Canine Parvovirus and Its Non-Structural Gene 1 as Oncolytic Agents: Mechanism of Action and Induction of Anti-Tumor Immune Response

The exploration into the strategies for the prevention and treatment of cancer is far from complete. Apart from humans, cancer has gained considerable importance in animals because of increased awareness towards animal health and welfare. Current cancer treatment regimens are less specific towards tumor cells and end up harming normal healthy cells. Thus, a highly specific therapeutic strategy with minimal side effects is the need of the hour. Oncolytic viral gene therapy is one such specific approach to target cancer cells without affecting the normal cells of the body. Canine parvovirus (CPV) is an oncolytic virus that specifically targets and kills cancer cells by causing DNA damage, caspase activation, and mitochondrial damage. Non-structural gene 1 (NS1) of CPV, involved in viral DNA replication is a key mediator of cytotoxicity of CPV and can selectively cause tumor cell lysis. In this review, we discuss the oncolytic properties of Canine Parvovirus (CPV or CPV2), the structure of the NS1 protein, the mechanism of oncolytic action as well as role in inducing an antitumor immune response in different tumor models.

Production of Bacteriocin by Various Strains of Pediococcus acidilacti during Batch Fermentation and Identification of the Pediocin Structural Genes

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides produced by certain bacteria that can be alternatives to traditional antibiotics. This study aimed at evaluating large-scale bacteriocin production by the Pediococcus acidilactici strains in batch fermentation and to analyze the pediocin structural gene (papA) by bioinformatic methods. The fermentation using bacterial strains was carried out in Sartorius Biostat A-Plus Bioreactor, and the bacteriocin production was tested on Listeria innocua as a result of 24 h fermentation. The pediocin structural gene papA was amplified, and the amplicons of each strain were sequenced and analyzed to assess the secondary structure of pediocin and related metabolic pathways. It was shown that the papA structural gene sequence is a conserved region. All strains with a papA amplicon synthesis exhibited active bacteriocin synthesis Keywords: fermentation, Pediococcus acidilactici, purified bacteriocin, pediocin structural gene Funding - The authors acknowledge the grant support by the National Institutes of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), Laguna, Philippines.

Regulatory protein genes and microRNAs in response to selenium stimuli in Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi

Regulatory protein genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in response to abiotic and biotic stress, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants. However, their responses to selenium (Se) stimuli have not been comprehensively studied in Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, a Selenocompound-rich medicinal and edible plant. In this study, we identified a total of 436/556/1161/624 transcription factors (TFs), 134/157/308/172 transcriptional regulators (TRs) and 341/456/250/518 protein kinases (PKs), which were coexpressed with at least one Selenocompound-related structural gene/sulfate transporter or phosphate transporter/ROS scavenging structural gene/isoflavone-related structural gene, respectively. Then, we identified a total of 87 expressed miRNAs by Se disposure, in which 11 miRNAs, including miR171f-3p, miR390b-3P, miR-N111b, miR-N118, miR-N30, miR-N38-3P, miR-N61a, miR-N61b, miR-N80-3p, miR-N84-3P and miR-N90.2-3P were significantly up-regulated. We also identified a total of 1172 target genes for the 87 expressed miRNAs. Go enrichment analysis of these target genes showed that terms of regulation of transcription, DNA-templated, integral component of membrane, nucleus, ATP binding and plasma membrane are the top five subclassifications. Finally, we revealed that 5 miRNAs targeted 10 regulatory protein genes, which are highly correlated with at least one Selenocompound-related structural gene or transporter gene; 5 miRNAs targeted 10 regulatory protein genes, which are highly correlated with at least one ROS scavenging structural gene; 5 miRNAs targeted 9 regulatory protein genes, which are potentially involved in the isoflavone biosynthesis. Overall, the study provides us the comprehensive insight of the roles of regulatory proteins and miRNAs in response to Se stimuli in P. lobata.

Chalcone Synthase-Encoding AeCHS is Involved in Normal Petal Coloration in Actinidia eriantha

Studies on anthocyanin biosynthesis have been mainly concentrated on the fruit, whereas few have focused the mechanism of flower coloration in kiwifruit. Here, we report that the structural gene, AeCHS, is involved in anthocyanin accumulation and indispensable for normal petal coloration in Actinidia eriantha. Petals from three different species including Actinidia eriantha (red petals), Actinidia hemsleyana (light pink petals) and Actinidia arguta (white petals) were selected for anthocyanin determination and gene expression analysis. The anthocyanin components in A. eriantha were significantly higher than in A. hemsleyana or A. arguta. Consistently, gene expression profiles suggested that AeCHS expression in A. eriantha was higher than in A. hemsleyana or A. arguta. Cluster analysis showed that AeCHS was clustered into a single group and distinctly separated from other genes, indicating the expression pattern of AeCHS gene was different from any other. Additionally, correlation analysis revealed AeCHS expression significantly correlated with anthocyanin content. The complete coding sequence of AeCHS was cloned from petals of A. eriantha ‘Zaoxu’, showing the length of AeCHS was 1170 bp encoding a protein of 389 amino acids. AeCHS was located in the cytoplasm, indicating it is indeed a structural gene involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. AeCHS silencing performed by infiltration grafting-mediated virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) reduced petal anthocyanin content and bleached red petals in A. eriantha. Our results confirm a crucial role of AeCHS in anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation in A. eriantha petals; furthermore, they offer important basic information and constitute a reference point for further research.