Wildlife detector dogs and camera traps: a comparison of techniques for detecting feral cats

A major challenge in controlling overabundant wildlife is monitoring their populations, particularly as they decline to very low density. Camera traps and wildlife detector dogs are increasingly being used for this purpose. We compared the cost-effectiveness of these two approaches for detecting feral cats (Felis catus) on two pastoral properties in Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand. One property was subject to intensive pest removal, while the other had no recent history of pest control. Camera traps and wildlife detector dogs detected cats at similar rates at both sites. The operating costs of each method were also comparable. We identify a number of advantages and disadvantages of each technique, and suggest priorities for further research.     

Species status of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: evolutionary and epidemiological inferences from multilocus sequence typing

Background  

Various typing methods have been developed for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, but none provide the combination of discrimination, reproducibility, portability, and genetic inference that allows the analysis of all aspects of the epidemiology of this pathogen from a single data set. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) has been used successfully to characterize the related organisms Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria lactamica. Here, the same seven locus Neisseria scheme was used to characterize a diverse collection of N. gonorrhoeae isolates to investigate whether this method would allow differentiation among isolates, and to distinguish these three species.     

More robust detection of motifs in coexpressed genes by using phylogenetic information

Background  

Several motif detection algorithms have been developed to discover overrepresented motifs in sets of coexpressed genes. However, in a noisy gene list, the number of genes containing the motif versus the number lacking the motif might not be sufficiently high to allow detection by classical motif detection tools. To still recover motifs which are not significantly enriched but still present, we developed a procedure in which we use phylogenetic footprinting to first delineate all potential motifs in each gene. Then we mutually compare all detected motifs and identify the ones that are shared by at least a few genes in the data set as potential candidates.     

Belowground ABA boosts aboveground production of DIMBOA and primes induction of chlorogenic acid in maize

Plants are important mediators between above- and belowground herbivores. Consequently, interactions between root and shoot defenses can have far-reaching impacts on entire food webs. We recently reported that infestation of maize roots by larvae of the beetle Diabrotica virgifera virgifera induced shoot resistance against herbivores and pathogens. Root herbivory also enhanced aboveground DIMBOA and primed for enhanced induction of chlorogenic acid, two secondary metabolites that have been associated with plant stress resistance. Interestingly, the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) emerged as a putative long-distance signal in the regulation of these systemic defenses. In this addendum, we have investigated the role of root-derived ABA in aboveground regulation of DIMBOA and the phenolic compounds chlorogenic acid, caffeic and ferulic acid. Furthermore, we discuss the relevance of ABA in relation to defense against the leaf herbivore Spodoptera littoralis. Soil-drench treatment with ABA mimicked root herbivore-induced accumulation of DIMBOA in the leaves. Similarly, ABA mimicked aboveground priming of chlorogenic acid production, causing augmented induction of this compound after subsequent shoot attack by S. littoralis caterpillars. These findings confirm our notion that ABA acts as an important signal in the regulation of aboveground defenses during belowground herbivory. However, based on our previous finding that ABA alone is not sufficient to trigger aboveground resistance against S. littoralis caterpillars, our results also suggest that the ABA-inducible effects on DIMBOA and chlorogenic acid are not solely responsible for root herbivore-induced resistance against S. littoralis.Key words: induced resistance, Spodoptera littoralis, Zea mays, Diabrotica virgifera, DIMBOA, chlorogenic acid, absisic acid, priming     

Removal of Cu2+ from aqueous solution by adsorption onto a novel activated nylon-based membrane

A novel activated nylon-based membrane was prepared and applied as an adsorbent for the removal of Cu2+ from aqueous solutions. It involved three stages: (i) deposition of a chitosan layer that functionalized the nylon membrane, (ii) cross-linking with epichlorohydrin to stabilize the polymer layer and enabling grafting, and (iii) iminodiacetic acid grafting. SEM and EDX techniques were used to characterize the composition of the membranes. Dynamic adsorption experiments on membranes were carried out at various pH values, contact times, adsorption dosages and initial metal concentrations to determine optimum membrane adsorption properties. The adsorption isotherm relating to Cu2+ fitted the Langmuir equation and an adsorption equilibrium constant and adsorption capacity of 2.345x10(-3)mg/ml and 10.794mg/g were determined, respectively. The experimental data was analyzed using two adsorption kinetic models, pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order with the latter system providing the best fit. Finally complete regeneration of the activated nylon membrane was possible using 100mmol/l Na2EDTA.     

mlstdbNet – distributed multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) databases

Background  

Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) is a method of typing that facilitates the discrimination of microbial isolates by comparing the sequences of housekeeping gene fragments. The mlstdbNet software enables the implementation of distributed web-accessible MLST databases that can be linked widely over the Internet.     

Topological studies on the enzymes catalyzing the biosynthesis of Glc-P- dolichol and the triglucosyl cap of Glc3Man9GlcNAc2-P-P-dolichol in microsomal vesicles from pig brain: use of the processing glucosidases I/II as latency markers

In the current model for Glc3Man9GlcNAc2-P-P-Dol assembly, Man5GlcNAc2- P-P-Dol, Man-P-Dol, and Glc-P-Dol are synthesized on the cytoplasmic face of the ER and diffuse transversely to the lumenal leaflet where the synthesis of the lipid-bound precursor oligosaccharide is completed. To establish the topological sites of Glc-P-Dol synthesis and the lipid-mediated glucosyltransfer reactions involved in Glc3Man9GlcNAc2-P-P-Dol synthesis in ER vesicles from pig brain, the trypsin-sensitivity of Glc-P-Dol synthase activity and the Glc-P- Dol:Glc0-2Man9GlcNAc2-P-P-Dol glucosyltransferases (GlcTases) was examined in sealed microsomal vesicles. Since ER vesicles from brain do not contain glucose 6-phosphate (Glc 6-P) phosphatase activity, the latency of the lumenally oriented, processing glucosidase I/II activities was used to assess the intactness of the vesicle preparations. Comparative enzymatic studies with sealed ER vesicles from brain and kidney, a tissue that contains Glc 6-P phosphatase, demonstrate the reliability of using the processing glucosidase activities as latency markers for topological studies with microsomal vesicles from non-gluconeogenic tissues lacking Glc 6-P phosphatase. The results obtained from the trypsin-sensitivity assays with sealed microsomal vesicles from brain are consistent with a topological model in which Glc-P-Dol is synthesized on the cytoplasmic face of the ER, and subsequently utilized by the three Glc-P-Dol-mediated GlcTases after "flip-flopping" to the lumenal monolayer.      

Mitochondrial gene divergence of Colombian Drosophila pseudoobscura

Isolated populations of drosophila pseudoobscura, separated from North American populations by about 2,400 km, were found in Colombia in 1960. We compared for sequences of the small ribosomal RNA (srRNA) gene on the mitochondria between North American and Colombian D. pseudoobscura in order to clarify the age of the Colombian isolates. The North American populations were not genetically different from each other but were genetically different from the Colombian populations. The Mexican strains represent the area from which the Colombian founders might have come. The estimated net nucleotide divergence between Mexican and Colombian D. pseudoobscura indicates that the Colombian population is not an ancient lineage. Phylogenies using both distance and parsimony methodologies reinforced this conclusion. The Colombian samples group together with both methods but, according to the bootstrap analysis, not significantly. It appears that the populations have not been separated long enough for their DNA sequences to show much divergence.