Climate determinants of breeding and wintering ranges of lesser kestrels in Italy and predicted impacts of climate change

Climate warming would theoretically create conditions for the breeding range expansion of pseudo‐steppe Mediterranean and long‐distance migrant species and provide the possibility for these to overwinter in the same breeding areas. However, contemporary changes in rainfall regimes might have negative effects on the climate suitability and in turn, shrink species potential range. The lesser kestrel Falco naumanni is highly sensitive to rainfall oscillations and has recently extended its Italian breeding range towards northern latitudes and increasing its wintering records. We modelled the effects of temperature and rainfall on current and future climate suitability for lesser kestrels in both the breeding and wintering periods by using MaxEnt. Models were based on the distribution of 298 colonies and 40 wintering records. Future climate suitability was assessed under eight different scenarios. Spring rainfall amount resulted as the main determinant of breeding climate suitability, so its predicted reduction will determine a shrinkage in suitable areas (–42.10% in 2050; –32.07% in 2070). Specifically, the 66.05% of Italian colonies will be outside the climatically suitable area by 2050. However wide areas, suitable under current climate conditions, are still not occupied by lesser kestrel and allow the potential expansion of its Italian breeding range in the short term. Temperature seasonality mainly determined the species’ winter climate suitability, which is overall predicted to boost in the next decades (+145.03% in 2050; and +123.91% in 2070). All but one future scenarios predicted a northward shift of about 40 km for both breeding and wintering climate suitability. Despite its recent expansion, we have found that climate change will pose conservation concerns for the Italian breeding population of lesser kestrels. Indeed, changes in non‐climate factors will also outline the future suitability of the Italian range for lesser kestrels in both seasons with effects that might both strengthen or mitigate climate effects.     

The process of thermodialysis in bioremediation of waters polluted by endocrine disruptors

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals able to induce adverse effects into wildlife and humans owing to their ability of interfering with the endocrine system. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been chosen as model of endocrine disruptors. To reduce the BPA pollution in waters we proposed the employment of the process of thermodialysis. Two different catalytic membranes have been prepared by covalently immobilizing laccase (from Trametes versicolor) by means of a diazotation process or tyrosinase (from mushroom) by condensation. The support was a nylon membrane. The bioremediation power of both catalytic membranes has been analysed under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions.The advantages in using non-isothermal bioreactors were discussed in terms of reduction of the bioremediation times.     

Analysis of the molecular variation between and within cultivated and wild Pistacia species using AFLPs

Knowledge of pistachio genetic diversity is necessary for the formulation of appropriate management strategies for the conservation of these species. We analysed amplified fragment length polymorphisms in a total of 216 pistachio accessions, which included seven populations from three wild species (Pistacia vera, Pistacia khinjuk and Pistacia atlantica subsp. kurdica) and most of the important cultivars from Iran, together with some foreign cultivars. High levels of genetic diversity were detected within the Iranian cultivars, and they showed a clear separation from foreign cultivars, as revealed by unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averaging and supported by analysis of molecular variance. The lowest amount of polymorphism was observed in P. atlantica subsp. kurdica, which showed the lowest number of total bands as compared to the other species. This revealed strong genetic erosion of P. atlantica subsp. kurdica, which reflected a severe decline in habitat and over-exploitation. Based on these findings, strategies are proposed for the genetic conservation and management of pistachio species and cultivars.     

The Importance of a Proper Aetiological Diagnosis in the Management of Patients with Invasive Mycoses: A Case Report of a Brain Abscess by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scedosporium apiospermum</Emphasis>

Scedosporium apiospermum is a saprobic fungus responsible for many different clinical manifestations. Although it affects mostly immunocompromised patients, pulmonary and disseminated scedosporiosis have also been reported in immunocompetent subjects. It often causes subcutaneous mycetoma, despite its preferential tropism to CNS. The authors describe a fatal case of a S. apiospermum brain abscess in a 58-year-old female. She was affected by chronic liver disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and had been treated with corticosteroid therapy for a long time. She recovered in a neurosurgery unit, wherein TC scan and cerebral MRI revealed an expansive left temporo-parietal process with vasogenic oedema. A stereotactic puncture of the lesion was carried out, and pus of brain abscess was evacuated. Empirical antifungal therapy was initiated with liposomal amphotericine B based on the clinical suspicion of Zygomycetes infection; after 3 days, posaconazole was added. The correct aetiological diagnosis arrived too late and the patient was treated with no specific therapy. This fatal case confirms the necessity of having a fast and correct aetiological diagnosis to improve the patient’s outcome.     

Compensatory expression and substrate inducibility of gamma-glutamyl transferase GGT2 isoform in Arabidopsis thaliana

γ-Glutamyl transferases (GGT; EC 2.3.2.2) are glutathione-degrading enzymes that are represented in Arabidopsis thaliana by a small gene family of four members. Two isoforms, GGT1 and GGT2, are apoplastic, sharing broad similarities in their amino acid sequences, but they are differently expressed in the tissues: GGT1 is expressed in roots, leaves, and siliques, while GGT2 was thought to be expressed only in siliques. It is demonstrated here that GGT2 is also expressed in wild-type roots, albeit in very small amounts. GGT2 expression is enhanced in ggt1 knockout mutants, suggesting a compensatory effect to restore GGT activity in the root apoplast. Supplementation with 100 μM glutathione (GSH) resulted in the up-regulation of GGT2 gene expression in wild-type and ggt1 knockout roots, and of GGT1 gene expression in wild-type roots. Glutathione recovery was hampered by the GGT inhibitor serine/borate, suggesting a major role for apoplastic GGTs in this process. These findings can explain the ability of ggt1 knockout mutants to retrieve exogenously added glutathione from the growth medium.     

Chronic ethanol treatment: dolichol and retinol distribution in isolated rat liver cells

The aim of this study was to use chronic ethanol intoxication for 2 and 4 months as a means of studying the distribution of dolichol and retinol in isolated rat liver parenchymal cells, Kupffer cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells, and two subfractions of hepatic stellate cells: Ito 1 and Ito 2. Dolichol and retinol were studied in two batches of rats: on normal nutrition and after a load of vitamin A given 3 d before sacrifice. New observations reported are: (i) on normal nutrition, after 2 months of treatment, dolichol in HC seems to be the first target of chronic ethanol, while retinol is the first target in hepatic stellate cells; (ii) the various types of liver cells are differently affected by chronic ethanol, which highlights the importance of studying each type of sinusoidal cell; (iii) a load of vitamin A given when the damage has already occurred restores dolichol content in HC while retinol decreases; and, (iv) a link between dolichol and vitamin A metabolism might be supposed after the load of vitamin A: the percentage distribution of dolichol with 18 isoprene units (Dolichol -18) increases in all the control cells but decreases after chronic ethanol treatment. A different role of this dolichol and/or a different compartmentalization within the cell need to be further investigated.     

Small hydroxyethylene-based peptidomimetics inhibiting both HIV-1 and C. albicans aspartic proteases

We have extended a highly flexible method for rapidly assembling aspartic protease inhibitors to produce symmetric and asymmetric monohydroxyethylene peptidomimetics. This method is based on the prior synthesis of the central non-cleavable peptide-bond isostere [NH(2)-P(1)psiP1'-NH(2); psi=hydroxyethylene isostere, HNCH(Bz)CHOHCH(2)CH(Bz)NH], with the possibility of accurately controlling its stereochemistry (S,S,S or S,R,S), and subsequently adding appropriate flanking units, chosen from commercially available amino acids, aromatic carboxylic acids, or phenoxyacetic acid (Poa) derivatives. The method was used to make asymmetric inhibitors of general formula Kyn-Xaa-PhepsiPhe-dmPoa, (Kyn=kynurenic acid, Xaa=Val, Thr or D-thienylglycine, M(r)=716-754) and symmetric inhibitors of formula xPoa-PhepsiPhe-xPoa (xPoa=Poa or dimethyl-, hydroxy-, formyl- or acetyl-Poa, M(r)=553-609), with logP(o/w) values ranging from 4.1 to 7.6. Inhibition of HIV-PR did not depend on the stereochemistry of the hydroxyl group, while it depended markedly on the substituents present on the Poa residues, with dmPoa being preferred over Poa or its more hydrophilic derivatives. Conversely, inhibition of Candida albicans Sap2 was higher for the S,S,S epimers, and Poa or its hydrophilic derivatives were preferred over dmPoa.     

T cell activation induces CuZn superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1 intracellular re-localization,production and secretion

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) behave as second messengers in signal transduction for a series of receptor/ligand interactions. A major regulatory role is played by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), more stable and able to freely diffuse through cell membranes. Copper–zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD)-1 is a cytosolic enzyme involved in scavenging oxygen radicals to H₂O₂ and molecular oxygen, thus representing a major cytosolic source of peroxides. Previous studies suggested that superoxide anion and H₂O₂ generation are involved in T cell receptor (TCR)-dependent signaling. Here, we describe that antigen-dependent activation of human T lymphocytes significantly increased extracellular SOD-1 levels in lymphocyte cultures. This effect was accompanied by the synthesis of SOD-1-specific mRNA and by the induction of microvesicle SOD-1 secretion. It is of note that SOD-1 increased its concentration specifically in T cell population, while no significant changes were observed in the “non-T” cell counterpart. Moreover, confocal microscopy showed that antigen-dependent activation was able to modify SOD-1 intracellular localization in T cells. Indeed, was observed a clear SOD-1 recruitment by TCR clusters. The ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibited this phenomenon. Further studies are needed to define whether SOD-1-dependent superoxide/peroxide balance is relevant for regulation of T cell activation, as well as in the functional cross talk between immune effectors.     

Diesterified Derivatives of 5-Iodo-2′-Deoxyuridine as Cerebral Tumor Tracers

With the aim to develop beneficial tracers for cerebral tumors, we tested two novel 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (IUdR) derivatives, diesterified at the deoxyribose residue. The substances were designed to enhance the uptake into brain tumor tissue and to prolong the availability in the organism. We synthesized carrier added 5-[¹²⁵I]iodo-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (Ac₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR), 5-[¹²⁵I]iodo-3′,5′-di-O-pivaloyl-2′-deoxyuridine (Piv₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR) and their respective precursor molecules for the first time. HPLC was used for purification and to determine the specific activities. The iodonucleoside tracer were tested for their stability against human thymidine phosphorylase. DNA integration of each tracer was determined in 2 glioma cell lines (Gl261, CRL2397) and in PC12 cells in vitro. In mice, we measured the relative biodistribution and the tracer uptake in grafted brain tumors. Ac₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR, Piv₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR and [¹²⁵I]IUdR (control) were prepared with labeling yields of 31–47% and radiochemical purities of >99% (HPLC). Both diesterified iodonucleoside tracers showed a nearly 100% resistance against degradation by thymidine phosphorylase. Ac₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR and Piv₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR were specifically integrated into the DNA of all tested tumor cell lines but to a less extend than the control [¹²⁵I]IUdR. In mice, 24 h after i.p. injection, brain radioactivity uptakes were in the following order Piv₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR>Ac₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR>[¹²⁵I]IUdR. For Ac₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR we detected lower amounts of radioactivities in the thyroid and stomach, suggesting a higher stability toward deiodination. In mice bearing unilateral graft-induced brain tumors, the uptake ratios of tumor-bearing to healthy hemisphere were 51, 68 and 6 for [¹²⁵I]IUdR, Ac₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR and Piv₂[¹²⁵I]IUdR, respectively. Esterifications of both deoxyribosyl hydroxyl groups of the tumor tracer IUdR lead to advantageous properties regarding uptake into brain tumor tissue and metabolic stability.