Application of the Red List Index as an indicator of habitat change

For the first time ever, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Index for habitat types was calculated for an entire country, Finland. The RLIs were based on species threat assessments from 2000 and 2010 and included habitat definitions for all 10,131 species of 12 organism groups. The RLIs were bootstrapped to track statistically significant changes. The RLI changes of species grouped by habitats were negative for all habitat types except for forests and rural biotopes which showed a stable trend. Trends of beetles and true bugs were positive in rural and forest habitats. Other 16 observed trends of species group and habitat combinations were negative. Several trends observed were in accordance with studies focusing on particular taxa and habitats, and drivers for their change. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the RLI as a tool for observing habitat change based on species threat assessment data.     

Effect of interferon γ on the sensitivity of bovine-papilloma-virus(BPV1)-transformed cell lines to cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Summary The effect of interferon (IFN) on the immunogenicity and immunosensitivity of mouse cell lines transformed by bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV1) DNA was examined in a syngeneic mouse model. The overnight incubation of BPV1-transformed cell lines with 100 IU/ml IFN did not affect their ability to induce the generation of cytotoxic effector cells but it clearly increased their sensitivity to lysis by interleukin-2-induced lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and by nonspecific LAK-type effector cells induced by BPV-1-transformed cell lines. The treatment of two allogeneic lymphoid tumour cell lines, P815X2 and YAC-1, with IFN either decreased or had no effect on their sensitivity to LAK-cell-mediated lysis.     

New species of Roccellinastrum with an emendation of the genus

The genus Roccellinastrum Follm. emend. Henssen & Vobis is placed in the Lecideaceae. Two new species are described, R. epiphyllum Henssen & Vobis, from Chile and R. neglectum Henssen & Vobis, from New Zealand and Tasmania. The new combination R. candidum (Mull. Arg.) Henssen is proposed. Roccellinastrum is characterized by apothecia of diverse shape without a proper margin, and a developmental morphology corresponding to that of the Lecanorales, by small amyloid asci, branched paraphyses and excipular hyphae, a byssoid–spon–giose thallus composed of thick–walled hyphae, and members of the Chlorococcales as phycobionts. The principal chemical constituent is protocetraric acid. The species have different spore septation and chemistry. Summary in Spanish.     

Respiratory Infections in Adults with Atopic Disease and IgE Antibodies to Common Aeroallergens

Background

Atopic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis and asthma, are common diseases with a prevalence of 30–40% worldwide and are thus of great global public health importance. Allergic inflammation may influence the immunity against infections, so atopic individuals could be susceptible to respiratory infections. No previous population-based study has addressed the relation between atopy and respiratory infections in adulthood. We assessed the relation between atopic disease, specific IgE antibodies and the occurrence of upper and lower respiratory infections in the past 12 months among working-aged adults.

Methods and Findings

A population-based cross-sectional study of 1008 atopic and non-atopic adults 21–63 years old was conducted. Information on atopic diseases, allergy tests and respiratory infections was collected by a questionnaire. Specific IgE antibodies to common aeroallergens were measured in serum. Adults with atopic disease had a significantly increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI; including acute bronchitis and pneumonia) with an adjusted risk ratio (RR) 2.24 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43, 3.52) and upper respiratory tract infections (URTI; including common cold, sinusitis, tonsillitis, and otitis media) with an adjusted RR 1.55 (1.14, 2.10). The risk of LRTIs increased with increasing level of specific IgE (linear trend P = 0.059).

Conclusions

This study provides new evidence that working-aged adults with atopic disease experience significantly more LRTIs and URTIs than non-atopics. The occurrence of respiratory infections increased with increasing levels of specific IgE antibodies to common aeroallergens, showing a dose-response pattern with LRTIs. From the clinical point of view it is important to recognize that those with atopies are a risk group for respiratory infections, including more severe LRTIs.     

Daily growth increments in otoliths of wild-caught honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens

Otolith growth increments in wild-caught alizarin complex one (ALC)-marked honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens were examined to verify the veracity of the age determination method in cyprinids. ALC-marked G. caerulescens recaptured from their natural environment had lapilli increment counts outside the ALC ring mark that had formed on a daily basis during the juvenile stage. This apparently being the first direct evidence of daily periodicity of otolith increment formation in wild-caught cyprinids.     

Daily and annual variations of free fatty acid, glycerol and leptin plasma concentrations in goats (Capra hircus) under different photoperiods

The aim of the study was to differentiate the impact of lighting conditions and feeding times on the regulation of lipid metabolism of goats under different photoperiods throughout the year. Seven Finnish landrace goats were kept under artificial lighting that simulated the annual changes of photoperiod at 60 degrees N (the longest light period 18 h, the shortest 6 h). Ambient temperature and feeding regime were kept constant. Blood samples were collected six times a year at 2-h intervals for 2 days, first in light/dark (LD) conditions and then after 3 days in constant darkness (DD). Significant daily variations were detected in the concentrations of plasma free fatty acids (FFA) and glycerol throughout the year. The nocturnal decrease and morning rise of FFA levels were related to the photoperiod, while the trough levels of glycerol were associated with the concentrate meal times. In DD conditions, FFA and glycerol rhythms were unstable. A significant seasonal variation was detected in the overall FFA and glycerol levels suggesting decreased lipogenesis in winter, increased lipolysis in spring and high lipogenesis in summer and fall. There was no significant daily rhythm in serum leptin levels, nor did the profiles in LD and DD conditions differ. The leptin level was slightly lower in early fall than in the other seasons, paralleling a small decrease of body mass in the goats after the grazing season. The daily or annual variations of FFA and glycerol levels were not clearly related to leptin concentrations. The results suggest that lipid metabolism of goats is regulated by light even in constant temperature and feeding conditions; however, no significant contribution of leptin levels could be shown.     

Spatiotemporal variation in local adaptation of a specialist insect herbivore to its long‐lived host plant

Local adaptation of interacting species to one another indicates geographically variable reciprocal selection. This process of adaptation is central in the organization and maintenance of genetic variation across populations. Given that the strength of selection and responses to it often vary in time and space, the strength of local adaptation should in theory vary between generations and among populations. However, such spatiotemporal variation has rarely been explicitly demonstrated in nature and local adaptation is commonly considered to be relatively static. We report persistent local adaptation of the short‐lived herbivore Abrostola asclepiadis to its long‐lived host plant Vincetoxicum hirundinaria over three successive generations in two studied populations and considerable temporal variation in local adaptation in six populations supporting the geographic mosaic theory. The observed variation in local adaptation among populations was best explained by geographic distance and population isolation, suggesting that gene flow reduces local adaptation. Changes in herbivore population size did not conclusively explain temporal variation in local adaptation. Our results also imply that short‐term studies are likely to capture only a part of the existing variation in local adaptation.     

Decomposition and element concentrations of Norway spruce needle litter with differing B, N, or P status

Adequate boron (B) nutrition may decrease concentrations of phenolic compounds and enhance structural integrity and lignification in plants, compared with suboptimal B. This could affect decomposition in areas where B deficiencies are common. The mass loss and changes in element concentrations in Norway spruce needle litter were studied with combinations of litter from high-B and low-B trees, incubated for 29 months, in either B fertilised or control plots without B addition. The litter originated from the same Norway spruce field experiments. Additionally, the field experiments included long-term N and P treatments. Initially, lowest lignin concentrations were found in Norway spruce litter from the treatment P and particularly in the combination B?+?P, and highest in the B?+?N fertilised plots. The mass loss of Norway spruce litter was not affected by the treatments. However, B_litter increased Cu accumulation. The litter from the B?+?P fertilised plots accumulated considerably more Al, Ca, S and Zn than the other treatments, whereas B together with N reduced the remaining amounts of these elements. Reduced nutrient release from litter may have far-reaching consequences on nutrient cycles in forests.     

Mapping a new spontaneous preterm birth susceptibility gene, IGF1R, using linkage, haplotype sharing, and association analysis

Preterm birth is the major cause of neonatal death and serious morbidity. Most preterm births are due to spontaneous onset of labor without a known cause or effective prevention. Both maternal and fetal genomes influence the predisposition to spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB), but the susceptibility loci remain to be defined. We utilized a combination of unique population structures, family-based linkage analysis, and subsequent case-control association to identify a susceptibility haplotype for SPTB. Clinically well-characterized SPTB families from northern Finland, a subisolate founded by a relatively small founder population that has subsequently experienced a number of bottlenecks, were selected for the initial discovery sample. Genome-wide linkage analysis using a high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array in seven large northern Finnish non-consanginous families identified a locus on 15q26.3 (HLOD 4.68). This region contains the IGF1R gene, which encodes the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor IGF-1R. Haplotype segregation analysis revealed that a 55 kb 12-SNP core segment within the IGF1R gene was shared identical-by-state (IBS) in five families. A follow-up case-control study in an independent sample representing the more general Finnish population showed an association of a 6-SNP IGF1R haplotype with SPTB in the fetuses, providing further evidence for IGF1R as a SPTB predisposition gene (frequency in cases versus controls 0.11 versus 0.05, P = 0.001, odds ratio 2.3). This study demonstrates the identification of a predisposing, low-frequency haplotype in a multifactorial trait using a well-characterized population and a combination of family and case-control designs. Our findings support the identification of the novel susceptibility gene IGF1R for predisposition by the fetal genome to being born preterm.