Contrasting egg and larval performances help explain polyphagy in a florivorous butterfly

We examined both egg and larval performances in the polyphagous butterfly Parrhasius polibetes (Lycaenidae) using two host plants differing in morphological and ecological traits. Oviposition on mixed and pure patches of Schefflera vinosa (Araliaceae) and Pyrostegia venusta (Bignoniaceae), as well as the fate of eggs laid on both hosts, was assessed. To disentangle the effects of egg origin and host quality on larval performance, eggs were collected from Schefflera and Pyrostegia, and the corresponding newly hatched larvae were reared either on the natal (control) or non-natal (experimental) host. Lastly, we evaluated whether early and late instars are able to switch to alternative hosts. In both mixed and pure patches, parasitism was significantly lower, and oviposition and hatching rates were significantly higher for eggs laid on Schefflera than on Pyrostegia. Survivorship did not differ among treatments. Larvae fed with Pyrostegia were heavier than those fed with Schefflera, regardless of egg origin. Only early instars fed with Schefflera switched to Pyrostegia in the tests; in the remaining cases, larvae fed on the alternative hosts significantly less than on the controls. Our results help to explain why the use of multiple hosts by P. polibetes is maintained in nature, as the host conferring superior egg survival may incur poor larval performance and vice versa. Oviposition pattern is better understood from a tri-trophic rather than a bi-trophic perspective. Our study also highlights the monophagous condition of individual P. polibetes larvae; the constraint for switching to novel hosts is dependent on both larval instar and host plant species.     

1H, 15N and 13C Backbone resonance assignments of a conformational mutant of the adhesion protein ∆-Bd37 from Babesia divergens

We report here the resonance assignment of EDK-?-Bd37, conformational mutant potentially displaying the “open” conformation of Bd37, a 25 kDa surface protein from the Apicomplexa parasite Babesia divergens that could undergo drastic conformational changes during erythrocyte invasion.     

NMR assignment of a PDZ domain in complex with a HPV51 E6 derived N-terminally pyroglutamic acid modified peptide

The resonance assignment of an amino-terminal pyroglutamic acid containing peptide derived from the E6 protein of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 51 in complex with PDZ domain 2 of hDlg/SAP-97 is reported. The assignments include ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N resonances for the protein and peptide in the complex and all of the peptide’s pyroglutamic acid nuclei.     

Diel vertical migration arising in a habitat selection game

Predator and prey react to each other, adjusting their behavior to maximize their fitness and optimizing their food intake while keeping their predation risk as low as possible. In a pelagic environment, prey reduce their predation mortality by adopting a diel vertical migration (DVM) strategy, avoiding their predator during their peak performance by finding refuge in deep layers during daylight hours and feeding at the surface during the night. Due to the duality of the interaction between prey and predator, we used a game theory approach to investigate whether DVM can be a suitable strategy for the predator as well as the prey. We formulated three scenarios in plankton ecology in order to address this question. A novel finding is that mixed strategies emerge as optimal over a range of the parameter space, where part of the predator or prey population adopts a DVM while the rest adopt one or other “sit and wait” strategies.     

Kinetics of IL-7 and IL-15 Levels after Allogeneic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation following Nonmyeloablative Conditioning

Background

We analysed kinetics of IL-7 and IL-15 levels in 70 patients given peripheral blood stem cells after nonmyeloablative conditioning.

Methods

EDTA-anticoagulated plasma and serum samples were obtained before conditioning and about once per week after transplantation until day 100. Samples were aliquoted and stored at −80°C within 3 hours after collection until measurement of cytokines. IL-7 and IL-15 levels were measured by ELISAs.

Results

Median IL-7 plasma levels remained below 6 pg/L throughout the first 100 days, although IL-7 plasma levels were significantly higher on days 7 (5.1 pg/mL, P = 0.002), 14 (5.2 pg/mL, P<0.001), and 28 (5.1 pg/mL, P = 0.03) (but not thereafter) than before transplantation (median value of 3.8 pg/mL). Median IL-15 serum levels were significantly higher on days 7 (12.5 pg/mL, P<0.001), 14 (10.5 pg/mL, P<0.001), and 28 (6.2 pg/mL, P<0.001) than before transplantation (median value of 2.4 pg/mL). Importantly, IL-7 and IL-15 levels on days 7 or 14 after transplantation did not predict grade II–IV acute GVHD.

Conclusions

These data suggest that IL-7 and IL-15 levels remain relatively low after nonmyeloablative transplantation, and that IL-7 and IL-15 levels early after nonmyeloablative transplantation do not predict for acute GVHD.     

Effects of Feed Supplementation on Mineral Composition,Mechanical Properties and Structure in Femurs of Iberian Red Deer Hinds (Cervus elaphus hispanicus)

Few studies in wild animals have assessed changes in mineral profile in long bones and their implications for mechanical properties. We examined the effect of two diets differing in mineral content on the composition and mechanical properties of femora from two groups each with 13 free-ranging red deer hinds. Contents of Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, S, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn, B and Sr, Young’s modulus of elasticity (E), bending strength and work of fracture were assessed in the proximal part of the diaphysis (PD) and the mid-diaphysis (MD). Whole body measures were also recorded on the hinds. Compared to animals on control diets, those on supplemented diets increased live weight by 6.5 kg and their kidney fat index (KFI), but not carcass weight, body or organ size, femur size or cortical thickness. Supplemental feeding increased Mn content of bone by 23%, Cu by 9% and Zn by 6%. These differences showed a mean fourfold greater content of these minerals in supplemental diet, whereas femora did not reflect a 5.4 times greater content of major minerals (Na and P) in the diet. Lower content of B and Sr in supplemented diet also reduced femur B by 14% and Sr by 5%. There was a subtle effect of diet only on E and none on other mechanical properties. Thus, greater availability of microminerals but not major minerals in the diet is reflected in bone composition even before marked body effects, bone macro-structure or its mechanical properties are affected.     

Phylogenetic Analysis of Thecosomata Blainville, 1824 (Holoplanktonic Opisthobranchia) Using Morphological and Molecular Data

Thecosomata is a marine zooplankton group, which played an important role in the carbonate cycle in oceans due to their shell composition. So far, there is important discrepancy between the previous morphological-based taxonomies, and subsequently the evolutionary history of Thecosomata. In this study, the remarkable planktonic sampling of TARA Oceans expedition associated with a set of various other missions allowed us to assess the phylogenetic relationships of Thecosomata using morphological and molecular data (28 S and COI genes). The two gene trees showed incongruities (e.g. Hyalocylis, Cavolinia), and high congruence between morphological and 28S trees (e.g. monophyly of Euthecosomata). The monophyly of straight shell species led us to reviving the Orthoconcha, and the split of Limacinidae led us to the revival of Embolus inflata replacing Limacina inflata. The results also jeopardized the Euthecosomata families that are based on plesiomorphic character state as in the case for Creseidae which was not a monophyletic group. Divergence times were also estimated, and suggested that the evolutionary history of Thecosomata was characterized by four major diversifying events. By bringing the knowledge of palaeontology, we propose a new evolutionary scenario for which macro-evolution implying morphological innovations were rhythmed by climatic changes and associated species turn-over that spread from the Eocene to Miocene, and were shaped principally by predation and shell buoyancy.     

Intestinal Microbiota Composition of Interleukin-10 Deficient C57BL/6J Mice and Susceptibility to Helicobacter hepaticus-Induced Colitis

The mouse pathobiont Helicobacter hepaticus can induce typhlocolitis in interleukin-10-deficient mice, and H. hepaticus infection of immunodeficient mice is widely used as a model to study the role of pathogens and commensal bacteria in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. C57BL/6J Il10^−/− mice kept under specific pathogen-free conditions in two different facilities (MHH and MIT), displayed strong differences with respect to their susceptibilities to H. hepaticus-induced intestinal pathology. Mice at MIT developed robust typhlocolitis after infection with H. hepaticus, while mice at MHH developed no significant pathology after infection with the same H. hepaticus strain. We hypothesized that the intestinal microbiota might be responsible for these differences and therefore performed high resolution analysis of the intestinal microbiota composition in uninfected mice from the two facilities by deep sequencing of partial 16S rRNA amplicons. The microbiota composition differed markedly between mice from both facilities. Significant differences were also detected between two groups of MHH mice born in different years. Of the 119 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that occurred in at least half the cecum or colon samples of at least one mouse group, 24 were only found in MIT mice, and another 13 OTUs could only be found in MHH samples. While most of the MHH-specific OTUs could only be identified to class or family level, the MIT-specific set contained OTUs identified to genus or species level, including the opportunistic pathogen, Bilophila wadsworthia. The susceptibility to H. hepaticus-induced colitis differed considerably between Il10^−/− mice originating from the two institutions. This was associated with significant differences in microbiota composition, highlighting the importance of characterizing the intestinal microbiome when studying murine models of IBD.     

Excap: Maximization of Haplotypic Diversity of Linked Markers

Genetic markers, defined as variable regions of DNA, can be utilized for distinguishing individuals or populations. As long as markers are independent, it is easy to combine the information they provide. For nonrecombinant sequences like mtDNA, choosing the right set of markers for forensic applications can be difficult and requires careful consideration. In particular, one wants to maximize the utility of the markers. Until now, this has mainly been done by hand.We propose an algorithm that finds the most informative subset of a set of markers. The algorithm uses a depth first search combined with a branch-and-bound approach. Since the worst case complexity is exponential, we also propose some data-reduction techniques and a heuristic.We implemented the algorithm and applied it to two forensic caseworks using mitochondrial DNA, which resulted in marker sets with significantly improved haplotypic diversity compared to previous suggestions. Additionally, we evaluated the quality of the estimation with an artificial dataset of mtDNA. The heuristic is shown to provide extensive speedup at little cost in accuracy.     

Sustained Reduction of the Dengue Vector Population Resulting from an Integrated Control Strategy Applied in Two Brazilian Cities

Aedes aegypti has developed evolution-driven adaptations for surviving in the domestic human habitat. Several trap models have been designed considering these strategies and tested for monitoring this efficient vector of Dengue. Here, we report a real-scale evaluation of a system for monitoring and controlling mosquito populations based on egg sampling coupled with geographic information systems technology. The SMCP-Aedes, a system based on open technology and open data standards, was set up from March/2008 to October/2011 as a pilot trial in two sites of Pernambuco -Brazil: Ipojuca (10,000 residents) and Santa Cruz (83,000), in a joint effort of health authorities and staff, and a network of scientists providing scientific support. A widespread infestation by Aedes was found in both sites in 2008–2009, with 96.8%–100% trap positivity. Egg densities were markedly higher in SCC than in Ipojuca. A 90% decrease in egg density was recorded in SCC after two years of sustained control pressure imposed by suppression of >7,500,000 eggs and >3,200 adults, plus larval control by adding fishes to cisterns. In Ipojuca, 1.1 million mosquito eggs were suppressed and a 77% reduction in egg density was achieved. This study aimed at assessing the applicability of a system using GIS and spatial statistic analysis tools for quantitative assessment of mosquito populations. It also provided useful information on the requirements for reducing well-established mosquito populations. Results from two cities led us to conclude that the success in markedly reducing an Aedes population required the appropriate choice of control measures for sustained mass elimination guided by a user-friendly mosquito surveillance system. The system was able to support interventional decisions and to assess the program’s success. Additionally, it created a stimulating environment for health staff and residents, which had a positive impact on their commitment to the dengue control program.