The peptide LL-37, a component of the human innate immune system, represents a promising drug candidate. In particular, the development of low-cost production platform technology is a critical bottleneck in its use in medicine. In the present study, a viable approach for the LL-37 production in transgenic barley is developed. First, comparative analyses of the effects of different fused peptide epitope tags applicable for accumulation and purification on LL-37 production yield are performed using transient expression in tobacco leaves. Following the selection of the most yielding fusion peptide strategies, eight different constructs for the expression of codon optimized chimeric LL-37 genes in transgenic barley plants are created. The expression of individual constructs is driven either by an endosperm-specific promoter of the barley B1 hordein gene or by the maize ubiquitin promoter. The transgenes are stably integrated into the barley genome and inherited in the subsequent generation. All transgenic lines show normal phenotypes and are fertile. LL-37 accumulated in the barley seeds up to 0.55 mg per 1 kg of grain. The fused epitope tags are cleaved off by the use of enterokinase. Furthermore, in planta produced LL-37 including the fused versions is biologically active.

• MeSH
• geneticky modifikované rostliny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• ječmen (rod) genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• kathelicidiny chemie   genetika   izolace a purifikace   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární farmaření metody   MeSH
• promotorové oblasti (genetika) genetika   MeSH
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny chemie   genetika   izolace a purifikace   metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The introduction of farming had far-reaching impacts on health, social structure and demography. Although the spread of domesticated plants and animals has been extensively tracked, it is unclear how these nascent economies developed within different environmental and cultural settings. Using molecular and isotopic analysis of lipids from pottery, here we investigate the foods prepared by the earliest farming communities of the European Atlantic seaboard. Surprisingly, we find an absence of aquatic foods, including in ceramics from coastal sites, except in the Western Baltic where this tradition continued from indigenous ceramic using hunter-gatherer-fishers. The frequency of dairy products in pottery increased as farming was progressively introduced along a northerly latitudinal gradient. This finding implies that early farming communities needed time to adapt their economic practices before expanding into more northerly areas. Latitudinal differences in the scale of dairy production might also have influenced the evolution of adult lactase persistence across Europe.

• MeSH
• archeologie MeSH
• chov zvířat dějiny   MeSH
• dějiny starověku MeSH
• izotopy uhlíku MeSH
• keramika MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lipidy chemie   MeSH
• mléčné výrobky analýza   MeSH
• mlékárenství dějiny   MeSH
• plynová chromatografie s hmotnostně spektrometrickou detekcí MeSH
• zemědělství dějiny   MeSH
• zeměpis MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• dějiny starověku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• historické články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

Parasitic trypanosomatids diverged from free-living kinetoplastid ancestors several hundred million years ago. These parasites are relatively well known, due in part to several unusual cell biological and molecular traits and in part to the significance of a few - pathogenic Leishmania and Trypanosoma species - as aetiological agents of serious neglected tropical diseases. However, the majority of trypanosomatid biodiversity is represented by osmotrophic monoxenous parasites of insects. In two lineages, novymonads and strigomonads, osmotrophic lifestyles are supported by cytoplasmic endosymbionts, providing hosts with macromolecular precursors and vitamins. Here we discuss the two independent origins of endosymbiosis within trypanosomatids and subsequently different evolutionary trajectories that see entrainment vs tolerance of symbiont cell divisions cycles within those of the host. With the potential to inform on the transition to obligate parasitism in the trypanosomatids, interest in the biology and ecology of free-living, phagotrophic kinetoplastids is beginning to enjoy a renaissance. Thus, we take the opportunity to additionally consider the wider relevance of endosymbiosis during kinetoplastid evolution, including the indulged lifestyle and reductive evolution of basal kinetoplastid Perkinsela.

• MeSH
• biodiverzita MeSH
• biologická evoluce * MeSH
• genom protozoální MeSH
• Kinetoplastida genetika   MeSH
• Leishmania genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• symbióza * MeSH
• Trypanosoma genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• Trypanosomatina genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Markers for evaluating the establishment of cyanobacteria based on their sensitivity or resistance to antibiotics, saccharide utilization patterns and PCR generated fingerprints were developed. Four selected strains (isolates from rhizosphere soils of diverse agro-ecosystems) have shown potential as diazotrophs and exhibited plant growth promoting abilities. Different responses were obtained on screening against 40 antibiotics, which aided in developing selectable antibiotic markers for each strain. Biochemical profiles generated using standardized chromogenic identification system (including saccharide utilization tests) revealed that 53 % of the saccharides tested were not utilized by any strain, while some strains exhibited unique ability for utilization of saccharides such as melibiose, cellobiose, maltose and glucosamine. PCR based amplification profiles developed using a number of primers based on repeat sequences revealed the utility of 3 primers in providing unique fingerprints for the strains.

• Klíčová slova
• Rhizosphere,
• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky farmakologie   MeSH
• bakteriální léková rezistence MeSH
• disacharidy metabolismus   MeSH
• DNA fingerprinting metody   MeSH
• DNA primery MeSH
• financování organizované MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce metody   MeSH
• půdní mikrobiologie MeSH
• sinice genetika   klasifikace   metabolismus   účinky léků   MeSH
• zemědělství metody   MeSH

Toxoplasmosis is a globally spread disease, affecting humans and many animal species, including birds. Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were detected in ostriches from South and North America, Africa and Asia. Except for one study from Spain, there is a lack of information about T. gondii seroprevalence in ostriches from Europe. For this reason, the aim of the study was to detect antibodies to T. gondii in farm-reared ostriches from the Czech Republic. Serum samples of 409 ostriches (Struthio camelus), collected at 9 farms were tested by Latex agglutination test. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 149 (36%) birds with a statistical difference for individual farms (8%-71%, p = 0.0121), and regions (8%-65%, p = 0.002). Seropositivity did not statistically differ (p > 0.05) in size of farms (50% and 35% on small and large farms, respectively), sex of birds (38% and 35% in males and females, respectively), season and year of collection. Tissue samples (brain, heart, and pectoral muscle) of 105 birds were also tested by PCR to detect T. gondii DNA. The parasite T. gondii was detected in the brain and heart of one seronegative ostrich (1%) from a small farm. Based on our results, we can assume that ostriches may present high risk of toxoplasmosis for humans through consumption of raw or undercooked ostrich meat and even seronegative individuals could harbor T. gondii in their tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first serological detection of T. gondii in ostriches in the Czech Republic, and the first PCR detection in Europe.

• MeSH
• farmy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• protilátky protozoální krev   MeSH
• protozoální DNA analýza   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• Struthioniformes * krev   parazitologie   MeSH
• Toxoplasma * genetika   imunologie   MeSH
• toxoplazmóza zvířat * krev   diagnóza   epidemiologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Tick-borne diseases have become a world health concern, emerging with increasing incidence in recent decades. Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae are tick-borne pathogens recognized as important agents of human tick-borne diseases worldwide. In this study, 88 adult ticks from the species Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus annulatus, Rh. bursa, Rh. sanguineus sensu lato, and Rh. turanicus, were collected from farm ruminants in Lebanon, and SFG rickettsiae were molecularly identified and characterized in these ticks. The screening showed a prevalence of 68% for Rickettsia spp., including the species R. aeschlimannii, R. africae, R. massiliae and Candidatus R. barbariae, the latter considered an emerging member of the SFG rickettsiae. These findings contribute to a better knowledge of the distribution of these pathogens and demonstrate that SFG rickettsiae with public health relevance are found in ticks collected in Lebanon, where the widespread distribution of tick vectors and possible livestock animal hosts in contact with humans may favor transmission to humans. Few reports exist for some of the tick species identified here as being infected with SFG Rickettsia. Some of these tick species are proven vectors of the hosted rickettsiae, although this information is unknown for other of these species. Therefore, these results suggested further investigation on the vector competence of the tick species with unknown role in transmission of some of the pathogens identified in this study.

• MeSH
• farmy MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• Ixodidae mikrobiologie   MeSH
• koně MeSH
• kozy MeSH
• nemoci koní epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• nemoci koz epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• nemoci ovcí epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• nemoci skotu epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• ovce MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• Rickettsia klasifikace   fyziologie   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• skot MeSH
• skvrnité horečky epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   veterinární   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Libanon epidemiologie   MeSH

The molecular weight and molecular architecture of soluble polymer drug carriers significantly influence the biodistribution and anti-tumour activities of their doxorubicin (DOX) conjugates in tumour-bearing mice. Biodistribution of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-DOX conjugates of linear and star architectures were compared in EL4 T-cell lymphoma-bearing mice. Biodistribution, including tumour accumulation, and anti-tumour activity of the conjugates strongly depended on conjugate molecular weight (MW), polydispersity, hydrodynamic radius (R(h)) and molecular architecture. With increasing MW, renal clearance decreased, and the conjugates displayed extended blood circulation and enhanced tumour accumulation. The linear conjugates with flexible polymer chains were eliminated by kidney clearance more quickly than the highly branched star conjugates with comparable MWs. Interestingly, the data suggested different mechanisms of renal filtration for star and linear conjugates. Only star conjugates with MWs below 50,000g.mo(-1) were removed by kidney filtration, while linear polymer conjugates with MWs near 70,000g.mol(-1), exceeding the generally accepted limit for renal elimination, were detected in the urine 36-96h after injection. Additionally, survival of tumour-bearing mice was strongly dependent on molecular weight and polymer conjugate architecture. Treatment of mice with the lower MW conjugate at a dose of 10mg DOX eq./kg resulted in 12% long-term surviving animals, while treatment with the corresponding star conjugate enabled 75% survival of animals.

• MeSH
• akrylamidy chemie   farmakokinetika   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• doxorubicin chemie   farmakokinetika   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• Kaplanův-Meierův odhad MeSH
• lymfom farmakoterapie   MeSH
• metabolická clearance MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• molekulová hmotnost MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• protinádorová antibiotika chemie   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• stabilita léku MeSH
• tkáňová distribuce MeSH
• transplantace nádorů MeSH
• vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

A series of 11-substituted 9-hydroxy-3,5,10,11-tetrahydro-2H-benzo[6,7]thiochromeno[2,3-d][1,3]thiazole-2,5,10-triones 3.1-3.13 were synthesized via hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of 5-ene-4-thioxo-2-thiazolidinones and 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (juglone). The structure of newly synthesized compounds was established by means of spectral data and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The synthesized compounds were tested on a panel of cell lines representing different types of cancer as well as normal and pseudonormal cells and peripheral human blood lymphocytes. Compound 3.10 was found to be the most active derivative, exhibiting a cytotoxic effect similar to doxorubicin's one (IC50 ranged from 0.6 to 5.98 μM), but less toxic to normal and pseudonormal cells. All synthesized compounds were able to interact with DNA, although their anticancer activity did not correlate with the potency of interaction with DNA. The status of p53 in colorectal cancer cells correlated with the activity of the synthesized derivatives 3.1, 3.7, and 3.10. Compound 3.10 did not have an acute toxic effect on the body of С57BL/6 mice, unlike the well-known anticancer drug doxorubicin, which was used as a positive control. The injection of 3.10 (20 mg/kg) to mice had no effect on the counts of leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets and hemoglobin level in their blood, in contrast to doxorubicin, which caused anemia and leukopenia, indicating bio-tolerance of 3.10in vivo.

• MeSH
• doxorubicin farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• naftochinony * farmakologie   MeSH
• proliferace buněk MeSH
• protinádorové látky * chemie   MeSH
• screeningové testy protinádorových léčiv MeSH
• simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
• thiazoly chemie   MeSH
• vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Five of the 13 known species of Mammomonogamus have been described in members of the family Felidae, including domestic cats, making felids the most frequent hosts of Mammomonogamus. The occurrence of Mammomonogamus in felids is geographically scattered and information on the life cycle and other aspects of infections is lacking. The paucity of data opens the questions on possible conspecificity of some of the described species of Mammomonogamus and on the existence of possible reservoirs for infections in domestic cats in geographically isolated endemic foci of infection. To test such hypotheses, we compared sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear markers obtained from Mammomonogamus adults or eggs collected from domestic cats in three geographically distant localities. Based on morphology, geographic origin and site of infection, the worms examined can be referred to as Mammomonogamus ierei and Mammomonogamus auris. Phylogenetic analyses of both mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA markers showed monophyly of the genus Mammomonogamus and suggested the existence of at least two species in cats. Review of the literature, the existence of several species and the discontinuous geographic distribution of Mammomonogamus infections in domestic cats suggest an historical spillover of infection from wild reservoirs, presumably wild felids.

• MeSH
• divoká zvířata parazitologie   MeSH
• Felidae parazitologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• hospodářská zvířata parazitologie   MeSH
• infekce hlísticemi řádu Strongylida veterinární   MeSH
• kočky parazitologie   MeSH
• mitochondriální DNA genetika   MeSH
• ribozomální DNA genetika   MeSH
• rozšíření zvířat MeSH
• Strongyloidea klasifikace   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zdroje nemoci parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• zeměpis MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• kočky parazitologie   MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

• MeSH
• jedlé rostliny MeSH
• jedlé vakcíny * biosyntéza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární farmaření MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH