Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. Nucleic Acids Res. 2023 May 22;51(9):4148-4177. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkad252.

Stable bulged G-quadruplexes in the human genome: identification, experimental 
validation and functionalization.

Papp C(1), Mukundan VT(2), Jenjaroenpun P(3)(4), Winnerdy FR(2), Ow GS(4), Phan 
AT(2)(5), Kuznetsov VA(1)(4).

Author information:
(1)Department of Urology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY 
Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
(2)School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological 
University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
(3)Division of Bioinformatics and Data Management for Research, Research Group 
and Research Network Division, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj 
Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
(4)Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR Biomedical Institutes, Singapore, Singapore.
(5)NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological University, 
Singapore 636921, Singapore.

DNA sequence composition determines the topology and stability of G-quadruplexes 
(G4s). Bulged G-quadruplex structures (G4-Bs) are a subset of G4s characterized 
by 3D conformations with bulges. Current search algorithms fail to capture 
stable G4-B, making their genome-wide study infeasible. Here, we introduced a 
large family of computationally defined and experimentally verified potential 
G4-B forming sequences (pG4-BS). We found 478 263 pG4-BS regions that do not 
overlap 'canonical' G4-forming sequences in the human genome and are 
preferentially localized in transcription regulatory regions including R-loops 
and open chromatin. Over 90% of protein-coding genes contain pG4-BS in their 
promoter or gene body. We observed generally higher pG4-BS content in R-loops 
and their flanks, longer genes that are associated with brain tissue, immune and 
developmental processes. Also, the presence of pG4-BS on both template and 
non-template strands in promoters is associated with oncogenesis, cardiovascular 
disease and stemness. Our G4-BS models predicted G4-forming ability in vitro 
with 91.5% accuracy. Analysis of G4-seq and CUT&Tag data strongly supports the 
existence of G4-BS conformations genome-wide. We reconstructed a novel G4-B 3D 
structure located in the E2F8 promoter. This study defines a large family of 
G4-like sequences, offering new insights into the essential biological functions 
and potential future therapeutic uses of G4-B.

© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic 
Acids Research.

DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad252
PMCID: PMC10201450
PMID: 37094040 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


2. Res Vet Sci. 2021 Nov;140:125-133. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.08.012. Epub 2021 
Aug 17.

Examination of the protective efficacy of two avian influenza H5 vaccines 
against clade 2.3.4.4b H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in 
commercial broilers.

El-Shall NA(1), Awad AM(2), Sedeik ME(2).

Author information:
(1)Department of Poultry and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 
Alexandria University, Alexandria, Abis 10, 21944, Egypt. Electronic address: 
nahed.abdelgawad@alexu.edu.eg.
(2)Department of Poultry and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 
Alexandria University, Alexandria, Abis 10, 21944, Egypt.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 virus of clade 2.3.4.4 was 
detected in 2017 in Egypt, which is one of the few countries using vaccination 
as a control strategy in poultry farms. This study was conducted to evaluate the 
efficacy of the commercial recombinant turkey herpes virus-H5 (rHVT-H5) vaccine 
(clade 2.2), alone or in combination with commercial inactivated reverse 
genetically engineered H5N1 vaccine (rgH5N1) (clade 2.2), in preventing the 
genetically distinct HPAI H5N8 virus of clade 2.3.4.4b in commercial broiler 
chickens. Four experimental groups of chickens were used as follows: G1, 
non-vaccinated and non-challenged; G2, non-vaccinated and challenged; G3, 
vaccinated with rHVT-H5; and G4, prime-boost vaccinated with rHVT-H5/rgH5N1. For 
challenge with the Egyptian HPAI H5N8 (2.3.4.4b) virus, the groups were divided 
into two subgroups (A and B); chickens in subgroups A were challenged at the age 
of 28 days, whereas those in subgroups B were challenged at the age of 35 days. 
Results showed that a protective efficacy (survival rate) of 40%-50% was 
obtained in the vaccinated subgroups A. By delaying challenge for 1 week 
(subgroups B), a single rHVT-H5 vaccination provided 80% protection, whereas 
prime-boost vaccination induced full protection and reduced viral shedding very 
efficiently (1/10 birds and only detected on the 3rd day post challenge) against 
HPAI H5N8 virus (2.3.4.4b). Moreover, body weight loss improved from 31.39% and 
43.65% in G3A and G4A, respectively, to 16.34% and 7.7% in G3B and G4B, 
respectively. The HI titers obtained in G3A and G4A on the challenge day (28th 
d) using H5N8 antigen were 3 and 3.75 log2 (p > 0.05), respectively, whereas 
those in G3B and G4B on the challenge day (35th d) were 6.25 and 6 log2 
(p > 0.05), respectively, which increased post-challenge in all vaccinated 
subgroups. Therefore, the dual use of vectored rHVT-H5 and inactivated rgH5N1 
vaccines in the vaccination schedule in poultry farms is the most efficient tool 
for preventing the disease (mortality and viral shedding) caused by the 
genetically distinct virus (clade 2.3.3.4b HPAI H5N8) in combination with strict 
biosecurity and sanitary measures.

Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.08.012
PMID: 34425414 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


3. Vet Res Commun. 2014 Sep;38(3):237-47. doi: 10.1007/s11259-014-9610-5. Epub
2014  Jul 5.

Consequence of Cryptosporidiosis on the immune response of vaccinated broiler 
chickens against Newcastle disease and/or avian influenza.

Eladl AH(1), Hamed HR, Khalil MR.

Author information:
(1)Department of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura 
University, Mansoura, Egypt, abdelfatahpo@yahoo.com.

The consequence of cryptosporidiosis on the immune response of vaccinated 
chickens against Newcastle disease and/or avian influenza was studied by using 
240, 1 day old, male, white Hy-Line chicks and divided into 8 groups and 
subgroups. Each group or subgroup was consisting of 30 chicks (15 × 2 
replicates). The first and second groups were kept as unvaccinated control, 
G1uninfected and G2 infected. G3, G4 and G5 contained 2 subgroups A&B (G3A, G3B, 
G4A, G4B, G5A and G5B). Chicks of subgroup A were vaccinated only while chicks 
of subgroup B were infected and vaccinated. These chicks were orally inoculated 
with 5 × 10(5) oocysts of Cryptosporidium baileyi (C. baileyi) at 2 days of age. 
Chickens were vaccinated intraocular with live Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine 
(Hitchner on day 7th and LaSota on day 17th of chicken life) (G3) or vaccinated 
by subcutaneous route with Volvac®- H5N2- AI vaccine on day 10 of chicken life 
(G4). Last group (G5) was infected similarly and vaccinated with ND and AI 
vaccines with the same day, dose and route of vaccination for each one. Random 
blood samples were collected for 3 weeks post-vaccination for investigation of 
humoral immune response against Newcastle and/or avian influenza vaccines by the 
haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. The results showed that H5N2 vaccine at 
day 10 of chicken life is effective in chickens indicated by the geometric mean 
of HI titer against AI virus. The findings of this study showed that the 
infection with Cryptosporidia in the broiler chicken has a depressive effect on 
the immune status of the birds vaccinated against ND and/or AI vaccination. 
Moreover, the obtained protection rates against challenge with virulent ND virus 
observed to be parallel to the results of HI- test. Also, by using 2 different 
antigens (one commercial and field prepared antigen) to avian influenza virus, 
lower Geometric mean (GM) HI titer were appeared in infected and vaccinated 
group than vaccinated group only. A study of the relative lymphoid organs weight 
such as bursa of Fabricius from the experimental chicks indicated that those 
organs were comparable between the groups infected-vaccinated and vaccinated 
only. Non significant variations in final live weight between uninfected control 
and infected groups were indicated. Also, H5N2-AI vaccination at 10 days old did 
not affect the final live weight. ND and/or AI Vaccination could not be a 
substitute to application of good hygienic measures and fecal examination of the 
birds especially for protozoal diseases such as cryptosporidiosis. It could be 
concluded that cryptosporidiosis could be one cause of ND and/or AI vaccination 
failure in poultry farms.

DOI: 10.1007/s11259-014-9610-5
PMID: 24993748 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


4. J Clin Neurosci. 2008 Jul;15(7):784-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2007.06.009. Epub 
2008 Apr 14.

Comparison of the effects of octreotide and melatonin in preventing nerve injury 
in rats with experimental spinal cord injury.

Erol FS(1), Kaplan M, Tiftikci M, Yakar H, Ozercan I, Ilhan N, Topsakal C.

Author information:
(1)Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig 
23200, Turkey. fserol@yahoo.com

In this study, we aimed to investigate the biochemical and histopathological 
protective effects of octreotide and melatonin in an experimental model of 
spinal cord injury. Fifty- six male albino Wistar rats were divided into four 
groups. Rats in the G1 group (n=7; control group) did not undergo any treatment 
except for anesthesia prior to being killed. Rats in the G2 group (n=7) 
underwent laminectomy and aneurysmal clip application at the T4-5 level. G3 
group rats (n=14) were either treated with a 7.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal dose of 
melatonin (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) immediately after laminectomy, then the 
same dose again on the day following injury (G3a), or given three equal doses 
over 10 days to achieve a total dose of 7.5 mg/kg/day (G3b). G4 group rats 
(n=14) were either treated with a 30microg/kg intraperitoneal dose of octreotide 
(Sandostatin; Novartis, Istanbul, Turkey) immediately after laminectomy, then 
the same dose again on the day following injury (G4a), or given three equal 
doses over 10 days to achieve a total dose of 30miocrog/kg/day (G4b). Rats in 
the G3 and G4 groups were sacrificed on days 1 and 10 after spinal cord injury 
(n=7 at each time point) and spinal cord samples were obtained. Tissue 
malonyldialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase 
(GSH-Px) levels were assayed. G3a, G3b and G4b had significantly lower levels of 
MDA than G2 (p<0.01). G3b had significantly higher SOD and GSH-Px levels than G2 
(p<0.01). Histopathologically, melatonin significantly reduced necrosis and 
degeneration in both the initial and late stages (p<0.01). Octreotide had 
significant effects on necrosis and degeneration during the late stages, and on 
edema and congestion in both the initial and the late stages of injury (p<0.01). 
Melatonin was found to be superior to octreotide with respect to the prevention 
of congestion, edema, axonal degeneration and necrosis.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2007.06.009
PMID: 18407497 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


5. Microbiol Immunol. 2001;45(2):167-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2001.tb01286.x.

Molecular characterization in the VP7, VP4 and NSP4 genes of human rotavirus 
serotype 4 (G4) isolated in Japan and Kenya.

Kudo S(1), Zhou Y, Cao XR, Yamanishi S, Nakata S, Ushijima H.

Author information:
(1)Department of Pediatrics, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

The VP7, VP4 and NSP4 genes of human rotavirus serotype 4 (G4) were analyzed to 
investigate intraserotypic variations. The techniques used included reverse 
transcription polymerase chain reaction with subtype specific primers, 
restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and sequence analysis. Twelve 
isolates (nine from Japan and three from Kenya) and two standard strains (Hochi, 
Odelia) were G4A P[8] Wa group NSP4. A standard strain (ST3) was G4A P[6] Wa 
group NSP4 and a strain (VA70) was G4B P[8] Wa group NSP4. These results show G4 
rotaviruses can be divided into three combinations at the moment.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2001.tb01286.x
PMID: 11293484 [Indexed for MEDLINE]