Maximal oxygen consumption in relation to subordinate traits in lines of house mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel running.

We studied relations between maximal O2 consumption (VO2 max) during forced exercise and subordinate traits associated with blood O2 transport and cellular respiration in four lines of mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel running (S lines) and their four nonselected control (C) lines. Previously, we reported VO2 max of 59 females at three Po2 (hypoxia = 14% O2, normoxia = 21%, hyperoxia = 30%). Here, we test the hypothesis that variation in VO2 max can be explained, in part, by hemoglobin concentration and Po2 necessary to obtain 50% O2 saturation of Hb (an estimate of Hb affinity for O2) of the blood as well as citrate synthase activity and myoglobin concentration of ventricles and gastrocnemius muscle. Statistical analyses controlled for body mass, compared S and C lines, and also considered effects of the mini-muscle phenotype (present only in S lines and resulting from a Mendelian recessive allele), which reduces hindlimb muscle mass while increasing muscle mass-specific aerobic capacity. Although S lines had higher VO2 max than C, subordinate traits showed no statistical differences when the presence of the mini-muscle phenotype was controlled. However, subordinate traits did account for some of the individual variation in VO2 max. Ventricle size was a positive predictor of VO2 max at all three Po2. Blood Hb concentration was a positive predictor of VO2 max in S lines but a negative predictor in C lines, indicating that the physiological underpinnings of VO2 max have been altered by selective breeding. Mice with the mini-muscle phenotype had enlarged ventricles, with higher mass-specific citrate synthase activity and myoglobin concentration, which may account for their higher VO2 max in hypoxia.     

Real-Time Insights into Biological Events: In-Cell Processes and Protein-Ligand Interactions

FlowNMR has the aim of continuously monitoring processes that occur in conditions that are not compatible with being carried out within a closed tube. However, it is sample intensive and not suitable for samples, such as proteins or living cells, that are often available in limited volumes and possibly low concentrations. We here propose a dialysis-based modification of a commercial flowNMR setup that allows for recycling the medium while confining the sample (proteins and cells) within the active volume of the tube. This approach is demonstrated in the specific cases of in-cell NMR and protein-based ligand studies.     

Fuleco™ revisited: Football,conservation and lessons learned from the 2014 FIFA World Cup

In 2014, Brazil hosted the FIFA World Cup (FWC), whose mascot was the Brazilian Three‐banded armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus). In an article published in Biotropica in June 2014, we provocatively called out the Brazilian government for failing to live up to the environmental commitments made in its World Cup bid, and proposed that they should preserve 1,000 ha of the armadillo's habitat for every goal scored. At the time the paper received media coverage worldwide; here, we reflect on the experience of writing one of Biotropica's most high‐profile commentaries and the conservation outcomes of our essay. We end by providing guidance for other authors on how to harness high‐profile events for conservation action. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.     

Different lineages of freshwater jellyfishes (Cnidaria,Olindiidae, Craspedacusta) invading Europe: another piece of the puzzle from Sicily,Italy

Limnology - Correctly identifying and mapping the distribution patterns of passively dispersing freshwater organisms is an important task to understand the mechanisms through which these organisms...     

Extracellular non-coding RNA signatures of the metacestode stage of Echinococcus multilocularis

Extracellular RNAs (ex-RNAs) are secreted by cells through different means that may involve association with proteins, lipoproteins or extracellular vesicles (EV). In the context of parasitism, ex-RNAs represent new and exciting communication intermediaries with promising potential as novel biomarkers. In the last years, it was shown that helminth parasites secrete ex-RNAs, however, most work mainly focused on RNA secretion mediated by EV. Ex-RNA study is of special interest in those helminth infections that still lack biomarkers for early and/or follow-up diagnosis, such as echinococcosis, a neglected zoonotic disease caused by cestodes of the genus Echinococcus. In this work, we have characterised the ex-RNA profile secreted by in vitro grown metacestodes of Echinococcus multilocularis, the casuative agent of alveolar echinococcosis.We have used high throughput RNA-sequencing together with RT-qPCR to characterise the ex-RNA profile secreted towards the extra- and intra-parasite milieus in EV-enriched and EV-depleted fractions. We show that a polarized secretion of small RNAs takes place, with microRNAs mainly secreted to the extra-parasite milieu and rRNA- and tRNA-derived sequences mostly secreted to the intra-parasite milieu. In addition, we show by nanoparticle tracking analyses that viable metacestodes secrete EV mainly into the metacestode inner vesicular fluid (MVF); however, the number of nanoparticles in culture medium and MVF increases > 10-fold when metacestodes show signs of tegument impairment. Interestingly, we confirm the presence of host miRNAs in the intra-parasite milieu, implying their internalization and transport through the tegument towards the MVF. Finally, our assessment of the detection of Echinococcus miRNAs in patient samples by RT-qPCR yielded negative results suggesting the tested miRNAs may not be good biomarkers for this disease.A comprehensive study of the secretion mechanisms throughout the life cycle of these parasites will help to understand parasite interaction with the host and also, improve current diagnostic tools.     

Blood screening for heavy metals and organic pollutants in cancer patients exposed to toxic waste in southern Italy: A pilot study

In Italy, in the eastern area of the Campania region, the illegal dumping and burning of waste have been documented, which could potentially affect the local population's health. In particular, toxic waste exposure has been suggested to associate with increased cancer development/mortality in these areas, although a causal link has not yet been established. In this pilot study, we evaluated blood levels of toxic heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in 95 patients with different cancer types residing in this area and in 27 healthy individuals. While we did not find any significant correlation between the blood levels of POPs and the provenance of the patients, we did observe high blood concentrations of heavy metals in some municipalities, including Giugliano, where many illegal waste disposal sites have previously been documented. Our results showed that patients with different cancer types from Giugliano had higher blood levels of heavy metals than healthy controls. Despite the obvious limitations of this exploratory study, our preliminary observations encourage further research assessing the possible association between exposure to hazardous waste, increased blood metals, and increased risk of cancer.     

Effects of altered river network connectivity on the distribution of Salmo trutta: Insights from a metapopulation model

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