bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterization of microRNAs from porcine skeletal muscle
Authors: Xie S. S. , Huang T. H. , Shen Y. , Li X. Y. , Zhang X. X. , Zhu M. J. , Qin H. Y. , Zhao S. H. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non‐coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression at the post‐transcriptional level. There is increasing evidence to suggest that miRNAs participate in muscle development in mice and humans; however, few studies have focused on miRNAs in porcine muscle tissue. Here, we experimentally detected and identified conserved and unique miRNAs from porcine skeletal muscle. Fifty‐seven distinct miRNAs were identified, of which 39 have not been reported earlier in the pig. Of these, two miRNAs appear to be novel and pig‐specific. Surprisingly, these two differ only by a single nucleotide. A part of their primary transcript was cloned and confirmed by sequencing analysis. Alignment of the two sequences using ClustalW showed that the precursor sequences were almost identical, but the flanking sequences were different, indicating that these two novel miRNAs may represent rapidly evolving miRNAs in the pig genome. The expression patterns of eight miRNAs were characterized by real‐time polymerase chain reaction of eight pig tissue samples. The ssc‐let‐7e and ssc‐miR‐181b miRNAs were expressed in all tissues analysed. The ssc‐let‐7c, ssc‐miR‐125b, ssc‐miR‐new1 and ssc‐miR‐new2 miRNAs were expressed in several tissues, while ssc‐miR‐122 and ssc‐miR‐206 were specifically expressed in the liver and muscle respectively. Our results add to existing data on porcine miRNAs and are useful for investigating the biological functions of miRNAs in porcine skeletal muscle development.
Proteomic investigation of the effects of weight loss in the gastrocnemius muscle of wild and NZW rabbits via 2D‐electrophoresis and MALDI‐TOF MS
Authors: Almeida A. M. , Campos A. , Francisco R. , Van Harten S. , Cardoso L. A. , Coelho A. V. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryThe study of changes within the key agents regulating metabolism during genetic upgrading because of selection can contribute to an improved understanding of genomic and physiological relationships. This may lead to increased efficiencies in animal production. These changes, regarding energy and protein metabolic saving mechanisms, can be highlighted during food restriction periods. In this study, a 20% weight reduction was induced in two rabbit breeds: New Zealand white, a selected meat producer (Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus), and Iberian wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus), with the aim of determining differential protein expression in the gastrocnemius muscle within control (ad libitum) and restricted diet experimental animal groups, using techniques of two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting. Results show that l‐lactate dehydrogenase, adenylate kinase, β enolase and α enolase, fructose bisphosphate aldolase A and glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase, which are enzymes involved in energy metabolism, are differentially expressed in restricted diet experimental animal groups. These enzymes are available to be further tested as relevant biomarkers of weight loss and putative objects of manipulation as a selection tool towards increasing tolerance to weight loss. Similar reasoning could be applied to 2D gel electrophoresis spots corresponding to the important structural proteins tropomyosin β chain and troponin I. Finally, a spot identified as mitochondrial import stimulation factor seems of special interest as a marker of undernutrition, and it may be the object of further studies aiming to better understand its physiological role.
Sequence variants in the bovine gonadotrophin releasing hormone receptor gene and their associations with fertility
Authors: Derecka K. , Ahmad S. , Hodgman T. C. , Hastings N. , Royal M. D. , Woolliams J. A. , Flint A. P. F. 
Published: November 2009

SummarySeven sequence variants (SVs) have been identified in exon 1 and in the promoter region upstream of the bovine gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor gene, at nucleotides g.−331A>G, g.−108T>C, g.+206G>A, g.+260C>T, g.+341C>T, g.+383C>T and g.+410C>T relative to the translation start site. The SVs at nucleotides g.−108, g.260, g.341 and g.410 and those at g.206 and g.383 formed two groups with complete linkage disequilibrium within groups, but incomplete linkage disequilibrium between groups, and none of the SVs altered receptor amino acid sequence. The g.−108T>C allelic variants were associated with an approximately 0.4 day reduction in predicted transmitting ability for days to first service. None of the allelic variants affected the pattern of circulating LH following administration of GnRH. The g.260C>T alteration introduced a new transcription factor binding site in a region of DNA with relatively low nucleosome formation potential. The data suggest that selection for animals carrying the g.‐108T>C group of alterations will improve fertility in the dairy cow.
Museum specimens reveal changes in the population structure of northern Fennoscandian domestic reindeer in the past one hundred years
Authors: Bjørnstad G. , Røed K. H. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryTraditional reindeer herding of northern Fennoscandia has been based on seasonal movements independent of national borders. At the beginning of the 19th century, these yearly movements of reindeer were excessive, but during that century the borders between the Fennoscandian countries were closed. By analysing a 190‐base pair fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region in 79 museum samples, we show that the reindeer of northern Fennoscandia were one homogenous population shortly after the national borders were closed. However, anthropogenic activity has effectively ended genetic exchange within northern Fennoscandia and has made the reindeer population within this region heterogeneous. Genetic input of eastern origin is also suggested within the extant Russian reindeer of the Kola Peninsula.
The identification of QTL that affect the fatty acid composition of milk on sheep chromosome 11
Authors: García‐Fernández M. , Gutiérrez‐Gil B. , García‐Gámez E. , Sánchez J. P. , Arranz J. J. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryIn this work, we analysed 11 genetic markers localized on OAR11 in a commercial population of Spanish Churra sheep to detect QTL that underlie milk fatty acid (FA) composition traits. Following a daughter design, we analysed 799 ewes distributed in 15 half‐sib families. Eight microsatellite markers and three novel SNPs identified in two genes related to fatty acid metabolism, acetyl‐CoA carboxylase α (ACACA) and fatty acid synthase (FASN), were genotyped in the whole population under study. The phenotypic traits considered in the study included 22 measurements related to the FA composition of the milk and three other milk production traits (milk protein percentage, milk fat percentage and milk yield). Across‐family regression analysis revealed four significant QTL at the 5% chromosome‐wise level influencing contents of capric acid (C10:0), lauric acid (C12:0), linoleic conjugated acid (CLA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) respectively. The peaks of the QTL affecting C10:0 and PUFA contents in milk map close to the FASN gene, which has been evaluated as a putative positional candidate for these QTL. The QTL influencing C12:0 content reaches its maximum significance at 58 cM, close to the gene coding for the glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. We were not able to find any candidate genes related to fat metabolism at the QTL influencing CLA content, which is located at the proximal end of the chromosome. Further research efforts will be needed to confirm and refine the QTL locations reported here.
A gene‐based SNP linkage map for pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Du Z.‐Q. , Ciobanu D. C. , Onteru S. K. , Gorbach D. , Mileham A. J. , Jaramillo G. , Rothschild M. F. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryPacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) are of particular economic importance to the global shrimp aquaculture industry. However, limited genomics information is available for the penaeid species. We utilized the limited public information available, mainly single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and expressed sequence tags, to discover markers for the construction of the first SNP genetic map for Pacific white shrimp. In total, 1344 putative SNPs were discovered, and out of 825 SNPs genotyped, 418 SNP markers from 347 contigs were mapped onto 45 sex‐averaged linkage groups, with approximate coverage of 2071 and 2130 cm for the female and male maps, respectively. The average‐squared correlation coefficient (r2), a measure of linkage disequilibrium, for markers located more than 50 cm apart on the same linkage group, was 0.15. Levels of r2 increased with decreasing inter‐marker distance from ∼80 cm, and increased more rapidly from ∼30 cm. A QTL for shrimp gender was mapped on linkage group 13. Comparative mapping to model organisms, Daphnia pulex and Drosophila melanogaster, revealed extensive rearrangement of genome architecture for L. vannamei, and that L. vannamei was more related to Daphnia pulex. This SNP genetic map lays the foundation for future shrimp genomics studies, especially the identification of genetic markers or regions for economically important traits.
Genetic heterogeneity at the bovine KIT gene in cattle breeds carrying different putative alleles at the spotting locus
Authors: Fontanesi L. , Tazzoli M. , Russo V. , Beever J. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryAccording to classical genetic studies, piebaldism in cattle is largely influenced by the allelic series at the spotting locus (S), which includes the SH (Hereford pattern), S+ (non‐spotted) and s (spotted) alleles. The S locus was mapped on bovine chromosome 6 in the region containing the KIT gene. We investigated the KIT gene, analysing its variability and haplotype distribution in cattle of three breeds (Angus, Hereford and Holstein) with different putative alleles (S+, SH and s respectively) at the S locus. Resequencing of a whole of 0.485 Mb revealed 111 polymorphisms. The global nucleotide diversity was 0.087%. Tajima’s D‐values were negative for all breeds, indicating putative directional selection. Of the 28 inferred haplotypes, only five were observed in the Hereford breed, in which one was the most frequent. Coalescent simulation showed that it is highly unlikely (P < 10E‐6) to obtain this low number of haplotypes conditionally on the observed number of segregating SNPs. Therefore, the neutral model could be rejected for the Hereford breed, suggesting that a selection sweep occurred at the KIT locus. Twelve haplotypes were inferred in Holstein and Angus. For these two breeds, the neutral model could not be rejected. High heterogeneity of the KIT gene was confirmed from a phylogenetic analysis. Our results suggest a role of the KIT gene in determining the SH allele(s) in the Hereford, but no evidence of selective sweep was obtained in Holstein, suggesting that complex mechanisms (or other genes) might be the cause of the spotted phenotype in this breed.
A controlled trial of early interventions to promote maternal adjustment and development in infants born with severe congenital heart disease
Authors: McCusker C. G. , Doherty N. N. , Molloy B. , Rooney N. , Mulholland C. , Sands A. , Craig B. , Stewart M. , Casey F. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Congenital heart disease can have a negative impact on both infant development and maternal adjustment. This study considered the impact of a new programme of early psychosocial interventions on such outcomes, following the birth of a child with severe congenital heart disease.Methods  Seventy infants and their mothers were assigned to an intervention or control group based on order of presentation to the unit. Interventions aimed at bolstering mother–infant transactions, through psychoeducation, parent skills training and narrative therapy techniques were implemented.Results  Clinically and statistically significant gains were observed at 6‐month follow‐up on the mental (but not the psychomotor) scale of the Bayleys‐II. Positive gains were also manifested on feeding practices, maternal anxiety, worry and appraisal of their situation.Conclusions  A programme of generalizable psychosocial interventions is shown to have a positive impact on the infant with severe congenital heart disease and the mother.
Intravascular lymphocytosis in acute appendicitis: potential mimicry of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Authors: Lee Sandra , Ogilvie Robert T , Dupre Marc , Gao Zu‐Hua 
Published: November 2009

Aims:  Intravascular lymphocytosis (IVL) in appendectomy specimens is a fairly common phenomenon but has not been described and studied in detail. The aim was to describe the IVL phenomenon in appendiceal specimens removed for appendicitis that can mimic chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and to investigate factors that could contribute to the development of IVL.Methods and results:  The clinicopathology of 100 appendectomy cases and the appendices from 20 right hemicolectomy cases were reviewed. The IVL phenomenon was more commonly seen in laparoscopic appendectomy specimens [Fisher’s exact 0.011, odds ratio (OR) 3.14] and in patients <38 years old (Fisher’s exact 0.012, OR 3.01).Conclusions:  Surgical manipulation and the patient’s innate immunity are contributary factors to the development of the IVL phenomenon. Pathologists should be aware of this histological artefact in order to prevent overdiagnosis of intravascular lymphoid neoplasia.
Identifying CD82 (KAI1) as a marker for human chromophobe renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Yusenko Maria V , Kovacs Gyula 
Published: November 2009

Aims:  The variation in cytoplasmic staining and growth pattern makes differential diagnosis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC), especially from renal oncocytomas (RO), uncertain. The aim was to find an immunohistochemical marker to improve the diagnosis of chromophobe RCC.Methods and results:  The expression profile of renal cell tumours was established using the Affymetrix HG U133 Plus 2.0 microarray. After performing hierarchical clustering we selected the best 50 genes and analysed 24 of them by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. TMC5, RBM35, SPINK7, CD82/KAI1 and GLIS3 were expressed specifically in chromophobe RCCs. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed the specificity of CD82/KAI1. Analysis of tissue microarrays containing all major types of renal neoplasm revealed immunopositivity for CD82/KAI1 in 78% (69/88) of chromophobe RCCs but in only 3% (6/220) of conventional or clear cell RCCs. All 90 ROs and 171 papillary RCCs were immunonegative for CD82/KAI1. To confirm the specificity of antibody by immunoblotting, we transfected HEK293 cells with an expression vector containing the full‐length CD82/KAI1.Conclusions:  CD82/KAI1 is an excellent marker for distinguishing chromophobe RCCs from other types of renal cell tumours, especially from ROs with overlapping phenotype.
Amoebic gill disease resistance is not related to the systemic antibody response of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.
Authors: Taylor R S , Crosbie P B , Cook M T 
Published: November 2009

AbstractAmoebic gill disease (AGD) is a proliferative gill tissue response caused by Neoparamoeba perurans and is the main disease affecting Australian marine farmed Atlantic salmon. We have previously proposed that macroscopic gill health (‘gill score’) trajectories and challenge survival provide evidence of a change in the nature of resistance to AGD. In order to examine whether the apparent development of resistance was because of an adaptive response, serum was sequentially sampled from the same individuals over the first three rounds of natural AGD infection and from survivors of a subsequent non‐intervention AGD survival challenge. The systemic immune reaction to ‘wildtype’Neoparamoeba sp. was characterized by Western blot analysis and differentiated to putative carbohydrate or peptide epitopes by periodate oxidation reactions. The proportion of seropositive fish increased from 46% to 77% with each AGD round. Antibody response to carbohydrate epitope(s) was immunodominant, occurring in 43–64% of samples. Antibodies that bound peptide epitope were identified in 16% of the challenge survivors. A 1:50 (single‐dilution) enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay confirmed a measurable immune titre in 13% of the survivors. There was no evidence that antibodies recognizing wildtype Neoparamoeba provided significant protection against AGD.
IL‐5 expression and release from human CD34 cells in vitro; ex vivo evidence from cases of asthma and Churg–Strauss syndrome
Authors: Bossios A. , Sjöstrand M. , Dahlborn A.‐K. , Samitas K. , Malmhäll C. , Gaga M. , Lötvall J. 
Published: November 2009

To cite this article: Bossios A, Sjöstrand M, Dahlborn A‐K, Samitas K, Malmhäll C, Gaga M, Lötvall J. IL‐5 expression and release from human CD34 cells in vitro; ex vivo evidence from cases of asthma and Churg–Strauss syndrome. Allergy 2010; 65: 831–839.AbstractBackground:  Eosinophils develop from hematopoietic CD34+ progenitor cells in the bone marrow (BM) under the influence of Interleukin‐5 (IL‐5). The primary source of IL‐5 is T‐lymphocytes, although other sources may exist. The aims of this study were to determine whether CD34+ cells from human peripheral blood (PB) and BM have the capacity to produce IL‐5 when stimulated in vitro, and secondly, whether an elevated number of IL‐5‐producing CD34+ cells can be found in situ in ongoing eosinophilic disease.Methods:  CD34+ cells from PB and BM were stimulated in vitro, and IL‐5 production and release was assessed by ELISA, ELISPOT, flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. Blood and BM from a patient with Churg–Strauss syndrome were analyzed by flow cytometry for CD34+/IL‐5+ cells, and immunohistochemical staining of CD34+/IL‐5+ cells in bronchial biopsies from an asthmatic patient was performed.Results:  Both PB and BM CD34+ cells can produce and release IL‐5 when stimulated in vitro. In the Churg–Strauss patient, IL‐5‐producing CD34+ cells were found in PB and BM. Oral glucocorticoid treatment markedly decreased the number of IL‐5‐positive CD34 cells in the BM. CD34+/IL‐5+ cells were present in a patient with asthma.Conclusion:  CD34+ cells in blood and BM are capable of producing IL‐5 both in vitro and in vivo in humans, arguing that these cells may have the capacity to contribute to eosinophilic inflammation. Consequently, targeting CD34+ progenitor cells that produce and release IL‐5 may be effective in reducing the mobilization of eosinophil lineage‐committed cells in eosinophilic‐driven diseases.
Interferon‐gamma and IL‐10 may protect from allergic polysensitization in children: preliminary evidence
Authors: Prigione I. , Morandi F. , Tosca M. A. , Silvestri M. , Pistoia V. , Ciprandi G. , Rossi G. A. 
Published: November 2009

To cite this article: Prigione I, Morandi F, Tosca MA, Silvestri M, Pistoia V, Ciprandi G, Rossi GA. Interferon‐gamma and IL‐10 may protect from allergic polysensitization in children: preliminary evidence. Allergy 2010; 65: 740–742.AbstractBackground:  A functional defect of T regulatory cells (Treg) has been proposed as pathogenic mechanism of allergic reaction. Polysensitization is a common feature of allergic patients.Aim of the study:  It was to investigate the possible role of Treg‐Th1 cytokines, in the development of new sensitizations in childhood.Methods:  Forty monosensitized (MS) children with allergic rhinitis were evaluated and followed‐up for 2 years. New sensitizations were investigated. IL‐10 and IFN‐γ were evaluated in in vitro experiments.Results:  Children remaining MS showed significant higher production of both IL‐10 and IFN‐γ.Conclusion:  This preliminary study provided evidence that IL‐10 and IFN‐γ production could be defective in allergic children prone to develop polysensitization.
The group selection controversy
Authors: LEIGH Jr E. G. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractMany thought Darwinian natural selection could not explain altruism. This error led Wynne‐Edwards to explain sustainable exploitation in animals by selection against overexploiting groups. Williams riposted that selection among groups rarely overrides within‐group selection. Hamilton showed that altruism can evolve through kin selection. How strongly does group selection influence evolution? Following Price, Hamilton showed how levels of selection interact: group selection prevails if Hamilton’s rule applies. Several showed that group selection drove some major evolutionary transitions. Following Hamilton’s lead, Queller extended Hamilton’s rule, replacing genealogical relatedness by the regression on an actor’s genotypic altruism of interacting neighbours’ phenotypic altruism. Price’s theorem shows the generality of Hamilton’s rule. All instances of group selection can be viewed as increasing inclusive fitness of autosomal genomes. Nonetheless, to grasp fully how cooperation and altruism evolve, most biologists need more concrete concepts like kin selection, group selection and selection among individuals for their common good.
Fisher’s fundamental theorem of inclusive fitness and the change in fitness due to natural selection when conspecifics interact
Authors: BIJMA P. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractCompetition and cooperation is fundamental to evolution by natural selection, both in animals and plants. Here, I investigate the consequences of such interactions for response in fitness due to natural selection. I provide quantitative genetic expressions for heritable variance and response in fitness due to natural selection when conspecifics interact. Results show that interactions among conspecifics generate extra heritable variance in fitness, and that interacting with kin is the key to evolutionary success because it translates the extra heritable variance into response in fitness. This work also unifies Fisher’s fundamental theorem of natural selection (FTNS) and Hamilton’s inclusive fitness (IF). The FTNS implies that natural selection maximizes fitness, whereas Hamilton proposed maximization of IF. This work shows that the FTNS describes the increase in IF, rather than direct fitness, at a rate equal to the additive genetic variance in fitness. Thus, Hamilton’s IF and Fisher’s FTNS both describe the maximization of IF.
The evolution of South American endemic canids: a history of rapid diversification and morphological parallelism
Authors: PERINI F. A. , RUSSO C. A. M. , SCHRAGO C. G. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe origin of endemic South American canid fauna has been traditionally linked with the rise of the Isthmus of Panama, suggesting that diversification of the dog fauna on this continent occurred very rapidly. Nevertheless, despite its obvious biogeographic appeal, the tempo of Canid evolution in South America has never been studied thoroughly. This issue can be suitably tackled with the inference of a molecular timescale. In this study, using a relaxed molecular clock method, we estimated that the most recent common ancestor of South American canids lived around 4 Ma, whereas all other splits within the clade occurred after the rise of the Panamanian land bridge. We suggest that the early diversification of the ancestors of the two main lineages of South American canids may have occurred in North America, before the Great American Interchange. Moreover, a concatenated morphological and molecular analysis put some extinct canid species well within the South American radiation, and shows that the dental adaptations to hypercarnivory evolved only once in the South American clade.