Mites of the subgenus Neotomobia n. subg. (Acariformes: Myobiidae: Radfordia), parasites of the subfamily Neotominae (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

A new subgenus Neotomobia n. subg. (Acariformes: Myobiidae: Radfordia) is established for species parasitising rodents of the subfamily Neotominae (Rodentia: Cricetidae): Radfordia subuliger Ewing, 1938 (type-species), Radfordia eremici Fain & Bochkov, 2002, Radfordia neotomae Jameson & Whitaker, 1975 and Radfordia hamiltoni Jameson & Whitaker, 1975. Three new species are described: Radfordia peromyscus n. sp. from Peromyscus megalops Merriam from Mexico, Radfordia onychomys n. sp. from Onychomys leucogaster (Wied-Neuwied) from the USA and Radfordia megadontomys n. sp. from Megadontomys thomasi (Merriam) from Mexico.     

Hydrolytic approach for production of deoxyribonucleoside-and ribonucleoside-5′-monophosphates and enzymatic synthesis of their polyphosphates

A new, simple, and ingenious method for enzymatic synthesis of deoxy- and ribonucleoside-5 -triphosphates (dNTP and NTP, respectively) has been developed. The method includes the following stages: hydrolysis of DNA with DNase and immobilized S1-nuclease, phosphorylation of the resulting deoxy- and ribonucleoside-5 -monophosphates (dNMP and NMP, respectively) with nucleotidyl kinase from Escherichia coli, and purification by chromatography of the synthesized dNTP and NTP. dNMP was phosphorylated using an ATP-regenerating system based on acetokinase from E. coli and lithium acetylphosphate.     

Translational efficiency of EMCV IRES in bicistronic vectors is dependent upon IRES sequence and gene location

The internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)from encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a popular RNA element used widely in experimental and pharmaceutical applications to express proteins in eukaryotic cells or cell-free extracts. Inclusion of the wild-type element in monocistronic or bicistronic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) confers a high level of cap-independent translation activity to appropriately configured cistrons. The history of this element and the experimental consequences of sequence derivations inherent to commercial IRES vectors are less well known. Compared head-to-head with dual-luciferase reporter constructs, a native EMCV IRES in a bicistronic configuration directed 8- to 10-fold more protein than a similarly configured pIRES vector. It also produced nearly twice as much protein as pCITE-1, an early monocistronic iteration, harboring a suboptimal A7 sequence in a crucial structural motif The results indicate that investigators should be aware of and carefully report the sequence of their IRES in any comparative study. The preferred IRES (viral bases 273-845) and the minimum IRES (viral bases 400-836) for optimum activity are illustrated.     

A new species of Eudusbabekia Jameson, 1971 (Acari: Myobiidae) parasitising Rhinophylla pumilio Peters (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Ecuador

The mite Eudusbabekia rhinophylla n. sp. is described from the bat Rhinophylla pumilio Peters in Ecuador. It is considered to be a member of the subgenus Eudusbabekia, differing from other representatives of this group by the lanceolate shape of the coxal setae.     

Flora Europaea Notulae Systematicae ad Floram Europaeam spectantes No. 20 Corrigenda et Addenda

Following the publication of the last of the series of Flora Europaea Notulae, No. 20 in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 76: 297–384 (1978), a number of additions or alterations have been drawn to our attention. These are published in continuation.     

First record of the mite genus Neharpyrhyncuhus (Acari: Harpirhynchidae) in the Russian fauna

The mites of genus Neharpyrhynchus Fain, 1972 (Acari: Harpirhynchidae) are recorded from Rissia for first time. Two species, N. hippolae sp. n. from Hippolais icterina (Passeriformes: Sylviidae) and N. plumaris (Fritsch) from Fringilla coelebs (Passeroformes: Fringillidae) from N. W. Russia was found. N. hippolae sp. n., female holotype (all measurements in mkm, abbreviations--see Fain e.a., 1999): L 517, W 382, LS 179, WS 325, PA 27, thicker than PI 49 and PE 24, pts smooth, vi, ve [symbol: see text] sci are subequal, about 94, l5 247; propodosomal shield not divided; anterior region of pronotum with rounded verrucosites; venter without scales; legs I-II with 2 free segments and strongly developed lobes at their bases; legs III-IV with one segment, bears 4 and 5 setae respectively (in paratypes number of these setae is variable, 4-5). Male: L 227-254, W 210-219, LS 129-134, WS 170-183, pts are smooth, ve 78-87, sci 83-90, sce 89-95, h 90-110; penis 49-56 long; legs III with 2 free segments, basal segment bears seta, apical segment with 5-6 setae; legs IV with one free segment, it bears 4-5 setae. The new species is closely related to N. pilirostris (Berlese et Trouessart, 1889) and distinguished by characters as follows. N. hippolae sp. n. (female): the setae PI about 2 times are longer than PA and PE; the apical segment of legs III-IV bears 4-5 setae. N. pilirostris: setae PA, PI [symbol: see text] PE are subequal; the apical segment of legs III-IV bears 4 setae only. N. plumaris differs from closely related species N. novoplumaris Moss e.a., 1968 by characters as follows. In female of N. plumaris, the setae PA are subequal to PE and 1.6-1.8 times shorter than PI. In N. novoplumaris, the setae PA shorter than PI and PE.     

Oxidized phospholipids negatively regulate dendritic cell maturation induced by TLRs and CD40

Maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) induced by pathogen-derived signals via TLRs is a crucial step in the initiation of an adaptive immune response and therefore has to be well controlled. In this study, we demonstrate that oxidized phospholipids (ox-PLs), which are generated during infections, apoptosis, and tissue damage, interfere with DC activation, preventing their maturation. ox-PLs blocked TLR-3- and TLR-4-mediated induction of the costimulatory molecules CD40, CD80, CD83, and CD86, the cytokines IL-12 and TNF, as well as lymphocyte stimulatory capacity. CD40 and TLR-2-mediated cytokine production was also inhibited, whereas up-regulation of costimulatory molecules via these receptors was not affected by ox-PLs. Thus, formation of ox-PLs during the course of an inflammatory response may represent a negative-feedback loop preventing excessive and sustained immune reactions through regulating DC maturation.     

Decrease in the spontaneous frequency level of sister chromatid exchanges in cell division in culture

The spontaneous level of sister chromatide exchanges (SCE) registered in human lymphocytes is shown to depend on the moment of BUdR introduction and the time of fixation. In early periods of BUdR introduction and fixation the general spontaneous level of SCE may be observed and in later periods only that part of SCE may be registered which is caused by internal conditions. The difference between the first and second results makes the part of SCE conditioned by the environmental effects.     

Comparison of the frequency of chromosome aberrations induced by thiophosphamide in rabbit lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo

Rabbit lymphocytes were treated with thiophosphamide in vivo and in vitro. In-vitro doses were calculated by multiplying thiophosphamide concentrations by the time of treatment (the doses ranged within 0-1500 mg/min/ml). In-vivo doses were calculated as integral of thiophosphamide concentration function from the time of administration till the time of blood sample collection (the doses ranged within 0-1900 mg/min/ml). It was shown that with the dose increase the rate of chromosome aberrations and the number of disruptions per cell rise exponentially in vivo and in vitro. At the same time the parameters of regression equations coincide. This evidences that thiophosphamide produces the same effect in vivo and in vitro.     

Mites of the genus Neharpyrhynchus Fain (Acariformes, Harpirhynchidae) from Neotropical birds

Three new species of parasitic mites of the genus Neharpyrhynchus Fain (Acariformes, Harpirhynchidae) are described from Neotropical birds: Neharpyrhynchus chlorospingussp. n. from Chlorospingus pileatus (Passeriformes, Emberizidae) from Costa Rica, Neharpyrhynchus mironovisp. n. from Dacnys cayana (Passeriformes, Thraupidae) and Neharpyrhynchus tangarasp. n. from Tangara cayana (Thraupidae) both from Brazil. Neharpyrhynchus trochilinus (Fain) is recorded from 3 new host species of the family Trochilidae (Apodiformes), Panterpe insignis and Eugenes fulgens from Costa Rica, and Amazilia lactea from Brazil. Emended diagnosis of the genus and a key to species are provided; all records of Neharpyrhynchus species are summarized.