Localization of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies in thyroid tumor xenografts

Monoclonal antibodies to human thyroglobulin were produced using the hybridoma technique. Two monoclonal antibodies D5I and F9I were radiolabeled with 125I and used for radioimmunolocalization studies in an immunosuppressed animal model bearing xenografts of human thyroid tumor tissue. Biodistribution studies were carried out at various time intervals post-injection. Maximum tumor uptake was obtained at 72 hr after administration of the antibodies. The absolute tumor uptake (ATU) expressed as percentage of injected dose per gram of tissue (% ID/g) was 15.49 +/- 2.47, 4.51 +/- 0.69 and 2.50 +/- 0.41 for D5I, F9I and control Igs respectively. The tumor to blood ratios (T/B) obtained were 3.01 +/- 0.43 for D5I, 0.98+/-0.2 for F9I and 0.47 +/- 0.12 for control Igs. ATU as well as T/B ratio obtained with D5I was significantly higher as compared to F9I and control Igs. The results indicated the potential application of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies to human thyroglobulin for tumor targetting in patients of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, particularly those metastases which did not concentrate radioiodine.     

Quantifying killing of orangutans and human-orangutan conflict in Kalimantan, Indonesia

Human-orangutan conflict and hunting are thought to pose a serious threat to orangutan existence in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. No data existed prior to the present study to substantiate these threats. We investigated the rates, spatial distribution and causes of conflict and hunting through an interview-based survey in the orangutan's range in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Between April 2008 and September 2009, we interviewed 6983 respondents in 687 villages to obtain socio-economic information, assess knowledge of local wildlife in general and orangutan encounters specifically, and to query respondents about their knowledge on orangutan conflicts and killing, and relevant laws. This survey revealed estimated killing rates of between 750 and 1800 animals killed in the last year, and between 1950 and 3100 animals killed per year on average within the lifetime of the survey respondents. These killing rates are higher than previously thought and are high enough to pose a serious threat to the continued existence of orangutans in Kalimantan. Importantly, the study contributes to our understanding of the spatial variation in threats, and the underlying causes of those threats, which can be used to facilitate the development of targeted conservation management.     

Pathogenecity of a baculovirus isolated from Arctornis submarginata (Walker) (Lepidoptera:Lymantriidae), a potential pest of tea growing in the Darjeeling foothills of India

A granulosis virus (GV) was isolated from the diseased caterpillars of Arctornis submarginata (Walker) (Lymantriidae), a defoliating pest of tea from Darjeeling foothill region. The phase contrast and transmission electron microscopic studies identified the virus as granulosis virus. SDS-PAGE analysis of major protein of the occlusion bodies was found to be 31 kDa, characteristic for granulin. The total genomic DNA was isolated. The major band found was of molecular weight 16 kDa. Bioassay conducted with the occlusion bodies (OBs) of the virus showed LC₅₀ value of 4.46 × 10⁴ OBs/ml for the second instar caterpillars. Median lethal time (LT₅₀) were 6.6 days for 1 × 10⁴ OBs/ml, 5.09 days for 1 × 10⁵ OBs/ml, 4.45 days for 1 × 10⁶ OBs/ml and 3.87 days for 1 × 10⁷OBs/ml concentrations. The results indicated the potential of the virus for its future application as microbial pesticide against A. submarginata in future.     

(E,E)-α-Farnesene as a host-induced plant volatile that attracts Apanteles taragamae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to host-infested cucumber plants

In tritrophic interactions between cucumber plants, the cucumber moth Diaphania indica Saunders (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and a larval parasitoid Apanteles taragamae Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), female A. taragamae may use herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) to locate their host. However, the specific compound or blend of chemicals attracting A. taragamae remains unknown. In this study, differences in volatiles released from uninfested, mechanically damaged and host-infested cucumber plants were examined by the headspace volatile collection method. Responses of the larval parasitoid A. taragamae to the volatile extracts were examined in a four-arm olfactometer. We also investigated the attraction of female A. taragamae to a single compound identified as an HIPV from host-infested cucumber plants. Parasitoids discriminated between the volatiles from uninfested, host-infested and mechanically damaged plants. Chemical analysis of headspace volatiles from host-infested cucumber plants showed that (E,E)-α-farnesene was released as a major component (73.1%). When (E,E)-α-farnesene was tested alone in the range of 1.7–170?ng, female parasitoids responded to 17?ng only. Therefore, tritrophic interactions between A. taragamae and D. indica appear to be partly mediated by (E,E)-α-farnesene.     

The Cultural Validation of Two Scales to Assess Social Stigma in Leprosy

Background

Stigma plays in an important role in the lives of persons affected by neglected tropical diseases, and assessment of stigma is important to document this. The aim of this study is to test the cross-cultural validity of the Community Stigma Scale (EMIC-CSS) and the Social Distance Scale (SDS) in the field of leprosy in Cirebon District, Indonesia.

Methodology/principle findings

Cultural equivalence was tested by assessing the conceptual, item, semantic, operational and measurement equivalence of these instruments. A qualitative exploratory study was conducted to increase our understanding of the concept of stigma in Cirebon District. A process of translation, discussions, trainings and a pilot study followed. A sample of 259 community members was selected through convenience sampling and 67 repeated measures were obtained to assess the psychometric measurement properties. The aspects and items in the SDS and EMIC-CSS seem equally relevant and important in the target culture. The response scales were adapted to ensure that meaning is transferred accurately and no changes to the scale format (e.g. lay out, statements or questions) of both scales were made. A positive correlation was found between the EMIC-CSS and the SDS total scores (r = 0.41). Cronbach''s alphas of 0.83 and 0.87 were found for the EMIC-CSS and SDS. The exploratory factor analysis indicated for both scales an adequate fit as unidimensional scale. A standard error of measurement of 2.38 was found in the EMIC-CSS and of 1.78 in the SDS. The test-retest reliability coefficient was respectively, 0.84 and 0.75. No floor or ceiling effects were found.

Conclusions/significance

According to current international standards, our findings indicate that the EMIC-CSS and the SDS have adequate cultural validity to assess social stigma in leprosy in the Bahasa Indonesia-speaking population of Cirebon District. We believe the scales can be further improved, for instance, by adding, changing and rephrasing certain items. Finally, we provide suggestions for use with other neglected tropical diseases.     

Rainforest conversion to plantations fundamentally alters energy fluxes and functions in canopy arthropod food webs

Tropical rainforests around the world are rapidly being converted into cash crop agricultural systems. The associated massive losses of plant and animal species lead to changes in arthropod food webs and the energy fluxes therein. These changes are poorly understood, in particular in the extremely biodiverse canopies of tropical ecosystems. Using canopy fogging followed by stable isotope and energy flux analyses, we show that land-use conversion from rainforest to rubber and oil palm plantations not only causes a drastic reduction in energy fluxes of up to 75%, but also shifts fluxes among trophic groups. While rainforest featured high levels of both herbivory and algae-microbivory, and a balanced ratio of herbivory to predation, relative fluxes were shifted towards predation in rubber and towards herbivory in oil palm plantations, indicating profound shifts in ecosystem functioning. Our results highlight that the ongoing loss of animal biodiversity and biomass in tropical canopies degrades animal-driven functions and restructures canopy food webs.     

cis-acting elements required for efficient packaging of brome mosaic virus RNA3 in barley protoplasts

Brome mosaic virus (BMV) is a positive-sense RNA plant virus, the tripartite genomic RNAs of which are separately packaged into virions. RNA3 is copackaged with subgenomic RNA4. In barley protoplasts coinoculated with RNA1 and RNA2, an RNA3 mutant with a 69-nucleotide (nt) deletion in the 3'-proximal region of the 3a open reading frame (ORF) was very poorly packaged compared with other RNA3 mutants and wild-type RNA3, despite their comparable accumulation in the absence of coat protein. Computer analysis of RNA secondary structure predicted two stem-loop (SL) structures (i.e., SL-I and SL-II) in the 69-nt region. Disruption of SL-II, but not of SL-I, significantly reduced RNA3 packaging. A chimeric BMV RNA3 (B3Cmp), with the BMV 3a ORF replacing that of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), was packaged negligibly, whereas RNA4 was packaged efficiently. Replacement of the 3'-proximal region of the CMV 3a ORF in B3Cmp with the 3'-proximal region of the BMV 3a ORF significantly improved packaging efficiency, and the disruption of SL-II in the substituted BMV 3a ORF region greatly reduced packaging efficiency. These results suggest that the 3'-proximal region of the BMV 3a ORF, especially SL-II predicted between nt 904 and 933, plays an important role in the packaging of BMV RNA3 in vivo. Furthermore, the efficient packaging of RNA4 without RNA3 in B3Cmp-infected cells implies the presence of an element in the 3a ORF of BMV RNA3 that regulates the copackaging of RNA3 and RNA4.     

Ant communities on small tropical islands: effects of island size and isolation are obscured by habitat disturbance and ‘tramp’ ant species

Aim Comparisons among islands offer an opportunity to study the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on small, replicated biological communities. Smaller population sizes on islands accelerate some ecological processes, which may decrease the time needed for perturbations to affect community composition. We surveyed ants on 18 small tropical islands to determine the effects of island size, isolation from the mainland, and habitat disturbance on ant community composition. Location Thousand Islands Archipelago (Indonesian name: Kepulauan Seribu) off Jakarta, West Java, Indonesia. Methods Ants were sampled from the soil surface, leaf litter and vegetation in all habitat types on each island. Island size, isolation from the mainland, and land‐use patterns were quantified using GIS software. The presence of settlements and of boat docks were used as indicators of anthropogenic disturbance. The richness of ant communities and non‐tramp ant species on each island were analysed in relation to the islands’ physical characteristics and indicators of human disturbance. Results Forty‐eight ant species from 5 subfamilies and 28 genera were recorded from the archipelago, and approximately 20% of the ant species were well‐known human‐commensal ‘tramp’ species. Islands with boat docks or human settlements had significantly more tramp species than did islands lacking these indicators of anthropogenic disturbance, and the diversity of non‐tramp species decreased with habitat disturbance. Main conclusions Human disturbance on islands in the Thousand Islands Archipelago promotes the introduction and/or establishment of tramp species. Tramp species affect the composition of insular ant communities, and expected biogeographical patterns of ant richness are masked. The island with the greatest estimated species richness and the greatest number of unique ant species, Rambut Island, is a forested bird sanctuary, highlighting the importance of protected areas in preserving the diversity of species‐rich invertebrate faunas.     

How island size and isolation affect bee and wasp ensembles on small tropical islands: a case study from Kepulauan Seribu,Indonesia

Aim To study the effects of isolation and size of small tropical islands on species assemblages of bees (superfamily Apoidea) and wasps (superfamily Vespoidea). Location Twenty islands in the Kepulauan Seribu Archipelago off the coast of west Java, Indonesia. The size of surveyed islands ranges between 0.75 and 41.32 ha; their distance from the coast of Java varies between 3 and 62 km. Methods Field work was conducted from February to May 2005. Bees and wasps were caught with a sweep net during sampling units of 15 min, continuing until four consecutive samples revealed no new species. Total species richness was quantified by the estimators Chao 2, first‐order jackknife and Michaelis–Menten. The software binmatnest was used to test for nestedness of species assemblages. Similarities of species composition between islands were quantified by Sørensen’s similarity index. Results Eighty‐two species were recorded on the 20 surveyed islands. Species richness declined with increasing isolation of islands from the source area, Java. Although the size of the largest island exceeded that of the smallest island by a factor of almost 60, island size only very weakly affected species richness of bees; no effect of island size was found for wasps. Mean body size of species decreased with increasing island isolation. Nestedness of island faunas was only weakly developed. Species composition of both superfamilies was affected by island isolation, but not by island size. Main conclusions While the species–isolation relationship on the very small islands of Kepulauan Seribu followed the prediction of MacArthur and Wilson’s equilibrium theory, the absence of a species–area relationship indicated a weak ‘small‐island effect’, at least in wasps. The combination of an only weakly developed pattern of nested species subsets, the shift in species compositions and the decline of mean body size with increasing island isolation from the source area indicates that biotic interactions and different species traits contribute to the shaping of communities of bees and wasps within the archipelago. The potential of biotic interactions for generating distribution patterns of species within the archipelago is also emphasized by the observed restriction of some species with apparently high dispersal abilities to outer islands.