Characterization of urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter subspecies by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis typing

Thirty-one urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC) isolates, including three reference strains (NCTC12892, NCTC12895 and NCTC12896), and three Campylobacter lari isolates, which were isolated from several countries and sources, were compared genotypically by using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). We examined allelic variation around seven enzyme loci, including the adenylate kinase, alkaline phosphatase, catalase, fumarase, malic enzyme, malate dehydrogenase, and L-phenylalanyl-L-leucine peptidase loci. MLEE typing revealed the presence of 23 different electrophoretic types (ETs) among the 31 UPTC isolates, and 14 isolates shared six electrophoretic profiles. Three different ETs were identified for the three C. lari isolates examined, and no ETs were shared by UPTC and C. lari isolates. Quantitative analyses were subsequently performed by using allelic variation data, and the results demonstrated that the mean genetic diversity was 0.655. In conclusion, MLEE demonstrated that the UPTC isolates examined are genetically hypervariable and form a cluster separate from the C. lari cluster.     

Synthesis of immune modulators by smooth muscles

The primary function of smooth muscle cells is to contract and alter the stiffness or diameter of hollow organs such as blood vessels, the airways and the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. In addition to purely structural functions, smooth muscle cells may play important metabolic roles, particularly in various inflammatory responses. In cell culture, these cells have been shown to be metabolically dynamic, synthesizing and secreting extracellular matrix proteins, glycosaminoglycans and a wide variety of cell-cell signaling proteins, such as interleukins, chemokines and peptide growth factors. Secreted cell signaling proteins participate in the inflammatory response of smooth muscle-containing organs, and some can also stimulate smooth muscle migration, proliferation and contraction. The cellular signaling pathways controlling synthesis of these signaling proteins are similar to those used by cells mediating innate immunity and may contribute to pathogenesis of diverse diseases including atherosclerosis, asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases and preterm labor. Appreciating the role of smooth muscle cells in these diseases may lead to better understanding of the beneficial effects of anti-inflammatory drugs as well as identification of new targets for anti-inflammatory therapy.     

Targeting hunter distribution based on host resource selection and kill sites to manage disease risk

Endemic and emerging diseases are rarely uniform in their spatial distribution or prevalence among cohorts of wildlife. Spatial models that quantify risk‐driven differences in resource selection and hunter mortality of animals at fine spatial scales can assist disease management by identifying high‐risk areas and individuals. We used resource selection functions (RSFs) and selection ratios (SRs) to quantify sex‐ and age‐specific resource selection patterns of collared (n = 67) and hunter‐killed (n = 796) nonmigratory elk (Cervus canadensis manitobensis) during the hunting season between 2002 and 2012, in southwestern Manitoba, Canada. Distance to protected area was the most important covariate influencing resource selection and hunter‐kill sites of elk (AICw = 1.00). Collared adult males (which are most likely to be infected with bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) and chronic wasting disease) rarely selected for sites outside of parks during the hunting season in contrast to adult females and juvenile males. The RSFs showed selection by adult females and juvenile males to be negatively associated with landscape‐level forest cover, high road density, and water cover, whereas hunter‐kill sites of these cohorts were positively associated with landscape‐level forest cover and increasing distance to streams and negatively associated with high road density. Local‐level forest was positively associated with collared animal locations and hunter‐kill sites; however, selection was stronger for collared juvenile males and hunter‐killed adult females. In instances where disease infects a metapopulation and eradication is infeasible, a principle goal of management is to limit the spread of disease among infected animals. We map high‐risk areas that are regularly used by potentially infectious hosts but currently underrepresented in the distribution of kill sites. We present a novel application of widely available data to target hunter distribution based on host resource selection and kill sites as a promising tool for applying selective hunting to the management of transmissible diseases in a game species.     

Genome-Wide Analysis Using Exon Arrays Demonstrates an Important Role for Expression of Extra-Cellular Matrix,Fibrotic Control and Tissue Remodelling Genes in Dupuytren's Disease

Dupuytren''s disease (DD) is a classic example of pathological fibrosis which results in a debilitating disorder affecting a large sector of the human population. It is characterized by excessive local proliferation of fibroblasts and over-production of collagen and other components of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the palmar fascia. The fibrosis progressively results in contracture of elements between the palmar fascia and skin causing flexion deformity or clawing of the fingers and a severe reduction in hand function. While much is known about the pathogenesis and surgical treatment of DD, little is known about the factors that cause its onset and progression, despite many years of research. Gene expression patterns in DD patients now offers the potential to identify genes that direct the pathogenesis of DD. In this study we used primary cultures of fibroblasts derived from excisional biopsies of fibrotic tissue from DD patients to compare the gene expression profiles on a genome-wide basis with normal control fibroblasts. Our investigations have identified genes that may be involved with DD pathogenesis including some which are directly relevant to fibrosis. In particular, these include significantly reduced expression levels of three matrix metallopeptidases (MMP1, MMP3, MMP16), follistatin, and STAT1, and significantly increased expression levels of fibroblast growth factors (FGF9, FGF11), a number of collagen genes and other ECM genes in DD patient samples. Many of these gene products are known to be involved in fibrosis, tumour formation and in the normal processes of tissue remodelling. In addition, alternative splicing was identified in some DD associated genes. These highly sensitive genomic investigations provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms that may underpin the development and progression of DD.     

Prevalence and Identity of Cryptosporidium spp. in Pig Slurry

Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 25 of 56 pig slurry samples from 33 Irish farms by PCR and DNA sequencing. The organisms detected included C. suis, Cryptosporidium pig genotype II, and C. muris. We concluded that Cryptosporidium oocysts can persist in treated slurry and potentially contaminate surface water through improper discharge or uncontrolled runoff.     

Population growth of free-ranging rhesus monkeys at Tughlaqabad

A population of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) at the ancient site of Tughlaqabad on the southern outskirts of New Delhi, India, showed moderate growth throughout the 1960s and 1970s and very rapid growth in the last 4 years. Between July 1980 and July 1983, the population increased 79%, from two groups of 160 monkeys to five groups of 286 monkeys, an average annual increase of 21.4%. The natality of the population has been high, averaging 82.4% over three birth seasons. Mortality and disappearance rates, especially of juveniles and adults, have been remarkably low with total annual mortality averaging only 3.7% from 1980 to 1983. We believe the striking record of population growth in this population can be attributed to total protection, abundant food, good cover, a lack of predators, a generally improving habitat, and low disease. With the right combination of ecological and behavioral factors, rhesus populations can double in four years. The Tughlaqabad population provides important guidelines for the restoration and conservation of primate populations.     

NECTAR PRODUCTION,COMPOSITION, ENERGETICS AND POLLINATOR ATTRACTIVENESS IN SPRING FLOWERS OF WESTERN NEW YORK

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine specific sugar ratios (fructose, glucose and sucrose) in nectars of nine families of flowering plants. All nectars contained all three sugars with the exception of that of Asclepias. Asclepias nectar was nearly a pure sucrose solution. Sucrose/hexose ratio was correlated with flower morphology, with tubular flowers having more sucrose and open flowers having more hexose. Open flowers contained nectar whose concentration was more affected by relative humidity than tubular flowers. Available nectar in unbagged flowers was found in volumes of 0.1 to 5 μl (17.5 to 68.2% sugar). Total sugar available per blossom amounted to 0.07 to 3.54 mg. We note that care must be taken in converting % concentration to mg sugar. Energetic yield was not as variable as the other measures and ranged from 0.72 to 3.58 cal/μl. Total daily nectar production was measured in five families and 24-hr sugar production varied from 0.64 to 5.52 mg per flower. Insect nectar feeders frequently searched many blossoms with little or no reward, but were rewarded sufficiently at rare “lucky hit” blossoms which contained relatively large nectar rewards. Insect pollinators did not seek nectars of specific sucrose-hexose ratios, but instead took nectar where caloric reward and accessibility made it most profitable.