Infanticide as an alternative male reproductive strategy in langurs: A mathematical model

This paper makes explicit some of the assumptions underlying the view that infanticide is one of two (or more) alternative reproductive strategies utilized by adult male langur monkeys (genus Presbytis). A mathematical model has been developed from these assumptions, and formulae derived which give the equilibrium proportion of infanticidal males expected in langur populations under any given set of reproductive and demographic conditions. Together with estimates of adult male reproductive success obtained from a previous analysis of langur infanticide, these formulae were then used to calculate the precise proportion of infanticidal males expected in natural populations of langurs characterized by specific average male tenures. Further, the number of generations required for such populations to reach their predicted equilibrium was estimated using a simple computer model of langur population dynamics. The present work has thus produced several quantitative predictions which are directly falsifiable with observational data obtainable from wild populations of langur monkeys. With only slight modification, the present model may also be applied to the numerous other primate and non-primate species whose mating systems include many of the same general features as that of langurs.     

Detection of Salmonella strains and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in feces of small ruminants and their isolation with various media

Salmonella strains and Escherichia coli O157:H7 were detected in 17 and 5 small ruminants in Virginia, respectively, of 287 tested. Background microflora interfered with the fecal analysis. The combination of Salmonella enzyme immunoassay (EIA) detection and xylose-lysine-deoxycholate agar isolation was satisfactory. Modifying enrichment to a 1:100 dilution enabled effective E. coli O157:H7 detection by EIA and isolation by sorbitol-MacConkey agar with cefixime-tellurite.     

Modulation of antioxidant enzymes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Juniperus procera</Emphasis> needles in relation to habitat environment and dieback incidence

Key message

Oxidative stress and the antioxidant enzymes’ activity are higher in damaged than in healthy Juniperus procera trees, in summer than in winter, and in dry than in wet condition.

Abstract

Many of the small stands of Juniperus procera in Saudi Arabia, confined mainly to Aseer Mountains in the southern part of the country, are suffering from branch dieback. As a part of the project on the structural and functional responses of healthy and dieback-affected trees to local environmental conditions of Al-Ghalab, Al-Yazeed, and Saodah locations, this study quantifies the oxidative stress generated and the consequent modulation of proline accumulation and antioxidant enzymes’ activity, as determined by chemical analysis of needle tissues from samples collected in summer and winter seasons. The level of TBARS, which indicated the extent of oxidative stress, was minimum (10.1 nM g^?1 f w) at Al-Ghalab and maximum (28.1 nM g^?1 f w) at Al-Yazeed, being relatively higher in summer than in winter. Healthy trees had a lower level of TBARS than those suffering from dieback. Proline content showed 147–54 µg g^?1 in healthy trees and 460–99 µg g^?1 f w in affected ones. Variation in the activity of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalase was around 0.7–3.6, 0.01–0.09, 0.02–0.08, and 0.6–3.0 U mg^?1 min^?1, respectively, in healthy trees, whereas 2.3–6.1, 0.04–0.3, 0.04–0.3, and 2–5.8 U mg^?1 min^?1, respectively, in the dieback-affected trees of the different locations. Thus, the oxidative stress and the enzymatic stimulation were higher in damaged than in healthy trees and in summer than in winter season. Water-harvesting efforts at the collection sites showed ameliorative effects. Our observations suggest that J. procera tree can be made more tolerant toward stressful condition, and even the risk of dieback can be avoided or minimized by improving soil–water availability through adequate water-harvesting strategies in the drought-affected areas.

     

Ex Vivo and In Vivo Imaging and Biodistribution of Aptamers Targeting the Human Matrix MetalloProtease-9 in Melanomas

The human Matrix MetalloProtease-9 (hMMP-9) is overexpressed in tumors where it promotes the release of cancer cells thus contributing to tumor metastasis. We raised aptamers against hMMP-9, which constitutes a validated marker of malignant tumors, in order to design probes for imaging tumors in human beings. A chemically modified RNA aptamer (F3B), fully resistant to nucleases was previously described. This compound was subsequently used for the preparation of F3B-Cy5, F3B-S-acetylmercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG) and F3B-DOTA. The binding properties of these derivatives were determined by surface plasmon resonance and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Optical fluorescence imaging confirmed the binding to hMMP-9 in A375 melanoma bearing mice. Quantitative biodistribution studies were performed at 30 min, 1h and 2 h post injection of ^99mTc-MAG-aptamer and ¹¹¹In-DOTA-F3B. ^99mTc radiolabeled aptamer specifically detected hMMP-9 in A375 melanoma tumors but accumulation in digestive tract was very high. Following i.v. injection of ¹¹¹In-DOTA-F3B, high level of radioactivity was observed in kidneys and bladder but digestive tract uptake was very limited. Tumor uptake was significantly (student t test, p<0.05) higher for ¹¹¹In-DOTA-F3B with 2.0%ID/g than for the ¹¹¹In-DOTA-control oligonucleotide (0.7%ID/g) with tumor to muscle ratio of 4.0. Such difference in tumor accumulation has been confirmed by ex vivo scintigraphic images performed at 1h post injection and by autoradiography, which revealed the overexpression of hMMP-9 in sections of human melanomas. These results demonstrate that F3B aptamer is of interest for detecting hMMP-9 in melanoma tumor.     

Mutations in CNNM4 Cause Jalili Syndrome, Consisting of Autosomal-Recessive Cone-Rod Dystrophy and Amelogenesis Imperfecta

The combination of recessively inherited cone-rod dystrophy (CRD) and amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) was first reported by Jalili and Smith in 1988 in a family subsequently linked to a locus on chromosome 2q11, and it has since been reported in a second small family. We have identified five further ethnically diverse families cosegregating CRD and AI. Phenotypic characterization of teeth and visual function in the published and new families reveals a consistent syndrome in all seven families, and all link or are consistent with linkage to 2q11, confirming the existence of a genetically homogenous condition that we now propose to call Jalili syndrome. Using a positional-candidate approach, we have identified mutations in the CNNM4 gene, encoding a putative metal transporter, accounting for the condition in all seven families. Nine mutations are described in all, three missense, three terminations, two large deletions, and a single base insertion. We confirmed expression of Cnnm4 in the neural retina and in ameloblasts in the developing tooth, suggesting a hitherto unknown connection between tooth biomineralization and retinal function. The identification of CNNM4 as the causative gene for Jalili syndrome, characterized by syndromic CRD with AI, has the potential to provide new insights into the roles of metal transport in visual function and biomineralization.     

The role of liposome charge on immune response generated in BALB/c mice immunized with recombinant major surface glycoprotein of Leishmania (rgp63)

Liposomes as a lipid-based system have been shown to be an effective adjuvant formulation. In this study, the role of liposome charge in induction of a Th1 type of immune response and protection against leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice was studied. Liposomes containing rgp63 were prepared by Dehydration-Rehydration Vesicle (DRV) method. Neutral liposomes consisted of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. Positively and negatively charged liposomes were prepared by adding dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB) or dicetyl phosphate (DCP) to the neutral liposome formulation, respectively. Female BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with negatively, positively charged or neutral liposomes encapsulated with rgp63, rgp63 in soluble form or PBS, three times in 3 week intervals. The extent of protection and type of immune response generated were studied in different groups of mice. The group of mice immunized with rgp63 encapsulated in neutral liposomes showed a significantly (P < 0.01) smaller footpad swelling upon challenge with Leishmania major compared with positively or negatively charged liposomes. The mice immunized with neutral liposomes also showed a significantly (P < 0.01) the lowest splenic parasite burden, the highest IgG2a/IgG1 ratio and IFN-γ production and the lowest IL-4 level compared to the other groups. The results indicated that a Th1 type of immune response was induced in mice immunized with neutral liposomes more efficiently than positively charged liposomes and conversely negatively charged liposomes induced a Th2 type of immune response.     

Novel spectrofluorimetric quantification of alogliptin benzoate in biofluids exploiting its interaction with 4‐chloro‐7‐nitrobenzofurazan

The direct determination of alogliptin benzoate (ALO) using fluorescence has not yet been accomplished because ALO cannot fluoresce naturally. Accordingly, it should be derivatized first with a fluorogenic reagent to enhance the sensitivity required for its bioanalysis. This method is the first spectrofluorimetric assay for ALO quantification exploiting the nucleophilic nature of its amino group to react with 4‐chloro‐7‐nitrobenzofurazan (NBD‐Cl) in borate buffer at pH 8.5 to produce a strong fluorescent compound that is excited at and emits at wavelengths 470 and 527 nm, respectively. Experimental variables concerning the conditions of reaction and fluorogenic intensity were carefully investigated and optimized. Linearity was from 1–250 ng ml^?1 with a lower detection limit of 0.29 ng ml^?1 and a lower quantification limit of 0.88 ng ml^?1. Validation of the current study was accomplished with mean per cent recovery of 100.62 ± 1.59 in tablets and 99.86 ± 0.82 in human plasma. Furthermore, the current method has been utilized in the bioanalysis of ALO in real rat plasma after oral administration with a simple specimen preparation. The developed method has proven to be a promising alternative method for ALO analysis in bioequivalence studies.