A Methodological Framework to Estimate the Site Fidelity of Tagged Animals Using Passive Acoustic Telemetry

The rapid expansion of the use of passive acoustic telemetry technologies has facilitated unprecedented opportunities for studying the behavior of marine organisms in their natural environment. This technological advance would greatly benefit from the parallel development of dedicated methodologies accounting for the variety of timescales involved in the remote detection of tagged animals related to instrumental, environmental and behavioral events. In this paper we propose a methodological framework for estimating the site fidelity (“residence times”) of acoustic tagged animals at different timescales, based on the survival analysis of continuous residence times recorded at multiple receivers. Our approach is validated through modeling and applied on two distinct datasets obtained from a small coastal pelagic species (bigeye scad, Selar crumenophthalmus) and a large, offshore pelagic species (yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares), which show very distinct spatial scales of behavior. The methodological framework proposed herein allows estimating the most appropriate temporal scale for processing passive acoustic telemetry data depending on the scientific question of interest. Our method provides residence times free of the bias inherent to environmental and instrumental noise that can be used to study the small scale behavior of acoustic tagged animals. At larger timescales, it can effectively identify residence times that encompass the diel behavioral excursions of fish out of the acoustic detection range. This study provides a systematic framework for the analysis of passive acoustic telemetry data that can be employed for the comparative study of different species and study sites. The same methodology can be used each time discrete records of animal detections of any nature are employed for estimating the site fidelity of an animal at different timescales.     

Strain-specific spleen remodelling in Plasmodium yoelii infections in Balb/c mice facilitates adherence and spleen macrophage-clearance escape

Knowledge of the dynamic features of the processes driven by malaria parasites in the spleen is lacking. To gain insight into the function and structure of the spleen in malaria, we have implemented intravital microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging of the mouse spleen in experimental infections with non-lethal (17X) and lethal (17XL) Plasmodium yoelii strains. Noticeably, there was higher parasite accumulation, reduced motility, loss of directionality, increased residence time and altered magnetic resonance only in the spleens of mice infected with 17X. Moreover, these differences were associated with the formation of a strain-specific induced spleen tissue barrier of fibroblastic origin, with red pulp macrophage-clearance evasion and with adherence of infected red blood cells to this barrier. Our data suggest that in this reticulocyte-prone non-lethal rodent malaria model, passage through the spleen is different from what is known in other Plasmodium species and open new avenues for functional/structural studies of this lymphoid organ in malaria.     

Lestaurtinib inhibition of the Jak/STAT signaling pathway in hodgkin lymphoma inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis

Standard cytotoxic chemotherapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) has changed little in 30 years; the treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory disease remains challenging and novel agents are under development. JAK/STAT constitutive activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of HL. Lestaurtinib is an orally bioavailable multikinase inhibitor that has recently been shown to inhibit JAK2 in myeloproliferative disorders. The potential role of Lestaurtinib in HL therapy is unknown. We have analyzed the effect of Lestaurtinib treatment in five HL cell lines from refractory patients, L-428, L-1236, L-540, HDML-2 and HD-MY-Z. At 48 h, a dose-dependent cell growth inhibition (23%-66% at 300 nM) and apoptotic increment (10%-64% at 300 nM) were observed. Moreover, Lestaurtinib inhibited JAK2, STAT5 and STAT3 phosphorylation and reduced the mRNA expression of its downstream antiapoptotic target Bcl-xL. In addition, we have analyzed the effect of Lestaurtinib treatment in lymph nodes from four classic HL patients. We observed a decrease in cell viability at 24 hours of treatment in three patients (mean decrease of 27% at 300 nM). Our findings provide, for the first time, a molecular rationale for testing JAK2 inhibitors, specifically Lestaurtinib, in HL patients.     

Histological development of the digestive system of Mayan cichlid Cichlasoma urophthalmus (Günther 1862)

The ontogeny of the digestive tract in Cichlasoma urophthalmus was studied by means of optical microscopy from hatching to 30 days post‐hatching (dph; 855 degree days, dd). The development of the digestive system in this precocial species was a very intense and asynchronous process, which proceeded from both distal ends interiorly. At hatching, the digestive tract consisted of a straight tube with a smooth lumen dorsally attached to the yolk‐sac. The digestive accessory glands were already differentiated and eosinophilic zymogen granules were visible in the exocrine pancreas. At the onset of exogenous feeding between 5 and 6 dph (142.5–171.0 cumulative thermal units, CTU), the buccopharynx, oesophagus, intestine, liver and pancreas were almost completely differentiated, with the exception of the gastric stomach that completed its differentiation between 11 and 14 dph (313.5–399.0 CTU). The development of gastric glands at 14 dph and the differentiation of the stomach in the fundic, cardiac and pyloric regions at 19 dph (541.5 CTU) were the last major events in digestive tract development and designated the onset of the juvenile period. Remnants of yolk were still detected until 16 dph (456.0 CTU), indicating a long period of mixed nutrition that lasted between 10 and 11 days (285.0–313.5 CTU). The results of the organogenesis of larvae complement previous data on the functionality of the digestive system and represent a useful tool for establishing the functional systemic capabilities and physiological requirements of larvae to ensure optimal welfare and growth under aquaculture conditions, which might be useful for improving current larval rearing practices for this cichlid species.     

Fruit misshapen in strawberry cultivars (Fragaria×ananassa) is related to achenes functionality

Fruit deformation is a phenomenon commonly observed in commercial strawberry cultivars (Fragaria×ananassa) with a negative impact on the economic benefit of crop production. To better understand this physiopathy, we evaluated fruit size and the relative amount of ‘small’ (<0.4 mm) and ‘big’ achenes (>0.6 mm) in misshapen (MF) and well‐formed (WF) fruits from ‘Camarosa’, ‘Ventana’ and ‘Medina’ strawberry cultivars growing in the field. In ‘Camarosa’, size‐dependent achenes functionality was assessed by analysing achenes germinability and differences in time to ripening between MF and WF. We found that the occurrence of fruit deformation was not only strongly dependent on the cultivar (i.e. genetic factor) but also was promoted by low temperatures (i.e. environmental factor). Regardless of the cultivar, MF showed higher percentage of ‘small’ non‐functional achenes than WF, indicating a failure in achene development, which could be related to the functional integrity of reproductive structures. To test this hypothesis, we performed an experiment by pollinating strawberry flowers with pollen developed under low and mild temperatures. Low temperatures reduced pollen viability, and flowers pollinated with low quality pollen led to a higher amount of MF. However, fruit deformation was not completely explained by differences in pollen quality, neither by differences in pistil maturity and receptivity nor ovule viability, suggesting that non‐functional achenes might result from a disruption in postfertilisation processes such as embryo abortion as a consequence of low temperatures.     

Oral Iron Treatment Has a Positive Effect on Iron Metabolism in Elite Soccer Players

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of oral iron supplementation on hematological and iron metabolism in elite soccer players. Thirty-five members of the Real Zaragoza SAD soccer team took part in this study: group A (GA, n = 24; Spanish Premier League) took an oral iron supplement of 80 mg day⁻¹ for 3 weeks, and group B (GB, n = 11; Spanish Third Division League) did not receive any supplementation. In GA, the parameters were measured before and after giving the iron supplements, while in GB, measurements were only made at the time of collecting the second set of data from GA. After supplementation, GA showed an increase in serum iron (SI) (P < 0.05), serum ferritin (Ftn) (P < 0.01), and transferrin saturation (Sat) (P < 0.01) with respect to the basal values. In addition, GA showed higher values of hematocrit (P < 0.01), mean corpuscular volume (P < 0.01), Ftn (P < 0.01), and Sat (P < 0.01) than GB. No significant differences were found in any other parameters. More specifically, a higher percentage of players had Ftn levels above upper limits in GA vs. GB (P < 0.05), and GB had a higher incidence of Ftn below lower limits with respect to subjects in GA (P < 0.01). Further, after treatment, 58.3% of GA had >800 mg of SI, while all players in GB presented levels below the lower limits. In conclusion, iron supplementation with 80 mg·day⁻¹ for 3 weeks, before the start of the soccer season, can be recommended for elite soccer players.     

A Brave New World for an Old World Pest: Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil

The highly polyphagous Old World cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera is a quarantine agricultural pest for the American continents. Historically H. armigera is thought to have colonised the American continents around 1.5 to 2 million years ago, leading to the current H. zea populations on the American continents. The relatively recent species divergence history is evident in mating compatibility between H. zea and H. armigera under laboratory conditions. Despite periodic interceptions of H. armigera into North America, this pest species is not believed to have successfully established significant populations on either continent. In this study, we provide molecular evidence via mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cyt b) partial gene sequences for the successful recent incursion of H. armigera into the New World, with individuals being detected at two sites (Primavera do Leste, Pedra Preta) within the State of Mato Grosso in Brazil. The mtDNA COI and Cyt b haplotypes detected in the Brazilian H. armigera individuals are common throughout the Old World, thus precluding identification of the founder populations. Combining the two partial mtDNA gene sequences showed that at least two matrilines are present in Brazil, while the inclusion of three nuclear DNA Exon-Primed Intron-Crossing (EPIC) markers identified a further two possible matrilines in our samples. The economic, biosecurity, resistance management, ecological and evolutionary implications of this incursion are discussed in relation to the current agricultural practices in the Americas.     

Discriminating between Medium-Sized Tridactyl Trackmakers: Tracking Ornithopod Tracks in the Base of the Cretaceous (Berriasian,Spain)

Background

Recent work on the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition of the Iberian Range (Spain) has opened a new window onto the interpretation of the trackmakers of some medium-sized tridactyl tracks. The ichnotaxon Therangospodus oncalensis has been described in the Huérteles Formation (Berriasian) and is one of the classical tracks from the area assigned to medium-sized theropods.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A review of the type locality of Therangospodus oncalensis (Fuentesalvo tracksite) and other tracksites from the Huérteles Formation (Berriasian) has yielded new information on the morphology, gait and trackmaker identity of the aforementioned ichnospecies. The new data suggest that the trackmaker is an ornithopod rather than a theropod on the basis of the length/width ratio, the anterior triangle length-width ratio, the short steps, the round to quadrangular heel pad impression and the probable manus impressions.

Conclusions/Significance

T. oncalensis shows similarities with various tracks from the Berriasian of Europe assigned to Iguanodontipus. The ichnotaxonomical status of this ichnospecies is here considered as Iguanodontipus? oncalensis due to the current state of knowledge of the ichnotaxonomy of medium-sized ornithopod tracks. This reassessment of I? oncalensis also has two significant implications for the palaeoecology of the faunas during the deposition of the Huérteles Formation: 1- the high number and percentage of theropod tracks would be lower than previous papers have suggested. 2- the gregarious behaviour described in the type locality (Fuentesalvo) would be among ornithopods instead of theropods.     

Long‐term balancing selection on chromosomal variants associated with crypsis in a stick insect

How polymorphisms are maintained within populations over long periods of time remains debated, because genetic drift and various forms of selection are expected to reduce variation. Here, we study the genetic architecture and maintenance of phenotypic morphs that confer crypsis in Timema cristinae stick insects, combining phenotypic information and genotyping‐by‐sequencing data from 1,360 samples across 21 populations. We find two highly divergent chromosomal variants that span megabases of sequence and are associated with colour polymorphism. We show that these variants exhibit strongly reduced effective recombination, are geographically widespread and probably diverged millions of generations ago. We detect heterokaryotype excess and signs of balancing selection acting on these variants through the species’ history. A third chromosomal variant in the same genomic region likely evolved more recently from one of the two colour variants and is associated with dorsal pattern polymorphism. Our results suggest that large‐scale genetic variation associated with crypsis has been maintained for long periods of time by potentially complex processes of balancing selection.     

Functional genomics of bacterial pathogens: from post-genomics to therapeutic targets

A wealth of new data have become available to the scientific community as a result of the sequencing of many pathogen genomes. A recent meeting devoted to functional genomics of pathogenic microorganisms confirmed the notion that bacterial genomes are not static, because large blocks of genes can be acquired or deleted. Less complex environments usually result in reduction in genome size, while genome expansion is usually associated with environmental change and complexity. During the meeting, pathogenicity and evolutionary aspects were illustrated for enteric pathogens, as well as the microevolution of the plague bacillus Yersinia pestis. New clues for evolution and pathogenicity were derived from comparative genomics of Listeria species. The genomic organization of Bartonellae, an emerging human pathogen, was also discussed in an evolutionary context. Population and functional genomics of Anthrax-causing bacteria highlighted current scientific interest in this potential biothreat.