Herbarium collections and field data-based plant diversity maps for Burkina Faso

A map of plant species diversity in Burkina Faso is presented based on field observations and specimen data from the Ouagadougou University Herbarium (OUA) and the Herbarium Senckenbergianum (FR). A map of collecting intensity and field observations illustrates centres of botanical research activities in Burkina Faso. To overcome problems associated with biased sampling intensity, distributions of species have been modelled and extrapolated to maps of vascular plant diversity, life forms and diversity of four selected families (Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Dioscoreaceae and Rubiaceae). The area of most intensive collection and observation is around Gorom‐Gorom and Fada N’Gourma. Modelled diversity generally increases towards the south, as does the proportion of phanerophytes, lianas and hemicryptophytes, while the opposite trend is observed for therophytes. Poaceae diversity is highly correlated with total vascular plant diversity, making the family especially suitable as an indicator for overall plant diversity. Cyperaceae are rather evenly distributed throughout the country, Dioscoreaceae are restricted to the Sudanian Zone. Rubiaceae have their highest diversities in the very south. Our approach can be transferred to areas with a similar database, certainly to other areas within West Africa. Future research should focus on distribution data for rare species, enabling our approach to evaluate the West African system of protected areas.     

Trophic niche overlap and wild ungulate consumption by red fox and wolf in a mountain area in Italy

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and wolf (Canis lupus) are two widespread opportunistic predators living in simpatry in many areas. Nonetheless, scarce information are available on their trophic interactions. We investigated food habits of these two carnivores in a mountain area in Italy and assessed the extent of their trophic niche overlap, focusing on the consumption of wild ungulates. Thereby we analyzed the content of 669 red fox scats and 253 wolf scats collected between May 2008 and April 2009. Red foxes resulted to have a more than three times higher niche breadth than wolves. Vegetables, small mammals, wild ungulates, and invertebrates were major items (altogether 92% of volume) of the red fox annual diet. On the contrary wolf annual diet relied on wild ungulates (94% of volume) with wild boar (Sus scrofa) being the main food item. The degree of trophic niche overlap between the two species was found to be low (Pianka's O = 0.356). Diet variation between the warm and the cold seasons was limited in both species, and higher in red fox than in wolf. The two canids appeared to use wild ungulates unevenly being the former more selective for younger preys, smaller in size (newborn piglets and roe deer Capreolus capreolus fawns), whereas the latter exhibited a preference for medium-sized and large ungulates (10–35 kg wild boar and adult roe deer). Even if wild ungulates represent the main shared food category, the different use of age/weight classes by the two predators, together with their possible consumption as carrions by red fox, suggests a very limited trophic competition between wolf and red fox.This study represents a contribution to the knowledge of trophic interaction in predator–prey systems where sympatric carnivores are present.     

All the three ParaHox genes are present in Nuttallochiton mirandus (Mollusca: polyplacophora): evolutionary considerations

The ParaHox gene cluster contains three homeobox genes, Gsx, Xlox and Cdx and has been demonstrated to be an evolutionary sister of the Hox gene cluster. Among deuterostomes the three genes are found in the majority of taxa, whereas among protostomes they have so far been isolated only in the phylum Sipuncula.We report the partial sequences of all three ParaHox genes in the polyplacophoran Nuttallochiton mirandus, the first species of the phylum Mollusca where all ParaHox genes have been isolated. This finding has phylogenetic implications for the phylum Mollusca and for its relationships with the other lophotrochozoan taxa.     

Predicting potentially pathogenic effects of hRPE65 missense mutations: a computational strategy based on molecular dynamics simulations

The human retinal pigment epithelium-specific 65-kDa protein (hRPE65) plays a crucial role within the retinoid visual cycle and several mutations affecting either its expression level or its enzymatic function are associated with inherited retinal diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa. The gene therapy product voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna) has been recently approved for treating hereditary retinal dystrophies; however, the treatment is currently accessible only to patients presenting confirmed biallelic mutations that severely impair hRPE65 function, and many reported hRPE65 missense mutations lack sufficient evidences for proving their pathogenicity. In this context, we developed a computational approach aimed at evaluating the potential pathogenic effect of hRPE65 missense variants located on the dimerisation domain of the protein. The protocol evaluates how mutations may affect folding and conformation stability of this protein region, potentially helping clinicians to evaluate the eligibility for gene therapy of patients diagnosed with this type of hRPE65 variant of uncertain significance.     

Human milk oligosaccharides: an enzymatic protection step simplifies the synthesis of 3'- and 6'-O-sialyllactose and their analogues

We describe a chemo-enzymatic synthesis of 3'- and 6'-O-sialyllactose, two trisaccharides occurring in the 'acidic fraction' of the human milk oligosaccharides and endowed with potential antiadhesive activity. The key step is the highly regioselective 6'-O-acylation of benzyllactoside, which gave access to suitably protected lactose building blocks to be used as acceptors in the sialylation reaction. Moreover, the synthesis of the carboxymethyl and sulfo analogues of the title compounds is reported.     

Sic1 is phosphorylated by CK2 on Ser201 in budding yeast cells

We have previously identified Ser201 of Sic1, a yeast cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, as an in vitro target of protein kinase CK2. Here we present new evidence, by using specific anti-P-Ser201 antibodies and 2-D gel electrophoresis coupled to MALDI mass spectrometry analysis, that Sic1 is phosphorylated in vivo on Ser201 shortly after its de novo synthesis, during late anaphase in glucose-grown cells. This phosphorylation is also detected in Sic1 immunopurified from G1 cells. In agreement with these data we also show that the catalytic alpha' subunit of CK2, whose function is required for cell cycle progression, is detected in Sic1 immunopurified complexes, and that phosphorylation on Ser201 is reduced after CK2 inactivation at the non-permissive temperature in a cka1delta cka2(ts) yeast strain. These data strongly support the notion that CK2 phosphorylates Sic1 in vivo.     

Lateralized female topminnows can forage and attend to a harassing male simultaneously

Animals engaged in a complex task are often unable to allocateenough attention to a second concurrent task. We tested thehypothesis that cerebral lateralization is advantageous becauseit enables separate and parallel information processing andallows for a more efficient performance of concurrent cognitivetasks. Lateralized and nonlateralized (NL) female Girardinusfalcatus, obtained through a selective breeding experiment,were compared in a situation requiring sharing attention betweentwo simultaneous tasks, retrieving food items scattered on thesurface, and avoiding unsolicited male mating attempts. In thepresence of a sexually harassing male, lateralized females weresignificantly more efficient than NL females in retrieving food,while no difference between these groups was found in controlexperiments in which the male was absent and subjects were notrequired to share attention between foraging and vigilance.Lateralized females showed a negligible decrease in foragingrate while attending the additional task, suggesting that theymay be able to partition the two processes in different partsof the brain.     

Mass‐trapping trials for the control of pine processionary moth in a pine woodland recreational area

The pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, causes serious defoliation to Cedrus, Pinus and Pseudotsuga trees, as well as health problems in humans, pets and farm animals due to their urticating hairs. Environmentally friendly strategies for the management of T. pityocampa include: removal of egg batches, removal of nests, trapping of migrant larvae, spraying microbial or Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) insecticides and biocontrol, as well as pheromone‐based adult trapping and mating‐disruption. In the present paper, results on innovative technology for the control of T. pityocampa infestation using pheromone mass‐trapping are reported. Two 1‐ha plots were identified in the study area (central‐south Italy), a pine woodland recreational site growing Pinus halepensis. In the experimental plot (MT‐plot), 10 G‐traps (funnel trap type) baited with (Z)‐13‐hexadecen‐11‐ynyl acetate sex pheromone component were placed for mass‐trapping of adults; the other plot was used as a control‐plot (C‐plot). The T. pityocampa population was monitored using the two central traps in the MT‐plot and two traps positioned in the C‐plot. In addition, the winter nests made by T. pityocampa larvae overwintering on pine trees were counted. After 2 years of mass‐trapping, the number of adults trapped by the monitoring pheromone traps decreased in the MT‐plot, but not in the C‐plot, whereas the number of nests decreased in both plots. Statistical results highlighted significant differences in trap catches between the two plots but not between years. In the case of nests, differences among plots were not significant before the mass‐trapping, but significant after 1‐year treatment. According to our results, the mass‐trapping technique is able to reduce T. pityocampa infestations. This pheromone method can be applied in combination with other control systems in the context of integrated pest management in recreational areas.