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Sixth International Conference on Environmental Mutagens in Human Populations
- Conference date: 26-29 Mar 2012
- Location: Qatar National Convention Center, Doha, Qatar
- Volume number: 2012
- Published: 01 March 2012
61 - 80 of 107 results
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DNA Damage Response in UV Irradiated Cells
More LessAbstractNucleotide excision repair (NER) removes bulky DNA lesions from the genome. The toxic effects of these lesions relate to their potency to block replication and transcription elongation. Two mechanistically distinct NER subpathways have been identified: Global genome NER (GG-NER) and transcription-coupled repair (TC-NER). In the currently prevailing model, NER factors are sequentially assembled into pre- and post-incision complexes; however, the regulation of NER in vivo is poorly understood. I will focus on GG-NER particularly on damage recognition and mechanisms that control the transition from dual incision to repair synthesis and UV induced signalling. Moreover, we provide evidence that damage signalling in nondividing cells proceeds via NER dependent and independent UV photolesion processing. The second part of my talk deals with TC-NER in UV-irradiated cells. Deficiency in TC-NER is a hallmark of the rare human disorder Cockayne syndrome (CS). Two complementation groups (A and B) have been identified. Both CS proteins have distinct functions in recruitment of NER factors and chromatin remodelers. The emerging picture of TCR is complex: repair of transcription blocking lesions requires the NER factors, chromatin remodelers and at least two essential assembly factors, ie the CSA and B proteins. Together these, and yet unidentified proteins, will accomplish not only efficient repair thereby counteracting mutagenesis and cytoxicity but also contribute to DNA damage signalling events.
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DNA Damage and Apoptotic Signaling Following Sunlight
More LessAbstractSunlight induces DNA damage due to the ultraviolet (UV) components UVA and UVB. Pyrimidine dimers (CPDs and 6-4PPs) are the most toxic lesions induced by sunlight, and are mainly induced by UVB light, although these lesions are also potentially induced by UVA. On the other hand, UVA light is known to indirectly generate oxidative species, which also damage DNA. By using DNA repair deficient cell lines from xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients, expressing pyrimidine-dimer-specific photolyases, we investigated the biological relevance of these lesions in cell killing induction after UVA-irradiation. The results clearly indicate that both CPDs and 6-4PPs are important lesions inducing cell killing, including apoptosis, although other lesions also participate in the events that lead to cell death by UVA. XP cell lines were also employed as sensitive cell targets for the development of sunlight cell dosimeter, which can be useful to analyze the ability of sunscreen filters to protect them from irradiation. Again, although sunscreen filters provided some cell protection from the ability to induce pyrimidine dimers, other types of DNA damage (probably mainly related to UVA) also efficiently induce cell death, reducing the protection factor of normally employed sunscreen filters. Thus, DNA lesions probably induced by oxidative reactive species are also biologically relevant when considering sunlight effects in human cells, and these lesions are also important when considering the sensitivity of XP patients.
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Mechanisms of Transcriptional Inhibition and Induction by Environmental Mutagens
More LessAbstractExposure of cells to environmental mutagens activates cellular responses, leading to a reprogramming of gene expression by mechanisms that are not fully elucidated. To investigate the mechanisms of how environmental mutagens affect global gene expression in human cells both at the level of RNA synthesis and transcript stability, we developed a new technique, called BruChase-Seq, based on bromouridine (BrU) pulse-chase labeling coupled to deep sequencing. Using BruChase-Seq we found that ionizing radiation, cadmium or the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF rapidly altered both the synthesis and the transcript stability of specific sets of genes in human fibroblasts. To directly assess the effect of UV light on nascent RNA transcription, we developed BrUV-Seq, where cells are irradiated with UV-light immediately before labeling nascent RNA with BrU. We found that UV-induced DNA lesions inhibited transcription elongation but not initiation, leading to a dramatic enhancement of sequencing signal at transcription start sites. Unexpectedly, we found that UV-irradiation also caused an enrichment of non-coding RNA and enhancer sequences, potentially making it possible to use BrUV-Seq to map poorly annotated non-coding RNAs and active enhancer elements genome-wide. We believe that the BruChase-Seq and BrUV-Seq approaches will be useful in elucidating the mechanisms of gene regulation in many biological settings.
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DNA Repair and Damage Response Following Exposure of Cells to Alkylating Carcinogens
By Bernd KainaAbstractAlkylating carcinogens are widely distributed in the environment and are present in food, beverages and tobacco. They are also endogenously formed in stomach and gut. These agents induce a dozen different DNA lesions, and some of them have been identified to be carcinogenic, clastogenic, recombinogenic and cytotoxic. A critical DNA adduct is O6-methylguanine (O6MeG). This damage causes mutations and is responsible for most of the carcinogenic effects of simple alkylating agents. At the same time, O6MeG is a highly powerful cytotoxic lesion, giving rise to the induction of apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy. The damage is repaired by the suicide enzyme alkyltransferase (MGMT), which is a very important first-line defense mechanism and biomarker of alkylating drug resistance, both in normal tissue and tumors (therefore it also plays a key role in tumor therapy). MGMT knockout mice respond to alkylating agent treatment with a high yield of colon cancer. The same is true for MPG ko mice defective in base excision repair, indicating that not only O6MeG, but also non-repaired N-alkylation lesions give rise to mutations and cancer. Elimination of pre-transformed cells by apoptosis counteracts this process. We have shown that O6MeG is a very powerful trigger of apoptosis, which is executed via the death receptor and the mitochondrial damage pathway. The apoptotic response is downstream, triggered by DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) that are formed during the mismatch repair dependent processing of O6MeG. These O6MeG-induced DSBs are repaired by homologous recombination (HR), which is a second-line defense against O6MeG triggered cell death. Other players involved in DSB recognition and HR are NBS-1, ATM, Rad51, XRCC2 and XRCC3. In some cell types, the efficiency of O6MeG to trigger the p53 dependent death receptor pathway is higher than the p53 independent endogenous mitochondrial pathway, which rests on p53 driven death receptor upregulation. However, p53 is also able to upregulate DNA repair genes thus protecting against mutations and cell death. The implications for human defense against environmental carcinogens will be discussed. Work was supported by DFG KA724.
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The Possible Cancer Chemopreventive Activity of Spice Ginger
More LessAbstractGinger extract and its active principles, gingerol and shogaol, were tested in a different model system for their antimutagenicity activity. Salmonella/microsome is a short-term assay developed to detect human carcinogens as mutagens were used for these studies. Ginger extract, gingerol and shogaol in a two model system, inhibited the formation of mutagenic glucose + lysine in TA100 without metabolic activation (S9mix) and glucose + lysine + creatinine pyrolysates in TA98 with S9mix. The observed inhibition of mutagenicity by gingerol and shogaol is by direct interaction. Ginger extract, gingerol and shogaol also inhibited the formation of mutagenic nitroso-compounds from dried fish extract and nitrite at pH2.0. Ginger extract, gingerol and shogaol dose dependently inhibited aflatoxin and benzo(a) pyrene (BP)-induced mutagenicity in TA98 with S9mix. Ginger extract, gingerol and shogaol lowered the excretion of urinary mutagens in BP fed mice. In the same animal there was a decrease in DNA damage as determined by decrease in the bone marrow micronuclei. Finally, feeding 0.5g of ginger decreased urinary excretion of mutagens in active and passive cigarette smokers. These results suggest that ginger in the human diet may act as a novel cancer chemopreventive agent through diverse mechanisms.
Moolky A*., Kolpe U.,** Satish B.S*., Nagabhushan M., Loyola University Chicago, Illinois, USA** University of Illinois at chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA & Manipal University, Manipal, India*
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An Assessment of Chromosomal Damage in Individuals Occupationally Exposed to Domestic Cooking Gas
More LessAbstractThe lymphocytes of healthy adult men occupationally exposed to Domestic Cooking Gas (DCG) were screened for genotoxic damage using the Cytochalasin Block Micronucleus [cytome] (CBMN) Assay. Results obtained, show that there was a significant increase in the the induction of binucleated micronuclei frequency (BNMN) in subjects exposed to DCG as compared with the non-exposed controls, with a 92 percent increase in the degree of induction. There was a positive correlation between the degree of micronuclei induced and the duration of exposure (r2 = 0.78). A higher proliferation rate (1.58 ± 0.3), as calculated using the Nuclear Division Index (NDI) was found in the exposed group as compared with the control group (1.36 ± 0.05).
The observations above suggests that DCG may induce chromosomal damage and cell proliferation in vivo.
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The Impact Of Bacteriophages In Bacteria Removal Associated with Soba Stabilisation Station Efficiency
More LessAbstractBacteriophages are viruses that infect and lyse bacteria, the applications of phage techniques in wastewater treatment systems improve effluent and sludge emissions into the environment. The existence of bacteriophages in wastewater of the Soba Stabilisation Station was determined by isolating and identifying methods for their activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the anaerobic, facultative and maturation ponds. The general viable count of the bacteria showed an average of 2.0 x 106 cfu/ml. In broth media the affection of the bacteriophage interactions with bacteria showed an increase of bacteriophages with concomitant decrease in bacteria due to culture clearance, where the readings of the turbidity for the first and second infection showed statistical significant light transmission among E. coli phage samples due to placing of sample collections as follows: from the anaerobic and facultative ponds P>0.05, facultative and maturation P<0.05 and anaerobic and maturation P>0.05., whilst the S. aureus phage samples’ light transmission from the anaerobic and facultative P<0.05, facultative and maturation P<0.05 and anaerobic and maturation P>0.05. On solid media, the affection of the bacteriophage was recognised by the phage plaque formation on bacterial cultures. The linear equations of phage densities and distributions according to their wavelength were y = 0.0008x + 0.0303 for E. coli phage and y = -0.0102x + 0.2438 for S. aureus phage.
This study concluded that phages are naturally present, where their hosts are present, and naturally destroyed bacteria which aided recovery from a polluted environment.
Keywords: Bacteriophage/ Escherichia coli/ General viable count / Light transmission/ Linear equations/ Stabilisation Station /Staphylococcus aureus/.
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Risk Assessment of Local Belacan (Shrimp Paste) Intake
More LessAbstractShrimp paste is one of the staple food condiments in Malaysia. This research was conducted to evaluate the mutagenic activity of local shrimp paste, and to estimate the actual intake among the Malaysian population. Two types of shrimp paste, produced from a factory and small scale industry (SSI), were sampled from Melaka, Malaysia and extracted with aqueous and methanol solvent. Ames Test was used to determine the mutagenicity potential of shrimp paste using Salmonella thyphimurium TA98 and TA100 bacterial strains.
There were mutagenic activities in methanol extracts of shrimp paste from SSI at 25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml without the presence of metabolic activator S9 in TA98 strain. In the presence of metabolic activation, the same extract showed mutagenicity response at 50 mg/ml in TA 98 strain. a Semi Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to evaluate the actual intake of shrimp paste among the population using multistage random sampling. The mean daily intake of shrimp paste was 1.41±0.27 g/day. Heavy metal analyses were also determined by ICP-MS. Arsenic (As) and Lead (Pb) were found to exceed the limit of Malaysian Food Act 1983 and Food Regulation 1985 (As from factory = 8.69±1.67 mg/kg, As from SSI = 12.14±2.32 mg/kg, Pb from SSI = 10.23±1.12 mg/kg).
From this study, it has been observed that the daily intakes of As, Pb, Cd and Hg in shrimp paste is much lower than the provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWI) given by FAO/WHO and could not be considered harmful to the population. The outcome of this research can be used as baseline data for the safe intake of shrimp paste as a daily condiment in Malaysia.
Keywords: Shrimp paste / Mutagenicity / Daily intake / Heavy metal / Risk assessment. .
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Proteomics Reveals the Adverse Effects of Methyl Mercury
More LessAbstractMercury may occur naturally in the environment (mineral deposits, volcanoes, forest fires, oceanic emission, and crust degassing), or be released by human activities such as mining, mineral processing, chloroalkali production, and combustion of fossil fuels. The inorganic mercury species could be methylated in the aquatic environment. Methyl mercury (MeHg) is the most abundant and also the most toxic form of mercury in the environment. Methyl mercury is also the only mercury compound that is bioaccumulated and biomagnified in the food chain. Beluga (Huso huso) is a critically endangered sturgeon fish species that is carnivorous and feeds on benthic and pelagic fish. Because of its feeding habits, Beluga is at risk of bioaccumulating environmental contaminants. It has been reported that Beluga shows a higher concentration of mercury than other sturgeon in the Caspian Sea. In order to obtain a preliminary scope of the MeHg toxicity at the molecular level, we used a proteomics approach to analyze the changes in the brain proteome of beluga exposed to dietary MeHg. The juvenile Beluga were fed a diet containing 0.8 ppm MeHg for 70 days. Proteins of the brain tissue were analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. MeHg caused a differential expression of brain tissue proteins including glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, β-tubulin, aldo/keto reductase, calmodulin, keratin 8, 70-kDa heat shock protein, aconitase, and hydrolase. These proteins are involved in metabolism, protein folding, cell division, and signal transduction in the cell.
Our results support the idea that MeHg exerts its toxicity through oxidative stress induction and apoptotic effects. They also suggest that chronic MeHg exposure would induce an important metabolic deficiency in the brain. These findings provide basic information to understand possible mechanisms of MeHg toxicity in aquatic ecosystems.
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Lead and Cadmium Occurrence in Placenta and Associated Factors in Guiyu, China
By Shaoshan QiuAbstractToxic heavy metals are released into the environment constantly from unregulated electronic waste (e-waste) recycling in Guiyu, China, and therefore may contribute to the elevation of cadmium and other heavy metal levels in the placenta. The concentrations of heavy metals, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), in human placenta from Guiyu were compared with those from a control area where no e-waste processing occurs. A total of two hundred and eighty-one placentas were collected from Guiyu (n=199) and the control area (n=82). Heavy metal concentrations were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Factors associated with high exposure were analyzed using Spearman Correlation Analyses. Placental cadmium (PCCd ) from Guiyu ranged from 14.21 to 376.80 ng/g with a median of 96.56 ng/g, whereas PCCd from the control area ranged from 9.71 to 51.74 ng/g with a median of 21.15 ng/g (P<0.001). No significant difference was found in placental lead (PCPb) levels between the two groups. Compared with control, the neonatal birth weight in Guiyu was significantly decreased (mean 3.15±0.03 vs 3.32±0.05, P<0.001). Spearman correlation analyses showed that the placental cadmium level showed a correlation with whether the house was used as workshop or not, the type of fuel for cooking, and milk product consumption during pregnancy. Environmental pollution, resulted from unregulated e-waste recycling activities, may contribute to elevated PCCd in neonates born in Guiyu and thus threaten their health status.
Key Words: E-waste / Placenta / Cadmium / Lead / Neonate
Shaoshan Qiu, Xia Huo, Bin Li, Junxiao Liu, Yekeen Taofeek Akangbe, Yuling Zhang, Xijin Xu
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Cytogenetic Biomonitoring of Peripheral Blood and Oral Mucosa Cells from Car Painters
By Victor SilvaAbstractThe aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate genomic damage and cellular death in exfoliated oral mucosa cells and peripheral blood from car painters. A total of 24 car painters and 19 health controls (non-exposed individuals) were included in this setting. Individuals had epithelial cells from cheek mucosa (left and right side) mechanically exfoliated, placed in fixative and dropped in clean slides which were checked for the above nuclear phenotypes. A total of 5uL from peripheral blood was collected for the single cell gel (comet) assay. The results pointed out significant statistical differences (p<0.05) of micronucleated oral mucosa cells from car painters. In addition, DNA damage was detected in peripheral blood cells by single cell gel (comet) assay. Nevertheless, exposure to car paints did not cause an increase in other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity such as karrhyorexis, pyknosis and karyolysis in buccal mucosa cells.
In summary, the results of the present study suggest that car painters comprise a high risk group as paints can induce genotoxic and mutagenic effects in peripheral blood and oral mucosa cells, respectively.
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Utilizing Hormonal Effects on Intracellular Calcium to Enhance Cisplatin Anti-Cancer Actions on MCF-7 Cells
More LessAbstractWe aim to improve Cisplatin Cancer Efficacy. Cisplatin was applied to MCF7 cells pre-incubated with menstrual hormones. Intracellular calcium was measured with fluorescence microscopy and was associated with reduced cell survival in contrast to Cisplatin application only. Syncing Cisplatin administration and menstrual cycle can enhance treatment.
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Intracellular Calcium Modulators Modulate Cisplatin-Induced Calcium Elevation in Human Breast Cancer Cells (MCF-7)
More LessAbstractCisplatin (CDDP) changes intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in various cell lines, while elevated [Ca2+]i induces apoptosis. We have previously shown that CDDP could elevate [Ca2+]i in MCF-7 cells. Here we investigate the source of [Ca2+]i by modulating calcium channels and transport mechanisms. Changes in the [Ca2+]i were recorded using florescence microscopy and the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fluo-4. CDDP (0.001 – 0.1 µM) and [Ca2+]i modulators, (caffeine; 10mM, nimodipine; 10M, ionomycin; 10µM, thapsigargin; 500nM, and 2-APB; 50µM) were administered to cultured MCF-7 cells via a bath perfusion system. Cytotoxicity tests were performed using MTS and FACS assays at CDDP 100pM - 10mM. Viability tests were done following 24h incubation with CDDP. CDDP induced a concentration-dependent increase of [Ca2+]i. A concentration of CDDP 0.1µM triggered the largest elevation of [Ca2+]i with a 120 percent increase (n=19). Pre-application of the calcium channel blocker, nimodipine reduced this elevation significantly (46.6 percent increase; n=26) as well as the IP3 receptor blocker 2-APB (71.4% increase; n=52). Surprisingly, when [Ca2+]i was elevated due to a pre-application of caffeine (either ionomycin or thapsigargin), the subsequent application of CDDP was also significantly reduced compared to control conditions (n=15; 37.8 percent, n=32; 34.9 percent, n=21; 53.7 percent increase respectively). CDDP concentration dependently elevates [Ca2+]i by Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ release from the stores. The pre-elevation of [Ca2+]i, through releasing Ca2+ from the stores, reduces this elevation significantly. The exact mechanisms remain unclear and further investigations are required to determine the mechanisms and pathways that are involved in the elevation of [Ca2+]i.
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Limitations in Small Artisanal Gold Mining Addressed by Educational Components Paired with Alternative Mining Methods
More LessAbstractCurrent solutions continue to be inadequate in addressing the longstanding, worldwide problem of mercury emissions from small artisanal gold mining. Mercury, an inexpensive and easily accessible heavy metal, is used in the process of extracting gold from ore. Mercury emissions disperse, affecting human populations by causing adverse health effects and environmental and social ramifications. Many developing nations have sizable gold ore deposits, making small artisanal gold mining a major source of employment in the world. Poverty drives vulnerable, rural populations into gold mining because of social and economic instabilities. Educational programs responding to this environmental hazard have been implemented in the past, but have had low positive results due to lack of governmental support and little economic incentive. Educational and enforced intervention programs must be developed in conjunction with governmental agencies in order to successfully eliminate this ongoing problem. Industry leaders offered hopeful suggestions, but revealed limitations when trying to develop encompassing solutions to halt mercury emissions. This research highlights potential options that have been attempted in the past and suggests alternative solutions to improve upon these methods. Some methods include buyer impact recognition, risk assessment proposals exposing a cost-benefit analysis and toxicokinetic modeling, public health awareness campaigns, and the education of miners, healthcare workers, and locals within hazardous areas of mercury exposure. These methods, paired with the implementation of alternative mining techniques, propose a substantial reduction of mercury emissions.
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An Alternative Mechanism for Melatonin’s Protective Effects on Metal Ion Toxicity – Modulation of pro-/anti-apoptotic Proteins
More LessAbstractOur objective was: Does Melatonin protect against cisplatin (Pt(II)) toxicity by a mechanism that is not free radical based? We used, flow cytometry, cell-viability, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence, to determine the following: Cisplatin induced apoptosis is reversed by melatonin at physiological concentrations by localization of Bcl-2 and down regulation of Bax, besides reduction of oxidative stress.
Vignesh Shanmugam*, Amro Wafi, Elizabeth Varghese and Dietrich Büsselberg, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar
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Genetics of Dyslipidemias and the Role of the ApoE Arg145Cys Mutation in African-derived Populations
More LessAbstractDyslipidemia is a complex phenotype that depends on gene-environment interactions to be manifested. Deleterious mutations in proteins of the lipid transport pathway are expected to contribute to dyslipidemias. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a protein component of blood lipid particles, plays an important role in lipid transport and delivery. Single polymorphisms in residues 112 and 158 define the common E2, E3 and E4 alleles. In a study of Qataris, we observed that 17.4 percent of the African-derived genetic subgroup were heterozygotes for the rare Arg145Cys (R145C) variant that functions as a dominant trait with incomplete penetrance associated with dyslipidemia. Based on this, we hypothesized that the R145C polymorphism may be common in African-derived populations. The prevalence of the R145C variant worldwide was assessed in the 1000 Genomes Project (1000G) and then in 1012 Caucasians and 1226 African-Americans in New York City. Lipid profiles of the Qatari and New York R145C+ heterozygotes were compared to controls. R145C+ Qatari heterozygotes had higher triglyceride levels compared to Qatari controls (p<0.007). The 1000Gs data demonstrated that the R145C polymorphism is rare in non-African derived populations, but present in 4.9-12.3 percent of sub-Saharan African-derived populations. The R145C polymorphism was rare in New York City Caucasians (1/1012, 0.1%), but strikingly, 53 (4.3 percent) of 1,226 New York City African-Americans were R145C+ heterozygotes, with an average of 52 percent higher fasting triglyceride levels compared to African-American R145C- controls (p<0.002).
Based on these observations, there are likely to be millions of people worldwide derived from sub-Saharan Africans that are ApoE R145C+. While larger epidemiologic studies will be necessary to determine the long-term consequences of this polymorphism and the environmental and genetic factors contributing to severe manifestation of dyslipidemia in a subset of carriers, the available evidence suggests it is a common cause of triglyceride dyslipidemia.
Maen D. Abou Ziki, Yael Strulovici-Barel, Neil R. Hackett, Juan L. Rodriguez-Flores, Jason G. Mezey, Jacqueline Salit, Sharon Radisch, Charleen Hollmann, Lotfi Chouchane, Joel Malek, Mahmoud A. Zirie, Amin Jayyuosi, Antonio M. Gotto, Jr, and Ronald G. Crystal
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Lactase Persistence Variants as Markers to Study Human Demographic Movements in the Light of Animal Domestication and Milk Culture
More LessAbstractPersistence or non-persistence of lactase expression into adult life is a polymorphic trait that has been attributed to a single nucleotide polymorphism (-13910 C>T) in an enhancer element 13.9 kb upstream of the lactase gene (LCT). Recent studies have demonstrated that lactase persistence (LP) variants -13910*T and -13915*G have emerged from different allelic backgrounds and occur at very high frequencies in different populations. Iranian and Arabian populations have been reported to differ significantly in genetic patterns at these LP variants. The Arabian population is characterized by a 50-60 percent frequency of a -13915*G allele, attributable to its consumption of camel milk. This allele has not been detected so far among the Iranian population which, on the contrary, is similar to the European and Near Eastern populations showing a moderate frequency of -13910*T allele, which occurs at a significantly lower frequency in Arabia. In this background, we intended to determine the putative genetic source for the Indian Muslim population as mtDNA and Y chromosomal markers showed relatively low levels of genetic differentiation between their two potential sources of origin, Iran and Arabia. We sequenced for a 400 bp fragment around -13910 region of the LCT gene in 747 individuals from different regions of India. The variant -13910*T was widely observed in both Indian Muslim (Indian Shia-10 percent Indian Sunni-10 percent Dawoodi Bohra (TN)-14 percent, Dawoodi Bohra (GUJ)-11 percent, Mappla-2 percent, Iranian Shia-4 percent), and non-Muslim populations (North India-19 percent, West India-23 percent, South India-10 percent). The Iranian population also exhibited the same mutation with 10 percent frequency. The Arabian-specific -13915*G variant was completely absent from the Indian population, yet at the same position a new -13915*C variant (Mappla-1percent and South India-1 percent), likely to be an Indian-specific mutation was observed. The wide spread of the LP variant -13910*T among the Indian Muslim populations examined excludes the possibility of major genetic input from Arabia and corroborates the gene flow primarily from Iran, rather than directly from the Arabian Peninsula. Thus, the LCT gene correlating with LP in humans reveals the convergent evolution of the LP in diverse populations, most probably reflecting different histories of adaptation to milk culture and cattle domestication.
Muthukrishnan Eaaswarkhanth, Irene Gallego Romero, Toomas Kivisild, Kumarasamy Thangaraj
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Towards On-The-Spot Analysis: Population Proteomics of European Hake
More LessAbstractNumerous leaders in fisheries science highlight the need for improved governance of our oceans, especially in relation to Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) activities. The global impact of the ongoing and relentless loss of fish biomass, biodiversity and fisheries income adds, not only considerable uncertainty to our forecasts of sustainability, but also there are concomitant threats to ecosystem function, food security and the economic and social viability of fishing communities. In this context, population proteomics is becoming a powerful tool enabling the study of the population structures and functional adaptations to environment from human settlement to animal natural populations. A proteome scan approach based on two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) technology has been applied to generated thousands of protein markers that allow the identification of different hake (Merluccius merluccius) population, a species of most important interest to fisheries and human consumption. Based on quantitative differential analysis of hake populations, several protein markers were selected that reliably assigned individuals to the populations of origin. These new methods have the potential to complement, and in some cases, even supplement more established approaches, as they rapidly respond to the environment where the fish was living just prior to capture, and therefore provide information on geographic origin, etc.
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Constraints of Efficient Waterborne Disease in Sudan with Special Emphasis on Malaria
More LessAbstractThe shortcomings in water quality and sanitation in Sudan are directly reflected in the incidence of waterborne diseases, which make up to 80 percent of reported diseases in the country. The incidence of disease is highly seasonal: the greatest problem usually occurred at the start of the wet season as the rains and runoff mobilize the faecal matter and pollutants that have accumulated during the dry season. Apart from the routine waterborne illness such as cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A and a range of parasitic infections like schistosomiasis, a number of tropical diseases including malaria, sleeping sickness, river blindness etc are prevailing in Sudan. This paper aims to identify the factors responsible for inefficient control of waterborne diseases in Sudan with special emphasis on malaria in Sudan ie factors other than diagnosis and medication. The methodology adopted was very simple and straightforward based on the fact that, irrespective of the improvement in diagnosis and treatment of waterborne diseases, 80 percent of reported diseases in Sudan were diseases transmitted by water. These factors were identified and analyzed using network analysis which is one of the most famous environmental impact assessment (EIA) methods. It uses a cause and effect relationship to link different factors and helps to identify primary, secondary, and tertiary impacts the inefficient control of malaria resulted from natural, as well as, man-made factors. Natural (environmental) factors include climate, topography, soil type, and vegetation. While the most important factors among the man-made group includes: ill-planning, irrelevant land use, conflicts and displacement, irrational expansion of settlements, poor environmental awareness, inefficient liquid waste management, leakage of domestic water supply networks and poor infrastructure etc. The main conclusion is that medical treatment is not the sole factor for the efficient control of the incidence of malaria disease in Sudan. Natural and man-made factors should be accompanied by the eradication or reducuction of the negative health impacts of the prevalence of malaria disease. Efficient control of malaria can be achieved through the improvement and regular maintenance of domestic water supply networks, by upgrading wastewater treatment plants, raising awareness, and adopting measures that reduce the accumulation of stagnant water.
Keywords: Waterborne diseases / Malaria / Environmental impact assessment / Wastewater treatment plants.
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Lifestyle and Air Pollution: The use of Domestic Generators in an African City
By Ahmad YahyaAbstractAir is doubtlessly a basic necessity without which no living being can survive. The sole function of the breathing mechanism in human beings is the taking in of needed air (oxygen) and pushing out unneeded air (carbon dioxide). The need for clean and unpolluted air should therefore not be over-emphasized. With the debut of modern technology, man-made air pollution is gradually becoming a dominant trend. Human-induced carbon monoxide emission is posing a chronic threat to the well-being of, not only humankind, but the entire flora and fauna worlds. One of the chief sources of this dangerous substance in developing countries, particularly Africa, is domestic generators. This paper looks at the lifestyle of people in the Nigerian city of Kano, an arid zone, with a view to determining the extent to which they are attached to domestic generators, and the resultant carbon monoxide emission. Randomly sampling residences in Kano Metropolis, the paper attempts to find out the number of those who use domestic generators, the frequency of their use, the average number of hours for which these generators are working and, if possible, the amount of carbon monoxide emitted within this timeframe along with the level to which this pollutes the air, and the consequent health hazards that this entails. The paper discovered that the number of residents in Kano Metropolis who own, and constantly use domestic generators, exceeds that of those who do not. The paper also found out that the aspects of lifestyles which strongly attached them to the constant use of domestic generators include: organized feasts, lighting mosques, schools and Majalis, voluntarily lighting streets and neighbouring houses, and working within residential areas. The paper also discovered that most of the generators are in operation for longer, and their combined emitted carbon monoxide is highly voluminous which can substantially cause health hazards by polluting the air. The paper concludes that lifestyle plays a significant role in air pollution as reflected in Kano Metropolis and there is therefore the need for moderation and regulation to eschew this menace.
Keywords: Lifestyle / Africa / Kano / Generators / Pollution
Ahmad Yahya, Department Of Islamic Studies, Federal College Of Education, Pmb 3045, Kano, Nigeria
EMail: [email protected]
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