Abundance and Movement of Understory Birds in a Maulino Forest Fragmented by Pine Plantations

Understory birds are especially vulnerable to habitat fragmentation because of the reduction in habitat quality and bird movement. We study the separate effects of understory, overstory and landscape on four understory birds (tapaculos), in Central Chile, comprising a landscape mosaic of pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) plantations and native Maulino forest fragments. We also determined whether habitats with poor understory could be barrier to tapaculos movements. Abundance was measured using stationary playbacks and habitat barrier through playbacks. Understory structure was the main factor that predicted tapaculos presence and abundance. Two species, the Andean Tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus fuscus Gmelin) and the Ochre-flanked Tapaculo (Eugralla paradoxa Kittlitz), were positively associated with dead pine branches and negatively to forest fragment size. Tapaculos were less abundant in mature native forest, but appeared willing to cross between different habitat types. However, the Chestnut-throated Huet-huet (Pteroptochos castaneus Philippi and Landbeck), did not move from forest fragments to pine with poor understory. Overall, tapaculos species varied in their response to fragmentation depending on their habitat selection and movement capacities.     

African ancestry is associated with risk of asthma and high total serum IgE in a population from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia

African descended populations exhibit an increased prevalence of asthma and allergies compared to Europeans. One approach to distinguish between environmental and genetic explanations for this difference is to study relationships of asthma risk to individual admixture. We aimed to determine the admixture proportions of a case-control sample from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia currently participating in genetic studies for asthma, and to test for population stratification and association between African ancestry and asthma and total serum IgE levels (tIgE). We genotyped 368 asthmatics and 365 non-asthmatics for 52 autosomal ancestry informative markers, six mtDNA haplogroups and nine haplogroups and five microsatellites in Y chromosome. Autosomal admixture proportions, population stratification, and associations between ancestry and the phenotypes were estimated by ADMIXMAP. The average admixture proportions among asthmatics were 42.8% European, 39.9% African and 17.2% Native American and among non-asthmatics they were 44.2% (P = 0.068), 37.6% (P = 0.007) and 18.1% (P = 0.050), respectively. In the total sample, the paternal contributions were 71% European, 25% African and 4.0% Native American and the maternal lineages were 56.8% Native American, and 20.2% African; 22.9% of the individuals carried other non-Native American mtDNA haplogroups. African ancestry was significantly associated with asthma (OR: 2.97; 95% CI: 1.08–8.08), high tIgE (OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.17–3.12) and socioeconomic status (OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.47–0.87). Significant population stratification was observed in this sample. Our findings indicate that genetic factors can explain the association between asthma and African ancestry and suggest that this sample is a useful resource for performing admixture mapping for asthma.     

Antitubercular activity of α,ω-diaminoalkanes,H2N(CH2)nNH2

A series of 11 α,ω-diaminoalkanes, (H₂N(CH₂)_nNH₂, n = 2–12) have been evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Compounds, (H₂N(CH₂)_nNH₂, n = 9–12), exhibited a very good activities in the range 2.50–3.12 μg/mL, which can be compared with that of the first line drug, ethambutol (3.12 μg/mL). These results and a preliminary QSAR study can be considered an important start point for the rational design of new leads for anti-TB compounds.     

On the mechanism of dormancy release in grapevine buds: a comparative study between hydrogen cyanamide and sodium azide

The effect of low doses (LD)—0.1 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹ and high doses (HD)—0.3 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹ of UV-C irradiation on free, conjugated and bound spermine, spermidine and putrescine in leaves of young pea plants after 7 and 14 days of consecutive treatment was studied. Free polyamine (PA) fractions increased mainly in LD treated plants, while conjugated fractions decreased. Bound fractions accumulated mainly at the end of the experiment (after 14 days of UV-C irradiation). The results are interpreted in relation to the possible role of endogenous bound PAs in the prevention of membrane damage induced by UV-C irradiation. Stress markers (malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage) increased after 7 days of UV-C treatment, and reached control values by the end of the experiment (mainly after HD treatment). Malondialdehyde concentration correlated negatively with UV-C—induced bound fraction and total PAs. The results support the conclusion that endogenous PAs lessen membrane damage in young pea plants provoked by UV-C irradiation.     

FADS genetic variants and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in a homogeneous island population

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) orchestrate immunity and inflammation through their capacity to be converted to potent inflammatory mediators. We assessed associations of FADS gene cluster polymorphisms and fasting serum PUFA concentrations in a fully ascertained, geographically isolated founder population of European descent. Concentrations of 22 PUFAs were determined by gas chromatography, of which ten fatty acids and five ratios defining FADS1 and FADS2 activity were tested for genetic association against 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in 224 individuals. A cluster of SNPs in tight linkage disequilibrium in the FADS1 gene (rs174537, rs174545, rs174546, rs174553, rs174556, rs174561, rs174568, and rs99780) were strongly associated with arachidonic acid (AA) (P = 5.8 × 10⁻⁷ – 1.7 × 10⁻⁸) among other PUFAs, but the strongest associations were with the ratio measuring FADS1 activity in the ω-6 series (P = 2.11 × 10⁻¹³ – 1.8 × 10⁻²⁰). The minor allele across all SNPs was consistently associated with decreased ω-6 PUFAs, with the exception of dihomo-γ-linoleic acid (DHGLA), where the minor allele was consistently associated with increased levels. Our findings in a geographically isolated population with a homogenous dietary environment suggest that variants in the Δ-5 desaturase enzymatic step likely regulate the efficiency of conversion of medium-chain PUFAs to potentially inflammatory PUFAs, such as AA.     

Copper-induced calcium release from ER involves the activation of ryanodine-sensitive and IP3-sensitive channels in Ulva compressa

The marine alga Ulva compressa (Chlorophyta) showed a triphasic release of intracellular calcium with maximal levels at 2, 3 and 12 h and a biphasic accumulation of intracellular hydrogen peroxide with peaks at 3 and 12 h when cultivated with copper excess. Intracellular hydrogen peroxide originated exclusively in organelles. In this work, we analyzed the intracellular origin of calcium release and the type of calcium channels activated in response to copper excess. U. compressa was treated with thapsigargin, an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium ATPase, ryanodine, an inhibitor of ryanodine-sensitive channels and xestospongin C, an inhibitor of inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate (IP₃)-sensitive channels. Thapsigargin induced the depletion of calcium stored in ER at 75 min and completely inhibited calcium release at 2, 3 and 12 h of copper exposure indicating that calcium release originated in ER. In addition, ryanodine and xestospogin C inhibited calcium release at 2 and 3 h of copper exposure whereas the peak at 12 h was only inhibited by ryanodine. Thus, copper induced the activation of ryanodine-sensitive and IP₃-sensitive calcium channels in ER of U. compressa.Key words: calcium release, endoplasmic reticulum, calcium channels, marine alga, Ulva compressaPlants showed common responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, mainly the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in particular hydrogen peroxide, and the release of intracellular calcium.^1,2 Regarding abiotic stress, it has been shown that ozone triggers a NADPH oxidase-dependent biphasic oxidative burst in Arabidopsis thaliana that activates antioxidant and defense enzymes.^3,4 In addition, cadmium induced a NADPH oxidase-dependent monophasic accumulation of extracellular hydrogen peroxide in tobacco cells.⁵ On the other hand, ozone as well as absicic acid treatment, dessication, cold, heat, salinity, UV light and anoxia induce intracellular calcium release and the activation of antioxidant enzymes.^6–8 Regarding abiotic stress in algae, copper induced a monophasic increase of intracellular hydrogen peroxide at 2 h of copper exposure in the brown seaweeds Lessonia nigrecsens and Scytosiphon lomentaria.⁹ On the other hand, strontium induced calcium release in the green microalga Eremosphaera viridis as did osmotic stress in the zygote of the brown macroalga Fucus serratus.^10,11 U. compressa is a cosmopolitan marine macroalga (Chlorophyta) growing in copper-impacted coastal areas in northern Chile.¹² U. compressa cultivated in seawater with copper excess (10 µM) showed co-occuring increases of intracellular calcium and hydrogen peroxide.¹³ Copper induced a triphasic release of calcium with maximal levels at 2, 3 and 12 h and a biphasic production of hydrogen peroxide with peaks at 3 and 12 h. Interestingly, the production of hydrogen peroxide occurred exclusively in organelles, i.e., mitochondria and chloroplasts. In addition, calcium and hydrogen peroxide act as signals in the differential activation of antioxidant and defense enzymes.¹³ In this work, we analyzed the intracellular origin of copper-induced calcium release and the type of calcium channels activated in response to copper excess in U. compressa.     

A new bird flea from Chile (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae

Doasypsyllus (Neomipsyllus) aedon n. sp. is described from specimens obtained from Passeriform's nests (Troglodytidae and Furnariidae).