Developing conservation strategies for endemic tree species when faced with time and data constraints: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Boswellia</Emphasis> spp. on Socotra (Yemen)

Many endemic tree species have important scientific, ecological and economic value but the scarcity of information about their biological and ecological features makes it difficult to develop conservation strategies for them. A four-step approach is presented to address this problem, based on the analysis of data collected in a limited-duration field study: (1) Data collected are used to analyse the ecological niche, population structure and regeneration status of the species in question. (2) Several IUCN Red List (RL) parameters, useful for assessing the species’ risk of extinction, are measured, including population counts, number of locations, extent and area of occurrence. (3) The IUCN RL parameters are used together with the other information gathered to set preliminary conservation priorities. (4) The analysis of utilization pattern is used to develop conservation actions specific to the environmental and socio-economic context. To test the applicability of this approach Boswellia spp. of Socotra island were analysed. Ground-rooted species (B. ameero, B. elongata and B. socotrana) were the most abundant and widespread and, according to the spatial analysis, were characterised by a geo-altitudinal zonation. However, the Weibull functions fitted on their stem diameters, and the absence or presence of only a small number of saplings highlighted a poor regeneration status. In the absence of conservation actions, these species will probably be subject to a progressive decline because of uncontrolled grazing. Of the four cliff-rooted species, which grow in sites that are less accessible to livestock, two (B. popoviana and B. dioscorides) were of lower conservation priority and may become the most numerically abundant. Conversely, the other two (B. nana and B. bullata), which may be threatened by stochastic events because of their reduced populations and small number of locations, were considered of very high priority. Different conservation actions were then identified for each species. In particular, for Boswellia species producing gum, the conservation-through-use action was discussed as a potential option.     

Diagnostic and prognostic potential of the proteomic profiling of serum-derived extracellular vesicles in prostate cancer

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo represent an intriguing source of cancer biomarkers for developing robust and sensitive molecular tests by liquid biopsy. Prostate cancer (PCa) is still one of the most frequent and deadly tumor in men and analysis of EVs from biological fluids of PCa patients has proven the feasibility and the unprecedented potential of such an approach. Here, we exploited an antibody-based proteomic technology, i.e. the Reverse-Phase Protein microArrays (RPPA), to measure key antigens and activated signaling in EVs isolated from sera of PCa patients. Notably, we found tumor-specific protein profiles associated with clinical settings as well as candidate markers for EV-based tumor diagnosis. Among others, PD-L1, ERG, Integrin-β5, Survivin, TGF-β, phosphorylated-TSC2 as well as partners of the MAP-kinase and mTOR pathways emerged as differentially expressed endpoints in tumor-derived EVs. In addition, the retrospective analysis of EVs from a 15-year follow-up cohort generated a protein signature with prognostic significance. Our results confirm that serum-derived EV cargo may be exploited to improve the current diagnostic procedures while providing potential prognostic and predictive information. The approach proposed here has been already applied to tumor entities other than PCa, thus proving its value in translational medicine and paving the way to innovative, clinically meaningful tools.Subject terms: Tumour biomarkers, Protein-protein interaction networks     

Genetic mapping to 10q23.3-q24.2, in a large Italian pedigree, of a new syndrome showing bilateral cataracts, gastroesophageal reflux, and spastic paraparesis with amyotrophy.

We have recently observed a large pedigree with a new rare autosomal dominant spastic paraparesis. In three subsequent generations, 13 affected individuals presented with bilateral cataracts, gastroesophageal reflux with persistent vomiting, and spastic paraparesis with amyotrophy. Bilateral cataracts occurred in all affected individuals, with the exception of one patient who presented with a chorioretinal dystrophy, whereas clinical signs of spastic paraparesis showed a variable expressivity. Using a genomewide mapping approach, we mapped the disorder to the long arm of chromosome 10 on band q23.3-q24.2, in a 12-cM chromosomal region where additional neurologic disorders have been localized. The spectrum of phenotypic manifestations in this family is reminiscent of a smaller pedigree, reported recently, confirming the possibility of a new syndrome. Finally, the anticipation of symptoms suggests that an unstable trinucleotide repeat may be responsible for the condition.     

An interspecific test of Bergmann's rule reveals inconsistent body size patterns across several lineages of water beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

1. Bergmann's rule sensu lato, the ecogeographic pattern relating animals' body size with environmental temperature (or latitude), has been shown to be inconsistent among insect taxa. Body size clines remain largely unexplored in aquatic insects, which may show contrasting patterns to those found in terrestrial groups because of the physiological or mechanical constraints of the aquatic environment. 2. Bergmann's rule was tested using data on body size, phylogeny and distribution for 93 species belonging to four lineages of dytiscid water beetles. The relationship between size and latitude was explored at two taxonomic resolutions – within each independent lineage, and for the whole dataset – employing phylogenetic generalised least‐squares to control for phylogenetic inertia. The potential influence of habitat preference (lotic versus lentic) on body size clines was also considered. 3. Within‐lineage analyses showed negative relationships (i.e. converse Bergmann's rule), but only in two lineages (specifically in those that included both lotic and lentic species). By contrast, no relationship was found between body size and latitude for the whole dataset. 4. These results suggest that there may be no universal interspecific trends in latitudinal variation of body size in aquatic insects, even among closely related groups, and show the need to account for phylogenetic inertia. Furthermore, habitat preferences should be considered when exploring latitudinal clines in body size in aquatic taxa at the interspecific level.     

Sleep/wake dependent changes in cortical glucose concentrations

Most of the energy in the brain comes from glucose and supports glutamatergic activity. The firing rate of cortical glutamatergic neurons, as well as cortical extracellular glutamate levels, increase with time spent awake and decline throughout non rapid eye movement sleep, raising the question whether glucose levels reflect behavioral state and sleep/wake history. Here chronic (2–3 days) electroencephalographic recordings in the rat cerebral cortex were coupled with fixed‐potential amperometry to monitor the extracellular concentration of glucose ([gluc]) on a second‐by‐second basis across the spontaneous sleep‐wake cycle and in response to 3 h of sleep deprivation. [Gluc] progressively increased during non rapid eye movement sleep and declined during rapid eye movement sleep, while during wake an early decline in [gluc] was followed by an increase 8–15 min after awakening. There was a significant time of day effect during the dark phase, when rats are mostly awake, with [gluc] being significantly lower during the last 3–4 h of the night relative to the first 3–4 h. Moreover, the duration of the early phase of [gluc] decline during wake was longer after prolonged wake than after consolidated sleep. Thus, the sleep/wake history may affect the levels of glucose available to the brain upon awakening.     

Two timescales control the creation of large protein aggregates in cells

Protein aggregation is of particular interest because of its connection with many diseases and disorders. Many factors can alter the dynamics and result of this process, one of them being the diffusivity of the monomers and aggregates in the system. Here, we study experimentally and theoretically an aggregation process in cells, and we identify two distinct physical timescales that set the number and size of aggregates. The first timescale involves fast aggregation of small clusters freely diffusing in the cytoplasm, whereas in the second one, the aggregates are larger than the pore size of the cytoplasm and thus barely diffuse, and the aggregation process is slowed down. However, the process is not entirely halted, potentially reflecting a myriad of active but random forces that stir the aggregates. Such a slow timescale is essential to account for the experimental results of the aggregation process. These results could also have implications in other processes of spatial organization in cell biology, such as phase-separated droplets.     

Annual variation in long‐distance dispersal driven by breeding and non‐breeding season climatic conditions in a migratory bird

Long‐distance dispersal is a fundamental process in ecology and evolution but the factors that influence these movements remain poorly understood in most species. We used stable hydrogen isotopes to quantify the rate and direction of long‐distance immigration in a breeding population of American redstarts and to test whether the settlement decisions that result in long‐distance dispersal are driven by habitat saturation or by the phenology of breeding‐season resources. Our results provide evidence that both natal dispersal and breeding dispersal were influenced by the timing of breeding‐season phenology, with both age classes more likely to disperse north in years when the onset of breeding‐season phenology occurs earlier than normal. Yearlings were also more likely to disperse north following winters with poor habitat quality on their non‐breeding grounds, demonstrating that carry‐over effects from the non‐breeding season influence natal dispersal in this species. Collectively, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that American redstarts use the phenology of breeding season resources as a cue to select breeding sites. Our results suggest that long‐distance dispersal may allow individuals to rapidly respond to advancing phenology caused by global climate change, though their ability to do so may be constrained by long‐term decline in habitat quality predicted for their tropical non‐breeding grounds.