To examine the hypothesis that colicin proteins are subject to diversity-enhancing selection, we studied the rates of synonymous, nonsynonymous, and intergenic nucleotide substitution in three pairs of closely related colicin clusters. The results indicate that the immunity gene and the immunity-binding domain of the colicin gene, which interact to provide specific immunity from the lethal acti...

micrornas (mirnas) are small preserved non-coding rna molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by targeting the 3' utr of mrnas for translational repression or degradation. the rising evidence has established the significant role of mirnas within the regulation of immune system and the prevention of autoimmunity. mir-146a has obtained an importance as a modulator of d...

the effects of methanolic extract and leaf powder of artemisia annua were studied on performance, cellular and humoral immunity in 240 cobb broiler chicks in a completely randomized design. control group did not receive any treatment. the chicks in the second and third groups were fed with feed which contained 2000 and 4000 ppm plant extract in diet and in the groups 4, 5 and 6 chicks received ...

objectives: the aim of the present study was to investigate immunotoxic effect of safranal (saf), a main component of crocus sativus essential oil, using balb/c mice. materials and methods: saf was administered intraperitoneally at doses of 0.1, 0.5 and 1 ml/kg for 3 weeks. hystopathological examination of spleen and bone marrow, cellularity of spleen, delayed type of hypersensitivity (dth) res...

Persistent hepatitis C virus infection is associated with progressive hepatic fibrosis and liver cancer. Acute infection evokes several distinct innate immune responses, but these are partially or completely countered by the virus. Hepatitis C virus proteins serve dual functions in replication and immune evasion, acting to disrupt cellular signaling pathways leading to interferon synthesis, sub...

Macroautophagy (autophagy) is a cellular pathway facilitating several critical functions. First, autophagy is a major pathway of degradation. It enables elimination of microbes that have invaded intracellular compartments. In addition, it promotes degradation of damaged cellular content, thereby acting to limit inflammatory signals. Second, autophagy is a major trafficking pathway, shuttling co...

Bacteriocins related to colicin M, acting via cleavage of the cell wall precursor lipid II, have been characterized in γ- and β-proteobacteria. Depending on the species, immunity is provided by either an inner membrane-anchored periplasmic protein or by an integral membrane protein. In Pseudomonas however, the immunity partner of colicin M-like bacteriocins remains unknown. Based on an in silic...

OBJECTIVE An increasing number of general psychiatrists are acting as expert witnesses in the legal system. The purpose of this article is to help psychiatrists who are interested in doing forensic work by informing them of the risks entailed. METHOD The author reviews the medical and legal literature about expert witness immunity. RESULTS The author explains the traditional concept of expe...

Mild inhibition of mitochondrial respiration extends the lifespan of many species. In Caenorhabditis elegans, reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote longevity by activating hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in response to reduced mitochondrial respiration. However, the physiological role and mechanism of ROS-induced longevity are poorly understood. Here, we show that a modest increase in ROS in...

Coevolution of the three basic mechanisms of immunity, intrinsic, innate and adaptive, is a constant feature of the host defense against pathogens. Within this frame, a peculiar role is played by restriction factors (RFs), elements of intrinsic immunity that interfere with viral life cycle. Often considered as molecules whose specific functions are distinct and unrelated among themselves recent...