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Modified Hederagenin Derivatives Demonstrate Ex Vivo Anthelmintic Activity against Fasciola hepatica
Get PDFInfection with Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke) causes fasciolosis (or fascioliasis) and poses a considerable economic as well as welfare burden to both the agricultural and animal health sectors. Here, we explore the ex vivo anthelmintic potential of synthetic derivatives of hederagenin, isolated in bulk from Hedera helix. Thirty-six compounds were initially screened against F. hepatica newly excysted juveniles (NEJs) of the Italian strain. Eleven of these compounds were active against NEJs and were selected for further study, using adult F. hepatica derived from a local abattoir (provenance unknown). From these eleven compounds, six demonstrated activity and were further assessed against immature liver flukes of the Italian strain. Subsequently, the most active compounds (n = 5) were further evaluated in ex vivo dose response experiments against adult Italian strain liver flukes. Overall, MC042 was identified as the most active molecule and the EC 50 obtained from immature and adult liver fluke assays (at 24 h post co-culture) are estimated as 1.07 μM and 13.02 μM, respectively. When compared to the in vitro cytotoxicity of MDBK bovine cell line, MC042 demonstrated the highest anthelmintic selectivity (44.37 for immature and 3.64 for adult flukes). These data indicate that modified hederagenins display properties suitable for further investigations as candidate flukicides. </p
Acceptance of bio-degradable Stoverpack among agricultural products market actors in Kampala and Wakiso districts
Get PDFThe biodegradable stover packs are designed to reduce post harvest losses, improve shelf life of food products and prevent food spoilage, and are tradable. The study aimed at creating awareness and assess acceptance of a new value proposition for biodegradable packs manufactured from waste maize stover in Uganda. This was achieved through assessing the different types of packs market actors majorly use, its acceptability, and how much more THEY are willing to pay for the biodegradable packs. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 84 consumers, 42 processors and 90 traders. Results revealed that consumers, processors and traders mostly used polythene bags. They were willing to purchase the new biodegradable packs at a higher price (in the range of $0.1 – 0.27). Age, sex, education, annual income, access, quantity of produce traded, amount of produce transported to the market that gets damaged during transportationweresignificant influencersof willingness of market actors of agricultural produce, to pay more for the new biodegradable stover packs. Therefore,awareness creation and acceptanceof the biodegradable packs, as a solution to environmental degradation and as a cheapersolution were pursued and achieved in this study. These are critical pre-requisites in the viability of the stoverbased biodegradable packs among market actors.Key words: biodegradable packs, market actors, maize stover
Rugby Players Exhibit Stiffer Biceps Femoris, Lower Biceps Femoris Fascicle Length to Knee Extensors, and Knee Flexors to Extensors Muscle Volume Ratios Than Active Controls
Get PDFPurpose: This study aimed to determine if hamstring-strain-injury risk factors related to muscle structure and morphologydiffered between rugby union players and controls. Methods: The biceps femoris long head (BFlh) fascicle length and passive muscle stiffness and relative and absolute muscle volume of knee flexors (KF) and extensors (KE) were measured in 21 male subelite rugby players and 21 male physically active nonathletes. Results: BFlh fascicle length was significantly longer (mean difference [MD] = 1.6 [1.7] cm) and BFlh passive muscle stiffness was significantly higher in rugby players (MD = 7.8 [14.8] kPa). The absolute BFlh (MD = 71.9 [73.3] cm3 ), KF (MD = 332.3 [337.2] cm3 ), and KE (MD = 956.3 [557.4] cm3 ) muscle volumes were also significantly higher in rugby players. There were no significant differences in the relative BFlh and KF muscle volumes. The relative KE muscle volumes were significantly higher in rugby players (MD = 2.3 [3.7] cm3/kg). However, the percentage BFlh fascicle length:KE (MD = −0.1% [0.1%]), BFlh/KE (MD = −0.9% [1.9%]), and KF:KE (MD = −4.9% [5.9%]) muscle volume ratios were significantly lower in the rugby players. BFlh muscle volume significantly correlated with BFlh fascicle length (r = .59, r 2 = .35) and passive muscle stiffness (r = .46, r 2 = .21). Conclusion: Future prospective studies should examine whether there are threshold values in BFlh passive muscle stiffness and BFlh fascicle length:KE, BFlh:KE, and KF:KE muscle volume ratios for predicting hamstring strain injuries
Registration of 3D models to 2D X-ray images using fast X-ray simulation and global optimisation algorithms
Get PDFThe precise release time of crustacean hyperglycaemic hormone (CHH) in response to environmental stressors in the shore crab Carcinus maenas
Get PDFThe genome sequence of the variegated flesh fly, Sarcophaga variegata (Scopoli, 1763)
Get PDFWe present a genome assembly from an individual male (the variegated flesh fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Sarcophagidae). The genome sequence is 718.5 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 18.7 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 16,660 protein coding genes. [Abstract copyright: Copyright: © 2023 Falk S et al.
Nanohaloarchaea as beneficiaries of xylan degradation by haloarchaea
Get PDFAbstractClimate change, desertification, salinisation of soils and the changing hydrology of the Earth are creating or modifying microbial habitats at all scales including the oceans, saline groundwaters and brine lakes. In environments that are saline or hypersaline, the biodegradation of recalcitrant plant and animal polysaccharides can be inhibited by salt‐induced microbial stress and/or by limitation of the metabolic capabilities of halophilic microbes. We recently demonstrated that the chitinolytic haloarchaeon Halomicrobium can serve as the host for an ectosymbiont, nanohaloarchaeon ‘Candidatus Nanohalobium constans’. Here, we consider whether nanohaloarchaea can benefit from the haloarchaea‐mediated degradation of xylan, a major hemicellulose component of wood. Using samples of natural evaporitic brines and anthropogenic solar salterns, we describe genome‐inferred trophic relations in two extremely halophilic xylan‐degrading three‐member consortia. We succeeded in genome assembly and closure for all members of both xylan‐degrading cultures and elucidated the respective food chains within these consortia. We provide evidence that ectosymbiontic nanohaloarchaea is an active ecophysiological component of extremely halophilic xylan‐degrading communities (although by proxy) in hypersaline environments. In each consortium, nanohaloarchaea occur as ectosymbionts of Haloferax, which in turn act as scavenger of oligosaccharides produced by xylan‐hydrolysing Halorhabdus. We further obtained and characterised the nanohaloarchaea–host associations using microscopy, multi‐omics and cultivation approaches. The current study also doubled culturable nanohaloarchaeal symbionts and demonstrated that these enigmatic nano‐sized archaea can be readily isolated in binary co‐cultures using an appropriate enrichment strategy. We discuss the implications of xylan degradation by halophiles in biotechnology and for the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals
Breaking out of the citadel: social theory and psychiatry
Get PDFBritish psychiatry has tended to hold itself aloof from social theory. Nonetheless, these ideas have influenced the development of mental health services. Alongside this, the biopsychosocial model cannot reconcile contradictions in the scientific evidence regarding mental illness. We need to develop a more constructive understanding of the implications of social theory.</p
