Seasonal cycles of plasma testosterone and cortisol in the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus Loche) of Zembra Island, studied in its natural biotope and in captivity

Annual variations in plasma testosterone and cortisol levels were determined in male wild rabbits caught monthly in their natural biotope (Zembra island). For comparison, a group of warrens was hold in semi-captivity close to Tunis. In both conditions plasma testosterone concentrations were low from January to September and peak values were observed in October. Captive warrens exhibited a clear cut annual rhythm in plasma cortisol levels also and ether stress resulted in a very large increase of cortisolemia. In rabbits caught in ther habitat however, cortisol concentrations were always extremely high throughout the year, probably due to stressing conditions. Interestingly, wild rabbits of Zembra island appear to subsist from a very remote past without any contact with other strains. As to Zembra, it is a hardly get-at-able, uninhabited island which is a part of a strictly protected natural reserve and constitutes a fairly useful and valuable ecosystem.     

A comparative analysis of the proteins from a cell culture and from field plants of the ecdysteroid producer Serratula coronata L.]

Differences in the composition and amount of proteins synthesized in the cell culture and leaves of field plants Serratula coronata have been shown. They proceed from differences in intensity of synthesis of secondary metabolites, ecdysteroids, whose content in the cell culture is considerably lower.     

Wading through the swamp: what does tropical peatland restoration mean to national‐level stakeholders in Indonesia?

Ecological restoration is considered to play an important role in mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and preventing environmental degradation. Yet, there are often multiple perspectives on what outcomes restoration should be aiming to achieve, and how we should get to that point. In this study we interview a range of policymakers, academics, and non‐governmental organization (NGO) representatives to explore the range of perspectives on the restoration of Indonesia's tropical peatlands—key global ecosystems that have undergone large‐scale degradation. Thematic analysis suggests that participants agreed about the importance of restoration, but had differing opinions on how effective restoration activities to date have been and what a restored peatland landscape should look like. These results exemplify how ecological restoration can mean different things to different people, but also highlight important areas of consensus for moving forward with peatland restoration strategies.     

Mating behaviour and behavioural ecology of a Predatory Wasp,Symmorphus allobrogus (de Saussure) (Hymenoptera: Eumeninae)

This paper represents an attempt to investigate the mating behaviour of Symmorphus allobrogus, explaining the willingness of male to mount and copulate. The male displays including mode and frequency of antennation and position while copulating, the displays further comprises of intensity and frequency of rejecting behaviour. The presence of the male’s copulatory and postcopulatory courtship studies, understands the maintenance of monandry. The wasp has numerous secondary sexual characters, and the mating behaviour follows a phyletic and the specific sexual mating characters in context of sexual selection. The duration of mating phases and the number of male antennation series during precopulatory, copulatory and postcopulatory phases of mounting, differs significantly. Mating success depends mostly on the activities of male in the premounting phase and the behaviour of both sexes has a roughly equal importance for it in precopulatory phase. While during copulation, activity of male has little influence on its duration; however, behaviour of female has crucial effect, inducing its earlier termination.     

Correction to: In Silico Evaluation of Food Derived Bioactive Peptides as Inhibitors of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE)

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - The original version of the article unfortunately contained a typo in co-author name.     

In silico annotation of unreviewed acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in some lepidopteran insect pest species reveals the causes of insecticide resistance

Lepidoptera is the second most diverse insect order outnumbered only by the Coeleptera. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the major target site for insecticides. Extensive use of insecticides, to inhibit the function of this enzyme, have resulted in the development of insecticide resistance. Complete knowledge of the target proteins is very important to know the cause of resistance. Computational annotation of insect acetylcholinesterase can be helpful for the characterization of this important protein. Acetylcholinesterase of fourteen lepidopteran insect pest species was annotated by using different bioinformatics tools. AChE in all the species was hydrophilic and thermostable. All the species showed lower values for instability index except L. orbonalis, S. exigua and T. absoluta. Highest percentage of Arg, Asp, Asn, Gln and Cys were recorded in P. rapae. High percentage of Cys and Gln might be reason for insecticide resistance development in P. rapae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the AChE in T. absoluta, L. orbonalis and S. exigua are closely related and emerged from same primary branch. Three functional motifs were predicted in eleven species while only two were found in L. orbonalis, S. exigua and T. absoluta. AChE in eleven species followed secretory pathway and have signal peptides. No signal peptides were predicted for S. exigua, L. orbonalis and T. absoluta and follow non secretory pathway. Arginine methylation and cysteine palmotylation was found in all species except S. exigua, L. orbonalis and T. absoluta. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor was predicted in only nine species.     

6-Shogaol attenuated ethylene glycol and aluminium chloride induced urolithiasis and renal injuries in rodents

The 6-shogaol, is a flavanone type flavonoid that is abundant in citrus fruit and has a wide range of pharmacological effects. The present study attempted to evaluate the antiurolithic effect of 6-shogaol on ethylene glycol (EG) and ammonium chloride (AC)-induced experimental urolithiasis in rats. The efficacy of 6-shogaol 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg was studied in EG 0.75% (V/V) and AC 1% (W/V) experimentally induced urolithiasis in rats for 21 days. The weight difference, urine volume, the levels of calcium, phosphate, magnesium, oxalate and uric acid in urine was observed. The blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid in serum and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were also measured. Histopathological analyses in kidneys were also performed. The rats weights were higher in the 6-shogaol groups than the urolithiasis group. EG caused a significant increase in serum creatinine (p < 0.05), BUN (P < 0.001), and uric acid (p < 0.01) while treatment with Cystone (750 mg/kg), and 6-shogaol (50 and 100 mg/kg) showed the significant reduction in increased serum levels of creatinine (p < 0.001), uric acid (p < 0.01) and BUN (p < 0.001). Administration of EG and AC showed statistically significant (p < 0.001) elevated levels of MDA and reduction in GSH levels. Treatment of Cystone (750 mg/kg), and 6-shogaol (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.001) reduced MDA levels and an increase GSH levels as compared to EG and AC-treated group. The histological findings further attested antiurolithiatic properties of 6-shogaol. The present study attributed clinical shreds of evidence first time that claiming the significant antiurolithic effect of 6-shogaol and could be a cost-effective candidate for the prevention and treatment of urolithiasis.     

PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PHOSPHODIESTERASE I FROM Walterinnesia aegyptia VENOM

A phosphodiesterase I (EC 3.1.4.1; PDE-I) was purified from Walterinnesia aegyptia venom by preparative native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). A single protein band was observed in analytical native PAGE and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE. PDE-I was a single-chain glycoprotein with an estimated molecular mass of 158 kD (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme was free of 5′-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase activities. The optimum pH and temperature were 9.0 and 60°C, respectively. The energy of activation (Ea) was 96.4, the V_max and K_m were 1.14 µM/min/mg and 1.9 × 10^?3 M, respectively, and the K_cat and K_sp were 7 s^?1 and 60 M ^?1 min^?1 respectively. Cysteine was a noncompetitive inhibitor, with K_i = 6.2 × 10^?3 M and an IC₅₀ of 2.6 mM, whereas adenosine diphosphate was a competitive inhibitor, with K_i = 0.8 × 10^?3 M and an IC₅₀ of 8.3 mM. Glutathione, o-phenanthroline, zinc, and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) inhibited PDE-I activity whereas Mg²⁺ slightly potentiated the activity. PDE-I hydrolyzed thymidine-5′-monophosphate p-nitrophenyl ester most readily, whereas cyclic 3′-5′-AMP was least susceptible to hydrolysis. PDE-I was not lethal to mice at a dose of 4.0 mg/kg, ip, but had an anticoagulant effect on human plasma. These findings indicate that W. aegyptia PDE-I shares various characteristics with this enzyme from other snake venoms.     

Molecular characterization of Streptococcus agalactiae strains isolated from fishes in Malaysia

Aims

The aim of this study was to characterize Streptococcus agalactiae strains that were isolated from fishes in Malaysia using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP‐PCR) techniques.

Methods and Results

A total of 181 strains of Strep. agalactiae isolated from red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) and golden pompano (Trachinotus blochii) were characterized using RAPD and REP‐PCR techniques. Both the fingerprinting techniques generated reproducible band patterns, differing in the number and molecular mass amplicons. The RAPD technique displayed greater discriminatory power by its production of more complex binding pattern and divided all the strains into 13 groups, compared to 9 by REP‐PCR technique. Both techniques showed the availability to differentiate the genetic profiles of the strains according to their geographical location of origin. Three strains of Strep. agalactiae that were recovered from golden pompano showed a genetic dissimilarity from the strains isolated from red hybrid tilapia, while the strain of ATCC 27956 that recovered from bovine displayed a unique profile for both methods.

Conclusions

Both techniques possess excellent discriminative capabilities and can be used as a rapid means of comparing Strep. agalactiae strains for future epidemiological investigation.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Framework as the guideline in traceability of this disease and in the search for potential local vaccine candidates for streptococcosis in this country.