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The Coastal Creole pigs in Argentina are predominantly found in the wild and can trace their lineage directly back to the Iberian breeds introduced by Spanish colonizers. They currently stand as the sole Creole breed in the country recognized by the FAO. However, there exists a dearth of studies assessing their genetic potential within the swine industry. Therefore, this study aimed to genetically characterize the meat quality of Coastal Creole pigs based on seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Ryr1, PRKAG3, MC4R, H-FABP, and CAST genes. A total of N = 158 samples were collected from specimens distributed along the coastal region. Our findings revealed all loci to exhibit polymorphism, underscoring the population's remarkable genetic diversity. Furthermore, a higher frequency of alleles favorable for the PRKAG3191I>V/200R>Q, MC4R1426A>G, CAST76872G>A, and Ryr11843C>T genes was observed, while alleles unfavorable predominated for H-FABP1811G>C and CAST638Ser>Arg. The results obtained in this research are highly encouraging, reflecting the genetic potential of these pigs to be utilized in swine production programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vector-borne diseases account for nearly 20% of all globally recognised infectious diseases. Within the spectrum of flea-borne pathogens, Bartonella and Rickettsia bacteria are prominent, contributing to the emergence and resurgence of diseases on a global scale. This study investigates the presence of species of Bartonella and Rickettsia harboured by fleas collected from wild rodents in northwestern Argentina (NWA). A total of 28 fleas from three genera and seven species were assessed. DNA of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. was found in 12 fleas (42.8%). Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated sequences of gltA and rpoB genes showed the presence of Bartonella quintana in eight fleas of two species, Craneopsylla minerva minerva and Polygenis acodontis. Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated sequences of gltA, ompA and ompB genes identified Rickettsia felis in ten fleas of five species, C. m. minerva, P. acodontis, Polygenis bohlsi bohlsi, Polygenis byturus and Tiamastus palpalis. These bacterial species mark the first report in all flea species studied. This study represents the first survey of flea-borne bacteria for NWA. The results provide information to address strategies for the control and prevention of bartonellosis and rickettsiosis that could have an impact on public health in one of the geographical areas of Argentina with the highest incidence of infections transmitted to humans by ectoparasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence supports that early- or middle-life traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementia (ADRD). Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying TBI-induced AD-like pathology and cognitive deficits remain unclear. In this study, we found that a single TBI (induced by controlled cortical impact) reduced the expression of BCL2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) in neurons and oligodendrocytes, which is associated with decreased proteins related to the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP) and increased hyperphosphorylated tau (ptau) accumulation in excitatory neurons and oligodendrocytes, gliosis, synaptic dysfunction, and cognitive deficits in wild-type (WT) and human tau knock-in (hTKI) mice. These pathological changes were also found in human cases with a TBI history and exaggerated in human AD cases with TBI. The knockdown of BAG3 significantly inhibited autophagic flux, while overexpression of BAG3 significantly increased it in vitro. Specific overexpression of neuronal BAG3 in the hippocampus attenuated AD-like pathology and cognitive deficits induced by TBI in hTKI mice, which is associated with increased ALP-related proteins. Our data suggest that targeting neuronal BAG3 may be a therapeutic strategy for preventing or reducing AD-like pathology and cognitive deficits induced by TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, N-alkylated tetrazole copolymers were prepared to produce the solid polymeric electrolytes StVTz-82, StVTz-82:4C, StVTz-82:6C, StVTz-82:8C and StVTz-82:sultone. The chemical structure was confirmed by FTIR, H NMR, C NMR and GPC. GPC thermal analysis showed that the membranes are thermally stable up to 160 °C. DSC was used to evaluate the structural effect on the Tg value. Water absorption (WU) and ion exchange capacity (IEC) were conducted for all electrolytes. We observed a decrease in the elastic modulus with the introduction of side alkyl chains linked to the tetrazole heterocycle. The ionic conductivity of these materials was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We observed that the StVTz-82 and StVTz-82:sultone copolymers, in hydrated conditions and at room temperature, are the ones that present the best conductivity values 2.09 and 9.78 mS. cm, respectively. Relating to the hydration number (λ), the StVTz-82:sultone electrolyte has a higher λ value. It also has sulfonic acid group, which has a lower pKa value (~ 1.9) then tetrazole (~ 4.50). From the point of view of mechanical properties, the StVTz-82:sultone electrolyte has a rigidity modulus intermediate to that of StVTz-82, which is more rigid, and StVTz-82:8C, which is the most flexible. These characteristics provide suitable properties for use of StVTz-82:sultone as a solid electrolyte for power generation devices such as fuel cells and batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology has been increasingly explored through single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq & snRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST). However, the surge in data demands a comprehensive, user-friendly repository. Addressing this, we introduce a single-cell and spatial RNA-seq database for Alzheimer's disease (ssREAD). It offers a broader spectrum of AD-related datasets, an optimized analytical pipeline, and improved usability. The database encompasses 1,053 samples (277 integrated datasets) from 67 AD-related scRNA-seq & snRNA-seq studies, totaling 7,332,202 cells. Additionally, it archives 381 ST datasets from 18 human and mouse brain studies. Each dataset is annotated with details such as species, gender, brain region, disease/control status, age, and AD Braak stages. ssREAD also provides an analysis suite for cell clustering, identification of differentially expressed and spatially variable genes, cell-type-specific marker genes and regulons, and spot deconvolution for integrative analysis. ssREAD is freely available at https://bmblx.bmi.osumc.edu/ssread/. A systematic collection for single-cell and spatial transcriptomics is critical for in-depth analysis and novel discovery in AD. Here, authors show ssREAD which covers over 7 million cells and 381 spatial samples from human and mouse, providing a comprehensive resource for AD research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridization between individuals of different subspecies play an important role in evolutionary processes. These crosses in exotic species have been reported to generate effects such as alterations in the local gene pool, enhance genetic variability, morphological and coat colour changes, which gives it a greater adaptive potential and, thus an increase in invasiveness. Sus scrofa do not escape this scenario, since cases of hybridization between wild boars and their domestics have been reported in several European countries. In Argentina, S. scrofa is one of the most concerning invasive species, and distributed throughout most of the country, generating contact sites between the wild (wild boar and feral pig) and domestic forms. Recently, genetic studies suggested the possible hybridization between wild boars and feral pigs from Argentina, so the aim of this study was to determine for the first time if such hybridization occurs, as well as to quantify the genetic diversity in a population of feral pigs from the Buenos Aires province, through molecular markers MC1R, NR6A1, control region and microsatellites. For this purpose, N = 161 samples were collected at 34 sampling sites. Through the markers MC1R, NR6A1 and the mitochondrial control region, hybrid individuals and pure wild boars were found. On the other hand, the diversity indexes evaluated with the control region and microsatellites were higher than expected. Therefore, this work reports for the first time the effective cross between wild boars and feral pigs from Argentina, as well as a high genetic diversity, which could positively contribute to the effect as an invasive alien species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correction notice addresses errors in Table 2 and Table 3 of an article titled "Evidence of hybridization between wild boars and feral pigs from Argentina." The errors involve replacing blank spaces with periods in Table 2 and replacing commas with decimal points in Table 3. The corrected tables are provided in the correction notice. The tables contain information on diversity indices calculated for each microsatellite locus, including the number of samples, alleles, effective alleles, rare alleles, observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, and the Wright fixation index. This data can be used to assess the genetic diversity of the studied population. [Extracted from the article]

Mobile screening units can help close tuberculosis case detection gaps. Placing screening units where people at high risk for undiagnosed tuberculosis preferentially spend time could make screening more resource-effective. We conducted a case–control study in Lima, Peru to identify locations where people with tuberculosis were more likely to spend time than community controls. We surveyed participants about activity locations over the past 6 months. We used density-based clustering to assess how patient and control activity locations differed, and logistic regression to compare location-based exposures. We included 109 tuberculosis patients and 79 controls. In density-based clustering analysis, the two groups had similar patterns of living locations, but their work locations clustered in distinct areas. Both groups were similarly likely to use public transit, but patients predominantly used buses and were less likely to use rapid transit (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10–0.96) or taxis (aOR 0.42, 95% CI 0.21–0.85). Patients were more likely to have spent time in prison (aOR 11.55, 95% CI 1.48–90.13). Placing mobile screening units at bus terminals serving locations where tuberculosis patients have worked and within and around prisons could help reach people with undiagnosed tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective neuronal vulnerability to protein aggregation is found in many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Understanding the molecular origins of this selective vulnerability is, therefore, of fundamental importance. Tau protein aggregates have been found in Wolframin (WFS1)-expressing excitatory neurons in the entorhinal cortex, one of the earliest affected regions in AD. The role of WFS1 in Tauopathies and its levels in tau pathology-associated neurodegeneration, however, is largely unknown. Here we report that WFS1 deficiency is associated with increased tau pathology and neurodegeneration, whereas overexpression of WFS1 reduces those changes. We also find that WFS1 interacts with tau protein and controls the susceptibility to tau pathology. Furthermore, chronic ER stress and autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP)-associated genes are enriched in WFS1-high excitatory neurons in human AD at early Braak stages. The protein levels of ER stress and autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP)-associated proteins are changed in tau transgenic mice with WFS1 deficiency, while overexpression of WFS1 reverses those changes. This work demonstrates a possible role for WFS1 in the regulation of tau pathology and neurodegeneration via chronic ER stress and the downstream ALP. Our findings provide insights into mechanisms that underpin selective neuronal vulnerability, and for developing new therapeutics to protect vulnerable neurons in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormalities in brain glucose metabolism and accumulation of abnormal protein deposits called plaques and tangles are neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but their relationship to disease pathogenesis and to each other remains unclear. Here we show that succinylation, a metabolism-associated post-translational protein modification (PTM), provides a potential link between abnormal metabolism and AD pathology. We quantified the lysine succinylomes and proteomes from brains of individuals with AD, and healthy controls. In AD, succinylation of multiple mitochondrial proteins declined, and succinylation of small number of cytosolic proteins increased. The largest increases occurred at critical sites of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and microtubule-associated tau. We show that in vitro, succinylation of APP disrupted its normal proteolytic processing thereby promoting Aβ accumulation and plaque formation and that succinylation of tau promoted its aggregation to tangles and impaired microtubule assembly. In transgenic mouse models of AD, elevated succinylation associated with soluble and insoluble APP derivatives and tau. These findings indicate that a metabolism-linked PTM may be associated with AD. Succinylation is a metabolism-associated post-translational protein modification. Here the authors describe changes to the succinylation of proteins in the brain of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Argentina, domestic pigs (Sus scrofa Linnaeus 1758) were introduced during the first Buenos Aires foundation, in the year 1536. Their provenance was mainly from the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. In 1541 those pigs were released and, consequently, the first feral populations were originated. Thereafter, the species propagated both naturally and through human action, reaching a distribution that covers most of the Argentinian territory. The objective of this study is to genetically characterize the oldest feral pig populations in Argentina, making use of the mitochondrial control region (CR) and the amelogenin gene (AmelY), in order to determine their phylogenetic origin and corroborate its consistency with the historic information. The obtained results indicate that most of the feral pigs in Corrientes and Buenos Aires populations are positioned in the European subclades, E1-A and E1-C for CR, and HY1 and HY2 for AmelY. Despite this fact, a low frequency of individuals of Asian origin was found in populations from Buenos Aires, whereas none of them disclosed African ancestry. Furthermore, given that a large proportion of feral pigs found in the species' original sites in Argentina have European ancestry, we can partially corroborate the historical records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The finding of biofillers for the development of biodegradable composite materials (biocomposites) is constantly growing in academic and industrial interest since it promotes sustainability. In this work, biocomposites of polylactic acid (PLA) and pecan nutshell (PNS) at two different concentrations (5 and 7.5 wt%) were prepared in order to study their mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties. Biocomposites were prepared with non-treated and treated PNS and the overall mechanical and thermal properties compared and discussed. The treatment consisted in the extraction by chloroform of fatty acids (lipids, oils, and waxes) present in the PNS. The extraction process adds novel information of the chemical characterization of the PNS. The structural characterization performed by FTIR analyses showed the absence of carbonyl and methyl group signals in treated PNS as compared with untreated PNS, which corroborated the extraction of fatty acids from the PNS. The results obtained have shown that the mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural modulus as well as the impact strength in the biocomposites increased in comparison to the neat PLA, especially when treated PNS was used. Moreover, the dynamic mechanical analysis confirmed that the stiffness in the biocomposites is increased with the use of PNS. The overall results were positively correlated with the rheology tests and melt flow properties. However, thermal stability decreases as the PNS increases in both cases. While the SEM micrographs show gaps and poor adhesion of the two different phases in non-treated PNS, the adhesion with the matrix was improved by using treated PNS, as it was corroborated by the mechanical evaluation. PLA biocomposites loaded by PNS untreated and treated have been investigated; the results suggest that PLA-PNS biocomposites may be used in rigid packaging and other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the involvement of sulfated groups in the Trypanosoma cruzi host-parasite relationship, we studied the interaction between the major cysteine proteinase of T. cruzi, cruzipain (Cz), a sulfate-containing sialylated molecule and the sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin like lectin-E (Siglec-E). To this aim, ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence assays and flow cytometry, using mouse Siglec-E-Fc fusion molecules and glycoproteins of parasites, were performed. Competition assays verified that the lectins, Maackia amurensis II (Mal II) and Siglec-E-Fc, compete for the same binding sites. Taking into account that Mal II binding remains unaltered by sulfation, we established this lectin as sialylation degree control. Proteins of an enriched microsomal fraction showed the highest binding to Siglec-E as compared with those from the other parasite subcellular fractions. ELISA assays and the affinity purification of Cz by a Siglec-E column confirmed the interaction between both molecules. The significant decrease in binding of Siglec-E-Fc to Cz and to its C-terminal domain (C-T) after desulfation of these molecules suggests that sulfates contribute to the interaction between Siglec-E-Fc and these glycoproteins. Competitive ELISA assays confirmed the involvement of sulfated epitopes in the affinity between Siglec-E and Cz, probably modified by natural protein environment. Interestingly, data from flow cytometry of untreated and chlorate-treated parasites suggested that sulfates are not primary receptors, but enhance the binding of Siglec-E to trypomastigotic forms. Altogether, our findings support the notion that sulfate-containing sialylated glycoproteins interact with Siglec-E, an ortholog protein of human Siglec-9, and might modulate the immune response of the host, favoring parasitemia and persistence of the parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composition-gradient multi-angle static light scattering (CG-MALS) is an emerging technique for the determination of intermolecular interactions via the second virial coefficient B. With CG-MALS, detailed studies of the second virial coefficient can be carried out more accurately and effectively than with traditional methods. In addition, automated mixing, delivery and measurement enable high speed, continuous, fluctuation-free sample delivery and accurate results. Using CG-MALS we measure the second virial coefficient of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous solutions at various values of pH and ionic strength of a univalent salt (NaCl). The systematic variation of the second virial coefficient as a function of pH and NaCl strength reveals the net charge change and the isoelectric point of BSA under different solution conditions. The magnitude of the second virial coefficient decreases to 1.13 x 10 ml*mol/g near the isoelectric point of pH 4.6 and 25 mM NaCl. These results illuminate the role of fundamental long-range electrostatic and van der Waals forces in protein-protein interactions, specifically their dependence on pH and ionic strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]