Functional role of phenylacetic acid from metapleural gland secretions in controlling fungal pathogens in evolutionarily derived leaf-cutting ants

Fungus-farming ant colonies vary four to five orders of magnitude in size. They employ compounds from actinomycete bacteria and exocrine glands as antimicrobial agents. Atta colonies have millions of ants and are particularly relevant for understanding hygienic strategies as they have abandoned their ancestors'' prime dependence on antibiotic-based biological control in favour of using metapleural gland (MG) chemical secretions. Atta MGs are unique in synthesizing large quantities of phenylacetic acid (PAA), a known but little investigated antimicrobial agent. We show that particularly the smallest workers greatly reduce germination rates of Escovopsis and Metarhizium spores after actively applying PAA to experimental infection targets in garden fragments and transferring the spores to the ants'' infrabuccal cavities. In vitro assays further indicated that Escovopsis strains isolated from evolutionarily derived leaf-cutting ants are less sensitive to PAA than strains from phylogenetically more basal fungus-farming ants, consistent with the dynamics of an evolutionary arms race between virulence and control for Escovopsis, but not Metarhizium. Atta ants form larger colonies with more extreme caste differentiation relative to other attines, in societies characterized by an almost complete absence of reproductive conflicts. We hypothesize that these changes are associated with unique evolutionary innovations in chemical pest management that appear robust against selection pressure for resistance by specialized mycopathogens.     

Application of antigens from Taenia hydatigena cyst fluid for the immunodiagnosis of human hydatidosis

Fluid was collected from cysts of Taenia hydatigena in 60 adult sheep and fluid from each animal pooled separately. By double diffusion antigen 5 was demonstrated in all pools but one. The criteria are described for selection and standardization of these preparations for use as antigens for the immunodiagnosis of human hydatid disease. Sera from 50 persons harbouring hydatid cysts and from 50 patients with other disease conditions were examined by the arc-5 double-diffusion test, using two antigens prepared from Echinococcus granulosus and T. hydatigena cyst fluids, respectively. The results showed that a higher diagnostic sensitivity was obtained with the hydatid antigen. The significance of the findings is discussed in terms of their application to human immunodiagnosis in areas where hydatidosis, but not cysticercosis, is rare in livestock.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: 4-aminopyrazolopyrimidine in the treatment of experimental Chagas' disease

An allopurinol metabolite, 4-aminopyrazolopyrimidine, was tested on two different strains of mice (NMRI-IVIC and C57Bl/6J) that had been infected 4 days earlier with the virulent Ya strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. Low doses of 4-aminopyrazolopyrimidine (0.125-0.500 mg/kg body wt/day) for 10 days induced a significant reduction in parasitemia (direct counts and subinoculation experiments) and increased survival time (without any evidence of toxicity) compared with untreated animals. When tested in vitro, 4-aminopyrazolopyrimidine was sixfold more active than allopurinol as a trypanostatic drug. The low therapeutic doses of 4-aminopyrazolopyrimidine suggest that this drug may be useful in the treatment of acute Chagas' disease.     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROMOTION OF ELONGATION OF FERN PROTONEMATA BY LIGHT AND GROWTH SUBSTANCES

Germinating spores of the fern Onoclea sensibilis L. were grown in darkness, so that they developed as filaments (protonemata). Brief daily exposure of the filaments to red, far-red or blue light increased the rate of filament elongation. Filament elongation was also promoted by indoleacetic acid. When filament elongation was promoted with both indoleacetic acid and exposure to light, the growth promotions caused by red and far-red light were additive to auxin-induced growth. Blue light promoted elongation only at sub-optimal concentrations of auxin. Elongation induced by guanine was additive to red- and far-red-induced elongation. Gibberellic acid had no effect on elongation under any condition. Blue-light-induced elongation resembled auxin-induced elongation in its requirement for exogenous sucrose and sensitivity to inhibition by parachlorophenoxyisobutyric acid. Red and far-red light were active regardless of the presence or absence of sucrose and promoted elongation at a concentration of parachlorophenoxyisobutyric acid which completely inhibited blue-light-induced elongation.     

Gross (mesoscopic) and applied anatomy of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery in man with special reference to its course through the cerebellopontine angle region.

In the present paper, we describe anatomical variants of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery in man for applicative purposes. Our goal was to provide the surgeon with a detailed anatomical view of the region. This is similar to what he may observe through the surgical microscope using modern microsurgical techniques. We have focused our attention on the segments of the artery comprising its origin, its course until it reaches the cerebellum and its main collateral branches. Our results confirm the great variability of the elements under study, but enable the establishment of a few basic variational patterns. These patterns together with their relative frequency may be helpful in microsurgery.     

Ferralterin: An iron-sulfur protein functional in enzyme regulation in photosynthesis

The chloroplast new protein factor that was recently shown to link light to the activation of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase was identified as a previously unrecognized iron-sulfur protein. This protein, given the name “ferralterin,” was purified to homogeneity from spinach leaves and from the blue-green alga (cyanobacterium) Nostoc muscorum. Ferralterin from both sources showed a visible absorption peak at 410nm, a molecular weight of about 30,000 and (provisionally) 4 g-atoms per mole each of nonheme iron and acid labile sulfide. The homogeneous ferralterin preparations catalyzed a light-dependent activation of chloroplast fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase that was dependent only on chlorophyll-containing membranes.     

A social panorama within the life cycle thinking and the circular economy: a literature review

Purpose

This literature review aims to present the current methodologies that have been developed to perform a social life cycle assessment (sLCA) and to display the main differences among them. In addition to that, to identify the nexus between sLCA and circular economy (CE) and to what extent this life cycle technique has been involved within CE studies.

Methods

An analysis of scientific literature using online databases was made. A total of 76 publications, including all industry sectors worldwide, were chosen spanning 11 years, from 2009 to 2020. Special attention was made to the methodology used to assess the social impacts, the impact categories analyzed, and whether there is or not a circular economy case. All the impact categories of both UNEP/SETAC and PSIA were taken into account when doing the review, and the top three of the categories are mentioned here.

Results and discussion

The leadership of the UNEP/SETAC methodology is clear with 58 cases. Almost 90% of the case studies are focused on products while the remaining ones are related with services. Workers are the most considered stakeholder when conducting an sLCA research, followed by local communities and society. Regarding the impact assessment, the performance reference point (PRP) was the most common method used. When considering the CE even when some cases included the end-of-life stage in the system boundaries, the studies did not consider the actors from that stage; excluding these cases, one out of four articles has a link with CE, a promising proportion taking into account the early stage of both concepts (i.e., sLCA and CE).

Conclusions

UNEP/SETAC guidelines seem to be the most promising methodology due to its reception among the scientific community. However, a more industry-oriented approach is proposed by the Roundtable for Product Social Metrics (PSIA) in a way to respond to manufacturing companies’ demand. Regardless of the type of methodology to be implemented, workers represent the key stakeholder when assessing social impacts. The change in usual patterns is leading to a change in the way how stakeholders interact and therefore new and more impacts may arise, and that is the reason why it is important to include the CE into the sLCA. A series of challenges such as the feasibility of aggregating all the life cycle techniques to one (life cycle sustainability assessment), data availability, and quality are still present for the moment.

     

The effects of age,energy and protein intake on protein turnover and the expression of proteolysis-related genes in the broiler breeder hen

A study was conducted to determine the changes that occur to proteolysis and related genes due to age, protein, and energy intake in high-yield broiler breeder hens (Gallus gallus). Cobb 700 broiler breeders were randomly assigned to one of six diets in a 2 × 3 factorial fashion. Two levels of energy (390 and 450 kcal/day) and three levels of protein (22, 24, and 26 g CP/day) were utilized. Protein turnover was determined in the left pectoralis at 22, 26, 31 and 44 weeks. Relative mRNA expression of calpain 2 (CAPN2), proteasome C2 subunit (PSMA1), and F box protein 32 (FBXO32) were determined via RT-PCR at 20, 25, and 44 weeks. Contrasts indicate fractional synthesis rate (FSR) and FBXO32 increase to a maximum at 25–26 weeks and a decrease thereafter. A significant drop in PSMA1 and FBXO32 was observed between 25 and 44 weeks and matched the decrease observed in FBR. No differences were detected in the levels of fractional synthesis and degradation, or the expression of CAPN2, PSMA1, and FBXO32, due to protein or energy intake. In summary, protein turnover was upregulated during the transition into sexual maturity and decreased thereafter. The observed changes in degradation appeared to be mediated by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway.