Seasonal changes in populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ixodes persulcatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">I. pavlovskyi</Emphasis> on the border between the forest and forest-steppe zones of the Ob region

The seasonality of epidemic and epizootic processes of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and borreliosis among the populations of Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes pavlovskyi ticks was studied. The study was carried out in 2011–2012 on the flatland part of Toguchin and in the vicinities of Akademgorodok in Novosibirsk, on the border between the forest and forest-steppe zones of the Ob region. The results obtained for I. persulcatus did not contradict the previously published studies. The starting point and peak of mass activity of I. pavlovskyi ticks were registered later (the last ten days of May) than that of I. persulcatus ticks. Seasonal variations in the physiological age of I. pavlovskyi ticks were similar to that of I. persulcatus ticks. The only exception to this was detected in the last ten days of April when young specimens prevailed in the population of I. pavlovsky ticks in contrast to the I. persulcatus population. The large influence of I. persulcatus on the circulation of TBE was shown, as well as the influence of I. pavlovskyi on the spreading of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.     

The tarsal gland of ixodid ticks <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ixodes persulcatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ixodes ricinus</Emphasis> (Mesostigmata,Ixodidae)

A complicated multicellular gland is situated in all the leg tarsi, occupying from one third to half the segment. The glandular cells form a single-layer sack; the inner surface of the gland cavity is covered with the multi-layer membrane. Cuticular rods (“sinews”) of muscles moving the claw pass inside the gland cavity. The glandular cells are characterized by the presence of numerous microvilli on their apical surfaces and by the presence of secretory vacuoles. The basal part of each secretory cell is characterized by accumulations of lipid vacuoles and glycogen granules. Problems concerning the possible role of tarsal gland in the production of the trace pheromone are discussed.     

Ecological and molecular genetic features of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ixodes persulcatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">I. pavlovskyi</Emphasis> ticks in Southern West Siberia

Ixodiae ticks have been counted and sampled in six distant locations within the Altai-Sayan Mountain Area and northern forest steppe in 2012. In total, 1829 individuals of I. persulcatus and 719 of I. pavlovskyi ticks were collected by flagging. I. persulcatus is found in all six examined locations and I. pavlovskyi is found in Western Altai, Northeastern Altai, and Northern Altai, as well as in forest parks near Akademgorodok of Novosibirsk. In total, 16S rRNA and COI sequences have been determined in 144 and 164 I. persulcatus individuals, as well as in 60 and 55 I. pavlovskyi. Selectively equivalent mutant forms are present in I. pavlovskyi populations of Northeastern Altai and Northern Altai. The hydrothermal regime in the forest parks near Novosibirsk is optimal for the I. pavlovskyi ticks. These ticks have recently colonized the forest parks near Novosibirsk and therefore are genetically close to I. pavloskyi from the Altai–Sayan Mountain Area populations.     

<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.     

Interaction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus</Emphasis> with bacteria <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campylobacter jejuni</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis>

Interaction of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 100NCJB with bacteria Campylobacter jejuni (strains 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) and Helicobacter pylori, strain TX30a, was confirmed. The results indicate that lytic activity of bdellovibrios both in liquid media and cells attached to a surface was observed. The potential use of the antimicrobial activity of predatory bacteria for environmental bioprotection and public health is discussed.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Borrelia miyamotoi</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ixodes persulcatus</Emphasis> ticks in Russia

Unfed adult ticks Ixodes persulcatus from five regions of Russia were examined by PCR method in order to analyze distribution and diversity of B. miyamotoi. B. miyamotoi DNA was found in 1.8, 2.9, 4.5, 2.3, and 2.5% of ticks from Leningrad, Sverdlovsk, Novosibirsk, and Irkutsk provinces, and from Khabarovsk Territory, respectively. Molecular typing of B. miyamotoi DNA was based on the partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA, p66, and glpQ genes. A single genetic variant of B. miyamotoi was detected in all the samples of ticks collected from five regions.     

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.     

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.     

Presence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. albidus</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. laurentii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. uniguttulatus</Emphasis> in Crop and Droppings of Pigeon Lofts (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Columba livia</Emphasis>)

Columba livia is an important reservoir and carrier of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus uniguttulatus, Cryptococcus laurentii and Cryptococcus albidus. Upper digestive tract of this species is also known as a habitat for Cryptococcus neoformans. Given the increasing clinical interest of this microorganism, 331 swabs from crop and 174 dropping samples from pigeon lofts in Grand Canary Island have been studied. The obtained results show an extensive presence samples 81 positive (24.47%) of Cryptococcus spp. in analysed crops: 32 (9.66%) for C. neoformans, 24 (7.2%) for C. uniguttulatus, 23 (6.9%) for C. albidus and 2 (0.6%) for C. laurentii. In the same way, Cryptococcus spp was also isolated in 82 (47.13%), dropping samples: C. neoformans in 59 (33.9%), C. uniguttulatus, in 9 (5.17%), C. laurentii in 8 (4.59%) and C. albidus in 6 (3.44%) of the investigated samples, respectively. The cryptococcosis produced by species of cryptococci other than C. neoformans has become more important during the last decade, supporting the study on the role of pigeon in the epidemiology of this disease.     

Habitat,density, and spatial distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rivulus giarettai</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinopterygii</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinodontiformes</Emphasis>) in southeastern Brazil

We present data on the habitat, density, and spatial distribution of Rivulus giarettai, and discuss some biotic and abiotic variables related to its abundance in Free Flowing Waters (FFW) and Dam Reservoirs (DR) in palm grove (Mauritia flexuosa) marshes (Veredas) in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The mean density (individuals/plot) of R. giarettai was about 13 times higher in FFW than in DR. In FFW, the density of R. giarettai was highest at intermediate amounts of substrate (plant mass) and it was positively rank-correlated with the depth, and the number of arthropods. Individuals occurred in an aggregated distribution. The aggregated pattern could be related to a concentration of individuals in microhabitats neither too much exposed nor completely saturated by plants. R. giarettai was relatively abundant and tolerant to slight man-made habitat modifications. Damming appeared to be especially problematic by negatively affecting its density.     

Revision of “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Septonema ochraceum</Emphasis>” revealed three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Venturiaceae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Herpotrichiellaceae</Emphasis>

Survey of seven strains determined as Septonema ochraceum (Dothideomycetes, inc. sed.) isolated from pine litter or obtained from public collections revealed three new species, Fusicladium cordae, F. sicilianum (Venturiaceae), Cladophialophora matsushimae (Herpotrichiellaceae) and a cryptic species morphologically identical to Devriesia americana (Teratosphaeriaceae), but phylogenetically distinct. Morphological survey and phylogenetic analysis using nucleotide sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal subunit genes indicate a close relationship within three species colonising pine litter needles, F. cordae, F. pini and F. ramoconidii. F. sicilianum is most related to F. rhodense. C. matsushimae represents a species belonging to one of the lineages of the polyphyletic genus Cladophialophora. None of the strains observed can be classified morphologically as S. ochraceum, of which the type material does not exist.     

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.