extensive changes in the cuticle.Cuticle density emerges as an important trait since it can modulate cuticle thickness and invagination thus providing a strategy for sustaining mechanical strength without compromising palatability.Two genomic regions,located in chromosomes 1 and 12,are responsible for the negative interaction between cuticle waxes and phenolics identified in tomato fruit.Several candidate genes,including transcription factors and structural genes,are postulated and their expression analyzed throughout development.

Identification of IL11RA and MELK amplification in gastric cancer by comprehensive genomic profiling of gastric cancer cell lines

AIM To identify common copy number alterations on gastric cancer cell lines.METHODS Four gastric cancer cell lines(ACP02, ACP03, AGP01 and PG100) underwent chromosomal comparative genome hybridization and array comparative genome hybridization. We also confirmed the results by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis using the bacterial artificial chromosome clone and quantitative real time PCR analysis.RESULTS The amplification of 9p13.3 was detected in all cell lines by both methodologies. An increase in the copy number of 9p13.3 was also confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Moreover, the interleukin 11 receptor alpha(IL11RA) and maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase(MELK) genes, which are present in the 9p13.3 amplicon, revealed gains of the MELK gene in all the cell lines studied. Additionally, a gain in the copy number of IL11 RA and MELK was observed in 19.1%(13/68) and 55.9%(38/68) of primary gastric adenocarcinoma samples, respectively. CONCLUSION The characterization of a small gain region at 9p13.3 in gastric cancer cell lines and primary gastric adenocarcinoma samples has revealed MELK as a candidate target gene that is possibly related to the development of gastric cancer.

Down-regulation of Fra a 1.02 in strawberry fruits causes transcriptomic and metabolic changes compatible with an altered defense response

The strawberry Fra a 1 proteins belong to the class 10 Pathogenesis-Related(PR-10)superfamily.In strawberry,a large number of members have been identified,but only a limited number is expressed in the fruits.In this organ,Fra a 1.01 and Fra a 1.02 are the most abundant Fra proteins in the green and red fruits,respectively,however,their function remains unknown.To know the function of Fra a 1.02 we have generated transgenic lines that silence this gene,and performed metabolomics,RNA-Seq,and hormonal assays.Previous studies associated Fra a 1.02 to strawberry fruit color,but the analysis of anthocyanins in the ripe fruits showed no diminution in their content in the silenced lines.Gene ontology(GO)analysis of the genes differentially expressed indicated that oxidation/reduction was the most represented biological process.Redox state was not apparently altered since no changes were found in ascorbic acid and glutathione(GSH)reduced/oxidized ratio,but GSH content was reduced in the silenced fruits.In addition,a number of glutathione-S-transferases(GST)were down-regulated as result of Fra a 1.02-silencing.Another highly represented GO category was transport which included a number of ABC and MATE transporters.Among the regulatory genes differentially expressed WRKY33.1 and WRKY33.2 were down-regulated,which had previously been assigned a role in strawberry plant defense.A reduced expression of the VQ23 gene and a diminished content of the hormones JA,SA,and IAA were also found.These data might indicate that Fra a 1.02 participates in the defense against pathogens in the ripe strawberry fruits.

The Strawberry Fruit Fra a Allergen Functions in Flavonoid Biosynthesis

The strawberry Fra a I allergen is a homolog of the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1. It is synthesized by red ripe fruits of Fragaria x ananassa while white fruits of a mutant genotype, which is known to be tolerated by individuals affected by allergy, are devoid of it. Proteomic analyses have shown that Fra a 1 is down-regulated in the tolerated white- fruited genotype along with enzymes of the anthocyanin pigment pathway. In this study, we report the spatial and tem- poral expression of three Fra a genes that encode different isoforms, and the transient RNAi-mediated silencing of the Fra a genes in strawberry fruits of the red-fruited cultivar Elsanta with an ihpRNA construct. As a consequence of reduced levels of Fra a mRNAs, fruits were obtained that produced significantly decreased levels of anthocyanins and upstream metabolites. This effect is consistent with the parallel down-regulation of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase （FaPAL） and to a lesser extent of the chalcone synthase （FaCHS） transcript levels also found in these fruits. In naturally occurring white- fruited genotypes of F. chiloensis and F. vesca, Fra a transcript levels are higher than those of the red-fruited varieties, likely to compensate for the low expression levels of FaPAL and FaCHS in these mutant genotypes. The results demonstrate that Fra a expression is directly linked to flavonoid biosynthesis and show that the Fra a allergen has an essential biological function in pigment formation in strawberry fruit.

Characterization of goat whey proteins and their bioactivity and toxicity assay

Goat whey is an industry-discarded dairy by-product that has interesting nutritional value and a nutrient composition with important functional potential,where proteins have a high biological value and play an important role in the organism’s physiology.Therefore,the aim of this study was to identify,quantify,concentrate and investigate the capacity of goat whey proteins to perform different biological activities and to evaluate their acute toxicity.Concentrated proteins were quantified and identified by Bradford,Kjehdal and SDS-PAGE methods.Antibacterial activity was performed against Listeria monocytogenes,Salmonella spp.,Staphylococcus aureus,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli microorganisms and showed MIC ranging from 15 to 120μg mL-1,with the highest inhibition for L.monocytogenes growth.Antiproliferative activity was performed against human malignant melanoma cells and their proliferation inhibition was up to 66.8%within 72 h of exposure.The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained at concentration 2 mg that showed 29.69%of inhibition of DPPH radical oxidation.The acute toxicity test was performed using Artemia franciscana larvae in which whey proteins were able to preserve larval survival throughout exposure.Thus,we can conclude that goat’s whey has proteins that can play a positive effect on health,with antimicrobial activity and without toxicity.The present study highlights the great potential of goat’s whey to be developed as a safe biopreservative or as a functional ingredient in the food industry.

Analysis of the Interface between Primary and Secondary Metabolism in Catharanthus roseus Cell Cultures Using ^13C-Stable Isotope Feeding and Coupled Mass Spectrometry

Dear Editor, The tropical plant Madagascar periwinkle Catharanthus roseus （L.） G.Don is a rich source of plant-derived medicinal ter-penoid indole alkaloids （TIAs）, including the anti-hypertensive ajmalicine, the sedative compound serpentine, and the anti-cancer drugs vinblastine and vincristine. However, the latter two compounds are produced in C. roseus plants only in very low amounts. Elicitors such as hormones （e.g. jasmonates or salicylic acid） activate plant natural defense responses, includ-ing increased secondary metabolite production （EI-Sayed and Verpoorte, 2007; Lackman et al.. 2011）.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in the management of cancer and diabetes

OBJECTIVE:To conduct an ethnobotanical survey and document the traditional anticancer and antidiabetic plants used by the local tribes of Mizoram,Northeast India.METHODS:A systematic survey was conducted in rural and urban areas of Mizoram by interviewing traditional practitioners,and cancer and diabetes patients.A detailed literature search was carried out using MEDLINE and SCOPUS and available literatures were selected and included in the study.The use value(UV)of the selected plants was calculated based on the number of citations per species given by informants.RESULTS:Data was obtained for 201 traditional medicinal plants from Mizoram,Northeast India.These plants were from 72 different families and belonged to 140 genera.Of these,103 plants were reported for the first time as possessing either anticancer or antidiabetic potential,and 105 plants were identified that were used for the treatment of both diseases.Three plants(Phlogacanthus thysiformis,Solanum gilo and Lobelia angulata)with antidiabetic potential,and six plants(Dillenia scabrella,Circium sinesis,Eupatorium nodiflorum,Pratia begonifolia,Vernonia teres and Plantago erosa)with both as anticancer and antidiabetic potential were documented for the first time.CONCLUSION:In this study,we documented several explored and unexplored medicinal plants that may be useful for the management of cancer and diabetes.This study suggests that there is a broad scope fordeveloping potent anticancer and antidiabetic agent from the flora of Mizoram,Northeast India.