Identification of a caleosin associated with hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) oil bodies

• Caleosins are involved in several cellular and biological processes that are closely associated with the synthesis, degradation and stability of oil bodies (OB).
• Because of the importance and the multiple roles of these OB‐associated proteins, in silico identification of sequences corresponding to putative caleosins in the hazelnut genome has been performed, and the association with seed OB was verified using a proteomic approach.
• Five full‐length sequences (CavCLO‐H1, CavCLO‐H2, CavCLO‐H3, CavCLO‐L1, CavCLO‐L2), belonging to the two groups of caleosins (H and L), have been identified in the hazelnut genome. The number of identified caleosins is in agreement with that previously observed in other plant species, confirming that caleosins comprise small gene families in plants.
• A proteomic approach allowed us to verify only the presence of CavCLO‐H1 in hazelnut OB, suggesting that several members inside this family could have different roles during plant growth and development. In silico analysis also suggests that CavCLO‐H1 may act as a peroxygenase.

     

The impact of demographic changes on the epidemiology of herpes zoster: Spain as a case study

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella upon first exposure and may reactivate later in life into herpes zoster (HZ), with a risk that is thought to be reduced by re-exposures to VZV. Given the decades-long time scales of reactivation and its dependence on the accumulation of re-exposure episodes, adopting a long-term perspective may be useful to correctly interpret current epidemiological trends of VZV. In this study, we investigate the possible impact of demographic changes on varicella and HZ in Spain, using an age-structured mathematical model informed with historical demographic data and calibrated against age-specific profiles of varicella seroprevalence and HZ incidence data. The model qualitatively reproduces the remarkable growth of HZ incidence observed in Spain between 1997 and 2004, before the introduction of varicella vaccination programmes. We demonstrate that this growth may be partially ascribed to the reduction of varicella circulation that followed the overall decline of the birth rate in the twentieth century. Model predictions further suggest that, even under the most optimistic projections, HZ incidence will continue its rise until at least 2040. Considering the effect of demographic changes can help interpreting variations in epidemiological trends of HZ, contributing to a more accurate evaluation of vaccination programmes against VZV.     

Environmental and Animal Characteristics as Factors Associated with American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Rural Locations with Presence of Dogs,Brazil

The aim of the study was to investigate the importance of dogs, other domesticated animals and environmental characteristics as risk factors in the epidemiology of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). A retrospective survey of cases of human ACL in the last ten years and visits to homes in rural locations were carried out in the municipality of Arapongas (southern Brazil) from 2008 to 2010. ACL in humans was significantly associated with a distance of up to 25 meters from the residence to a forest area (OR 5.08; 95% CI: 1.35–21.04), undergrowth area (OR 6.80; 95% CI: 1.69–45.33) and stream (OR 5.87; 95% CI: 1.15–24.59); banana plants near the residence (OR 5.98; 95% CI: 1.49–39.84), absence of ceiling below the roof in the residence (OR 7.30; 95% CI: 1.26–158.1), the dumping of trash in the forest area (OR 26.33; 95% CI: 7.32–93.46) and presence of ACL in dogs in the surrounding area (OR 4.39; 95% CI: 1.37–13.45). In dogs, ACL was associated with a distance of 25 to 50 meters and 51 to 100 meters, respectively, from the residence to a forest area (OR 2.59; 95% CI: 1.08–5.98; OR 3.29; 95% CI: 1.64–6.62), the presence of a stream up to 25 m from the residence (OR 6.23; 95% CI: 2.34–16.54) and banana plants near the residence (OR 0.45; 95% CI: 0.25–0.80). In the locations studied in the municipality of Arapongas (Brazil), the results reveal that canine infection increases the risk of human infection by ACL and the characteristics surrounding the residence increase the risk of infection in both humans and dogs. Thus, integrated environmental management could be a useful measure to avoid contact between humans and phlebotomines.     

Expression Patterns and Potential Biological Roles of Dip2a

Disconnected (disco)-interacting protein 2 homolog A is a member of the DIP2 protein family encoded by Dip2a gene. Dip2a expression pattern has never been systematically studied. Functions of Dip2a in embryonic development and adult are not known. To investigate Dip2a gene expression and function in embryo and adult, a Dip2a-LacZ mouse model was generated by insertion of β-Gal cDNA after Dip2a promoter using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Dip2a-LacZ mouse was designed to be a lacZ reporter mouse as well as a Dip2a knockout mouse. Heterozygous mice were used to study endogenous Dip2a expression and homozygotes to study DIP2A-associated structure and function. LacZ staining indicated that Dip2a is broadly expressed in neuronal, reproductive and vascular tissues, as well as in heart, kidney, liver and lung. Results demonstrate that Dip2a is expressed in ectoderm-derived tissues in developing embryos. Adult tissues showed rich staining in neurons, mesenchymal, endothelial, smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes by cell types. The expression pattern highly overlaps with FSTL1 and supports previous report that DIP2A to be potential receptor of FSTL1 and its protective roles of cardiomyocytes. Broad and intense embryonic and adult expression of Dip2a has implied their multiple structural and physiological roles.     

Evolution of post-weaning skull ontogeny in New World opossums (Didelphidae)

Quantification of mammalian skull development has received much attention in the recent literature. Previous results in different lineages have shown an effect of historical legacy on patterns of skull growth. In marsupials, the skull of adults exhibits high variation across species, principally along a size axis. The development keys of the marsupial skull are fundamental to understanding the evolution of skull function in this clade. Its generally well-resolved phylogeny makes the group ideal for studying macroevolution of skull ontogeny. Here, we tested the hypothesis that ontogenetic similarity is correlated with phylogeny in New World marsupials, so that developmental patterns are expected to be conserved from ancestral opossums. We concatenated our previously published ontogenetic cranial data from several opossum species with new ontogenetic sequences and constructed an allometric space on the basis of a set of comparable cranial linear measurements. In this ontogenetic space, we determined the degree of correspondence of developmental patterns and the phylogeny of the group. In addition, we mapped ontogenetic trajectories onto the opossum phylogeny, treating the trajectories as composite, continuously varying characters. Didelphids differed widely in the magnitude of skull allometry across species. Splanchnocranial components exhibited all possible patterns of inter-specific variation, whereas mandibular variables were predominantly allometrically “positive” and neurocranial components were predominantly allometrically “negative.” The distribution of species in allometric space reflected the compounded effect of phylogeny and size variation characteristic of didelphids. The terminal morphology of related species differed in shape, so their ontogenetic trajectories deviated with respect to that of reconstructed common ancestors in varying degree. Phylogeny was the main factor structuring the allometric space of New World marsupials. Didelphids inherited an ancestral constellation of allometry coefficients without change and retained much of it throughout their lineage history. Conserved allometric values on the nodes splitting placental outgroups and marsupials suggest a developmental basis common to all therians.     

Socioecological Factors Affecting Range Defensibility Among Howler Monkeys

Range defensibility is defined as the ability of animals to efficiently move over an area to monitor and defend it. Therefore, range defensibility can help us understand the spatial structure of animal territoriality. We used howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.), a genus for which no agreement on the extent of their territoriality exists, to investigate the factors mediating range defensibility. We compared the defensibility index (D) across 63 groups of howler monkeys, representing 8 different species, based on a literature review. All species, except Alouatta palliata, were classified as potentially territorial according to D, although there was high variability within and among species. Group size had a positive effect on D, probably owing to the greater ability of groups to defend a territory as they become larger. Study area had a negative effect on D, perhaps suggesting that unlike small areas, large areas allow groups to have territories that do not require significant defense from neighbors. However, population density was the factor with the strongest effect on D, with greater monitoring of home ranges under high levels of competition. Our results suggest that howler monkeys are theoretically capable of maintaining a territory and suggest that animals can show a gradient in territoriality, which can be mediated by the competitive context in which it occurs.     

The fate of human sperm-derived mtDNA in somatic cells.

Inheritance of animal mtDNA is almost exclusively maternal, most likely because sperm-derived mitochondria are actively eliminated from the ovum, either at or soon after fertilization. How such elimination occurs is currently unknown. We asked whether similar behavior could be detected in somatic cells, by following the fate of mitochondria and mtDNAs after entry of human sperm into transformed cells containing mitochondria but lacking endogenous mtDNAs (rho0 cells). We found that a high proportion (10%-20%) of cells contained functioning sperm mitochondria soon after sperm entry. However, under selective conditions permitting only the survival of cells harboring functional mtDNAs, only approximately 1/10(5) cells containing sperm mitochondria survived and proliferated. These data imply that mitochondria in sperm can enter somatic cells relatively easily, but they also suggest that mechanisms exist to eliminate sperm-derived mtDNA from somatic cells, mechanisms perhaps similar to those presumed to operate in the fertilized oocyte.