Single and combined effects of two trace elements (Cd and Cu) on the asexual reproduction of Aurelia sp. polyps

Aquatic Ecology - Jellyfish blooms are an increasingly common event in our seas. Occurring via polyps’ asexual reproduction induced by human stresses, they represent a hazard for ecosystems...     

The fetal circadian rhythm in pregnancies complicated by pregestational diabetes is altered by maternal glycemic control and the morning cortisol concentration

Circadian rhythmicity is fundamental to human physiology, and is present even during fetal life in normal pregnancies. The impact of maternal endocrine disease on the fetal circadian rhythm is not well understood. The present study aimed to determine the fetal circadian rhythm in pregnancies complicated by pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM), compare it with a low-risk reference population, and identify the effects of maternal glycemic control and morning cortisol concentrations. Long-term fetal electrocardiogram recordings were made in 40 women with PGDM at 28 and 36 weeks of gestation. Two recordings were made in 18 of the women (45.0%) and one recording was made in 22 (55.0%). The mean fetal heart rate (fHR) and the fHR variation (root mean square of squared differences) were extracted in 1-min epochs, and circadian rhythmicity was detected by cosinor analysis. The study cohort was divided based on HbA1c levels and morning cortisol concentrations. Statistically, significant circadian rhythms in the fHR and the fHR variation were found in 45 (100%) and 44 (95.7%) of the 45 acceptable PGDM recordings, respectively. The rhythms were similar to those of the reference population. However, there was no statistically significant population-mean rhythm in the fHR among PGDM pregnancies at 36 weeks, indicating an increased interindividual variation. The group with higher HbA1c levels (>6.0%) had no significant population-mean fHR rhythm at 28 or 36 weeks, and no significant fHR-variation rhythm at 36 weeks. Similarly, the group with a lower morning cortisol concentration (≤8.8 µg/dl) had no significant population-mean fHR-variation rhythm at 28 and 36 weeks. These findings indicate that individual fetal rhythmicity is present in pregnancies complicated by PGDM. However, suboptimal maternal glycemic control and a lower maternal morning cortisol concentration are associated with a less-well-synchronized circadian system of the fetus.     

Acceptability of Drosophila suzukii as prey for common predators occurring in cherries and berries

The invasive cherry vinegar fly, Drosophila suzukii, has been identified in Europe as a destructive fruit pest since its arrival in 2008. In the present laboratory study, three predatory insects (Orius majusculus, Chrysoperla carnea, and Forficula auricularia) naturally occurring on fruit crops in Europe were investigated for their ability to attack and feed on D. suzukii within and outside fruits. The predators were provided with various D. suzukii life stages (eggs, larvae, pupae or adults) exposed or within infested cherries. The anthocorid bug O. majusculus fed on eggs and larvae, but was not able to attack pupae. Larvae of the lacewing C. carnea preyed upon D. suzukii eggs, larvae and pupae and also captured adult flies. The European earwig F. auricularia was the most voracious predator of these three tested species. Although the earwigs were not able to catch adult flies, they readily preyed upon every other developmental stage. Adult O. majusculus or third instar larvae of C. carnea significantly reduced the offspring of D. suzukii from infested cherries, when these contained the egg stage of the pest. None of the predators were able to attack early larval stages inside the cherries. But pupae that protruded from the fruit epicarp or that had pupated outside the fruit were accessible to lacewing larvae and earwigs and significantly reduced by them. Orius bugs, lacewing larvae and earwigs were able, under laboratory conditions, to capture and prey upon various life stages of the invasive pest, if not completely concealed inside the fruit. Our findings suggest that these generalist predators may have some control capacity on infested fruit in cultivated fruit crops and also in non‐crop habitats.     

Iscoms in parasitological research

During the history of vaccine development, a number of adjuvants and adjuvant formulations have been tested and evaluated for their ability to increase the immunogenicity of different antigens. In this review, Anna Lundén, Karin L?vgren Bengtsson, Anders Sj?lander and Arvid Uggla focus on iscoms (immune stimulating complexes), their characteristics and applications to different types of parasitic antigens.     

Lamin A and the LINC complex act as potential tumor suppressors in Ewing Sarcoma

Lamin A, a main constituent of the nuclear lamina, is involved in mechanosignaling and cell migration through dynamic interactions with the LINC complex, formed by the nuclear envelope proteins SUN1, SUN2 and the nesprins. Here, we investigated lamin A role in Ewing Sarcoma (EWS), an aggressive bone tumor affecting children and young adults. In patients affected by EWS, we found a significant inverse correlation between LMNA gene expression and tumor aggressiveness. Accordingly, in experimental in vitro models, low lamin A expression correlated with enhanced cell migration and invasiveness and, in vivo, with an increased metastatic load. At the molecular level, this condition was linked to altered expression and anchorage of nuclear envelope proteins and increased nuclear retention of YAP/TAZ, a mechanosignaling effector. Conversely, overexpression of lamin A rescued LINC complex organization, thus reducing YAP/TAZ nuclear recruitment and preventing cell invasiveness. These effects were also obtained through modulation of lamin A maturation by a statin-based pharmacological treatment that further elicited a more differentiated phenotype in EWS cells. These results demonstrate that drugs inducing nuclear envelope remodeling could be exploited to improve therapeutic strategies for EWS.Subject terms: Nuclear organization, Cancer     

Leapfrog migration and residents: New migratory habits in Swedish Greylag geese

Knowledge about intraspecific and individual variation in bird migration behavior is important to predict spatiotemporal distribution, patterns of phenology, breeding success, and interactions with the surrounding environment (e.g., human livelihoods). Such variation is key to adaptive, evolutionary responses, i.e., how individuals respond spatiotemporally to the environment to maximize fitness. In this study we used GPS location data from one to three full annual cycles from 76 Greylag geese (Anser anser) to test the hypothesis that geese originating at five latitudinally separated capture sites in Sweden have different migration strategies. We also assessed individual consistency in movement strategy over consecutive annual cycles. We used the scale‐independent net squared displacement modeling framework to quantify variables of autumn and spring migration for geese from each capture site: distance, timing, and duration. Our results demonstrate a positive correlation between migration distance and latitudinal origin. Geese from the northernmost site on average migrated farther south and about 15 times as far as the short‐moving or resident geese from the two southernmost sites. Movement strategies of individual geese varied considerably both within and among capture sites. Individual consistency in movement strategy from one annual cycle to the consecutive was high in geese from the northern sites moving the farthest, whereas the resident or short‐moving geese from the southernmost sites generally showed lower or no individual consistency. These changes have come about during a time span so short (i.e., ca. 35 years or 8–10 generations) that it can unlikely be explained by classical Darwinian between‐generation adaptation. Consequently, and given that young geese follow their parents during their first migration, we presume an important role of within‐family, inter‐generation change as a driver behind the large‐scale changed migration habits in Swedish Greylag geese.     

In vivo and in vitro evidence for extracellular caspase activity released from apoptotic cells

While caspases play an established role as intracellular executors of apoptosis, little is known about extracellular activities of this ubiquitously expressed family of proteases. We demonstrate here that recombinant caspase-3 retained enzymatic activity in various extracellular fluids. Experiments with cell lines, primary cells, and mice with fulminant CD95-triggered hepatitis showed that significant amounts of DEVD-aminofluoromethylcoumarine-cleaving activity, indicative of active effector caspases, were released into the medium/plasma during apoptosis. Furthermore, caspase activities were detected in liquor samples from human head trauma patients. These findings warrant closer investigation of DEVDase activity as a diagnostic marker, and of potential extracellular substrates for caspases.     

Prostaglandin-independent anovulatory mechanism of indomethacin action: inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced sheep ovarian cell apoptosis

Indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, is a potent inhibitor of ovulation in vertebrates. The presumptive obligate anovulatory mode of indomethacin action is via suppression of ovarian prostaglandin production. We report that a very high systemic dose of indomethacin (800 mg i.m.) is required to block ovulation in gonadotropin-treated anestrous ewes. A lower dose of indomethacin (200 mg), which negated the preovulatory rise in follicular prostaglandin (PGF(2alpha)) biosynthesis, did not prevent ovulation. Endothelial secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha within the apical follicular wall (prospective site of rupture) was not altered by indomethacin; notwithstanding, the apoptosis (DNA-fragmentation)-inducing effect of TNF-alpha (a determinant of ovulatory stigma formation) was attenuated by 800 (but not 200) mg indomethacin. A suprapharmacological concentration of indomethacin also was necessary to protect ovarian surface epithelial cells from a (prostaglandin-independent) cytotoxic effect of TNF-alpha in vitro. It is concluded that indomethacin inhibits ovulation by anti-apoptotic mechanisms that can be dissociated from the paradigm of prostanoid down-regulation.     

Vaccination with p53-peptide–pulsed dendritic cells,of patients with advanced breast cancer: report from a phase I study

Peptides derived from over-expressed p53 protein are presented by class I MHC molecules and may act as tumour-associated epitopes. Due to the diversity of p53 mutations, immunogenic peptides representing wild-type sequences are preferable as a basis for a broad-spectrum p53-targeting cancer vaccine. Our preclinical studies have shown that wild-type p53-derived HLA-A2–binding peptides are able to activate human T cells and that the generated effector T cells are cytotoxic to human HLA-A2⁺, p53⁺ tumour cells. In this phase I pilot study, the toxicity and efficacy of autologous dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with a cocktail of three wild-type and three modified p53 peptides are being analysed in six HLA-A2⁺ patients with progressive advanced breast cancer. Vaccinations were well tolerated and no toxicity was observed. Disease stabilisation was seen in two of six patients, one patient had a transient regression of a single lymph node and one had a mixed response. ELISpot analyses showed that the p53-peptide–loaded DCs were able to induce specific T-cell responses against modified and unmodified p53 peptides in three patients, including two of the patients with a possible clinical benefit from the treatment. In conclusion, the strategy for p53-DC vaccination seems safe and without toxicity. Furthermore, indications of both immunologic and clinical effect were found in heavily pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer. An independent clinical effect of repeated administration of DCs and IL-2 can not of course be excluded; further studies are necessary to answer these questions.