Baby hamster kidney-21 (BHK-21) cells are widely used to propagate and study many animal viruses using infection and transfection techniques. Among various BHK-21 cell clones, the fibroblast-like BHK-21/C-13 line and the epithelial-like BHK-21/WI-2 line are commonly used cell clones for alphavirus research. Here we report that BHK-21/WI-2 cells were significantly less susceptible to primary infection by the alphavirus chikungunya virus (CHIKV) than were BHK-21/C-13 cells. The electroporation efficiency of alphavirus RNA into BHK-21/WI-2 was also lower than that of BHK-21/C-13. The growth of CHIKV was decreased in BHK-21/WI-2 compared to BHK-21/C-13, while primary infection and growth of the alphavirus Sindbis virus (SINV) were equivalent in the two cell lines. Our results suggested that CHIKV entry could be compromised in BHK-21/WI-2. Indeed, we found that the mRNA level of the CHIKV receptor MXRA8 in BHK-21/WI-2 cells was much lower than that in BHK-21/C-13 cells, and exogenous expression of either human MXRA8 or hamster MXRA8 rescued CHIKV infection. Our results affirm the importance of the MXRA8 receptor for CHIKV infection, and document differences in its expression in two clonal cell lines derived from the original BHK-21 cell cultures. Our results also indicate that CHIKV propagation and entry studies in BHK-21 cells will be significantly more efficient in BHK-21/C-13 than in BHK-21/WI-2 cells.CC17 Streptococcus agalactiae carrying group-A prophages is increasingly responsible for neonatal infections. To investigate the impact of the genetic features of a group-A prophage, we first conducted an in silico analysis of the genome of 12/111phiA, a group-A prophage carried by a strain responsible for a bloodstream infection in a parturient. This revealed a Restriction Modification system, suggesting a prophage maintenance strategy and five ORFs of interest for the host and encoding a type II toxin antitoxin system RelB/YafQ, an endonuclease, an S-adenosylmethionine synthetase MetK, and an StrP-like adhesin. Using the WT strain cured from 12/111phiA and constructing deleted mutants for the ORFs of interest, and their complemented mutants, we demonstrated an impact of prophage features on growth characteristics, cell morphology and biofilm formation. Our findings argue in favor of 12/111phiA domestication by the host and a role of prophage features in cell autoaggregation, glycocalyx and biofilm formation. We suggest that lysogeny may promote GBS adaptation to the acid environment of the vagina, consequently colonizing and infecting neonates.The aim of this study was to characterize the turning phase during a modified 505 test. Forty collegiate basketball students, divided into faster and slower performers and high-playing-level and low-playing-level groups, were evaluated for the force-time characteristics (braking and/or propulsive phase) of the penultimate foot contact (PFC), final foot contact (FFC), and first accelerating foot contact (AFC), and for completion time and approach velocity. Based on the composition of the AFC, trials were classified as braking/propulsive or only propulsive. Regression analysis for the prediction of completion time was performed. The AFC contributed to reacceleration through shorter contact times and step length, and lower braking force production (p less then 0.05). Faster performers and the high-playing-level group demonstrated (p less then 0.05) lower completion times, higher approach velocities, longer steps length in the PFC and FFC, greater braking forces and impulses in the PFC; greater braking and propulsive forces, braking impulses, lower contact times in the FFC; greater braking and propulsive horizontal forces, horizontal impulses, lower contact times and vertical impulses in the AFC. Kinetic variables from only the FFC and AFC and approach velocity predicted 75% (braking/propulsive trials) and 76.2% (only-propulsive trials) of completion times. The characterization of the turning phase demonstrated the specific contribution of each foot contact and the possible implications for training prescription.Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is associated with substantial clinical implications, including a wide range of organs such as the brain, kidneys, lungs, heart, and many others. I/R injury (IRI) occurs due to the tissue injury following the reestablishment of blood supply to ischemic tissues, leading to enhanced aseptic inflammation and stimulation of oxidative stress via reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). selleck kinase inhibitor Since ROS causes membrane lipids’ peroxidation, triggers loss of membrane integrity, denaturation of proteins, DNA damage, and cell death, oxidative stress plays a critical part in I/R pathogenesis. Therefore, ROS regulation could be a promising therapeutic strategy for IRI. In this context, Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of several factors involved in the cellular defense against oxidative stress and inflammation, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Numerous studies have shown the potential role of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in IRI; thus, we will review the molecular aspects of Nrf2/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway in I/R, and we will also highlight the recent insights into targeting this pathway as a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing IRI.Marine sponges are an excellent source of biologically active secondary metabolites. We focus on deep-sea sponges for our discovery study. A marine sponge Cladocroce sp. exhibited cytotoxic activity in the bioactivity screening. From this sponge a previously unreported cytotoxic glycosphingolipid, calyxoside B, was isolated and the structure of this compound was elucidated by analyses of MS and NMR spectra and chemical derivatization. We converted the ketone in the middle of a long aliphatic chain into an oxime to which was applied Beckmann rearrangement to afford two positional isomers of amides. The products were subjected to acidic hydrolysis followed by LC-MS analysis, permitting us to assign unequivocally the position of the ketone. Calyxoside B shows cytotoxicity against HeLa cells with an IC50 value of 31 µM and also weakly stimulated the production of cytokines in mice.