Reprint of Hormonal correlates of pathogen disgust: testing the compensatory prophylaxis hypothesis

Raised progesterone during the menstrual cycle is associated with suppressed physiological immune responses, reducing the probability that the immune system will compromise the blastocyst's development. The Compensatory Prophylaxis Hypothesis proposes that this progesterone-linked immunosuppression triggers increased disgust responses to pathogen cues, compensating for the reduction in physiological immune responses by minimizing contact with pathogens. Although a popular and influential hypothesis, there is no direct, within-woman evidence for correlated changes in progesterone and pathogen disgust. To address this issue, we used a longitudinal design to test for correlated changes in salivary progesterone and pathogen disgust (measured using the pathogen disgust subscale of the Three Domain Disgust Scale) in a large sample of women (N?=?375). Our analyses showed no evidence that pathogen disgust tracked changes in progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, or cortisol. Thus, our results provide no support for the Compensatory Prophylaxis Hypothesis of variation in pathogen disgust.     

Hormonal correlates of pathogen disgust: testing the compensatory prophylaxis hypothesis

Raised progesterone during the menstrual cycle is associated with suppressed physiological immune responses, reducing the probability that the immune system will compromise the blastocyst's development. The Compensatory Prophylaxis Hypothesis proposes that this progesterone-linked immunosuppression triggers increased disgust responses to pathogen cues, compensating for the reduction in physiological immune responses by minimizing contact with pathogens. Although a popular and influential hypothesis, there is no direct, within-woman evidence for correlated changes in progesterone and pathogen disgust. To address this issue, we used a longitudinal design to test for correlated changes in salivary progesterone and pathogen disgust (measured using the pathogen disgust subscale of the Three Domain Disgust Scale) in a large sample of women (N = 375). Our analyses showed no evidence that pathogen disgust tracked changes in progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, or cortisol. Thus, our results provide no support for the Compensatory Prophylaxis Hypothesis of variation in pathogen disgust.     

Usnic acid,as a biotic factor,changes the ploidy level in mosses

Lichens and mosses often share the same environmental conditions where they compete for substrate and other essential factors. Lichens use secondary metabolites as allelochemicals to repel surrounding plants and potential rivals. In mosses, endoreduplication leads to the occurrence of various ploidy levels in the same individual and has been suggested as an adaptation to abiotic stresses. Here, we show that also biotic factors such as usnic acid, an allelochemical produced by lichens, directly influenced the level of ploidy in mosses. Application of usnic acid changed the nuclei proportion and significantly enhanced the endoreduplication index in two moss species, Physcomitrella patens and Pohlia drummondii. These investigations add a new aspect on secondary metabolites of lichens which count as biotic factors and affect ploidy levels in mosses.     

3-O-Methyl-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-glucose mutarotation and proton exchange rates assessed by <Superscript>13</Superscript>C, <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR and by chemical exchange saturation transfer and spin lock measurements

3-O-Methyl-d-glucose (3OMG) was recently suggested as an agent to image tumors using chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI. To characterize the properties of 3OMG in solution, the anomeric equilibrium and the mutarotation rates of 3OMG were studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. This information is essential in designing the in vivo CEST experiments. At room temperature, the ratio of α and β 3OMG anomers at equilibrium was 1:1.4, and the time to reach 95% equilibrium was 6 h. The chemical exchange rates between the hydroxyl protons of 3OMG and water, measured by CEST and spin lock at pH 6.14 and a temperature of 4 °C, were in the range of 360–670 s^?1.     

Agrobacterium bohemicum sp. nov. isolated from poppy seed wastes in central Bohemia

Two non-pathogenic strains R89-1 and R90^T isolated from poppy seed (Papaver somniferum L.) wastes were phenotypically and genotypically characterized. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) was conducted with six genes (atpD, glnA, gyrB, recA, rpoB, 16S rRNA). The strains represented a new species which clustered with Agrobacterium rubi NBRC 13261^T and Agrobacterium skierniewicense Ch11^T type strains. MLSA was further accompanied by whole-genome phylogeny, in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses for both strains. ANI and dDDH values were deep below the species delineation threshold. Phenotypic features of the novel strains unequivocally allowed their differentiation from all other Agrobacterium species. Unlike other agrobacteria, the strains were salt sensitive and were able to biotransform morphine alkaloids. The dominant cellular fatty acids are 18:1 w7c, 16:0 and 12:0 aldehyde/16:1 iso I/14:0 3OH summed in feature 2 and the major respiratory quinine is Q-10 (87%). The DNA G + C content is 56 mol%. Microbial community analysis indicated probable association with P. somniferum plant material. Altogether, these characteristics showed that strains R90^T and R89-1 represent a new species of the genus Agrobacterium which we propose to name Agrobacterium bohemicum. The type strain of A. bohemicum is R90^T (=CCM 8736^T = DSM 104667^T).     

Coping with iron limitation: a metabolomic study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Synechocystis</Emphasis> sp. PCC 6803

Iron (Fe) is a key element for all living systems, especially for photosynthetic organisms because of its important role in the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Fe limitation in cyanobacteria leads to several physiological and morphological changes. However, the overall metabolic responses to Fe limitation are still poorly understood. In this study, we integrated elemental, stoichiometric, macromolecular, and metabolomic data to shed light on the responses of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a non-N₂-fixing freshwater cyanobacterium, to Fe limitation. Compared to Synechocystis growing at nutrient replete conditions, Fe-limited cultures had lower growth rates and amounts of chlorophyll a, RNA, RNA:DNA, C, N, and P, and higher ratios of protein:RNA, C:N, C:P, and N:P, in accordance with the growth rate hypothesis which predicts faster growing organisms will have decreased biomass RNA contents and C:P and N:P ratios. Fe-limited Synechocystis had lower amounts Fe, Mn, and Mo, and higher amount of Cu. Several changes in amino acids of cultures growing under Fe limitation suggest nitrogen limitation. In addition, we found substantial increases in stress-related metabolites in Fe-limited cyanobacteria such antioxidants. This study represents an advance in understanding the stoichiometric, macromolecular, and metabolic strategies that cyanobacteria use to cope with Fe limitation. This information, moreover, may further understanding of changes in cyanobacterial functions under scenarios of Fe limitation in aquatic ecosystems.     

Typification of names related to Salix lapponum (Salicaceae) and its hybrids published by Ignaz F. Tausch

Typifications and nomenclatural notes on seven names (two at the rank of species and five varietal ones) of willows published by I. F. Tausch in 1837 are provided. The name Salix arenaria var. latifolia is deemed illegitimate. Four names (Salix arenaria var. atropurpurea , S. arenaria var. nivea , S. arenaria var. marrubiifolia and S. argyroides ) are considered synonymous to S. lapponum var. lapponum and one (S. arenaria var. denudata ) to its hybrid with Salix silesiaca . In contrast, Salix daphneola applies to a unique glabrous variety of S. lapponum (var. daphneola ) endemic to the Krkono?e Mountains, Czech Republic.     

Induction of mammary gland hyperplasia and carcinomas in transgenic mice expressing human cyclin E.

Deregulated expression of several cell cycle regulatory genes has been demonstrated to be associated with cancer. In particular, a strong correlation has been established between inappropriate cyclin E expression and human breast cancer. To determine the ability of cyclin E to play a causative role in mammary tumorigenesis, regulatory sequences from the ovine beta-lactoglobulin gene were utilized to specifically target expression of human cyclin E to the mammary glands of pregnant and lactating mice. Lactating mammary glands of transgenic mice expressing cyclin E contained areas of hyperplasia, primarily papillary projections of hyperplastic cells, which were rarely observed in lactating glands of control mice. Over 10% of female cyclin E transgenic mice have developed mammary carcinomas, with latencies ranging from 8 to 13 months. Tumor analysis revealed the presence of transgene-specific cyclin E RNA and protein, as well as cyclin E- and cdk2-associated kinase activity, suggesting that cyclin E is likely a contributing component of tumorigenic progression in this model system.