The endemic New Zealand ground wētā (Hemiandrus sp. ‘promontorius’) has a Naturally Uncommon conservation status. This is because of the paucity of information on its density and distribution. Here, the biology, density and distribution of a population of this wētā found in and around vineyards in the Awatere Valley, Marlborough was studied. Wētā density was assessed in vineyards, paddocks and shrublands in this valley. Soil moisture, penetration resistance, pH and organic matter were recorded at locations with and without wētā. Wētā density in vineyards was significantly higher than in either paddocks or shrub habitats. In vineyards, the density of this insect was significantly higher under-vines than in the inter-rows. Higher numbers of this wētā were found in moist soils that required lower force to burrow. Females laid an average of 55 eggs between March and April, which hatched in September. These findings highlight the intersection between agriculture and conservation. 相似文献
An Ustilago maydis ergosterol biosynthesis mutant (A14) which is partially blocked in sterol 14alpha-demethylase (P45014DM) activity is described. This mutant accumulated the abnormal 14alpha-methyl sterols, eburicol, 14alpha-methylfecosterol, and obtusifoliol, along with significant amounts of ergosterol. Although the A14 mutant grew nearly as well as the wild type, it was impaired in cell extension growth, which indicated a dysfunction in apical cell wall synthesis. The mutant was also found to be hypersensitive to the azole fungicides penconazole and tebuconazole. 相似文献
Summary Roots, stems, or leaves of American (Panax quinquefolium) and Korean (Panax ginsing) ginseng were grown as callus or supension tissue cultures. Tissue cultures ofP. ginseng would occasionally form plantlets. The fundamental chemical composition, inorganic analysis, and saponin (panaquilin) content
of American and Korean ginseng plants and tissue cultures were determined. The crude saponin content is very similar to, but
approximately one-half (1.3%, fresh weight) of that present in ginseng roots. Two-dimensional thin layer chromatographic analysis
revealed minor differences in the panaquilins present in American and Korean ginseng tissue cultures. The sapogenin, panaxadiol,
was isolated from Korean ginseng callus. 相似文献
Hexazonium pararosaniline is a valuable reagent that has been used in enzyme activity histochemistry for 50 years. It is an aqueous solution containing the tris-diazonium ion derived from pararosaniline, an aminotriarylmethane dye, and it contains an excess of nitrous acid that was not consumed in the diazotization reaction. Other investigators have found that immersion for 2 min in an acidic (pH 3.5) 0.0015 M hexazonium pararosaniline solution can protect cryostat sections of unfixed animal tissues from the deleterious effects of aqueous reagents such as buffered solutions used in immunohistochemistry, while preserving specific affinities for antibodies. In the present investigation hexazonium pararosaniline protected lymphoid tissue and striated muscle against the damaging effects of water or saline. The same protection was conferred on unfixed sections treated with dilute nitrous or hydrochloric acid in concentrations similar to those in hexazonium pararosaniline solutions. Model tissues (solutions, gels or films containing gelatin and/or bovine albumin) responded predictably to well known cross-linking (formaldehyde) or coagulant (mercuric chloride) fixatives. Hexazonium pararosaniline solutions prevented the dissolution of protein gels in water only after 9 or more days of contact, during which time considerable swelling occurred. It is concluded that there is no evidence for a “fixative” action of hexazonium pararosaniline. The protective effect on frozen sections of unfixed tissue is attributable probably to the low pH of the solution. 相似文献
The control of Spodoptera frugiperda is based
on synthetic insecticides, so some alternatives are the use of
entomopathogenic fungi (EF) and neem extract. The objective of
the study was to evaluate in vitro effectiveness of native EF and
neem extracts on S. frugiperda larvae. Six EF were identified by
DNA sequencing of ITS regions from three EF (Fusarium solani,
Metarrhizium robertsii, Nigrospora spherica and Penicillium
citrinum). They were evaluated in concentrations of 1 × 10⁸ spores/
mL. In addition, a second bioassay was carried out evaluating
only F. solani, M. robertsii and N. sphaerica and the addition
of vegetable oil. On the other hand, extraction of secondary
metabolites from neem seed (Azadirachta indica) was carried
out by performing, mass (g) and solvent volume (mL ethanol
and water) combinations, which were subjected to microwaves
and ultrasound. Subsequently, these extracts were evaluated
in concentrations of 3%, 4% and 5%. A survival analysis was
performed for each of the bioassays. With respect to the results
of the first bioassay, F. solani obtained a probability of survival of
0.476 on the seventh day, while in the second bioassay, M. robertsii
obtained 0.488 survival probability. This suggests that the expected
percentage of larvae that stay alive on the sixth day is 48.8%.
However, in the evaluation of the neem extract the combination
1:12/70% to 4% caused 84% mortality of larvae. The use of native
HE and neem extracts has potential for the control of S. frugiperda. 相似文献
Shifts from ornamental fish tanks to functional reef ecosystem aquaria has led to unprecedented pressure on marine invertebrate fisheries. The Caribbean blue-legged hermit crab (Clibanarius tricolor) is among the species targeted for functional reef tanks, valued for its role as an aquarium cleaner. Little is known about the biology of the species or the genetic landscape in which the increased collecting is happening. Here, we investigate the phylogeographic history and genetic diversity of C. tricolor through analysis of mitochondrial (CO1, 16S) and nuclear (H3) DNA. We test whether phylogeographic breaks for other invertebrates structure the genetic diversity of C. tricolor and explore additional factors that may govern structure, such as reproductive strategy, life history, habitat preference, adult mobility, demographic history, and vicariance events. Based on these three markers, we find high genetic diversity and connectivity and find no evidence to support the tested barriers as relevant to gene flow for C. tricolor. Rather, mitochondrial and nuclear markers infer high genetic diversity, panmixia, and demographic expansion during the Pleistocene. Our finding of panmixia makes it difficult to identify source or sink populations, but the absence of hierarchical structure inferred from mtDNA and nuDNA markers we use, high levels of genetic diversity and homogeneity for these same markers, and advantageous life history traits suggest C. tricolor is not currently at special risk; however, geographically restricted haplotypes and limitations within our study prevent us from making a strong conclusion about the sustainability of the fishery. Our work on the Caribbean blue-legged hermit crab highlights the importance of acquiring basic information on exploited species and reiterates that common regional forces may not equally impact connectivity among co-distributed species.
In sarcoidosis, host genetic factors are discussed as contributing to disease susceptibility and course. Since tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a central mediator of granuloma formation and since elevated TNF-α levels are found during active phases of sarcoidosis, genetic polymorphisms correlating with influences on TNF-α levels are of special interest. The complete sequencing of the MHC region and the increase in the number of identified gene polymorphisms in this locus associated with TNF-α production offer the opportunity of detecting new genes associated with sarcoidosis and perhaps of defining disease-associated haplotypes that bear the potential of serving as predictive markers for this disease. 相似文献
In vivo phosphorylation of sphingosine analogs with their ensuing binding and activation of their cell-surface sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors is regarded as the main immunomodulatory mechanism of this new class of drugs. Prophylactic treatment with sphingosine analogs interferes with experimental asthma by impeding the migration of dendritic cells to draining lymph nodes. However, whether these drugs can also alleviate allergic airway inflammation after its onset remains to be determined. Herein, we investigated to which extent and by which mechanisms the sphingosine analog AAL-R interferes with key features of asthma in a murine model during ongoing allergic inflammation induced by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
Methods
BALB/c mice were exposed to either D. pteronyssinus or saline, intranasally, once-daily for 10 consecutive days. Mice were treated intratracheally with either AAL-R, its pre-phosphorylated form AFD-R, or the vehicle before every allergen challenge over the last four days, i.e. after the onset of allergic airway inflammation. On day 11, airway responsiveness to methacholine was measured; inflammatory cells and cytokines were quantified in the airways; and the numbers and/or viability of T cells, B cells and dendritic cells were assessed in the lungs and draining lymph nodes.
Results
AAL-R decreased airway hyperresponsiveness induced by D. pteronyssinus by nearly 70%. This was associated with a strong reduction of IL-5 and IL-13 levels in the airways and with a decreased eosinophilic response. Notably, the lung CD4+ T cells were almost entirely eliminated by AAL-R, which concurred with enhanced apoptosis/necrosis in that cell population. This inhibition occurred in the absence of dendritic cell number modulation in draining lymph nodes. On the other hand, the pre-phosphorylated form AFD-R, which preferentially acts on cell-surface sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors, was relatively impotent at enhancing cell death, which led to a less efficient control of T cell and eosinophil responses in the lungs.
Conclusion
Airway delivery of the non-phosphorylated sphingosine analog, but not its pre-phosphorylated counterpart, is highly efficient at controlling the local T cell response after the onset of allergic airway inflammation. The mechanism appears to involve local induction of lymphocyte apoptosis/necrosis, while mildly affecting dendritic cell and T cell accumulation in draining lymph nodes. 相似文献