Mark–recapture of Cerambyx welensii in dehesa woodlands: dispersal behaviour,population density,and mass trapping efficiency with low trap densities

The longhorn beetle, Cerambyx welensii Küster (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is an emerging pest involved in oak decline episodes in dehesa open woodlands. Larvae are xylophagous and cause considerable physiological, mechanical, and structural damages to trees. Chemical and biological control are currently unsatisfactory. Recent research has shown that mass trapping with a high density of baited traps (40 traps ha^?1) could be useful to manage C. welensii populations, although such a trap density was too high to be cost‐effective. In this 2‐year study (2010–2011) we investigated with mark–recapture methods in a large plot (1) the flight dispersal behaviour, (2) the adult population density, and (3) the efficiency of mass trapping at two low trap densities (one or four traps ha^?1). Results indicated that many adults were sedentary (60%) but flying adults displayed a strong propensity to move, both sexes dispersing on average more than 200 m and one male and one female flying at least 540 and 349 m, respectively. Recapture rates were high (0.26–0.35) and population density was estimated to be 6–22 adults ha^?1 with maximum likelihood models. Trapping efficiency ranged 48–61% with no significant effect of trap density or year. We conclude that results were not satisfactory enough to recommend mass trapping with low trap densities as control method for C. welensii and that more research is still required on the technical, ecological, and behavioural factors affecting control efficiency.     

Quaternary Structure Heterogeneity of Oligomeric Proteins: A SAXS and SANS Study of the Dissociation Products of Octopus vulgaris Hemocyanin

Octopus vulgaris hemocyanin shows a particular self-assembling pattern, characterized by a hierarchical organization of monomers. The highest molecular weight aggregate is a decamer, the stability of which in solution depends on several parameters. Different pH values, buffer compositions, H₂O/D₂O ratios and Hofmeister’s salts result in modifications of the aggregation state of Octopus vulgaris hemocyanin. The new QUAFIT method, recently applied to derive the structure of the decameric and the monomeric assembly from small-angle scattering data, is used here to model the polydisperse system that results from changing the solution conditions. A dataset of small-angle X-rays and neutron scattering curves is analysed by QUAFIT to derive structure, composition and concentration of different assemblies present in solution. According to the hierarchy of the association/dissociation processes and the possible number of different aggregation products in solution, each sample has been considered as a heterogeneous mixture composed of the entire decamer, the dissociated “loose” monomer and all the intermediate dissociation products. Scattering curves corresponding to given experimental conditions are well fitted by using a linear combination of single particle form factors. QUAFIT has proved to be a method of general validity to describe solutions of proteins that, even after purification processes, result to be intrinsically heterogeneous.     

Histochemical study of cardiac mast cells degranulation and collagen deposition: interaction with the cathecolaminergic system in the rat

Although their role in the cardiovascular system is still largely unknown, mast cells are present in the myocardium of both experimental animals and humans. Interestingly, cathecolaminergic nerve fibres and mast cells are often described in close morphological and functional interactions in various organs. In the present study we investigated the effects of chronic interference with beta-adrenergic receptors (via either sympathectomy or beta-blockade) on cardiac mast cell morphology/activation and on interstitial collagen deposition. In rats subjected to chemical sympathectomizy with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) we observed a significant increase of mast cell density, and in particular of degranulating mast cells, suggesting a close relationship between the cardiac catecholaminergic system and mast cell activation. In parallel, chronic 6-OHDA treatment was associated with increased collagen deposition. The influence of the beta-adrenergic receptor component was investigated in rats subjected to chronic propranolol administration, that caused a further significant increase in mast cell activation associated with a lower extent of collagen deposition when compared to chemical sympathectomy. These data are the first demonstration of a close relationship between rat cardiac mast cell activation and the catecholaminergic system, with a complex interplay with cardiac collagen deposition. Specifically, abrogation of the cardiac sympathetic efferent drive by chemical sympathectomy causes mast cell activation and interstitial fibrosis, possibly due to the local effects of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine. In contrast, beta-adrenergic blockade is associated with enhanced mast cell degranulation and a lower extent of collagen deposition in the normal myocardium. In conclusion, cardiac mast cell activation is influenced by beta-adrenergic influences.     

Infant cannibalism in wild white‐faced capuchin monkeys

Cannibalism has been observed in a variety of animal taxa; however, it is relatively uncommon in primates. Thus, we rely heavily on case reports of this behavior to advance our understanding of the contexts under which it occurs. Here, we report the first observation of cannibalism in a group of wild white‐faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator). The subject was a dead infant, estimated to be 10 days old, and the probable victim of infanticide. Consumption of the corpse was initiated by a 2‐year‐old male (second cousin of the infant), though it was eventually taken over and monopolized by the group''s alpha female (grandaunt of the infant). Although most group members expressed interest in the corpse (sniffing, touching, and threatening it), no others made an attempt to consume it. Given that this is the only observation of cannibalism recorded in over 37 years of study on this population, we consider it to be a rare behavior in this species. This detailed record contributes new data, which, when combined with other reports within and across species and contexts, enables the evaluation of adaptive explanations of cannibalism.     

Mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a long-term safety study

Background aimsMesenchymal stem cells/marrow stromal cells (MSC) represent a promising tool for stem cell-based clinical trials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We present the results of long-term monitoring of 19 ALS patients enrolled in two phase I clinical trials of autologous MSC transplantationMethodsNineteen patients (11 male and eightfemale) with ALS were enrolled in two consecutive phase I clinical trials. The patients were followed-up for 6–9 months and then treated with autologous MSC isolated from bone marrow and implanted into the dorsal spinal cord with a surgical procedure. The patients were monitored regularly before and after transplantation with clinical, psychological and neuroradiologic assessments every 3 months, at the tertiary referral ALS center in Novara (Italy), until deathResultsFollow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed no structural changes (including tumor formation) relative to the baseline throughout the follow-up. There was no deterioration in the psychosocial status and all patients coped well. No clear clinical benefits were detected in these patients but the recruitment and selection of appropriate patients into larger trials will be needed to test the efficacy of the treatmentConclusionsThis study is the first to show the safety of MSC transplantation in the central nervous system during a follow-up of nearly 9 years, and is in support of applying MSC-based cellular clinical trials to neurodegenerative disorders.     

Purification and characterization of two recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor glycoforms

Two recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) isoforms were isolated from the medium conditioned by an engineered Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line. The two rhG-CSFs were characterized and were found to differ in the carbohydrate structure attached to Thr-133. The glycoform, referred to as Peak 1, contains the O-linked glycan Neu5Ac(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc; the Peak 2 glycoform contains the O-linked glycan Neu5Ac(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-3)[Neu5Ac(alpha 2-6)]GalNAc. The two glycoforms displayed a similar biological activity in cultures of a mouse 32D C13 cell line and human bone-marrow myelo-monocytic progenitor cells (CFU-GM). In the latter test both glycoforms displayed a higher activity than nonglycosylated rMet-hG-CSF from Escherichia coli. The pharmacokinetic profile and activity of the two rhG-CSF glycoforms and of a mixture of them (Pool) were investigated in mice treated with a single injection of rhG-CSF at the doses of 125 micrograms and 250 micrograms/kg, given via the intravenous (i.v.) and the subcutaneous (s.c.) route, respectively. The plasma concentration profiles obtained were similar for all three substances and did not show any relevant differences in absorption or elimination. The pharmacokinetic parameters indicate that the three substances have similar area under the curve (AUCs), volumes of distribution, and terminal half-life. Furthermore, our data indicate a high bioavailability of the two different glycoforms of rhG-CSF when given to mice via the s.c. route either singularly or as a mixture. Detectable levels of rhG-CSF persisted for more than 8 h in the i.v. and more than 24 h in the s.c. route of administration. All three substances induced early neutrophilia in mice. All rhG-CSF-treated mice developed a two-four-fold rise in neutrophil counts as early as 4 h after the intravenous and 2 h after the subcutaneous injection. Relatively high levels of neutrophils were maintained for at least 8 and 24 h after i.v. and s.c. administration, respectively.     

Heavy metals affect the circulating haemocyte number in the shrimp Palaemon elegans

Environmental contamination by heavy metals produced by either anthropogenic or natural activities represents a threat to many species of aquatic animals worldwide. This study investigates the effect of short-term (96 h) exposure to dissolved heavy metals on the number of circulating haemocytes in the shrimp, Palaemon elegans (Rathke). Changes in haemocyte counts were determined in relation to time of exposure and with heavy metal concentration, relating the results to toxicity. It was found that immersion in artificial seawater containing Hg, Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn or Pb caused a decrease in the haemocyte count during the first 8 h exposure, although the haemocyte number returned to the initial (time 0) levels over the following 16 h immersion. In each case, the decrease in circulating haemocyte count induced by these metals was significantly different from the controls. The greatest decrease in haemocyte numbers (haemocytopenia) was induced by Pb, followed, in descending order, by Zn, Hg, Cr, Cu and Cd. The lethal level of haemocytopenia for the shrimps, defined as the number of haemocytes ml remaining in moribund animals (i.e. threshold of mortality) was found to be significantly lower than the levels tolerated by surviving shrimps (i.e. the limit of survival). The percentage of haemocytes remaining in the circulation at the threshold of mortality as a function of the number at time 0 was 56.6 +/- 8.8%. By contrast, the equivalent value for the threshold of survival was 63.7 +/- 12.4%. Importantly, the percentage decrease in haemocyte counts tolerated by P. elegans appears to vary with the metal. Animals treated with Pb or Zn survived with a lower number of circulating haemocytes than animals exposed to the other heavy metals.     

B cell response after MMTV infection: extrafollicular plasmablasts represent the main infected population and can transmit viral infection

The immune response to mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) relies on the presentation of an MMTV-encoded superantigen by infected B cells to superantigen-specific T cells. The initial extrafollicular B cell differentiation involved the generation of B cells expressing low levels of B220. These B220low B cells corresponded to plasmablasts that expressed high levels of CD43 and syndecan-1 and were CD62 ligand- and IgD-. Viral DNA was detected nearly exclusively in these B220low B cells by PCR, and retroviral type-A particles were observed in their cytoplasm by electron microscopy. An MMTV transmission to the offspring was also achieved after transfer of B220low CD62 ligand- CD43+ plasmablasts into noninfected females. These data suggest that B220low plasmablasts, representing the bulk of infected B cells, are capable of sustaining viral replication and may be involved in the transmission of MMTV.