The transcriptome analysis of the whole-body of the gastropod mollusk Limax flavus and screening of putative antimicrobial peptide and protein genes

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of repeated cocaine administration on the whole body of rats. Rats (male, 6 weeks old, Sprague Dawley) were injected intraperitoneally with cocaine (50 mg/kg) once a day for 1, 3 or 7 days, and major organs (heart, liver, lung, brain, kidney, spleen) were excised from the sacrificed animals. During autopsy, we found a reduction in spleen size, but not other organs, in cocaine-administered rats as compared to control rats. This reduction became to be noticed at 3 day and easily perceived at 7 day. No marked changes were observed in other organs examined. H&E and EMG staining showed a tendency for a decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) as well as an increase in collagen fibers in the spleens of rats treated repeatedly with cocaine. Transcriptome analysis indicated that repeated cocaine administration depletes RBCs from the spleen. Immunoblot analysis showed that cocaine increases the phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MYL) as well as the levels of transgelin, both of which are involved in the contraction of myofibrils. Collectively, these results show that repeated cocaine administration results in sustained contraction of the spleen, which leads to the release of RBCs from the spleen into circulation.

Download Full-text

Uncovering Antimicrobial Peptide from Zophobas atratus Using Transcriptome Analysis

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics ◽

10.1007/s10989-021-10213-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joon Ha Lee ◽

Hoyong Chung ◽

Yong Pyo Shin ◽

Mi-Ae Kim ◽

Sathishkumar Natarajan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Peptide ◽

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Zophobas Atratus

Download Full-text

Global transcriptome analysis reveals distinct bacterial response towards soluble and surface-immobilized antimicrobial peptide (Lasioglossin-III)

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/c5ra14862f ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (96) ◽

pp. 78712-78718 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anindya Basu ◽

Biswajit Mishra ◽

Susanna Su Jan Leong

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Peptide ◽

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Bacterial Response ◽

Global Transcriptome

Bacterial response towards soluble and immobilized AMP molecules revealed through global transcriptome analysis.

Download Full-text

TmSpz-like Plays a Fundamental Role in Response to E. coli but Not S. aureus or C. albican Infection in Tenebrio molitor via Regulation of Antimicrobial Peptide Production

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms221910888 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (19) ◽

pp. 10888

Author(s):

Ho Am Jang ◽

Bharat Bhusan Patnaik ◽

Maryam Ali Mohammadie Kojour ◽

Bo Bae Kim ◽

Young Min Bae ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Antimicrobial Peptide ◽

Intracellular Signaling ◽

Critical Role ◽

Malpighian Tubules ◽

Whole Body ◽

Amino Acid Sequence Similarity ◽

E Coli ◽

Cystine Knot ◽

Encoding Genes

The cystine knot protein Spätzle is a Toll receptor ligand that modulates the intracellular signaling cascade involved in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated regulation of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-encoding genes. Spätzle-mediated activation of the Toll pathway is critical for the innate immune responses of insects against Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. In this study, the open reading frame (ORF) sequence of Spätzle-like from T. molitor (TmSpz-like) identified from the RNA sequencing dataset was cloned and sequenced. The 885-bp TmSpz-like ORF encoded a polypeptide of 294 amino acid residues. TmSpz-like comprised a cystine knot domain with six conserved cysteine residues that formed three disulfide bonds. Additionally, TmSpz-like exhibited the highest amino acid sequence similarity with T. castaneum Spätzle (TcSpz). In the phylogenetic tree, TmSpz-like and TcSpz were located within a single cluster. The expression of TmSpz-like was upregulated in the Malpighian tubules and gut tissues of T. molitor. Additionally, the expression of TmSpz-like in the whole body and gut of the larvae was upregulated at 24 h post-E. coli infection. The results of RNA interference experiments revealed that TmSpz-like is critical for the viability of E. coli-infected T. molitor larvae. Eleven AMP-encoding genes were downregulated in the E. coli-infected TmSpz-like knockdown larvae, which suggested that TmSpz-like positively regulated these genes. Additionally, the NF-κB-encoding genes (TmDorX1, TmDorX2, and TmRelish) were downregulated in the E. coli-infected TmSpz-like knockdown larvae. Thus, TmSpz-like plays a critical role in the regulation of AMP production in T. molitor in response to E. coli infection.

Download Full-text

Occurrence and biogeographic significance of Heliaster (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from the Pliocene of southwest Florida

Journal of Paleontology ◽

10.1017/s0022336000058960 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 62 (01) ◽

pp. 126-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Douglas S. Jones ◽

Roger W. Portell

Keyword(s):

Central American ◽

Eastern Pacific ◽

Whole Body ◽

Marine Fauna ◽

Western Atlantic ◽

Southwest Florida ◽

Extant Species ◽

Geologic Record ◽

Central American Isthmus

Whole body asteroid fossils are rare in the geologic record and previously unreported from the Cenozoic of Florida. However, specimens of the extant species,Heliaster microbrachiusXantus, were recently discovered in upper Pliocene deposits. This marks the first reported fossil occurrence of the monogeneric Heliasteridae, a group today confined to the eastern Pacific. This discovery provides further non-molluscan evidence of the close similarities between the Neogene marine fauna of Florida and the modern fauna of the eastern Pacific. The extinction of the heliasters in the western Atlantic is consistent with the pattern of many other marine groups in the region which suffered impoverishment following uplift of the Central American isthmus.

Download Full-text

Cerebral Tissue Response in Chronic Electrode Implantation

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100080547 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 624-625

Author(s):

R.F. Dodson ◽

L.W-F Chu ◽

N. Ishihara

Keyword(s):

Tissue Response ◽

Whole Body ◽

Platinum Electrodes ◽

Fixed Tissue ◽

Electrode Implantation ◽

Surface Areas ◽

Tissue Changes ◽

Micron Diameter ◽

Extent Of Damage ◽

Electrode Sheath

The extent of damage surrounding an implanted electrode in the cerebral cortex is a question of significant importance with regard to attaining consistency and validity of physiological recordings. In order to determine the extent of such tissue changes, 150 micron diameter platinum electrodes were implanted in the cortex of four adult baboons, and after eight days the animals were sacrificed by whole body perfusion with a 3% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M phosphate fixative.The calvarium was carefully removed and the electrode tracts were readily discernible in the firm, glutaraldehyde fixed tissue.Careful dissection of the zone of the electrode tract resulted in a small block which was further sectioned into tip, mid-tract and surface areas. Ultrastructurally, damage extended from the electrode sheath to the greatest extent of from 0.2 to 3.5 mm.

Download Full-text

Neutrophil Myeloperoxidase Destruction by Ultraviolet Irradiation

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100102778 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 138-139

Author(s):

J. Hanker ◽

B. Giammara ◽

G. Strauss

Keyword(s):

Uv Radiation ◽

Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Stratospheric Ozone ◽

Psoriasis Patient ◽

Whole Body ◽

Human Neutrophils ◽

Cupric Nitrate ◽

The Earth ◽

Routine Handling ◽

Uvb Phototherapy

Only a fraction of the UV radiation emitted by the sun reaches the earth; most of the UVB (290-320nm) is eliminated by stratospheric ozone. There is increasing concern, however, that man-made chemicals are damaging this ozone layer. Although the effects of UV on DNA or as a carcinogen are widely known, preleukemia and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have only rarely been reported in psoriasis patients treated with 8-methoxypsoralen and UV (PUVA). It was therefore of interest to study the effects of UV on the myeloperoxidase (MP) activity of human neutrophils. The peroxidase activity of enriched leukocyte preparations on coverslips was shown cytochemically with a diaminobenzidine medium and cupric nitrate intensification.Control samples (Figs. 1,4,5) of human bloods that were not specifically exposed to UV radiation or light except during routine handling were compared with samples which had been exposed in one of several different ways. One preparation (Fig. 2) was from a psoriasis patient who had received whole-body UVB phototherapy repeatedly.

Download Full-text