Tusk abnormalities in wild boar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sus scrofa</Emphasis> L.)

This paper describes pathological alterations in the permanent canines (tusks) of four male wild boars. The mandibular tusks of all individuals, and also some of the maxillary tusks, exhibited an extended enamel hypoplasia in their apical portion, denoting an impairment of secretory ameloblast function. Moreover, the pulp cavities of the mandibular tusks were exposed through cleft-like openings in the wear (whetting) surfaces of the teeth. Presence of a plug of reparative dentine within the pulp cavity was observed in a split mandibular tusk of one individual. In a second boar, the presence of a plug of reparative dentine within the pulp cavity of the mandibular tusks was indicated radiographically. These findings suggested a reparation process attempting to demarcate a vital, apical pulp portion from a necrotic, incisal portion. The enamel hypoplasias observed in the teeth are regarded to be sequelae of the pulp inflammation caused by bacterial invasion in the mandibular tusks. Most likely, bacterial invasion of the dental pulp occurred through the cleft-like openings in the tusks whetting surfaces, the openings resulting from insufficient formation of secondary dentine. It is, however, also conceivable that pulp inflammation and partial necrosis occurred as a consequence of bacterial invasion of patent dentinal tubules, and that the openings in the whetting surface developed secondarily as a consequence of the pulp changes. One mandibular tusk showed marked signs of resorption apically, suggesting a spread of the inflammation from the pulp into the periodontium.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus anthracis</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Francisella tularensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yersinia pestis</Emphasis>. The most important bacterial warfare agents — <Emphasis Type="Italic">review</Emphasis>

There are three most important bacterial causative agents of serious infections that could be misused for warfare purposes: Bacillus anthracis (the causative agent of anthrax) is the most frequently mentioned one; however, Fracisella tularensis (causing tularemia) and Yersinia pestis (the causative agent of plague) are further bacterial agents enlisted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into the category A of potential biological weapons. This review intends to summarize basic information about these bacterial agents. Military aspects of their pathogenesis and the detection techniques suitable for field use are discussed.     

Landscape structure affects food quality of sika deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cervus nippon</Emphasis>) evidenced by fecal nitrogen levels

Evaluating the quality of wildlife habitat is essential for understanding and predicting population dynamics in heterogeneous environments. We used fecal nitrogen levels as an indicator of habitat quality of sika deer (Cervus nippon) and explored important landscape elements influencing nitrogen levels, taking deer density into account. We established 92 plots differing in deer density and landscape structure on the Boso Peninsula, central Japan, and collected fecal samples along a 1-km transect at each plot. The regression models involving two independent variables, i.e., deer density and the length of forest edge within an area of 100 or 200 m from the transect, were selected based on the Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). Levels of fecal nitrogen were positively correlated with the length of the forest edge and negatively correlated with population density of deer. The area of 100 or 200 m from the transect most likely reflected the behavioral scale of the deer. Coverage of palatable understory vegetation increased with proximity to forest edge and decreased with deer density. Variability in the level of fecal nitrogen could thus be explained by food availability in the landscape. These results suggest that landscape alterations increase the carrying capacity of sika deer and thereby increase impacts upon the ecosystem.     

Frequencies of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">DRB1</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">DQA1</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">DQB1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">TNFA</Emphasis> alleles in immigrant population of west Siberia

Based on population analysis of the DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 and TNFA allele frequency distribution patterns, regional features of immunogenetic structure of the population of West Siberia were investigated. Statistically significant linkage disequilibrium within the HLA class II region, as well as between the TNFA and DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 was demonstrated. Population frequency distribution patterns of two- and multilocus haplotypes were examined.     

Overexpression of the Chitosanase Gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium solani</Emphasis> via <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>-Mediated Transformation

To overexpress the chitosanase gene (csn) in F. solani, a vector based on pCAMBIA 1300 was constructed. The csn gene, which is under control of the Aspergillus nidulans gpdA promoter and A. nidulans trpC terminator, was introduced back into the F. solani genome by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, and the herbicide-resistance gene bar from Streptomyces hygroscopicus was used as the selection marker. Transformants which showed a significant increase in chitosanase production (~2.1-fold than control) were obtained. Southern blot analysis indicated that most transformants had a single-copy T-DNA integration.     

Isolation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">madA</Emphasis> homologs in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pilobolus crystallinus</Emphasis>

Pilobolus crystallinus shows unique photoresponses at various growing stages. cDNAs for putative photoreceptors were cloned from this fungus. Three genes named pcmada1, pcmada2, and pcmada3 were identified from the PCR fragments, and amplified with degenerated primers for the LOV domain, which is conserved in many blue-light receptors. Deduced amino acid sequences for PCMADA1, PCMADA2, and PCMADA3 had one light-oxygen-voltage (LOV)-sensing and two PER-ARNT-SIM (PAS) domains. A zinc finger DNA-binding motif was conserved in the C-terminals of PCMADA1 and PCMADA3. However, PCMADA2 lacked the zinc finger motif. Expression of pcmada1 was suppressed by blue light whereas that of pcmada3 was promoted by blue-light irradiation.     

Structural characteristics of the chloroplast <Emphasis Type="Italic">rpS16</Emphasis> intron in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium sativum</Emphasis> and related <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium</Emphasis> species

The intron sequence of chloroplast rpS16 and the secondary structure of its pre-mRNA were characterized for the first time in 26 Allium sativum accessions of different ecologo-geographical origins and seven related Allium species. The boundaries and main stem-loop consensus sequences were identified for all six domains of the intron. Polymorphism was estimated for the total intron and its regions. The structural regions of the rpS16 intron proved to be heterogeneous for mutation rate and spectrum. Mutations were most abundant in domains II and IV, and transition predominated in domains I, III, V, and VI. In addition to structural elements and motifs typical for group IIB introns, several Allium-specific micro- and macrostructural mutations were revealed. A 290-bp deletion involving domains III and IV and part of domain V was observed in A. altaicum, A. fistulosum, and A. schoenoprasum. Several indels and nucleotide substitutions were found to cause a deviation of the pre-mRNA secondary structure from the consensus model of group II introns.     

Population genetic structure of wild boar <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sus scrofa</Emphasis> in Bulgaria as revealed by microsatellite analysis

Over the last two decades wild boar Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 became the most intensively managed game species in Bulgaria. In order to delineate the population genetic structure, which is essential for sustainable wildlife management, we screened 10 porcine microsatellites across 289 wild boar samples originating from all relevant bioregions of the country. Results based on F _ST values, Bayesian clustering methods and a multi-dimensional scaling analysis can be summarised as follows: (1) two main genetic groups were revealed for the Bulgarian data set: the first one included individuals collected from the Balkan Range Mountain and the northern part of the country and the second one comprised individuals from the Rhodope, Osogovo, Iskur Range and Rila mountains in southern and south-western Bulgaria; (2) all Bulgarian wild boar populations showed a higher level of genetic diversity compared to four populations from Germany which were included for outgroup comparison, and (3) wild boar sampled from a game enclosure were found to be genetically divergent from the other Bulgarian populations, indicating human impact on population genetic structure most likely resulted from fencing and former translocation actions. The evolutionary background leading to the two defined management units as well as conservation and management strategies are discussed.     

Environmental correlates of nest site selection by wild boar<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sus scrofa</Emphasis>

Location of nests, built by free-living wild boarsSus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758, was analysed in order to assess the importance of environmental and social conditions in piglets’ survival during the first days after birth. The research was carried in a Mediterranean forest with different habitats and high density of natural predators. The results indicate that most nests were already constructed before the beginning of March, being located preferentially in areas with: (1) abundant plant cover, (2) water nearby and (3) a warmer temperature than in other places. These results suggest that female wild boar try to diminish mortality caused by natural predators by constructing their nests in places with dense cover. Water is very important because of the females’ new necessities derived from milk production. Warm nesting places might diminish deaths after birth in a species with important thermoregulation deficiencies. The distance between nests is also important because in this period the wild boar develops a territorial behaviour, possibly with the objective of establishing bonds between the mother and her offspring before returning to the familiar units made up of several females and their piglets, all of them of a similar age.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> selection and regeneration of chrysanthemum (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendranthema grandiflorum</Emphasis> Tzelev) plants resistant to culture filtrate of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Septoria obesa</Emphasis> Syd

Callus cultures derived from leaf segments of chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Snow Ball’ which was susceptible to Septoria obesa were successfully used for in vitro selection for resistance to this pathogenic fungus. Resistant cell lines were selected by culturing callus on growth medium containing various concentrations of S. obesa filtrate. Resistant calluses obtained after two cycles (30 d each cycle) of selection were used for plant regeneration. About 30% of the plants regenerated from the resistant calluses and 70–80% of the plants raised from cuttings had acquired considerable resistance against the pathogen in the field. No phenotypic variation was observed in the selected regenerates.     

Decolourisation and dephenolisation potential of selected <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nigri</Emphasis> strains – <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus tubingensis</Emphasis> in olive mill wastewater

Aspergillus section Nigri strains Aspergillus aculeatus Ege-K 258, A. foeditus var. pallidus Ege-K156, A. niger Ege-K 4 and A. tubingensis Ege-K 265 were used to treat olive mill wastewater (OMW) in an investigation aimed at exploring their dephenolisation and decolourisation ability and, consequently, the economic feasibility of using any or all of these strains in a pre-treatment step in the processing of OMW. Of these strains A. tubingensis Ege-K 265 resulted in an 80% decolourisation of twofold-diluted OMW and a 30% decolourisation of undiluted OMW; in addition, it was able to remove approximately 30% of all phenolic compounds in both twofold-diluted and undiluted OMW. We conclude that A. tubingensis Ege-K 265 could be effectively used in the pre-treatment step of a combined aerobic-anaerobic process to solve the environmental problems caused by OMW in Mediterranean countries.     

Liver and kidney concentrations of selenium in wild boars (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Sus scrofa</Emphasis>) from northwestern Poland

The aim of this study was to determine liver and kidney concentrations of selenium in wild boars from the northwest part of Poland, depending on season of the year, age, sex, and body weight. Altogether, samples of livers and kidneys from 172 wild boars that were shot in 2005–2008 were investigated. Liver and kidney concentrations of selenium were determined using spectrofluorometric method. In all the animals studied, selenium concentration was several times lower in the liver than in the kidneys. Selenium concentration averaged 0.19 μg/g wet weight (w.w.) in the liver and 1.20 μg/g w.w. in kidneys. The present study showed that season (P ≤ 0.05), age (P ≤ 0.01), and body weight (P ≤ 0.01) have a significant effect on selenium concentration in the liver of wild boars. Liver selenium concentration was the highest in spring (0.23 μg/g w.w.) and the lowest in autumn (0.16 μg/g w.w). Young animals (up to 1 year of age) and those with the lowest body weight (up to 20 kg) were characterized by a slightly lower selenium concentration in the liver compared to older and heavier animals. No significant differences were found in organ selenium concentration between males and females. According to biochemical criteria for the diagnosis of selenium deficiency in pig liver, which were used to evaluate selenium concentration in the liver of wild boars, no individuals were found to have optimal levels. Considering that in Se deficiency higher selenium concentrations are found in kidneys than in the liver, it can be presumed that the wild boars had Se deficiency. However, this is difficult to state conclusively because there are no reference values for this species.     

Mapping species differences for adventitious rooting in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corymbia torelliana</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corymbia citriodora</Emphasis> subspecies <Emphasis Type="Italic">variegata</Emphasis> hybrid

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection was carried out for adventitious rooting and associated propagation traits in a second-generation outbred Corymbia torelliana × Corymbia citriodora subspecies variegata hybrid family (n = 186). The parental species of this cross are divergent in their capacity to develop roots adventitiously on stem cuttings and their propensity to form lignotubers. For the ten traits studied, there was one or two QTL detected, with some QTL explaining large amounts of phenotypic variation (e.g. 66% for one QTL for percentage rooting), suggesting that major effects influence rooting in this cross. Collocation of QTL for many strongly genetically correlated rooting traits to a single region on linkage group 12 suggested pleiotropy. A three locus model was most parsimonious for linkage group 12, however, as differences in QTL position and lower genetic correlations suggested separate loci for each of the traits of shoot production and root initiation. Species differences were thought to be the major source of phenotypic variation for some rooting rate and root quality traits because of the major QTL effects and up to 59-fold larger homospecific deviations (attributed to species differences) relative to heterospecific deviations (attributed to standing variation within species) evident at some QTL for these traits. A large homospecific/heterospecific ratio at major QTL suggested that the gene action evident in one cross may be indicative of gene action more broadly in hybrids between these species for some traits.     

Oviposition site selection by the bromeliad-dweller harvestman <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bourguyia</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">hamata</Emphasis> (Arachnida: Opiliones)

Bourguyia hamata females oviposit almost exclusively inside the rosette formed by the curled leaves of the epiphytic bromeliad Aechmea nudicaulis. We investigated whether the architecture of the individual bromeliads influences oviposition site selection by this harvestman species. We collected data on the presence of clutches inside bromeliads, rosette length, rosette slope in relation to tree trunks, and the amount of debris inside the rosette. Additionally, we measured the water volume inside the rosettes as well as the variation in the humidity inside and outside bromeliads with long and short rosettes. Longer rosettes were preferred as oviposition site possibly because they accumulate more water and maintain lower internal humidity variation than the external environment. Although the slope of the rosettes did not influence the occurrence of oviposition, the probability of debris accumulation inside the rosettes increased with their slope, and the frequency of clutches was greater in bromeliads with small amounts of debris. A field experiment showed that bromeliads with water inside the rosette were more frequently used as oviposition sites than bromeliads without water. In conclusion, females oviposit predominantly in bromeliads that accumulate more water and have small amounts of debris inside the rosettes, probably because these characteristics promote a more adequate microhabitat for egg development.     

Life cycle of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aylax hypecoi</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Insecta: Hymenoptera: Cynipidae</Emphasis>), a gall inducer on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypecoum</Emphasis> ssp. (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Papaveraceae</Emphasis>)

The life cycle and developmental stages of Aylax hypecoi (Trotter, 1913, Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Aylacini) were studied in detail. Aylax hypecoi is known to induce galls in fruits of two Hypecoum species — H. imberbe and H. geslini (Papaveraceae) and the larva develops in host plant fruits. The morphology and development of egg, larva and pupa were investigated, which has previously not been done. The shape and size of terminal-instar larvae and associated galls are sex-specific. Overwintering stage, adult emergence and flying periods, and egg productivity were studied also.     

Synthesis of orthogonally protected (<Emphasis Type="Italic">3R</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">4S</Emphasis>)- and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">3S</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">4S</Emphasis>)-4,5-diamino-3-hydroxypentanoic acids

Summary.  The paper describes two methods of the synthesis of ethyl (3R,4S)- and (3S,4S)-4-[(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino]-5-[(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)amino]-3-hydroxypentanoates, useful for the syntheses of edeine analogs. Differently N-protected (S)-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid was used as a substrate in both procedures. The absolute configuration of newly generated asymmetric carbon atoms C-3 in β-hydroxy-γ,δ-diamino products was assigned by means of ¹H NMR spectroscopy after their transformation into corresponding piperidin-2-ones. Received May 24, 2002 Accepted October 10, 2002 Published online December 18, 2002 Acknowledgment The authors are indebted to the Faculty of Chemistry, Technical University of Gdańsk for financial support. Authors' address: Zbigniew Czajgucki, M. Sc., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Technical University of Gdańsk, 11/12 Narutowicza St., 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland, Fax +48 58 347 11 44, E-mail: zmczaj@wp.pl     

Effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">crp</Emphasis> deletion in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella enterica</Emphasis> serotype Gallinarum

Background  

Salmonella enterica serotype Gallinarum (S. Gallinarum) remains an important pathogen of poultry, especially in developing countries. There is a need to develop effective and safe vaccines. In the current study, the effect of crp deletion was investigated with respect to virulence and biochemical properties and the possible use of a deletion mutant as vaccine candidate was preliminarily tested.