Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and genital mycoplasmas in asymptomatic women.

To establish the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in women attending a family planning and a prenatal clinic in Halifax, cervical swabs were obtained at the time of the first visit from 491 women who had no symptoms of genital infection. Among the women attending the family planning clinic M. hominis occurred in combination with C. trachomatis more frequently than expected (p less than 0.05). It occurred in the absence of U. urealyticum in only a few cases (13% of the occurrences in the family planning clinic and 6% of those in the prenatal clinic). C. trachomatis was significantly more prevalent in women under 25 years of age (p less than 0.04). However, mycoplasmas were as prevalent in women over 30 years as in those under 30. There were no significant differences in the infection rates of the organisms by trimester among pregnant women. More research is necessary for a proper understanding of the role of M. hominis and U. urealyticum in genitourinary infections and pregnancy outcomes.     

Frequency of detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in cervical canal and the Douglas pouch of infertile and fertile women

The group of organisms commonly referred to as genital mycoplasmas comprise species most often found in genitourinary tract of sexually active adults as common commensal inhabitants, or pathogens which can possibly cause many different pathologies like: non-gonococcal urethritis, bacterial vaginosis, cervicitis, endometritis or pelvic inflammatory disease. The problem of their morbidity and the possible influence they have on human fertility is still not clear. The aim of this study was to find out whether two investigated species- Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis can be detect more often in a group of infertile women. 74 women participated in the study and were assigned to one of 2 groups of patients: infertile women and fertile women without any sign of genital tract infection. Swabs from the cervical canal of the uterus and the fluid from the Douglas pouch were taken during the gynecological examination and laparoscopic procedure. Two diagnostic methods were used: biochemical method- commercial diagnostic kit- Mycoplasma IST 2 and PCR method. The results showed that Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis were detected among both fertile and infertile women with nearly the same frequency, much more often in cervical canal than in the Douglas pouch. Ureaplasma urealyticum was more common pathogen than Mycoplasma hominis in both groups and locations. The achieved results point out that the role of genital mycoplasmas in human infertility is still unclear and require further investigations.     

正常妇女和下生殖道炎症及不孕症时泌尿生殖道中的溶脲脲原体

本文报道165例妇女宫颈阴道分泌物和部分不育男性精液的溶脲脲原体的分离结果。正常妇女组检出率为33％(11/33)、宫颈炎和阴道炎组为67％(39/59)、不孕症组80％(35/44)、富颈癌组24％(5/21)。不孕夫妇中,13例男性精液检查有9例溶脲脲原体阳性。经比较有炎症组和不孕症组的溶脲脲原体检出率高于正常组2倍多,差异显著(P<0.01和<0.005)。鉴于溶脲脲原体作为人泌尿生殖道中的常住菌,其微生态意义与下生殖道炎症和某些不孕症的关系值得进一步深入研究。     

Impact of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum on the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines in vaginal fluid

The main aim of this study was to determine impact of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum on the concentrations of selected proinflammatory cytokines in vaginal fluid in pregnant women. The samples were obtained from 120 pregnant women at 22 to 36 weeks gestation. Vaginal fluid were analyzed for the concentrations of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA), and cervical fluid for prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Genital mycoplasmas were diagnosed in 36 of 120 pregnant women (30%), (in 17 of 36 women (47.2%) both M. hominis and U. urealyticum, in 14 women (38.9%) only U. urealyticum, and in 5 cases (13.8%) only M. hominis were diagnosed). Vaginal levels of IL-8 was statistically higher among women with genital mycoplasmas infection, as compared to group without these bacteria (p=0.033), while there was no correlation between IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 concentrations and genital mycoplasmas infection. Future studies should concentrate on evaluation the impact of other lower genital tract bacteria on concentration of IL-8 and other proinflammatory cytokines.     

Environment,but not migration rate,influences extinction risk in experimental metapopulations

Ecological theory suggests that several demographic factors influence metapopulation extinction risk, including synchrony in population size between subpopulations, metapopulation size and the magnitude of fluctuations in population size. Theoretically, each of these is influenced by the rate of migration between subpopulations. Here we report on an experiment where we manipulated migration rate within metapopulations of the freshwater zooplankton Daphnia magna to examine how migration influenced each of these demographic variables, and subsequent effects on metapopulation extinction. In addition, our experimental procedures introduced unplanned but controlled differences between metapopulations in light intensity, enabling us to examine the relative influences of environmental and demographic factors. We found that increasing migration rate increased subpopulation synchrony. We failed to detect effects of migration on population size and fluctuations in population size at the metapopulation or subpopulation level, however. In contrast, light intensity did not influence synchrony, but was positively correlated with population size and negatively correlated with population fluctuation. Finally, synchrony did not influence time to extinction, while population size and the magnitude of fluctuations did. We conclude that environmental factors had a greater influence on extinction risk than demographic factors, and that metapopulation size and fluctuation were more important to extinction risk than metapopulation synchrony.     

Mycoplasmal PID: a review of natural and experimental infections

The present report is a review of data assuming an etiological relationship between pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and Mycoplasma hominis. Thus the organism can be isolated from the vagina/cervix more frequently in PID patients than in any other clinical group, i.e., in half to three-fourths of all such cases. One-fourth of PID patients develop a significant antibody response to M. hominis during the course of the disease. The antibody response can be detected by indirect hemagglutination tests. Grivet monkeys infected experimentally with M. hominis develop PID, predominantly parametritis; the infection seems to spread via lymphatics to the parametria. These animals develop a significant antibody response. The animals, like naturally infected women, develop a marked increase in the serum level of IgM. In tissue cell cultures of human fallopian tubes experimentally infected with M. hominis, a decrease of the mucociliary wave activity occurs. So far, few clinical data support an etiological role for Ureaplasma urealyticum in PID. In grivet monkeys, the organism does not produce PID.     

泌尿生殖道支原体感染检测及药敏试验

目的了解本地区泌尿生殖道解脲脲原体（Uu）和人型支原体（Mh）感染状况及药物敏感性,指导临床医生合理应用抗生素。方法应用法国生物梅里埃公司提供的IST试剂盒进行支原体鉴定及9种药物敏感检测,并对结果进行统计分析。结果1210例门诊患者检出支原体阳性683例,总感染率为56.4%,其中Uu单独感染占628例（占51.9%）,Mh单独感染14例（占1.2%）,Uu和Mh混合感染41例（占3.4%）。交沙霉素和原始霉素敏感率最高,对Uu分别为98.5%和97.0%,对Uu和Mh混合感染率都为100%;氧氟沙星敏感率最低,分别为1.5%和0.0%。结论泌尿生殖道系统感染主要由解脲支原体引起,交沙霉素和原始霉素敏感率最高,氧氟沙星敏感率最低。临床应选用培养敏感的抗菌药物,提高治疗效果。     

Host and pathogen interaction during vaginal infection by Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis or Ureaplasma urealyticum

Vaginal infections by Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis have been shown to be associated. Since M. hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are similar pathogens, both belonging to the class of the mycoplasmata, we describe here a molecular study into the interdependence of U. urealyticum and T. vaginalis during infection. Susceptibility towards infection by U. urealyticum depends on genetic polymorphism in the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) gene. Now, we defined the relation between IL-1RA genotypes and infection by M. hominis and T. vaginalis. Finally, we also developed a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) tool for mapping variation in the T. vaginalis AP33 adhesin in order to define putative associations between parasite subtype and mycoplasmata or host. Studies using crudepellets from T. vaginalis culture broth clearly confirm the association between T. vaginalis and M. hominis infection. The association between IL-1RA genotype 2,2 and lack of U. urealyticum infection is corroborated as well. U. urealyticum infection and infection by T. vaginalis are independent. Furthermore, T. vaginalis and M. hominis infection are not depending on IL-1RA genotypes. Interestingly, one of the three AP33 RFLP types identified appeared to be associated with the absence of U. urealyticum infection. In conclusion, the complex interaction between bacterial and parasitic pathogens and the infected host is determined by genetic characteristics of host and microorganisms involved.     

Population genetic structure associated with a landscape barrier in the Western Grasswren (Amytornis textilis textilis)

Dispersal patterns can dictate genetic population structure and, ultimately, population resilience, through maintaining gene flow and genetic diversity. However, geographical landforms, such as peninsulas, can impact dispersal patterns and thus be a barrier to gene flow. Here, we use 13 375 genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to evaluate genetic population structure and infer dispersal patterns of the Western Grasswren Amytornis textilis textilis (WGW, n = 140) in the Shark Bay region of Western Australia. We found high levels of genetic divergence between subpopulations on the mainland (Hamelin) and narrow peninsula (Peron). In addition, we found evidence of further genetic sub-structuring within the Hamelin subpopulation, with individuals collected from the western and eastern regions of a conservation reserve forming separate genetic clusters. Spatial autocorrelation analysis within each subpopulation revealed significant local-scale genetic structure up to 35 km at Hamelin and 20 km at Peron. In addition, there was evidence of male philopatry in both subpopulations. Our results suggest a narrow strip of land may be acting as a geographical barrier in the WGW, limiting dispersal between a peninsula and mainland subpopulation. In addition, heterogeneous habitat within Hamelin may be restricting dispersal at the local scale. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that the limited gene flow is asymmetrical, with directional dispersal occurring from the bounded peninsula subpopulation to the mainland. This study highlights the genetic structure existing within and between some of the few remaining WGW subpopulations, and shows a need to place equal importance on conservation efforts to maintain them in the future.     

Demography and matrix analysis on a natural Pterocarya rhoifolia population developed along a mountain stream

The population structures and dynamics of a dominant riparian canopy species, Pterocarya rhoifolia (Juglandaceae), were analyzed based on the census data collected for the 7 years from 1989 through 1996. A study plot was established over an environmental gradient that included the lower hill-slope, river terrace, and low-level floodplain of a riparian area within a 2.8-ha cool-temperate forest stand. Spatial analyses of the demographic data showed that there were significant differences in recruitment, growth, and death processes among the three habitats. The slope and terrace habitats were the severest for the pre-reproductive stage and recruitment process, respectively. A topographically combined projection matrix was constructed for the life-history processes of the three subpopulations, which clearly revealed that the floodplain and terrace subpopulations constituted the mainland source populations, whereas the slope subpopulation was an island sink population. The whole Pterocarya population linked by seed flow showed an increase in population size (λ=1.052). The elasticity analysis showed that the sum of the elasticity values was zero, 0.14, and 0.85 in the slope, terrace and floodplain subpopulations, respectively. This fact clearly indicates that the role of the floodplain subpopulation as a source population is six times as large as that of the terrace subpopulation. Electronic Publication     

Integration of genetic and demographic data to assess population risk in a continuously distributed species

The identification and demographic assessment of biologically meaningful populations is fundamental to species’ ecology and management. Although genetic tools are used frequently to identify populations, studies often do not incorporate demographic data to understand their respective population trends. We used genetic data to define subpopulations in a continuously distributed species. We assessed demographic independence and variation in population trends across the distribution. Additionally, we identified potential barriers to gene flow among subpopulations. We sampled greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) leks from across their range (≈175,000 Km²) in Wyoming and amplified DNA at 14 microsatellite loci for 1761 samples. Subsequently, we assessed population structure in unrelated individuals (n = 872) by integrating results from multiple Bayesian clustering approaches and used the boundaries to inform our assessment of long-term population trends and lek activity over the period of 1995–2013. We identified four genetic clusters of which two northern ones showed demographic independence from the others. Trends in population size for the northwest subpopulation were statistically different from the other three genetic clusters and the northeast and southwest subpopulations demonstrated a general trend of increasing proportion of inactive leks over time. Population change from 1996 to 2012 suggested population growth in the southern subpopulations and decline, or neutral, change in the northern subpopulations. We suggest that sage-grouse subpopulations in northern Wyoming are at greater risk of extirpation than the southern subpopulations due to smaller census and effective population sizes and higher variability within subpopulations. Our research is an example of incorporating genetic and demographic data and provides guidance on the identification of subpopulations of conservation concern.     

Patterns and levels of gene flow in Rhododendron metternichii var. hondoense revealed by microsatellite analysis

Parentage analysis was conducted to elucidate the patterns and levels of gene flow in Rhododendron metternichii Sieb. et Zucc. var. hondoense Nakai in a 150 x 70 m quadrant in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan. The population of R. metternichii occurred as three subpopulations at the study site. Seventy seedlings were randomly collected from each of three 10 x 10 m plots (S1, S2, and S3) on the forest floor of each subpopulation (A1, A2, and A3). Almost all parents (93.8%) of the 70 seedlings were unambiguously identified by using 12 pairs of microsatellite markers. Within the quadrant, adult trees less than 5 m from the centre of the seedling bank (plots S1, S2, and S3) produced large numbers of seedlings. The effects of tree height and distance from the seedling bank on the relative fertilities of adult trees were highly variable among subpopulations because of the differences in population structure near the seedling bank: neither distance nor tree height had any significant effect in subpopulation A1; distance from the seedling bank had a significant effect in subpopulation A2; and tree height had a significant effect in subpopulation A3. Although gene flow within each subpopulation was highly restricted to less than 25 m and gene flow among the three subpopulations was extremely small (0-2%), long-distance gene flow from outside the quadrant reached 50%. This long-distance gene flow may be caused by a combination of topographical and vegetational heterogeneity, differences in flowering phenology, and genetic substructuring within subpopulations.     

In vitro human reactivity to staphylococcal phage lysate.

The cell-mediated reactivity of normal individuals to staphylococcal phage lysate (SPL) were tested in vitro in the lymphocyte stimulation (LS) and leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) assays. There were 95% positive responses in LS (stimulation ratio larger than or equal to 3 with p less than 0.01) and 67% positive responses in LMI (migration index less than or equal to 0.80). Enriched subpopulations of T and B lymphocytes were prepared with rosette formation and density gradient centrifugation. SPL stimulated lymphoproliferative responses in both T and B cell subpopulations whereas phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated only the T cell subpopulation. Cord blood leukocytes were tested in the LS assay and 41% gave positive responses to SPL, 81% to PHA, and 17% with SLO. SPL appears to be a useful reagent for the in vitro study of cell-mediated reactivity, and may provide somewhat different information from that obtained with other mitogens or antigens.     

Relatedness structure in Rhododendron metternichii var. hondoense revealed by microsatellite analysis

The relatedness structure of Rhododendron metternichii Sieb. et Zucc. var. hondoense Nakai was analysed in a 150 x 70-m quadrat in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan. The population of R. metternichii occurred as three subpopulations at the study site (A1-A3). Pairwise relatedness based on microsatellite genotypes at eight loci and Mantel tests revealed a hierarchical structure of relatedness within and among subpopulations: (i) relatedness between individuals within 10 m of one another was significantly positive; (ii) relatedness between individuals in the same subpopulation was significantly positive, but negative between individuals in distant subpopulations; and (iii) relatedness was not significantly different from zero among neighbouring subpopulations. In detail, however, relatedness within each subpopulation was significantly positive in subpopulation A1, relatively weak but significantly positive in subpopulation A2, and not significantly different from zero in subpopulation A3. Relatedness within each subpopulation was inversely related to correlations between interindividual distance and relatedness. The aggregation of related individuals at short distances from one another may lead to decreasing relatedness within subpopulations as a whole. Moreover, negative correlations between interindividual distance and relatedness corresponded to high flowering densities at less than 10-m distance, implying that high flowering densities reduce pollinator foraging distance and lead to stronger genetic structure within subpopulations. Small individuals (< 2.0 m in height) showed stronger genetic structure compared with that of large individuals (> or = 2.0 m in height). The different relatedness structure within and among subpopulations may be caused by various degrees of gene flow affected by distribution patterns of individuals and population density.     

Acidification of endosome subpopulations in wild-type Chinese hamster ovary cells and temperature-sensitive acidification-defective mutants

During endocytosis in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, Semliki Forest virus (SFV) passes through two distinct subpopulations of endosomes before reaching lysosomes. One subpopulation, defined by cell fractionation using free flow electrophoresis as "early endosomes," constitutes the major site of membrane and receptor recycling; while "late endosomes," an electrophoretically distinct endosome subpopulation, are involved in the delivery of endosomal content to lysosomes. In this paper, the pH-sensitive conformational changes of the SFV E1 spike glycoprotein were used to study the acidification of these defined endosome subpopulations in intact wild-type and acidification-defective CHO cells. Different virus strains were used to measure the kinetics at which internalized SFV was delivered to endosomes of pH less than or equal to 6.2 (the pH at which wild-type E1 becomes resistant to trypsin digestion) vs. endosomes of pH less than or equal to 5.3 (the threshold pH for E1 of the SFV mutant fus-1). By correlating the kinetics of acquisition of E1 trypsin resistance with the transfer of SFV among distinct endosome subpopulations defined by cell fractionation, we found that after a brief residence in vesicles of relatively neutral pH, internalized virus encountered pH less than or equal to 6.2 in early endosomes with a t1/2 of 5 min. Although a fraction of the virus reached a pH of less than or equal to 5.3 in early endosomes, most fus-1 SFV did not exhibit the acid-induced conformational change until arrival in late endosomes (t1/2 = 8-10 min). Thus, acidification of both endosome subpopulations was heterogeneous. However, passage of SFV through a less acidic early endosome subpopulation always preceded arrival in the more acidic late endosome subpopulation. In mutant CHO cells with temperature-sensitive defects in endosome acidification in vitro, acidification of both early and late endosomes was found to be impaired at the restrictive temperature (41 degrees C). The acidification defect was also found to be partially penetrant at the permissive temperature, resulting in the inability of any early endosomes in these cells to attain pH less than or equal to 5.3. In vitro studies of endosomes isolated from mutant cells suggested that the acidification defect is most likely in the proton pump itself. In one mutant, this defect resulted in increased sensitivity of the electrogenic H+ pump to fluctuations in the endosomal membrane potential.     

Demographic and traditional knowledge perspectives on the current status of Canadian polar bear subpopulations

Subpopulation growth rates and the probability of decline at current harvest levels were determined for 13 subpopulations of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) that are within or shared with Canada based on mark–recapture estimates of population numbers and vital rates, and harvest statistics using population viability analyses (PVA). Aboriginal traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) on subpopulation trend agreed with the seven stable/increasing results and one of the declining results, but disagreed with PVA status of five other declining subpopulations. The decline in the Baffin Bay subpopulation appeared to be due to over‐reporting of harvested numbers from outside Canada. The remaining four disputed subpopulations (Southern Beaufort Sea, Northern Beaufort Sea, Southern Hudson Bay, and Western Hudson Bay) were all incompletely mark–recapture (M‐R) sampled, which may have biased their survival and subpopulation estimates. Three of the four incompletely sampled subpopulations were PVA identified as nonviable (i.e., declining even with zero harvest mortality). TEK disagreement was nonrandom with respect to M‐R sampling protocols. Cluster analysis also grouped subpopulations with ambiguous demographic and harvest rate estimates separately from those with apparently reliable demographic estimates based on PVA probability of decline and unharvested subpopulation growth rate criteria. We suggest that the correspondence between TEK and scientific results can be used to improve the reliability of information on natural systems and thus improve resource management. Considering both TEK and scientific information, we suggest that the current status of Canadian polar bear subpopulations in 2013 was 12 stable/increasing and one declining (Kane Basin). We do not find support for the perspective that polar bears within or shared with Canada are currently in any sort of climate crisis. We suggest that monitoring the impacts of climate change (including sea ice decline) on polar bear subpopulations should be continued and enhanced and that adaptive management practices are warranted.     

不育患者精子溶脲脲原体的分离和活动力的观察

本文对８７例不明原因不育的男性患者的精液，进行了溶脲脲原体的分离，检出率为６２．０７％，而３８例正常对照中，溶脲脲原体的检出率为１８．４２％，二者差别非常显著（Ｐ＜０．００１）。溶脲脲原体感染者精子的活动率与活动力同正常人相比，差异显著（Ｐ＜０．０５），提示溶脲脲原体感染与部分男性不育有关。     

Serological evidence of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection in neonatal respiratory disease

Since up to 80 percent of pregnant women and 30 percent of neonates may be colonized with genital mycoplasmas, it is difficult to determine whether true infection occurs. The antibody responses to eight serotypes of U. urealyticum were assessed in mothers and infants in 21 cases of neonatal respiratory disease (RD) and 24 normal cases. Among the normal population of mothers and infants, a titer of greater than or equal to 1:32 occurred in 0.25 percent (1/394). In mother-infant paired titers, a fourfold difference occurred in 2.6 percent (5/192). Among 54 RD neonates, 55.6 percent had a titer of greater than or equal to 1:32 compared to only 4.2 percent of normal neonates (p less than .001). Fourfold elevations in antibody titers of greater than 1:32 were observed in the neonate in 52.4 percent of RD cases compared to 0 percent of 24 normal pairs (p less than .001) and in 28.6 percent of mothers of RD neonates compared to 0 percent in normal cases (p = .013). We observed that 43.3 percent of RD neonates with titers greater than or equal to 1:32 died compared to 16.6 percent of RD neonates exhibiting no elevation of antibody response over the maternal level. Among the six who died, 66.7 percent of neonates and 16.7 percent of their mothers had elevated titers, compared to 33.3 percent of 15 surviving infants and 40.0 percent of their mothers. These elevated antibody responses strongly support the concept that U. urealyticum causes infection in the perinatal period in association with neonatal respiratory disease. Since the elevation in titers was detected close to delivery in many cases, the infection may occur in utero.     

Comparison of various PCR methods for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Mycoplasma hominis in women with impaired reproductive function

The comparative evaluation of the PCR test "Polimik" (Research and Production Firm "Litekh", Moscow) and the PCR test of the Novosibirsk Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (NIBC) was carried out. The results obtained with the use of the PCR test "Polimik" and the PCR test of the NIBC of the detection of C. trachomatis and M. hominis coincided in 97.8% and 97.4% of cases. For U. urealyticum, the coincidence of the results of both PCR tests was 81.2%. Among women who visited gynecologists for reproductive function disturbances, the use of the PCR tests made it possible to detect C. trachomatis in 19 (5.5%) out of 343 cases, U. urealyticum in 96 (39.0%) out of 246 cases and M. hominis in 25 (16.9%) out of 148 cases. The results of the investigation revealed that the occurrence of C. trachomatis infection in Novosibirsk was comparable with that in other regions of the world among the low-risk groups of the population. The detection frequency of M. hominis and U. urealyticum with the use of the PCR tests showed that the occurrence of infections caused by these causative agents coincided with the data obtained in other countries.