Ecological fragmentation effects in mouse lemurs and small mammals in northwestern Madagascar

Habitat loss and fragmentation are major ecological forces threatening animal communities across the globe. These issues are especially true in Madagascar, where forest loss is ongoing. We examined the effects of forest fragmentation on the distribution and abundance of sympatric, endemic gray, and golden-brown mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus and Microcebus ravelobensis), the endemic western tuft-tailed rat (Eliurus myoxinus), and the invasive black rat (Rattus rattus) in two regions in northwestern Madagascar. We used systematic capture procedures in 40 forest fragments and four continuous forest sites which differed in size, shape, and degree of isolation. With a trapping effort of 11,567 trap nights during two dry seasons (2017–2018), we captured 929 individuals (432 M. ravelobensis, 196 M. murinus, 116 E. myoxinus, and 185 R. rattus). We examined the influence of study region, forest type (fragment vs. continuous), forest size, forest shape, the proportion of 50-m forest edge and distance to continuous forest on the abundance and interaction of the four species. Responses to fragmentation differed strongly between species, but no interaction could be detected between the abundance of the different species. Thus competition within and between native and invasive species may not be regulating abundances in these regions. On the contrary, the abundance of M. ravelobensis and E. myoxinus differed significantly between study regions and was negatively affected by fragmentation. In contrast, there was no evidence of an impact of fragmentation on the abundance of M. murinus. Finally, the invasive R. rattus responded positively to the increasing distance to the continuous forest. In conclusion, the response of small Malagasy mammals to forest fragmentation varies largely between species, and fragmentation effects need to be examined at a species-specific level to fully understand their ecological dynamics and complexity.     

Kinetic Properties of the ATP-Dependent Phosphofructokinase Isoenzymes from Cucumber Seeds

Two isoenzymes of ATP:D-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase(phosphofructokinase) are present in germinating cucumber seeds,one in the plastids and the other in the cytosol. Both isoenzymeswere purified and some of their kinetic properties studied.These two isoenzymes differ kinetically, the pH optimum of thecytosolic isoenzyme being 7.2 and that of the plastid isoenzymebeing 8.0. Both isoenzymes are activated by phosphate althoughthe concentration required for activation is much lower forthe plastid isoenzyme than cytosolic isoenzyme. Phosphate increasesthe affinity of the isoenzymes for fructose-6-phosphate andalso changes the sigmoidal kinetics of the plastid isoenzymefor this substrate to hyperbolic kinetics at pH 7.2. The fructose-6-phosphatesaturation kinetics of the cytosolic isoenzyme becomes moresigmoidal with an increase in pH while the opposite is truefor the plastid isoenzyme. The cytosolic isoenzyme has a higheraffinity for fructose-6-phosphate at pH 7.2 than pH 8.0 whilethe affinity of the plastid isoenzyme for fructose-6-phosphateis highest at pH 8.0. Both isoenzymes are inhibited by ATP andthe extent of inhibition is pH dependent. The cytosolic isoenzymeis more sensitive to ATP inhibition at pH 8.0 than pH 7.2 whilethe opposite holds for the plastid isoenzyme. Magnesium alleviatesthe ATP inhibition of the plastid isoenzyme suggesting thatfree ATP is the inhibitory form. In contrast the ATP inhibitionof the cytosolic isoenzyme apparently appears to be caused bythe magnesium-ATP complex. (Received May 19, 1987; Accepted January 18, 1988)     

Horizontal gene transfer of the Escherichia coli pap and prs pili operons as a mechanism for the development of tissue-specific adhesive properties

Escherichia coli strains bind to Gal alpha 1-4Gal-containing glycolipids via P pili-associated G-adhesins. Three functional classes of adhesins with different binding specificities are encoded by conserved G-alleles. We suggest that the Class I papG-allele of strain J96 is a novel acquisition possibly introduced via horizontal gene transfer into one of the two P pili gene clusters carried by this strain. Closely related strains in the ECOR collection of natural E. coli isolates carry either a Class II or a Class III G-adhesin. Data indicate that genetic exchanges involving either entire pap or prs gene clusters or individual pap/prs genes have occurred. We propose that the retention and spread of pap/prs DNA among E. coli is the result of selection pressure exerted by mammalian intestinal isoreceptors.     

Design and synthesis of tetrahydropyridopyrimidine based Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 7/8 dual agonists

In a continuing effort to discover novel TLR agonists, herein we report on the discovery and structure–activity relationship of novel tetrahydropyridopyrimidine TLR 7/8 agonists. Optimization of this series towards dual agonist activity and a high clearance profile resulted in the identification of compound 52a1. Evaluation in vivo revealed an interferon stimulated response (ISG) in mice with limited systemic exposure and demonstrated the potential in antiviral treatment or as a vaccine adjuvant.     

T cell-lymphoma in the eyelid of a 9-year-old English Setter

Background

Eyelid tumours are frequently found in dogs, most of these being benign. In case of an ulcerating eyelid tumour, malignancy must be considered. We report a unique case of a low-grade peripheral T-cell lymphoma in the eyelid of a 9-year-old English Setter.

Case presentation

A 9-year-old Setter presented with a 6-month history of an eyelid ulcer. A malignant eyelid neoplasm was suspected, and the lesion was surgically excised. No other treatment was applied, and 19 months after excision the dog was still well. Histopathology revealed a diffuse lymphocytic infiltrate in the eyelid skin. Ulceration of the epithelium was seen, and the underlying tumour was composed of round and poorly demarcated pleomorphic tumour cells. The cytoplasm was pale and the nuclei heterogeneous. Numerous mitoses were present. The tumour cells stained strongly for CD3. The final diagnosis was a peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (NOS).

Conclusions

This is the first described case of a solitary T-cell lymphoma NOS in the haired eyelid skin in a dog. Lymphoma should be considered in case of a persistent eyelid ulcer and a biopsy should be performed. T-cell lymphoma is generally an aggressive disease; however, indolent cases are well known, and as this case shows, complete excision of a solitary T-cell lymphoma can be curable. Canine cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma is an important differential diagnosis, which must be recognized as the prognosis is very poor and systemic treatment is mandatory. The sub-classification of canine lymphoma is not complete, and further studies are needed to identify lymphoma subgroups and provide treatment guidelines.

     

Elimination of n-butylated hydroxytoluene methylation during fatty acid analysis by gas chromatography

An improved method for fatty acids analysis with optimum recovery of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids methyl esters in biological systems is presented. The method is based on transesterification of phospholipid and triacylglycerols to fatty acid methyl esters using a commercially available reagent, Methyl-Prep II. Without proper precautions, as much as 50% of n-butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) added to prevent oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, could be methylated during the transesterification step. Methylated BHT elutes close to 14:0 (myristic acid) and no longer functions as an antioxidant, but the modified conditions virtually eliminate the methylation of BHT. Sample extraction and methylation was completed in 30 min at room temperature. A chelator (diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid; DTPA) is also added to prevent peroxidation of metal catalyzed free radical chain reactions. The standard deviations of the major fatty acids from multiple human plasma samples prepared on different days were less than 5%. The recovery of arachidonic acid, 20:4, from plasma was improved using the new method, and the recovery for docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6, spiked to human plasma was found to be 99%.     

Absorbance Changes of Carotenoids in Different Solvents

Carotenoids are typically measured in tissues with the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and quantitation is usually done by calibrating with stock solutions in solvents. Four carotenoids including lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and β-carotene were dissolved in hexane and methanol respectively, and their absorbance characteristeris were compared. Lutein shows absorbance spectra that are almost independent of solvents at various concentrations. Spectra of zeaxanthin, lycopene and β-carotene were found to be more solvent-dependent. The absorbance of zeaxanthin at λ_max is about 2 times larger in methanol than in hexane at the higher concentrations, and increased non-linearly with increasing concentration in hexane. The absorbance of lycopene at λ_max in hexane is 4 fold larger than in methanol, but the absorbance of the methanol sample can be recovered by re-extracting this sample in hexane. The absorbance of β-carotene in hexane is larger than in methanol, and increased linearly with increasing concentration. But β-carotene showed a non-linear concentration effect in methanol. There are very small variations in λ_max for all four carotenoids between hexane and methanol, due to differences in molar extinction coefficients. The non-linear concentration effects for these carotenoids are probably due to differences in solubility leading to the formation of microcrystals. Thus, care should be taken with quantitation of tissue carotenoid values, when they depend on measurement of concentrations in stock solutions.     

Molecular phylogeny of the Cladophoraceae (Cladophorales,Ulvophyceae), with the resurrection of Acrocladus Nägeli and Willeella Børgesen,and the description of Lurbica gen. nov. and Pseudorhizoclonium gen. nov.

The taxonomy of the Cladophoraceae, a large family of filamentous green algae, has been problematic for a long time due to morphological simplicity, parallel evolution, phenotypic plasticity, and unknown distribution ranges. Partial large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences were generated for 362 isolates, and the analyses of a concatenated dataset consisting of unique LSU and small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences of 95 specimens greatly clarified the phylogeny of the Cladophoraceae. The phylogenetic reconstructions showed that the three currently accepted genera Chaetomorpha, Cladophora, and Rhizoclonium are polyphyletic. The backbone of the phylogeny is robust and the relationships of the main lineages were inferred with high support, only the phylogenetic position of both Chaetomorpha melagonium and Cladophora rupestris could not be inferred unambiguously. There have been at least three independent switches between branched and unbranched morphologies within the Cladophoraceae. Freshwater environments have been colonized twice independently, namely by the freshwater Cladophora species as well as by several lineages of the Rhizoclonium riparium clade. In an effort to establish monophyletic genera, the genera Acrocladus and Willeella are resurrected and two new genera are described: Pseudorhizoclonium and Lurbica.