Tumulduria incomperta and the case for Tommotian trilobites

The enigmatic fossil Tumulduria incomperta Missanhevsky 1969 from the basal Tommotian Stage at 'Dvortsy' on the Aldan River, Siberian Platform, is reinvestigated in light of the report (Fedorov et al. 1979, Dokl. AN SSSR 249) of trilobite remains from the same beds. Comparisons of these supposed trilobites with old and new collections from 'Dvortsy' leave no doubt that they are identical to Tumulduria incomperta. Tumulduria is represented by phosphatic plates with a crude bilateral symmetry, consisting of a central longitudinal rounded ridge flanked by flat lateral portions. They are built of growth lamellae overlapping each other along the axis of symmetry. The surface carries prominent transverse folds and lamellar terminations. There is considerable morphological variation, and the similarity of some specimens to trilobites is only superficial. Tumulduria is interpreted as a bilaterally symmetrical metazoan with a dorsal protective plate; it probably represents a short-lived group that left no descendants.     

Phagocytic Activity of Three Naegleria Strains in the Presence of Erythrocytes of Various Types1

The phagocytic activities of N. lovaniensis (Aq/9/1/45D) and N. gruberi (1518/1f and 1518/1e) were studied in the presence of erythrocytes of various species: chicken, rabbit, goat, and human (A⁺, B⁺, and AB⁺ were tested). The percentage of amoebae with ingested red cells, the phagocytic index (PhI), can be considered as an expression of phagocytic activity. Under given conditions (erythrocyte concentration, incubation time, age of amoebic cultures) each strain of Naegleria prefers one erythrocyte type. Thus, for 72-h cultures, N. lovaniensis ingested more A⁺ type erythrocytes than did N. gruberi strains but had very low affinity for rabbit red cells except when very high concentrations were tested. Naegleria gruberi 1f was the most active of the three strains towards rabbit and B⁺ and AB⁺ human erythrocytes, but very low PhIs were obtained with goat erythrocytes. Naegleria gruberi le exhibited high phagocytic activity for every erythrocyte type except for rabbit red cells.     

Billingen (Lower Arenig/Lower Ordovician) acritarchs from the East European Platform and their palaeobiogeographic significance

Billingen (Lower Arenig/Lower Ordovician) sediments of the St. Petersburg region, northwest Russia and the Leba area, northern Poland of the East European Craton yield acritarch assemblages, which are largely homogenous though displaying minor compositional differences that probably reflect a gradient from inner to outer shelf environments. Comparison with coeval acritarch microflora from the Yangtze Platform, South China, shows an overall similarity between Baltoscandian and South Chinese phytoplankton. The widespread uniformity in the fossil microphytoplankton may be related to the extensive global 'evae' sea-level transgression, which characterized the Billingen time. This suggests that during the Tremadoc through early Arenig times, acritarch assemblages displayed essentially an undifferentiated cold-water and oceanic character along the whole margin of Perigondwana in the South, as well as on the South Chinese and Baltic platforms, at middle latitudes (Mediterranean oceanic Realm). Despite this overall similarity, however, some typical taxa of the high-latitude Mediterranean Province (Arbusculidium, Coryphidium and Striatotheca) occur in South China, but are absent in Baltica. This discrepancy is explained as caused by differences in climatic and physiographic conditions that prevailed at the two palaeocontinents at this time. The inferred pattern of oceanic circulation during the Lower Ordovician is consistent with the palynological evidence of a prevailing warmer climate in Baltica than in South China, although the two palaeocontinents occupied the same palaeolatitudinal position.     

Early Cambrian coelobiontic communities in tectonically unstable crevices developed in Neoproterozoic andesites, Ossa-Morena, southern Spain

A well-preserved biota of Lower Cambrian cavity-dwelling organisms is recorded within fissures in Neoproterozoic andesites in Ossa-Morena (southern Spain). The cavities are unique among described Lower Cambrian coelobiontic communities due to the igneous character of the host rock. Coelobiontic habitat was episodically enlarged by synsedimentary tectonic fracturing reflecting polyphase infill of recurrent facies. The pioneer coelobiontic biota was diverse, and consisted of encrusting stromatolites and thromboids (dominated by Epiphyton and Renalcis), attached to walls and ceilings of the cavities, associated with archaeocyaths. Sponge spicules and chancelloriid sclerites occur as dense clusters indicating in situ growth, death and decay of spiculate sponges and coeloscleritophorans. Other organisms, such as echinoderms, trilobites and brachiopods, are also found within the cavities as reworked skeletons, indicating that they were washed in from the overlying, open seafloor. The main feature of the coelobiontic biota is the dominance of a sessile, chemosynthetic and filter-feeding epibenthos, composed of microbial communities, archaeocyaths, spiculate sponges (demosponges and rarer hexactinellides) and coeloscleritophorans.     

Characterization of 59 canine single nucleotide polymorphisms in the Italian wolf (Canis lupus) population

We characterized 59 canine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the endangered Italian wolf (Canis lupus) population, which were discovered by resequencing sequence‐tagged‐site (STS) DNA sequences that are known to contain SNPs in domestic dogs. Dog SNPs were usually found also in wolves. Additional SNPs unique in dogs or wolves were discovered, which is important for detecting hybrids between dogs and wolves. We developed new primer sets and analysed 15 SNPs by Pyrosequencing. The characterized SNPs will provide an important addition to the genetic markers that are currently available for studying wild populations of canids.     

Species‐specific influences of shrubs on the non‐dormant soil seed bank of native and exotic plant species in central‐northern Monte Desert

Deserts shrubs are well known to facilitate vegetation aggregation, mostly through seed trapping, and stress amelioration during and after plant establishment. Because vegetation aggregation effects are a by‐product of shrub presence, beneficiary species may not only be native, but also exotic. However, despite the high risk that exotic invasive species pose to ecosystem services, little is known of the role of desert shrubs on plant invasions. We assessed the influence of two shrub species on the non‐dormant soil seed bank (i.e. the number of seeds that readily germinate with sufficient water availability) of an invasive annual grass (Schismus barbatus) and of coexisting native species in a central‐northern Monte Desert (Argentina). Soil samples were collected beneath the canopies of two dominant shrub species (Bulnesia retama and Larrea divaricata) and in open spaces (i.e. intercanopies) in May 2001. Overall, the density of germinated seedlings of Schismus and that of the native species were negatively associated across microsite types. Schismus density was similar to that of all native species pooled together (mostly annuals), and was highest in Larrea samples (with no significant differences between Bulnesia and intercanopies). On the contrary, the density of all native species pooled together was highest in Bulnesia samples. Our results suggest that shrubs may contribute to plant invasions in our study system but, most importantly, they further illustrate that this influence can be species specific. Further research is needed to assess the relative importance of in situ seed production (and survival) and seed redistribution on soil seed bank spatial patterns.     

Effects of different thermal treatments during embryonic development on the artificial incubation efficiency of crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes Lereboullet) eggs. Control of the embryogenetic duration and implications for commercial production

Summary

The development and improvement of artificial incubation techniques for freshwater crayfish eggs and their incorporation into the working schedule of breeding centres is of great interest for commercial production. Factors such as the water circulation system, flow rate, thermal treatment, etc., could strongly influence the success of the process. The present study attempts to test the possible influence of one of these variables, the thermal regime, on both the duration of embryonic development and the efficiency rates obtained in the artificial incubation of white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) eggs. Four different thermal treatments were tested (three of them included a period at low temperature: 4°-5°C). Survival rates to juvenile stage 2 were similar in the four cases, ranging between 66.7 and 72.7%. We conclude that water cooling (an expensive management procedure) is not necessary in astacid breeding centres provided that egg development takes place at moderately low temperatures (8°-10°C) with a subsequent increase of up to 15°C from the eyed stage. However, the inclusion of periods at low temperature (4°-5°C) allows the staggered production of juvenile batches throughout a 3-week period without adverse effects on efficiency rates. This could be useful to breeding centres in meeting seasonal market requirements. In our study, egg and juvenile losses (mortality rate: 15–20%) were concentrated during the last phases of embryogenesis, particularly from the eyed stage to juvenile stage 2, during which they amounted to more than 90% of the overall mortality which took place during the artificial incubation process.     

The K+/H+ antiporter LeNHX2 increases salt tolerance by improving K+ homeostasis in transgenic tomato

The endosomal LeNHX2 ion transporter exchanges H⁺ with K⁺ and, to lesser extent, Na⁺. Here, we investigated the response to NaCl supply and K⁺ deprivation in transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) overexpressing LeNHX2 and show that transformed tomato plants grew better in saline conditions than untransformed controls, whereas in the absence of K⁺ the opposite was found. Analysis of mineral composition showed a higher K⁺ content in roots, shoots and xylem sap of transgenic plants and no differences in Na⁺ content between transgenic and untransformed plants grown either in the presence or the absence of 120 mm NaCl. Transgenic plants showed higher Na⁺/H⁺ and, above all, K⁺/H⁺ transport activity in root intracellular membrane vesicles. Under K⁺ limiting conditions, transgenic plants enhanced root expression of the high‐affinity K⁺ uptake system HAK5 compared to untransformed controls. Furthermore, tomato overexpressing LeNHX2 showed twofold higher K⁺ depletion rates and half cytosolic K⁺ activity than untransformed controls. Under NaCl stress, transgenic plants showed higher uptake velocity for K⁺ and lower cytosolic K⁺ activity than untransformed plants. These results indicate the fundamental role of K⁺ homeostasis in the better performance of LeNHX2 overexpressing tomato under NaCl stress.     

Identification of senescent cells in multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell cultures: Current methods and future directions

Regardless of their tissue of origin, multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are commonly expanded in vitro for several population doublings to achieve a sufficient number of cells for therapy. Prolonged MSC expansion has been shown to result in phenotypical, morphological and gene expression changes in MSCs, which ultimately lead to the state of senescence. The presence of senescent cells in therapeutic MSC batches is undesirable because it reduces their viability, differentiation potential and trophic capabilities. Additionally, senescent cells acquire senescence-activated secretory phenotype, which may not only induce apoptosis in the neighboring host cells following MSC transplantation, but also trigger local inflammatory reactions. This review outlines the current and promising new methodologies for the identification of senescent cells in MSC cultures, with a particular emphasis on non-destructive and label-free methodologies. Technologies allowing identification of individual senescent cells, based on new surface markers, offer potential advantage for targeted senescent cell removal using new-generation senolytic agents, and subsequent production of therapeutic MSC batches fully devoid of senescent cells. Methods or a combination of methods that are non-destructive and label-free, for example, involving cell size and spectroscopic measurements, could be the best way forward because they do not modify the cells of interest, thus maximizing the final output of therapeutic-grade MSC cultures. The further incorporation of machine learning methods has also recently shown promise in facilitating, automating and enhancing the analysis of these measured data.