Bioactive factors secreted from mesenchymal stromal cells protect the intestines from experimental colitis in a three-dimensional culture

Background aims

Although mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown therapeutic potential in intestinal tissue repair, controversy concerning their short survival and poor biodistribution in recipient tissues still remains. Therefore, we investigated the paracrine role of MSC in three-dimensional culture of colon with experimental colitis.

AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE OF AMBER IN LAMINATED LIMESTONES: THE CRATO FORMATION LAGERSTÄTTE (EARLY CRETACEOUS) OF BRAZIL

Abstract: Sub‐ellipsoidal to irregular clasts of amber occur within millimetrically laminated limestones of the Nova Olinda Member, Crato Formation (Early Cretaceous, ?Aptian) of the Araripe Basin in Ceará, north‐east Brazil. The amber is associated with resin‐filled cones, foliage and palynomorphs attributed to the Araucariaceae and may be referred to Brachyphyllum sp., cf. Wollemia sp. and cf. Agathis sp. Irregular, septate tubular structures may represent microinclusions and are considered to be fungal hyphae.     

Abscisic acid is involved in the response of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Malbec leaf tissues to ultraviolet-B radiation by enhancing ultraviolet-absorbing compounds, antioxidant enzymes and membrane sterols

We investigated the interactions of abscisic acid (ABA) in the responses of grape leaf tissues to contrasting ultraviolet (UV)-B treatments. One-year-old field-grown plants of Vitis vinifera L. were exposed to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) where solar UV-B was eliminated by using polyester filters, or where PAR was supplemented with UV-B irradiation. Treatments combinations included weekly foliar sprays of ABA or a water control. The levels of UV-B absorbing flavonols, quercetin and kaempferol were significantly decreased by filtering out UV-B, while applied ABA increased their content. Concentration of two hydroxycinnamic acids, caffeic and ferulic acids, were also increased by ABA, but not affected by plus UV-B (+UV-B) treatments. Levels of carotenoids and activities of the antioxidant enzymes, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase were elevated by +ABA treatments, but only if +UV-B was given. Cell membrane β -sitosterol was enhanced by ABA independently of +UV-B. Changes in photoprotective compounds, antioxidant enzymatic activities and sterols were correlated with lessened membrane harm by UV-B, as assessed by ion leakage. Oxidative damage expressed as malondialdehyde content was increased under +UV-B treatments. Our results suggest that the defence system of grape leaf tissues against UV-B is activated by UV-B irradiation with ABA acting downstream in the signalling pathway.     

The application of RAPD markers in stock discrimination of the four-wing flyingfish, Hirundichthys affinis in the central western Atlantic

The polymerase chain reaction–random amplified polymorphic DNA (PCR–RAPD) technique was used to examine genetic variability and population structuring in the four-wing flyingfish, Hirundichthys affinis within the central western Atlantic. Three random decamer primers and pairs of these primers were used to amplify nuclear DNA from 360 fish sampled from six populations (at five locations) across the region. A total of 58 polymorphic RAPD markers were identified, 20 of which were population-specific and six of which were subregional or stock-specific markers. Cluster analysis of similarity indices indicated the presence of three genetically distinct subregional stocks located in the eastern Caribbean, southern Netherlands Antilles and Brazil, respectively. Estimates of gene diversity (φ) and gene flow ( Nm ) are consistent with this three-stock hypothesis. Furthermore, partially restricted gene flow was apparent among spatially and temporally separate sampled populations within the eastern Caribbean subregional stock, indicating the possible presence of different spawning groups. These results are entirely consistent with those obtained from PCR–RFLP analysis of the mtDNA D-loop in the same fish, indicating the presence of barriers to dispersal and interbreeding in both sexes. We conclude that the PCR–RAPD technique is suitable for determining population stock structure in this species and that a three-stock approach to managing H. affinis within the central western Atlantic would be appropriate.     

Higher temperature reduces the effects of litter quality on decomposition by aquatic fungi

1. We investigated the effects of riparian plant diversity (species number and identity) and temperature on microbially mediated leaf decomposition by assessing fungal biodiversity, fungal reproduction and leaf mass loss. 2. Leaves of five riparian plant species were first immersed in a stream to allow microbial colonisation and were then exposed, alone or in all possible combinations, at 16 or 24 °C in laboratory microcosms. 3. Fungal biodiversity was reduced by temperature but was not affected by litter diversity. Temperature altered fungal community composition with species of warmer climate, such as Lunulospora curvula, becoming dominant. 4. Fungal reproduction was affected by litter diversity, but not by temperature. Fungal reproduction in leaf mixtures did not differ or was lower than that expected from the weighted sum of fungal sporulation on individual leaf species. At the higher temperature, the negative effect of litter diversity on fungal reproduction decreased with the number of leaf species. 5. Leaf mass loss was affected by the identity of leaf mixtures (i.e. litter quality), but not by leaf species number. This was mainly explained by the negative correlation between leaf decomposition and initial lignin concentration of leaves. 6. At 24 °C, the negative effects of lignin on microbially mediated leaf decomposition diminished, suggesting that higher temperatures may weaken the effects of litter quality on plant litter decomposition in streams. 7. The reduction in the negative effects of lignin at the higher temperature resulted in an increased microbially mediated litter decomposition, which may favour invertebrate‐mediated litter decomposition leading to a depletion of litter stocks in streams.     

Nutrient content affecting Spodoptera frugiperda and Dalbulus maidis occurrence in corn

This work aims to study the effect of the nutrient contents in the leaves of corn on the incidence of Spodopterafrugiperda （Smith） （Lepidoptera： Noctuidae） and Dalbulus maidis （Delong ＆ Wolcott） （Homoptera： Cicadellidae）. The treatments were represented by unfertilized corn plants and corn plants fertilized with 250 kg of the formulation 4-14-8 （N- P-K） ＋ 100 kg of ammonium sulfate （AS）/ha and 500 kg of the formulation 4-14-8 （N-P-K） ＋200 kg of AS/ha, arranged in randomized blocks with four replicates. Attacks by S. frugiperda and D. maidis were higher as the nitrogen, sulfur, calcium and copper content in the leaves of corn increased. The effects of calcium and copper found in this study were not consistent with that of lower susceptibility associated with higher levels of these nutrients mentioned in the literature. We believe that there was a cumulative effect of the nutrients altogether, building up a nutritiously better vegetable which in turn had less reserve for defense, or that the content of both nutrients in the leaves were not high enough to induce such effects.