Survival,development and reproduction of Euseius finlandicus (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on various kinds of food substances

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of diet on the biology of the phytoseiid mite, Euseius finlandicus (Oudemans). The predatory mite was able to develop and reproduce better when fed on the eriophyid mites, Aceria olivi (Zaher and Abou-Awad), Aceria dioscoridis (Soliman and Abou-Awad) and Cisaberoptus kenyae (Keifer). The developmental time of immature stages was the shortest when fed on motile stages of eriophyid mite species, followed by the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, and then pollen grains of Ricinus communis L., Phoenix dactylifera L. and Helianthus annuus L. Total egg production was highest when the predator fed on A. olivi, A. dioscoridis and C. kenyae recording at the rate of 51.0 50.0 and 43.84 eggs/female, respectively, but lowest on pollen grains, R. communis, P. dactylifera and H. annuus at the rate of 11.96, 5.3 and 2.0 eggs/female, respectively. But, the reproduction was nil on the tetranychid mite, T. urticae. Also, sex ratio of the progeny favoured females, when the predatory mite was reared on the eriophyid preys. E. finlandicus recorded the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r_m?=?0.31 females/female/day) when fed on A. dioscoridis, followed by (0.30 and 0.23 females/female/day) when fed on A. olivi and C. kenyae, respectively. In contrast, the lowest intrinsic rate of increase (r_m?=??0.31) was noted when fed on H. annuus pollen grains. The eriophyid mite, as a prey, recorded the shortest developmental time and highest oviposition rate of E. finlandicus.     

Guillain-Barré syndrome as a cause of acute flaccid paralysis in Iraqi children: a result of 15 years of nation-wide study

Background

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in the post-poliomyelitis eradication era. This is the first study done to identify the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcome of GBS in Iraqi children over 15 years.

Methods

The surveillance database about AFP cases?<?15 years reported during January 1997-December 2011 was used.

Results

GBS represented 52.5% of AFP cases, with an incidence of 1.33 case/100,000 population?<?15 years/year. There was a higher incidence in the Southern provinces, age group 1–4 years, males, and outside the capital city of province, with no significant seasonal variations (p?=?.22). Survival probability after the 1 year of onset for those with respiratory muscle involvement was .76 (95% CI: .60-.86), versus .97 (95% Cl: .96-.98) for those who did not develop it (p?<?.001); and .97 (95% CI: .96-.98) for those living inside the capital city, versus .94 (.93-.95) for those living outside (p?=?.001). Cumulative incidence of residual paralysis for patients living inside the capital city was .21 (95% CI: .18-.24), versus .27 (95% CI: .25-.29) for those living outside (p?<?.001).

Conclusions

The incidence, age and gender distribution, and seasonality of GBS among Iraqi children is similar to those reported from other previous studies. It is the most important cause of AFP, especially in those between the age of 1 to 4 years living in rural areas.

     

Cytotoxic and cell cycle arrest induction of pentacyclic triterpenoides separated from Lantana camara leaves against MCF-7 cell line in vitro

Molecular Biology Reports - Lantana camara is an important medicinal plant that contains many active compounds, including pentacyclic triterpenoids, with numerous biological activities. The present...     

Proteomic analysis revealed the biofilm-degradation abilities of the bacteriophage UPMK_1 and UPMK_2 against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Biotechnology Letters - The degradation activity of two bacteriophages UPMK_1 and UPMK_2 against methicillin-resistant&nbsp;Staphylococcus aureus&nbsp;phages were examined using gel...     

Can genetically based clines in plant defence explain greater herbivory at higher latitudes?

Greater plant defence is predicted to evolve at lower latitudes in response to increased herbivore pressure. However, recent studies question the generality of this pattern. In this study, we tested for genetically based latitudinal clines in resistance to herbivores and underlying defence traits of Oenothera biennis. We grew plants from 137 populations from across the entire native range of O. biennis. Populations from lower latitudes showed greater resistance to multiple specialist and generalist herbivores. These patterns were associated with an increase in total phenolics at lower latitudes. A significant proportion of the phenolics were driven by the concentrations of two major ellagitannins, which exhibited opposing latitudinal clines. Our analyses suggest that these findings are unlikely to be explained by local adaptation of herbivore populations or genetic variation in phenology. Rather greater herbivory at high latitudes can be explained by latitudinal clines in the evolution of plant defences.     

Intrinsic innervation of the gall bladder in the dog.

The gall bladder of eight dogs 3 months old were extracted and studied by the Holme's and Gross-Bielschowsky techniques. The nerves were found to form an extensive network within the wall of the gall bladder. However, 5 plexuses were identified and their arrangement was similar to that in the wall of the intestine. Nerve cells were only found in relation with the myenteric plexus. Moreover, knob-like terminals and circular type of nerve endings were noticed on the muscularis. The findings of the intrinsic innervation of the gall bladder of the dog were compared with that of man, monkey and guinea pig and the significance of that innervation was discussed.     

Thiol‐based switch mechanism of virulence regulator AphB modulates oxidative stress response in Vibrio cholerae

Bacterial pathogens display versatile gene expression to adapt to changing surroundings. For example, Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera, utilizes distinct genetic programs to combat reactive oxygen species (ROS) in aquatic environments or during host infection. We previously reported that the virulence activator AphB in V. cholerae is involved in ROS resistance. Here by performing a genetic screen, we show that AphB represses ROS resistance gene ohrA, which is also repressed by another regulator, OhrR. Reduced forms of both AphB and OhrR directly bind to the ohrA promoter and repress its expression, whereas organic hydroperoxides such as cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) deactivate AphB and OhrR. OhrA is critical for V. cholerae adult mouse colonization but is dispensable when the mice are treated with antioxidants. Furthermore, similar to our previous finding that AphB and OhrR exhibit different reduction rates during the shift from oxic to anoxic environments, we found that AphB is also oxidized more slowly than OhrR under peroxide stress or exposure to oxygen. This differential regulation optimizes the expression of ohrA and contributes to V. cholerae's ability to survive in a variety of environmental niches that contain different levels of ROS.