Surfactant protein A (SP-A) constitutes an important part of the innate immune defense in the lung. In humans there are two functional genes (SP-A1 and SP-A2). The functional importance of having two distinct chain types in human SP-A is undefined. Amino acid substitutions in the primary structure of the protein may have effects on structural stability or on activity. To address this issue, SP-...

Objective Genetic and morphologic similarities between mouse embryonic stem cell (ESCs) and Primordial Germ Cell (PGCs) make it difficult to distinguish the two cell types in in vitro differentiation. Using the expression of specific markers of germ cells that are not expressed or expressed at low levels in ESCs, can help recognizing in vitro differentiated cells MaterialsAndMethods In this stu...

The species of the Neoserica(sensu lato)calva group are revised. Neosericacalva Frey, 1972, comb. n. is redescribed. Thirteen new species are described from China and South Korea: Neosericaailaoshanica sp. n., Neosericaanonyma sp. n., Neosericacalvoides sp. n., Neosericagulinqingensis sp. n., Neosericakoelkebecki sp. n., Neosericaliangi sp. n., Neosericaluxiensis sp. n., Neosericamenghaiensis s...

We describe the following 8 new genera and 23 new species of Neotropical Exosternini. Conocassis gen. n. (Conocassis minor sp. n. [type species], Conocassis dromedaria sp. n., Conocassis trisulcata sp. n., and Conocassis invaginata sp. n.), Enkyosoma gen. n. (Enkyosoma rockwelli sp. n.), Pluricosta gen. n. (Pluricosta onthophiloides sp. n.), Pyxister gen. n. (Pyxister devorator sp. n. [type spe...

Human pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) is encoded by two genes, SP-A1 and SP-A2, that exhibit coding sequence (allelic) and 5' splicing variability. In this report we determine the effect of the genetic variability within the SP-A1 and SP-A2 genes on the level of SP-A mRNAs and on the SP-A2 splicing variants in different individuals. We analysed mRNA specimens from 23 unrelated adults usin...

Genome sequence of Serratia proteamaculans 568 revealed the presence of three family 33 chitin binding proteins (CBPs). The three Sp CBPs (Sp CBP21, Sp CBP28 and Sp CBP50) were heterologously expressed and purified. Sp CBP21 and Sp CBP50 showed binding preference to β-chitin, while Sp CBP28 did not bind to chitin and cellulose substrates. Both Sp CBP21 and Sp CBP50 were synergistic with four ch...

Leptogenys is the most diverse ponerine ant genus in the world; it is widespread throughout tropical and subtropical regions and there are over 200 extant species described. Most species have ergatoid queens, and many have falcate, bowed mandibles and are specialists on isopod prey. Here, the Malagasy Leptogenys are revised with 60 species recognized, of which 40 are newly described, 18 redescr...