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Signal transduction pathways regulate the functions of different types of cells that constitute a multicellular organism; with the final goal of to regulate of target genes. The Notch signaling pathway is mainly involved in early and late embryo development, and recently has been described its participation in the adult organism proper function. Hairless, a protein member of the Notch signaling pathway modulates negatively this signal transduction pathway. Despite efforts to detect Hairless in higher animals, it has not been able to identify a homolog protein. The identification of a Hairless homolog protein is essential for the understanding of the regulatory processes during embryo development and other pathological processes where Notch pathway is involved. The Hairless counterparts described in insects have at least three highly conserved domains, where the Suppressor of Hairless binding domain is the most conserved. Using analysis in silico and molecular biology techniques was identified and delimited a peptide with immunogenic potential from the Suppressor of Hairless binding domain from Drosophila melanogaster Hairless protein. This peptide was used as antigen to generate polyclonal antibodies in hens. Sera were tested against total protein extract from fruit fly embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • AIMD produced effects similar to MS180 on neurogenesis, behavior, and CORT levels. • AIMD caused a mild attenuation of the MS180-induced metabolic imbalance. • Hippocampal plasticity correlated with CORT levels, behavioral and metabolic outcomes. • Lactobacillus spp, Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium coccoides , and Clostridium leptum correlated with behavior. • Lactobacillus spp, Bacteroides fragilis, and Clostridium coccoides , positively correlated with neurogenesis. Early life stress induced by maternal separation (MS) causes neuroendocrine, behavioral, and metabolic alterations that are related to gut dysbiosis. MS also increases microglial activation and decreases neurogenesis. Whether these long-term alterations are maintained or worsened in the absence of gut microbiota remains unknown. Hence, this study evaluated the effect of MS symptomatology after antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion (AIMD) in adult rats. Control and maternally separated (3 h per day from postnatal day one to 14, MS180) rats were subjected to AIMD for one month, then assessed for behavioral, metabolic, and neuroendocrine responses. Effects of MS180 and AIMD on gut microbiota were confirmed by qPCR. The data indicate that MS180 caused a passive coping strategy in the forced swimming test and decreased hippocampal neurogenesis. In addition, fasting glucose, cholesterol, and corticosterone levels increased, which correlated with a decrease in Lactobacillus spp counts in the caecum. AIMD also increased immobility in the forced swimming test, decreased hippocampal neurogenesis, and augmented corticosterone levels. However, it had no effects on glucose homeostasis or plasma lipid levels. Furthermore, the MS180-induced long-term effects on behavior and neurogenesis were not affected by microbiota depletion. Meanwhile, the metabolic imbalance was partially reversed in MS180 + AIMD rats. These results show that AIMD mimics the behavioral consequences of MS180 but may prevent metabolic imbalance, suggesting that gut dysbiosis could be part of the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of the long-term consequences of early life stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis is a disease of dairy cattle worldwide that causes decreased milk quality/yield, resulting in major economic losses. Mastitis is caused by a wide variety of organisms, including Staphylococcus aureus as a major pathogen. The purpose of this research was to characterize 20 Staphylococcus spp. isolates from the mammary gland of mastitic, lactating, backyard cattle, using both the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, and sensitivity tests to 13 antibiotics and 1 detergent. Sensitivity tests to 13 antibiotics showed that all isolates were resistant to penicillin but sensitive to cephalothin, erythromycin, and trimethoprim. All isolates were susceptible to a <6 µg/ml cethyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) concentration. Molecular characterization aided to determine that isolates SA7 & SA8, SA30 & SA32, showed >90% similarity in the RAPD band pattern, while isolates SA35 & SA36 were identical to each other. Nevertheless, all other isolates showed different amplification profiles. Isolates SA7 & SA8, SA30 & SA32, SA35 & SA36 had similar antibiotic resistance/RAPD patterns, suggesting re-isolation. Staphylococcus isolates collected in Tarímbaro, Michoacán showed several different amplification patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La mastitis es una enfermedad que afecta al ganado bovino lechero a nivel mundial, provocando una disminución en la calidad y cantidad de la leche producida, lo cual genera pérdidas económicas considerables. Esta enfermedad es causada por una variedad de microorganismos, entre los cuales Staphyloccocus aureus es uno de los más importantes. El objetivo del trabajo fue caracterizar 20 aislamientos de Staphylococcus spp. obtenidos de la glándula mamaria de vacas lactantes con mastitis en un sistema de producción de traspatio, mediante el uso de polimorfismos derivados de la amplificación al azar de ADN (RAPD’s) y su sensibilidad hacia trece antibióticos y 1 detergente. Las pruebas de sensibilidad a los 13 antibióticos demostraron que todos los aislamientos fueron resistentes a penicilina y sensibles a cefalotina, eritromicina y trimetoprim. Todos los aislamientos fueron susceptibles a una concentración menor de 6 µg/ml de bromuro de cetil trimetil amonio (CTAB). La caracterización molecular permitió determinar que los aislamientos SA7 y SA8, SA30 y SA32, presentaron una similitud superior al 90 % en el patrón de bandas obtenida por RAPD, mientras que los aislamientos SA35 y SA36 fueron idénticos, sin embargo, el resto de los aislamientos presentaron perfiles de amplificación distintos. Los aislamientos SA7 y SA8, SA30 y SA32, SA35 y SA36, tuvieron patrones de resistencia a antibióticos y de RAPD similares, por lo que probablemente se trató de reaislamientos. Los aislamientos de Staphylococcus de Tarímbaro, Michoacán presentaron una diversidad de perfiles de amplificación. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beet root (Beta vulgaris L.) is a halophytic plant adapted to soil with a high salt content. Since beet root is a stress-tolerant crop plant, we investigated the participation of protein kinases as possible mediators of osmotic stress tolerance. Activation of two protein kinases was detected by osmotic stress in beet roots. A 51 kDa kinase was observed when tissue was treated in hypoosmotic and moderate or high hyperosmotic media, whereas activation of a 46 kDa kinase was detected only after hyperosmotic stress at high osmolyte concentrations. Both enzymes preferentially phosphorylated MBP and their activity was partially inhibited in vitro by staurosporine and 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP). In contrast to the 51 kDa kinase, the activity of the 46 kDa kinase was not sensitive to the MAP kinase inhibitor apigenine. Mammalian anti-ERK1/2 and anti-phospho-ERK1/2 antibodies recognized only the 51 kDa protein. These biochemical and immunological data indicate that the 51 kDa kinase belongs to the MAP kinase family, whereas the 46 kDa kinase is activated in a calcium-independent manner. To our knowledge, this is the first report that identifies a MAP kinase and a calcium-independent protein kinase activated by osmotic stress in beet roots. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effect of different irrigation and air humidity conditioning treatments on the morphological and physiological responses of Rosmarinus officinalis in nursery conditions was investigated in order to evaluate the degree of hardening resulting from these conditions. Rosmarinus officinalis seedlings were pot-grown during 4 months in two greenhouses (nursery period), in which two irrigation treatments were used (control and deficit). In one of these greenhouses, air humidity was controlled using a dehumidifying system (low humidity), in the other greenhouse the air conditions were not artificially modified (control humidity). After the nursery period, the plants of all treatments were transplanted and well watered (100% water holding capacity for 1 month, transplanting period). After this period, they received no water (establishment period). At the end of the nursery period it was seen that deficit irrigation had altered the morphology of the R. officinalis plants by reducing plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, total dry weight, and root length, while humidity influenced the parameters related with plant water relations. Low air humidity and deficit irrigation-induced tissue dehydration and lower stomatal conductance values (gs). The plants subjected to deficit irrigation developed leaf osmotic adjustment, which was maintained during the transplanting period. At that time, the plants that had been exposed to deficit irrigation and low humidity showed efficient stomatal regulation (lower gs values). After transplanting and during the establishment period, these plants showed a better water status (higher psil and gs values). Their post-planting survival rate improved as a result of acclimation processes.