Effect of vegetation on density thresholds of adult desert locust gregarization from survey data in Mauritania

In the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), the threshold density inducing the gregarization phenomenon has never been determined under natural conditions. The influence of environmental factors on this phenomenon has been studied mostly in controlled environments. Based on data collected during several years by the survey teams of the National Center for Locust Control in Mauritania, we analyzed the influence of locust density, vegetation cover, and vegetation status on the probability of observing gregarious locusts. We assumed that a probability to observe gregarious locusts of 0.5 corresponded to the density threshold of gregarization. The results showed in detail the change in the threshold of gregarization according to the cover and status of the vegetation. Low cover and dry vegetation led to a low density threshold of gregarization probably due to high probability of individuals to touch each other. Dense and green vegetation favored a high threshold of gregarization probably due to a dispersion of the individuals and a low probability of individual encounters. These findings should help the management of locusts and decision making during control operations.     

Role of the active-site cysteine of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin. Crystal structure analysis of the CuII(Cys112Asp) protein

Replacement of the cysteine at position 112 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin with an aspartic acid residue results in a mutant (Cys112Asp) protein that retains a strong copper-binding site. Cu^II(Cys112Asp) azurin can be reduced by excess [Ru^II(NH₃)₆]²⁺, resulting in a Cu^I protein with an electronic absorption spectrum very similar to that of wild-type Cu^I azurin. Cys112Asp azurin exhibits reversible interprotein electron-transfer reactivity with P. aeruginosa cytochrome c ₅₅₁ (μ?=?0.1?M sodium phosphate (pH?7.0);E°(Cu^II/I)?=?180 mV vs NHE); this redox activity indicates that electrons can still enter and exit the protein through the partially solvent-exposed imidazole ring of His117. The structure of Cu^II(Cys112Asp) azurin at 2.4-Å resolution shows that the active-site copper is five coordinate: the pseudo-square base of the distorted square-pyramidal structure is defined by the imidazole N^δ atoms of His46 and His117 and the oxygen atoms of an asymmetrically-bound bidentate carboxylate group of Asp112; the apical position is occupied by the oxygen atom of the backbone carbonyl group of Gly45. The Cu^II–Asp112 interaction is distinguished by an approximately 1.2-Å displacement of the metal center from the plane defined by the Asp112 carboxylate group.     

Single-dose murine monoclonal antibody ricin A chain immunotoxin in the treatment of metastatic melanoma: a phase I trial.

To determine the maximally tolerated dose of a ricin A chain-conjugated antimelanoma antibody (XomaZyme-Mel), 20 patients with metastatic melanoma were treated with escalating doses of the murine immunotoxin given as single intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. The starting dose was 0.6 mg/kg and was escalated in five groups to a maximum of 1.6 mg/kg. The maximally tolerated dose was 1.25 mg/kg as three of six patients treated at 1.6 mg/kg developed unacceptable toxicity. The dose-limiting toxicity consisted of profound fatigue, myalgias, and arthralgias. These occurred within 4 days and resolved in 7 to 10 days. Other non-dose-limiting toxicities encountered consisted of hypoalbuminemia, weight gain, peripheral edema, mild hypotension, and flu-like syndrome; the severity of these was also dose related. In addition, two allergic reactions occurred, one severe. There was one durable complete response of 12+ months' duration and one brief mixed response lasting 3 months. We conclude that the maximum tolerated single dose of XomaZyme-Mel is 1.25 mg/kg. Phase I studies evaluating 1.25 mg/kg given in multiple doses at 2- to 4-week intervals and phase II studies to determine the response rate of a single 1.25 mg/kg dose are warranted.     

Correlation between circulatory Kisspeptin and Adipokines in normal and over-weight Saudi females during menstrual cycle

We analyzed the association between kisspeptin and plasma adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) in normal-weight and over-weight young females. Thirty young Saudi females, based on their body mass index (BMI), were divided into two groups (15 students/group) as (1) Normal weight (NW): BMI = 18.5–24.99 and (2) Over-weight/obese (OW): BMI ≥ 25. Serum adipokines (leptin, adiponectin) and kisspeptin levels were measured in early follicular, pre-ovulatory, and luteal phase in both groups with ELISA. Menstrual cycle phases were confirmed by serum estradiol levels. There was no association of kisspeptin with leptin in early follicular (r ?0.34, P 0.31), pre-ovulatory (r ?0.32, P 0.34) and luteal phase (r 0.21, P 0.54). Likewise, kisspeptin was not found to be correlated with adiponectin in early follicular (r 0.41, P 0.21), pre ovulatory (r 0.24, P 0.48), and luteal phase (r 0.40, P 0.23) when values recorded during different time points during the cycle were plotted with each other.     

Efficiency of Nimbecidine and certain entomopathogenic fungi formulations against bean aphids,Aphis craccivora in broad bean field

This study investigates the effect of certain entomopathogenic fungi formulations (Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus) compared with a botanical insecticide, Nimbecidine against Aphis craccivora in broad bean field. Bio-Catch (Verticillium lecanii) was the most effective insecticide to achieve 73.3% reduction followed by Nimbecidine (67.7%), Bio-Magic (61.6%), Priority (50.3%) and the least effective was Bio- Power (Beauveria bassiana) which caused 45.5% reduction in individual aphid populations after two sprayings at 15 days interval between the first and the second sprayings. Bio-Catch and Nimbecidine had promise compounds in controlling Aphis craccivora in faba bean fields.     

An out-of-body experience: the extracellular dimension for the transmission of mutualistic bacteria in insects

Across animals and plants, numerous metabolic and defensive adaptations are a direct consequence of symbiotic associations with beneficial microbes. Explaining how these partnerships are maintained through evolutionary time remains one of the central challenges within the field of symbiosis research. While genome erosion and co-cladogenesis with the host are well-established features of symbionts exhibiting intracellular localization and transmission, the ecological and evolutionary consequences of an extracellular lifestyle have received little attention, despite a demonstrated prevalence and functional importance across many host taxa. Using insect–bacteria symbioses as a model, we highlight the diverse routes of extracellular symbiont transfer. Extracellular transmission routes are unified by the common ability of the bacterial partners to survive outside their hosts, thereby imposing different genomic, metabolic and morphological constraints than would be expected from a strictly intracellular lifestyle. We emphasize that the evolutionary implications of symbiont transmission routes (intracellular versus extracellular) do not necessarily correspond to those of the transmission mode (vertical versus horizontal), a distinction of vital significance when addressing the genomic and physiological consequences for both host and symbiont.     

Crocin Prevents Patulin‐Induced Acute Toxicity in Cardiac Tissues via the Regulation of Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis

Patulin (PAT) is a mycotoxin produced by several species of the genera of Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Byssochlamys principally by Penicillium expansum. This mycotoxin is suspected to affect several organs including kidney and liver. However, its toxic effect on heart remains unknown. The present study investigated for the first time the cardiotoxic effect of PAT in mice. We demonstrated that PAT increased creatinin phosphokinase (CPK) level, induced lipoperoxydation and protein oxidation, and triggered the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. We also demonstrated that acute administration of PAT triggers apoptosis via P53 overexpression and caspase 3 activation. We further investigated the antioxidant efficiency of crocin (CRO), a carotenoid pigment, against PAT‐induced cardiotoxicity. We found that pretreatment with CRO prevents cardiac impairment by reducing CPK levels, restoring the redox statute and suppressing apoptosis. Collectively, our data provide new preventive effect of CRO toward PAT‐induced cardiotoxicity in mice.     

Analysis of aminophospholipid molecular species by high performance liquid chromatography

A new method is described for the separation of individual molecular species of the aminophospholipids, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. Trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid was used to derivatize both aminophospholipids and the derivatives were purified by thin-layer chromatography. A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography technique was developed to separate and quantify individual molecular species based upon ultraviolet detection of the attached chromophore. The retention times of the molecular species on the C18 reversed-phase column were longer with increasing carbon chain length and decreasing degree of unsaturation of fatty acyl chain. The overall procedure allowed a quantitative recovery of the aminophospholipid species. The lower limit of detection was about 10 pmol and a linear response was observed in the range of 0.1-10 nmol of phospholipid. Using this method, we were able to separate and quantify trinitrophenyl-phosphatidylethanolamine molecular species of both subclasses (diacyl and alkenyl) from human red blood cells and rat brains. Separation of species was confirmed by gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the fatty acid content of each peak and by thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This new method provides a convenient and sensitive technique for studies of aminophospholipid molecular species composition. Furthermore, it appears to be a useful tool for the analysis of asymmetric distribution of these species in biological membranes.     

The validity of summing lower extremity individual joint kinetic measures

In the analysis of human movement, researchers often sum individual joint kinetics to obtain a single measure of lower extremity function. The extent to which these summed measures relate to the mechanical objectives of the task has not been formally validated. The criterion validity of these measures was established with comparisons to the mechanical objective of two multiple-joint tasks. For the Work task 18 participants performed a loaded barbell squat using 4 resistances while instrumented for biomechanical analysis. For the Power they performed 2 predetermined amounts of work at both self-selected and fast speeds. Using inverse dynamics techniques, the peak net joint moment (PM) was calculated bilaterally in the sagittal plane at the ankle, knee, and hip and was summed into a single measure. This measure was correlated with the task objectives using simple linear regression. Similar procedures were used for the average net joint moment (AM), peak (PP), and average (AP) net joint moment power, and the net joint moment impulse (IM) and work (IP). For the Work task all 6 measures were significantly correlated with the task objective, but only AM, PM, and IP had correlation coefficients above 0.90. For the Power task, IM was not significantly correlated with the task objective, and only AP had a correlation coefficient above 0.90. These findings indicate that the validity of summing individual kinetic measures depends on both the measure chosen and the mechanical objective of the task.