Correction to: Microhabitats of sharknose goby (Elacatinus evelynae) cleaning stations and their links with cleaning behaviour

Coral Reefs - A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-021-02111-z     

Seasonal variation in reef fish assemblages in the environmentally extreme southern Persian/Arabian Gulf

The southern Persian/Arabian Gulf experiences extreme seasonal temperature variation (> 20 °C) making it among the most hostile reef environments on Earth. Previous anecdotal evidence has suggested that seasonal temperature changes may influence regional reef fish assemblages, but to date research has been limited. To examine the influence of temperature on reef fish abundance and composition, we performed visual surveys in summer and in winter over three years at three reefs in the southern Gulf (Dhabiya, Saadiyat and Ras Ghanada). Overall abundance of fishes was 40% higher in summer than in winter, and multivariate analyses showed strong and significant differences in overall seasonal community structure, consistent at all sites and across all years. Seasonal differences were largely driven by nine of the 30 observed species, which together accounted for 70% of the divergence in community structure between summer and winter. Of these nine species, Lutjanus ehrenbergii, Lutjanus fulviflamma, Plectorhinchus sordidus and Abudefduf vaigiensis were significantly more abundant in summer, Parupeneus margaritatus and Acanthopagrus bifasciatus, were significantly more common on reefs in winter. We discuss these changes in terms of seasonal physiological and ecological constraints, and explore the implications of these changes on the functional ecology of reef fishes in this thermally variable and extreme environment.

     

Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in river water and riverbed sediment using next-generation sequencing

This study uncovered the prevalence, harboured species, and subtype diversity of Cryptosporidium species in river water and its sediment from the Apies River in South Africa. Cryptosporidium spp. concentrations in freshwater and its sediment were determined using Ziehl-Neelsen staining and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) techniques. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeting the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene of Cryptosporidium spp. was performed to reveal the species, subtype families and subtypes harboured in freshwater and its sediment. Although the results revealed that water samples had a higher prevalence (30%) compared with sediment (28%), the number of observable Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in sediment samples (ranging from 4.90 to 5.81 log₁₀ oocysts per 1 Liter) was higher than that of river water samples (ranging from 4.60 to 5.58 log₁₀ oocysts per 1 L) using Ziehl-Neelsen staining. The 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene copy of Cryptosporidium in riverbed sediments ranged from 6.03 to 7.65 log₁₀, whereas in river water, it was found to be between 4.20 and 6.79 log₁₀. Subtyping results showed that in riverbed sediments, Cryptosporidium parvum accounted for 40.72% of sequences, followed by Cryptosporidium hominis with 23.64%, Cryptosporidium cuniculus with 7.10%, Cryptosporidium meleagridis with 4.44% and the least was Cryptosporidium wrairi with 2.59%. A considerable percentage of reads in riverbed sediment (21.25%) was not assigned to any subtype. River water samples had 45.63% of sequences assigned to C. parvum, followed by 30.32% to C. hominis, 17.99% to C. meleagridis and 5.88% to C. cuniculus. The data obtained are concerning, as Cryptosporidium spp. have intrinsic resistance to water treatment processes and low infectious doses, which can pose a risk to human health due to the various uses of water (for human consumption, leisure, and reuse).     

Interactive Mechanisms of Supraspinal Sites of Opioid Analgesic Action: A Festschrift to Dr. Gavril W. Pasternak

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology - Almost a half century of research has elaborated the discoveries of the central mechanisms governing the analgesic responses of opiates, including their...     

Staphylococcus aureus cell wall structure and dynamics during host-pathogen interaction

Peptidoglycan is the major structural component of the Staphylococcus aureus cell wall, in which it maintains cellular integrity, is the interface with the host, and its synthesis is targeted by some of the most crucial antibiotics developed. Despite this importance, and the wealth of data from in vitro studies, we do not understand the structure and dynamics of peptidoglycan during infection. In this study we have developed methods to harvest bacteria from an active infection in order to purify cell walls for biochemical analysis ex vivo. Isolated ex vivo bacterial cells are smaller than those actively growing in vitro, with thickened cell walls and reduced peptidoglycan crosslinking, similar to that of stationary phase cells. These features suggested a role for specific peptidoglycan homeostatic mechanisms in disease. As S. aureus missing penicillin binding protein 4 (PBP4) has reduced peptidoglycan crosslinking in vitro its role during infection was established. Loss of PBP4 resulted in an increased recovery of S. aureus from the livers of infected mice, which coincided with enhanced fitness within murine and human macrophages. Thicker cell walls correlate with reduced activity of peptidoglycan hydrolases. S. aureus has a family of 4 putative glucosaminidases, that are collectively crucial for growth. Loss of the major enzyme SagB, led to attenuation during murine infection and reduced survival in human macrophages. However, loss of the other three enzymes Atl, SagA and ScaH resulted in clustering dependent attenuation, in a zebrafish embryo, but not a murine, model of infection. A combination of pbp4 and sagB deficiencies resulted in a restoration of parental virulence. Our results, demonstrate the importance of appropriate cell wall structure and dynamics during pathogenesis, providing new insight to the mechanisms of disease.     

Case Studies of the Impacts of Cataract Surgery on Crested Penguin Welfare

As nonhuman animals age, geriatric individuals require additional care and veterinary support to ensure their well being. The focus on lifelong care is a relatively newer approach when providing good welfare, and few studies have examined how veterinary care impacts behavior at different ages or how best to accommodate geriatric individuals in zoos. The objectives of this study were to (a) assess both the immediate and long-term (one year later) behavioral impacts of cataract removal for macaroni (Eudyptes chrysolophus) and southern rockhopper (Eudyptes chrysocome) penguins; (b) compare the behavior of penguins following cataract surgery to that of other conspecifics in the same habitat; and (c) monitor the impacts of cataract surgery on swimming behavior using time-depth recorders. Individual responses to cataract removal differed in direction and magnitude, and these mixed results highlight that welfare is experienced and thus measured at the individual level. Positive responses included increased habitat use, increased time spent swimming, and increased rates of affiliative interactions. This study highlights the importance of assessing welfare impacts of veterinary interventions on geriatric individuals.