Dragana Obreht

Phages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: response to environmental factors and in vitro ability to inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation

Aims:  To examine effects of various environmental factors on adsorption and inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa‐specific phages: δ (family Podoviridae), J‐1, σ‐1 and 001A (family Siphoviridae) and their ability to inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation.

Isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa specific phages with broad activity spectra.

The aim of the study was to screen various kinds of samples for Pseudomonasaeruginosa specific phages and to isolate and partially characterize those with broad activity spectra. The Pseudomonas specific phages were isolated using an enrichment procedure with single strains or the cocktail of P. aeruginosa strains as hosts. Using the described procedure, phages were successfully isolated only from water samples, while in soil and feces no Pseudomonas specific phages were detected. The lytic spectra of isolated phages were determined by spot method on lawns of 33 P. aeruginosa strains and five species belonging to family Enterobacteriaceae. The results showed that among isolated phages, 001A, δ, and I possessed the broad activity spectra, as were able to plaque on more than 50% of tested P. aeruginosa strains, while none of the phages were able to lyse the other tested species. Significant differences in phage activity spectra were not observed when P. aeruginosa cocktail was applied for sample enrichment. The most of the phages examined by electron microscopy belonged to family Siphoviridae, while the broad activity spectra isolates, except for 001A, possessed morphological characteristics of family Podoviridae. Digested DNA of the phages δ and I showed similar patterns, indicating the prevalence and success of this phage type in the environment.

Different associations of apoE gene polymorphism with metabolic syndrome in the Vojvodina Province (Serbia)

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a polygenic multifactorial metabolic disorder with strong socioeconomic influence. MetS has became a worldwide epidemic, that directly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The human apoE gene, coding Apolipoprotein E, has three common polymorphisms in human population: e2, e3 and e4, which are proved to be associated with impaired lipid metabolism. The contribution of apoE polymorphism to MetS disorders has not been investigated previously in Vojvodina Province, region with the highest number of obese people in Serbia. The aim of this study was to evaluate apoE gene polymorphism in relation to MetS disorders. The healthy control group of 30 individuals and 63 MetS patients were examined for apoE variants in relation to biochemical and anthropometric parameters. The genotypes were determined by PCR–RFLP. Regarding all parameters, significantly higher values were detected in MetS group compared to control. The MetS group of patients had significantly higher frequency of e4 allele. In addition, positive relation was revealed between e4 allele presence and all measured parameters. It was found that the e4 allele was related with a significantly increased OR of MetS disorders according to the International Diabetes Federation definition. These results suggested that e4 allele may act as a one of determinants for development of metabolic syndrome.

Polymorphism of mtDNA regions in brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations from Vojvodina (Serbia and Montenegro)

It is well known that there is heterogeneity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within and among natural populations of same species. The polymorphism level of particular regions of mtDNA gives valuable results in detection of population genetic structure. The aim of this paper was to detect polymorphism of three mtDNA regions: cytochrome oxidase I (COI), Control region, and 12S/16S rRNA, by the mtDNA RFLP-PCR method, in three Lepus europaeus populations from Vojvodina province (Serbia and Montenegro). Polymorphism was detected within the two regions, COI and Control region, while 12S/16S rRNA region was monomorphic in all 77 individuals. Eight haplotypes were detected in the brown hare population in Vojvodina, and three were unique for the Srem brown hare population.

Genetic variability in brown hare (Lepus europeaus) populations in Yugoslavia

SummaryGenetic allozyme variability of brown hare populations in Vojvodina (Yugoslavia) was analyzed. Analyses were done by the method of polyacrylamide gel eleclrophoresis. The screening for the nine enzyme systems represented by 17 presumptive structural loci revealed polymorphism only inMdh-2, Idh-2, Pgd-2, Pgd-3, Pgm-2, Est- 1 andEst-2. The value of average heterozygosity (H) was 0.07, while that of polymorphism (P) 23.53. Neis values of genetic identity (1) ranged from 0.95 to 0.99. Apart from relatively high polymorphism and heterozygosity values, level of genetic identity was normal for the level of different local populations.ZusammenfassungDie genetische Allozym-Variabilität von Feldhasen-Populalionen in Jugoslawien wurde untersucht. Zur Analyse wurde die Polyacrylamid-Gel Elektrophorese benutzt. Die Überprüfung der 9 Enzymsysteme repräsentiert durch 17 vermutete Loci von Strukturgenen zeigten nur Polymorphismen in Mdh-2, Idh-2, Pgd-2, Pgd-3, Pgm-2, Est-1 Est-2. Der durchschnittliche Heterozygotiegrad (H) betrug 0,07, der für Polymorphic (P) war 23,53. Neis Werle für genetische Identität (I) lag zwischen 0,95–0,99. Abgesehen von relativ hohen Werten für Polymorphic und Heterozygotie war das Ausma\ der genetischen Identität für die verschiedenen lokalen Populationen normal.

Allozyme diversity in pheasants (Phasianus spp.) from breeding stations in Serbia

The pheasant breeds are widely used for restocking of natural populations depleted by hunting. The pheasant population number decline was detected during the 1970s in many hunting areas of Europe. One of its possible reasons might be the loss of adaptability in populations originating from breeding stations, which was caused by inbreeding depression. The aim of this paper was the analysis of genetic variability in pheasant populations from three breeding stations in Vojvodina province (Serbia) by means of allozyme diversity detection. The allozyme variability analysis of pheasants from all three breeding stations revealed polymorphisms at nine loci: Ldh-1, Mor-1, Mor-2, Es-1, Mod-2, Pgd, Gpi-2, Odh, and Sod. The analysis of individuals from three different breeding stations showed mean values of observed heterozygosity of Ho=0.137, polymorphism P95%=30%, and H/P ratio H/P=0.430, which indicate a normal level of genetic variability for bird populations. Comparative analysis of three pheasant populations showed a high level of interpopulation differentiation.

Tracking footprints of selection associated with soybean adaptation to Central-East Europe environments

The identification of genomic regions affected by phenotypic selection during breeding is important for elucidating the genetic basis of complex traits underlying adaptation to a specific target environment. This study investigated the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) adaptation in Central-East European environments by a hitchhiking mapping approach and pedigree analysis. Population genetic principles were applied to microsatellite markers using multiple outlier detection tests. The analyzed populations comprised ancestral and elite varieties. Genetic diversity parameters showed significant differences between the populations. Eight markers were considered as strong positive selection candidate loci, indicating regions involved in the adaptation. Bottleneck tests provided no evidence of population bottlenecks for the candidate positive selection loci, suggesting that selection might shaped the pattern of genetic diversity in these regions. Co-localisation of the candidate positive selection loci and previously mapped quantitative trait loci (QTLs) revealed a high level of agreement between the identified QTLs and the traits expected to be under selection during soybean breeding. The identification and differentiation of selectively important QTLs have practical importance for future breeding programs, aiming at developing varieties for a specific target environment.

A successful transition to sulfonylurea treatment in male infant with neonatal diabetes caused by the novel abcc8 gene mutation and three years follow-up

Neonatal diabetes mellitus is a rare monogenic disease with incidence of 1/90,000 newborns. A case of two months aged male infant with life threatening diabetic ketoacidosis is presented with novel ABCC8 gene mutation (p.F577L), successful transition from insulin to sulfonylurea and follow-up of three years.