Indirect food web effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bythotrephes</Emphasis> invasion: responses by the rotifer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Conochilus</Emphasis> in Harp Lake,Canada

As a recent invader of North American lakes, Bythotrephes longimanus has induced large changes in crustacean zooplankton communities through direct predation effects. Here we demonstrate that Bythotrephes can also have indirect food web effects, specifically on rotifer fauna. In historical time series data, the densities of the colonial rotifer Conochilus unicornis significantly increased after Bythotrephes invasion in Harp Lake, Ontario. No such changes were observed in a non-invaded reference lake, the nearby Red Chalk Lake. Evidence for two mechanisms explaining the Conochilus increase was examined based on changes to the crustacean zooplankton community over time. Rapid and severe declines in several herbivorous species of cladoceran zooplankton after Bythotrephes detection indicated a decrease in exploitative competition pressure on Conochilus. Secondly, a later and significant decline to virtual extinction of native invertebrate predators (Mesocyclops and Leptodora) could account for the observed Conochilus increase which also began 1–2 years after invasion by Bythotrephes. Ultimately, it appears that both reduced competition followed by a loss of native invertebrate predators were necessary to lead to the large Conochilus densities observed following invader establishment. From this analysis of long-term community data, it appears that Bythotrephes has important indirect, as well as direct, food web effects in newly invaded North American lakes with implications for trophic relationships.     

Slowmo is required for Drosophila germline proliferation

Null mutations in the Drosophila gene, slowmo (slmo), result in reduced mobility and lethality in first-instar larvae. Slowmo encodes a mitochondrial protein of unknown function, as do the two other homologs found in Drosophila. Here, we have studied a hypomorphic P-element allele of slmo demonstrating its effects on germline divisions in both testes and ovaries. Using in situ studies, enhancer-trap activity, and promoter fusions, we have shown that slmo expression in testes is found in the somatic cyst cells (SCC). The hypomorphic allele for Slmo revealed apoptotic loss of germline cells in the larval germline, culminating in a complete absence of the germline in adult flies. In females, a similar degeneration of the germarium is observed, while reporter gene expression is found in both germline and somatic cells. Using a null mutation in female germline clones, we find slmo is dispensable from the germline cells. Our results suggest that Slowmo is not required in germline cells directly, but is required in SCCs responsible for maintaining germline survival in both sexes.     

Profiling of molecular interactions in real time using acoustic detection

Acoustic sensors that exploit resonating quartz crystals to directly detect the binding of an analyte to a receptor are finding increasing utility in the quantification of clinically relevant analytes. We have developed a novel acoustic detection technology, which we term resonant acoustic profiling (RAP). This technology builds on the fundamental basics of the "quartz crystal microbalance" or "QCM" with several key additional features including two- or four-channel automated sample delivery, in-line referencing and microfluidic sensor 'cassettes' that are pre-coated with easy-to-use surface chemistries. Example applications are described for the quantification of myoglobin concentration and its interaction kinetics, and for the ranking of enzyme-cofactor specificities.     

Characterization of airborne molds, endotoxins, and glucans in homes in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

In August and September 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused breeches in the New Orleans, LA, levee system, resulting in catastrophic flooding. The city remained flooded for several weeks, leading to extraordinary mold growth in homes. To characterize the potential risks of mold exposures, we measured airborne molds and markers of molds and bacteria in New Orleans area homes. In October 2005, we collected air samples from 5 mildly water-damaged houses, 15 moderately to heavily water-damaged houses, and 11 outdoor locations. The air filters were analyzed for culturable fungi, spores, (1-->3,1-->6)-beta-D-glucans, and endotoxins. Culturable fungi were significantly higher in the moderately/heavily water-damaged houses (geometric mean=67,000 CFU/m3) than in the mildly water-damaged houses (geometric mean=3,700 CFU/m3) (P=0.02). The predominant molds found were Aspergillus niger, Penicillium spp., Trichoderma, and Paecilomyces. The indoor and outdoor geometric means for endotoxins were 22.3 endotoxin units (EU)/m3 and 10.5 EU/m3, respectively, and for (1-->3,1-->6)-beta-D-glucans were 1.7 microg/m3 and 0.9 microg/m3, respectively. In the moderately/heavily water-damaged houses, the geometric means were 31.3 EU/m3 for endotoxins and 1.8 microg/m3 for (1-->3,1-->6)-beta-D-glucans. Molds, endotoxins, and fungal glucans were detected in the environment after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans at concentrations that have been associated with health effects. The species and concentrations were different from those previously reported for non-water-damaged buildings in the southeastern United States.     

Fibroblast-led collective invasion of carcinoma cells with differing roles for RhoGTPases in leading and following cells

Imaging of collectively invading cocultures of carcinoma cells and stromal fibroblasts reveals that the leading cell is always a fibroblast and that carcinoma cells move within tracks in the extracellular matrix behind the fibroblast. The generation of these tracks by fibroblasts is sufficient to enable the collective invasion of the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells and requires both protease- and force-mediated matrix remodelling. Force-mediated matrix remodelling depends on integrins alpha3 and alpha5, and Rho-mediated regulation of myosin light chain (MLC) activity in fibroblasts, but these factors are not required in carcinoma cells. Instead, carcinoma cells use Cdc42 and MRCK (myotonic dystrophy kinase-related CDC42-binding protein kinases) mediated regulation of MLC to follow the tracks generated by fibroblasts.     

Adaptation to experimental alterations of the operational sex ratio in populations of Drosophila melanogaster

Theory predicts that males adapt to sperm competition by increasing their investment in testis mass to transfer larger ejaculates. Experimental and comparative data support this prediction. Nevertheless, the relative importance of sperm competition in testis size evolution remains elusive, because experiments vary only sperm competition whereas comparative approaches confound it with other variables, in particular male mating rate. We addressed the relative importance of sperm competition and male mating rate by taking an experimental evolution approach. We subjected populations of Drosophila melanogaster to sex ratios of 1:1, 4:1, and 10:1 (female:male). Female bias decreased sperm competition but increased male mating rate and sperm depletion. After 28 generations of evolution, males from the 10:1 treatment had larger testes than males from other treatments. Thus, testis size evolved in response to mating rate and sperm depletion, not sperm competition. Furthermore, our experiment demonstrated that drift associated with sex ratio distortion limits adaptation; testis size only evolved in populations in which the effect of sex ratio bias on the effective population size had been compensated by increasing the numerical size. We discuss these results with respect to reproductive evolution, genetic drift in natural and experimental populations, and consequences of natural sex ratio distortion.     

BMPs promote proliferation and migration of endothelial cells via stimulation of VEGF-A/VEGFR2 and angiopoietin-1/Tie2 signalling

The differentiation, growth, and survival of endothelial cells (ECs) are regulated by multiple signalling pathways, such as vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and angiopoietins through their receptor tyrosine kinases, VEGF receptor (VEGFR) 2 and Tie2, respectively. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta family, have been implicated in the development and maintenance of vascular systems. However, their effects on EC proliferation remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we show that BMPs induce the proliferation and migration of mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived endothelial cells (MESECs) and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs). Addition of BMP-4 to culture induced significant proliferation and migration of both types of ECs. BMP-4 also increased the expression and phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and Tie2. These findings suggest that BMP signalling activates endothelium via activation of VEGF/VEGFR2 and Angiopoietin/Tie2 signalling.     

Lessons from animal teaching

Many species are known to acquire valuable life skills and information from others, but until recently it was widely believed that animals did not actively facilitate learning in others. Teaching was regarded as a uniquely human faculty. However, recent studies suggest that teaching might be more common in animals than previously thought. Teaching is present in bees, ants, babblers, meerkats and other carnivores but is absent in chimpanzees, a bizarre taxonomic distribution that makes sense if teaching is treated as a form of altruism. Drawing on both mechanistic and functional arguments, we integrate teaching with the broader field of animal social learning, and show how this aids understanding of how and why teaching evolved, and the diversity of teaching mechanisms.