Ancestral modal Y-STR haplotype shared among Romani and South Indian populations

One of the primary unanswered questions regarding the dispersal of Romani populations concerns the geographical region and/or the Indian caste/tribe that gave rise to the proto-Romani group. To shed light on this matter, 161 Y-chromosomes from Roma, residing in two different provinces of Serbia, were analyzed. Our results indicate that the paternal gene pool of both groups is shaped by several strata, the most prominent of which, H1-M52, comprises almost half of each collection's patrilineages. The high frequency of M52 chromosomes in the two Roma populations examined may suggest that they descend from a single founder that has its origins in the Indian subcontinent. Moreover, when the Y-STR profiles of haplogroup H derived individuals in our Roma populations were compared to those typed in the South Indian emigrants from Malaysia and groups from Madras, Karnataka (Lingayat and Vokkaliga castes) and tribal Soligas, sharing of the two most common haplotypes was observed. These similarities suggest that South India may have been one of the contributors to the proto-Romanis. European genetic signatures (i.e., haplogroups E1b1b1a1b-V13, G2a-P15, I-M258, J2-M172 and R1-M173), on the other hand, were also detected in both groups, but at varying frequencies. The divergent European genetic signals in each collection are likely the result of differential gene flow and/or admixture with the European host populations but may also be attributed to dissimilar endogamous practices following the initial founder effect. Our data also support the notion that a number of haplogroups including G2a-P15, J2a3b-M67(xM92), I-M258 and E1b1b1-M35 were incorporated into the proto-Romani paternal lineages as migrants moved from northern India through Southwestern Asia, the Middle East and/or Anatolia into the Balkans.     

Macrophage secretions modulate the steroidogenesis of polycystic ovary in rats: effect of testosterone on macrophage pro-inflammatory cytokines

AimsThe macrophage secretions' effect on ovarian steroidogenesis is investigated in a polycystic ovary syndrome rat model (PCO rat). The influence of testosterone environment on the expression of macrophage pro-inflammatory cytokines that participate in ovarian steroidogenesis is studied.Main methodsPCO rats were induced by estradiol valerate. Spleen macrophages were cultured with and without testosterone (10^? 6 M) and their secretions were used to stimulate ovaries from PCO and control rats. Ovarian hormones released and ovary mRNA levels of P450 aromatase and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were measured by radioimmunoassay and RT-PCR, respectively. The tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in macrophage culture medium, along with the TNFα, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and androgen receptors (AR) mRNA levels in macrophage cells were determined.Key findingsMacrophages from PCO rats released more TNFα and NO, expressed higher TNFα and IL-6, lower AR, and no change in IL-10 mRNA levels than control macrophages. TNFα, IL-6 and AR changes were greater after macrophage testosterone treatment. Macrophage secretions from PCO rats stimulated androstenedione and decreased estradiol release and ovarian mRNA P450 aromatase expression in PCO rats compared to macrophage secretions from control rats.These effects were greater when macrophages from PCO rats were treated with testosterone. Ovarian progesterone response was unchanged.SignificanceThe differential steroidogenic ability of macrophage secretions from PCO rats is associated to the in vitro testosterone environment. Testosterone, probably acting on macrophage AR, induces a greater release of TNFα, modifying ovarian response by increasing androstenedione and slightly decreasing estradiol without affecting progesterone.     

Diversity of the helminth community of the Pampean grassland mouse (Akodon azarae) on poultry farms in central Argentina

This paper describes the helminth community of the Pampean grassland mouse (Akodon azarae) inhabiting poultry farms in central Argentina. Winter diversity (season of high rodent abundance) has been compared to spring diversity (season of low rodent abundance). Species richness was seven in both seasons: five nematodes (Syphacia carlitosi, Stilestrongylus spp., Trichuris laevitestis, Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) azarai and Protospirura numidica criceticola) and two cestodes (adults of Cyclophyllidea and Taenia taeniaeformis hepatic cysts). No difference in richness was detected between host sexes in each season or among host age classes. However, the helminth community showed 67% similarity between winter and spring, with diversity being significantly higher in spring (H = 0.873) than in winter (H = 0.546; P < 0.0005). This could be attributed to different factors, such as host abundance, host diet or environmental factors, that affect the transmission of each species differently. On the other hand, Stilestrongylus spp. and S. carlitosi showed higher dominance and intensity in both seasons compared to their cohabiting species, P. (P.) azarai and T. laevitestis, respectively. The lower values of the latter two species may be related to a crowding effect due to their large body sizes. This is the first report of cestodes in A. azarae. The finding of T. taeniaeformis strobilocerci could be important in the epidemiology of parasitosis in domestic animals of the farms.     

Seropathotypes, Phylogroups, Stx subtypes, and intimin types of wildlife-carried, shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli strains with the same characteristics as human-pathogenic isolates

The objectives of this study were to investigate the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains in wildlife that have spread in Europe, living near human settlements; to analyze their epidemiological role in maintenance and transmission to domestic livestock; and to assess the potential health risk of wildlife-carried strains. STEC strains were recovered from 53% of roe deer, 8.4% of wild boars, and 1.9% of foxes sampled in the northwest of Spain (Galicia). Of the 40 serotypes identified, 21 were classified as seropathotypes associated with human disease, accounting for 81.5% of the wildlife-carried STEC strains, including the enterohemorrhagic serotypes O157:H7-D-eae-γ1, O26:[H11]-B1-eae-β1, O121:H19-B1-eae-ε1, and O145:[H28]-D-eae-γ1. None of the wildlife-carried strains belonged to the highly pathogenic serotype O104:H4-B1 from the recent Germany outbreak. Forty percent of wildlife-carried STEC strains shared serotypes, phylogroups, intimin types, and Stx profiles with isolates from human patients from the same geographic area. Furthermore, wildlife-carried strains belonging to serotypes O5:HNM-A, O26:[H11]-B1, O76:H19-B1, O145:[H28]-D, O146:H21-B1, and O157:H7-D showed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles with >85% similarity to human-pathogenic STEC strains. We also found a high level of similarity among STEC strains of serotypes O5:HNM-A, O26:[H11]-B1, and O145:HNM-D of bovine (feces and beef) and wildlife origins. Interestingly, O146:H21-B1, the second most frequently detected serotype in this study, is commonly associated with human diarrhea and isolated from beef and vegetables sold in Galicia. Importantly, at least 3 STEC isolates from foxes (O5:HNM-A-eae-β1, O98:[H21]-B1-eae-ζ1, and O146:[H21]-B1) showed characteristics similar to those of human STEC strains. In conclusion, roe deer, wild boar, and fox in Galicia are confirmed to be carriers of STEC strains potentially pathogenic for humans and seem to play an important role in the maintenance of STEC.     

Zooming-in on floral nectar: a first exploration of nectar-associated bacteria in wild plant communities

Floral nectar of some animal-pollinated plants usually harbours highly adapted yeast communities which can profoundly alter nectar characteristics and, therefore, potentially have significant impacts on plant reproduction through their effects on insect foraging behaviour. Bacteria have also been occasionally observed in floral nectar, but their prevalence, phylogenetic diversity and ecological role within plant-pollinator-yeast systems remains unclear. Here we present the first reported survey of bacteria in floral nectar from a natural plant community. Culturable bacteria occurring in a total of 71 nectar samples collected from 27 South African plant species were isolated and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Rarefaction-based analyses were used to assess operational taxonomic units (OTUs) richness at the plant community level using nectar drops as sampling units. Our results showed that bacteria are common inhabitants of floral nectar of South African plants (53.5% of samples yielded growth), and their communities are characterized by low species richness (18 OTUs at a 16S rRNA gene sequence dissimilarity cut-off of 3%) and moderate phylogenetic diversity, with most isolates belonging to the Gammaproteobacteria. Furthermore, isolates showed osmotolerance, catalase activity and the ability to grow under microaerobiosis, three traits that might help bacteria to overcome important factors limiting their survival and/or growth in nectar.     

Membrane-associated aquaporin-1 facilitates osmotically driven water flux across the basolateral membrane of the thick ascending limb

The thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (TAL) reabsorbs ～30% of filtered NaCl but is impermeable to water. The observation that little water traverses the TAL indicates an absence of water channels at the apical membrane. Yet TAL cells swell when peritubular osmolality decreases indicating that water channels must be present in the basolateral side. Consequently, we hypothesized that the water channel aquaporin-1 (AQP1) facilitates water flux across the basolateral membrane of TALs. Western blotting revealed AQP1 expression in microdissected rat and mouse TALs. Double immunofluorescence showed that 95 ± 2% of tubules positive for the TAL-specific marker Tamm-Horsfall protein were also positive for AQP1 (n = 6). RT-PCR was used to demonstrate presence of AQP1 mRNA and the TAL-specific marker NKCC2 in microdissected TALs. Cell surface biotinylation assays showed that 23 ± 3% of the total pool of AQP1 was present at the TAL basolateral membrane (n = 7). To assess the functional importance of AQP1 in the basolateral membrane, we measured the rate of cell swelling initiated by decreasing peritubular osmolality as an indicator of water flux in microdissected TALs. Water flux was decreased by ～50% in Aqp1 knockout mice compared with wild-types (4.0 ± 0.8 vs. 8.9 ± 1.7 fluorescent U/s, P < 0.02; n = 7). Furthermore, arginine vasopressin increased TAL AQP1 expression by 135 ± 17% (glycosylated) and 41 ± 11% (nonglycosylated; P < 0.01; n =5). We conclude that 1) the TAL expresses AQP1, 2) ～23% of the total pool of AQP1 is localized to the basolateral membrane, 3) AQP1 mediates a significant portion of basolateral water flux, and 4) AQP1 is upregulated in TALs of rats infused with dDAVP. AQP1 could play an important role in regulation of TAL cell volume during changes in interstitial osmolality, such as during a high-salt diet or water deprivation.     

Analysis of the conformation and function of the Plasmodium falciparum merozoite proteins MTRAP and PTRAMP

Thrombospondin repeat (TSR)-like domains are structures involved with cell adhesion. Plasmodium falciparum proteins containing TSR domains play crucial roles in parasite development. In particular, the preerythrocytic P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein is involved in hepatocyte invasion. The importance of these domains in two other malaria proteins, the merozoite-specific thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (MTRAP) and the thrombospondin-related apical membrane protein (PTRAMP), were assessed using near-full-length recombinant proteins composed of the extracellular domains produced in Escherichia coli. MTRAP is thought to be released from invasive organelles identified as micronemes during merozoite invasion to mediate motility and host cell invasion through an interaction with aldolase, an actin binding protein involved in the moving junction. PTRAMP function remains unknown. In this study, the conformation of recombinant MTRAP (rMTRAP) appeared to be a highly extended protein (2 nm by 33 nm, width by length, respectively), whereas rPTRAMP had a less extended structure. Using an erythrocyte binding assay, rMTRAP but not rPTRAMP bound human erythrocytes; rMTRAP binding was mediated through the TSR domain. MTRAP- and in general PTRAMP-specific antibodies failed to inhibit P. falciparum development in vitro. Altogether, MTRAP is a highly extended bifunctional protein that binds to an erythrocyte receptor and the merozoite motor.     

Field Evaluation of a Coproantigen Detection Test for Fascioliasis Diagnosis and Surveillance in Human Hyperendemic Areas of Andean Countries

Background

Emergence of human fascioliasis prompted a worldwide control initiative including a pilot study in a few countries. Two hyperendemic areas were chosen: Huacullani, Northern Altiplano, Bolivia, representing the Altiplanic transmission pattern with high prevalences and intensities; Cajamarca valley, Peru, representing the valley pattern with high prevalences but low intensities. Coprological sample collection, transport and study procedures were analyzed to improve individual diagnosis and subsequent treatments and surveillance activities. Therefore, a coproantigen-detection technique (MM3-COPRO ELISA) was evaluated, using classical techniques for egg detection for comparison.

Methodology and Findings

A total of 436 and 362 stool samples from schoolchildren of Huacullani and Cajamarca, respectively, were used. Positive samples from Huacullani were 24.77% using the MM3-COPRO technique, and 21.56% using Kato-Katz. Positive samples from Cajamarca were 11.05% using MM3-COPRO, and 5.24% using rapid sedimentation and Kato-Katz. In Huacullani, using Kato-Katz as gold standard, sensitivity and specificity were 94.68% and 98.48%, respectively, and using Kato-Katz and COPRO-ELISA test together, they were 95.68% and 100%. In Cajamarca, using rapid sedimentation and Kato-Katz together, results were 94.73% and 93.58%, and using rapid sedimentation, Kato-Katz and copro-ELISA together, they were 97.56% and 100%, respectively. There was no correlation between coproantigen detection by optical density (OD) and infection intensity by eggs per gram of feces (epg) in Cajamarca low burden cases (<400 epg), nor in Huacullani high burden cases (≥400 epg), although there was in Huacullani low burden cases (<400 epg). Six cases of egg emission appeared negative by MM3-COPRO, including one with a high egg count (1248 epg).

Conclusions

The coproantigen-detection test allows for high sensitivity and specificity, fast large mass screening capacity, detection in the chronic phase, early detection of treatment failure or reinfection in post-treated subjects, and usefulness in surveillance programs. However, this technique falls short when evaluating the fluke burden on its own.     

Interannual variations of soil organic carbon fractions in unmanaged volcanic soils (Canary Islands,Spain)

The stability over time of the organic C stocked in soils under undisturbed ecosystems is poorly studied, despite being suitable for detecting changes related to climate fluctuations and global warming. Volcanic soils often show high organic C contents due to the stabilization of organic matter by short‐range ordered minerals or Al‐humus complexes. We investigated the dynamics of different organic C fractions in volcanic soils of protected natural ecosystems of the Canary Islands (Spain) to evaluate the stability of their C pools. The study was carried out in 10 plots, including both undisturbed and formerly disturbed ecosystems, over two annual periods. C inputs to (litterfall) and outputs from (respiration) the soil, root C stocks (0–30 cm), soil organic C (SOC) fractions belonging to C pools with different degrees of biogeochemical stability –total oxidisable C (TOC), microbial biomass C (MBC), water soluble C (WSC), hot‐water extractable C (HWC), humic C (HSC), – and total soil N (TN) (at 0–15 and 15–30 cm) were measured seasonally.A statistically significant interannual increase in CO₂ emissions and a decrease in the SOC, mainly at the expense of the most labile organic forms, were observed, while the root C stocks and litterfall inputs remained relatively constant over the study period. The observed changes may reflect an initial increase in SOC resulting from low soil respiration rates due to drought during the first year of study. The soils of nearly mature ecosystems were more apparently affected by C losses, while those undergoing the process of active natural regeneration exhibited disguised C loss because of the C sequestration trend that is characteristic of progressive ecological succession.     

A new species of Apechoneura Kriechbaumer (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Labeninae) from Colombia

A new species of the ichneumonid subfamily Labeninae, Apechoneura seminigrasp. n., is described. Specimens were collected from the Amazon Rainforest of Colombia.