Donor sperm production in heterologous recipients by testis germ cell transplantation in the dromedary camel

The object of this study was to investigate if testis germ cell transplantation (TGCT) into a heterologous recipient would result in donor-origin spermatogenesis in the dromedary camel. First, we investigated a workable protocol for TGCT in camels, including donor cell isolation, enrichment by density gradient centrifugation (Percoll and Bovicoll), rete testis injection and microsatellite detection of donor and recipient genotypes. Second, the effects of three doses of Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), a glycoprotein that specifically binds to gonocytes or Type A spermatogonia, on testis germ cell depletion were investigated by direct injection into the rete testis of a male camel. Seven recipients were prepared with DBA treatment, two males were castrated at 4 weeks for depletion assessment and the remaining five received donor cells 4-6 weeks after treatment. On average, ~17 million cells were isolated per gram of testis tissue, with 19.5±1.9% DBA-positive (DBA+) cells. Percoll centrifugation yielded a 1.5-fold increase in DBA+ cells while Bovicoll centrifugation produced a 2.5-fold increase from the input cells of 18.6±2.1% DBA+ cells. Semen was collected from the recipients 13-20 weeks after transfer and the presence of donor DNA in the samples was determined using microsatellite markers. In two of the five recipients, all semen samples were shown to be positive for donor-derived cells. These results demonstrate for the first time that: (1) heterologous testicular germ cell transplantation in camels is feasible and the recipients are able to produce spermatozoa of donor origin and (2) DBA can be used effectively to deplete endogenous stem cells.

Corrigendum to "Incidence and detection of Beak and Feather disease virus in psittacine birds in the UAE" [Biomol. Detect. Quantif. 6 (January) (2016) 27-32]

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.bdq.2015.10.001.].

Selection of nanobodies with broad neutralizing potential against primary HIV-1 strains using soluble subtype C gp140 envelope trimers

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against HIV-1 protect from infection and reduce viral load upon therapeutic applications. However no vaccine was able so far to induce bnAbs demanding their expensive biotechnological production. For clinical applications, nanobodies (VHH) derived from heavy chain only antibodies from Camelidae, may be better suited due to their small size, high solubility/stability and extensive homology to human VH3 genes. Here we selected broadly neutralizing nanobodies by phage display after immunization of dromedaries with different soluble trimeric envelope proteins derived from HIV-1 subtype C. We identified 25 distinct VHH families binding trimeric Env, of which 6 neutralized heterologous primary isolates of various HIV-1 subtypes in a standardized in vitro neutralization assay. The complementary neutralization pattern of two selected VHHs in combination covers 19 out of 21 HIV-1 strains from a standardized panel of epidemiologically relevant HIV-1 subtypes. The CD4 binding site was preferentially targeted by the broadly neutralizing VHHs as determined by competition ELISAs and 3D models of VHH-Env complexes derived from negative stain electron microscopy. The nanobodies identified here are excellent candidates for further preclinical/clinical development for prophylactic and therapeutic applications due to their potency and their complementary neutralization patterns covering the majority of epidemiologically relevant HIV-1 subtypes.

Saffron-Based Crocin Prevents Early Lesions of Liver Cancer: In vivo, In vitro and Network Analyses

BACKGROUND

The angiogenesis inhibitor, sorafenib, remains the only available therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Only recently patents of VEGF receptors-3 inhibitors are developed. Thus, a novel approach against HCC is essential for a better therapeutic outcome.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to examine the chemopreventive action of saffron's main biomolecule, crocin, against chemically-induced liver cancer in rats, and to explore the mechanisms by which crocin employs its anti-tumor effects.

METHOD

We investigated the anti-cancer effect of crocin on an experimental carcinogenesis model of liver cancer by studying the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferation, pro-apoptotic activities of crocin in vivo. In addition, we provided a network analysis of differentially expressed genes in tissues of animals pre-treated with crocin in comparison to induced-HCC animals' tissues. To further support our results, in vitro analysis was carried out. We assessed the effects of crocin on HepG2 cells viability by treating them with various concentrations of crocin; in addition, effects of crocin on cell cycle distribution of HepG2 cells were investigated.

RESULTS

Findings reported herein demonstrated the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic properties of crocin when administrated in induced- HCC model. Crocin exhibited anti-inflammatory properties where NF-κB, among other inflammatory markers, was inhibited. In vitro analysis confirmed crocin's effect in HepG2 by arresting the cell cycle at S and G2/M phases, inducing apoptosis and down regulating inflammation. Network analysis identified NF-κB as a potential regulatory hub, and therefore, a candidate therapeutic drug target.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our findings introduce crocin as a candidate chemopreventive agent against HCC.

Abstract 5249: Crocin prevents early lesions of liver cancer:system biology approach

The angiogenesis inhibitor, sorafenib, remains the only available therapy of the poorly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Only recently patents of VEGF receptors-3 inhibitors are developed.; hence,Thus, a novel approach against HCC is essential for a better therapeutic outcome. Saffron and its active constituents were reported to have anti-tumor properties. Objective: The aims of this study were to examine the chemopreventive action of saffron's main biomolecule, crocin, against chemically-induced liver cancer in rats, and to explore the mechanisms by which crocin employs its anti-tumor effects. Method: We investigated the anti-cancer effect of crocin on an experimental carcinogenesis model of liver cancer by studying the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferation, pro-apoptotic activities of crocin in vivo. In addition, we provided a network analysis of differentially expressed genes in tissues of animals pre-treated with crocin in comparison to induced-HCC animals’ tissues. To further support our results, in vitro analysis was carried out. We assessed the effects of crocin on HepG2 cells viability by treating them with various concentrations of crocin; in addition, effects of crocin on cell cycle distribution of HepG2 cells were investigated. Results: Findings reported herein demonstrated the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic properties of crocin when administrated in induced-HCC model. Crocin exhibited anti-inflammatory properties where NF-kB, among other inflammatory markers, was inhibited. In vitro analysis confirmed crocin's effect in HepG2 by arresting the cell cycle at G2/M phase, inducing apoptosis and down regulating inflammation. Network analysis identified NF-kB as a regulatory hub, and therefore, a candidate therapeutic drug target. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings introduce crocin as a candidate chemopreventive agent against HCC.

Citation Format: Amr Amin, Alaaeldin A. Hamza, Sayel Daoud, Kamal Khazanehdari, Ala’a Al Hrout, Badriya Baig, Amphun Chaiboonchoe, Thomas E. Adrian, Nazar Zaki, Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani. Crocin prevents early lesions of liver cancer:system biology approach. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 5249.

Acute middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in livestock Dromedaries, Dubai, 2014

Camels carry Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, but little is known about infection age or prevalence. We studied >800 dromedaries of all ages and 15 mother–calf pairs. This syndrome constitutes an acute, epidemic, and time-limited infection in camels <4 years of age, particularly calves. Delayed social separation of calves might reduce human infection risk.

Incidence and detection of beak and feather disease virus in psittacine birds in the UAE

Beak and feather disease is caused by Circovirus, which affects actively growing beak and feather cells of avian species. The disease affects mainly young birds while older birds may overcome the disease with few lasting effects. Due to lack of treatment, the only way to control the disease is through hygiene and early diagnosis. As a diagnostic tool, we have established a Taqman probe based real-time PCR assay to detect the presence of the viral genome in psittacine birds in UAE and reported the incidence of circovirus in different species of psittacine birds. The sensitivity of our assay was found to be very high with detection limit of up to 3.5 fg of DNA in the sample. The mean prevalence of circovirus was found to be 58.33% in African Grey Parrots, 34.42% in Cockatoos, 31.8% in amazon parrots and 25.53% in Macaws.

The Taqman assay is a quick, reliable and sensitive detection method that has been instrumental in identifying this disease that was not previously reported in the region.

Male horse meiosis: metaphase I chromosome configuration and chiasmata distribution

Chromosome configurations and chiasma frequency during the metaphase I stage of spermatogenesis in the male horse are characterized in this work. The genome-wide frequency and distribution of chiasmata was detected as 49.45 ± 2.07 for 14 fertile stallions. All X and Y chromosomes shared a single chiasma at their pseudoautosomal region, while 1-4 chiasmata were observed in autosomal chromosomes. The chiasma frequency and distribution were further studied for 8 different bivalents identified by FISH in 5 fertile stallions. Genetic length was calculated from chiasmata data for the whole genome as well as for these 8 chromosomes. The findings complement the genetic linkage data and provide insight into the genetic basis of spermatogenesis in normal stallions.

Distribution of MLH1 foci in horse male synaptonemal complex

Advances in molecular cytogenetics have provided the opportunity to study events during prophase I of meiosis. Immunofluorescent localization of different meiotic protein components were used to characterize the early stages of the first meiotic division in horse spermatocytes. The frequency and distribution of recombination events during prophase I were investigated using the mutL homolog 1 (MLH1) protein that is known to be associated with these events. The frequency and distribution of MLH1 foci were investigated in pachytene nuclei of 6 fertile stallions, and the average relative synaptonemal complex length was found to be highly correlated with the average number of MLH1 foci. The frequency and distribution of MLH1 foci were found to closely correspond to the frequency and distribution of chiasmata on metaphase I chromosomes, and genetic length, calculated from MLH1 foci data, for the whole genome was 2,505.5 cM.

A genome-wide search for type 2 diabetes susceptibility genes in an extended Arab family

Twenty percent of people aged 20 to 79 have type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genes for T2D have not been reported for Arab countries. We performed a discovery GWAS in an extended UAE family (N=178; 66 diabetic; 112 healthy) genotyped on the Illumina Human 660 Quad Beadchip, with independent replication of top hits in 116 cases and 199 controls. Power to achieve genome-wide significance (commonly P=5×10(-8)) was therefore limited. Nevertheless, transmission disequilibrium testing in FBAT identified top hits at Chromosome 4p12-p13 (KCTD8: rs4407541, P=9.70×10(-6); GABRB1: rs10517178/rs1372491, P=4.19×10(-6)) and 14q13 (PRKD1: rs10144903, 3.92×10(-6)), supported by analysis using a linear mixed model approximation in GenABEL (4p12-p13 GABRG1/GABRA2: rs7662743, Padj-agesex=2.06×10(-5); KCTD8: rs4407541, Padj-agesex=1.42×10(-4); GABRB1: rs10517178/rs1372491, Padj-agesex=0.027; 14q13 PRKD1: rs10144903, Padj-agesex=6.95×10(-5)). SNPs across GABRG1/GABRA2 did not replicate, whereas more proximal SNPs rs7679715 (Padj-agesex=0.030) and rs2055942 (Padj-agesex=0.022) at COX7B2/GABRA4 did, in addition to a trend distally at KCTD8 (rs4695718: Padj-agesex=0.096). Modelling of discovery and replication data support independent signals at GABRA4 (rs2055942: Padj-agesex-combined=3×10(-4)) and at KCTD8 (rs4695718: Padj-agesex-combined=2×10(-4)). Replication was observed for PRKD1 rs1953722 (proxy for rs10144903; Padj-agesex=0.031; Padj-agesex-combined=2×10(-4)). These genes may provide important functional leads in understanding disease pathogenesis in this population.