Search results for "Defensin"

Polymorphisms of β-defensin genes in Valle del Belice dairy sheep

2011

The aim of this work was to study β-defensin 1 (SBD1) and β-defensin 2 (SBD2) genes in Valle del Belice dairy sheep in order to identify polymorphisms that can be utilized as markers of the analyzed genes, and search for the functional effects and roles of the identified polymorphisms (variation of the amino acid sequence of the protein and stability of mRNA molecule). The study was conducted on 300 randomly selected animals belonging to four flocks. A total of seven SNPs were identified, two in SBD1 and five in SBD2. The two SNPs identified in SBD2 coding region, at position 1659 and position 1667, were non-synonymous, leading to amino acid changes in the protein product. Nevertheless, the…

Specific expression of antimicrobial peptide and HSP70 genes in response to heat-shock and several bacterial challenges in mussels

2007

Abstract Defensin, mytilin and myticin are antimicrobial peptides (AMP) involved in mussel innate immunity. Their in vitro antibacterial activity is different according to the targeted bacterial species. To determine if this specificity is correlated to different regulations of gene expressions, adult mussels were challenged in vivo with either Vibrio splendidus LGP32, Vibrio anguillarum , Micrococcus lysodeikticus or by heat shock. RNAs were isolated from circulating hemocytes and AMP mRNAs were quantified by Q-PCR using 28S rRNA as housekeeping gene. In addition, HSP70 gene expression was also quantified as representing non-specific response to stress. In naive mussels, the three AMP mRNA…

Identification and evaluation of Beta-defensin polymorphisms in Valle del Belice dairy sheep

2010

Non-conventional forms of HLA-B27 are expressed in spondyloarthritis joints and gut tissue

2016

Objectives Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 (B27) is the strongest genetic factor associated with development of Ankylosing Spondylitis and other spondyloarthropathies (SpA), yet the role it plays in disease pathogenesis remains unclear. We investigated the expression of potentially pathogenic non-conventional heavy chain forms (NC) of B27 in synovial and intestinal tissues obtained from SpA patients. We also determined the presence of NC-B27 in joints, lymphoid and gastrointestinal tissue from B27 transgenic (TG1) rats with M.tuberculosis-induced SpA. Methods Expression of NC-B27 in human SpA joints and gut and in (21-3 × 283-2)F1 HLA-B27/Huβ2m rat tissue was determined by immunohistochem…

Molluscan antimicrobial peptides, a review from activity-based evidences to computer-assisted sequences

2011

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent the most universal immune effectors. Molluscs constitute the second largest animal phylum, after Arthropods, in term of number of species. Only a negligible number has been investigated regarding AMPs. The choice of the species to be studied relied on their economical importance and availability. First studies on molluscan AMPs dated from 1996 and were based on biological activities of biochemical-purified fractions. Such approach released all the original structures we know, with biological activity sometimes different from one isoform to another. Then, molecular biology techniques were applied to molluscan AMPs starting in 1999. Complete screening o…

αβ defensin antimicrobial peptide (BPDEF) from the invasive red sea mussel Brachidontes pharaonis (P. Fischer, 1870)

2015

The immune system that plays a major role in determining host fitness in the wild, i.e. under the constraints imposed by ecology and life history. Permanent conflict interactions with the environment are the natural situation for a living creature. To partially resolve this, the immune system evolved and is characterized by an enormous variety of mechanisms and effectors, including the AMPs, although their specificity is poor. In fact, AMPs are universal and extremely successful in dealing with a huge range of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses Amps are oligopeptides composed of varying number of amino acids with a broad spectrum of targeted organisms ranging from vi…

Polymorphisms at β-defensin genes and mastitis in Valle del Belice dairy sheep: a case control study

2015

Mastitis is the most common and costly pathology affecting dairy animals. The identification of genetic markers that allow the inclusion of mastitis resistance in selection programs would help to reduce the costs due to the disease and the use of antibiotics. In recent years, β-defensin genes have been studied in several domestic species due to their important role in the innate immune response. The aim of this study was to determine whether β-defensin genes variability, β-defensin 1 (SBD1) and β-defensin 2 (SBD2), could distinguish between infected cases and healthy controls in Valle del Belice dairy sheep. Somatic cell count (SCC) is a powerful tool to identify animals with intramammary i…